Abstract: The invention improves the unpleasant taste characteristic of potassium salts without affecting the original flavor of foods or drinks and increases the value of potassium salt as a salt substitute, in order to provide means and a salt composition for reducing sodium in foods and drinks. By adding one or more of the following: quinic acid or a quinic acid-containing composition, spilanthol or a spilanthol-containing plant extract or plant essential oil, or an Allium plant extract, to a potassium salt or a potassium salt-containing food or drink, the unpleasant tastes such as acrid taste and metallic taste characteristic of potassium salts are improved while the salt flavor and taste are augmented.

Abstract: The invention improves the unpleasant taste characteristic of potassium salts without affecting the original flavor of foods or drinks and increases the value of potassium salt as a salt substitute, in order to provide means and a salt composition for reducing sodium in foods and drinks. By adding one or more of the following: quinic acid or a quinic acid-containing composition, spilanthol or a spilanthol-containing plant extract or plant essential oil, or an Allium plant extract, to a potassium salt or a potassium salt-containing food or drink, the unpleasant tastes such as acrid taste and metallic taste characteristic of potassium salts are improved while the salt flavor and taste are augmented.

Abstract: A nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no nickel chloride; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4. Another nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no boric acid; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4.

Abstract: A nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no nickel chloride; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4. Another nickel plating solution preparation method has the steps of: dissolving in water 100 g/L or more and less than 200 g/L of nickel sulfate, and 10 g/L or more and less than 30 g/L of sodium citrate or 8 g/L or more and less than 25 g/L of citric acid, but adding no boric acid; and adjusting a pH of the resultant solution to 2 or more and less than 4.

Abstract: A copper foil for a printed circuit board has a rust preventing layer formed by a trivalent chromium chemical conversion treatment on a surface of the copper foil that the copper foil is bonded to a base material for the printed circuit board. T copper foil is of copper or copper alloy, and the rust preventing layer contains 0.5 to 2.5 ?g/cm2 of chromium converted into metallic chromium.

Abstract: A portable electronic device including a USB connector, an internal power source, a USB controller to execute data communication processing for data communication with a personal computer connected to the USB connector, a main CPU to execute device operation processing for usual operation of the device. When the USB controller executes data communication processing, the device is supplied with power at high voltage from the personal computer through the USB connector. When the main CPU executes device operation processing, the device is supplied with power at low voltage from the internal power source. Accordingly, this makes not only high speed data communication available, but also prolongs the life of the internal power source.

Abstract: A portable electronic device according to the invention comprises a USB connector 4, a USB controller 6 for executing predetermined data communication processing attendant on data communication with a personal computer 2 connected to the USB connector 4, and a main CPU 7 for executing device operation processing for the usual operation of the device, and is adapted to receive a power supply from the personal computer 2 or an external power source 3 as connected to the USB connector 4. Discriminating between the sources of supply of power, the main CPU 7 causes the USB controller 6 to execute the predetermined data communication processing while power is supplied from the personal computer 2, or executes the usual device operation processing while power is supplied from the external power source 3. This assures more rapid and simplified processing even when the USB connector is used also as a connector for the external power source.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip 1 is bonded by a metal bond 2 to one surface of a heat sink 4 formed of a material with a thermal expansion coefficient is close to he semiconductor chip 1, the heat sink 4 is glued to a stiffener with a silicon adhesive 5 with an elastic modulus of 10 MPa or less, a TAB tape 9 is glued to the stiffener 3 with an epoxy adhesive 6, and the semiconductor chip 1 is sealed with an epoxy sealing resin 8 with an elastic modulus of 10 GPa or more for protection from outside.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip 1 is bonded by a metal bond 2 to one surface of a heat sink 4 formed of a material with a thermal expansion coefficient is close to he semiconductor chip 1, the heat sink 4 is glued to a stiffener with a silicon adhesive 5 with an elastic modulus of 10 MPa or less, a TAB tape 9 is glued to the stiffener 3 with an epoxy adhesive 6, and the semiconductor chip 1 is sealed with an epoxy sealing resin 8 with an elastic modulus of 10 GPa or more for protection from outside.

Abstract: A disk playback device including a memory for temporarily storing data from a pickup and outputting the data as delayed by a predetermined period of time, manual keys, and a system control circuit for detecting the playback end of a disk from the playback data from the pickup. The memory has connected thereto an erase circuit for erasing data remaining in the memory. The system control circuit produces different flag values in a first case wherein the control circuit detects the disk end to terminate playback of the disk and in a second case wherein the user manipulates one of the manual keys to terminate the playback. A memory control circuit is connected to the memory and the system control circuit. In the first case, the memory control circuit inputs to the memory playback data of another disk replacing the disk as continued from the data remaining in the memory.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip 1 is bonded by a metal bond 2 to one surface of a heat sink 4 formed of a material with a thermal expansion coefficient is close to he semiconductor chip 1, the heat sink 4 is glued to a stiffener with a silicon adhesive 5 with an elastic modulus of 10 MPa or less, a TAB tape 9 is glued to the stiffener 3 with an epoxy adhesive 6, and the semiconductor chip 1 is sealed with an epoxy sealing resin 8 with an elastic modulus of 10 GPa or more for protection from outside.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip 1 is bonded by a metal bond 2 to one surface of a heat sink 4 formed of a material with a thermal expansion coefficient is close to the semiconductor chip 1, the heat sink 4 is glued to a stiffener with a silicon adhesive 5 with an elastic modulus of 10 MPa or less, a TAB tape 9 is glued to the stiffener 3 with an epoxy adhesive 6, and the semiconductor chip 1 is sealed with an epoxy sealing resin 8 with an elastic modulus of 10 GPa or more for protection from outside.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a semiconductor chip 1 is bonded by a metal bond 2 to one surface of a heat sink 4 formed of a material with a thermal expansion coefficient is close to he semiconductor chip 1, the heat sink 4 is glued to a stiffener with a silicon adhesive 5 with an elastic modulus of 10 MPa or less, a TAB tape 9 is glued to the stiffener 3 with an epoxy adhesive 6, and the semiconductor chip 1 is sealed with an epoxy sealing resin 8 with an elastic modulus of 10 GPa or more for protection from outside.

Abstract: A portable electronic device embodying the present invention comprises a USB connector, an internal power source, a USB controller to execute data communication processing for data communication with a personal computer connected to the USB connector, a main CPU to execute device operation processing for usual operation of the device. When USB controller executes data communication processing, the device is supplied with power at high voltage from the personal computer through the USB connector. When the main CPU executes device operation processing, the device is supplied with power at low voltage from the internal power source.

Abstract: A data reproduction device comprises a CPU for reading out data from a memory card having a controller mounted thereon and a DSP for giving the read data required processing. The controller of the memory card is so constructed that an active mode is set for reading out the data under the current consumption of a first current value in response to memory access, and thereafter a standby mode automatically follows for waiting for next memory access under the current consumption of a second current value. The CPU reads out the data intermittently from the memory card at a first bit rate, and store the data to a buffer. The data stored in the buffer is read out at the second bit rate lower than the first bit rate, and supplied to the DSP.

Abstract: A portable electronic device according to the invention comprises a USB connector 4, a USB controller 6 for executing predetermined data communication processing attendant on data communication with a personal computer 2 connected to the USB connector 4, and a main CPU 7 for executing device operation processing for the usual operation of the device, and is adapted to receive a power supply from the personal computer 2 or an external power source 3 as connected to the USB connector 4. Discriminating between the sources of supply of power, the main CPU 7 causes the USB controller 6 to execute the predetermined data communication processing while power is supplied from the personal computer 2, or executes the usual device operation processing while power is supplied from the external power source 3. This assures more rapid and simplified processing even when the USB connector is used also as a connector for the external power source.

Abstract: In the BGA in which the bonding portions of the support frame bonded to the wiring substrate via adhesive layer are molded by a resin, the areas of the bonding portions are each selected to be from 0.5 to 3.1 mm.sup.2. Furthermore, holes are formed in the substrate under the frame corresponding to the bonding portions.

Abstract: A system control circuit checks a memory for data therein through a memory control circuit upon a pickup reaching the end of the disk. When at least a predetermined quantity of data remains in the memory, signaling sound generating means produces a signaling sound three times and a display portion is caused to flash. On the other hand, if the quantity of data remaining in the memory is not greater than a predetermined amount, the sound generating means produces a prolonged signaling sound once and causes the display portion to flash. The display operation is terminated if no disk change is made within a specified period of time thereafter.

Abstract: An audio device controllable with a card having at least one operation identifying device related to a specific reproduction operation. The card is provided on the respective surfaces thereof with first and second items of visual data corresponding to the reproduction operation. The audio device has a card inlet, an optical sensor for detecting the mark of the card, and a system controller for controlling the device to realize the reproduction operation identified by the mark.