Abstract: A holder piece assembly having holder pieces continuously arranged and leaf spring members connecting between each holder piece, and being curved in the longitudinal direction by elastic force of elastic members is provided. The holder piece assembly is mounted on the front edge of a wiper arm through a clip pin. Blade rubber for wiping window glass surface is mounted on the holder piece assembly. The elastic force of the leaf spring members elastically deformed when the blade rubber is allowed to conform with the window glass surface can disperse the pressing force of the wiper arm over the blade rubber longitudinal direction. The dispersed pressing force can be set by changing the connecting angle between each holder piece according to the window glass curvature thereby the wiper blade versatility is improved.

Abstract: A lateral junction field effect transistor includes a first gate electrode layer arranged in a third semiconductor layer between source/drain region layers, having a lower surface extending on the second semiconductor layer, and doped with p-type impurities more heavily than the second semiconductor layer, and a second gate electrode layer arranged in a fifth semiconductor layer between the source/drain region layers, having a lower surface extending on a fourth semiconductor layer, having substantially the same concentration of p-type impurities as the first gate electrode layer, and having the same potential as the first gate electrode layer. Thereby, the lateral junction field effect transistor has a structure, which can reduce an on-resistance while maintaining good breakdown voltage properties.

Abstract: A digital still camera offers a frame classification mode where the captured frame images are classified into plural scene categories in a photo movie. A display section of the camera main body has an image display area for displaying through images and, beside it, a category display area for displaying the plural scene categories. When an athletic festival is selected as the scenario for the photo movie, the scene categories such as “opening ceremony”, “morning athletic events”, “lunch break”, “afternoon athletic events”, and “closing ceremony” are displayed. One of these scene categories is specified before capturing an image. The data of the captured frame image is stored in an image file together with frame classification information which represents the specified scene category.

Abstract: An image editing apparatus creates photo movies from frame images read out from a memory card. A file for the frame images stores frame classification information in relationship to the image data. An editing condition setup section reads out a scenario form from a HDD. The scenario form determines plural scene categories. The editing condition setup section assigns the frame images to the scene categories based on the frame classification information to complete a scenario. A photo movie creating section follows the scenario to create a photo movie. The scenario determines a special effect, BGM, and the like for each scene category, and all the frame images belonging to the same scene category are edited and processed as a group.

Abstract: A vertical JFET 1a according to the present invention has an n+ type drain semiconductor portion 2, an n-type drift semiconductor portion 3, a p+ type gate semiconductor portion 4, an n-type channel semiconductor portion 5, an n+ type source semiconductor portion 7, and a p+ type gate semiconductor portion 8. The n-type drift semiconductor portion 3 is placed on a principal surface of the n+ type drain semiconductor portion 2 and has first to fourth regions 3a to 3d extending in a direction intersecting with the principal surface. The p+ type gate semiconductor portion 4 is placed on the first to third regions 3a to 3c of the n-type drift semiconductor portion 3. The n-type channel semiconductor portion 5 is placed along the p+ type gate semiconductor portion 4 and is electrically connected to the fourth region 3d of the n-type drift semiconductor portion 3.

Abstract: A laser waveform generation function is provided in a laser driving waveform generator 2 near a laser 3. A recording clock generator 9 is included in the laser driving waveform generator 2 to generate a clock with a frequency higher than that of a synchronizing clock 202. This allows a recording laser current (waveform) to be generated without transmission of a high frequency signal from the modulator 6. Further, because the synchronizing clock 202 is stopped upon a reproduction operation including reproduction operation in an ID unit, undesired effects on a reproduction operation such as ID reproduction can be reduced. Because the response speed of the recording clock generator 9 can be changed, a high precision clock can be generated. Thus, a high-precision recording laser current (waveform) can be generated.

Abstract: A laser waveform generation function is provided in a laser driving waveform generator 2 near a laser 3. A recording clock generator 9 is included in the laser driving waveform generator 2 to generate a clock with a frequency higher than that of a synchronizing clock 202. This allows a recording laser current (waveform) to be generated without transmission of a high frequency signal from the modulator 6. Further, because the synchronizing clock 202 is stopped upon a reproduction operation including reproduction operation in an ID unit, undesired effects on a reproduction operation such as ID reproduction can be reduced. Because the response speed of the recording clock generator 9 can be changed, a high precision clock can be generated. Thus, a high-precision recording laser current (waveform) can be generated.

Abstract: The invention provides to make an automatic opening and closing apparatus for a vehicle to be thin. An outer rack is attached to an outer side of a stay fixed to a vehicle in such a manner as to freely move in an axial direction along the stay. A thickness of the stay is set to be smaller than a width, and a cross sectional shape thereof is formed so as to be in a substantially thin convex shape. A width in a base end wall portion of the outer rack is formed so as to be larger than a width of a side surface wall portion corresponding to a thickness of the outer rack, and the outer rack is formed in a substantially thin C cross sectional shape. It is possible to make a thickness of a slide mechanism about a gear with of rack gears lined up in an axial direction in the side surface wall portion by making the width of the side surface wall portion slightly larger than the gear width of the rack gear.

Abstract: A lateral junction field effect transistor includes a first gate electrode layer (18A) arranged in a third semiconductor layer (13) between source/drain region layers (6, 8), having a lower surface extending on the second semiconductor layer (12), and doped with p-type impurities more heavily than the second semiconductor layer (12), and a second gate electrode layer (18B) arranged in a fifth semiconductor layer (15) between the source/drain region layers (6, 8), having a lower surface extending on a fourth semiconductor layer (14), having substantially the same concentration of p-type impurities as the first gate electrode layer (18A), and having the same potential as the first gate electrode layer (18A). Thereby, the lateral junction field effect transistor has a structure, which can reduce an on-resistance while maintaining good breakdown voltage properties.

Abstract: A rotational drive device includes a drive motor and a drive transmission mechanism that are coupled together via an input coupling. The input coupling includes a coupling body that is coupled and fixed to an output shaft of the drive motor. A vibration damper that projects outward and damps vibration from the drive motor is disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the coupling body.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus uses a laser driver which can measure the frequency of the high-frequency superimposed current of the semiconductor laser simply and accurately. The apparatus includes a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam onto the optical disk, a laser driver which drives the semiconductor laser with a current, with the high-frequency current being superimposed thereon, and measures the frequency of the high-frequency current, and a main controller which controls the frequency of the high-frequency current produced by the laser driver by using the frequency measured by the laser driver.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in an optical disk apparatus constructed to supply signals for controlling a semiconductor laser drive circuit provided to an optical pickup from a signal processing circuit through a flexible cable, the semiconductor laser drive circuit is so constructed as to generate a drive current signal for the semiconductor laser on the basis of a binary signal and a clock signal which are supplied from the signal processing circuit through the flexible cable and the signal processing circuit is so constructed as to stop supplying the block signal to the semiconductor laser drive circuit through the flexible cable during reproduction of data, and to start supplying the clock signal to the semiconductor laser drive circuit before recording of data.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus uses a laser driver which can measure the frequency of the high-frequency superimposed current of the semiconductor laser simply and accurately. The apparatus includes a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam onto the optical disk, a laser driver which drives the semiconductor laser with a current, with the high-frequency current being superimposed thereon, and measures the frequency of the high-frequency current, and a main controller which controls the frequency of the high-frequency current produced by the laser driver by using the frequency measured by the laser driver.

Abstract: An appearance of a vehicle is improved by reducing an opening formed in an interior trim for vehicle. An actuator unit is mounted in a pillar of the vehicle, and a linking rod is linked to a rack bar, which linearly reciprocates along an axial direction provided at this actuator unit. This linking rod protrudes from the pillar through the opening formed in an interior trim, and the other end thereof is linked to a back door. Moreover, this actuator unit is disposed so that a moving direction of the rack bar inclines on a vehicle-rear side by an opening/closing inclination angle &agr; with respect to a direction perpendicular to the vehicle and inclines inward in a vehicle-width direction by a width inclination angle.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a semiconductor laser, a laser driver which drives the semiconductor laser, an optical system which focuses light emitted from the semiconductor laser on an information recording medium, a photodetector which detects light reflected from the information recording medium, and outputs a reflection light signal, a modulation circuit which modulates information in accordance with a predetermined rule, and outputs a binary signal representing the modulated information, and a calculation/control circuit which controls the modulation circuit. The laser driver includes a delay circuit, and receives the binary signal, generates a recording current signal corresponding to the binary signal through the delay circuit, and transmits an output of the delay circuit to the calculation/control circuit as a monitor signal. The calculation/control circuit generates a timing signal for sampling and holding the reflection light signal based on the monitor signal.

Abstract: The scanning printing apparatus prints an image composed of a plurality of row images in accordance with image signals and each row images is printed while moving in a direction on a recording medium. The apparatus includes a moving unit for moving the apparatus itself on the medium in the one direction, a first ejection head for printing each row image of the image on the medium, a second ejection head for printing predetermined invisible marks which cannot be identified by humans on the medium, a first sensor for detecting the invisible marks printed on the medium and a control unit for controlling the moving unit based on detection results of the first sensor. The printing method prints the image by using the apparatus while correcting a printing position based on a position of the detected invisible marks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper apparatus in which a pair of pivot axes are provided, one pivot axis at the central portion and the other pivot axis one side portion in the left and right direction of the window surface. In the invention, wherein the rod rush angle formed by a link arm, which rotates the pivot axes clockwise and counterclockwise, and a link rod can be made as small as possible. The second pivot axis at one side portion is disposed so that the plane, including the swinging locus, of the second link arm, that is coupled to the corresponding second pivot axis, and the axial line of the second link rod, in the lengthwise direction, are made roughly parallel to each other.

Abstract: A laser drive integrated circuit and an optical disk apparatus using the laser drive integrated circuit for forming high-density marks. The optical disk apparatus includes a drive waveform information storage unit for storing at least one information of a drive waveform for driving a laser diode in response to a binary recording signal to be recorded in a recording medium, and a drive waveform decoder for decoding the drive waveform based on the information stored in the drive waveform information storage unit. A recording strategy can be changed in accordance with variations and fluctuations of recording media or characteristics of the recording media, while at the same time reducing a number of signal lines in flexible wiring and alleviating effects of signal distortion in the signal lines.

Abstract: A laser drive circuit includes a first current supply unit which supplies a first drive current to a first laser diode based on a drive waveform signal generated by a drive waveform generating unit, a second current supply unit which supplies a second drive current to a second laser diode based on the drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit, and a switching unit which selectively supplies the drive waveform signal generated by the drive waveform generating unit to one of the first current supply unit and the second current supply unit. The drive waveform generating unit may be part of the laser drive circuit, or may be separate from the laser drive circuit, and may include a drive waveform information storage unit which stores a recording strategy according to a type of disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper blade that secures a proper error angle, wherein the wiper blade is comprised of a rubber blade and a resilient member composed of a plate spring to which a twisting feature is applied. A posture-correcting portion applies a twisting feature to the resilient member so that the full length of the resilient member and rubber blade can be curved in a spiral direction. By twisting, the resilient member approaches its natural state, and both the tip and base end portions of the rubber blade's lip portion in the lengthwise direction are adjusted in directions opposed to each other, thereby correcting the posture thereof.