Abstract: The present invention relates to an estimation system that can provide a highly reliable estimation result when the estimation system estimates person-hours required to prepare a film pattern for a circuit to be printed on a board. Upon receiving design conditions from a cline machine, a reference pin calculator of the estimation system calculates a number of reference pins on the basis of a total number of pins extending from parts to be integrated on the printed circuit board and a special specification requirement to be applied to the printed circuit. An additional pin calculator calculates a number of additional pins on the basis of a signal line wiring method. A total estimated pin calculator corrects a sum of the reference pins and the additional pins on the basis of design difficulty, which is determined from a number of signal layers to be made in the printed circuit, a number of signal lines arrangeable between adjacent pins and a pin density, to calculate a total estimated number of pins.

Abstract: A switching power supply unit of the present invention a timing generating circuit (121) which receives a first control signal formed by a rectifier-transistor driving circuit (104), forms a second control signal based on the first control signal, and supplies the second control signal to a control electrode of the rectifier transistor (113). The first control signal is synchronized with the switching operation of a half-bridge circuit (102), and the second control signal exceeds a threshold voltage of a rectifier transistor (113) at a timing substantially equal to the timing that one edge of the first control signal is generated and falls below the threshold voltage of the rectifier transistor (113) at a timing earlier by predetermined time than the timing that the other edge of the first control signal is generated.

Abstract: A card reader of the present invention is useful in a dimly lit light condition, such as in a casino. The card reader includes a front member or bezel made of a fluorescent plastic and a UV lamp for irradiating UV light to the front member. When exposed to UV light, the fluorescent plastic absorbs the UV light and emits light in the visible spectrum. The light emitted from the front member aids a card user in inserting a card into the slot of the card reader in a dimly lit light condition.

Abstract: A card that carries information on it and a card reader that read and/or writes information on the card. The card is made of a fluorescent material that, when receiving UV light, emits light in the visible spectrum. The card reader may have a UV lamp for illuminating the card. The card, illuminated by the UV lamp, glows at a desired state of the card read/write operation. If the card reader is a contactless reader, the reader will irradiate UV light to the card brought in close proximity to the reader. Illuminated by the UV light, the card glows in the hand of a cardholder.

Abstract: Means for advancing and retreating a movable die plate 9 toward and from a fixed die plate 5 includes a moving base 17 in which the upper surface thereof is connected integrally with the movable die plate 9 and a slide unit 21 is installed on the lower surface thereof; a pair of track rails 23 which are provided on the base 1 and form a linear guide by engaging with the slide unit 21; a ball screw shaft 35 which is supported in parallel with the track rails 23 by a bearing provided on the base 1 and in which axial direction is restrained rotatably; a servomotor 45 for driving the ball screw shaft 35; and a ball screw nut 37 which is installed on the lower surface of the moving base 17 so as to threadedly engage with the ball screw shaft 35, and the ball screw shaft 35 and the ball screw nut 37 are provided at an arbitrary position between the paired track rails 23 for linear guide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an estimation system that can provide a highly reliable estimation result when the estimation system estimates person-hours required to prepare a film pattern for a circuit to be printed on a board. Upon receiving design conditions from a cline machine, a reference pin calculator of the estimation system calculates a number of reference pins on the basis of a total number of pins extending from parts to be integrated on the printed circuit board and a special specification requirement to be applied to the printed circuit. An additional pin calculator calculates a number of additional pins on the basis of a signal line wiring method. A total estimated pin calculator corrects a sum of the reference pins and the additional pins on the basis of design difficulty, which is determined from a number of signal layers to be made in the printed circuit, a number of signal lines arrangeable between adjacent pins and a pin density, to calculate a total estimated number of pins.

Abstract: A rectifying circuit having a pair of input terminals at which voltage having an AC waveform appears, a plurality of first rectifying elements 41, a plurality of second rectifying elements 42, a first wiring pattern 71 for connecting one of the paired input terminals to the plurality of first rectifying elements 41, and a second wiring pattern 72 for connecting the other of the paired input terminals to the plurality of second rectifying elements 42. In the rectifying circuit, the plurality of first rectifying elements 41 and the plurality of second rectifying elements 42 are laid out so that at least two boundaries between the first and second rectifying elements adjacent to each other are present. With such a layout of the rectifying elements, current flow paths between one of the input terminals and the plurality of first rectifying elements 41 and current flow paths between the other of the input terminals and the plurality of second rectifying elements 42, are closely disposed.

Abstract: A switching power supply unit of the present invention a timing generating circuit (121) which receives a first control signal formed by a rectifier-transistor driving circuit (104), forms a second control signal based on the first control signal, and supplies the second control signal to a control electrode of the rectifier transistor (113).

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus, which has a detachable ink film cassette with an ink film, transfers an ink applied to the ink film to a recording paper by means of a thermal head and forms an image on the recording paper. The ink film cassette holds a supply reel wound around the shaft with the ink film and a take-up reel for taking up the ink film of the supply reel around the shaft. The thermal transfer recording apparatus has a detecting unit for detecting the supply reel mounted in the cassette, and a control unit for detecting the ink film based on a signal from the detecting unit. The detecting unit has a lever, which advances through an opening formed in the cassette from the direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the supply reel and comes in contact with the supply reel, and a photosensor for detecting the supply reel through of the lever. This thermal transfer recording apparatus can detect missing of the ink film in advance of the start of a printing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an epitaxial wafer which is obtained by sequentially forming, on an n-type GaAs substrate, a first n-type GaAlAs layer; a second n-type GaAlAs layer; an n-type GaAlAs cladding layer; a p-type GaAlAs active layer which has an emission wavelength of 850-900 nm; and a p-type GaAlAs cladding layer, through liquid phase epitaxy, and, subsequently, removing the n-type GaAs substrate. In the epitaxial wafer, the p-type GaAlAs cladding layer has a thickness of 5-30 &mgr;m; the p-type GaAlAs cladding layer has an oxygen concentration of 3×1016 atoms/cm3 or less; the p-type GaAlAs cladding layer has a carrier concentration of 1×1017 cm−3 to 1×1018 cm−3; the p-type GaAlAs active layer has a thickness of 0.05-0.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording apparatus, which has a detachable ink film cassette with an ink film, transfers an ink applied to the ink film to a recording paper by means of a thermal head and forms an image on the recording paper. The ink film cassette holds a supply reel wound around the shaft with the ink film and a take-up reel for taking up the ink film of the supply reel around the shaft. The thermal transfer recording apparatus has a detecting unit for detecting the supply reel mounted in the cassette, and a control unit for detecting the ink film based on a signal from the detecting unit. The detecting unit has a lever, which advances through an opening formed in the cassette from the direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the supply reel and comes in contact with the supply reel, and a photosensor for detecting the supply reel through of the lever. This thermal transfer recording apparatus can detect missing of the ink film in advance of the start of a printing operation.

Abstract: An image forming system is provided with an image memory for storing a number of frame images, a composite image generator for generating a composite image bearing frame images, and a composite image recorder for recording generated composite image on a recording medium having a base layer, an adhesive layer, and a recording layer. The system is further provided with a separation former for forming a perforation line on the recording medium for dividing a specified frame image from the other frame image.

Abstract: The present invention provides an epitaxial wafer comprising, on a p-type GaAs single-crystal substrate, a first p-type layer; a p-type cladding layer; a p-type active layer; and an n-type cladding layer, wherein the n-type cladding layer has a carrier concentration of 1×1017 to 1×1018 cm−3; a sulfur concentration of 3×1016 atoms/cm3 or less; and a thickness of 20-50 &mgr;m. The maximum silicon concentration in the portion of the p-type cladding layer within 2 &mgr;m of the interface between the p-type cladding layer and the first p-type layer is less than 1×1018 atoms/cm3; the concentration of carbon, sulfur, or oxygen in the first p-type layer is less than 1×1017 atoms/cm3; the p-type cladding layer has a thickness of 50-80 &mgr;m; the first p-type layer has a carrier concentration of 3×1017 to 1×1018 cm−3; and the n-type cladding layer contains germanium at a concentration of 3×1018 cm−3 or less.

Abstract: In a magazine mounting device for a photographic processing system, first and second magazines each have a reel shaft for holding a roll of printing paper and first to fourth side walls, and the distance between the first and third side walls is made approximately equal to the distance between the second and fourth side walls. The first and second magazines are mounted in first and second magazine mounting unit, respectively, in such a way that a printing paper outlet formed in the first magazine and a printing paper outlet formed in the second magazine are oriented at right angles to and situated close to each other.

Abstract: An ink film cassette 33 incorporates therein a supply reel 30 having an ink film wound thereon and a rewind reel 31 for taking up the ink film 32 and is attached detachably to a thermal transfer printer 10. In the cassette 33, a first torque limiter 85 for transmitting braking force to a supporting shaft 78a of the supply reel 30 inside the cassette 33 is fixed detachably to the supporting shaft 78a. Bearings 81a and 81b on the take-upside transmit braking force to supporting shafts 80a and 80b of the rewind reel 31 inside the ink film cassette. Further in the cassette 33, a second torque limiter 97 for limiting the driving torque of the rewind reel 31 in the ink film cassette is fixed detachably to the supporting shaft 81a. A kick spring 106 for causing the ink film paid off the supply reel 30 to be rewound on the supply reel 30 is also fixed detachably to the supply reel 30 in the cassette 33.

Abstract: A film magazine includes a take-up mechanism for a take-up mechanism for taking up a film in the form of roll, with the film being releasable therefrom. The magazine further includes a support mechanism for supporting the film roll formed by the take-up mechanism in such a manner as to allow a rotational axis of the formed roll to be adjustable in position in accordance with variation in the outer diameter of the roll resulting from the take-up or unwinding operation of the film.

Abstract: A video camera is connected to a video signal amplifier through a video signal input terminal. The video signal amplifier is connected to the input side of an image memory through an A/D converter which converts analog video signals into image data which are digital signals. The image memory is provided with a semiconductor memory for storing video signals converted into digital signals. Thus, it becomes possible to continuously record images from before the opening of a door until after the opening of the door and to thus obtain a magnetic recording and playback apparatus of high monitoring effects.

Abstract: An ink film cassette which is detachably attached to a thermal transfer recording device, the ink film cassette having a supply reel winding an ink film therearound, a take-up reel which rolls up the ink film fed out from the supply reel and a torque limiter which is provided between the supply reel and a frame of the body of the thermal transfer recording device so as to apply torque to the supply reel.