Abstract: The collection of aquatic animal eggs during hatchery production is a critical step in the successful rearing of these animals. Currently, the equipment and culture methods do not allow large numbers of animals to be spawned at the same time without several people handling the process. The disclosed invention solves the problem of collecting large quantities of released aquatic animal eggs after spawning many adults at the same time. The apparatus is simple to build, maintain, and repair, and the method of its use requires only one person to handle the spawning of many adults.

Abstract: A semiconductor device improved in IC card function is disclosed. An external connecting terminal for extended interface not conforming to ISO/IEC7816-3 is disposed on a first main surface of a card chip and in an area sandwiched in between two rows of external connecting terminals for interface conforming to ISO/IEC7816-3 which is for IC card function. With this layout, the memory card function and other electronic circuit functions can be incorporated into the card chip and hence it is possible to improve the function of the card chip.

Abstract: In an IC card in which an internal circuit is operated by an internal power supply formed from alternate current from outside received by an antenna, the voltage of the internal power supply sometimes changes due to the operation of the internal circuit. Therefore, the voltage controlling circuit of the present invention includes a voltage controlling current source, and when the internal circuit is not operated and the current higher than a predetermined current is detected in the voltage controlling current source, an operating current detector circuit outputs an enable signal. When the internal circuit is operated in response to the enable signal, the current consumed in the internal circuit is subtracted from the current passing through the voltage controlling current source. Consequently, the current change in the entire internal power supply can be prevented, and the output voltage of the internal power supply can be kept constant.

Abstract: In an IC card in which an internal circuit is operated by an internal power supply formed from alternate current from outside received by an antenna, the voltage of the internal power supply sometimes changes due to the operation of the internal circuit. Therefore, the voltage controlling circuit of the present invention includes a voltage controlling current source, and when the internal circuit is not operated and the current higher than a predetermined current is detected in the voltage controlling current source, an operating current detector circuit outputs an enable signal. When the internal circuit is operated in response to the enable signal, the current consumed in the internal circuit is subtracted from the current passing through the voltage controlling current source. Consequently, the current change in the entire internal power supply can be prevented, and the output voltage of the internal power supply can be kept constant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to shorten time required to establish a connection and enable information to be actually transmitted/received in a noncontact IC card adaptable to a plurality of communication methods. A semiconductor integrated circuit device of the invention includes: a single demodulating circuit capable of demodulating an input signal; a plurality of sampling circuits each capable of sampling output signals of the demodulating circuit synchronously with a predetermined clock signal; a plurality of detection circuits capable of detecting headers of output signals of the corresponding sampling circuits; a plurality of processing circuits capable of performing a predetermined data process on the basis of detection results of the corresponding detection circuits; and a communication method determining circuit capable of determining a match to a preset communication method from results of the header detection by the plurality of detection circuits.

Abstract: In an IC card in which an internal circuit is operated by an internal power supply formed from alternate current from outside received by an antenna, the voltage of the internal power supply sometimes changes due to the operation of the internal circuit. Therefore, the voltage controlling circuit of the present invention includes a voltage controlling current source, and when the internal circuit is not operated and the current higher than a predetermined current is detected in the voltage controlling current source, an operating current detector circuit outputs an enable signal. When the internal circuit is operated in response to the enable signal, the current consumed in the internal circuit is subtracted from the current passing through the voltage controlling current source. Consequently, the current change in the entire internal power supply can be prevented, and the output voltage of the internal power supply can be kept constant.

Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a contactless electronic device, an AC voltage is applied to first and second input terminals. A rectification transistor having a drain (or collector) connected to a second input terminal and gate (or base) and drain (or collector) connected to each other through a first resistor supplies a rectified current between the first and second input terminals. A first voltage detector means produces a control voltage so that the rectified voltage obtained on the source (or emitter) side of the first rectification transistor is equal to a predetermined reference voltage. The first voltage controlled current source can produce current in accordance with the control voltage and supply the current to the first resistor. Such a power supply circuit is mounted in the contactless electronic device.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device and a data processing system with a reduced layout area are capable of efficiently generating a high voltage without deteriorating the charge transfer efficiency of a charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit in a nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of stages of charge pump unit circuits. A voltage generating unit provides, as a control signal to the gate of a first MOS transistor for transferring charges from a first capacitor of a charge pump unit circuit of one stage to a first capacitor at the next stage, a fourth signal having an amplitude of a difference voltage between the power supply voltage and the charge pump voltage of the first capacitor at the one stage. The fourth control signal is obtained from second and third signals each changing in amplitude of the power supply voltage. The second signal is supplied via a second capacitor.

Abstract: In an IC card of dual-way type which is used in common as a non-contact/contact operation card, an isolation transistor is provided between a power supply voltage terminal and a contact power supply circuit. Non-contact/contact judging and switching unit 6 turns OFF, when it is detected that the IC card is operated in a non-contact operation mode, an isolation transistor to isolate between the power supply voltage terminal and contact power supply circuit. Accordingly, when the power supply voltage terminal is terminated with a ground terminal during the non-contact operation mode, erroneous operation of the IC card can surely be prevented. Since the power supply voltage terminal becomes equal to a reference potential in this case, monitoring of voltage of the power supply voltage terminal can be prevented and security of the IC card can also be improved remarkably.

Abstract: In a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a contactless electronic device, an AC voltage is applied to first and second input terminals. A rectification transistor having a drain (or collector) connected to a second input terminal and gate (or base) and drain (or collector) connected to each other through a first resistor supplies a rectified current between the first and second input terminals. A first voltage detector means produces a control voltage so that the rectified voltage obtained on the source (or emitter) side of the first rectification transistor is equal to a predetermined reference voltage. The first voltage controlled current source can produce current in accordance with the control voltage and supply the current to the first resistor. Such a power supply circuit is mounted in the contactless electronic device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonvolatile memory device and a data processing system with a reduced layout area of a semiconductor chip, capable of efficiently generating a high voltage without deteriorating charge transfer efficiency of a charge pump circuit. In charge pump unit circuits of a plurality of stages provided for a charge pump circuit such as a nonvolatile memory, as a control signal to be supplied to the gate of a first MOS transistor for transferring charges from a first capacitor for charge pump at a stage to a first capacity at the next stage, a fourth signal having an amplitude of a difference voltage between the power supply voltage and the charge pump voltage of the first capacitor at a corresponding stage, obtained from two control signals of a second signal and a third signal each changing in amplitude of the power supply voltage. The second signal is supplied via a second capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device and a contactless electronic device are provided with a power supply circuit producing a stable smooth voltage with high efficiency for stable operation of an inner circuit. An AC voltage is applied to first and second input terminals and a rectification transistor having drain (or collector) connected to second input terminal and gate (or base) and drain (or collector) connected to each other through resistor supplies a rectified current between the first and second input terminals. The first voltage detection means produces control voltage so that the rectified voltage obtained on the source (or emitter) side of the first rectification transistor is equal to the predetermined reference voltage. The first voltage controlled current source can produce current in accordance with the control voltage and supply the current to the first resistor means. Such power supply circuit is mounted in the contactless electronic device.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device and a contactless electronic device are provided with a power supply circuit producing a stable smooth voltage with high efficiency for stable operation of an inner circuit. An AC voltage is applied to first and second input terminals and a rectification transistor having drain (or collector) connected to second input terminal and gate (or base) and drain (or collector) connected to each other through resistor supplies a rectified current between the first and second input terminals. The first voltage detection means produces control voltage so that the rectified voltage obtained on the source (or emitter) side of the first rectification transistor is equal to the predetermined reference voltage. The first voltage controlled current source can produce current in accordance with the control voltage and supply the current to the first resistor means. Such power supply circuit is mounted in the contactless electronic device.

Abstract: A first phase comparator 22 of digital type and a second phase comparator 32 of sampling type are provided. Near a lock phase, an output current Iout2 is fed from the second phase comparator 32 to a voltage-controlled oscillator 14 through a change-over switch 40. In other phases, an output current Iout1 is fed thereto from the first phase comparator 22. When a reference signal fs is missing, a complementing circuit 50 complements a pulse to at least the reference signal fs input to the first phase comparator 22. A noise detecting/removing circuit 60 detects and removes noise from the reference signals fs, permits the reference signals fs to be fed to the first and second phase comparators 22 and 23, and halts the operations of the two phase comparators 22 and 32 for only a predetermined period of time after the noise has been detected.

Abstract: In a video signal apparatus, a carrier signal generating circuit includes a VCO for generating a signal having a frequency at least twice that of a carrier signal necessary for conversion to a lower band with a sub-carrier in an NTSC system, a one-half divider circuit for dividing the VCO frequency signal by two, a delayed flip-flop circuit for receiving the divided signal and the sub-carrier signal to generate a difference frequency signal, a 1/40 divider circuit for dividing the Q output, a phase comparator circuit for comparing the phases of the 1/40 divided signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal to output a phase difference, a frequency discriminator circuit for comparing the phase of the flip-flop output with the frequency-divided output of the horizontal synchronizing signal to output a frequency error, and a circuit for converting the output of the phase comparator circuit and the frequency error into DC voltages and applying their sum as a control voltage for the VCO.

Abstract: A frequency-voltage converter comprising a feedback frequency generating means associated with controlled means, a saw-tooth wave generating means, a current source for the saw-tooth wave, pulse generating means and sample-and-hold means, the frequency-voltage converter being characterized by further provision of supply voltage switching means for changing the feedback frequency of the controlled means by changing the voltage to be supplied to the current source to change the current from the current source and to thereby the slope of the saw-tooth wave from the saw-tooth wave generating means.