Abstract: A network device is connected to another network device over a network and performs multicast transmission and reception over the network. The network device stores in a storage unit in a corresponding manner a drop address that uniquely identifies data to be dropped from the network and control data that indicates whether dropped data is to be forwarded or deleted. The network device drops the data based on the drop address, and then either forwards or deletes the dropped data based on the control data.

Abstract: A network device is connected to another network device over a network and performs multicast transmission and reception over the network. The network device stores in a storage unit in a corresponding manner a drop address that uniquely identifies data to be dropped from the network and control data that indicates whether dropped data is to be forwarded or deleted. The network device drops the data based on the drop address, and then either forwards or deletes the dropped data based on the control data.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus and method wherein a plurality of processing units are for conducting processing, a transfer processing unit is connected with the plurality of processing units for carrying wafers to the processing units, a transfer device is disposed in the transfer processing unit and carries the wafers and cassettes for containing the wafers, and a control unit is provided for conducting transfer control for transferring the wafers from respective cassettes to the transfer processing unit. The wafers are processed by using the plural processing units, and at least two of the cassettes are used. Parallel processing is conducted of applying same processing to the wafers contained on each of the cassettes by applying the same recipe and the wafers, after applying the parallel processing, are returned to the original cassette.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus unitizes a plurality of variable-length frames in units of predetermined size and sorts the unitized frames for each unit into each of a plurality of ports, thereby transmitting the sorted frames. A reception apparatus accumulates received frames in each port and collects the accumulated frames for each unit from each port.

Abstract: A vacuum process apparatus includes a plurality of cassettes for holding samples, a transporter which transports the samples, a plurality of vacuum process chambers each for processing samples one by one, an evacuator which evacuates the vacuum process chambers, and a load chamber and an unload chamber communicating with the vacuum process chambers. An apparatus controller is provided for controlling transporting and processing of the samples. The apparatus controller measures a time period for transporting each of the samples and a processing time period for processing a sample in each of the vacuum process chambers, and determines a next order of extraction of the samples from the plurality of cassettes based on the measured time periods.

Abstract: A vacuum processing method and apparatus having one cassette containing wafers which are to be transferred in a preset transferring order to a processing unit via a transfer unit, and another cassette containing wafers to be processed on an emergency basis. Automatic control of processing a wafer from the one cassette is effected, and in response to a request for emergency processing of a water of the another cassette, the automatic processing control of the one wafer from the one cassette is temporarily stopped while completing processing of the wafer of the one cassette returning the same to the one cassette. Emergency processing is initiated by transferring a wafer from the another cassette to the vacuum processing unit via the transfer unit. The processing of the emergency wafer is completed and the processed emergency wafer is returned to the another cassette.

Abstract: A vacuum processing method and apparatus processing units for conducting processing, a transfer processing unit connected with the plurality of processing units for carrying wafers, and a control unit for controlling the processing units. A processing order information storing device stores a processing order of the wafers for the processing units, an operational information signal generating device generates an operational information signal indicating an operable or inoperable state of each of the processing units, an operational information signal storing device stores the operational information signal indicating the state of each of the processing units, and a control device matches and processes the processing order information and the operational information signal, and continues operation without using an inoperable processing unit while using other operable processing units.

Abstract: A vacuum process apparatus includes a plurality of cassettes for holding samples, a transporter which transports the samples, a plurality of vacuum process chambers each for processing samples one by one, an evacuator which evacuates the vacuum process chambers, and a load chamber and an unload chamber communicating with the vacuum process chambers. An apparatus controller is provided for controlling transporting and processing of the samples. The apparatus controller measures a time period for transporting each of the samples and a processing time period for processing a sample in each of the vacuum process chambers, and determines a next order of extraction of the samples from the plurality of cassettes based on the measured time periods.

Abstract: A vacuum process apparatus has a plurality of cassettes for holding samples; a transporting means for transporting the samples; a plurality of vacuum process chambers each for processing samples one by one; an evacuation means for evacuating the vacuum process chambers; a load chamber and an unload chamber communicating with the vacuum process chambers; and an apparatus control means for controlling transporting and processing of the samples. The apparatus control means operates to measure a time period of transporting each of the samples and a time period of processing in each of the vacuum process chambers, and determines a next extracting order of extraction of the samples from the plurality of cassettes based on the measured time periods.

Abstract: A method of operating a vacuum processing system including a plurality of processing units for processing wafers, a transferring unit for carrying the wafers and a control unit for controlling the processing units and the transferring unit. At least two of the plurality of processing units are connected to the transferring unit and wafers are processed using the processing units. The method includes the steps of judging whether each of the processing units is operable or inoperable, isolating inoperable ones of the processing units judged in the judging step from wafer processing, carrying wafers to operable ones of the processing units using the transferring unit and processing the wafers using only the operable processing units.

Abstract: A dimmable self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes a fluorescent lamp, a ballast and a lamp base that are formed as one unit. The ballast includes a preheating current supply circuit for supplying a preheating current to the fluorescent lamp; an inverter circuit portion for supplying a high frequency AC voltage to the fluorescent lamp; and a control circuit portion for controlling a driving frequency of the inverter circuit portion. The ballast is provided with an output current limiting element for limiting an output current from the preheating current supply circuit.

Abstract: A bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp adopting an inexpensive and highly reliable electronic ballast is provided. A fluorescent arc tube, an electronic ballast, and a base are provided. The electronic ballast lights and drives the fluorescent arc tube, and the base provides a power to the electronic ballast. The electronic ballast has an inductor connected in series to the fluorescent arc tube, and at least two capacitors constituting a resonant circuit with the inductor and connected in parallel to the fluorescent arc tube. At least two capacitors are disposed on the surface of a printed board on the base side. At least two capacitors are disposed stepwise in such a manner that bodies thereof are not opposed to each other and the body with a larger capacitance is spaced further from the fluorescent arc tube.

Abstract: A light bulb type fluorescent lamp lighting apparatus includes a fluorescent light emitting tube; and an electronic lighting circuit for applying an electric current to the fluorescent light emitting tube. The electronic lighting circuit includes a pair of electrode filaments provided in the fluorescent light emitting tube, a capacitor connected parallel to the fluorescent light emitting tube, an inductor connected in series to one of the pair of electrode filaments, and at least one temperature negative characteristic resistance element connected parallel to at least one of the pair of electrode filaments. The at least one temperature negative characteristic resistance element has a resistance impedance, and the fluorescent light emitting tube is started based on a change in the resistance impedance of the at least one temperature negative characteristic resistance element.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp lighting apparatus includes a fluorescent light emitting tube; and an electronic lighting circuit for applying an electric current to the fluorescent light emitting tube. The electronic lighting circuit includes a pair of electrode filaments provided in the fluorescent light emitting tube, a pair of capacitors each connected in series to a respective one of the pair of electrode filaments and connected parallel to the fluorescent light emitting tube, and an inductor connected in series to one of the pair of electrode filaments.

Abstract: A dimmable self-ballasted fluorescent lamp includes a fluorescent lamp, a ballast and a lamp base that are formed as one unit. The ballast includes a preheating current supply circuit for supplying a preheating current to the fluorescent lamp; an inverter circuit portion for supplying a high frequency AC voltage to the fluorescent lamp; and a control circuit portion for controlling a driving frequency of the inverter circuit portion. The ballast is provided with an output current limiting element for limiting an output current from the preheating current supply circuit.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp in which a connecting terminals of a lighting circuit board and lead wires of a fluorescent tube easily can be connected. The lamp includes a fluorescent tube, a holder holding the fluorescent tube, a lighting circuit board provided with a lighting circuit for lighting the fluorescent tube, and a case connected to the holder and housing the lighting circuit board. At the end portion of the lighting circuit board, V-shaped or Y-shaped cut-outs, which widen toward an outer side, are formed. In the vicinity of the inner narrow portion of the cut-outs, the connecting terminals connected to the lighting circuit are provided. On a side wall formed on the holder opposite to the fluorescent tube, V-shaped or Y-shaped cut-outs, which widen as the distance from said fluorescent tube increases, are provided, and the broad portion of the cut-outs of the holder and the broad portion of the cut-outs of the lighting circuit board are arranged facing each other.

Abstract: A vacuum processing method and apparatus processing units for conducting processing, a transfer processing unit connected with the plurality of processing units for carrying wafers, and a control unit for controlling the processing units. A processing order information storing device stores a processing order of the wafers for the processing units, an operational information signal generating device generates an operational information signal indicating an operable or inoperable state of each of the processing units, an operational information signal storing device stores the operational information signal indicating the state of each of the processing units, and a control device matches and processes the processing order information and the operational information signal, and continues operation without using an inoperable processing unit while using other operable processing units.

Abstract: A vacuum processing apparatus and method wherein a plurality of processing units are for conducting processing, a transfer processing unit is connected with the plurality of processing units for carrying wafers to the processing units, a transfer device is disposed in the transfer processing unit and carries the wafers and cassettes for containing the wafers, and a control unit is provided for conducting transfer control for transferring the wafers from respective cassettes to the transfer processing unit. The wafers are processed by using the plural processing units, and at least two of the cassettes are used. Parallel processing is conducted of applying different processing to the wafers contained on each of the cassettes by applying different recipes and the wafers, after applying the parallel processing, are turned to the original cassette.

Abstract: A method of operating a vacuum processing system including a plurality of processing units for processing wafers, a transferring unit for carrying wafers, and a control unit for controlling the processing units and the transferring unit, wherein at least two of the plurality of processing units are connected to the transferring unit and the wafers are processed using the processing units The method includes processing the wafers in each of the processing units and recovering the wafers thus processed into a cassette, carrying a cleaning dummy wafer into the processing unit in which the wafers have been processed using the transferring unit, cleaning the interior of the processing unit into which the cleaning dummy wafer has been carried, recovering the cleaning dummy wafer into a cassette, and processing the wafers in the processing unit thus cleaned.

Abstract: A bulb-shaped fluorescent lamp adopting an inexpensive and highly reliable electronic ballast is provided. A fluorescent arc tube, an electronic ballast, and a base are provided. The electronic ballast lights and drives the fluorescent arc tube, and the base provides a power to the electronic ballast. The electronic ballast has an inductor connected in series to the fluorescent arc tube, and at least two capacitors constituting a resonant circuit with the inductor and connected in parallel to the fluorescent arc tube. At least two capacitors are disposed on the surface of a printed board on the base side. At least two capacitors are disposed stepwise in such a manner that bodies thereof are not opposed to each other and the body with a larger capacitance is spaced further from the fluorescent arc tube.