Abstract: A decoding unit decodes data reproduced from a recording medium and obtained via first phase locked loop (PLL) and second PLL which are mutually independent and oscillate at frequencies which are approximately the same, where the recording medium is recorded with pulse width modulation (PWM) data which are obtained by converting data encoded by a predetermined modulation code that generates a pattern having a D.C. component.

Abstract: An exclusive control system of a shared resource in the computer system is comprised of: an exclusive control management table constructed of a lock word and a lock queue header, a management region allocated to the respective executable members for storing therein the executable member identifying information of the allocated executable member; resource management means for swapping a content of a management region allocated to a requesting executable member for a content of the lock queue header of the exclusive control management table upon receipt of the request to acquire the use right of the shared resource from the executable member, or a request to release the use right from the executable member, thereby producing a quasi-queue for chaining the executable members that have requested to acquire the use right while another executable member acquires the use right; and executable member control means for suspending a process operation of such an executable member which is brought into a waiting state in

Abstract: A thin film transistor matrix device is fabricated by forming a transparent conductor film and a metal film on an insulating substrate in this order. The metal film and the transparent conductor film are together patterned to form picture element electrodes, and drain bus lines or gate bus lines. Source electrodes and drain electrodes may also be formed from the transparent conductor film and metal film. A semiconductor layer, an insulating film and a conductor film may be formed on the entire surface in this order. In this case, the conductor film, the insulator film and the semiconductor layer are patterned to form an active layer from the semiconductor layer, gate insulating films from the insulating film, and gate electrodes and gate bus lines from the conductor film. By patterning the conductor film, the insulating film and the semiconductor layer, the metal film of the picture element electrodes and drain bus lines is exposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a DC-DC converter, and aims at preventing a flywheel switch from being destroyed. A PWM control circuit outputs an oscillation signal in order to alternately switch between a main switch and a rectification switch, and a flywheel switch. A state detecting unit generates a control instruction signal for a controlling unit, if the DC-DC converter is powered down or if it is overloaded. The controlling unit turns off the flywheel switch by controlling a driving circuit which controls the on/off status of the flywheel switch. An electric current I.sub.Q2 flows via a parasitic diode D.sub.Q2, when the flywheel switch is turned off. With the above described configuration, the flywheel switch can be prevented from being destroyed, when the DC-DC converter is overloaded, or when an overcurrent occurs due to power-down.

Abstract: There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in which ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the subject to obtain received signals through receiving the ultrasonic waves reflected within the subject, thereby displaying an image based on the received signals. In the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a contact or non-contact of the tip portion of the ultrasonic probe with the subject is detected. At the time point when the non-contact is detected, a display mode of a CRT display is changed from a dynamic image mode to a still image mode (a freeze mode), so that a desired image is displayed in the form of a still image.

Abstract: A chemically amplified resist pattern is formed by applying chemically amplified resist, forming thereafter a layer of an amorphous polyolefines substance thereon, then exposing the chemically amplified resist, and furthermore, developing the chemically amplified resist after removing the amorphous polyolefines substance.

Abstract: A clocked instruction flow is managed subject to issue and fetch constraints through a plurality of instruction latches which receive instructions from selected memory locations. By checking the number of instructions fetched and issued, the fetch program counter is adjusted responsive to the status of selected state variables indicating instructions issued and fetched. The instruction latches are fully scheduled from cycle to cycle with instructions, by fetching instructions in accordance with a fetch program counter.

Abstract: A disk drive such as a magnetic disk drive includes a command-receiving mechanism for receiving a command from a host device, by which access operations for consecutive sectors are requested, a access-designating mechanism for designating continuous-access operations in the form of jump-access operations with respect to the sectors of at least one disk medium, when the command is sent from the command-receiving mechanism and a continuous-access executing mechanism for executing the continuous-access operations at every other sector, e.g., each odd sector or each even sector, by utilizing the same head.Preferably, the access-designating mechanism includes a circuit for conversion of the width of data, in which a process for conversion is executed, between the width of the data that are handled in the command-receiving mechanism and the width of the data that are handled in the continuous-access executing mechanism so that the continuous-access operations at every other sector location can be realized.

Abstract: A compact optical disk drive unit improved in workability of assembly. A first printed wiring board having a signal demodulating circuit, a drive unit control circuit, and a drive circuit for driving a voice coil motor is mounted on an upper surface of a drive base. A first connector is mounted on a lower surface of the first printed wiring board. A moving optical assembly having an objective lens is movably mounted on the drive base, and a fixed optical assembly having a laser drive module and a photodetector is mounted on a lower surface of the drive base. The fixed optical assembly includes a second printed wiring board having a second connector. The first and second printed wiring boards and are connected together through the first and second connectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data in a disc apparatus are disclosed which perform on-the-fly correction. The disc apparatus includes a disc drive for transferring read data to a disc controller after a head has read the data from a storage disc. This disc controller transfers the data from the disc drive to a host device. The data transferring method reads data recorded on the storage disc in a CKD format in which one block is composed of a plurality of subblocks each having an error correction code. Errors in the data are detected by use of an error detection code on a subblock-unit; and after correcting the data of the error-detected subblock, the corrected data on the subblock-unit are transferred with the data of at least the previous subblock, at a speed higher than a reading speed.

Abstract: A method of forming a silicon oxide film by setting a silicon wafer in a chamber capable of introducing oxidizing gas and being evacuated and by heating the silicon wafer in an oxidizing atmosphere. The method includes the steps of: transporting the silicon wafer into the chamber without contacting the silicon wafer with air; introducing an ozone containing gas into the chamber and setting the interior of the chamber to a predetermined pressure; and heating the silicon wafer to a predetermined temperature and oxidizing the surface of the silicon wafer. The predetermined pressure is preferably between 200 Torr and 0.1 Torr. Ozone may be generated from oxygen by applying ultraviolet rays to the upper space of a silicon wafer. The temperature of ozone to be introduced is preferably low. It is preferable to incorporate infrared heating in order not to excessively heat ozone and to heat a silicon wafer to a high temperature.

Abstract: A portable telephone having a cover (14) rotatably mounted to a cover body (2). When the cover (14) is in a closed condition, it covers and protects a switch section of the body (2), while when the cover (14) is in an open condition, it is held in a stable position at a predetermined inclined angle with respect to the body (2) by a cover holding mechanism. When the cover (14) is in the open condition, it also functions as a voice reflecting and collecting board for a microphone provided in the body (2).

Abstract: A digitizer uses acoustic waves originating from a stylus to determine the position of the stylus on a plate. The acoustic waves are introduced into the plate from the tip of the stylus and are detected by a plurality of detectors positioned at various points along the periphery of the plate. By sensing differences in the arrival times of the acoustic waves at the detectors, a microprocessor calculates the position of the stylus. In a preferred embodiment using a non-tethered stylus, four detectors are positioned at the corners of a rectangle, and the time differences are used as addresses in a lookup table, which is programmed to contain x and y coordinates corresponding to the time differences, Different embodiments may detect only the "fast" symmetrical waves or only the "slow" antisymmetrical waves generated in the plate, or may use the arrival times of both types of waves to determine the stylus position.

Abstract: The heat sink of the present invention applicable to at least two heating elements including two integrated circuit packages includes a base member fixed to the integrated circuit packages and having a plurality of fins, and air cooling means provided at a substantially central position of the base member. This construction allows an improvement in reliability, a reduction in noise, and a reduction in power consumption.

Abstract: E and D mode HEMTs are integrated in a laminated layer of pairs of GaAs/AlGaAs layers formed on the same GaAs-on-Si substrate. The gate electrodes of E and D mode HEMTs are formed on different GaAs layers. The GaAs layer on Si contains crystal defects. It is hypothesized that the defects extend upward in the laminated layer of pairs of GaAs/AlGaAs layers formed on the GaAs layer with such crystal defects. Etch pits are generated as the AlGaAs layer is etched by ammonium etchant. Generation of etch pits can be suppressed by etching the whole part of the exposed AlGaAs layer and exposing the GaAs layer under the gate electrode.

Abstract: A clocking converter for asynchronous data capable of performing bit synchronization processes of asynchronous data of different patterns by the same circuit, requiring virtually no change made therein, and shortening the processing time while achieving downscaling of the circuit structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor device unit includes a holder having a plurality of holding parts, and a plurality of semiconductor devices held by the holding parts of the holder. Each of the semiconductor devices has a generally parallelepiped shape with top and bottom surfaces and at least one side surface provided with leads which are exposed whereby the semiconductor device unit stands by itself on the leads.

Abstract: A mask includes a transparent layer which is transparent with respect to a light which is used for an exposure, and a mask pattern layer which is formed on the transparent layer. At least a portion of the mask pattern layer is made up solely of a phase shift layer for transmitting the light, so that a phase shift occurs between a phase of the light transmitted through the phase shift layer and a phase of the light transmitted through a portion of the mask having no phase shift layer.

Abstract: Diodes rows are arranged at interval L in the same direction as that of arrangement of cell rows. Each of the diodes rows has a row of pn junctions each formed on a substrate and arranged along a track vertical to interconnection tracks. The interconnection between cells automatically connect the gates of MOS transistors to the diodes without the need for considering which gate should be connected to the diode. The length of wiring between the gate of MOS transistor and a diode is less than an upper limit value for preventing electrostatic breakdown at a gate oxide in a process of fabricating the semiconductor integrated circuit. Each of the pn junctions may be formed under necessary input signal lines, necessary ground line, the bottom of the drain of MOS transistor or under the power supply line outside of macrocell.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an apparatus includes the steps of forming a plurality of circuit regions on a single master print circuit board, soldering one or more interconnection leads upon corresponding pad electrodes of the foregoing circuit regions, in a state that the plurality of circuit regions are connected with each other mechanically to form the master print circuit board, and dividing the master print circuit board into individual printed circuit boards each corresponding to one of the circuit regions on the master print circuit board.