Abstract: A positive resist composition, includes: (B) a resin containing a repeating unit represented by formula (Ia) or (Ib) as defined in the specification, which decomposes under an action of an acid to increase a solubility of the resin (B) in an aqueous alkali solution; and (A) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation, and a pattern forming method uses the composition.

Abstract: A resist composition, comprises: (A) a resin containing a repeating unit represented by formula (I); (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; and (C) a solvent containing: (C1) a propylene glycol monoalkyl ether carboxylate; and (C2) at least one member selected from the group consisting of a propylene glycol monoalkyl ether, an alkyl lactate, an acetic acid ester, an alkyl alkoxypropionate, a chain ketone and a cyclic ketone: wherein AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring or a substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring; Rn represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and A represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl group, a halogen atom, a cyano group or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyloxycarbonyl group, and the pattern forming method uses the same.

Abstract: A resist composition comprising at least one kind of a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of an amine compound having a phenoxy group, an ammonium salt compound having a phenoxy group, an amine compound having a sulfonic acid ester group and an ammonium salt compound having a sulfonic acid ester group; and a pattern forming method using the composition.

Abstract: A balun device, a balance filter device, and a wireless communication apparatus are provided. An intermediate electrode is disposed between a balanced resonance electrode and a GND electrode. More specifically, the balun device includes a pair of GND electrodes formed on a dielectric layer, an unbalanced resonance electrode formed on a dielectric layer, and a balanced resonance electrode formed on a dielectric layer. The unbalanced resonance electrode and the balanced resonance electrode are disposed between the pair of GND electrodes by laminating the corresponding dielectric layers. The intermediate electrode is interposed between the balanced resonance electrode and the GND electrode positioned close to the balanced resonance electrode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal-polishing liquid comprising an oxidizing agent and a heterocyclic aromatic ring compound, wherein the time until the oxidation reaction rate is (E1+E2)/2 is shorter than 1.0 second, E1 being an oxidation reaction rate immediately after initiation of oxidation of a metal surface to be polished and E2 being an oxidation reaction rate when the oxidation reaction has reached a steady state.

Abstract: A flexible boot for a constant velocity universal joint (CVJ) includes a smaller-diameter mounting portion provided at one end, a larger-diameter mounting portion provided at the other end, and a bellows portion provided between both of the mounting portions. The larger-diameter mounting portion and the bellows portion are connected to each other by a straight portion, and the smaller-diameter mounting portion and the bellows portion are connected to each other by a straight portion. An axial distance of each of the straight portions is equal to or larger than 20% of an entire axial distance from a boundary between the larger-diameter mounting portion and the adjacent straight portion to a boundary between the smaller-diameter mounting portion and the adjacent straight portion, and an axial distance of the bellows portion is in a range of 20% to 60% of the entire axial distance, so that the bellows portion is located substantially centrally in an axial direction between both of the straight portions.

Abstract: A balun device, a balance filter device, and a wireless communication apparatus are provided. An intermediate electrode is disposed between a balanced resonance electrode and a GND electrode. More specifically, the balun device includes a pair of GND electrodes formed on a dielectric layer, an unbalanced resonance electrode formed on a dielectric layer, and a balanced resonance electrode formed on a dielectric layer. The unbalanced resonance electrode and the balanced resonance electrode are disposed between the pair of GND electrodes by laminating the corresponding dielectric layers. The intermediate electrode is interposed between the balanced resonance electrode and the GND electrode positioned close to the balanced resonance electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus comprisinga developing container for containing a developing agent and rotatable first and second developing members provided at the developing container as to face an image carrier for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier. The first developing member is secured to the developing container to keep a gap to the image carrier and the second developing member has keeping members at both ends in a longitudinal direction thereof to keep a gap to the image carrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a developing apparatus comprisinga developing container for containing a developing agent and rotatable first and second developing members provided at the developing container as to face an image carrier for developing an electrostatic image formed on the image carrier.

Abstract: A planarization method includes forming a dummy pattern in a film over a substrate. The dummy pattern includes a plurality of concave and convex portions. A chemical-mechanical polishing process is applied to the film, with the dummy pattern providing planarization of enhanced uniformity in comparison with known techniques.

Abstract: A method of soldering contact pins and the contact pins for realizing a probe card, wherein the contact pins can be arranged on a surface of the probe card with narrow pitches and is excellent in maintainability, can sufficiently absorb variations in height of testing electrodes of a semiconductor chip, thereby ensuring stable contact between all the contact pins and the testing electrodes of the semiconductor chip, and capable of transmitting signals at high speed.

Abstract: A planarization method includes forming a dummy pattern in a film over a substrate. The dummy pattern includes a plurality of concave and convex portions. A chemical-mechanical polishing process is applied to the film, with the dummy pattern providing planarization of enhanced uniformity in comparison with known techniques.

Abstract: An optical disc drive which can at least read out data from an optical disc is disclosed. The optical disc drive comprises a rotational drive mechanism for rotating the loaded optical disc at a predetermined rotation speed which is one of multiple rotation speed levels; an optical pick-up for reading out data from the optical disc which is rotated by the rotational drive mechanism; a judgement device for making a judgement as to whether the data has been properly read out from a predetermined portion of the optical disc; and a retry control device for lowering the rotation speed of the optical disc from the predetermined rotation speed when the judgement device has judged that the data has not been properly read out from the portion of the optical disc, and then for retrying to read out the data from the same portion of the optical disc rotating at the lowered rotation speed.

Abstract: A wheel cover having resin main body obtained by injecting a molten resin into a closed mold consisting of at least two dies, curing the resin, and then separating the dies. Openings are formed through the wheel cover, and inclined decorative faces are formed around each opening. A transfer layer is transferred onto the front face of the main body simultaneously when the resin main body is molded by means of in-mold transferring. The boundary between the decorative faces of the wheel cover and the openings is the parting line where the dies are separated from each other. The inner diameters of the openings are tapered to facilitate die separation and removal.

Abstract: Provided are a method for moving a multipurpose field and an apparatus for the same wherein the multipurpose field can be caused to float above a basic floor plate under a fluid pressure and can be moved and placed in a desired position by delivery means. The moving apparatus comprises a nozzle provided over a basic floor plate common to a field region of a roofed stadium and an outdoor region for detecting existence of the multipurpose field and for jetting a fluid upward in response to a detection signal, and delivery means for alternately moving the multipurpose field between both the regions.

Abstract: In a carrier connecting structure for an automatic transmission having a brake 6 that brakes and releases a rotating member 6a by oil pressure and a planetary gear mechanism 5 having a carrier 5e supporting a planetary gear train 5d, a fixing section 5i having fixing surfaces 5g, 5h oriented in a perpendicular direction and a circumferential direction relative to a shaft line is provided on the outer circumference of this carrier 5e, a flange 6d having fixing surfaces 6b, 6c which come in contact with the fixing surfaces 5g, 5h projects from the rotating member 6a, and the fixing section 5i of the carrier 5e and the flange 6d of the rotating member 6a are fixed by a screw member 9. Thus, the automatic transmission carrier connecting mechanism is easy to assemble and highly reliable.

Abstract: An engagement structure for coupling a connecting shell to a clutch drum of an automatic transmission includes protrusions on the connecting shell that engage with grooves of the clutch drum. Edges of the grooves and edges of the protrusions are rendered by plastic deformation upon press-stamping to be formed thicker than other portions of the connecting shell and clutch drum. The resulting increased area of abutment between the connecting shell and the clutch drum transmits the same torque with less surface pressure, such that reduction in weight and size of the overall transmission components can be realized.

Abstract: An output voltage from an O.sub.2 sensor is intermittently sampled and the sampled voltage is converted into a binary signal. The binary signal is applied to an electrical digital computer, and therein the following operations are carried out. First, the maximum value and minimum value of the applied binary signal are detected, then the difference between the maximum and minimum values and the sum of the maximum and minimum values are calculated. A reference value is calculated using the calculated difference and sum and the minimum value from a predetermined algebraic function. Thereafter, the applied binary signal is compared with the calculated reference value to generate a binary signal indicative of the comparison result. Then, the air-fuel ratio of the engine is adjusted in response to this binary signal calculated by the digital computer.

Abstract: A method for controlling, according to the L-jetronic fuel injection principle, an internal combustion engine with a fuel injection valve fitted to its intake manifold, and an intake air flow meter. Repeatedly a first quantity representing the desired amount of fuel to be provided to the combustion chambers of the engine during the time period between the next two fuel injection pulse time points is determined, based upon sensed values of certain operational parameters including intake air flow, and a second quantity is determined as the time smoothed value of the first quantity. Optionally further the second quantity may be modified according to engine operational parameters. Simultaneously, at proper injection time points in the engine's operational cycle, the fuel injection valve is opened for a time corresponding to a third quantity which is calculated from the second quantity. A device is also explained, incorporating an electronic computer, which practices this method.

Abstract: An output voltage from an O.sub.2 sensor is intermittently sampled and the sampled voltage is converted into a binary signal. The binary signal is applied to an electrical digital computer, and therein the following operations are carried out. First, the maximum value or the maximum and minimum values of the applied binary signal are detected, then a reference value is calculated using the maximum value or the maximum and minimum values from a predetermined algebraic function. Thereafter, the applied binary signal is compared with the calculated reference value to generate a binary signal indicative of the comparison result. Then, the air-fuel ratio of the engine is adjusted in response to this binary signal calculated by the digital computer.