Abstract: A layer of a metal is electroplated onto an electrically conducting substrate having a generally smooth surface with a small recess therein, having a transverse dimension not greater than about 350 micrometers, by immersing the substrate and a counterelectrode in an electroplating bath of the metal to be electroplated and passing a modulated reversing electric current between the electrodes. The current contains pulses that are cathodic with respect to said substrate and pulses that are anodic with respect to said substrate. The cathodic pulses have a duty cycle less than about 50% and said anodic pulses have a duty cycle greater than about 50%, the charge transfer ratio of the cathodic pulses to the anodic pulses is greater than one, and the frequency of said pulses ranges from about 10 Hertz to about 12000 Hertz. The plating bath may be substantially devoid of levelers and/or brighteners.

Abstract: A high-performance zoom lens having a long back focal length and thus ideally suitable to electronic imaging equipment. The zoom lens comprises a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a, negative refractive power, a third lens group G3 having a negative refractive power, a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group G5 having a positive refractive power. When zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the air gap between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 increases, the air gap between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 changes, and the air gap between the fourth lens group G4 and the fifth lens group G5 changes. Vibration reduction is attained by displacing (shifting) a vibration reduction lens group G4v consisting of the fourth lens group G4 or a partial lens group in said fourth lens group in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: In a slit scan type projection exposure apparatus, a predetermined number of pulsed lights are emitted from a pulsed light source to transfer a pattern on a reticle to a wafer while the reticle and the wafer are scanned at a constant speed with respect to an exposure area on the wafer. At that time, not only fluctuations of the energies of the pulsed lights but also fluctuations of light emission timing of the pulsed lights are taken into consideration.

Abstract: A microscope is capable of changing over a magnification of an objective lens with a simple construction and by a simple changeover operation without operating a focusing handle when observing a sample within a chamber. The microscope includes an objective lens change unit for holding a plurality of objective lenses and selectively disposing the objective lenses on an observation optical path of the microscope. The objective lens change unit has a first objective lens holding member which holds a first objective lens among the plurality of objective lenses, and a second objective lens holding member which holds a second objective lens a working distance of which is shorter than that of the first objective lens. The first objective lens holding member is fixed to the objective lens change unit. The second objective lens holding member is so provided in the objective lens change unit as to be movable in an optical axis direction of the second objective lens.

Abstract: A frictional transmission comprises first and second rotary shafts arranged in directions in which the central axes thereof crossed each other, a roller supported coaxially with the first rotary shaft for rotating with the first rotary shaft, a first frictional surface provided on the roller coaxially with the first rotary shaft, a disc supported coaxially with the second rotary shaft for rotating with the second rotary shaft, and a second frictional surface provided on this disc coaxially with the second rotary shaft. The second frictional surface and the first frictional surface are brought into frictional engagement with each other. A loading cam device is arranged so as to press the second frictional surface toward the first frictional surface at the time of driving. A further disc coaxial with the aforementioned disc is disposed in the environs of the second rotary shaft, and the roller is sandwiched by and between the two discs.

Abstract: A projection-exposing apparatus has a mask which has a pattern formed with a pitch PR, an illuminating optical system for applying illuminating light from a light source to the mask, a projection optical system for projecting an image of the pattern onto a photosensitive substrate, and a deflecting grating member formed with a pitch PG disposed between the light source and the pattern of the mask for generating diffracted light. The pitch PG of the deflecting grating member is defined in the relation PG=2PR. The diffraction grating member is remote from the pattern on the mask by a distance &Dgr;t, where &Dgr;t≧PG/2NAIL, NAIL being the numerical aperture of the illumination optical system.

Abstract: A variable-focus lens system that is small in size and permits attainment of high zooming ratio while maintaining high performance. In order from the object side, there are therein a first, positive lens group; a second, negative lens group; a third, positive lens group; a fourth, positive lens group; and a fifth, negative lens group; all of the lens groups move toward the object side in such fashion as to cause the distance between the first and second lens groups to increase, the distance between the second and third lens groups to decrease, the distance between the third and fourth lens groups to increase, and the distance between the fourth and the fifth lens groups to decrease, when the positional state of the lens changes from the extreme wide-angle state to the extreme telephoto state.

Abstract: Memory states of a multi-bit memory cell are demarcated by generating read reference signals having levels that constitute boundaries of the memory states. The read reference signals are dependent upon the levels of programming reference signals used for controlling the programming of the memory cell. The memory cell can thus be programmed without reading out its memory state during the programming process, with programming margins being assured by the dependence of the read reference signals on the programming reference signals. Both sets of reference signals may be generated by reference cells which track variations in the operating characteristics of the memory cell with changes in conditions, such as temperature and system voltages, to enhance the reliability of memory programming and readout.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device for multilevel data storage that simultaneously carries out programming of multilevel data and subsequent verification at a high programming throughput.

Abstract: A substrate coated with a photosensitive agent is exposed to light beams passing through a mask by projecting the light beams upon the substrate through a projection optical system, on which occasion areas having a large layer thickness of the photosensitive agent on the substrate are subjected to double exposures, i.e., the exposure through the projection optical system and an exposure through an optical system different therefrom.

Abstract: A large-relative-aperture internal focusing supertelephoto lens comprising, in order from the object side: a first lens group G1 possessing positive refractive power and comprising, in order from the object side, a front group G1F possessing positive refractive power and a rear group G1R possessing positive refractive power of the same order as the aforesaid front group G1F; a second lens group G2 possessing negative refractive power that carries out focusing as result of movement along an optical axis; and a third lens group G3 possessing positive refractive power; wherein the following conditional expressions are satisfied: 0.7<|f1·f3/(f2·F)|<1.3, 0.4<|f2·F1/(f1·&PHgr;1)<1.0,  and 0.7<<f1F/f1R<1.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wet type multi-plate friction engaging apparatus in which axially shiftable outer tooth plates provided on an inner peripheral surface of a drum, and inner tooth plates disposed within the drum and spline-connected to an outer peripheral surface of a hub having lubricating oil supply holes open to the outer surface of the hub are arranged coaxially and alternately, so that the outer tooth plates and the inner tooth plates can be frictionally engaged with each other between a piston disposed at a closed end of the drum and a flange disposed at an open end of the drum by an urging force of the piston, and wherein the drum is not rotated or rotated at a low speed, and friction material are adhered to only the outer tooth plates or the outer tooth plates and the flange.

Abstract: A shock absorbing steering column apparatus comprise a steering column member admitting an insertion of a steering shaft, and a shock absorbing member for permitting the steering column member to displace in an axial direction while being plastically deformed by an impact load applied in the axial direction of the steering column member. The steering column member and the shock absorbing member are integrally formed of a non-ferrous metal.

Abstract: A cooker for popcorn and the like has a housing with a burner supported within the housing and a kettle carrier pivotably attached to a top edge of the housing such that it can be pivoted from a substantially horizontal position across the top of the housing to a substantially vertical position. The kettle carrier includes a cooking kettle that is positioned over the burner when the kettle carrier is in its substantially horizontal position, and when the kettle carrier is in its substantially vertical position, the cooker kettle is positioned to empty its contents into a tub that is supported next to the housing by a detachable frame extending from the housing. Additional features of the cooker include a heat intensification chamber formed by a wall around the burner in order to redirect radiant energy from the burner back into the heat intensification chamber. A cooking oil receptacle is also detachably mounted to the housing.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus comprises a projection optical system for projecting a pattern of a mask on a photosensitive substrate; a plane-parallel plate disposed on a side of the photosensitive substrate of the projection optical system, almost perpendicularly to an optical axis of the projection optical system; and a adjustment device for adjusting at least one of an inclination angle of a normal line of the plane-parallel plate relative to the optical axis of the projection optical system and an inclination angle of the plane-parallel plate.

Abstract: A wet friction material with small initial variations in friction coefficient, suppressing occurrence of heat spots, and with excellent heat resistance and friction resistance is provided. In the wet friction material including a fiber base material, a filler, a friction controller, and a resin binder, the resin binder is a phenolic resin modified with p-nonyl phenol.

Abstract: An impact-absorbing steering column device comprises a steering column which supports a steering shaft to be rotatable, a body-side bracket which is secured to the body of a car and supports the steering column and, to allow the steering column to move forward when an impact load of not less than a predetermined value is applied thereon. An impact energy absorbing mechanism is provided between the steering column and the body-side bracket so as to absorb the impact energy when the steering column is moved. The impact energy absorbing mechanism comprises an energy absorbing member which is produced from metallic wire and has a latch portion latched by the body-side bracket and a drawing portion which is formed on the steering column for drawing and deforming the energy absorbing member when the steering column is moved.

Abstract: A plastic drum is formed with a body having at access hole on top and protective chimes. The body also includes a sloping bottom with a sump aligned with the access hole to allow, substantially, all the contents of the drum to be removed without turning the body upside down.

Abstract: An apparatus has a pulse light source for emitting light pulses with varying light quantities, an illumination optical system for radiating the light pulses from the source onto a predetermined illumination region on a mask on which a transfer pattern is formed, and a projection optical system for projecting an image of the pattern onto a predetermined exposure region on a substrate, and which synchronously scans the mask and the substrate during the projection. The apparatus includes a measuring device for detecting intensities of the light pulses radiated onto the substrate during the scanning and measuring an integrated light quantity on each of a plurality of partial regions in the exposure region on the substrate on the basis of a detection signal of the intensities, wherein the partial regions are defined by a scanning speed of the photosensitive substrate and an oscillation interval of the light pulses.

Abstract: A sacrificial cores in castings of metallic or non-metallic materials is made from a metal that can be electrolytically dissolved, and is removed from the casting by electrochemical machining. The sacrificial core may be a hollow shell incorporating an integral electrode within the shell and electrically insulated from the shell.