Abstract: An optical disk comprising a plastic disk body having fluorescent coloring material dispersed therein. Pits representing stored data are formed on a first main surface of the plastic disk body, a reflecting layer is formed over the first main surface having the pits and a protecting layer is formed over the reflecting layer. When the optical disk is subjected to an external light, the fluorescent coloring material emits a radiation of a fluorescent light of a particular color, which can be seen at the opposite, second main surface and the outer circumferential surface of the optical disk. The optical disk can be also subjected to a laser beam for regenerating data stored in the optical disk.

Abstract: In monitoring a network in which nodes such as a host, a hub, rooter, etc. are interconnected, each node is indicated by an icon, and the connection between the nodes is indicated by a line. A node to be regarded is positioned in the center of the map as a root, and a node directly connected to the root is arranged as a node at the second hierarchical level on the circumference of the circle with the root centered. The node connected to the node at the second hierarchical level is arranged as a node at the third hierarchical level on the circumference of the concentric circle, with the root centered, having a larger radius than the node at the second hierarchical level. Similarly, the network configuration is assumed to be a hierarchical structure with the root centered, and an icon indicating an object at a higher hierarchical level is arranged on the circumference of a concentric circle having a larger radius.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus which reduces operator workload at a checkout counter and configured to be inexpensive to manufacture. In particular this optical scanning apparatus is designed so that an operator can scan merchandise without tilting these commodities. Therefore, to use this optical scanning apparatus the operator spots the bar code and slides the merchandise along the checkout counter. The optical scanning apparatus emits laser scanning patterns from the side of the counter and parallel to its surface as well as from above. Therefore whether the bar code is located on the side or top of the merchandise the apparatus is able to read it without tilting the merchandise. This is particular useful when dealing with liquid products, such as beverages or soups, and delicate products, such as cakes. In the case of liquid products, tilting them would run the risk of spilling them on the counter. In the case of delicate products, tilting them runs the risk of disturbing their appearance.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling system capable of simultaneously cooling the electronic parts on a multichip module that is arranged so as to provide a predetermined function, wherein the cooling system can be easily and quickly attached to and detached from the module when necessary.

Abstract: An interleaved auto-zero analog-to-digital converter includes chopper comparators for comparing an analog input signal to predetermined voltage values. An additional chopper comparator is included for performing the comparison function of a chopper comparator undergoing an auto zero operation.

Abstract: When a fault occurs, a hot-standby cluster takes over the job of the cluster which is at fault, and the load distribution for each job of load-sharing clusters is changed, simplifying the processing for dealing with the fault. Thus the clusters are efficiently used and arranged freely. The system is provided with a plurality of clusters which are operated by one or more of an in-use hot-standby system, a hot-standby waiting system, and a load sharing system for each job according to a table, and of the cluster is provided with a means which instructs a hot-standby waiting cluster to take over the job of a faulty cluster when the job is of the in-use hot-standby system, or instructs another load-sharing cluster to take over the job in a case the job is of the load-sharing system, referring to the table for dealing with a fault at any one of the clusters.

Abstract: An output circuit which may be used in a battery pack, such as those used to provide a charge to a portable electronic device. The output circuit includes an output MOSFET having a gate and forming an open drain circuit, and a CMOS drive transistor. The CMOS drive transistor has a PMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor, an input terminal and an output terminal. The input terminal receives a drive control signal and the output terminal is connected to the gate of the output MOSFET. When the drive control signal is active, the PMOS transistor is turned off and the output MOSFET is turned on, such that power is provided at the output terminal of the output circuit via the output MOSFET. The output circuit provides improved power consumption characteristics so that the battery charge is not unnecessarily drained.

Abstract: An apparatus for growing a mixed compound semiconductor layer utilizing three or more source gases. The apparatus includes a horizontal type reactor chamber. The reactor chamber includes a partition plate separating an upstream region of the reactor chamber into an upper region and a lower region. The upper and lower regions are joined together forming a growth region in a downstream region of the reactor chamber. First and second inlet ports are provided at an upstream end of the lower region for admitting first and second source gases, respectively. A third inlet port is provided at an upstream end of the upper region for admitting a third source gas. An outlet port is provided at a downstream end of the growth region for exhaust. A substrate stage is arranged in the growth region so that the substrate surface is exposed to the growth region and forms a smooth surface for allowing a laminar gas flow.

Abstract: An optical fiber assembly includes a substrate carrying an optical device and a ferrule having a cutout surface, wherein the substrate is mounted on the ferrule such that a principal surface of the substrate engages a corresponding flat cutout surface of the ferrule. Further, an optical module that uses such an optical fiber assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate is prepared which has a principal surface, an exposed pad made of conductive material being formed in a partial area of the principal surface, and the other area of the principal surface being covered with a first insulating film. A base conductive film is formed on the first insulating film and the pad. A photoresist film having a thickness of 50 &mgr;m or thicker is formed on the base conductive film. An opening is formed through the photoresist film in an area corresponding to the pad to expose a partial surface area of the base conductive film. A conductive bump electrode is deposited on the base conductive film exposed on a bottom of the opening. The photoresist film is removed. This method is suitable for making a fine pitch between bump electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for gain equalization, for example. First, an optical transmission line including an optical amplifier having a gain changing nonlinearly with wavelength is provided (step (a)). Secondly, gain equalization of the optical transmission line is performed so as to obtain a gain changing substantially linearly with wavelength (step (b)). Finally, gain equalization of the optical transmission line is performed so as to obtain a gain remaining substantially unchanged with wavelength (step (c)). According to this method, gain equalization of the optical transmission line is performed so as to obtain a gain remaining substantially unchanged with wavelength after the step (b) of performing gain equalization so as to obtain a gain changing substantially linearly with wavelength. Accordingly, variations in equalization error due to changes in system condition can be easily suppressed.

Abstract: An image-forming device such as a full color printer is provided which is designed to correct the speed of a conveyer belt on which print sheets are transported or intervals between image-transferring units for compensating for a shift between colors. The image-forming device has a timer which measures an elapsed time from turning on of the device or release of a sleep mode, a print-off time and a print time and determines a correction value as a function of the times measured by the timer by look-up using a table.

Abstract: A process for fabricating an ONO structure for a MONOS type Flash cell includes growing a first silicon oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, a silicon nitride layer is formed to overlie the first silicon oxide layer, and a polycrystalline silicon layer is deposited to overlie the silicon nitride layer. By utilizing the polycrystalline silicon layer as the top layer of the ONO structure, a resist layer can be cleaned more aggressively than if the top layer of the ONO structure were an oxide layer. A second silicon oxide layer overlies the polycrystalline layer, of the ONO structure. Since the second silicon oxide layer is deposited on top of polycrystalline silicon after the resist material is cleaned, some resist material can remain on the polycrystalline layer without degrading the performance of the MONOS type cell.

Abstract: A back wiring board which connects a printed board package to testers and an aggregated device of back wiring boards. A receiving portion receives a test demand signal from an external controller, a selector selects and connects one of the testers connected to adapter connectors for the connection to the printed board package based on the test demand signal. Group connectors connect a plurality of the back wiring boards to form a board group. The selector selects and connects one of the testers only to the printed board package connected to one of the back wiring boards within the board group based on the test demand signal.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, there are comprised the steps of forming an oxidation preventing layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming a first window in the oxidation preventing layer, placing the semiconductor substrate in a first atmosphere in which an oxygen gas and a first amount of a chlorine gas are flown through and then heating the semiconductor substrate at a first temperature such that a first selective oxide film is to grown by thermally oxidizing the surface of the semiconductor substrate exposed from the first window, forming a second window by patterning the oxidation preventing layer, and placing the semiconductor substrate in a second atmosphere in which the oxygen gas and a second amount, which is larger than the first amount, of the chlorine gas are flown through and then heating the semiconductor substrate at a second temperature such that a second selective oxide film is formed and that a thickness of the first selective oxide film formed below the f

Abstract: A light amplifier device includes a module body to which an exciting light source, an optical multiplexer and an optical isolator are attached, and an optical fiber having a light amplifying function, the optical fiber being wound around the module body.

Abstract: A key management server is arranged at the same position as a terminal unit as viewed from a chat server. A channel secret key unique to each channel is generated by the key management server and distributed to a chat client so that the communication can be kept secret, even when a chat server low in reliability is used.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device which can reduce a time required for a write-protection setting operation when a plurality of blocks are to be write-protected. A write area of the semiconductor memory device is divided into a predetermined number of blocks each of which is rewritable on an individual block basis. Write-protection information is simultaneously provided to a plurality of blocks that are arbitrarily designated from among the predetermined number of blocks so that the plurality of blocks are simultaneously subjected to the write-protection setting operation.

Abstract: A method of producing a semiconductor device including a step of forming separation grooves in scribing regions defined at boundary portions between a plurality of semiconductor-device forming portions formed on a top surface of a semiconductor substrate; a step of defining portions of the scribing regions in the semiconductor substrate as substrate connecting portions; and a step of cutting off the substrate connecting portions along the separation grooves, to thereby separate the plurality of semiconductor-device forming portions into chips. These production steps contribute to a higher working efficiency in a later assembling process and to improved mass-production.

Abstract: The data, as read out from a trunk database, and the read-out data, as processed, are stored in a public database. A setup unit and an operations support unit manage the stored data of the public database and the attribute data of the stored data by a dictionary. In accordance with a demand of a user, an inquiry unit processes and displays the data on the basis of the data stored in the public database and the attribute data.