Abstract: An inhalation device with which it is possible to improve usability and promote users' satisfaction and safety with the inhalation device includes a device body housing to and from which a panel can be attached and detached, and includes a heating unit which heats an inhalation component source for generating an inhalation component; a power supply unit which feeds electric power to the heating unit; a sensor unit which detects attachment of the panel to the housing and which measures data associated with the panel; a storage unit which stores a plurality of operational profiles; and a control unit which identifies an operational profile associated with the data measured by the sensor unit and causes said inhalation device to operate according to the operational profile.

Abstract: A smoking article includes aerosol generating material and a combustible heat source for heating the aerosol generating material. The combustible heat source includes a combustible material and an inductively heatable susceptor for heating and thereby igniting the combustible material. A smoking system including a smoking article and an igniter is also described, along with a method for aerosol generation.

Abstract: A variable gain transconductance amplifier includes an amplifier transistor connected to an input node, a cascode transistor having a source connected to a drain of the amplifier transistor and having a drain connected to an output node, and a switching circuit connecting or disconnecting a node to which the amplifier transistor and the cascode transistor are connected to or from a fixed potential in a switchable manner. A variable gain circuit may include the variable gain transconductance amplifier.

Abstract: A parallel resonant circuit with excellent distortion and saturation characteristics is provided at low power consumption. A first power-supply voltage is applied to the parallel resonant circuit. In the parallel resonant circuit, a variable resistor includes one or more parallel-connected branches. Each of the branches includes a series circuit of a resistor and a MOS switch. A second power supply supplies power of control signals applied to respective gates of the MOS switches, and supplies back gate voltages to the MOS switches. A power-supply voltage of the second power supply is higher than the first power-supply voltage.

Abstract: A variable gain transconductance amplifier includes an amplifier transistor connected to an input node, a cascode transistor having a source connected to a drain of the amplifier transistor and having a drain connected to an output node, and a switching circuit connecting or disconnecting a node to which the amplifier transistor and the cascode transistor are connected to or from a fixed potential in a switchable manner. A variable gain circuit may include the variable gain transconductance amplifier.

Abstract: A parallel resonant circuit with excellent distortion and saturation characteristics is provided at low power consumption. A first power-supply voltage is applied to the parallel resonant circuit. In the parallel resonant circuit, a variable resistor includes one or more parallel-connected branches. Each of the branches includes a series circuit of a resistor and a MOS switch. A second power supply supplies power of control signals applied to respective gates of the MOS switches, and supplies back gate voltages to the MOS switches. A power-supply voltage of the second power supply is higher than the first power-supply voltage.

Abstract: A digital circuit portion (6) and an analog circuit portion (7) are formed in a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate (4). A via (20) is formed in a region between the digital circuit portion (6) and the analog circuit portion (7). The via (20) extends through the semiconductor substrate (4) from a front surface to a back surface thereof, and is made of a dielectric (2) having its surface covered by a metal (1). The metal (1) is grounded. Signal interference between the analog circuit portion (6) and the digital circuit portion (7) is reduced by the via (20).

Abstract: A digital circuit portion (6) and an analog circuit portion (7) are formed in a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate (4). A via (20) is formed in a region between the digital circuit portion (6) and the analog circuit portion (7). The via (20) extends through the semiconductor substrate (4) from a front surface to a back surface thereof, and is made of a dielectric (2) having its surface covered by a metal (1). The metal (1) is grounded. Signal interference between the analog circuit portion (6) and the digital circuit portion (7) is reduced by the via (20).

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer includes a digitally-controlled oscillator and an oscillation frequency control unit. The digitally-controlled oscillator includes a loop-shaped transmission line path having an odd number of parallel portions in each of which two conductors are arranged in parallel to each other with a space therebetween, and an odd number of intersection portions in each of which two conductors intersect spatially, an active circuit coupled between the two conductors, and a first variable capacitance unit and a second variable capacitance unit. The oscillation frequency control unit includes a ?? modulation circuit for subjecting to ?? modulation a first control signal for switching a high capacitance state and a low capacitance state of a first variable capacitance element included in the first variable capacitance unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layered region (104) formed in a semiconductor substrate (101) of a first conductivity type, and an electrode pad (106) formed on the semiconductor substrate with an interlayer insulating film (105) interposed therebetween and placed above the layered region. The layered region includes a first impurity diffusion region (102), a second impurity diffusion region (103) formed on the first impurity diffusion region, and a third impurity diffusion region (102x) formed on the first impurity diffusion region and surrounding a periphery of the second impurity diffusion region. a conductivity type of the first impurity diffusion region and a conductivity type of the third impurity diffusion region are a second conductivity type, and a conductivity type of the second impurity diffusion region is the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A laser processing method including a first step of forming a first groove and a second step of forming a second groove on the workpiece. In the first step, the laser beam is intermittently applied to the first street except the intersections between the first street and the second street, thereby forming a discontinuous groove as the first groove in such a manner that each intersection is not grooved. In the second step, the laser beam is continuously applied to the second street, thereby forming a continuous groove as the second groove intersecting the first groove in such a manner that each intersection is grooved by the second groove. In the second step, heat generated at a portion immediately before each intersection is passed through the intersection to be dissipated forward, thereby suppressing overheating at this portion.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillator includes a loop-shaped transmission line, an active circuit connected to a signal line, and a variable capacitor block connected to the signal line and having a plurality of variable capacitor units. Each variable capacitor unit includes a variable capacitor element, a control terminal for applying a control voltage to the variable capacitor element, and a reference voltage terminal for applying a reference voltage to the variable capacitor element. At least two variable capacitor units receive different reference voltages.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a layered region (104) formed in a semiconductor substrate (101) of a first conductivity type, and an electrode pad (106) formed on the semiconductor substrate with an interlayer insulating film (105) interposed therebetween and placed above the layered region. The layered region includes a first impurity diffusion region (102), a second impurity diffusion region (103) formed on the first impurity diffusion region, and a third impurity diffusion region (102x) formed on the first impurity diffusion region and surrounding a periphery of the second impurity diffusion region. a conductivity type of the first impurity diffusion region and a conductivity type of the third impurity diffusion region are a second conductivity type, and a conductivity type of the second impurity diffusion region is the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer includes a digitally-controlled oscillator and an oscillation frequency control unit. The digitally-controlled oscillator includes a loop-shaped transmission line path having an odd number of parallel portions in each of which two conductors are arranged in parallel to each other with a space therebetween, and an odd number of intersection portions in each of which two conductors intersect spatially, an active circuit coupled between the two conductors, and a first variable capacitance unit and a second variable capacitance unit. The oscillation frequency control unit includes a ?? modulation circuit for subjecting to ?? modulation a first control signal for switching a high capacitance state and a low capacitance state of a first variable capacitance element included in the first variable capacitance unit.

Abstract: A laser processing method including a first step of forming a first groove and a second step of forming a second groove on the workpiece. In the first step, the laser beam is intermittently applied to the first street except the intersections between the first street and the second street, thereby forming a discontinuous groove as the first groove in such a manner that each intersection is not grooved. In the second step, the laser beam is continuously applied to the second street, thereby forming a continuous groove as the second groove intersecting the first groove in such a manner that each intersection is grooved by the second groove. In the second step, heat generated at a portion immediately before each intersection is passed through the intersection to be dissipated forward, thereby suppressing overheating at this portion.

Abstract: The switching operation of a high frequency switch connected in series downstream from the amplifier circuit produces a load variation on the amplifier circuit, and serially connecting the amplifier circuit and high frequency switch causes a drop in gain due to an in-band mismatch. An amplifier circuit is connected to the input pin for input a high frequency signal, and the output of the amplifier circuit branches to serially connected resistances. An RC filter composed of a resistance and a capacitance is parallel connected between the resistances and the downstream high frequency switches. Input pins for inputting a high frequency signal are connected to the gates of the high frequency switches. Capacitances are parallel connected downstream from the high frequency switches, forming a switched capacitor circuit connected to the output pins.

Abstract: An integrated messaging system is characterized in that: a media conversion port packetizes a message from a circuit switching network through which a subscriber's calling signal is sent; an IP store and reproduction port converts the packetized message into a voice file; a mail conversion port converts the voice file into an e-mail attachment-file form; and an e-mail server stores the message. Further, in the integrated messaging system: the IP store and reproduction port converts a message from a packet switching network, through which another subscriber's calling signal is sent, into the voice file; the mail conversion port converts the voice file into the e-mail attachment-file form; and the e-mail server stores the message. Consequently, an integrated messaging system can be realized with a simple structure wherein multimedia messages are stored in one place, and thus managed easily.