Abstract: A scanning unit in an image forming apparatus includes a light source, a coupling lens, an aperture, an image forming lens, and a polygon mirror. The light source includes a plurality of surface-emitting lasers. The coupling lens, the aperture, and the image forming lens are arranged on the optical path of light beams emitted by the light source. The polygon mirror deflects light beams of an image formed by the coupling lens towards a photosensitive drum for scanning. The focal length of the image forming lens in a sub-scanning direction is set to be equal to or smaller than an optical path length between the image forming lens and the aperture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor integrated circuit, wherein a desired circuit is formed by combining and laying out a plurality of standard cells and connecting the cells together, of which the cell length, i.e., the gap between a pair of opposed sides, is standardized, the plurality of standard cells forming the desired circuit include complementary in-phase driven standard cells, each of which includes a plurality of complementary transistor pairs that are complementary in conductivity type to each other and have their gate electrodes connected together, and N (?2) pairs of all the complementary transistor pairs are driven in phase, and the size of the standardized cell length of the complementary in-phase driven standard cell is defined as an M-fold cell length which is M (N?M?2) times the basic cell length which is appropriate to the single complementary transistor pair.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a plurality of gate lines formed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines intersecting the plurality of gate lines, a plurality of thin film transistors connected to the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixel electrodes connected to the plurality of thin film transistors and arranged in a matrix, wherein each of the pixel electrodes includes a first side parallel to each gate line and a second side being shorter than the first side, the second side being formed next to the first side, wherein the plurality of pixel electrodes that are adjacent to each other in a column direction are connected to different data lines from each other.

Abstract: A non-contact power charging, in which power transmission can be interrupted when foreign materials are deposited on a charge plate of the non-contact power charging system. A charging operation can be continuously maintained at a stable voltage even if a non-contact power receiving apparatus moves by touching or displacement on the charge plate of the non-contact power charging system in the charging operation. Charging efficiency is improved.

Abstract: A method of and system for directional drilling reduces the friction between the drill string and the well bore. A downhole drilling motor is connected to the surface by a drill string. The drilling motor is oriented at a selected tool face angle. The drill string is rotated at said surface location in a first direction until a first torque magnitude without changing the tool face angle. The drill string is then rotated in the opposite direction until a second torque magnitude is reached, again without changing the tool face angle. The drill string is rocked back and forth between the first and second torque magnitudes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a first surface on which light enters, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a pixel region formed in the semiconductor substrate, and including a photoelectric conversion element which converts the incident light into an electrical signal, a peripheral region formed in the semiconductor substrate, and including a circuit which controls an operation of the element in the pixel region, a plurality of interconnects which are formed in a plurality of interlayer insulating films stacked on the second surface, and are connected to the circuit, and a support substrate formed on the stacked interlayer insulating films and the interconnects. An uppermost one of the interconnects formed in an uppermost one of the interlayer insulating films is buried in a first trench formed in the uppermost interlayer insulating film.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for inputting text. A virtual keyboard is presented in a first region of a touch sensitive display of a device. An input representing a phonetic string is received on the virtual keyboard. The entered phonetic string is presented in a second region of the touch sensitive display. One or more candidates are identified based on the phonetic string. At least a subset of the candidates is presented. An input selecting one of the candidates is received. The entered phonetic string is replaced with the selected candidate.

Abstract: In an audio system, a control device includes a setting part that sets automatic compensation of each of a plurality of input ports of the input device into either ON state or OFF state and an adjusting part that adjusts an analog gain of each of the plurality of input ports. The input device includes the plurality of input ports, each input port including an amplifier that controls a level of an analog signal input to the input port based on the analog gain adjusted by the adjusting part, an AD converter that converts the analog signal from the amplifier into a digital signal, a compensator that controls a level of the digital signal from the AD converter based on a digital gain of the input port, and a selector that selects one of the digital signal from the AD converter and the digital signal from the compensator.

Abstract: A downhole mixing tool and method for removing sand and other debris from a wellbore which combines the sand with a treatment fluid so that the sand is lifted to the surface of the well for removal. The tool includes a chamber into which the sand laden fluid is drawn and the treatment fluid is introduced. Ports into the chamber are arranged to provide a pressure drop to draw the sand laden fluid into the chamber and a mixing time within the chamber before sand laden fluid of lower viscosity exits the chamber to travel to the surface. Additional features include blades on the tool for breaking up obstructions prior to being drawn into the chamber and a lubricating line through the tool to introduce lubricating fluid to the blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising axial and radial bearings that contains a rotor component (14) which encloses a stationary shaft (12), which in turn is connected at both its ends to axially aligned bearing parts (16; 18) that are fashioned such that they form capillary sealing gaps (32; 34), a recirculation channel (28) filled with bearing fluid that connects the remote regions of the bearing to each other, and an electromagnetic drive system (42, 44) for driving the rotor component.

Abstract: A highly reliable multilayer coil component is provided without forming voids between magnetic ceramic layers and internal conductor layers. According to the multilayer coil component, an internal stress problem is reduced, the direct current resistance is low, and fracture of internal conductors caused by the surge or the like is not likely to occur. An acidic solution is allowed to permeate a magnetic ceramic element from a side surface thereof through a side gap portion which is a region between side portions of the internal conductors and the side surface of the magnetic ceramic element and to reach interfaces between the internal conductors and a magnetic ceramic located therearound. A pore area ratio of the magnetic ceramic of the side gap portion which is located between the side portions of the internal conductors and the side surface of the magnetic ceramic element is set in the range of 6% to 28%.

Abstract: A laser landscape lighting apparatus for use in accent lighting applications for landscapes and outdoor venues. In one embodiment, the laser landscape lighting apparatus includes a coherent light source in combination with a diffractive optical element and optionally a diffraction grating wheel. The diffractive optical element may be, for example, a holographic optical element. In some embodiments, the laser landscape lighting apparatus includes a temperature-controlled integral derivative system. In one application, the laser landscape lighting apparatus may project a static or movable star field.

Abstract: A driving control device according to the present invention includes: a fixed member; an operation member arranged to be manually rotatable with respect to the fixed member; a transducer arranged in one of the fixed member and the operation member and arranged to come into contact with an opposed surface of the other of the fixed member and the operation member; a position detecting section for detecting a position of the operation member with respect to the fixed member; and an operation force amount control section for controlling driving of the transducer to change contact friction force generated when the transducer contacts with the fixed member or the operation member. The operation force amount control section controls the transducer such that the contact friction force applied to the operation member when the operation member is manually rotated with respect to the fixed member changes to a sense of click.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus with a plurality of power supply circuits each having a piezoelectric transformer and a voltage-controlled oscillator which generates a signal at an operating frequency used to drive the piezoelectric transformer in accordance with a control signal, includes a frequency-dividing circuit which divides the operating frequency generated by a voltage-controlled oscillator in at least one power supply circuit, and outputs a signal at a driving frequency to drive a piezoelectric transformer in the one power supply circuit. When at least one power supply circuit and remaining power supply circuits output voltages, the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in the one power supply circuit is controlled to be higher than the operating frequency generated by the voltage-controlled oscillator in another power supply circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate, the SOI substrate comprising a bottom silicon layer, a buried oxide (BOX) layer, and a top silicon layer; a plurality of active devices formed on the top silicon layer; and an isolation region located between two of the active devices, wherein at least two of the plurality of active devices are electrically isolated from each other by the isolation region, and wherein the isolation region extends through the top silicon layer to the BOX layer.

Abstract: A rotating electromagnetic machine has a tubular axle with mounting rings, a common ring, a coil input ring, and at least one bearing set mounted on it. A fitting is secured at a distal end of the tubular axle, and a commutator is secured at the proximal end. A housing is mounted on the bearing sets through adaptors. Connecting bars extend axially within the axle with lateral rods joined to the connecting bars at their distal ends, the bars commuting between segments of the commutator electromagnetic coils. A plurality of the electromagnetic coils are secured to the coil input ring. The coils are formed of spiral turns of a single flat strip electrically conductive material. A plurality of peripheral and sector magnets are mounted adjacent to the electromagnetic coils with electromagnetic interaction when relative motion occurs between the coils and the magnets.

Abstract: A semiconductor pressure sensor includes n-type semiconductor regions, which are formed in a diaphragm of a semiconductor substrate, piezoresistive elements, which are respectively formed in the n-type semiconductor regions, and conductive shielding thin film layers, which are respectively formed on the piezoresistive elements through an insulating thin film layer, and the piezoresistive elements form a Wheatstone bridge circuit. Further, the n-type semiconductor regions and the conductive shielding thin film layers are electrically connected to each other through contacts formed in the diaphragm.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously operating the horn and light systems of a motorized vehicle is provided. The controller used to operate the systems can be a single controller that operates the horn when a certain range of pressure is applied to the controller and operates the horn and lights systems when a stronger pressure is applied. The system can include a dedicated horn operating system controller independent of the dual function controller to eliminate the need for differing pressures to operate the horn and light systems substantially simultaneously. Also disclosed are apparatuses and methods to coordinate a vehicle braking system with the vehicle horn and light systems to improve the reception of safety and/or emergency warnings.

Abstract: A server cluster including a network switch and multiple server nodes is provided. The network switch is connected to an external network. Each server node performs an operation system and respectively includes a network port, a network chip and a south bridge chip. The network port is connected to the network switch via a cable. The network chip outputs a power-off signal according to a received power-off packet after the network switch is started. The south bridge chip outputs a shutdown signal to shut down the server node according to the power-off signal when the server node is turned on and the operation system is working normally.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip having an anti-moisture-absorption film at the edge thereof and a method of forming the anti-moisture-absorption film are provided. In the integrated circuit chip which has predetermined devices inside and whose uppermost layer is covered with a passivation film, a trench is formed by etching interlayer dielectric films to a predetermined depth along the perimeter of the integrated circuit chip to be adjacent to the edge of the integrated circuit chip and an anti-moisture-absorption film is formed to fill the trench or is formed on the sidewall of the trench to a predetermined thickness, in order to prevent moisture from seeping into the edge of the integrated circuit chip. Moisture is effectively prevented from seeping into the edge of the chip by forming the anti-moisture-absorption film at the edge of the chip using the conventional processes of manufacturing the integrated circuit chip without an additional process.