Abstract: An improved one-point grease distribution system for belt conveyor idlers of a type including bearings with inner and outer races and a shaft disposed through the inner races. The shaft has an axial bore on each end thereof and at least one flow port connecting the blind end of each axial bore with the outside periphery of the shaft. A first annular seal member is disposed on each end of the shaft. A grease tube is disposed around the shaft and is sealed by the first annular seal members to the shaft at each end thereof to form a continuous grease supply passageway on one end of the shaft, through the axial bore, through the flow port, and through the space between the shaft and the grease tube to the other flow port and axial bore. A sealed reservoir is disposed on each side and through each bearing and this grease seal reservoir is defined by a back seal and a front seal.

Abstract: A method of providing a beam having precisely orthogonally polarized components includes generating a beam with substantially orthogonally polarized components, splitting the beam to separate the components to separate paths, projecting each component into a respective polarization preserving optical fiber (PPF) or polarizing fiber, recombining the components output from the fibers into a single beam, and transmitting the single beam to an interferometer. The PPFs are rotationally adjustable at their output ends to provide precise orthogonality in the resulting beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fast response and distortion measurement of a signal transfer device. A computer processor generates a multitone test signal of predetermined duration and stores it in a memory. The test signal is read out, converted to analog form, if necessary, and applied to the input of a device under test. The output produced by the device under test in response to the test signal is acquired and digitized, if necessary, and a Fast Fourier Transform is performed on the acquired data to determine its spectral characteristics. Frequency response, harmonic distortion, intermodulation distortion, phase distortion, wow and flutter and other signal transfer characteristics are measured by the CPU by analysis of the output signal. The multitone test signals a unique combination which is extracted at the output for identifying the source, or location, of the test signals.

Abstract: A crank assembly for a bicycle includes a drive plate and an elongated crank arm which are separately formed. The bicycle includes a sprocket with a fixed rotating shaft of a rectangular cross-section. The drive plate has an internal peripheral wall that defines a shaft hole, an inward flange that projects from the inner peripheral wall into the shaft hole in such a manner that the shaft extends through the shaft hole, and several angularly equidistant through-holes around the shaft hole. The crank arm has an end portion with a fastener hole, an annular flange portion which projects horizontally from the end portion and which has a vertical abutting face that abuts on the inward flange of the drive plate, and a rectangular receiving space formed through the flange portion to form a portion of the fastener hole and to receive the shaft. The fastener hole has an outer section with a shape different from that of the rectangular receiving space.

Abstract: An inexpensive and easily adjustable distance measuring apparatus judges whether an object is located at a far distance or at a near distance relative to a certain set distance. The distance measuring apparatus comprises an oscillator for generating pulses, a light emitting element for emitting light for a predetermined time in synchronization with the pulses generated by the oscillator, a plurality of light receiving elements disposed adjacent to each other to receive reflected light emitted by the light emitting element and reflected by an object whose distance is to be measured, a plurality of delay circuits connected to respective ones of the light receiving elements, and a phase discriminating circuit for comparing the phases of the output signals of each of the delay circuits.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory cell device exhibiting superior cell reliability comprising a dual layer floating gate wherein the thin upper layer of the floating gate overlaps the edges of surrounding field insulating regions and has rounded edges to minimize leakage concerns. The tunnel dielectric separating the dual layer floating gate from the substrate comprises a layer of uniform thickness which is grown prior to the formation of the field insulating regions. The Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism is used for programming and erasing the inventive cells in a programming process flow which comprises flash programming all cells on a word line, sensing current on a selected cell, and selectively erasing the charge on the cell by applying a higher voltage on the intersecting bit line than is applied to the word line, until the sensed current is as desired.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a head support plate engageable with the rear end of a support shaft of a support frame; a print head carried on the head support plate; an operable member rotatably connected to the support frame; a platen rotatably provided on the operable member so as to face the print head when the operable member is in a closed position; a regulating plate integral with the head support plate and contactable with the platen shaft when the operable member is in a closed position; and actuating lever rotatable on the support frame and engageable with the head support plate; and a biasing spring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to analyze the aerial image of an optical system using a subwavelength slit. A slit configuration yields a higher signal-to-noise ratio than that achievable with a round aperture. The slit also allows the polarization of the aerial image to be analyzed. In an alternative embodiment a tunneling slit is used. The tunneling slit comprises an optically transparent ridge-like structure mounted to a substrate, the combined structure covered by a thin, planar metal film.

Abstract: An XY stage for precision movement for use in aligning a wafer in a microlithography system. A main stage supporting the wafer straddles a movable beam that is magnetically driven in a first linear direction in the XY plane. A follower stage, mechanically independent of the main stage, also moves in the first linear (X) direction and its motion is electronically synchronized by a control system with the main stage motion in the X direction. Electromagnetic drive motors include magnetic tracks mounted on the follower stage which cooperate with motor coils mounted on the edges of the main stage to move the main stage in a second linear (Y) direction normal to the X direction. Thus the main stage is isolated from mechanical disturbances in the XY plane since there is no mechanical connections and is lightened by removing the weight of the magnetic tracks from the beam.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming a substrate wafer and a reclaimed substrate wafer. A semiconductor wafer having external layers from previous processing is reclaimed by etching the external layers and cup-wheel grinding an active surface of the wafer to remove semiconductor components such as diffused regions. Either the active surface or the backside of the wafer is then polished to a mirror finish to provide a highly crystalline surface. The cup-wheel grinding produces a pinwheel surface roughness pattern and is accomplished by grinding the wafer with a cup-shaped grinding wheel having an axis of rotation parallel to but offset from an axis of rotation of the wafer. Preferably, the rim of the cup-shaped grinding wheel always passes over the axis of rotation of the wafer.

Abstract: In order to reduce noise in a controlling circuit including digital circuitry and analog circuitry constructed together on a single CMOS integrated circuit, a regulator is constructed as part of the integrated circuit. A power supply is directly connected to the digital circuitry, and a voltage output of the regulator is supplied to the analog circuitry. The output state of the regulator may be controlled by a switch. Degradation of the performance characteristics of the analog circuitry while the digital circuitry is being operated can be prevented by electrically isolating the power supply to the digital circuitry from the power supply to the analog circuitry. Since the regulator is built into the integrated circuit, the number of externally provided components is thereby reduced, further contributing to the downsizing of an electronic device such as a camera. Furthermore, even when the power supply of the digital circuitry fluctuates greatly, the effects on the analog circuitry are minimized.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dot impact printer wherein a ribbon cassette formed, at its both end portions, with a pair of arm portions, respectively, between which an ink ribbon is exposed, and the ink ribbon therebetween is inserted and placed between a printing head and a platen. According to the first invention, the printer comprises a supporting frame displaceable between a first position for inserting the ink ribbon into the printing head and the platen and a second position for drawing out the ink ribbon from between these two. According to the second invention, the printer comprises an auto loading means which, in a condition in which the ribbon cassette is retained by the supporting frame, moves the ink ribbon to an insertion position where it is inserted between the printing head and the platen and to a draw-out position where it is drawn out from between these two.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting date information into given positions within the frames of film loaded in a camera. If it is impossible to modify the date, or if the user finds that the date is erroneous, the apparatus permits photographs with correct date to be printed. The apparatus has a CPU including a first RAM for storing the present date information. When frames of the film are used for photography, date information is inserted into the given positions, using a date information inserting LED array. When the present date information is modified by operating date switches, the difference between unmodified date information and modified date information is calculated and stored in a second RAM. The number of frames is also stored. When the film is rewound, the aforementioned difference and the number of frames are read out and inserted in the leader of the film. When the film used for photography in this way is printed, the date information, the difference, and the number of frames are checked.

Abstract: A linear slide of the type having a carriage member and a base member arranged for relative axial back and forth movement within an opening defined between the carriage and base members, a plurality of rolling elements disposed between rails disposed in the carriage member and the base member, the improvement including: providing the rolling elements loosely disposed in at least one linear group between the carriage member and the base member, without retainers, wherein the length of the at least one linear group can be greater than the product of the diameter of the rolling elements times the number thereof.

Abstract: A data processing device for a camera wherein a parity bit is provided in data of an EEPROM, and when a parity error is caused by destruction of data or the like, data previously prepared in a ROM is employed, or when data before and after a specific abnormal data are normal, an interpolation calculation is performed by using these normal data. When data memorized in the EEPROM are destructed by an unexpected accident such as by static electricity, the data are prevented from using and picture taking can be continued without applying a serious influence on the picture-taking operation by performing an approximation calculation by using the other normal data memorized in the ROM.

Abstract: A lens driving device for a camera or the like drives a lens through a correct distance by the distance through which the lens is driven being corrected according to errors in mechanical parts; as a result it is not necessary for the mechanical parts to be made of high precision, and maintenance of molds used in their manufacture can therefore be made easy.

Abstract: When a driving member is rotated counterclockwise by a single motor with a pair of sectors biased in the closing direction by a biasing spring, a first driving pin causes an operating lever to rotate clockwise. The pair of sectors pivot in opposite directions to each other in association with the driving lever to reach a first position where the sectors are fully open without overlapping the lens opening. When the driving member is rotated clockwise, a second driving pin also causes the operating lever to rotate clockwise. The pair of sectors pivot in opposite directions to each other to reach a second position, that is, a half-open position where an opening smaller than the lens opening is obtained. At this time, The second driving pin abuts on a part of one sector to restrain the displacement of the driving member. Accordingly, the driving member is prevented from overrunning, and no hunting occurs.

Abstract: A mechanical scanner design suitable for use in a step and scan lithography system with arbitrary image magnification includes a projection optical system (20) and a relatively rotatable platform (40). The optical system has the property that a point within a predetermined object field in a first plane is imaged with suitable magnification at a corresponding point within a corresponding image field in a second plane, parallel to the first plane. The object and image fields are displaced from each other. A light source (22) illuminates an aperture such as a slit which is imaged in the object plane, whereupon a slit image is formed in the image plane. The reticle and wafer are mounted to the platform at respective locations in the object and image planes.

Abstract: A method for approximately representing a first curve having anchor points and a control point, wherein the first curve is subdivided into a plurality of segments and an approximate curve is constructed by joining the points corresponding to the ends of the segments with straight lines. The number of segments is a prestored value.

Abstract: To reduce the cost of a cassette case by simplifying the design, a cassette case 10 is made up of a case body 26 and a case cover 27 fitted to the upper surface of the case body 26, a ribbon guide 28 is fitted to the outside of the cassette case 10 in such a way that it is free to slide in the longitudinal direction, and at times of printing color changeover the required color band of the multiple color ink ribbon 11 is guided over the end of the printing head by this ribbon guide 28. The ribbon guide 28 is provided with guide portions 36, 37 facing both of the side surfaces of the case cover 27, and the movement of the ribbon guide 28 in the direction of the length of the cassette case 10 is guided by these guide portions 36, 37 sliding along the side surfaces of the case cover 27.