Abstract: A load drive circuit, disposed to drive an inductive load, includes a reflux closed circuit connected to the load. A flywheel diode is placed in the reflux closed circuit. A MOS transistor, disposed to turn on/off current to drive the load, is connected in parallel to the flywheel diode. A capacitor is disposed to connect its both ends to a gate and a drain of the MOS transistor, while a resistor is disposed to connect its both ends to the gate and a source of the MOS transistor. During a recovery operation of the flywheel diode, with the help of the capacitor and resistor, a gate-to-source voltage of the MOS transistor is pulled up to a value over a threshold for a predetermined period of time. Pulling up the gate-to-source voltage results in a softened recovery characteristic of the flywheel diode, suppressing recovery surges.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, several cell blocks provided on the semiconductor substrate, several gate electrodes electrically independent of one another and respectively provided in the cell blocks, and several gate pads respectively connected with the gate electrodes. In this construction, the cell blocks can be determined whether they are defective or not by utilizing the gate pads easily. Therefore, the semiconductor device can be operated only with non-defective cell blocks.

Abstract: A load drive circuit, disposed to drive an inductive load, includes a reflux closed circuit connected to the load. A flywheel diode is placed in the reflux closed circuit. A MOS transistor, disposed to turn on/off current to drive the load, is connected in parallel to the flywheel diode. A capacitor is disposed to connect its both ends to a gate and a drain of the MOS transistor, while a resistor is disposed to connect its both ends to the gate and a source of the MOS transistor. During a recovery operation of the flywheel diode, with the help of the capacitor and resistor, a gate-to-source voltage of the MOS transistor is pulled up to a value over a threshold for a predetermined period of time. Pulling up the gate-to-source voltage results in a softened recovery characteristic of the flywheel diode, suppressing recovery surges.

Abstract: An information signal recording medium comprises a core material made of a non-conductive material, and a surface material made of a conductive material and in close adherence with at least one surface of the core material. Variations in geometrical configuration in accordance with information signals to be recorded on the recording medium are compression molded on the surface material. The materials constituting the surface material and the core material are selected so that a ratio V.sub.C /V.sub.N between a melt viscosity V.sub.C of the surface material and a melt viscosity V.sub.N of the core material at a temperature and a shear rate at the time of the compression molding is less than or approximately equal to 1.6.