Abstract: A charging control circuit for a secondary battery includes a temperature detection terminal for detecting the temperature of a secondary battery from an input detected voltage; a temperature comparison part having four threshold voltages corresponding to four reference temperatures, the temperature comparison part being configured to compare the four threshold voltages with the detected voltage input to the temperature detection terminal and to output a temperature range signal indicating the temperature range of the detected voltage; and a control part configured to control a charging current and/or a charging voltage based on the temperature range signal output from the temperature comparison part.

Abstract: A battery protecting circuit is disclosed that includes a negative voltage terminal voltage detecting circuit that detects when a voltage of a negative voltage terminal decreases to less than a predetermined voltage; an abnormality detecting circuit that detects an abnormality in charge/discharge conditions of a battery; a switch that is connected between the battery and the negative voltage terminal, the switch being turned off when the negative voltage terminal voltage detecting circuit detects that the voltage of the negative voltage terminal has decreased to less than the predetermined voltage and when the abnormality detecting circuit detects the abnormality in the charge/discharge conditions of the battery; a delay time reducing circuit that reduces a time period from a time the abnormality in the charge/discharge conditions of the battery is detected to a time the switch is turned off when the voltage of the negative voltage terminal decreases to less than the predetermined voltage; and an output inval

Abstract: A battery protection circuit includes an abnormal condition detection circuit having a resistor through which a current flows from a load in response to a current flowing in the load. The resistor generates a voltage in response to the current flowing in the load. The battery protection circuit further includes a control circuit having a detection stop switch configured to control the current flowing in the resistor from the load. The control circuit turns off the detection stop switch and a protection switch connected between the battery and the load when the abnormal condition detection circuit detects the abnormal condition according to the voltage generated by the resistor. The control circuit returns the detection stop switch to an ON state after returning the protection switch to an ON state in response to a start of supplying power from the battery to the battery protection circuit.

Abstract: To provide a transmissive disk which is less subject to damage and whose levitation amount can be measured up to a smaller level with high accuracy, a manufacturing method thereof, and a levitation measurement apparatus using the transmissive disk. A transmissive disk for use in head levitation measurement in the present invention has a first side of a transmissive plate to which AR coating has been applied and a second side thereof to which lubricant coating has been applied.

Abstract: A communication apparatus capable of running a secondary process in addition to a primary process of communication is provided. The communication apparatus includes a communication circuit configured to send and receive a plurality of signals for communication, includes a first controller coupled to the communication circuit and configured to run the primary process using the communication circuit, and includes a second controller configured to run the secondary process. The communication apparatus includes a display, and includes a display controller coupled to the first controller, the second controller and the display. The display controller is configured to receive a piece of information regarding operation of the second controller from the second controller. The display controller is configured to present a given screen on the display including the information received from the second controller. The display controller is configured to pause if the first controller starts running the primary process.

Abstract: A battery protecting circuit is disclosed that includes a negative voltage terminal voltage detecting circuit that detects when a voltage of a negative voltage terminal decreases to less than a predetermined voltage; an abnormality detecting circuit that detects an abnormality in charge/discharge conditions of a battery; a switch that is connected between the battery and the negative voltage terminal, the switch being turned off when the negative voltage terminal voltage detecting circuit detects that the voltage of the negative voltage terminal has decreased to less than the predetermined voltage and when the abnormality detecting circuit detects the abnormality in the charge/discharge conditions of the battery; a delay time reducing circuit that reduces a time period from a time the abnormality in the charge/discharge conditions of the battery is detected to a time the switch is turned off when the voltage of the negative voltage terminal decreases to less than the predetermined voltage; and an output inval

Abstract: A battery protection circuit includes an abnormal condition detection circuit having a resistor through which a current flows from a load in response to a current flowing in the load. The resistor generates a voltage in response to the current flowing in the load. The battery protection circuit further includes a control circuit having a detection stop switch configured to control the current flowing in the resistor from the load. The control circuit turns off the detection stop switch and a protection switch connected between the battery and the load when the abnormal condition detection circuit detects the abnormal condition according to the voltage generated by the resistor. The control circuit returns the detection stop switch to an ON state after returning the protection switch to an ON state in response to a start of supplying power from the battery to the battery protection circuit.

Abstract: In a secondary battery protection circuit (200A) having a protection arrangement (210, 220, 230, 240, 250A) for protecting a secondary battery (300), by turning a discharge control switch (FET1) and a charge control switch (FET2) on and off, so as to prevent the secondary battery from overdischarging and overcharging, the secondary battery protection circuit further has a security arrangement (260, 270) for precluding counterfeit goods of a secondary pack. The security arrangement has an interface circuit (260) for interfacing to a portable unit body (500) and an authentication circuit (270) for calculating an identifier obtained by encrypting a random number received from the portable unit body to return the identifier to the portable unit body.

Abstract: A session-information preserving system includes a client to which business data are inputted and a server which processes the business data sent from the client computer.

Abstract: An electromechanical actuator has a stack composed of electromechanical elements, and an inactive element intervening in the stack to divide it into two sections. In a wire-dot printing head using the actuator, the stack sections are successively energized to increase a forward stroke of a printing wire for a high speed printing. In another aspect, an electromechanical actuator used in a wire-dot printer has a spring for regulating and braking a rearward stroke of a printing wire or a stopper such that the wire can be prevented from being moved back beyond an initial position. Alternatively, a stopper is incorporated to forcibly stop the wire at the initial position during the rearward stroke thereof. In yet another aspect, an electromechanical actuator has a stack composed of electromechanical elements, and the stack is supported by a block through a leaf spring securely joined therebetween to prevent generation of large stress in the stack.

Abstract: A piezoelectric printing head includes an annular base frame and a plurality of piezoelectric actuator assemblies mounted on the base frame. Each actuator assembly includes a piezoelectric element having one end rigidly secured to the base frame and another free end, an armature having a base end and a tip end to which a printing wire is rigidly connected, and a magnifying mechanism. When the piezoelectric element is electrically energized, a displacement of the piezoelectric element is magnified and then transmitted to the printing wire. Between the base frame and the base end of the armature there is provided a vibration damping buffer member.

Abstract: A laminated piezoelectric element which includes a laminate of piezoelectric ceramic plates and inner electrodes. The piezoelectric ceramic plates are laminated alternately together with the inner electrodes. The laminate is cut so as to have a peripheral surface. A positive outer electrode is connected to one group of inner electrodes at a peripheral surface of the laminate, and a negative outer electrode is connected to another group of inner electrodes at the peripheral surface of the laminate. A coating of fine ceramic particles is applied to, or a ceramic layer is sputtered on, the peripheral surface of the piezoelectric ceramic plates so that the insulation between adjacent inner electrodes is improved.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator having a significantly strong coupling between each of its external electrodes and the matching flexible cable. This piezoelectric actuator comprises a ceramic layer body made of a large number of piezoelectric ceramic layers stacked to a predetermined depth; a plurality of internal electrodes sandwiched between the ceramic layers; a pair of external electrodes, the first electrode connecting every other one of the internal electrodes, the second electrode connecting every second internal electrode not connected to the first external electrode; and a pair of flexible cables connected to edges of the external electrodes. The external electrodes are soldered to the flexible cables. Upon soldering, a metal intervening member is inserted in a hole made on the coupling part of each flexible cable. Soldering the intervening member provides a strongly soldered coupling between external electrode and flexible cable.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed which may form a very minute interconnection pattern having line width less than that of an interconnection pattern formed by a photolithography technique. In the method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, after patterning by a photolithography technique polysilicon layer 3a and nitride layer 4a laminated in order on semiconductor silicon substrate 1, an oxide film is formed in a self-alignment manner in the polysilicon layer by thermal oxidation treatment at a high temperature and a nitride film is removed by etching back the whole surface. The polysilicon layer is divided into two by carrying out etching with the oxide film used as mask. It is possible to form two interconnection patterns in the space for one interconnection pattern formed by a photolithography technique using such a manufacturing method.