Abstract: A flashlight in which a switch main body may be easily assembled by fitting parts for a top surface of the switch main body to be pushed upwardly for automatically and closely contacting an inside of the flashlight without using any additional element, and a lens is closely fixed to a reflection mirror of a head part so that the vibration may be prevented and the waterproof effect may be obtained, thereby improving the productivity and the reliability of the products. In the flashlight, a switch cover of the switch main body is integrally formed with a semicircular insertion plate, an upper body is formed with cut parts at both sides for matching an insertion plate of the switch main body with the cut parts, so that the insertion plate is inserted along the cut parts as a force is applied to the insertion plate, thereby simply assembling the switch main body into the flashlight.

Abstract: A border lighting strip (10) includes an electrical cable (14) having a plurality of electrical conductors (14A, 14B). A plurality of light emitting devices (LEDs) (12) arranged alongside the electrical cable (14) and electrically connected (12A, 12B) thereto. An essentially hollow extruded sheath (16) of translucent or transparent material is adapted to receive the LEDs (12). The sheath (16) also includes an integrally formed cylindrical lens (18) arranged to optically cooperate with the LEDs (12). A method (200)for manufacturing a lighting strip includes electrically connecting (202, 204, 206, 208) a plurality of light emitting devices to an electrical cable to form a linear light source (214), extruding (216) a transparent or translucent sheath adapted to receive the linear light source (214), and inserting (218) the linear light source into the extruded sheath to form the border lighting strip (220).

Abstract: A lamp string includes a plurality of insulator bases, a plurality of conducting strips, and a plurality of illuminating devices. Each of the conducting strips is mounted fixedly on an adjacent pair of the insulator bases. Each of the illuminating devices bridges an adjacent pair of the conducting strips on a respective one of the insulator bases.

Abstract: A light unit for use in a series circuit has a mechanical switch for providing an alternate circuit path around the leads of a bulb when the bulb is loose or removed. The mechanical switch is biased toward a closed position such that, when the bulb is removed from the light unit, the switch closes to provide the alternate circuit path. The switch is displaced to an open position when a bulb is secured to the light unit to break the alternate circuit path and route electricity through the bulb. A shunt assembly having a high resistance element and a retainer can be secured within a socket cavity of the light unit.

Abstract: A halogen lamp includes a pair of lead members, a filament bonded to and between the pair of lead members and a glass bulb encasing and sealing the filament and at least portions of the pair of lead members. The lamp further includes a support member made of non-conductive material and adapted for fixedly interconnecting legs of the pair of lead members, with the support member being disposed within the glass bulb. The lead members and the filament are bonded together by plasma welding.

Abstract: An auxiliary illuminating device that has an adjustable color temperature. The color temperature is adjusted by varying the light throughput of independently adjustable color filters.

Abstract: A folding structure of a two-layer lampshade is disclosed. The folding structure has a top ring at a topmost of the lampshade, a bottom ring having a diameter larger than that of the top ring, and a supporting frame between the top ring and the bottom ring. A plurality of supporting rods extend from a ring edge of the top ring toward a center of the top ring. The supporting frame is formed by a plurality of longitudinal rods and a plurality of transversal rods. Since the supporting frame is engaged to the bottom ring by the buckle, it can rotate to be positioned horizontally by using the buckles as fulcrums and the inner cloth and outer cloth of the lampshade encloses the folding structure. Thereby, the lampshade is assembled to have a smaller volume, As a consequence, the transfer cost is reduced.

Abstract: A structure of a foldable lampshade is disclosed. The foldable lampshade comprises an upper and a lower securing ring, an outer shade for connecting the upper and the lower securing ring, and one or more supporting frame, characterized in that the supporting frame is detachable and/or mountable with the securing rings such that the outer shade can be folded or stacked to a minimum size. A connection end of the upper securing ring is provided with a snap slot for connection with the snap plate provided on the upper securing ring. One end of the supporting frame is mounted to the lower securing ring.

Abstract: A lamp assembly comprises at least one lamp unit. Each lamp unit comprises an outer frame with four corners, a middle frame and an inner frame enclosing a lamp. The outer frame has conductive blocks at each corner and the conductive blocks at diagonal corners forming an electrode electrically connected to the lamp. The middle frame has two outer shafts and two inner shafts, wherein the outer shafts are pivotally connected to inner side of the outer frame and the inner shafts are pivotally connected to corresponding sides of the inner frame. The conductive block has at least one threaded hole and the outer frame has a hole corresponding to the threaded hole. The adjacent lamp units can be connected through a connection unit and arranged in stacked or hanging style.

Abstract: An LED module includes a substrate having good thermal conductivity and one or more radiation-emitting semiconductor components that fixed on the top side of the substrate. The underside of the substrate is fixed on a carrier body having a high thermal capacity, in which the component fixing between the semiconductor components and the substrate and the substrate fixing between the substrate and the carrier body are embodied with good thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing the LED module, in which metal areas that are suitable as an etching mask improve the impressing of the current required during the anodic bonding, and at the same time, are used as contact areas for contact-connecting the radiation-emitting semiconductor components. The LED module has the advantage that the semiconductor components can be subjected to higher energization as a result of the high thermal capacity of the carrier body.

Abstract: An orientation sensitive light for mounting on motorcycles and the like, having a light emitter, an orientation sensitive switch, and a power source, all connected in an electric circuit. The light is mounted on the underside of the motorcycle or on a side of the motorcycle, with the light emitter pointing downwards during normal operational orientation of the motorcycle. An orientation sensitive switch has a cavity with a quantity of an electrically conductive liquid such as mercury. The switch activates the light emitter when the motorcycle changes its orientation, as when a front or a rear wheel is raised above the ground.

Abstract: A headlight for a motorcycle illuminates the space in front of the motorcycle, through which a longitudinally-extending, vertical central plane passes. The motorcycle headlight comprises a light source and a plurality of lenses having centers and arranged to receive light from the light source. The light source is disposed outwardly from the center plane of the motorcycle with respect to the centroid of the centers.

Abstract: A pedestrian protection headlamp assembly for a motor vehicle allows the headlamp to yield rearward in a controlled, energy-absorbing manner in order to cushion the impact experienced by a pedestrian struck by the vehicle. The headlamp assembly comprises a headlamp mountable to the vehicle to form a front corner of the vehicle, a pivot mechanism disposed adjacent the outboard end of the headlamp for mounting the headlamp to the vehicle and defining a generally vertical pivot axis about which the headlamp may rotate relative to the vehicle, and a damper disposed inboard of the pivot mechanism. When a pedestrian strikes the headlamp, the damper compresses and allows controlled rearward movement of the inboard end of the headlamp as the headlamp rotates about the pivot mechanism. The damper is located adjacent an inboard end of the headlamp and a trigger prevents rotation of the headlamp about the pivot when the force applied to the headlamp is below a threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interior lighting system for a motor vehicle which comprises a lighting device for lighting a motor vehicle interior and a control unit for regulating the brightness and/or the colour of the light emitted from the lighting device, and to a method for controlling the interior lighting system. The colour of the light emitted from the lighting device (12) can be automatically adjusted in accordance with at least one operating parameter and/or at least one parameter associated with the environment of the motor vehicle. Preferred parameters of this type are a deviation of an actual temperature from a predetermined desired temperature of the motor vehicle interior and/or the driving speed of a vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle light assembly includes a reflector having apertures formed in a circumferential wall thereof which are configured to accept light emitting diodes therethrough in an orientation generally perpendicular to the circumferential wall. The reflector includes a reflective protuberance, which is typically multi-faceted, extending upwardly from an interior surface of the reflector and generally centered with respect to the light emitting diodes. Each facet of the protuberance directs light from the light emitting diodes to an upper lens. Multiple ridges extend upwardly from the interior surface of the reflector at approximately forty-five degree angles with respect to the light emitting diodes for directing the light emitted from the light emitting diodes to the lens. The configuration of the reflector enables the use of fewer light emitting diodes.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for a motion activated decorative light connectable to a predetermined article. A housing connects the light to the article. A power source is positioned within the housing for energizing a light source. A switch is connected to the power source and to the light source so as to energize the light source responsive to motion. The housing comprises a material which allows light from the light source to shine through so that it may be seen by a person observing the moving vehicle, and preferably includes a fluorescent material excited by an LED which emits ultraviolet light. The light may comprise an ornamental shape for forming a visually perceptible light image when the light source is energized.

Abstract: A surface light source includes concave lens portions 21 provided opposite to light emitting diodes 16. The concave lens portions refract or align point light L1 from the diodes 16. The refracted light is transformed to linear one L2 by a light guide pipe 18. The linear light L2 is also transformed to surface one L3 by a light guide plate 6. Due to refraction or alignment by the concave lens portions 21, the point light L1 from the diodes 16 is efficiently transformed to the linear light L2. Thus, the surface light source is capable of improving the brightness of surface light L3 transformed by the light guide plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved structure of a LED lamp, it's comprises an LED bulb comprising two legs each having a peripheral flange; a conductive mechanism consisting of two parallel members each having a post and an upper hook; a block comprising two opposite half-cylindrical grooves and two opposite flexible wedges; and a socket comprising two opposite inner grooves, two first grooves perpendicular to centers of inner grooves respectively, two opposite outer grooves, two half-cylindrical grooves perpendicular to centers of outer grooves respectively, two walls each separated inner groove from outer groove, a space open to bottom, and two opposite openings open to space. Posts are inserted into half-cylindrical grooves of socket, legs are inserted into inner grooves with bottom of LED bulb in contact with top of socket, and block is inserted into space for receiving posts in half-cylindrical grooves of block until wedges are clung into openings.

Abstract: As a scanning line turns high so as to turn on a first transistor, luminance data is set in a gate electrode of a second transistor and thus an organic light emitting diode emits light. As a signal at a control signal line becomes high so as to turn off a third transistor, the organic light emitting diode is cut off from a power supply line and turns off. A control circuit outputs a signal for the control signal line. Based on this signal outputted from the control circuit, on and off of the organic light emitting diode is controlled, so that intermittent light emission in the organic light emitting diode is realized.

Abstract: A self-illuminating device, having a light source part and a light guide part. A light source is enclosed in an enclosure, which further accommodates a power source, to provide a voltage to the light source and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit adjusts and controls the power source supplied to the light source, so as to control brightness and color of the light source. The light guide part is preferably in a form of a plurality of light guide strips. Each of the light guide strips has one end received in the enclosure and coupled to the light source and the other end extending therefrom. Due to the light guide property, the light received at one end can be transmitted to the exposed other end of the light guide strips. Preferably, the exposed ends are arranged to display a desired pattern, design or logo.

Abstract: An image locking jewelry device designed to hide a customized image from view until the wearer reveals the image. The image unlocking jewelry device collectively including a lens mated to a casing and housing a liquid crystal display; circuitry placed inside the casing and capable of sending signals to the liquid crystal display; and an image positioned between the lens and said circuitry. Voltage is sent from the circuitry to the liquid crystal display in order to reveal the image held underneath the lens.

Abstract: Energized body jewelry including alternative embodiments designed to be worn by persons who have piercings in their bodies, as well as for those who do not have piercings. In one embodiment, the jewelry may be worn by a person with a piercing by attaching the jewelry with a barbell style piercing including a slotted or drilled retainer sized to carry the jewelry. In an alternative embodiment, through the use of an elastomeric band attachment means, or a drilled elastomeric band, the jewelry may be worn by a person who does not have a piercing. The jewelry is energized such that it may vibrate, illuminate, or perform other functions requiring energy from some extracorporeal source such as a battery.

Abstract: A Factorized Power Architecture (“FPA”) includes a power regulator providing controlled DC bus voltages distributed and converted to load voltages, at the load, using DC voltage transformation modules (“VTMs”) having fixed transformation ratios. Optional feedback from the load improves regulation. A Sine Amplitude Converter (“SAC”) VTM locks the conversion frequency to resonance of a resonant circuit including a transformer, uses complementary primary switches, balanced switching, and a high conversion duty cycle, and may use primary ZVS and secondary ZVS and ZCS, low Q, and a low profile core structure, and may exhibit greater than 400 Watts/cubic-inch power density and 95% efficiency. Common-source gate-control topologies efficiently drive switches higher than 1 MHz. Symmetrical power trains reduce common-mode noise. Modulated converter output resistance controls Vout, limits Iout, or improves current sharing.

Abstract: A switching power supply unit includes a first switching control circuit, which has a first ON-time control circuit, and a second switching control circuit, which has a second ON-time control terminal. The first ON-time control circuit controls the ON-time of the first switching element such that, at light load, before a voltage generated across a first drive winding causes a first switching element to be turned on, a first control transistor is brought into conduction to prevent the first switching element from being turned on and to thereby stop oscillation. The second ON-time control circuit controls the ON-time of the second switching element such that, at light load, after the end of the ON-time of the second switching element, energy release from a secondary winding is completed.

Abstract: A printer is connected to a host via an interface having a data wire and a power supply wire. The printer includes a power supply portion to convert an external power to a driving power and to supply the driving power to the respective electronic components of the printer, a switch portion to determine whether to supply the driving power to the respective electronic components, and a controller capable of operating from the voltage applied through the power supply wire, to control the switch portion according to a transmission of printing data through the data wire. The controller controls the switch portion to stop a supply of the driving power to the respective electronic components when the printing data is not transmitted for a predetermined time, and when the voltage is not applied through the power supply wire of the interface. Accordingly, unnecessary power consumption is reduced and convenience is improved.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for reducing the voltage stress in a single-stage single-switch (SSSS) converter by modulating the predetermined operating frequency of the converter lower responsive to increasing voltage stress. A control circuit (116) and associated cooperable frequency setting capacitance (CT) and resistance (RT) are coupled to the primary circuit (112) and the secondary circuit (114) of the SSSS converter via a switch (120). A frequency foldback device (180) is coupled to CT or RT and cooperable therewith to lower bus voltage stress by modulating the switch frequency. The operating frequency is modulated (i.e. reduced) from the predetermined operating frequency upon detection of a voltage threshold transition.

Abstract: In calculation 3 phase AC output current Iu, Iv,Iw of an inverter based on the input DC current Idc of the inverter, it is difficult to detect the DC current Idc when the line-to-line voltage pulse width is narrow, thereby the DC current Idc pulse width becomes narrower.

Abstract: A low cost, board level, inductor-based charge pump is provided to generate a sufficiently high voltage to drive a power MOSFET 307 having a rotor coil 311 attached on its source side in an automotive alternator voltage regulator. A first BJT transistor 303 of the charge pump receives a clock signal at its base from an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 302. The clock signal continuously turns transistor 303 on and off, forcing a current to flow through an inductor 301 connected to a voltage supply terminal. A second BJT transistor 308 receives a gate control signal at its base from the ASIC 302 for turning the second transistor 308 on and off to enable the circuit. In operation when the first transistor 303 is turned off, a slowly decreasing current flows from the inductor 301 to an output node. With the base of the second transistor 308 low to enable the system, the second transistor 308 is turned off and the current flows from the output node through a capacitor 309 to ground.

Abstract: A synthetic ripple regulator for a DC-DC converter generates an auxiliary voltage waveform that effectively replicates the waveform ripple current through an output inductor, and uses the auxiliary voltage waveform to control toggling of a hysteretic comparator. In a non-limiting implementation, a transconductance amplifier monitors the voltage across the inductor, and supplies an inductor voltage-representative current to a ripple waveform capacitor, so as to produce the auxiliary voltage waveform. Using the replicated inductor current for ripple regulation results in low output ripple, input voltage feed forward, and simplified compensation.

Abstract: As for a transistor, overlapped are factors such as a variation of a gate insulation film which occurs due to a difference of a manufacturing process and a substrate used and a variation of a crystalline state in a channel forming region and thereby, there occurs a variation of a threshold voltage and mobility of a transistor.

Abstract: A switching power source device includes a peak current limiting circuit in which peak current flowing through a first switching element is detected, and when the current reaches a predetermined value, transistors are turned on in succession to increase the quantity of an electrical signal whereby the first switching element is rapidly turned off, and an on-time limiting circuit for reducing the on-time using reduction of the output voltage. The switching power source device is operated so as to repeat starting and stopping due to a turn-on delay circuit when the output is shortcircuited for reduction of the shortcircuit current.

Abstract: A rectifier assembly having a fusible cutout is described as a polarity reversal protection device. The fusible cutout includes a semiconductor chip having a positive temperature coefficient so that when it overheats, it becomes unsoldered and interrupts the current flow.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to generate and to access compressed and indexed elevations of Digital Elevation Models. In one aspect of the invention, a method to store elevation data includes: compressing elevation data of a first portion of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to generate first compressed elevation data; storing the first compressed elevation data in a storage location pointed to by a first index; and storing the first index. In another aspect of the invention, a method to retrieve elevation data includes: locating a first compressed portion of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) using a first index; and decompressing the first compressed portion to retrieve first elevation data for at least one sample point in the Digital Elevation Model. The Digital Elevation Model has a plurality of compressed portions which includes the first compressed portion; and the first index points to a storage location where the first compressed portion is stored.

Abstract: Using 6 transistor memory cell to replace prior art 10 transistor binary content addressable memory (CAM) cells, and using 10 transistor ternary CAM (TCAM) cell to replace prior art 16 transistor TCAM cells, the present invention provided significant cost saving for high density CAM products. The power consumption problems of prior art high density CAM devices are solved by novel zoned lookup mechanism. For a high density CAM storing sorted data, lookup mechanisms of the present invention can reduce power consumption by two orders of magnitudes.

Abstract: The present invention uses a shadow content-addressable memory (CAM) array in parallel with a primary CAM array to increase the reliability of CAM searches. The reliability of CAM searches has been less than desired because of random environmental influences that corrupt data. The shadow CAM is written, read, and searched in parallel with the primary CAM. The search results from the parallel searches are compared and, if identical, are declared valid. If the search results are not equal, corrective action is initiated. The invention may be used with or without priority encoders.

Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit device on which a RAM macro capable of selecting an operation mode adapted to improved ease of use, response, or low power consumption or selecting an input setup value is mounted. In a first operation mode of a RAM macro, a timing of receiving an input signal is set as a first timing. In a second operation mode, a timing of receiving an input signal is set to a second timing later than the first timing. In a semiconductor integrated circuit device including an input circuit for receiving an input signal and a decoder circuit for decoding an output signal of the input circuit, the input circuit is activated on the basis of a first signal and the decoder circuit is activated on the basis of a second signal.

Abstract: A memory device capable of rewriting data with smaller current consumption than a case of feeding a rewrite current every bit line is obtained. This memory device comprises a first bit line and a second bit line having a current path independently of the first bit line, and renders write current paths of the first and second bit lines in common. Thus, the memory device can rewrite data with smaller current consumption as compared with the case of feeding the rewrite current every bit line.

Abstract: When a phase shift method is used as lithography where sense amplifiers are alternately placed in a one intersecting-point memory capable of implementing a reduction in the area of a DRAM, it was difficult to layout data lines in a boundary region between sense amplifiers and each memory array. Therefore, there is provided a semiconductor device according to the present invention. In the semiconductor device, two data lines continuous within the sub memory arrays or interposed therebetween are connected to the adjacent sense amplifiers as a system for drawing data lines from sub memory arrays (SMA) to sense amplifiers (SA) when the sense amplifiers are alternately placed. Namely, the number of data lines interposed between data lines respectively connected to two adjacent sense amplifiers is set to even numbers (0, 2, 4, . . . ).

Abstract: The present invention is a direct conversion programmable power controller that receives polyphase input power that has an input power frequency a polarity. The controller includes a primary chopper for each phase of electrical power. Each primary chopper is electrically connected in wye connection to a transformer. A secondary chopper demodulates and rectifies each phase of power. Each secondary chopper has an input connected electrically to the secondary terminals of the transformer and has an output connected to a load in series connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a one-time programmable memory cell and a method of setting a state for a one-time programmable memory cell. The memory cell includes a storage element adapted to store data and two thin gated fuses coupled to the storage element, adapted to set the state of the memory cell. A level shifter device is connected to the gated fuses and is adapted to stand off a high voltage when setting the state of the memory cell. At least one switch transistor is connected to at least the level shifter device and is adapted to select at least one of the gated fuses, enabling a high voltage to be communicated thereto, thus setting the state of the memory cell. A programming device is coupled to the storage element and is adapted to keep at least one of the gated fuses low when setting the state of the memory cell.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for driving a ferroelectric memory that can secure an enough read/write cycle time of a corresponding address during a chip is driven.

Abstract: A nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device and a method for driving the same are disclosed, the device and method devised to stabilize the operation processes and reduce the operation time. The nonvolatile ferroelectric memory device includes a cell array block having a plurality of unit cells being controlled by plate lines and wordlines, a plate line driver being positioned on one side of the cell array block to apply a driving signal to the plate lines, a wordline driver being positioned on the other side of the cell array block to apply a driving signal to the wordlines, a plurality of sub bitlines and main bitlines being arranged on the cell array block in the same direction, and switching control blocks controlling signals applied to the sub bitlines and main bitlines.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a control-voltage supply unit 110; an MOS transistor including a gate electrode 109 and drain and source regions 103a and 103b; a dielectric capacitor 104; and a resistor 106. The dielectric capacitor 104 and the resistor 106 are disposed in parallel and interposed between the gate electrode 109 and the control-voltage supply unit 110. With this structure, a charge is accumulated in each of an intermediate electrode of the dielectric capacitor 104 and the gate electrode 109 upon the application of a voltage, thereby varying a threshold value of the MOS transistor. In this manner, the history of input signals can be stored as a variation in a drain current in the MOS transistor, thus allowing multilevel information to be held.

Abstract: In a semiconductor memory device comprising a cell array of memory cells each including a cell transistor and a capacitor, word lines and bit line pairs, the control circuit controls the memory circuit to set the bit lines to a high level to write “1” data into the memory cells regardless of a logic level of data to be written, in a state where a potential of a gate of the cell transistor of each memory cell is raised from a first potential of a standby time to a second potential of an active time, and thereafter to set the bit lines to a low level to write “0” data into the memory cells with “0” data to be written, in a state where the potential of the gate of the cell transistor is changed to a third potential higher than the first potential and lower than the second potential.

Abstract: A pair of cross-coupled inverters that hold a digital state are powered by supplies that also function as row select and column bit lines. A method of reading and writing the digital state of an individual cell, row of cells, or column of cells by manipulating these row-supply or column-supply lines. Reads and writes may be performed on either a row or column basis. A method for reading and logically OR'ing or AND'ing an entire row or column of cells. A method for querying on a row or column basis to function as a content addressable memory (CAM).

Abstract: A pair of cross-coupled inverters that hold a digital state are powered by supplies that also function as row select and column bit lines. A method of reading and writing the digital state of an individual cell, row of cells, or column of cells by manipulating these row-supply or column-supply lines. Reads and writes may be performed on either a row or column basis. A method for reading and logically OR'ing or AND'ing an entire row or column of cells. A method for querying on a row or column basis to function as a content addressable memory (CAM).

Abstract: An integrated cache memory circuit is provided comprising a tag RAM, a comparator and a data RAM. Each of the tag RAM and the date RAM have an array of memory cells and plural sense amplifiers. Each memory cell of the RAMs is connected via a respective bit line to one of the plural sense amplifiers. The sense amplifiers of the tag RAM have respective outputs coupled to a first input of the comparator. The comparator having a second input for address information and an output for selectively enabling data output from sense amplifiers of the data RAM. The memory cells of the tag RAM are arranged to have a higher current drive than the memory cells of the data RAM.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory having: a full CMOS-type of memory cell (10) including an n-type bulk access transistor (7, 8), an n-type bulk driver transistor (5, 6) and a p-type bulk load transistor (3, 4) by twos, and a charge capacitance adding charge capacitor element (9) connected to cell nodes (N1, N2) in order to secure a soft error resistance. In the semiconductor memory, an insulating film (14) and a conductive film (15) are directly formed on each upper side of first and second cell nodes (N1, N2) for constituting a charge capacitor element (9) for adding a charge capacitance. The insulating film (14) is held between the cell node (N1, N2) and the conductive film (15), covering both first and second cell nodes (N1, N2) in common.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spin switch that can be driven with voltage. This spin switch includes the following: a ferromagnetic material; a magnetic semiconductor magnetically coupled to the ferromagnetic material; an antiferromagnetic material magnetically coupled to the magnetic semiconductor; and an electrode connected to the magnetic semiconductor via an insulator. A change in the electric potential of the electrode causes the magnetic semiconductor to make a reversible transition between a ferromagnetic state and a paramagnetic state. When the magnetic semiconductor is changed to the ferromagnetic state, the ferromagnetic material is magnetized in a predetermined direction due to the magnetic coupling with the magnetic semiconductor.

Abstract: In a data read operation, a selected memory cell and a reference memory cell are connected to complementary first and second data lines via complementary first and second bit lines, respectively. A differential amplifier supplies passing currents of the memory cell and the reference cell to complementary first and second data buses, and amplifies a passing current difference between the first and second data buses occurring corresponding to an electric resistance difference between the memory cell and reference cell to produce a voltage difference of a polarity corresponding to the level of the stored data of the selected memory cell between first and second nodes.