Abstract: Laser beam 104 having an irradiation power not less than 1 mW is irradiated onto an observed region, and a variation in a power source current 112 is detected. When the laser beam 104 is irradiated onto a parasitic insulating film 107 which is a parasitic MIM structural spot, the current 112 increases due to a temperature characteristic of the current 112 flowing through the parasitic insulating film 107, whereby the portion of the parasitic MIM structure can be detected. Moreover, laser beam 108 having a wavelength not less than 1.0 &mgr;m is irradiated onto an observed region from the back surface of the chip, and a variation in the power source current is detected. Light having a wavelength not less than 1.0 &mgr;m has the ability to travel through a Si substrate 110 so that the laser beam reaches a wiring portion. Irradiation of the laser beam onto the parasitic insulating film 107 having the parasitic MIM structure increases the current, so that the portion of the parasitic MIM structure can be detected.

Abstract: A hinge mechanism for a foldable portable telephone is disclosed. The hinge includes a first cylindrical member coupled to a main body portion and a second cylindrical member coupled to a foldable portion. The first cylindrical member has a first cylindrical hollow formed therein and the inner side wall of the first cylindrical hollow has positioning recesses formed in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the opened and closed positions. The second cylindrical member has a second cylindrical hollow formed therein and a plurality of holes formed in a side wall thereof. The second cylindrical member is rotatably fit in the first cylindrical hollow of the first cylindrical member. An elastic cylinder is fit in the second cylindrical hollow. A hard ball freely fit in each of the holes and the hard balls fit in the holes are pinched between the elastic cylinder and the inner side wall of the first cylindrical hollow to allow each sphere to be fit into a corresponding one of the positioning recesses.

Abstract: A map information display device for a displacement body is provided with a position detection section (23) detecting a present position of a displacement body based on an output of a speed sensor (22) which detects a speed of a displacement body or a gyro (21) which detects a bearing of a displacement body or the like, a map memory (25) which stores map data and a display section (27) which displays a present position of a displacement body detected by said position detection section (23) and a map image based on map data read from a map memory (25). Display of a map image in accord with the requirements of the driver is enabled without a complicated operation by varying a map mode when displaying a map screen on the display section depending on a display state of a map on the display section or an operational state of the displacement body.

Abstract: A method of forming markers in manufacture with excellent productivity of a semiconductor device capable or forming the markers accurately aligned with the crystal direction in the same position of a semiconductor crystal substrate is provided. There is a marker forming method of forming a stepper marker pattern part (202) on the main surface of a semiconductor crystal substrate (101), and a mask (201) for exposure is overlaid on the position where segment-shaped patterns (205) formed on the main surface of the mask (201) for exposure match with a cleavage orientation flat (102) of the semiconductor crystal substrate (101), and the stepper marker pattern part is transferred by contact exposure. Because of this, the stepper marker pattern part (202) can be formed in the same position within the semiconductor crystal substrate (101). As a result of this, by using a stepper aligner with an automatic alignment function, operating efficiency of an exposure process improves and high productivity can be obtained.

Abstract: A rotor includes a rotor magnet magnetized to have a multiple of magnetic poles. A stator, while confronting with the rotor, includes a rotor driving coil set for generating a rotational torque in the rotor, and a bearing coil set for generating a bearing force having a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the rotor. The number of magnetic poles of the rotor magnet is eight. The number of coils of the bearing coil set of the stator is six. Displacement sensor is provided for detecting a displacement of the rotor, in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis of the rotor. The rotor is rotated by the rotor driving coil set. Currents flowing in the bearing coils are controlled in accordance with output of the displacement sensor to hold the rotational axis of the rotor at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A thermal printer is loaded with a recording sheet package. The recording sheet package has a packaging body, which contains a stack of plural recording sheets. A loading engaging cutout is formed in the packaging body, and when the packaging body is set in an acceptable orientation relative to the printer, is engaged with a loading guiding projection of the printer, and allows mounting the packaging body on the printer. When the packaging body is set in an orientation different from the acceptable orientation, the loading guiding projection inhibits the packaging body by interference from being mounted on the printer.

Abstract: An improved optical fiber cable in which the threads that hold the various fiber groups together is made of a water swellable material and is color coded to allow the various fibers of the optical cable to be distinguished from each other. The optical fiber cable, includes a plurality of optical fiber groups, each groups including a plurality of optical fibers; a first water swellable material wrapped around a first group and a second water swellable material wrapped around a second group, wherein the first water swellable material has a color which is different from a color of the second water swellable material so as to allow optical fibers of the first group to be distinguished from optical fibers of the second group; and a sheath holding the plurality of optical fiber groups together. The optical fiber cable further includes a buffer tube in which the plurality of optical fiber groups are disposed arranged such that the sheath surrounds the buffer tube.

Abstract: Contour line data is easily extracted from line drawing data (binary image data). Run data representative of a line drawing compressed according to run-length coding is read line by line, and run data connected to a preceding line is inspected. The run data is divided into blocks in each of which present and preceding lines of run data are connected to each other in one-to-one correspondence, based on an inspected result. Connection information between the blocks of run data is added to the blocks, and the blocks of run data and the connection information are managed as run block data. Left-hand coordinates of the run block data are traced downwardly, and right-hand coordinates of the run block data are traced upwardly for thereby extracting coordinate data (contour line data).

Abstract: A high-level signal is sent to a mode control terminal, a pulse for slew-rate adjustment is sent to a replicated gate, and the slew rate at a measurement terminal is set to a desired value using a switch unit. The slew rate of the replicated gate having the same structure as the structure of output circuits and being formed on the same semiconductor substrate is set based on digital signal which are generated upon operation of the switch unit. The slew rate of output circuits is so adjusted as to be the same as the slew rate of the replicated gate.

Abstract: A cover stock composed mainly of a heated mixture of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and a styrene base block copolymer is suitable for the manufacture of golf balls. The cover made of the stock offers a very soft feel with little shock, the ease of control and improved scuff resistance.

Abstract: A method and a video game system that are capable of generating a field map with more natural geographical feature. The method and the video game system firstly divides the field map including a plurality of blocks into a first zone and a second zone by a boundary which consists of sides and comers in the blocks, then determines a first point for each side included in the boundary and a second point for each corner included in the boundary. Finally, the boundary is transformed into a more complex land shape by connecting the first points and the second points.

Abstract: An active material of formula LiCu1+xPO4 (0≦x≦1) which could be used as cathode material in lithium primary and secondary batteries.

Abstract: A method of making a light emitting diode (LED) is disclosed. An emitting light absorbed by a substrate can be prevented by using a metal with high conductivity and high reflectivity and a bonding process can be produced at a lower temperature and a better welding performance can be obtained by using a solder layer could be fused into a liquid-state. Furthermore, an industry standard vertical LED chip structure is provided and only requiring a single wire bond that results in easy LED assembly and the manufacture cost can be reduced. An LED chip size can be greatly reduced and with good heat dissipation, therefore the LED has better reliability performance and can be operated at much higher current.

Abstract: Power consumption of an LSI chip is estimated at the beginning stage of the designing without using the HDL description. An I/O part power of a new designing LSI chip is calculated by an equation with using the outside specifications required by the application of the LSI chip. An I/O part power of an original LSI chip is calculated by the outside specifications, the core circuitry part power of the original LSI chip is calculated by subtracting this calculated I/O part power of the original LSI chip from the known total power of the original LSI chip, and converting the voltage and process and frequency, the core circuitry part power of the new designing LSI chip is calculated.

Abstract: To set up a telecommunication link to a person who is in a substantially enclosed facility such as an airplane, inside which there are several internal communication transmitting terminals operated by a private branch exchange of the facility, a personal call number is assigned to a private telecommunication transmitting terminal of the person in a public telecommunication network at least during the person's stay in the facility, the assignment is stored of his/her personal call number to the internal communication transmitting terminal assigned to the person during his/her stay in the facility. A call directed to the personal call number of the person is rerouted together with the personal call number or a corresponding ID to the private branch exchange.

Abstract: A light level detecting method uses an automatic gain control of an electrically transformed image signal, thereby obviating the need for a separate light sensor. Instead, the method makes use of the image signal in the recording process. The light detecting and indicating method includes the steps of: (a) setting up a reference value corresponding to an amount of light which requires an automatic gain control; (b) measuring the amount of light of an optical input signal; (c) calculating a comparative value corresponding to the amount of light, where the comparative value controls the performance of the automatic gain control; (d) comparing the reference value with the comparative value; and (e) determining that the amount of light is insufficient when the result of the comparing step falls within a predetermined gain control range.

Abstract: An aberration correcting apparatus and an optical pickup apparatus using this apparatus, in which a spherical aberration based on a thickness error of an optical disc substrate can be preferably eliminated and a thickness error permission range of the optical disc substrate can be widened even if an objective lens of a high numerical aperture is used.

Abstract: Compositions for treatment of antibiotic-resistant gram-positive bacterial infections, as well as methods for using and preparing the same, are disclosed.

Abstract: A ceramic bearing ball capable of preventing irregular vibrations of, for example, a hard disk drive and having a high accuracy. The ceramic ball is characterized as having a sphericity of not more than 0.08 &mgr;m, a surface roughness of not more than 0.012 &mgr;m and a maximum surface pore size of 5 &mgr;m.