Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate having a number of pixels disposed in a matrix shape, the semiconductor substrate comprising a first region including a charge accumulation region of a photodiode and a floating diffusion and a second region including transistors, each having a gate electrode and source/drain regions; a first silicon oxide film formed above the semiconductor substrate, covering the surface of the charge accumulation region in the first region and formed as side wall spacers on side of the gate electrode walls of at lease some transistors in the second region; and a silicon nitride film formed above the first silicon oxide film, covering the source/drain regions in the second region and having an opening at least in an area above the charge accumulation region in the first region. The semiconductor image sensor is provided which has a high sensitivity and can supply an output with small noises.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate having a number of pixels disposed in a matrix shape, the semiconductor substrate comprising a first region including a charge accumulation region of a photodiode and a floating diffusion and a second region including transistors, each having a gate electrode and source/drain regions; a first silicon oxide film formed above the semiconductor substrate, covering the surface of the charge accumulation region in the first region and formed as side wall spacers on side of the gate electrode walls of at lease some transistors in the second region; and a silicon nitride film formed above the first silicon oxide film, covering the source/drain regions in the second region and having an opening at least in an area above the charge accumulation region in the first region. The semiconductor image sensor is provided which has a high sensitivity and can supply an output with small noises.

Abstract: A simply structured remote control transceiver that stores various data supplied is disclosed. A data communication system employing the same transceiver is also disclosed. The remote control transceiver includes a signal transceiver, a controller, an operating section, a memory and a display. The signal transceiver transmits/receives radio wave or an infrared signal to/from a television receiving apparatus (TVRA). The controller is coupled with a signal transceiver, an operating section, a memory and a display. The memory stores data sent from the TVRA via the signal transceiver. Responsive to an operation through the operating section, the display displays data read out from the memory. The data communication system includes this remote control transceiver, the TVRA and a base station that handles data.

Abstract: A push and rotation operating type electronic component that allows for rotary manipulation in a tangential direction of a peripheral surface of a cylindrical operating knob projecting from a control surface of an apparatus, and also for pushing manipulation in a direction toward a central axis of rotation of the knob. The electronic component provides for a reduction in overall dimensions of a main portion, thereby reducing a height size of an enclosure of the end-use apparatus, smooth movement to a depressing manipulation, and easy to assemble.

Abstract: The disclosed rotary encoder includes contact substrate 31 and movable contact plate 32. Substrate 31 contains three fan-shaped conductive layers 34A, 34B, and 34C on positions having a same distance from the center of substrate 31. On the other hand, movable contact plate 32 retains three elastic contacts 36A, 36B, 36C, and rotates. The three contacts have continuity with each other and disposed at positions with a same distance from the center of substrate 31, spaced at a radial angle of 120°. When contact plate 32 is rotated, any two out of three elastic contacts 36A, 36B, and 36C consecutively contact with any two out of three conductive layers 34A, 34B, and 34C. Through the continuity, an electric signal is led out from terminals 35A, 35B, and 35C.

Abstract: A multidirectional controller includes: a substrate having a first end portion and a second end portion, which sways via a supporting point provided at the first end portion; an electronic part provided at the second end portion, which includes a control portion which is manipulated in a predetermined direction in which the electronic part causes the substrate to sway when the electronic part is manipulated; a supporting member for supporting the substrate; and a switch provided so as to be switched in response to the sway of the substrate, when the electronic part is manipulated in the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided in which a well patterned lead line structure is obtained. In one aspect of the invention, the method comprises steps of:depositing on a semiconductor wafer a metal layer for forming lead lines at a first predetermined temperature of about 400.degree. C., say; anddepositing an anti-reflective layer on the metal layer in the following multi-deposition steps:step 1: a thin anti-reflective layer is deposited on the metal layer near the first predetermined deposition temperature;step 2: the metal layer is cooled to a second predetermined deposition temperature of about 150.degree. C., say while interrupting the deposition of the anti-reflective layer; andstep 3: the anti-reflective layer is grown to a predetermined thickness by resuming the deposition thereof at the second predetermined deposition temperature.

Abstract: A multidirectional switch, which performs a tilting operation in multiple directions generating a signal by tilting the shaft portion of the operating member, includes: a dome-shaped movable contact made of a resilient thin metal plate; a box-shaped case; a cover including a through hole at a center thereof, the cover covers an upper opening of the case; and a flange portion integrally formed at a lower end of the shaft portion of the operating member. The case includes, on a bottom surface thereof: an outer fixed contact on which an outer peripheral lower end portion of the dome-shaped movable contact is placed; and a plurality of inner fixed contacts provided inside positions corresponding to the outer peripheral lower end portion of the dome-shaped movable contact so as to be equiangular and equidistant from a center of the dome-shaped movable contact.

Abstract: A push switch is disclosed which includes: an insulation substrate (11) having a circular hollow portion (14) therein, first and second adhesive layers (15A, 15B) on the hollow portion and a top surface respectively and a fixing portion (12A) having a first C-shape and a hollow portion (18), having a second C-shape, arranged inside the first C-shape. The hollow portion is arranged in the circular hollow portion and fixed by the first adhesive layer and the fixing portion fixed on the top surface of the insulation substrate by the second adhesive layer. The hollow portion has at least three protruding portions (19) thereon. A center contact (21) is arranged at inside the second C-shape. There is an arm portion (22) extending from the center contact toward the outside of the second C-shape through an opening of the second C-shape. There is a movable contact (24) having a dome shape on the protruding portions and a cover sheet (26), fixed on the fixing portion so as to cover the movable contact.

Abstract: A thin switch includes, (a) a rectangular insulating substrate, (b) a unitary fixed contact member comprising a T-shaped conductive thin-metal including a fixed contact, a first terminal, and a first conductive part therebetween, and (c) a movable contact member including a unitary elastic and T-shaped conductive thin-metal including a domed contact, a second terminal, and a second conductive part therebetween. The fixed contact member is placed so that the fixed contact is located roughly at the center of a surface of the insulating substrate and the first terminal is located at one edge of the insulating substrate. The first terminal is attached to the insulating substrate. The movable contact member is placed so that the domed contact is located over the fixed contact and the second terminal is located at the opposite edge of the insulating substrate. The second terminal is attached to the insulating substrate.

Abstract: A multiple switch device comprises a base having at least two switch units and supports with pawls placed on the tips of the pawls, a push button having at least two push members and supports with pawls placed on the tips of the pawls, and a spring for returning the push button to its original position. The base and the push button are assembled together through a coupling between the pawls of the supports of the base and the pawls of the supports of the push button. The push button moves in a seesaw-like motion, the fulcrum of which is derived by the two adjacent supports. The push members and the supports are arranged so that the fulcrum position is situated in the same or inside position of the push members.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a compact rotary encoder with no axial play, and in order to achieve this objective, the cylindrical operating shaft is supported by the cylindrical support shaft extending up from the bottom surface of the rotary encoder base member so that the attachment portion of the control knob and the fitting portion of the cylindrical operating shaft can be made longer, whereby inclination in the control knob and play in the fitting portion of the operating shaft can be reduced while keeping the overall height of the rotary encoder small.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a light-reflecting rotary encoder which is capable of perfectly matching the timing of the clicking detent sensation and pulse signal generation while also guaranteeing a long useful life, and in order to achieve this objective, an optical element and a ring-shaped magnetic plate are provided which oppose a pulse plate made from a sheet of iron material and rotated by an operating shaft, the pulse plate having reflective portions and non-reflective slits. By this means, the pulse plate can be used for both producing the clicking detent sensation and generating the pulse signal, whereby timing shifts due to differences in the precision of manufacturing or shifts in assembling the components can be eliminated. Moreover, since the clicking detent sensation is generated by the ring-shaped magnet and pulse plate, a light-reflecting encoder with a guaranteed long useful life can be provided.