Abstract: In a method of etching an Al or Al alloy layer, an Al or Al alloy layer is formed on an underlying surface, the surface of the Al or Al alloy layer is processed with TMAH, a resist pattern is formed on the surface of the Al or Al alloy layer processed with TMAH, and by using the resist pattern as an etching mask, the Al or Al alloy layer is wet-etched.

Abstract: The value of a reference feature vector calculated from a feature vector of an input pattern is transformed into a candidate category set, by a mapping described in a candidate table. Then, pattern recognition is performed using the candidate category set. By suitably setting the mapping, a high-speed process is performed while maintaining a recognition accuracy.

Abstract: An on-vehicle input and output apparatus having a head portion and a body portion, has an information input unit for receiving input information in an on-vehicle environment, an information interpreter unit for interpreting the input information received through the information input unit to generate output information, and an information output unit for outputting the output information generated in the information interpreter unit.

Abstract: Demodulated data B containing the whole of a right block and a part of a left block is obtained after demodulated data A containing a start guard bar and based on a division reading process has been at first obtained. When demodulated data C containing an end guard bar and numerical data of three characters is thereafter obtained, a CPU aligns the demodulated data C with modulus 10-OK data obtained by synthesizing the demodulated data A with the demodulated data B on the basis of the end guard bar, and compares tenth through twelfth characters (of the numerical data) of both of data with each other. As a result of this comparison, if the tenth through twelfth characters (of the numerical data) of both of data are coincident with each other, the CPU increments an identical character counter.

Abstract: The present invention,is directed to an optical space switch accommodating a plurality of input light paths and output light paths. The optical space switch comprises a plurality of polarization control optical switches, each consisting essentially of: polarization control means having elements, one for each input light path, for rotating through 90° the polarizing direction of light information incident from each input light path or otherwise retaining the polarizing direction thereof for output; and a light path routing element for routing the light path for the light information output from the polarization control means in accordance with the polarizing direction of the light information. These polarization control optical switches are arranged in a matrix pattern or coupled in cascade to implement a polarization control optical space switch.

Abstract: The random numbers generated in the user side apparatus 1 or the server side apparatus 2 are exchanged by enciphering with the common secret information (e.g., password or the like) which is co-owned by both sides, so that only in case the random numbers generated by its own and transmitted have been returned, the related parties are mutually authenticated to start restoring the compressed contents CC. By this step, it becomes possible to take such method that the electronic information (contents) per se is subjected to certain processing (e.g., compression) and previously distributed in a recording medium such as CD-ROM as heretofore, and the information for restoring the processed electronic information is transmitted through the communication line. Accordingly, it becomes possible to obviate the danger of sending/receiving through the communication line the electronic information which can be of enormous data amount.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprising: a first insulating film covering the upper and side surfaces of a gate electrode; a second insulating film formed on the substrate covering the first insulating film; a pair of contact holes formed through the second insulating film and reaching the impurity diffusion regions; a conductive plug embedded in one of the contact holes; a third insulating film formed on the second insulating film covering the conductive plug, and having a first aperture on the other contact hole; a bit line formed on the third insulating film and connected to the other impurity diffusion region through the first aperture and the other contact hole; a fourth insulating film covering the upper and side surfaces of the bit line; a second aperture formed through the third insulating film in alignment with the fourth insulating film covering the side surface of the bit line; a storage electrode formed to extend over the bit line, insulated from the bit line by the third and fourth insulating fi

Abstract: A mobile communication system includes a mobile terminal, a base station, and a mobile switching station. The mobile terminal, the base station and the mobile switching station are constructed so that communication information and control information are transferred by an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cell between the mobile terminal and the base station, between mobile switching station and the base station.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including an insulated-gate field effect transistor having a contact hole formed in an inter-layer insulating film on an S/D region adjacent to a gate electrode and has an object to provide a semiconductor device capable of securing the uniformity of the thickness of an insulating film between a gate electrode and an S/D electrode or interconnection layer while integrating elements at a high density. The semiconductor device comprises an S/D region formed in a semiconductor layer at the both sides of the gate electrode, an insulating side wall formed on side surface of the gate electrode, a conducting side wall covering side surface of the insulating side wall and contacting the S/D region, a covering insulating film for covering the gate electrode, S/D region, insulating side wall, and conducting side wall, and a contact hole formed in the covering insulating film on the S/D region of at least one side.

Abstract: There is provided a circuit board cabinet which is capable of more reliably preventing flames of a fire in a shelf from spreading to external devices, without degrading cooling capability thereof. Flames of the fire occurring in the shelf rise within a slot, pass through a shield plate, and then enter a heat shield unit. In the heat shield unit, the flames are first blocked by a heat shield plate and substantially reduced in force while passing through holes formed through the heat shield plate. Portions of the flames which were not blocked by the heat shield plate reach a top board of the unit after passing through the holes, where they are reduced. Since there is a predetermined distance between the heat shield plate and the top board, the flames having passed through the heat shield plate spread horizontally to some extent and then reach the top board. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the force of the flames sufficiently by the top board.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided to calculate the strength of an electromagnetic field radiated from an electric device according to a moment method, wherein the moment method is based on integral equations derived from electromagnetic equations. The apparatus and method include a setting unit to interactively set a name of a two-wire cable arranged in the electric device and coordinates of the two-wire cable at a cable inlet, a cable outlet, and way points in the electric device, the way points being prepared as and when required to bend the two-wire cable between the cable inlet and the cable outlet. Further, the apparatus and method include library unit corresponding to cable names, respectively, and storing attributes of a corresponding cable comprising of the name, type, characteristic impedance, and structural data of the two-wire cable.

Abstract: A first reading unit reads data stored in a second storage area of a storage medium (including reproduction management information), and stores it in another storage medium. A first reproducing unit reproduces the data read from a first storage area of a storage medium by the first reading unit. A second reading unit reads data stored by the first reading unit in another storage medium, and outputs it to a second reproducing unit. The second reproducing unit reproduces data received from the second reading unit. A controlling unit synchronizes the reproduction of the data by the first reproducing unit with the reproduction of the data by the second reproducing unit.

Abstract: A method calculates the strength of an electromagnetic field radiated from an electric circuit device according to analytic data. The method includes the steps of sequentially displaying procedures that include at least a procedure for prompting a user to enter external dimensions of the electric circuit device and a procedure for prompting the user to enter signal frequencies on which the electric circuit device is divided into meshes and analyzed; letting the user interactively set primary data according to the displayed procedures; preparing a model of the electric circuit device according to the primary data; and preparing the analytic data according to the model. Also provided are an apparatus for achieving the method and a medium for storing a program that executes the method. These method, apparatus, and medium enable even a novice to easily and quickly set the primary data and efficiently calculate the electromagnetic field strength.

Abstract: A method of electroplating using a photoresist layer on a conductive seed layer. The photoresist layer defines a column-shaped space. Ridges are formed on the wall surfaces of the photoresist layer surrounding the column-shaped space. The ridges extend from the conductive seed layer to the opening of the column-shaped space. The electrolytic solution drives bubbles out of the column-shaped space, so that the column-shaped space is filled with the electrolytic solution without any cavities. In addition, if hydrogen bubbles are generated in the column-shaped space, the electrolytic solution serves to drive the hydrogen bubbles out of the column-shaped space along the corners of the column-shaped space.

Abstract: A bus controller for a CCD digital still camera arbitrates competing requests by multiple microcontrollers for a shared memory. One of the microcontrollers is designated to have a higher priority than the other microcontroller(s). In the case of competing requests, while one microcontroller is granted access to the memory, the other microcontroller performs other processing, and polls a memory status register to determine when the memory is available. Since the waiting processor performs other operations, as opposed to idling, the efficiency of the microcontroller is improved.

Abstract: A light source module has a laser diode, and a circuit board. The circuit board includes the laser diode, a driver circuit for the laser diode, and a connector for receiving a power supply for driving the laser diode from an electric power source. A lens and an aperture shapes the laser beam emitted from the laser diode. A housing made of electrical insulating material contains the lens, the aperture and the circuit board except for a portion of the circuit board where the connector is mounted.

Abstract: An equalization circuit for an address transition detector of a high density flash memory device is disclosed. The equalization circuit substantially equalizes the electrical characteristics of a particular signal path to those of another signal path wherein these signal paths transmit trigger signals which further generate other signals. The equalization ensures that resultant signals generated from the trigger signals which traverse these signal paths are generated in the same manner and with the same timing no matter which signal path the trigger signal travels down.

Abstract: A compile processing apparatus compiles a program formed of a plurality of classes having initializing procedures. The compile processing apparatus includes a specifying unit for specifying an initializing procedure when a statement to be compiled requires the initializing procedure, a determination unit for executing a determination process for determining whether the initializing procedure specified by the specifying unit can be considered to not affect other classes, and a changing unit for changing the statement so that the statement does not access the initializing procedure when the determination unit determines that the initializing procedure can be considered to not affect the other classes.

Abstract: A communication terminal receives character-based information from a host machine via a communication line. The terminal includes a menu identifying section for identifying menu information from a menu picture received from the host machine, and a menu information storing section for extracting individual informations from the menu information identified by the menu identifying section. The individual informations are selectable using input admissible commands, respectively, and the menu information storing section temporarily stores the individual informations and the corresponding input admissible commands. The terminal further includes a display output control section for outputting at least the individual informations in a manner to match a display fashion of a display unit, and a selecting section for selecting one of the individual informations displayed on the display unit by the display output control section.

Abstract: When a removable medium is inserted, a medium information managing unit of a storing apparatus reads out medium information in a predetermined area and analyzes, thereby forming medium management information including access formats such as ROM, RAM, security in which a password is needed, and the like in correspondence to a plurality of partitions constructing a virtual medium by dividing an area in the medium into a plurality of data areas. When an input/output request is received from an upper apparatus, a command processing unit recognizes the access format of the target partition from the medium management information and executes a process corresponding to the access format.