Abstract: A conductive layer contact structure is provided, in which a contact hole of a diameter smaller than the resolution of photolithography technique is formed in a stabilized manner by an etching with low aspect ratio, the contact resistance regarding a conductive layer formed through this contact hole is low, and the step coverage of the conductive layer is satisfactory such that it is not electrically short-circuited with other conductive layers. A silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film are formed on a gate electrode as first insulation layers. A silicon oxide film is formed as a second insulation layer having a high etching selectivity with respect to the silicon nitride film provided as an upper insulation layer of the first insulation layer. Reaching a surface of an n+ diffused layer formed at a surface of a silicon substrate as a conductive region, a contact hole is formed. A sidewall spacer is formed at the inner sidewall of the silicon oxide film defining a hole.

Abstract: A combustion state is diagnoses by extracting specific rotation period component of a period synchronous with rotation from a combustion state parameter for at least two rotations. The combustion state is judged on the basis of the extracted specific rotation period component. The combustion state parameter may be the engine speed or the output torque of a multiple-cylinder engine which varies according to the combustion state of the engine.

Abstract: Included are a light-emitting circuit having a laser diode (LD); an LD drive circuit for driving the light-emitting circuit; a bias circuit for adding a bias current to a pulse current outputted from the LD drive circuit; a light-receiving circuit for receiving monitoring light outputted from the light-emitting circuit; an I/V conversion circuit for subjecting an output from the light-receiving circuit to current-to-voltage conversion; a maximum-value detection circuit and an average-value detection circuit for respectively detecting the maximum and minimum values of an output voltage of the I/V conversion circuit; a first comparator for comparing the detected maximum value with a first reference value to feed back the comparison result to the LD drive circuit; and a second comparator for comparing the detected average value with a second reference value to feed back the comparison result to the bias circuit.

Abstract: A method of producing a plate spring is disclosed which allows one to adjust the load-displacement characteristics thereof to a desired degree. The method includes stamping slits and a small diameter hole from a disk-shaped plate member, and forming the plate spring into a cone shape. Shot-peening is then performed on a resilient portion of the plate spring that retains a flat cone shape in the free state. Furthermore, shot-peening is performed on only a portion of the resilient portion and not on the entire surface of the plate spring.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit 10 includes a semiconductor substrate 1, an insulating layer 2 formed on the semiconductor substrate 1, and a bonding pad 3 formed on the insulating layer 2. The semiconductor substrate 1 has a region 4 facing the bonding pad 3 and a region 5 substantially surrounding at least a part of the region 4. The region 5 of the semiconductor substrate 1 is set substantially at an equipotential.

Abstract: In a reference voltage generating circuit, in a first period, only a first switch is OFF and a maximum peak value Vmax of an input signal In is held at a node A of a first capacitor 1. Next, in a second period, a second and a third switches are opened, and a voltage difference between the maximum peak value Vmax and a minimum peak value Vmin is held at a node C of a capacitor string. At this time, the voltage held in a second capacitor of the capacitor string is added to the voltage held in the first capacitor, and the voltage at a node B is output as a reference voltage Vref. The input signal In is applied to one input terminal of a differential amplifying circuit, and the reference voltage Vref is applied to the other input terminal. When the voltages held at the nodes A and C have stabilized, the reference voltage Vref is generated.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating gas oil, which comprises an inorganic oxide support having provided thereon: at least one selected from metals in the Group 6 of the periodic table at from 10 to 30% by weight, at least one selected from metals in the Group 8 of the periodic table at from 1 to 15% by weight, phosphorus at from 1.5 to 6% by weight, and carbon at from 2 to 14% by weight, each in terms of a respective oxide amount based on the catalyst, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of from 220 to 300 m2/g, a pore volume of from 0.35 to 0.6 ml/g, and an average pore diameter of about from 65 to 95 Å; a process for producing the catalyst; and a method for hydrotreating gas oil, which comprises subjecting a gas oil fraction to a catalytic reaction in the presence of the catalyst under conditions at a hydrogen partial pressure of from 3 to 8 MPa, a temperature of from 300 to 420° C., and a liquid hourly space velocity of from 0.3 to 5 hr−1.

Abstract: A modem generally comprising an analog front end circuit, a hybrid circuit, and a variable impedance element. The hybrid circuit may be configured to couple the analog front end circuit to a transmission line. The variable impedance may be disposed within the analog front end circuit and connected to the hybrid circuit to trim an echo cancelling function of the hybrid circuit.

Abstract: The current-voltage converting circuit converts an input current signal into a voltage signal, and the single-differential converting circuit converts the voltage signal into differential signals so as to output the differential signals. The first and second low-pass filters input outputs from the single-differential converting circuit, respectively, and the voltage-current converting circuit converts a difference between the output voltages from the first and second low-pass filters into a current signal. The current-voltage converting circuit inputs a voltage held in the hold capacitor as a control signal and converts the input current signal into a voltage signal using a current-voltage converting gain according to the control signal.

Abstract: A brush unit includes a carbon brush 1, a substantially straight brush arm 2 for holding the carbon brush 1, and a brush base 3 connected to the brush arm 2. The brush base 3 is provided with a receptacle terminal 5 formed by cutting and raising the brush base 3, and thereby the brush base 3 is formed with a base hole 6 corresponding to the receptacle terminal 5. The brush unit is installed to a case cover 4 at two locations of a fixing portion in which the brush arm 2 is fixed to the brush base 3, and a brush base end portion integral with a base portion of the receptacle terminal 5, so that noise is reduced by decreasing a vibration component in an axial direction of the motor at a sliding portion at which the carbon brush 1 slides with-respect to a commutator at the time of motor rotation, and also brush tension is not changed when outside terminals are inserted through outside terminal insertion holes.

Abstract: In a peripheral circuit region requiring a conductive path between layers at the periphery of a memory cell array region, a conductive path is provided, after removing a silicon nitride film used for self-alignment contact from the area of the contacting portion of a conductor, by forming an interlayer oxide film on the conductor and providing an opening through the interlayer oxide film. Alternatively, a conductive path is provided, after forming the interlayer oxide film on the silicon nitride film used for self-alignment contact, by forming an opening throughout the interlayer oxide film and silicon nitride film.

Abstract: A diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing a catalytic converter of a motor vehicle as to whether the catalyst suffers deterioration by estimating a temperature of the catalyst or that of the exhaust gas in the vicinity of the catalyst on the basis of a plurality of engine parameters to thereby decide deterioration of the catalyst by using as an index the estimated temperature. Diagnosing method and apparatus capable of diagnosing deterioration of the catalyst with a high reliability are realized.

Abstract: A laser driver including a current-output-controlling switch; output-current-generating transistor; current-to-voltage converting transistor; first and second current sources; and current path selector having an input terminal and first and second output terminals. Responsive to a control signal, the selector outputs current through one of these two output terminals. The output current of the second current source is supplied to the current path selector. The output current supplied from the current path selector through the second output terminal thereof and the output current of the first current source are input to the current-to-voltage converting transistor. The output voltage of the current-to-voltage converting transistor is applied between the gate and source of the output-current-generating transistor. Then, the current is output through the drain of the output-current-generating transistor and the current-output-controlling switch.

Abstract: An automatic color-tone test device comprises: a measurement cell 4 to which there are communication-connected dye liquor introduction tubes 16, 18 for passing through a controlling dye liquor that is a measurement object and dye liquor discharge tubes 17, 19; a spectrophotometer adapted such that a light transmission distance in the measurement cell 4 can be variably set in compliance with a concentration level of the controlling dye liquor that is a measurement object; and a statistical test computer section for operation-judging whether or not concentration and hue agree with desired values.

Abstract: An improved lubricating grease composition is herein disclosed, which comprises a base oil and a thickening agent, wherein the base oil comprises 50 to 100% by weight of a carbonate ester compound represented by the following general formula (I): R1O—CO—OR2  (I) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms, on the basis of the total weight of the base oil. The lubricating grease composition shows remarkably improved acoustic life and an improved frictional coefficient, as compared with those observed for conventional grease compositions.

Abstract: A laser driver according to the present invention is adapted to keep the optical output power of a laser diode constant even if the temperature has changed or if the performance of the laser diode has deteriorated with time. The laser driver includes a photodiode, a current-to-voltage converter, a reference voltage generator, a transconductor, a holding capacitor and a drive current output circuit. The current-to-voltage converter converts an output current of the photodiode, which is provided to monitor the optical output of the laser diode, into a monitor voltage. The transconductor supplies an output current corresponding to a difference between the monitor voltage and a predetermined reference voltage. The drive current output circuit outputs a laser drive current corresponding to the voltage held by the holding capacitor, which is connected to the output terminal of the transconductor.

Abstract: A grease composition for rolling bearing comprising a metal soap-based thickening agent containing a long fiber-like material having a major axis length of at least 3 &mgr;m incorporated in a base oil comprising a lubricant having a polar group in its molecular structure and a non-polar lubricant blended in combination.

Abstract: A lubricating grease composition having a basic grease composition containing a synthetic oil as a base oil, and a lithium soap as a thickener. 0.5 to 10% by weight with respect to the basic grease composition total amount of at least one additive selected from the group consisting of an organic molybdenum compound, an organic fatty acid compound or an derivative thereof, and an organic phosphorus compound is added is provided. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a lubricating grease composition capable of providing excellent lubricating characteristics, fretting wear resistance property, and impact resistance property.

Abstract: A process for producing aliphatic polyester wherein a crystallized aliphatic polyester prepolymer formed from an aliphatic dihydric alcohol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and having a weight-average molecular weight of 2,000 to 100,000 is caused to undergo solid-phase polymerization in the presence of a volatile catalyst to make an aliphatic polyester having a weight-average molecular weight of 50,000 to 1,000,000. This process is more efficient than any prior process calling for a complicated step for catalyst removal, since it enables the removal of the catalyst from the reaction system during and/or after solid-phase polymerization. The polyester is comparable in stability to any aliphatic polyester having any catalyst removed therefrom.

Abstract: In a page-turning device for a printer, arms are provided at the ends of a support shaft, and a pair of rollers are fitted around a roller shaft that is located between the distal ends of arms. Springs are attached to the base ends of the arms to press the rollers against a medium to be printed. Depending on the width of the medium, the positions of adjustment brackets can be changed, such that the urging forces produced by the springs are adjusted, so as to control the pressing forces exerted by rollers, thereby assuring substantially uniform force application onto at least two locations of the page such that the page can be readily turned without inappropriate folding, bending or creasing.