Abstract: A signal processing device comprises a charge transfer device and a driving circuit, which includes a reference signal generating circuit for generating a reference signal, a transfer clock generating circuit receiving the reference signal for generating a transfer clock to a charge transfer section of the charge transfer device, a digital counter of N bits receiving and counting the reference signal, a D/A converter receiving the output of said counter for converting it into an analog voltage signal, which is applied to a final transfer gate of the charge transfer device, and a latch for latching an output of the counter when an output of a electric charge detection circuit of the charge transfer device reaches a predetermined level, whereby the latch outputs a digital signal of N bits corresponding to a signal electric charge outputted from the charge transfer section.

Abstract: A data updating system includes a current data storage unit for storing a current data. The current data includes a plurality of data rows, each of which is a set of data elements required to achieve a function. Each of the data elements is assigned with an identifier. A back-up section executes a back-up process, i.e., reads out data elements of a data row associated with an update instruction and stores it in a buffer memory. An update section overwrite new data elements designated by the update instruction on the associated data row in the storage unit in units of data elements after the back-up. When the overwrite is unsuccessful on a particular one of the new data elements, a recover section executes a recover process, i.e., reads the data elements from the buffer memory and writes them in the storage unit to recover the whole current data.

Abstract: In a bus system of a computer, an enable pulse is propagated through different signal paths and bus drivers so that it takes different amounts of time to reach a common bus. Each bus driver has a tristate output buffer connected to the bus, a delay circuit and an AND gate for receiving an enable pulse from one of the signal paths. The input terminal of the delay circuit is also connected to receive the same enable pulse for introducing a predetermined amount of delay to the enable pulse and supplying the delayed pulse to the AND gate, so that the delayed pulse is truncated at the trailing edge of the enable pulse directly supplied to the AND gate. The output terminal of the AND gate is connected to the enable/disable input terminal of the tristate output buffer for enabling it with the delayed and truncated enable pulse.

Abstract: A photoresist composition containing an alkylsulfonium salt compound represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## Wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be the same or different, each being a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl radical, R.sup.3 is a linear, branched or cyclic C.sub.1 to C.sub.8 alkyl radical, a C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 2-oxocycloalkyl radical, or a linear or branched C.sub.3 to C.sub.8 2-oxoalkyl radical, and Y.sup.- represents a counter ion. The photoresist composition has high transparency to deep U.V. light having wavelengths of 220 nm or less and is capable of forming good fine patterns with high sensitivity, thus being useful as chemically amplified type resist which is exposed to the deep U.V. light from an ArF excimer laser.

Abstract: An address generator generates a binary coded address signal consisting of a combination of bit-representative low swing complementary signals. The coded address signal is decoded by an address decoder in a concurrently amplifying manner to obtain a decoded address signal consisting of a combination of symbol-representative full swing signal pairs of logical signals. The decoder comprises a binary tree of sense amplifiers each serving for outputting a logical product of an input enable signal and a corresponding low swing complementary signal, so that a single logical signal has a high level at the output end of the decoder. The high level logical signal is employed to drive a word line for an access to an arbitrary location defined in a given memory or to a desired piece of data stored therein, at an address represented by the decoded address signal.

Abstract: A surface polishing apparatus includes a disk-like polishing tool, a polishing solution spray mechanism, and a polishing solution suction mechanism. The polishing tool has a work surface to which a polishing solution is supplied and against which a workpiece is pressed. The polishing tool is driven/rotated to surface-polish the workpiece. The polishing solution supply mechanism is disposed on the upstream side of the workpiece in the rotational direction of the polishing tool to supply a polishing solution to the work surface of the polishing tool. The polishing solution suction mechanism is disposed on the downstream side of the workpiece in the rotational direction of the polishing tool to draw and recover the polishing solution on the work surface of the polishing tool.

Abstract: A microcomputer includes an internal register previously written with an address from an external of the microcomputer. When the address becomes coincident with a register address outputted on an internal register address bus, data on an internal data bus is fetched to a holding register. A content of the holding register is outputted through a serial interface to the external of the microcomputer. Therefore, it is possible to obtain information of an internal resource of the microcomputer which would otherwise not be outputted from the external of the microcomputer, without stopping the execution of the microcomputer even temporarily. Accordingly, a machine controlled by the microcomputer will not run uncontrollably or break down. Furthermore, since the microcomputer is not stopped, it is possible to develop real time information of the actual application.

Abstract: The micropin array is comprised of a plurality of micropins having a given diameter and being aligned in parallel to one another at a given pitch, insulating tubular coatings disposed to cover individual micropins, and an adhesive provided to fill spacings among the insulating tubular coatings. This micropin array is produced by the steps of preparing a plurality of coated wire materials composed of a metal core having a given diameter and an insulating tubular coating of a given thickness formed around the metal core, aligning closely and successively the coated wire materials to form a bundle thereof, fixing the bundle of the coated wire materials by means of an adhesive, and cutting the fixed bundle of the coated wire materials by a given length to form a micropin array.

Abstract: An integrated magnetoresistive sensor includes a magnetoresistive element portion in which a plurality of resistors, each having a plurality of magnetoresistive elements, are aligned in an array. The magnetoresistive elements each have a single layer ferromagnetic thin film. The resistors are arranged so that two adjacent resistors have orthogonal maximum detection directions, respectively, and the plurality of resistors are connected to constitute a electrical circuit having a pair of opposing nodes. A comparison circuit portion compares outputs from the two opposing nodes and outputs a comparison result. The ferromagnetic thin film has NiFeCo as a major component. One of the plurality of resistors may have a different resistance when no magnetic field is applied relative to the remaining resistors.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory having a redundant memory cell row and a row address selector. During one of read and write operations, the row address selector outputs a regular row address signal from a row address signal buffer as the selected row signal. During an erase operation, the row address selector outputs a defective row address signal from a defective row address memory as the selected row signal, and a row decoder unit provides an erase preventing voltage to one of unused word line and unused redundant word line according to the selected row address signal, a redundant row use flag signal, and a substitution signal to prevent the erasing of unused memory cells.

Abstract: A protecting device is for use in protecting a radio communication device (15) under high and low temperature. The protecting device comprises a cover member (31) of a heat insulator that defines a room therein. The radio communication device is located in the room. First and second opening portions (31a, 31b) are formed at the cover member. The first opening portion may be opposite to the second opening portion. Each of the first and the second opening portions has a predetermined opening area. The protecting device further comprises first and second damper members (32a, 32b) and has first and second driving sections (33a, 33b, 34a, 34b). The first driving section drives the first damper member in accordance with a room temperature to make the first damper member vary the predetermined opening area into a variable opening area in the first opening portion. The variable opening area is smaller than the predetermined opening area.

Abstract: For a portable telephone set having a display portion for displaying various information associated with call or origination and reception, a gyro for detecting inclination of a main body is provided. When substantially horizontal position of the main body for dialing is detected by the gyro, power supply for the display portion is initiated. On the other hand, when the vertical position of the main body for speaking is detected by the gyro, supply for the display portion is shut off.

Abstract: A program transformation processing system comprises a syntax analyzing part receiving a source program for analyzing the syntax of the received source program and generating intermediate codes in a predetermined format, and an optimization processing part receiving the intermediate codes to perform a predetermined optimization processing for generating an object code having as small program size as possible and as short execution time as possible.

Abstract: A field emission cathode includes a conductive substrate (1) having emitters (4) formed thereon, a contact hole (5) extending therethrough, and a conductive layer (7) formed within the contact hole (5) thereby extending through the conductive substrate (1). A gate electrode (3) and the conductive layer (7) are insulated from the conductive substrate (1) by an insulating layer (2). The gate electrode (3) is connected to a first pull-out electrode (6) via the conductive layer (7), and the emitters (4) are connected to a second pull-out electrode (8) via the conductive substrate (1) thereby eliminating the need for bonding wires.

Abstract: A plurality of crossconnect systems are respectively arranged at branch points of a network transmission line system. Each of the crossconnect systems includes a first setting unit, a second setting unit, and a checking unit. The first setting unit sets a primary transmission route of the network transmission lines. The second setting unit automatically searches for and sets an alternate route when a fault is detected in the primary transmission route set by the first setting unit. The checking unit checks the operation of each transmission line according to a predetermined timing.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which restrains the smear phenomenon effectively without reduction of the dielectric breakdown strength between the transfer electrode and the light shielding film. A first insulating film covers photoelectrical converting regions each of which receives incident light through the first insulation film to generate and store a signal charge. A second insulating film covering a charge transfer region is of a layered structure containing a first insulation layer with a relatively lower dielectric constant such as SiO.sub.2 and a second insulation layer with a relatively higher dielectric constant such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4. The distance between the transfer electrode and the light shielding film can be decreased, providing decrease in thickness of the first insulating film. The smear phenomenon is restrained effectively without reduction of the dielectric breakdown strength between the transfer electrode and the light shielding film.

Abstract: A structure including a casing allows the user of a portable radio communication apparatus to extend and retract a retractable antenna into the casing of the apparatus with the hand holding the casing. The casing has thereinside a movable contact, a locking portion, an electrode, and a resilient member having a spring. An operating portion for operating the movable contact protrudes from the casing and is connected to the movable contact. To extend the antenna from the casing, the user tilts the casing such that the antenna is oriented downward and then presses the operating portion. As a result, the movable contact is moved away from the locking portion to allow the antenna to fall due to gravity. To retract the antenna into the casing, the user tilts the casing such that the antenna is oriented upward and then presses the operating portion.

Abstract: A heterojunction FET includes an electron supply layer formed on a non-doped semiconductor layer serving as a channel forming layer and a current path forming layer formed on the electron supply layer. The electron supply layer has an energy band gap greater than the non-doped semiconductor layer and its portion under a gate electrode is always depleted at any gate bias voltage in a bias voltage range for operating of the field effect transistor. The current path forming layer has a larger electron mobility than the electron supply layer. The gate electrode is formed on the current supply layer. Under a high gate bias voltage condition, parallel conduction does not occur in the electron supply layer but does occur in the current path forming layer. Since the current path forming layer has a larger carrier mobility than the electron supply layer, the mutual conductance value is kept high.

Abstract: A method of forming a T-shaped, cross-sectional pattern that enables upper and lower parts of the T-shaped patten using in first and second resist films layers independent of an existence of a mixing layer. A first resist film that is not sensitive to UV light is formed on or over a substrate and a first window is formed on or over a substrate and a first window is formed in the first resist film. The first window corresponds to the lower part of the T-shaped pattern. Next, a second resist film is formed on the first resist film to cover the first window. The second resist film is exposed to UV light to form a given image in the second resist film and is developed to form a second window in the second resist film. The second window corresponds to the upper part of the pattern.

Abstract: For quantization of subframe feature vectors representative of subframes identified by subframe indexes in each frame of a time sequential signal, such as an audio or a video signal, a first feature vector of a first subframe of a current frame is extracted with additional extraction of a second feature vector of a second subframe of the current frame and is quantized by a frame vector quantizer unit into a quantized frame vector for the current frame. Using a quantized frame vector for a previous frame and referring to interpolation coefficient vectors, an interpolator interpolates an interpolated feature vector for the current frame. An error vector is calculated between the interpolated and the second feature vectors and is quantized by an error vector quantizer unit into a quantized error vector. The subframe feature vectors are quantized by using the subframe indexes, the quantized frame vectors, the interpolated feature vector, and the quantized error vector.