Abstract: An optical sensor includes a light-emitting element configured to project light that changes with time; a light-receiving element including a pn junction and configured to directly or indirectly receive the light projected by the light-emitting element; a measuring section configured to measure an electric current generated based on an amount of the light received by the light-receiving element; and a bias application section configured to apply a bias to the light-receiving element, wherein the bias application section, before measuring the electric current generated based on the amount of the light received, applies the bias to the light-receiving element to cause either a forward current that flows when the light-receiving element is turned ON or a breakdown current that flows when the pn junction breaks down to flow through the pn junction.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating includes: a metal bonding layer made of an alloy containing Al; a thermal barrier layer; and an intermediate layer provided between the metal bonding layer and the thermal barrier layer. The thermal barrier layer contains a compound represented by the following general formula (1), LnxTayHfzO(3x+5y+4z)/2 (1) (wherein Ln is an atom of one element selected from among rare earth elements, x is 0 to 1.0, y is 0.8 to 3.0, and z is 0 to 7.0). The intermediate layer contains at least one layer selected from among the following (A) to (C): (A) a layer containing hafnium oxide (HfO2) as a main component; (B) a layer containing, as a main component, a compound consisting of tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), and oxygen (O); and (C) a layer containing, as a main component, a compound consisting of a rare earth element, tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), and oxygen (O).

Abstract: The kneading apparatus 1 includes a casing 2, a pair of elongated screws 4a, 4b rotatably provided in the casing 2. The screws 4a, 4b are arranged parallel and horizontally with respect to one another. The casing 2 has a main body 20 and a screw container 3 provided in the casing 2. The screw container 3 defines a kneading section 30 therein. The screw 4a includes a screw axis 41 having an outer periphery, a first screw member 42 provided on the outer periphery of the screw axis 41 and a kneading member 43 provided on the outer periphery of the screw axis 41. The first screw member 42 and kneading member 43 are provided in the kneading section 30. The screw 4a, the first screw member 42 and the kneading member 43 respectively have core portions 411, 412, 413 having a surface and outer layers 45 respectively provided on the surfaces of the core portions 411, 412, 413. The screw container 3 and the outer layers 45 are constituted of a nonmetallic material.

Abstract: A pulverizing apparatus for pulverizing a hard resin composition has a pulverizing mechanism having a pair of rollers arranged parallel to one another, these rollers pulverizing the hard resin composition by pressuring the hard resin composition between the rollers and a cooling device for cooling the hard resin composition during the hard resin composition being pulverized. Each of the rollers has a cylindrical shape with a hollow portion and the cooling device is configured to supply a coolant into the hollow portion of each of the rollers. The coolant flows in the hollow portion of each of the rollers in a longitudinal direction of each of the rollers. The cooling device has facilitating members respectively inserted into the hollow portions of the rollers.

Abstract: A molding device for molding a resin composition into a sheet shape by pressurizing the resin composition has a pair of rollers arranged parallel to one another. Each of the rollers has a columnar or cylindrical core portion and an outer layer provided on an outer periphery of the core portion. The outer layer is constituted of the ceramic material. A thickness of the outer layer is in the range of 0.2 to 100 nm. Further, an arithmetic mean deviation of a profile Ra of an outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers defined by JIS B 0601 is in the range of 0 to 2 ?m.

Abstract: A resistor array is provided in an element array. A mean value of a characteristic-value distribution is associated with a median of combined resistance values obtained by the element array. An array of trimming information pieces corresponding to combined resistance values larger than the median is set in a descending order of ‘15’ to ‘8’ in decimal number, and an array of trimming information pieces corresponding to combined resistance values less than the median is set in an ascending order of ‘0’ to ‘7’ in decimal number. A circuit converts trimming information derived from the trimming information generation circuit to generate element selection information for selecting turn-off resistors to obtain combined resistance values from the resistor array. Thus, the number of melted-and-cut fuses involved in generation of trimming information associated within the range of “mean value±2?” in the distribution is reduced.

Abstract: A degassing apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 having a degassing chamber 22, a rotor 3 rotatably provided in the housing 2 and a decompressing mechanism 4 for decompressing the degassing chamber 22 of the housing 2. The housing 2 further includes a conduit line 21 and a cylindrical portion 23. The degassing chamber 22 is provided in a middle part of the conduit line 21. An upper end of the conduit line 21 constitutes an inlet port 24 and a lower end of the conduit line 21 constitutes an outlet port 25. The rotor 3 is rotatably provided inside the cylindrical portion 23 so that a passage between the outlet portion 25 and the degassing chamber 22 can be hermetically separated by the rotor 3. The rotor 3 has four partitioning plates 31 which partition the inside of the cylindrical portion into four spaces 231-234.

Abstract: A compact production apparatus includes a main body having at least one molding die in which a cavity is formed, a first flow passage member for supplying powder into the cavity, an upper compaction member having an upper punch surface, a lower compaction member having a lower punch surface which is allowed to compress the powder in the cavity in cooperation with the upper punch surface to thereby obtain a compact of the powder, and a second flow passage member from which the compact separated from the cavity is to be discharged. Further, at least 80% or more of a total surface area of an upper surface of the main body, an inner circumferential surface defining the cavity, an inner circumferential surface of the first flow passage member, an inner circumferential surface of the second flow passage member, the upper punch surface of the upper compaction member and the lower punch surface of the lower compaction member is made of a nonmetallic material.

Abstract: A resistor array is provided in an element array. A mean value of a characteristic-value distribution is associated with a median of combined resistance values obtained by the element array. An array of trimming information pieces corresponding to combined resistance values larger than the median is set in a descending order of ‘15’ to ‘8’ in decimal number, and an array of trimming information pieces corresponding to combined resistance values less than the median is set in an ascending order of ‘0’ to ‘7’ in decimal number. A circuit converts trimming information derived from the trimming information generation circuit to generate element selection information for selecting turn-off resistors to obtain combined resistance values from the resistor array. Thus, the number of melted-and-cut fuses involved in generation of trimming information associated within the range of “mean value±2?” in the distribution is reduced.

Abstract: A compact production apparatus includes a main body having at least one molding die in which a cavity is formed, a first flow passage member for supplying powder into the cavity, an upper compaction member having an upper punch surface, a lower compaction member having a lower punch surface which is allowed to compress the powder in the cavity in cooperation with the upper punch surface to thereby obtain a compact of the powder, and a second flow passage member from which the compact separated from the cavity is to be discharged. Further, at least 80% or more of a total surface area of an upper surface of the main body, an inner circumferential surface defining the cavity, an inner circumferential surface of the first flow passage member, an inner circumferential surface of the second flow passage member, the upper punch surface of the upper compaction member and the lower punch surface of the lower compaction member is made of a nonmetallic material.

Abstract: The kneading apparatus 1 includes a casing 2, a pair of elongated screws 4a, 4b rotatably provided in the casing 2. The screws 4a, 4b are arranged parallel and horizontally with respect to one another. The casing 2 has a main body 20 and a screw container 3 provided in the casing 2. The screw container 3 defines a kneading section 30 therein. The screw 4a includes a screw axis 41 having an outer periphery, a first screw member 42 provided on the outer periphery of the screw axis 41 and a kneading member 43 provided on the outer periphery of the screw axis 41. The first screw member 42 and kneading member 43 are provided in the kneading section 30. The screw 4a, the first screw member 42 and the kneading member 43 respectively have core portions 411, 412, 413 having a surface and outer layers 45 respectively provided on the surfaces of the core portions 411, 412, 413. The screw container 3 and the outer layers 45 are constituted of a nonmetallic material.

Abstract: A pulverizing apparatus for pulverizing a hard resin composition has a pulverizing mechanism having a pair of rollers arranged parallel to one another, these rollers pulverizing the hard resin composition by pressuring the hard resin composition between the rollers and a cooling device for cooling the hard resin composition during the hard resin composition being pulverized. Each of the rollers has a cylindrical shape with a hollow portion and the cooling device is configured to supply a coolant into the hollow portion of each of the rollers. The coolant flows in the hollow portion of each of the rollers in a longitudinal direction of each of the rollers. The cooling device has facilitating members respectively inserted into the hollow portions of the rollers.

Abstract: A molding device for molding a resin composition into a sheet shape by pressurizing the resin composition has a pair of rollers arranged parallel to one another. Each of the rollers has a columnar or cylindrical core portion and an outer layer provided on an outer periphery of the core portion. The outer layer is constituted of the ceramic material. A thickness of the outer layer is in the range of 0.2 to 100 nm. Further, an arithmetic mean deviation of a profile Ra of an outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers defined by JIS B 0601 is in the range of 0 to 2 ?m.

Abstract: A degassing apparatus 1 includes a housing 2 having a degassing chamber 22, a rotor 3 rotatably provided in the housing 2 and a decompressing mechanism 4 for decompressing the degassing chamber 22 of the housing 2. The housing 2 further includes a conduit line 21 and a cylindrical portion 23. The degassing chamber 22 is provided in a middle part of the conduit line 21. An upper end of the conduit line 21 constitutes an inlet port 24 and a lower end of the conduit line 21 constitutes an outlet port 25. The rotor 3 is rotatably provided inside the cylindrical portion 23 so that a passage between the outlet portion 25 and the degassing chamber 22 can be hermetically separated by the rotor 3. The rotor 3 has four partitioning plates 31 which partition the inside of the cylindrical portion into four spaces 231-234.

Abstract: A carrier detection circuit of the present invention detects groups of pulses having a carrier frequency by using a detector, and integrates, by an integrator, a time in which the groups are detected, so as to generate a carrier detection level. Therefore, a transistor is only requested to have responsibility with respect to a frequency of a base band component, but not to the carrier frequency. This ensures a margin with respect to a response of the transistor, while allowing a feeble current to be used as charging and discharging currents for the capacitor. In this way, even if a capacitor in use has such a small capacity that the capacitor can be incorporated in an integrated circuit, the detection of the carrier is performed accurately.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation which, when used in encapsulation of a semiconductor chip, can minimize voids appearing in the semiconductor device obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation which, when used in encapsulation of a semiconductor chip, can minimize voids appearing in the semiconductor device obtained.

Abstract: A carrier detection circuit of the present invention detects groups of pulses having a carrier frequency by using a detector, and integrates, by an integrator, a time in which the groups are detected, so as to generate a carrier detection level. Therefore, a transistor is only requested to have responsibility with respect to a frequency of a base band component, but not to the carrier frequency. This ensures a margin with respect to a response of the transistor, while allowing a feeble current to be used as charging and discharging currents for the capacitor. In this way, even if a capacitor in use has such a small capacity that the capacitor can be incorporated in an integrated circuit, the detection of the carrier is performed accurately.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing method and device, whereby it is possible to prevent reduction in information recording capacity of an optical card and increase in recording and reproduction time due to track jump operations, and there is no occurrence of track jumping errors due to oscillations associated with acceleration and deceleration of the relative speed of movement between the optical card and an optical head. A region where the optical head and optical card are moved at a constant speed relative to each other is provided in the acceleration or deceleration of the relative speed of movement, and a track jump operation is implemented in this region.

Abstract: A voltage converting buffer circuit includes an inverter for receiving an input data signal to output an inverted data signal, a flip-flop having first and second branches for receiving the input data signal and the inverted data signal, and pull-up transistors for assisting the flip-flop function at the output node when the flip-flop function occurs by a transistor having a smaller driving capability. The pull-up transistors have a conductivity same as the conductivity of transistors having the smaller driving capability. A high-speed flip-flop function can be obtained during a high-to-low or low-to-high signal transition of the input data signal.