A binding mechanism assembly for binding a sheet item, the binding mechanism assembly including a backing member having an upper surface, and a binding member directly or indirectly coupled to the backing member. The binding member includes a protrusion shaped and located to protrude through a hole of a sheet item to be bound thereto. The binding member further includes a generally flexible flange that is manually movable into engagement with the protrusion to form a generally closed loop and thereby bind the sheet item thereto. The loop is rotatable relative to the backing member from a first position in which the loop is generally located above the upper surface to a second position wherein at least part of the loop is located below the upper surface. A release mechanism is provided for opening the loop.

The invention relates to a fixing element (33) extending as a flat, particularly lamellar element along a preferred direction (34) and comprising a corrugated sheet metal core (18) as a central component, said core providing the fixing element (33) with the characteristic of being integrally rigid and permanently deformable by hand, and said core being covered by a cover (36, 37). For such a fixing element, a large range of use is achieved in that the corrugations of the corrugated core sheet (18) are oriented substantially parallel to the preferred direction (34), and that means (38, 39) for releasably attaching the fixing element (33) are disposed on the fixing element (33).

The present invention provides a method for producing a highly active catalyst for reforming tar-containing gas used to treat crude gas for chemical energy conversion consisting of converting to a fuel composition consisting mainly of methane, hydrogen and the like, by utilizing sensible heat possessed by crude gas generated during thermal decomposition of carbonaceous raw materials, and using the high chemical reaction activity of high-temperature tar contained in and incidental to the crude gas to convert the tar to light hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst; a tar reforming method; and, a method for regenerating a catalyst for reforming tar-containing gas.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for improving outcomes in vascular interventional procedures. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for improving outcomes in vascular interventional procedures using an anti-no-reflow guide wire that attenuates the “no-reflow” phenomenon that is associated with negative outcomes.

An apparatus for casting metals by a nucleated casting technique to create a preform, the apparatus including a mold having a base and a side wall where the base can be moved relative to the side wall to withdraw the preform as it is being created. In various circumstances, portions of a droplet spray created by an atomizing nozzle, i.e., overspray, may accumulate on a top surface of the side wall and prevent or inhibit the preform from being moved relative to the side wall. The atomizing nozzle can be oriented such that the droplet spray passes over the top of the side wall to remelt and remove at least a portion of the overspray that has accumulated thereon. The mold can be rotated such that the overspray formed on a region of or on the entire perimeter of the top surface can pass through the droplet spray and can be removed from the side wall.

A furnace for dehydrating and sintering a porous glass preform includes a core tube that passes through a center portion of a furnace body to accommodate therein the porous glass preform, a heater that is arranged around the core tube in the furnace body to heat the porous glass preform in the core tube, and a core tube weight dividing and bearing means that is arranged at an outer periphery of the core tube to divide and bear the weight of the core tube in its longitudinal direction. The core tube weight dividing and bearing means includes a plurality of collars that is protruded at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction at the outer periphery of the core tube, a first weight receiving means that supports the collars at the outer periphery of the core tube, and a second weight receiving means that bears the weight of the first weight receiving means.

Disclosed herein are a graphite crucible for electromagnetic induction-based silicon melting and an apparatus for silicon melting/refining using the same, which performs a melting operation by a combination of indirect melting and direct melting. The crucible is formed of a graphite material and includes a cylindrical body having an open upper part through which a silicon raw material is charged into the crucible, and an outer wall surrounded by an induction coil, wherein a plurality of slits are vertically formed through the outer wall and an inner wall of the crucible such that an electromagnetic force created by an electric current flowing in the induction coil acts toward an inner center of the crucible to prevent a silicon melt from contacting the inner wall of the crucible.

A graphite crucible for electromagnetic induction-based silicon melting and an apparatus for silicon melting/refining using the same, which performs a melting operation by a combination of indirect melting and direct melting. The crucible is formed of a graphite material and includes a cylindrical body having an open upper part through which a silicon raw material is charged into the crucible, and an outer wall surround by an induction coil, wherein a plurality of first slits are vertically formed through the outer wall and an inner wall of the crucible, and a plurality of second slits are vertically formed from an edge of the disc-shaped bottom of the crucible toward a center of the bottom.

A method for refining and casting metals and metal alloys includes melting and refining a metallic material and then casting the refined molten material by a nucleated casting technique. The refined molten material is provided to the atomizing nozzle of the nucleated casting apparatus through a transfer apparatus adapted to maintain the purity of the molten refined material. An apparatus including a melting and refining apparatus, a transfer apparatus, and a nucleated casting apparatus, in serial fluid communication, also is disclosed.

The new metal azo pigments comprising the adduct of a) at least two metal azo compounds of the formula (I) or their tautomeric forms in which the substituents have the definition indicated in the description,and b) at least one compound of the formula (II) in whichR6 has the definition indicated in the description, are characterized in that in the X-ray diffractogram with a lattice constant of d=10.3 (±0.2) Å the metal azo pigment has a signal S1 with an intensity I1 and in the lattice constant range from d=16.05 Å to d=11.78 Å has no signal S2 whose intensity I2 in relation to the intensity I1 of signal S1, expressed as ratio I2/I1 of the background-corrected intensities, exceeds a value of 0.02,and are outstandingly suitable for producing pigment preparations and especially for producing color filters.

In a chemical decontamination method of chemically decontaminating radioactive nuclides from a metallic material, oxalic acid and hydrazine are injected as a reductive decontaminating agent into water that is in contact with the metallic material. Injection of the hydrazine is stopped after a cation resin arranged in a circulation line connected to the metallic material breaks, and at least the oxalic acid and the hydrazine in the reductive decontaminating agent are decomposed using a decomposing catalyst.

Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system.

Illustrative embodiments provide a nuclear fission reactor, a vented nuclear fission fuel module, methods therefor and a vented nuclear fission fuel module system.

Disclosed embodiments include methods of assembling a vented nuclear fission fuel module. Given by way of non-limiting example and not of limitation, an illustrative method of assembling a vented nuclear fission fuel module includes receiving a nuclear fission fuel element capable of generating a gaseous fission product. A valve body is coupled to the nuclear fission fuel element, and the valve body defines a plenum therein for receiving the gaseous fission product. A valve is disposed in communication with the plenum for controllably venting the gaseous fission product from the plenum. A flexible diaphragm is coupled to the valve for moving the valve. A cap is mounted on the valve, and a manipulator extendable to the cap for manipulating the cap is received.

The disclosure relates to anti-glial maturation factor beta (“GMF-B”) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and fragments thereof, as well as hybridoma lines that secrete antibodies or fragments. Therapeutic and diagnostic uses of such antibodies, including treatment and detection of cancer and dementia, and methods and kits for detecting cells or samples expressing GMF-B, including soluble GMF-B, are also encompassed.

A digital broadcast receiver on a mobile body includes: a tuner that receives a broadcast signal of a physical channel; a signal intensity detector that detects a signal intensity of the broadcast signal; a current position detector that detects a current position of the mobile body; a movement direction detector that detects a movement direction of the mobile body; a reception judging unit that controls the tuner to judge whether the physical channel can be received; an area information storage unit that stores receivable area information indicating a receivable area of the physical channel; and an area information updating unit that determines, when it is judged that the physical channel can be received, a position apart from the current position in the movement direction according to the signal intensity as a receivable position, and updates the receivable area information to extend the receivable area to the receivable position.

An optical film has a cellulose acylate film base material containing cellulose acylate and a plurality of sugar ester compounds having different ester substitution degrees in which an average ester substitution degree of the plurality of sugar ester compounds is from 60 to 94%, and an antistatic hardcoat layer formed from a coating composition containing at least an organic antistatic agent and a curable compound having a (meth)acryloyl group in a molecule of the curable compound.

A two-wheeled inverted pendulum vehicle includes: single-winding first and second motors respectively rotating one of two wheels; first and second control systems respectively supplying drive currents to the first and second motors; a sensor detecting a physical quantity that varies with a turn of the vehicle; a dynamic brake unit being able to switch between active and inactive states of dynamic brake being applied to the first motor; and a control unit, when the control unit has determined that the vehicle is turning about the second motor side on the basis of the physical quantity while supply of drive current from the first control system to the first motor is inhibited, activating dynamic brake in the dynamic brake unit. The first control system, when an abnormality has been detected in the first control system, inhibits supply of drive current from the first control system to the first motor.

A dehider tool has first and second blades arranged in contact with each other that rotate in opposite directions on a common blade axis. A drive assembly having a pneumatic motor and respective drive belts drives the blades in opposite directions about the common blade axis. The blades each have an outer cutting edge in the shape of a regular convex polygon, such as a decagon. The blades have an inner opening for coupling with a blade holder of the drive assembly. The inner opening has the shape of a regular convex polygon, such as a pentagon. The blades are covered with a hard surface coating to extend their service life.

A power storage device cell is configured to include a capacitor positive electrode, a lithium positive electrode, and a common negative electrode in which electrode layers are formed on a collector foil in which penetration holes are formed, and such that the capacitor positive electrode and the lithium positive electrode are directly connected; each of the electrode layers of the common negative electrode is formed of a carbon-based material in which graphite particles and hard carbon particles are mixed, and the proportion of the hard carbon particles in the carbon-based material is from 5% by weight to 70% by weight.

Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas. A method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC including a reformer; an SOFC; a combustion region for combusting the anode off-gas of the SOFC; and an enclosure for housing the reformer, the SOFC, and the combustion region, wherein the method includes causing the flow rate of a fuel supplied to the reformer to become FE from FS; and stopping the supply of the fuel to the reformer when an anode temperature becomes lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, where FE represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer in a state in which the anode temperature is steady and lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, in which in the reformer the fuel is reformed and a reformed gas with a composition suitable to be supplied to an anode is produced, and in which an amount of the reformed gas produced is equal to or more than the requisite minimum flow rate for preventing the oxidative degradation of the anode when the anode temperature is a temperature equal to or higher than the oxidative degradation temperature, and FS represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer at the start of the shutdown method. Also provided is an indirect internal reforming SOFC appropriate for this method.

A method is disclosed in a gaming and media system for quickly and easily creating and sending mail communications including pre-populated, or preformed, messages. Upon receipt of a communication, a recipient may also quickly and easily download a game discussed in the message.

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of an IVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a carrier member configured to have a number of radially offset slots. Various inventive carrier members and carrier drivers can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of an IVT. In some embodiments, the traction planet assemblies include planet axles configured to cooperate with the carrier members. In one embodiment, the carrier member is configured to rotate and apply a skew condition to each of the planet axles. In some embodiments, a carrier member is operably coupled to a carrier driver. In some embodiments, the carrier member is configured to couple to a source of rotational power. Among other things, shift control interfaces for an IVT are disclosed.

Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously and infinitely variable transmissions (IVT). In one embodiment, a variator is adapted to receive a control system that cooperates with a shift nut to actuate a ratio change in an IVT. In another embodiment, a neutral lock-out mechanism is adapted to cooperate with the variator to, among other things, disengage an output shaft from a variator. Various inventive mechanical couplings, such as an output engagement mechanism, are provided to facilitate a change in the ratio of an IVT for maintaining a powered zero operating condition. In one embodiment, the output engagement mechanism selectively couples an output member of the variator to a ratio adjuster of the variator. Embodiments of a ratio adjuster cooperate with other components of the IVT to support operation and/or functionality of the IVT. Among other things, user control interfaces for an IVT are disclosed.

The present invention generally relates to a process that copolymerizes two or more polymerizable olefins, and to cataclyst comprising a metal-ligand complex (precatalyst). The present invention also generally relates to ligands useful for preparing the metal-ligand complex.

This invention provides a modular ducting section and a networked utilities ducting system and rain and road water management system formed from two or more modular ducting sections laying end-to-end. Each modular ducting section comprises open-topped utility channels for carrying utility service supply lines such as electricity, gas, water, or communications, an open-topped catchment channel for carrying rain water captured from a building structure or garden, and a supply channel for supplying an end user with utility services via a supply line, while also allowing the end user to feed an end-user generated utility supply back into the corresponding utility service supply line via a return line. Each modular ducting section further comprises a road water runoff flange and a main channel cover, which when combined, form a curb-side structure that functions to keep any contaminated road water from the reusable rain water collected in the catchment channel.

Disclosed herein is a refillable toothbrush with a refillable toothpaste chamber also adapted to contain a toothpaste cartridge. Thus the toothpaste chamber can be filled directly by toothpaste from different types of toothpaste tubes, or the consumer can use a toothpaste cartridge. An essential distinctive feature of the present invention is realization of two functions by means of the protective cap: its direct function—protecting the bristles in stowed position, and an additional function, namely—feeding toothpaste to the bristle section. The toothbrush is made of a small number of simple parts, is easy to manufacture, has the opportunity to be simply assembled-disassembled, and is easily cleaned. To facilitate cleaning of the toothbrush head conduit from the remnants of toothpaste before the next recharge of the toothbrush, it can be complete with a special removable rod having an ability to be let-in the conduit. A distinctive feature of the removable rod is that it fulfills additional useful functions: prevents paste hardening in conduit at long non-use of a brush; can serve as a toothpick; can serve as means for piercing membrane of a cartridge. The toothbrush can also be complete with a special clip for fixing it in the user's pocket. A special design of the clip provides it with an additional function that allows for the user to dose out more precisely supplied toothpaste to the bristles. A new kind of cartridge is also disclosed herein.

Wireless circuit 201 performs transmission and reception of communication data. Cameras 204 and 205 take two moving images with different parallaxes and output two pieces of moving image data. Voice input/output section 202 acquires voice and outputs voice data. CPU 206 transmits multiple pieces of moving image data and voice data via wireless circuit 201, and, when the reception quality of communication data becomes equal to or below a reference value, stops at least one of cameras 204 and 205 to stop transmission of at least one of the multiple pieces of moving image data.

In various embodiments, an illumination apparatus includes an air gap between a sub-assembly and a waveguide attached thereto at a plurality of discrete attachment points, as well as a bare-die light-emitting diode encapsulated by the waveguide.

A reflector assembly for eliminating unwanted stray lights comprising a reflector body having a reflector body focal point on a reflector body optical axis where a light source is positioned and a front opening for receiving a lens, wherein the lens is configured to reflect light rays which emanate from the light source to strike the lens to the reflector body which is configured to reflect the light rays reflected by the lens back to the light source, and to reflect light rays which emanate from the light source and reflected by the reflector body to strike the lens back to the light source.

A reflective color pixel has a top surface for receiving ambient light for front lighting, a plurality of sub-pixels including a first sub-pixel, and a waveguide disposed underneath the sub-pixels for transmitting light for backlighting to the sub-pixels. The first sub-pixel includes a first luminescent material configured to absorb either the ambient light or the light for backlighting and generate light of a first color.

Embodiments of the invention disclose a backlight unit, including: a light guide plate, a light source member, a reflection film, wherein: the light guide plate (LGP) includes a light incident side, a light emission side and a bottom side opposite to the light emission side, the light guide plate is for emitting light entered from the light incident side through the light emission side; the light source member is disposed on the light incident side of the LGP and light emitted by the light source member enters the LGP through the light incident side of the LGP; the reflection film is at least disposed on the bottom side of the LGP and is for reflecting light back into the LGP; wherein a reflection structure is disposed on the bottom side of the LGP and a microstructure is disposed on the light emission side of the LGP.

An LED assembly that includes optics and optical arrangements for light emitting diodes (LEDs). In some embodiments, a reflector is provided within a void between the lens and the LED. This reflector can reflect light emitted by the LED in a non-preferred direction back toward the preferred direction. In other embodiments, an optical element is formed or otherwise provided in the lens cavity and shaped so that, when the lens is positioned above the LED, the refractor bends the emitted light in a preferred direction. In some embodiments, both a reflector and optical element are provided in the LED assembly to control the directionality of the emitted light. Such embodiments of the invention can be used to increase the efficiency of an LED by ensuring that generated light is being directed to the target area of choice.

A cutting or scoring balloon (26) is provided with a plurality of cutting or scoring elements (34) and is wrapped onto a balloon catheter (12) such that the cutting or scoring elements (34) overlie the balloon wall (36) with the balloon wall (36) pleated underneath the cutting or scoring elements (34). The cutting or scoring elements (34) remain exposed when the balloon (26) is pleated and wrapped onto the balloon catheter (12) and in a tightly wrapped configuration.

There is provided an imprinting apparatus that transfers a pattern of a mold to a resin on a substrate, the imprinting apparatus including a deposition mechanism configured to deposit the resin onto the substrate; a first driving mechanism configured to change a relative position, on a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, of the substrate and the mold; a second driving mechanism configured to change the relative position, on a plane parallel to the surface of the substrate, of the substrate and the deposition mechanism; and a control unit configured to control the deposition mechanism and the driving mechanism so as to perform a resin deposition process of depositing the resin onto the substrate and an imprint process of transferring the pattern of the mold to the resin on the substrate in parallel.

A cutting tool has at least one cutting tool support pad. The cutting tool support pad includes two opposing primary surfaces, each primary surface includes an abutment surface and at least one convex contact surface. For each primary surface, the at least one contact surface extends outwardly further than the abutment surface.

An adapter for front forks of a front loading commodity collection truck allows the truck to collect from rear load and side load style containers. An intermediate container is carried on the forks of the truck. An engagement apparatus is mounted on the intermediate container and is laterally extendible to engage the commercial container at curbside and draw the container to the intermediate container. The engagement apparatus will lift the commercial container and tip it over the intermediate container. Controls in the cab of the truck control operation of the adapter. The adapter can be removed easily from the forks when a front loading refuse container is encountered.

A refrigerator for monitoring the status of another space by means of a display device mounted to the refrigerator, a monitoring system having the refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a body which is formed with a storage chamber, a door for opening and closing the storage chamber, and a display device which is mounted to a front side of the door, the display device having a receiving part for receiving a monitoring image signal from a predetermined outside signal supply source, an image signal processing part for processing the received monitoring image signal, a display part for displaying the monitoring image signal and a control part for controlling the image signal processing part so that the received monitoring image signal is displayed on the display part.

The invention relates to shortening particle compositions that are suitable for use in preparing batter or dough products such as biscuits, pizza crusts, pot pie crusts, cinnamon rolls, or dry mixes for same. Typically, the shortening compositions are low in trans fatty acids and in saturated fatty acids. For example, the shortening particle composition may comprise less than about 3% wt. total trans fatty acids and a total of about less than about 61% wt. saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids.

The scroll refrigeration compressor includes a sealed casing, stationary and moving volutes including spiral wraps engaged in one another and defining the variable-volume compression chambers, a delivery chamber defined by the plate of the stationary volute and the sealed casing, a heat shield disposed in the delivery chamber and dividing the delivery chamber into a first volume defined by the plate of the stationary volute and the heat shield and a second volume defined by the heat shield and the sealed casing, and at least one flow passage arranged to communicate the first and second volumes. The compressor further includes at least one bypass passage arranged to communicate the first volume with an intermediate compression chamber, and at least one bypass valve disposed in the first volume and movable between closing and opening positions for closing and opening the corresponding bypass passage.

A periphery coating unit performs a scan-in process of moving a resist liquid nozzle 27 from an outside of an edge Wb of a wafer W to a position above a periphery region Wc of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging a resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27; and a scan-out process of moving the resist liquid nozzle 27 from the position above the periphery region Wc of the wafer W to the outside of the edge Wb of the wafer W while rotating the wafer W and discharging the resist liquid from the resist liquid nozzle 27. Further, in the scan-out process, the resist liquid nozzle 27 is moved at a speed v2 lower than a speed v3 at which the resist liquid is moved to a side of the edge Wb of the wafer W.

An improved set of toy building or construction blocks, each block having a substantially square cross-section and a generally rectilinear configuration. Incorporated into the structure of the individual toy blocks are transversely oriented slots, grooves and protrusions of predetermined size and location. The slots, grooves and protrusions of pre-determined size and location are of either male or female configuration disposed medially along one or more plane of each block. When the male protrusion of one block is introduced perpendicular to the female slot of one end of another block, a frictional engagement is created resulting in a right angle. When the male protrusion of one block is introduced to the female slot in a linear fashion the result is a line segment. Joining a plurality of said toy building or construction blocks using various perpendicular connections in conjunction with linear connections results in the stable formation of construction or geometric structures without the use of fasteners or other connecting elements.

A sheet processing apparatus which is capable of improving operability while suppressing an increase in apparatus size. In a front cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a front cover is inserted into a bundle of sheets on which images have been formed, and in a rear cover insertion mode, an insertion sheet for a rear cover is inserted into the bundle of sheets. Insertion sheets for the front cover and insertion sheets for the rear cover are set with the same orientation in a manual feed tray 105. An insertion sheet for the front cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to a finisher 500 in one of a face-down state and a face-up state. An insertion sheet for the rear cover stored in the manual feed tray 105 is conveyed to the finisher 500 in the other of the face-down state and the face-up state. The insertion sheets for the front cover and for the rear cover conveyed from the manual feed tray 105 and the sheets on which images have been formed are stacked on the finisher 500.

Theres is disclosed a device (10) for manufacturing a notepad (15) comprising a stack of sheets, a first side of each sheet having an adhesive to attach the first side to a reverse face of a sheet immediately facing said first side in said stack. The device (10) including a sheet feeder (20) for loading one or more loose sheets (24) of similar dimensions with the reverse face of each sheet (24) in said stack facing in the same direction and feeding each said sheet downstream of said device (10). A cutting means (40) is provided to cut each sheet (24) or a number of said sheets (24) to predetermined dimensions. An adhesive applicator (60) applies adhesive to a portion or portions of the first side of each sheet (24). A stacking means (100) stacks the cut sheets one on top of the other whereby a forming means (120) forms the cut sheets together to form the notepad (15).

A method of configuring a programmable integrated circuit device with a user logic design includes analyzing the user logic design to identify unidirectional logic paths within the user logic design and cyclic logic paths within the user logic design, assigning the cyclic logic paths to logic in a first portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a first data rate, assigning the unidirectional logic paths to logic in a second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a second data rate lower than the first data rate, and pipelining the unidirectional data paths in the second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device to compensate for the lower second data rate. A programmable integrated circuit device adapted to carry out such method may have logic regions operating at different rates, including logic regions with programmably selectable data rates.

Provided is a back plate component having reflective sheet reinforcing structure. The back plate component includes: a frame, a reflective sheet and a plurality of supporting film sheets. The frame includes a plurality of lateral beams and vertical beams, and at least one hollow part is included between the lateral beams and the vertical beams. The reflective sheet is attached to the frame, and includes a reflective surface and a back surface corresponding to the reflective surface. A portion of the back surface covers the whole hollow part. The plurality of supporting film sheets is attached to the back surface at a region corresponding to the hollow part, and includes a material the same as that of the reflective sheet. A liquid crystal display device is further disclosed herein.

Remote programmable reference systems and methods are described. A remote programmable reference system maintains a set of parameters from which a reference signal can be generated to transmit the reference signal to a system platform. In an embodiment, a parameters update can be received from which a modified reference signal can be generated to transmit the modified reference signal. In another embodiment, the remote programmable reference system maintains multiple sets of parameters from which respective reference signals can be generated for any one or more system platforms having different system configurations. The system platforms can interface with the remote programmable reference system through a system interface via a communication network.

In a reflow process, a plurality of solder bumps between a first workpiece and a second workpiece is melted. During a solidification stage of the plurality of solder bumps, the plurality of solder bumps is cooled at a first cooling rate. After the solidification stage is finished, the plurality of solder bumps is cooled at a second cooling rate lower than the first cooling rate.

A reference voltage generating circuit has more than two first wells each having a first impurity concentration and more than two second wells each having a second impurity concentration different from the first impurity concentration. A first group of MOS transistors has more than two MOS transistors formed in respective ones of the first wells. A second group of MOS transistors has More than two MOS transistors formed in respective ones of the second wells.

The present disclosure provides methods and devices for testing a connection between speakers and a power amplifier. The disclosed methods and devices solve a problem that, upon a connection test for a power amplifier which has a booster power source, when a midpoint potential of the power amplifier and the voltage of the speaker connection terminal are compared, and it is determined that short-circuiting occurs on a ground side when the potential of the speaker connection terminal is lower than the midpoint potential, a wrong test is conducted if a midpoint potential is higher than a battery voltage.