Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a power tool with a rational placement of a dynamic vibration reducer within a tool body. A representative hammer drill embodied as a power tool according to this invention has a dynamic vibration reducer 151 which is placed within an internal space 110 located to a motion converting section 113 side of a driving motor 111 within a body 103. An inner edge of the internal space is defined by an outer edge of the motion converting section 113, and an outer edge of the internal space is defined by an outer periphery of the driving motor 111.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes: a waveguide; a clad layer having a penetrating opening and disposed on the waveguide; a plasmon generator accommodated in the opening; and a dielectric film interposed between the plasmon generator and each of the waveguide and the clad layer. In a method of manufacturing the near-field light generator, an initial clad layer is initially formed on the waveguide, and then the initial clad layer is taper-etched by RIE to form a recess that does not reach the top surface of the waveguide. Subsequently, the recess is etched by wet etching until the top surface of the waveguide is exposed in part. Next, the dielectric film is formed in the opening, and the plasmon generator is formed on the dielectric film.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a reference-based coding unit that encodes image information for an image partition having a predefined size by referring to image information for another image partition; an independently coding unit that encodes the image information for the image partition independently of any other image partition; and a bounds defining unit that defines bounds of reference to be made by the reference-based coding unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of observing biological tissue, the method comprising: collecting through a first end of a bundle of optical fibers light from a surface of the tissue; observing at least one image of the tissue at a second end of the bundle, while injecting light into the second end of the bundle to illuminate the surface of the tissue.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.

Abstract: In an electric power steering system, a motor drive controller that has an inverter circuit board and a control circuit board housed in a control case is provided so as to overlap a control case fixation surface formed at an end portion of a gear housing in the axial direction of a steering shaft, so that it is possible to reduce the projection in the axial direction of a motor as compared to the conventional one. In addition, a metallic board is used for the inverter circuit board and the inverter circuit board is fixed to the control case fixation surface so as to be in surface contact therewith, so that it is possible to efficiently dissipate the heat generated on the inverter circuit board into the gear housing and a fixation support plate.

Abstract: The degree of deterioration of a catalyst is obtained accurately in cases where a plurality of catalysts is disposed at an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine. Under the assumption that the degree of deterioration of a catalyst which is disposed at a location upstream of an NOx selective reduction catalyst and has an oxidizing ability is at a predetermined value, the ratio of NO2 in the NOx which inflows into the NOx selective reduction catalyst is estimated; the NOx removal rate of the NOx selective reduction catalyst is calculated a plurality of times at least until a local maximum value is obtained; and the degree of deterioration of the catalyst having an oxidizing ability is determined by comparison between the ratio of NO2 observed when the NOx removal rate of the NOx selective reduction catalyst reaches the local maximum value and a reference value of the ratio.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for a feeding a sheet in a document reproduction machine. A feedbox is contained within a document reproduction machine. Within the feedbox, an elevator moves at least one sheet to the upper portion of the feedbox, to a stack height finger, for feeding the sheet into a feed device. At least one sensor, located at the upper portion of the feedbox, detects the location of the sheet. The location information is sent from the sensor to a data processing device. The data processing device sends information to an actuating device. The actuating device may cause one or more plungers to move through apertures in the elevator. The plungers will result in a substantially flat sheet. The sheet is then fed into the feed device.

Abstract: A steering control device for a vehicle includes a steering characteristic setting unit setting the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle in a predetermined range (near an induction target tire angle for guiding to a target locus), which is determined on the basis of the target locus upon vehicle traveling, to be wider than the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle outside of the predetermined range. A reduction gear ratio of a steering mechanism in the predetermined range increases.

Abstract: At a predetermined position during the lateral movement of a carriage 10, a gap switching mechanism 30 for switching a gap between a recording head 15 and a recording medium is provided. The recording head 15 is mounted facing downward on the carriage 10. A part close to one side on a lower end of the carriage is slidably and pivotably supported by a guide shaft 11 of a round shaft shape. A switching block member 13 provided with several abutment portions 52 and 53 with different heights, which are positioned so as to be opposed to a slide portion 12a at an upper end of a frame 12 extending in a vertical direction along a back of the carriage. The A switching block member 13 is pivotably supported by the carriage. A first pushing portion 56 is located at a left end of the frame so as to abut against the switching block member 13.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio and a variable valve timing mechanism able to control the closing timing of an intake valve are provided. The mechanical compression ratio is held at a maximum mechanical compression ratio at the engine low load operation side and gradually made to decrease as the engine load increases at the engine high load operation side. The actual compression ratio is held nearly constant at the engine high load operation side and is made to decrease as the engine load decreases at the engine low load operation side.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a judgment unit which makes a gas leak judgment based on a pressure drop of fuel gas in a gas leak detection portion by consuming the fuel gas in the gas leak detection portion of the fuel gas supply system by electric power generation of a fuel cell and causing auxiliary devices to consume the electric power generated by the fuel cell, and comprises a control unit which increases consumption of the fuel gas in the gas leak detection portion by increasing the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices. With this arrangement, where the electric power generation of the fuel cell and the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices result in an insufficient consumption of the fuel gas, the consumption of the fuel gas can be accelerated by increasing the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices. Thereby, a rapid gas leak judgment can be achieved.

Abstract: A method for press-molding an embossed steel plate is able to cool even an embossed steel plate under conditions adequate for quenching. After a plate body with convex portions formed thereon is placed between an upper pressing die and a lower pressing die and the dies are closed, first and second circulation pumps are run to circulate cooling water.

Abstract: A sewing machine operating device includes a plurality of operating members configured to be operated by a user with his/her foot, the operating members having respective detectors which each detect an action of the foot in a contact or non-contact manner and include at least two detectors mounted so as to be opposed to each other while the foot placed on the base is interposed between the detectors from sides of the foot, a signal output unit configured to generate an operation signal according to operation of each operating member and deliver the operation signal via a connecting mechanism to the sewing machine body, and a position adjusting mechanism configured to change a position of at least one of the operating members mounted on the base, the position adjusting mechanism including a distance adjusting mechanism adjusting a distance between the at least two detectors in an increasing or decreasing direction.

Abstract: An open-rotor gas turbine engine comprising a starter/generator, a first spool and a second spool, the second spool is of a lower pressure than the first spool; wherein the starter/generator is connected to the first and second spools via first and second clutches respectively. The method of operating the open-rotor engine comprises the step of supplying power to the starter/generator to drive the first spool via the first clutch to start the engine and, once the engine is self-propelling, a step of driving the starter/generator from the second spool via the second clutch to generate electricity.

Abstract: An apparatus and method maintain immersion fluid in the gap adjacent to the projection lens during the exchange of a work piece in a lithography machine. The apparatus and method include an optical assembly that projects an image onto a work piece and a stage assembly including a work piece table that supports the work piece adjacent to the optical assembly. An environmental system is provided to supply and remove an immersion fluid from the gap between the optical assembly and the work piece on the stage assembly. After exposure of the work piece is complete, an exchange system removes the work piece and replaces it with a second work piece. An immersion fluid containment system maintains the immersion liquid in the gap during removal of the first work piece and replacement with the second work piece.

Abstract: In a delay circuit for inputting square waves, fluctuations in the amount of delay brought about by noise pulses present in input signals are reduced. A switch (SW3) is controlled by an output signal (Vdo) from a Schmitt comparator, and selects either an electric current source for supplying a charging current to a capacitor (Cst) or an electric current source for supplying a discharging current. A current supply from the selected electric current source is turned on/off by controlling switches (SW1, SW2) using an input signal (Vdi). The Schmitt comparator switches the level of Vdo in accordance with a voltage of Cst. The charging current is supplied to Cst when Vdi is H level at rising edge of Vdi, and the discharging current is supplied to Cst when Vdi is L level at trailing edge of Vdi.

Abstract: A microreactor device comprises: a microchannel that sends one or more fluids; and a section that isolates vibrations to a first portion of the microchannel.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted video communication system is equipped with first to fourth image pickup devices, mounted on a vehicle, for transmitting video data obtained by picking up an image; first to fourth video processing devices for processing the video data; and a vehicle-mounted video relay device having connection sections connected to the first to fourth image pickup devices and the first to fourth video processing devices via communication cables and configured to transmit the video data transmitted from the first to fourth image pickup devices selectively or in a multiplexed state to the first to fourth video processing devices.