Abstract: An optical communications Module for use in an optical transfer system for bidirectionally transferring a light signal through an optical fiber, the optical communications module having a light signal transmission capability, wherein the optical communications module includes: a semiconductor laser; an optical fiber coupled to a front facet of the semiconductor laser; a light splitting element for splitting light which is emitted from the front facet of the semiconductor laser and propagated within the optical fiber; and, an output-monitoring photodiode for receiving a portion of the light which has been split by the light splitting element as monitoring light, and generating a photocurrent based on the monitoring light, the photocurrent being used for controlling optical output of the semiconductor laser.

Abstract: According to this dynamic pressure groove processing method, dynamic pressure grooves are formed in specified regions by electrochemical machining with the electrode of an electrode tool put close to a workpiece in the initial stage. Through this electrochemical machining, corners of land portions adjacent to the dynamic pressure grooves can be curved and smoothed. Next, by subjecting the workpiece to electrochemical machining with the electrode of the electrode tool put away from the workpiece, the land portions are to undergo weak electrochemical machining. Surface roughness of surfaces of the land portions can be reduced, and the curved corners of the land portions can be made smoother at the same time. Therefore, the abrasion resistance characteristic of the dynamic pressure grooves can be improved further than that achieved by the conventional electrochemical machining, allowing the abrasion resistance characteristic and reliability to be sufficiently improved.

Abstract: A lower mirror is formed on an n-type GaAs substrate. Next, an ion implanted region serving as a current confining region is formed through shallow ion implantation. Then, a SiO2 film mask is formed, and a multilayer structure including an active region and an upper mirror is selectively grown on an area not covered with the SiO2 film mask. In this manner, a surface emitting semiconductor laser with a low resistance and a low threshold current is obtained by using ion implantation and selective oxidation through a simplified fabrication process.

Abstract: Upon receipt of a message in a state of waiting to receive the message, the received message is stored in a RAM, and a message receipt information is performed. When a user presses down a push switch for the message receipt information, the received message is displayed on a LCD. At this time, when it is impossible to display the received message on the LCD at a time because of the long received message, a jog switch is manipulated by a user. When the user manipulates the jog switch 12, the message displayed on the LCD is scrolled depending on the direction of rotation of the jog switch and the quantity of rotation thereof. Of the scrolled message, the portion of the message before scrolling is underlined and displayed on the LCD.

Abstract: A method for docking/undocking a portable computer to/from an expansion unit is disclosed. The portable computer includes a main battery, and the expansion unit includes a second battery. In response to an eject event, the condition of the second battery is determined. If the second battery is in a discharging condition, a power supply route is switched from the second battery of the expansion unit to the main battery of the portable computer. If the second battery is in a charging condition, the charging condition is suspended. At this point, a hot undocking of the portable computer from the expansion unit can be performed.

Abstract: Described is an improved method for undocking a structure having an optional number of tiers from a multilayer-dock structure constituted by docking a plurality of expansion units respectively having an intrinsic resource to a portable PC. To undock only a portable PC from a triple-layer-dock structure constituted by docking a first expansion unit and a second expansion unit to the portable PC, the first expansion unit is made to generate an undock event. The IDE device of the first expansion unit and the PCI device of the second expansion unit are separated from the control by an operating system by taking the undock event as an opportunity and the interfaces of the devices and are electrically separated. The operability is improved because it is possible to unitedly obtain an object to be undocked through both vision and operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device includes: active layer; first cladding layer, which is formed on the active layer and is made of (AlX1Ga1−X1)Z1In1−Z1P (where 0≦X1≦1 and 0<Z1<1) of a first conductivity type; current blocking layer, which is formed on the first cladding layer and is made of (AlYGa1−Y)Z2In1−Z2P (where 0≦Y≦1 and 0<Z2<1) of a second conductivity type and has striped region; and second cladding layer, which is formed at least in the striped region and is made of (AlX2Ga1−X2)Z3In1−Z3P (where 0≦X1≦1 and 0<Z3<1) of the first conductivity type. X1, X2 and Y have relationships represented as Y>X1 and Y>X2. Saturable absorption region absorbing laser light produced from the active layer is formed in part of the active layer under the current blocking layer.

Abstract: A differential device for 4WD vehicles having a reduced size and capable of being produced at lower costs makes it possible to select between a 2WD state, a differential-free 4WD state, and a differential-locked 4WD state. The differential device includes a differential case, a side gear, a hub, and a switching mechanism which establishes and interrupts a connection between each of the differential case, the side gear, and the hub. The switching mechanism includes, among other possible features, a first sleeve, a second sleeve which is separate from the first sleeve, and a pin. A sole actuator moves the second sleeve between first, second and third positions to establish the 2WD state, the differential-free 4WD state, and the differential-locked 4WD state.

Abstract: A lower mirror is formed on an n-type GaAs substrate. Next, an ion implanted region serving as a current confining region is formed through shallow ion implantation. Then, a SiO2 film mask is formed, and a multilayer structure including an active region and an upper mirror is selectively grown on an area not covered with the SiO2 film mask. In this manner, a surface emitting semiconductor laser with a low resistance and a low threshold current is obtained by using ion implantation and selective oxidation through a simplified fabrication process.

Abstract: A lower mirror is formed on an n-type GaAs substrate. Next, an ion implanted region serving as a current confining region is formed through shallow ion implantation. Then, a SiO2 film mask is formed, and a multilayer structure including an active region and an upper mirror is selectively grown on an area not covered with the SiO2 film mask. In this manner, a surface emitting semiconductor laser with a low resistance and a low threshold current is obtained by using ion implantation and selective oxidation through a simplified fabrication process.

Abstract: According to this dynamic pressure groove processing method, dynamic pressure grooves are formed in specified regions by electrochemical machining with the electrode of an electrode tool put close to a workpiece in the initial stage. Through this electrochemical machining, corners of land portions adjacent to the dynamic pressure grooves can be curved and smoothed. Next, by subjecting the workpiece to electrochemical machining with the electrode of the electrode tool put away from the workpiece, the land portions are to undergo weak electrochemical machining. Surface roughness of surfaces of the land portions can be reduced, and the curved corners of the land portions can be made smoother at the same time. Therefore, the abrasion resistance characteristic of the dynamic pressure grooves can be improved further than that achieved by the conventional electrochemical machining, allowing the abrasion resistance characteristic and reliability to be sufficiently improved.

Abstract: A telephone hand-free apparatus comprises a housing; a telephone receiving case installed in the housing, the telephone receiving case being so sized and constructed as to receive therein a portable telephone; a board on which a control circuit is arranged, the board being installed in the housing; an external microphone operatively connected to the control circuit and exposed to the outside of the housing; an external speaker operatively connected to the control circuit and installed in the housing; a connection cable extending from the control circuit, so that when the connection cable is connected to a socket of the portable telephone, the external microphone and the external speaker become operative in place of a microphone and a speaker of the portable telephone; and an electric power source which energizes the control circuit.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a bearing device in which the bearing performance is not lowered even when the temperature is changed. In order to attain the object, the bearing device has a shaft and a sleeve. The shaft is made of stainless alloyed steel and has dynamic pressure generating grooves of a herringbone-like shape. The sleeve consists of the body made of a copper alloy, and an electroless nickel plated layer which covers the whole surface of the body. The electroless nickel plated layer has a coefficient of thermal expansion which is smaller than that of the body made of a copper alloy. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the shaft made of stainless alloyed steel is smaller than that of the body of the sleeve made of a copper alloy. When the temperature is raised, the electroless nickel plated layer suppresses the amount of thermal expansion of the body.

Abstract: A switching power supply of a synchronous rectification type is provided. A transformer has at least a primary winding and a secondary winding. A main switching element switches input DC current via the primary winding. An auxiliary switching element is arranged on a side of the secondary winding for use in conducting commutation current. The auxiliary switching element is turned on after the main switching element is turned off. The main switching element is turned on immediately after release of exciting energy from the transformer is completed.

Abstract: In a selective call radio receiver, having a tone dialer function that can transmit as a tone signal a call number of a recipient accompanied by a message, during the transmission of the tone signal by a tone dialer, a pause signal is automatically inserted between a call signal and the message to temporarily halt the transmission of the tone signal, so that the transmission of the message is ensured. When a message to be transmitted is edited first and then the call number of a recipient is selected, before the transmission of a tone signal the call number is moved to the head of the transmission data, and a pause signal is inserted between the call signal and the message to temporarily halt the transmission of the tone signal, so that the call number of the recipient can be positioned at the head of the transmission data without a complicated operation being required.

Abstract: A pager includes a power supply that supplies a plurality of power sources of various voltages, a switch that selects a power source supplied by the power supply and supplies the power source to a frequency converter, and a controller that shifts the selection of the switch into another power source of higher voltage when extraction of an ID from a signal demodulated by a demodulator is impossible. The controller instructs the switch to select a power source of the lowest voltage in the initial state and after a predetermined time from the switching into the higher voltage power source. Signal distortion in the frequency converter, a factor causing intermodulation, is prevented by switching the power source voltage of the frequency converter. Deterioration of the possibility of reception due to intermodulation in the frequency converter is thereby prevented. The switch is returned to its initial state after a predetermined time and power consumption of the pager is reduced.

Abstract: When mixed modulation signal may be erroneously determined to be a signal intended to be received by a particular receiver the receiver checks whether prevailing received signal is a signal intended to be received by that receiver. When the received signal intended is other than a signal to be received, by that receiver the receiver turns off an antenna tuner to prevent impedance matching between the antenna side impedance and the radio section side impedance. When the received signal intended is a signal to be received, by that receiver the receiver turns on the antenna tuner to allow impedance matching between the two impedances.

Abstract: In a surface-emitting laser comprising an active region which includes a light emitting layer and two mirrors which sandwich the active region, at least one of the two mirrors has a distributed Bragg reflector structure which comprises a plurality of first layers including aluminum and a plurality of second layers different from the first layers. At least one selected layer of the first layers has a selective oxide region including aluminum and a core semiconductor region surrounded by the selective oxide region.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device is described that has an improved read characteristics. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells, a reference cell, a comparator located between the memory cells and the reference cell, and a discriminator coupled to the comparator. The comparator compares the actual signal equivalent to a value of a current flowing in each of the memory cells and reference signals equivalent to a value of a current flowing in the reference cell with each other to output a comparison result signal in each of data reading operation modes. The discriminator discriminates a value of data stored in each of the memory cells based on the comparison result signal. The discriminator includes a circuit shared for discrimination of a data value in each of the data reading operation modes.

Abstract: In a radio selection call receiver, a high frequency amplifier amplifies a received signal from an antenna to produce an amplified signal. A filter eliminates an undesired wave form the amplified signal to produce a filtered signal. A frequency converter converts a frequency of the filtered signal to produce a converted signal. A demodulator demodulates the converted signal to produce a demodulated baseband signal. A control circuit compares a call number signal from the demodulated baseband signal with the predetermined call number signal to produce a coincidence signal when the call number signal coincides with the predetermined call number signal.