Abstract: A data imprinting device focusses light emitted from an array of LEDs onto the film, exposing the film as it is fed. A single chip microcomputer controls the LED array to imprint data. Some of the LEDs in the array are always energized together, while others are energized independently. The LEDs which are energized together require only a single control line, thus reducing the number of control lines, and consequently permitting reduction in the size of the camera. The group-wise serial activation of the dot matrix columns slightly staggers the imprinted data, but the imprinted characters are fully recognizable. In addition to reducing the number of control lines, the group-wise serial activation also reduces the peak load on the constant circuit, and thereby reduces the size of this circuit.

Abstract: The body of a rail vehicle is lowered when it is stationary to facilitate ingress and egress. The body is raised in preparation for motion to provide satisfactory road clearance. In one embodiment of the invention, a lifting cylinder, in series with a supplementary spring, is extended during travel, and is contracted when the rail vehicle is stopped. In other embodiments, a hydraulic cylinder, either alongside, or coaxial with the supplementary spring, compresses the supplementary spring when the rail vehicle is stopped. In a further embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder is replaced with an electromechanical adjusting element such as a screw drive. A control system, preferably actuated by unlocking and locking of the door opening lock, actuates the lowering and raising of the body.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a presence of a polarization altering substance on a specular surface includes transmitting light to the surface over a transmitting path and receiving the transmitted light from the surface and from the polarization altering substance. An intensity of the light is measured in an optical non-isolator state and in an isolator state before being compared to reference data established for various specular surfaces. The reference data are preferably established by measuring an intensity of the light in both an optical non-isolator state and in an isolator state for a known surface when the polarization altering substance is absent from the known surface.

Abstract: A bed equipment using a supporter for a human body, such as an incapacitated patient, is used to raise the patient from a surface, such as a bed, so that a hammock may be spread on the bed and the patient lowered onto the hammock. The supporter is formed by inserting an arm and a belt into a sleeve, and fits between the patient and the bed without causing the patient pain. Preferably, the belt has holes in either end so that suspending strings may be engaged by hooks. The suspending strings are raised or lowered by preferably independent motors so that the patient can be raised or lowered comfortably. The suspending strings may be moved relative to each another or fixed relative to each other. Once the patient is on the hammock, the hooks are removed from the supporter and attached to the hammock. Various rails and motors allow the patient on the hammock to be moved horizontally from the bed over a bathtub or toilet, and then lowered and raised accordingly.

Abstract: In a blow molding process, a fused thermoplastic polymer parison is interposed between a pair of split molds. The split molds are closed around the parison to seal the ends. A small diameter hollow needle is inserted through one of the split molds and fluid is blown into the parison forming a balloon. After the balloon begins to form, a large diameter hollow needle is inserted while internal pressure is applied to the parison via the small diameter hollow needle, and a large amount of fluid is blown in. This process is highly productive and reduces the conventional blow molding cycle by 60 percent due to the rapid cooling of the hollow article.

Abstract: A contact sensor for a robot includes a plurality of electrically conductive shafts extending outward from a moving portion of the robot. Electrically conductive flexible feelers are disposed on the shafts. In one embodiment the feelers are disposed in fan-like arrangement similar to a peacock feather. Leakage current from a low voltage power source is used by a robot controller to sense contact with a conductive object. The robot controller immediately stops operation and movement of the robot before damage occurs.

Abstract: A food material conveyor mechanism for a sandwich fixing apparatus includes a continuously moving conveyor line. A food conveying plate carried along the conveyor line is stopped at predetermined stop positions along the conveyor line so food materials can be automatically added to an unfinished sandwich. The mechanism is controlled by a microprocessor such that the food conveying plate is stopped only at selected stop positions depending on the type of sandwich ordered by a customer. The conveyor line continues to move even while individual conveying plates are stopped.

Abstract: The heights of intermediate terminal boards are adjusted to compensate for differences in heights of semiconductor elements on a bottom terminal board. The adjustment places the tops of all intermediate terminal boards in a common plane. A top terminal board applies equal force to all intermediate terminal board to provide uniform mechanical, electrical and thermal connection between the semiconductor devices and both the bottom and top terminal boards.

Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit includes a plurality of metal plates supporting circuit elements and connectable directly to external power/output lines. The direct connection eliminates the need for solder terminals, allowing for reduced size and cost with increased reliability and lifespan. The metal plates can be position to allow for further minimization of the device, and uniform connection of internal wiring to the circuit elements.

Abstract: A gap-type surge absorbing element and a varistor are assembled end to end in an insulating tube to form a compact surge absorber. Electrodes on the two devices contact a intermediate element to provide electrical connection therebetween. End electrodes seal the insulating tube and provide external connection to the outboard ends of the two devices, thereby putting them in series. The interior of the insulating tube is filled with an inert gas. Embodiments are described using microgap-type and gap-type surge absorbing elements.

Abstract: A camera with a data imprinting device has a plurality of in-line LEDs producing light focused by an optical system upon a photographic film at a first and a second position, corresponding to a full size format and a panorama size format, respectively. The focused light imprints data images upon the film at the first position are larger than data images imprinted at the second position. The optical system has first and second prisms, with integrated lenses, for reflecting and focusing the light upon the film at the first and second positions, respectively. A shutter plate is selectively positioned over apertures through which the light is focused, thus blocking the light and allowing only a selected imprint to be made upon the film. A vertical pattern of the data image is created by a controller selectively illuminating the in-line LEDs while a horizontal pattern is produced by the controller illuminating the LEDs in coordination with the movement of the film past the apertures.

Abstract: A panel-shaped gas-discharging type display device includes an anode and a cathode having a special shape to enhance discharging in an airtight chamber formed by two substrates. A gas containing an ultraviolet emission gas such as Xe and Kr and a fluophor for emitting a light are put together into the airtight chamber. Because of the shape of the cathode, more discharging occurs than with conventional devices. More ultraviolet emission from the discharging excites the fluophor to create a visible radiation. Therefore, the brightness of the device increases. Since the cathode is coated with an emitter material incapable of absorbing the ultraviolet emission gas, discharging is not obstructed by reduction of the ultraviolet emission gas, and the color of the visible radiation is stably maintained.

Abstract: A decoder has first and second decoder circuits for producing dual sets of outputs. The first decoder circuit is responsive to input lines B.sub.1 -B.sub.n representative of a binary value x and has first outputs Z.sub.1 -Z.sub.m where m=2.sup.n. In response to the value x applied to the first decoder, output line Z.sub.x+1 is set high while the remainder are set low. The second decoder circuit comprises m transmission gates serially connected between a first and a second potential. The transmission gates are each directly driven by a respective one of said first outputs Z.sub.1 -Z.sub.m. The second decoder circuit generates second outputs Y.sub.1 -Y.sub.m-1 at junctions of the transmission gates. In response to the value x applied to the first decoder, x number of the outputs Y.sub.1 -Y.sub.m-1 are set high beginning with the least significant output Y.sub.1 and continuing consecutively up to the output Y.sub.x with the remainder being set low.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a plug for connecting a coaxial cable to an electronic device such as a television or video cassette recorder. The plug includes a sleeve that connects with a first grounding terminal of a receptacle. An outer diameter of the sleeve is dimensioned to provide a good unstressed interference fit with the first grounding terminal. The sleeve has slits in a portion to permit elastic deformation when connecting with a second grounding terminal having an inner diameter less than that of the first grounding terminal. These slits permit the sleeve to compress sufficiently to form an interference fit inside the second grounding terminal. When both the first grounding terminal of the receptacle and the sleeve of the plug are dimensioned for the PAL format, and the second grounding terminal is dimensioned for the SECAM format, the plug fits either grounding terminal.

Abstract: A camera with a data imprinting device has a plurality of in-line LEDs producing light focused by an optical system upon a photographic film at a first and a second position, corresponding to a full size format and a panorama size format, respectively. The focused light imprints data images upon the film at the first position are larger than data images imprinted at the second position. The optical system has first and second prisms, with integrated lenses, for reflecting and focusing the light upon the film at the first and second positions, respectively. A shutter plate is selectively positioned over apertures through which the light is focused, thus blocking the light and allowing only a selected imprint to be made upon the film. A vertical pattern of the data image is created by a controller selectively illuminating the in-line LEDs while a horizontal pattern is produced by the controller illuminating the LEDs in coordination with the movement of the film past the apertures.

Abstract: A master-slice semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a substrate for an input/output circuit section, which is segmented into a plurality of segments during a master processing step. In a slice processing step, slice cells are formed, using different substrate segments. Input/output circuits are formed by respective slice cells so that desired different supply voltages can be applied to input/output circuits on different substrate segments.

Abstract: A camera with a data imprinting device has a plurality of in-line LEDs producing light focused by an optical system upon a photographic film at a first and a second position, corresponding to a full size format and a panorama size format, respectively. The focused light imprints data images upon the film at the first position are larger than data images imprinted at the second position. The optical system has first and second prisms, with integrated lenses, for reflecting and focusing the light upon the film at the first and second positions, respectively. A shutter plate is selectively positioned over apertures through which the light is focused, thus blocking the light and allowing only a selected imprint to be made upon the film. A vertical pattern of the data image is created by a controller selectively illuminating the in-line LEDs while a horizontal pattern is produced by the controller illuminating the LEDs in coordination with the movement of the film past the apertures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pump for pumping fluids, especially highly viscous fluids such as shampoo, from a main fluid container through a nozzle without unwanted dripping, plugging, or mess. A piston reciprocates in a pump chamber, creating positive and negative pressure alternately in the pump chamber. Positive pressure in the pump chamber initiates a discharge phase of operation, wherein the fluid in the pump chamber is forced from the pump chamber through a discharge valve. Negative pressure in the pump chamber causes both a back-suction phase and a suction phase of operation. Back-suction occurs in the pump chamber immediately following the discharge phase, drawing any fluid remaining in an exit passage back through the discharge valve into the pump chamber. The suction phase starts immediately after the discharge valve closes at the end of the back-suction phase.

Abstract: A food material heating mechanism includes at least an upper and a lower heating plate. Food material is placed on a food material tray which is then placed on the lower heating plate. The upper and lower heating plates are moved toward each other to cause an upper surface of the food material to make contact with a bottom surface of the upper heating plate for a heating process. Heating is enhanced by adding a layer of a far infrared radiation substance to surfaces of the heating plates and food material tray which make contact with the food material. The food material tray is preheated to a temperature that is substantially lower than a temperature of the upper heating plate, whereby during the heating process, a soft surface is produced by contact of the food material with the food material tray, and a crusty surface is produced by contact with the upper heating plate. A fluororesin, such as TEFLON, can be added to the surfaces which come into contact with the food material to prevent sticking.