Abstract: A light source for a reflectometer which is used in a chemical analyzer includes a plurality of light emitting devices. Some of the light emitting devices emit light of different wavelengths. The light emitting devices are arcuately arranged about a circle having a predetermined radius. Adjacent light emitting devices are spaced from each other a predetermined distance. The light emitting devices are positioned to direct light emitted therefrom to an illumination plane. At least two, but preferably three or four, of the light emitting devices emit light of substantially the same wavelength and are illuminated simultaneously to provide a volume of substantially homogenous irradiance at the illumination plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piezoelectric ultrasound motor with an oscillator in the form of a piezoelectric plate of the length L and the height H as well as with one or two friction elements which are arranged at the oscillator and elastically pressed against the friction surface of the part to be moved. According to the invention, the piezoelectric plate is divided into two identical parts by a section plane extending vertically to the large surfaces, with at least one of these parts including an asymmetrical generator of an asymmetrical acoustic standing wave, which upon its activation generates an asymmetrical two-dimensional standing wave, so that the friction elements which are arranged in the center of the long end face of the plate carry out a movement with an inclination relative to the end face, so that the energy of motion is transferred to the element to be moved.

Abstract: A retaining clip for retaining reagent test slides in a stacked arrangement is formed as a unitary member and has first, second and third plates, each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the first plate pivots towards the inner surface of the second plate, and the inner surface of the third plate also pivots such that the inner surfaces of the first and third plates at least partially face each other upon pivoting. The inner surfaces of the first and third plates are separated by a distance to accommodate the reagent test slides in a stacked arrangement. Alternatively, the third and second plates can be fixed rigidly to each other with only the first plate pivoting to at least partially face the third plate upon pivoting.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring an unknown capacitance includes a reference capacitor having a known capacitance, an oscillator timing circuit, a variable frequency oscillator and a microcontroller. The oscillator timing circuit includes switches which selectively couple the unknown capacitance and the reference capacitor to the oscillator timing circuit. The variable frequency oscillator generates time varying signals which vary in frequency proportionally to the unknown capacitance and reference capacitor selectively coupled to the oscillator timing circuit. The microcontroller receives the time varying signals from the oscillator, and compares the periods of the time varying signals to determine the value of the unknown capacitance.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes a CPU (46). When a power source is turned on, the CPU (46) determines an available area of a recording destination on the basis of an FAT recorded on a magneto-optical disk (44). Compressed image data created on the basis of an operation of a shutter button (48) is recorded on the determined available area. When succeeding in recording, the FAT is renewed. When failing in recording due to a defect of the magneto-optical disk (44), a message is displayed on a monitor (28). When a set key (50) is operated after displaying the message, a write protection is set on the magneto-optical disk (44).

Abstract: An audio power meter includes a circuit for measuring the power of an amplified audio signal outputted by an audio power amplifier to which the audio power meter is connected. The circuit generates an output signal indicative of the power of the amplified audio signal. A first bar display includes a plurality of separately illuminatable segments arranged linearly with respect to one another. Each segment of the plurality of separately illuminatable segments is responsive to the output signal of the circuit and is selectively illuminated in response thereto. When the measured power of the amplified audio signal exceeds a selected threshold power level, the amplified audio signal is attenuated.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes a CCD imager. A first specific evaluation area is assigned to one end in a horizontal direction of an effective area formed on an imaging surface, and a second specific evaluation area is assigned to the other end in a horizontal direction of the effective area. Also, a first clamp area is assigned in an optical black area in vicinity of the first specific evaluation area, and a second clamp area is assigned in an optical black area in vicinity of the second specific evaluation area. A luminance evaluation circuit obtains a first luminance evaluation value with respect to the first specific evaluation area and obtains a second luminance evaluation value with respect to the second specific evaluation area. In addition, a clamp circuit performs a clamping process on a raw image signal taking note of the first clamp area or the second clamp area.

Abstract: A video camera includes an LCD monitor. On the LCD monitor, an object scene image belonging to a camera-shake correction area out of the object scene image captured by an imaging surface is displayed. A CPU determines whether or not a movement of the object scene image captured by the imaging surface satisfies a pan/tilt condition or a camera-shake condition referring to a threshold value. The threshold value is set to a large numerical value as a zoom magnification is high. A camera-shake condition determining process is started in place of a pan/tilt condition determining process when the pan/tilt condition is satisfied. Also, the pan/tilt condition determining process is started in place of the camera-shake condition determining process when the camera-shake condition is satisfied. In addition, the camera-shake correction area is moved in such a direction as to cancel the movement of the object scene image captured by the imaging surface when the pan/tilt condition is not satisfied.

Abstract: A locking fastener for a guitar strap which receives the end pin of a guitar includes a base plate and a locking plate which is reciprocatingly slidable on the base plate. The base plate has a pin receiving keyhole formed through its thickness which is defined by a widened opening and a narrowed opening. The base plate also has a central slot formed through its thickness and openings or detents which are spaced apart from one another. The locking plate has a front edge which is recessed to define an open pocket, at least one protrusion which is selectively received in the openings or detents to secure the locking plate in a desired position with respect to the base plate, and a knob post or handle which extends through the central slot of the base plate and which is graspable by a user.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved safety overload prevention device for a material conveying auger which includes an auger casing, a main drive shaft journalled therein and a main auger flight secured around the shaft, an intake flight section 11 secured to and extending along a tubular support sleeve 12 rotatably mounted on an intake drive shaft portion 14 which is adapted for connection to the main drive shaft of the auger so as to rotate therewith, and a clutch device 18 operatively interconnecting the tubular sleeve 12 and the drive shaft portion 14, the clutch device 18 including a radially displaceable spring loaded detent 19 movable between an engaged position wherein the tubular sleeve 12 is fast with the drive shaft portion 14 and rotates therewith, and a disengaged position wherein drive to the tubular sleeve 12 is disengaged in the event of an obstruction, such as a leg or arm being trapped in the flighting.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes a CCD imager (16). A long-time exposure image signal obtained by a long-time exposure of the CCD imager (16) is applied to a terminal (S1) of a switch (SW1), and a short-time exposure image signal obtained by a short-time exposure of the CCD imager (16) and a gain adjustment is applied to a terminal (S2) of a switch (SW2). A CPU (44) controls the switch (SW1) by comparing a Y level of the long-time exposure image signal with a reference value Ys so as to generate a combined image signal. More specifically, the CPU (44) connects the switch (SW1) with the terminal (S1) when a condition of Y level?Ys is satisfied, and connects the switch (SW1) with the terminal (S2) when a condition of Y level>Ys is satisfied. The CPU (44) detects a color deviation degree of an object prior to generation of the combined image signal and reduces the reference value Ys on the basis of a detection result.

Abstract: A data output apparatus includes a disk drive for driving a magneto-optical disk. Compressed image data recorded on the magneto-optical disk is transferred from the magneto-optical disk to an SDRAM according to a transfer instruction set in an instruction list and then output through an expansion process by a JPEG codec. A size of the compressed image data for which the transfer instruction is set in the instruction list and which has not yet been transferred to the SDRAM, and a size of the compressed image data for which the transfer instruction is set in the instruction list and which has not yet been expanded are detected by a CPU. The CPU suspends an output of an expansion instruction to the JPEG codec when a difference between the detected sizes is below a threshold value.

Abstract: A content reproduction apparatus includes a hard disk. An MPEG-PS into which an I picture is intermittently inserted is circularly written into an MPEG file formed on the hard disk. In addition, index data capable of specifying at least the I picture is circularly written into an INDEX file formed on the hard disk. A CPU detects the I picture from a head portion of the MPEG-PS based on the index data stored in the INDEX file, and reproduces the MPEG-PS rendering the detected I picture the starting picture.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a CPU. In a camera mode, a TIFF file in which main image data is stored in such a manner as to satisfy a predetermined condition is recorded-by the CPU in a recording medium. When such the TIFF file is selected in a reproducing mode, the TIFF file itself is transferred from the recording medium to an SDRAM, and the main image data included in this TIFF file is subjected to a reproducing process by an ASIC. Herein, the predetermined condition includes a condition that a deviance amount between a head location of the TIFF file and a head location of the main image data is an integral multiple of “4”, that is, the number of bytes storable in one address of the SDRAM.

Abstract: A water music device is provided. In one embodiment, the device permits a child to play a song wherein the different tones of the song are generated by tubes filled to different levels using any liquid, such as water. In another embodiment, the water music device may be one or more water drum devices.