Abstract: A semiconductor memory has memory cells arranged in arrays, direct-type sense amplifiers arranged in each column of the memory cells, for writing and reading data to and from a memory cell to be accessed, column selection lines for selecting sense amplifiers that are in a column that involves the memory cell to be accessed, write-only column selection lines for selecting sense amplifiers that are in a row that involves the memory cell to be accessed if the memory cell is accessed to write data thereto, and local drivers. The sense amplifiers are grouped, in each row, into sense amplifier blocks. The write-only column selection lines consist of first selection lines for selecting sense amplifier blocks that are in the row that involves the memory cell to be accessed for data write and second selection lines for selecting sense amplifiers that are contained in the selected sense amplifier blocks.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor device including: a ceramic base board formed of AlN; a CPU chip and a CMU chip which are flip-chip bonded on a circuit board which includes the ceramic base board; SRAM chips which are die-bonded to the lower major surface of the circuit board; first heat conductive blocks adhesively attached to the CPU chip and the CMU chip; second heat conductive blocks adhesively attached to the upper major surface of the AlN ceramic base board; a resin package; and a heat sink which, adhesively attached on the upper major surface of the resin package, is in close contact with the first heat conductive blocks and the second heat conductive blocks. The heat generated by the CPU chip and the CMU chip is transferred to the heat sink via the first heat conductive blocks and is radiated from the heat sink.

Abstract: A semiconductor device outputs data from a plurality of data nodes during a normal-operation mode, and outputs a test result from at least one of the data nodes during a test-operation mode. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of data-bus lines which convey the data with respect to the data nodes, and a data-bus switch which allows only the data-bus lines corresponding to the at least one of the data nodes to be driven in a first condition of the test-operation mode, and which allows all of the data-bus lines corresponding to the data nodes to be driven in a second condition of the test-operation mode.

Abstract: As the pre-charge potential for write global data buses (12, 13), a potential lower than the power supply voltage (Vii) for peripheral circuit by the threshold voltage (Vth) of a transistor is used. This suppresses disturbance in the potential of a pair of bit lines (18, 19) due to pre-charge operation. It suffices if the write global data buses are pre-charged to the potential lower than the power supply voltage (Vii) for peripheral circuit by the threshold voltage (Vth). This can reduce current consumption accordingly. By generating the pre-charge potential without using the power supply voltage (Viic) for core, adverse effects on sense operation can be avoided.

Abstract: A data processing device having a pipeline bypass function passes an operation result of a preceding instruction to a succeeding instruction as a source operand before writing the operation result to a register. A source operand bypass specification field and a source operand register field in the instruction code are provided to control passing of the operation result. A source operand selector responds to the source operand bypass specification field by selecting data either from the register or the bypasses as a pipeline input data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a toner residual quantity detecting apparatus for detecting a residual quantity of toners in a developing unit. This toner residual quantity detecting apparatus has a temperature sensor, provided in the bottom of the developing unit, for generating an output proportional to a detected temperature and a detecting circuit for detecting the toner residual quantity from the output of the temperature sensor. This temperature sensor detects a difference between temperatures when covered with the toners and when not covered with the toners, thereby detecting the toner residual quantity.

Abstract: An IC card has a built-in integrated circuit including a processor and a memory. The memory stores therein purchase history information having purchase results recorded on a genre-to-genre basis and premium information having premium values defined in accordance with the purchase results on a genre-to-genre basis. A service processing unit refers to the purchase history information of the IC card on the basis of the genre of a purchased commodity to acquire purchase results. The service processing unit further refers to the premium information of the IC card on the basis of the acquired purchase results to acquire corresponding premium values, thereby providing discount services or points in conformity with the acquired premium values.

Abstract: A display driving method drives a display to make a gradation display on a screen of the display depending on a length of a light emission time in each of sub fields forming 1 field, where 1 field is a time in which an image is displayed, N sub fields SF1 through SFN form 1 field, and each sub field includes an address display-time in which a wall charge is formed with respect to all pixels which are to emit light within the sub field and a sustain time which is equal to the light emission time and determines a luminance level. The display driving method includes the steps of setting the sustain times of each of the sub fields approximately constant within 1 field, and displaying image data on the display using N+1 gradation levels from a luminance level 0 to a luminance level N.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a channel region formed in a substrate having a first conductivity type, a first diffusion region formed in the substrate at a first side of the channel region with a second, opposite conductivity type, a second diffusion region formed in the substrate at a second side of said channel region with the second conductivity type, a ferroelectric film formed on the substrate so as to cover the channel region, and a gate electrode provided on the ferroelectric film, wherein the channel region has the second conductivity type.

Abstract: A display device includes a cathode plate having a minute field emission cathode to emit electrons into an area defining a pixel, a spacer support member, and an anode plate placed between the cathode plate and the spacer support member, the anode plate having a fluorescent layer in the area defining the pixel, wherein the spacer support member is provided with a plurality of pole members for contacting the cathode plate and supporting the cathode plate against atmospheric pressure, the pole members extending vertically toward the cathode plate from a surface of the spacer support member and passing through a plurality of through-holes provided on the anode plate without contacting the anode plate.

Abstract: Disclosed are an exchange which performs call connection control for subscribers in a plurality of areas having different toll numbers, and a method of controlling connection of calls in this exchange. A telephone number translation table is created in accordance with a telephone number structure comprising an internal toll number and internal local office numbers, wherein the internal toll number is a string of numerals shared by toll numbers in the plurality of areas, and the internal local office numbers are numbers obtained by adding a number, which is not shared by the toll numbers in the plurality of areas, onto the beginning of local office numbers that follow the unshared number. The exchange performs switching service control using the telephone number translation table.

Abstract: A bar-code reader is easy to use and has an optical system that is easy to position and replace. The bar-code reader is used for a POS system. The bar code reader has a laser source for emitting a laser beam, a scan unit for scanning a bar code with the laser beam according to a predetermined scanning pattern, a window for emitting the laser beam from the scan unit, a condensing unit for condensing reflected light returned from the bar code through the window and scan unit along the route the laser beam traced, a photosensor for detecting the condensed light and providing an electric signal in proportion to the intensity of the detected light, and an emission-condensing unit incorporating the laser source, condensing unit, and photosensor, which can be easily and correctly mechanically installed.

Abstract: A film patterning method using resist as a mask, comprises the steps of forming a film 2 on a substrate 1, coating resist 3 on the film 2, exposing the resist 3, developing the resist 3 by a liquid phase developing solution 4, removing the liquid developing solution 4 from a surface of the film 2, irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the resist 3, which remains on the film 2 by the developing step, in an oxygen containing atmosphere, removing developed residue of the surface of the resist 3 by supplying an alkali aqueous solution 5 to the resist 3 which has remained on the film 2, and forming patterns of the film 2 by etching the film 2 exposed from the resist 3. Accordingly, the unnecessary residue of resist can be removed from the substrate in a short time after the development.

Abstract: A virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) which receives an input light at a respective wavelength, and produces a spatially distinguishable output light in accordance with the wavelength of the input light. The VIPA has first and second surfaces. The second surface has a reflectivity which causes a portion of light incident thereon to be transmitted therethrough. The first and second surfaces are positioned so that the input light is reflected a plurality of times between the first and second surfaces to cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second surface. The plurality of transmitted lights interfere with each other to produce an output light which is spatially distinguishable from an output light produced for an input light having any other wavelength within the continuous range of wavelengths. A spacer element has an approximately zero thermal expansion coefficient and maintains the relative positioning between the first and second surfaces to be constant.

Abstract: A phase comparator is adapted to output a predetermined number of pulse signals corresponding to the phase difference between a comparison reference signal and a comparison object signal to be compared therewith. This phase comparator is applied to a DLL (Delay Locked Loop) circuit having a delay circuit, a dummy delay circuit and a delay controller. Further, the phase comparator has a phase comparing section and a pulse number control section. The phase comparing section is used to make a judgement by comparing the phase difference between the comparison reference signal and the comparison object signal with a predetermined value, and the pulse number control section is used to control a number of pulses to be output according to a result of the judgement made by the phase comparing section.

Abstract: A method of the invention reads a bar code based on bar-code data obtained by scanning the bar code with light. The method includes the steps of a) obtaining bar-code data, b) obtaining a sum of bar-data widths with respect to a predetermined number of bar data provided in at least one of a preceding portion and a following portion of the bar-code data, c) repeating the steps a) and b) once to obtain another sum, and d) making a comparison of the sum with another sum. The methods further includes a step of accepting the bar-code data as valid data when a result of the comparison satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A club with a conference room function and a remote installation system (RIS) function is displayed on a terminal of a user through a network. A plurality of clubs are hierarchically structured. A user uploads a software program that he has created to one of the clubs so as to publish the software program for which a fee may be or may not be charged. A supervisor of a club links to a software program being uploaded to another club or moves the authority of the club to another club. Another user can download a desired software program from any club. A supervisor of each club can flexibly manage software programs registered in the club.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk rotatably mounted in a housing, the disk having a plurality of tracks, a head for reading/writing data on the disk, and an actuator for moving the head across the tracks of the disk. The disk drive further includes a breathing filter fixed to the inner surface of a cover of the housing so as to close a breathing hole formed through the cover, and a breathing filter protecting member fixed to the outer surface of the cover so as to close the breathing hole and allow ventilation.

Abstract: A satellite communication system capable of notifying an user in speaking that a connection request is transmitted and capable of being implemented at low cost. A satellite communication system in accordance with the SCPC method using a voice activation is structured with a center station. The center station, when receiving a connection request to an user in speaking, measures a level of a carrier assigned to a reception line for the user with a demodulator. In this center station, when the level is not more than a predetermined level, the modulator transmits a signal notifying the user that the connection request is received.

Abstract: This invention describes methods for producing gate oxide regions in periphery regions of semiconductor chips, wherein the gate oxide regions have improved electrical properties. The methods involve the deposition of a barrier layer over the periphery of the semiconductor chip to prevent the introduction of contaminating nitrogen atoms into the periphery during a nitridation step in the core region of the semiconductor chip. By preventing the contamination of the gate areas of the periphery, the gate oxide regions so produced have increased breakdown voltages and increased reliability. This invention describes methods for etching the barrier layers used to protect the periphery from tunnel oxide nitridation. Semiconductor devices made with the methods of this invention have longer expected lifetimes and can be manufactured with higher device density.