Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring pressure buildup in a body compartment that encases muscular tissue. The method includes assessing the body compartment configuration and identifying the effect of pulsatile components on at least one compartment dimension. This process is used in preventing tissue necrosis, and in decisions of whether to perform surgery on the body compartment for prevention of Compartment Syndrome. An apparatus is used for measuring excess pressure in the body compartment having components for imparting ultrasonic waves such as a transducer, placing the transducer to impart the ultrasonic waves, capturing the reflected imparted ultrasonic waves, and converting them to electrical signals, a pulsed phase-locked loop device for assessing a body compartment configuration and producing an output signal, and means for mathematically manipulating the output signal to thereby categorize pressure build-up in the body compartment from the mathematical manipulations.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for measuring pressure buildup in a body compartment that encases muscular tissue. The method includes assessing the body compartment configuration and identifying the effect of pulsatible components on compartment dimensions and muscle tissue characteristics. This process is used in preventing tissue necrosis, and in decisions of whether to perform surgery on the body compartment for prevention of Compartment Syndrome. An apparatus is used for measuring pressure build-up in the body compartment having components for imparting ultrasonic waves such as a transducer, placing the transducer to impart the ultrasonic waves, capturing the imparted ultrasonic waves, mathematically manipulating the captured ultrasonic waves and categorizing pressure build-up in the body compartment from the mathematical manipulations.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material which is low toxic and can be used at a high temperature of 500° C. or higher without variation in performance, and a thermoelectric conversion device containing the material. The thermoelectric conversion material is formed of an oxide represented by (Ca3-xMx)Co4O9 (M: Sr or Ba, 1.2>x>0.5).

Abstract: A voice communication connection/charging proxy support system includes connection request reception means for receiving at web site a connection request specifying a voice communication call organization from a voice communication connection request organization, call connection means for calling voice telephone apparatuses of the voice communication connection request organization and the voice communication call organization and if response is received from both of them, connecting their voice telephone apparatuses to each other, and charging means for charging a beneficiary organization a communication fee corresponding to a communication time through the voice telephones after the connection.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oxide phosphor for use in an electroluminescent device, which phosphor is capable of providing a high-luminance EL device while the composition thereof is controlled to be as simple as possible, and which phosphor attains multi-color and full-color light emissions without the need for treatment at a high temperature greatly in excess of 1,000° C. The invention also provides an electroluminescent device employing the phosphor. The oxide phosphor for use in an electroluminescent device is formed from an yttrium (Y) oxide as a matrix and at least one transition metal element as an activator, or from a Y—Ge—O oxide or a Y—Ge—Si—O oxide as a matrix and at least one metallic element, as a luminescence center, selected from among transition metal elements and rare earth metal elements.

Abstract: A positioning mechanism for positioning in a direction of movement. The positioning mechanism comprises a first member and a second member movably mounted relative to one another, and additionally comprises an elongate bending element disposed between the first member and the second member, perpendicular to the direction of movement. The elongate bending element includes two end portions attached to the second member. A portion of the elongate bending element other than the end portions is coupled to the first member. The elongate bending element bends lengthways in response to an applied driving signal to move the first member relative to the second member in the direction of movement.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material which is low toxic and can be used at a high temperature of 500° C. or higher without variation in performance, and a thermoelectric conversion device containing the material. The thermoelectric conversion material is formed of an oxide represented by (Ca3-xMx)Co4O9 (M: Sr or Ba, 1.2>x>0.5).

Abstract: A position detection device that comprises a first substrate, a second substrate, an alternating current (AC) bridge comprised of four variable capacitors, and a detection circuit. The first and second substrates have a flat first electrode surface and a flat second electrode surface, respectively. The second substrate is mounted opposite the first substrate with the first electrode surface opposite the second electrode surface and separated from the second electrode surface by a minute gap. The second substrate and the first substrate are movable relative to one another in the plane of the electrode surfaces. Each of the variable capacitors is composed of a first capacitor electrode located on the first electrode surface and a second capacitor electrode located opposite the first capacitor electrode on the second electrode surface.

Abstract: An electrical connection structure interconnects a first circuit member and a second circuit member and comprises a cantilever, a conductive needle, a terminal pad and a fixing element. The cantilever is formed in the semiconductor substrate and has an end remote from the semiconductor substrate. The conductive needle is at the end of the cantilever and is electrically connected to the first circuit member. The terminal pad is located on the second circuit member opposite the conductive needle tip when the first circuit member and the second circuit member are juxtaposed. The terminal pad is electrically connected to the second circuit member. The fixing element fixes the first circuit member juxtaposed to the second circuit member in a way that stresses the cantilever to apply a contact force between the conductive needle and the terminal pad.

Abstract: The invention is intended to offer a signal selector circuit and a signal-generating circuit which are excellent in linearity between input and output signals at high frequencies and in isolation between input signals and isolation between output signals and which do not produce distortion. When an output signal is taken from OUT.sub.1, a circuit connected with the gate terminal of Q.sub.11 is made to have a high impedance, and a cutoff voltage deeper than the pinchoff voltage is applied to the gate of Q.sub.12. With respect to each of Q.sub.11, Q.sub.12, the gate is connected with the source by R.sub.11 or R.sub.12. Both Q.sub.11 and Q.sub.12 have depletion characteristics. The resistances of R.sub.11 and R.sub.12 are lower than the impedances of Q.sub.15 and Q.sub.16 when they drive the gates so as to turn on Q.sub.11 and Q.sub.12. In this case, therefore, the voltage between the gate and the source of Q.sub.11 is made null and Q.sub.11 conducts. Q.sub.12 is cut off.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing durable, high performance, probing of semiconductor devices having a large number of narrow pitch terminals. A single probe of the present invention provides flexible probing of a wide range of the devices having various sizes and terminal arrangements. In contrast, teachings of the prior art require a separate probe to be manufactured or a probe to be re-formed for each different size and terminal arrangement of the devices. The probe of the invention includes electrodes electrically coupled with a test system in such a way so as to provide the devices to be probed with a selection of more than two arrangements in which device terminals contacting the probe electrodes are not shorted with each other by the probe.

Abstract: In the A/D converter test method, the square wave pulse as the test signal is supplied to the A/D converter under test; said pulse is converted into the digital signal by said A/D converter; the waveform of said square wave pulse is reconstructed by converting the digital signal outputted from said A/D converter into the analog signal; the rise time of said A/D converter under test is measured from the reconstructed waveform of said square wave pulse; and the dynamic characteristics of said A/D converter is calculated from the measured rise time.

Abstract: A DA converter testing system for testing DA converters which convert digital information into analog information, particularly suitable for testing the dynamic characteristics of such DA converters. The DA converter testing system has an AD conversion means which receives the analog output signal of a test DA converter, operating at a conversion period greater than the waveform repetition period of the repetitive output waveform of the test DA converter. Accordingly, the fast repetitive output waveform of the test DA converter can be converted into corresponding digital codes at a high accuracy and hence the DA converter testing system is more suitable than the conventional DA converter testing system, for testing the dynamic characteristics of DA converters.