Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information recording/reproducing apparatus that includes a first and a second recording/reproducing modules, a buffer memory to store information temporally, and a control module that switches between a first mode and a second mode when the information is dubbed from the first recording/reproducing module to the second recording/reproducing module. In the first mode, information in the first recording/reproducing module is reproduced and stored in the buffer memory. In the second mode, the information stored in the buffer memory is recorded in the second recording/reproducing module. The apparatus further includes a temperature detecting module. Depending on the temperature detected by this module, the apparatus changes the movement of the second recording/reproducing module in the first mode and the movement of the first recording/reproducing module in the second mode.

Abstract: An inverter apparatus includes an inverter circuit, a temperature sensor, and a control circuit. The inverter circuit is driven by a PWM signal and includes switching elements that are divided in first and second groups. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of at least one of the switching elements of the first group. The control circuit controls a duty cycle of the PWM signal such that a first value of heat generated in the first group is equal to or greater than a second value of heat generated in the second group. The control circuit performs an overheat protection for protecting the inverter circuit from overheating when the detected temperature is equal to or greater than a threshold temperature.

Abstract: A multilayer PTC thermistor reliably decreases the resistance by decreasing the thickness of ceramic layers composed of a BaTiO3 semiconductor ceramic and achieves a resistance close to the resistance calculated from the multilayer structure. The thermistor is adjusted to satisfy the conditions 5?X?18 and 4?X·Y?10, wherein X is a thickness (?m) of each ceramic layer disposed between adjacent internal electrodes and Y is a donor content (%) in the barium titanate semiconductor ceramic constituting the ceramic layers, Y being expressed in terms of (number of donor atoms/number of Ti atoms)×100.

Abstract: In a secondary air injection system, MOSFETs control supply of electric current to an air pump and to a motor for driving an electromagnetic valve and to an electromagnetic coil to introduce secondary air into an exhaust gas passage upstream of a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. Gate drive circuits control the MOSFETs based on an instruction from an ECU via input signal processing circuits. Abnormal conditions in the operation for controlling the air pump and the electromagnetic valve are detected, and, when an abnormal condition is detected, forcibly turn the MOSFETs off to interrupt the current to the motor and to the electromagnetic coil. A diagnosing circuit sends to the ECU diagnosis signals representing the state of controlling the load.

Abstract: A first retainer and a second retainer are provided between a diaphragm and an upper housing. A first spring urges the diaphragm downward between the first retainer and the diaphragm. A second spring having an outer diameter smaller than that of the first spring urges the diaphragm downward between the first retainer and the second retainer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition that is based on a layered bismuth compound composed of Sr, Bi, Nb, oxygen, contains an additional monovalent metallic element. The piezoelectric ceramic composition has an elevated Curie point, is highly reliable at higher temperatures, that is, minimizes the reduction in the piezoelectric effect, and is useful as a material for piezoelectric ceramic devices that contain little or no lead or lead compounds. The layered bismuth compound contains not more than about 0.125 mol and more than 0 mol of the monovalent metallic element for 1 mol of Nb.

Abstract: A decompression valve incorporated in a gas decompression device valve of fuel cell system is divided into a measuring room and a back pressure room by a diaphragm. A valve seat and a valve body adjoining to the measuring room are arranged on the decompression valve. When gas pressure works on the diaphragm, the diaphragm is displaced to move in a direction for making the valve body closer to the valve seat. Pressure control springs arranged on the decompression valve urge the diaphragm in a direction to make the valve body separate from the valve seat. The diaphragm, pressure control springs and the like allow hydrogen gas to pass the valve seat, whereby hydrogen gas from an outlet is decompressed.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element contains a piezoelectric ceramic body having a layered perovskite structure, and has the C axis selected and oriented in the thickness direction. In the piezoelectric ceramic body, line shaped electrodes are formed perpendicular to the C axis selected and oriented. The electrodes exposed at both of the end faces of the piezoelectric ceramic body are covered with conductive materials and insulation materials. The piezoelectric ceramic body is polarized in the opposite directions on both of the sides of electrodes arranged in the width direction. Moreover, external electrodes are formed on the faces where the conductive materials and the insulation materials are formed, whereby two groups of the electrodes are arranged in an interdigital electrode form.

Abstract: A BaTiO3-type semiconducting ceramic material which has undergone firing in a reducing atmosphere and re-oxidation, wherein the relative density of the ceramic material after sintering is about 85–90%. A process for producing the semiconducting ceramic material of the present invention and a thermistor containing the semiconducting ceramic material are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a secondary air injection system, MOSFETs control supply of electric current to an air pump and to a motor for driving an electromagnetic valve and to an electromagnetic coil to introduce secondary air into an exhaust gas passage upstream of a catalyst for purifying the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. Gate drive circuits control the MOSFETs based on an instruction from an ECU via input signal processing circuits. Abnormal conditions in the operation for controlling the air pump and the electromagnetic valve are detected, and, when an abnormal condition is detected, forcibly turn the MOSFETs off to interrupt the current to the motor and to the electromagnetic coil. A diagnosing circuit sends to the ECU diagnosis signals representing the state of controlling the load.

Abstract: A ceramic electronic component includes a component body having semiconductive ceramic layers and internal electrodes. The semiconductive ceramic layers and the internal electrodes are alternately laminated. The semiconductive ceramic layers have a relative density of about 90% or less and contain no sintering additives. The component body is provided with an external electrode on each side thereof. The ceramic electronic component has a low resistance and a high withstand voltage.

Abstract: To realize an information processing apparatus for editing data which enables editing of data intuitively with a simple operation. A track segment is displayed at a position corresponding to a track number on a first coordinate axis in a track segment display area, with a range corresponding to the period from the start time to the end time of the track on a second coordinate axis, so that it is possible to intuitively notify a user of the place in the order and the performance time of each track based on the position relationship among track segments and the length thereof. Furthermore, in response to an operation to move a track segment along the first coordinate axis, the track number of a track corresponding to the track segment is changed; the order of tracks is also changed; and in addition, the track segment is displayed as having moved to the position corresponding to the changed track number and the changed place in the order.

Abstract: A laminate type piezoelectric element having an improved piezoelectric property is provided. Vibration electrodes are arranged in a piezoelectric body, and high-order vibration of the thickness vibration is excited. The piezoelectric ceramic includes two ceramic piezoelectric layers which are laminated, and are integrally formed. Each of the ceramic piezoelectric layers contains ceramic crystal grains having shape anisotropy and spontaneous polarization preferentially oriented in one plane. The in-plane direction of this plane is perpendicular to the principal surfaces of the ceramic piezoelectric layers. The ceramic piezoelectric layers are polarized in the same thickness direction.

Abstract: The present invention is designed to be capable of increasing the accuracy of detecting inter-track boundaries of music of a plurality of tracks based on analog audio signals.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition that is based on a layered bismuth compound composed of Sr, Bi, Nb, oxygen, contains an additional monovalent metallic element. The piezoelectric ceramic composition has an elevated Curie point, is highly reliable at higher temperatures, that is, minimizes the reduction in the piezoelectric effect, and is useful as a material for piezoelectric ceramic devices that contain little or no lead or lead compounds. The layered bismuth compound contains not more than about 0.125 mol and more than 0 mol of the monovalent metallic element for 1 mol of Nb.

Abstract: A decompression valve incorporated in a gas decompression device valve of fuel cell system is divided into a measuring room and a back pressure room by a diaphragm. A valve seat and a valve body adjoining to the measuring room are arranged on the decompression valve. When gas pressure works on the diaphragm, the diaphragm is displaced to move in a direction for making the valve body closer to the valve seat. Pressure control springs arranged on the decompression valve urge the diaphragm in a direction to make the valve body separate from the valve seat. The diaphragm, pressure control springs and the like allow hydrogen gas to pass the valve seat, whereby hydrogen gas from an outlet is decompressed.

Abstract: A chip electronic component including a ceramic element and terminal electrodes with metal coating thereon formed on the surface of the ceramic element. A glass layer is formed on a part of the surface of the ceramic element where the terminal electrodes are not formed. A glass material for the glass layer contains at least two species of alkali metal elements selected from Li, Na and K, and the total amount of the alkali metal elements is greater than or equal to 20 atomic percent of the total amount of elements except oxygen contained in the glass material.

Abstract: A ceramic powder of grains having a shape-anisotropy is mixed with a calcined or uncalcined (or both) powder of a ceramic raw material. A ceramic slurry containing the produced mixed powder, a solvent and a binder is prepared and the ceramic slurry is formed into a sheet. A laminate comprising a plurality of the sheets laminated to each other is uniaxially pressed to form an oriented product in such a manner that the length of the laminate in the direction parallel to the pressing axis becomes larger than that before the pressing, and the area of a plane perpendicular to the pressing axis of the laminate becomes larger than that before the pressing. The oriented formed product is fired and sintered.

Abstract: A first retainer and a second retainer are provided between a diaphragm and an upper housing. A first spring urges the diaphragm downward between the first retainer and the diaphragm. A second spring having an outer diameter smaller than that of the first spring urges the diaphragm downward between the first retainer and the second retainer.

Abstract: A ceramic powder of grains having a shape-anisotropy is mixed with a calcined or uncalcined (or both) powder of a ceramic raw material. A ceramic slurry containing the produced mixed powder, a solvent and a binder is prepared and the ceramic slurry is formed into a sheet. A laminate comprised of a plurality of the sheets laminated to each other is uniaxially pressed to form an oriented product in such a manner that the length of the laminate in the direction parallel to the pressing axis becomes larger than that before the pressing, and the area of a plane perpendicular to the pressing axis of the laminate becomes larger than that before the pressing. The oriented formed product is fired and sintered.