Abstract: A solid state imaging device including a plurality of photo diodes disposed in a matrix shape, a vertical transfer unit disposed along each vertical column of the photo diodes, and a horizontal transfer unit in which a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent vertical transfer units are used as one group to correspond to a unit transfer bit, wherein at least one charge transfer unit corresponding to each group of the vertical transfer unit is provided for each group.

Abstract: A configuration of an imaging device includes: an S/H circuit 9 which samples signal voltages read out from a plurality of charge-detecting circuits by a horizontal scanning circuit and output from an output amplifier 6, without the transfer of signal charges by a charge transfer portion; a memory 10 which stores signal voltages sampled by the S/H circuit 9 as memory voltages (Vm1 to Vm4); and a signal processing circuit 8 which executes predetermined signal processing, using signal voltages read out from the plurality of charge-detecting circuits by the horizontal scanning circuit and output from the output amplifier 6 and memory signals stored in the memory 10, with the transfer of signal charges read out from the photoelectric conversion portion to the charge transfer portion.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an imaging unit, a charge control unit, and a horizontal transfer unit. The imaging unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged into a matrix for performing photoelectric conversion, and a plurality of vertical transfer units arranged in columns for vertically transferring signal charges of the plurality of pixels on a column-by-column basis. In a predetermined operation mode, a predetermined number of columns greater than one are used as a unit, and the charge control unit stops transferring charges from a vertical transfer unit in a predetermined column of the predetermined number of columns, and adds the signal charges transferred from the vertical transfer units in the two or more remaining columns of the predetermined number of columns to output the added signal charges. The horizontal transfer unit horizontally transfers the signal charges output from the charge control unit.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to shorten an entire length, a torque transmission coupling is provided with a rotating shaft (11) and a drive pinion shaft (17) for carrying out input and output transmission of a torque, and a torque control means (125) arranged between the rotating shaft (11) and the drive pinion shaft (17) and controlling a torque transmission between the rotating shaft (11) and the drive pinion shaft (17) on the basis of a frictional engagement caused by an electromagnetic force of an electromagnet (133), and at least a part of the torque control means (125) is arranged in an outer periphery of a taper roller bearing (117) rotatably supporting the drive pinion shaft (17).

Abstract: A wet-type friction clutch plate which keeps lubricant on a frictional slide face, stabilizes frictional torque transmission and suppresses shuddering noise. The wet-type friction clutch plate has the frictional slide face on which a grid of grooves is formed. The frictional slide face frictionally engages with an opposite clutch plate. At least one of the sectional shape and plan shape of each of the grooves is configured to provide the frictional slide face with a &mgr;-v characteristic such that &mgr; increases with an increase in v to prevent self-excited vibration during frictional engagement of the wet-type friction clutch plate with the opposite clutch plate, wherein &mgr; is a coefficient of friction on the frictional slide face and v is a relative rotational speed of the wet-type friction clutch plate relative to the opposite clutch plate.

Abstract: A structure and a method for supporting an electromagnetic coupling (1) onto a vehicle body (347) is disclosed as being interposed between a center support bearing (37) remaining closer to a propeller shaft (319) and a center support bearing (37) remaining closer to a propeller shaft (321). The center support bearings (37, 37) are fixedly mounted to the vehicle body via shock absorbing members (35, 35), respectively.

Abstract: A wet-type friction clutch plate surely keeps lubricant on a frictional slide face, stabilizes frictional torque transmission, and suppresses shuddering noise.

Abstract: In a CCD imaging device in which sensor sections have the vertical overflow drain (OFD) structure, a substrate bias control signal is applied to the base of a bipolar transistor via a resistor to turn on the transistor at least during a signal charge readout period. As a result, the base potential of a bipolar transistor that constitutes a clamping circuit is lowered, whereby a substrate bias that is output from a substrate bias generation circuit is lowered. Thus, the potential of an overflow barrier in the sensor sections is reduced.

Abstract: A structure and a method for supporting an electromagnetic coupling (1) onto a vehicle body (347) is disclosed as being interposed between a center support bearing (37) remaining closer to a propeller shaft (319) and a center support bearing (37) remaining closer to a propeller shaft (321). The center support bearings (37, 37) are fixedly mounted to the vehicle body via shock absorbing members (35, 35), respectively.

Abstract: Control gate sections capable of prohibiting transfer from vertical CCDs to a horizontal CCD of signal charges generated in selected regions of an imaging area in the horizontal direction are provided between the vertical CCDs to the horizontal CCD. This configuration allows reading of signal charges only in a particular region in the horizontal direction. As a result, high-speed imaging can be realized without increasing the drive frequency.

Abstract: Control gate sections capable of prohibiting transfer from vertical CCDs to a horizontal CCD of signal charges generated in selected regions of an imaging area in the horizontal direction are provided between the vertical CCDs to the horizontal CCD. This configuration allows reading of signal charges only in a particular region in the horizontal direction. As a result, high-speed imaging can be realized without increasing the drive frequency.

Abstract: In a CCD imaging device in which sensor sections have the vertical overflow drain (OFD) structure, a substrate bias control signal is applied to the base of a bipolar transistor via a resistor to turn on the transistor at least during a signal charge readout period. As a result, the base potential of a bipolar transistor that constitutes a clamping circuit is lowered, whereby a substrate bias that is output from a substrate bias generation circuit is lowered. Thus, the potential of an overflow barrier in the sensor sections is reduced.

Abstract: A threshold voltage or a channel potential of a MIS device can be set in an analogue fashion. A MIS device includes a multi-layer structure having a gate insulating film in which an oxide film, a nitride film and an oxide film are laminated in that order. The threshold voltage or channel potential of the MIS device can be controlled by an amount of electric charges injected into the nitride film.

Abstract: A threshold voltage or a channel potential of a MIS device can be set in an analogue fashion. A MIS device includes a multi-layer structure having a gate insulating film in which an oxide film, a nitride film and an oxide film are laminated in that order. The threshold voltage or channel potential of the MIS device can be controlled by an amount of electric charges injected into the nitride film.

Abstract: A threshold voltage or a channel potential of a MIS device can be set in an analogue fashion. A MIS device includes a multi-layer structure having a gate insulating film in which an oxide film, a nitride film and an oxide film are laminated in that order. The threshold voltage or channel potential of the MIS device can be controlled by an amount of electric charges injected into the nitride film.

Abstract: A differential apparatus comprises a differential casing, a pair of helical side gears, and at least one pair of long and short helical pinion gears. The long helical pinion gear includes first and second gear portions and the short helical pinion gear includes first and second gear portions. The apparatus may include gear coupling portions for coupling the first and second gear portions of the long and short helical pinion gears via a long gear shaft or a short gear shaft, respectively. Since the first and second gear portions of the long or short helical pinion gear can be coupled to the long or short gear shaft by use of the common coupling portions, it is possible to obtain a larger or smaller differential limiting force by exchanging the helix angle relationship (thrust directions) of the two helical pinion gears.

Abstract: A differential gear, adapted to be driven by an engine, includes a differential gear case, helical pinion gears which are housed slidably and rotatably in housing holes formed in the differential gear case, and helical side gears on wheels coupled via the helical pinion gears. The differential gear further includes a limit slip differential of the speed-responsive type, in which a member on one side is coupled to one of the side gears. A spur gear portion is formed on a member on the other side of the limited slip differential, and the spur gear portion meshes with a spur gear formed on the other helical pinion gear to mesh with the other helical side gear.

Abstract: A charge transfer apparatus which is capable of reliably improving the transfer efficiency of an output gate section while preventing the occurrence of coupling to output waveforms. A two-phase driving-type charge transfer apparatus is constructed as follows. Transfer clock .phi.H2 used for driving the stage one prior to the final stage of a charge transfer section is divided at a predetermined ratio through the use of two resistors. This causes the generation of drive pulse .phi.OG in phase with and of a smaller amplitude than transfer clock .phi.H2. A gate electrode of an output gate section is driven by this drive pulse .phi.OG.

Abstract: A frame interline transfer CCD imager is so adapted that signal charges from the photosensor are read into a vertical transfer unit and are transferred at a high transfer rate from the vertical transfer unit to a storage section. The charges from each photosensor are drained during the high transfer rate transfer so that the photosensors are unable to store the signal charges to prevent the occurrence of blooming.

Abstract: A solid state imager device comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, each of the pixels consisting of a light sensing element and a vertical transfer portion adjacent to the light sensing element, the vertical transfer portion having three gate portions such as a first, a second and a third gate portions insulated each other, the third gate portion located in the center of the three gate portions, a plurality of rows of base portions disposed in the horizontal direction and connecting the respective gate portions, a vertical wiring device disposed over the gate portions through an insulating layer, the vertical wiring device including, a first wiring film connecting the first gate portions, a second wiring film connecting the second gate portions, a third wiring film connecting the third gate portions which is connected to the odd row of the base portions, a fourth wiring film connecting the third gate portions which is connected to the even rows of the base portions, a read out pulse dev