Abstract: A method of operating a noise compensating gain controller in an optical amplifier to avoid overshoot of a selected gain level during amplification transients is provided. The first step of the method includes the computation of a difference in the amount of amplification necessary to bring the combination of the signal and noise component forming the optical output to the selected gain level. Next, a computation is made of an adjustment of the amplification difference that is necessary to bring the signal component of the output to the selected gain level at a post-transient, steady-state condition of the optical input. In the final step, the amplification is changed in accordance with the computed difference in the amount of amplification either prior to or simultaneously with the adjustment to this difference.

Abstract: A webbing take-up device which, when a webbing belt is pulled out, can reduce the rewind urging force applied to the vehicle occupant by the belt. The take-up device includes a spool 20 for winding a webbing belt, a take-up shaft that is connected to the spool, a shaft member connected to the take-up shaft via adapters 30, 44, a torsion coil spring 56 connected between a ratchet wheel 52 and adapter 44, another torsion coil spring 60 connected between the adapters 30, 44 and a spiral spring 48 connected to the shaft member. When the belt is pulled out and secured over an occupant, a plunger 70 engages ratchet wheel 52, and torsion coil spring 56 is wound tighter on the adapter 44. The resultant frictional force and urging force of the torsion coil spring 60 is greater than the urging force of the spiral spring 48. Thus, slack is present in the torsion coil spring 60, and the adapter 30 rotates relatively to the adapter 44.

Abstract: To tune the center frequency of a gm-C filter, which is a bandpass filter with a narrow bandwidth, to a target frequency, only while the filter is being tuned, the original circuit configuration of the filter is replaced with an alternative configuration that realizes a high signal-to-noise ratio. A characteristic tuner generates and inputs an impulse signal, pulse signal or step signal to the filter being tuned and thereby detects and adjusts the center frequency of the filter. And the tuning result is stored on a nonvolatile memory for future reuse. When the filter is operated, the characteristic tuner stops operating to cut down the power dissipation.

Abstract: A multi-directional hand-free kit. The kit has a main body receiving a printed circuit board therein for controlling audio signal sending and receiving incorporated with a mobile communication device and formed with a first oblique portion, a connector member connected to an external power source and formed at a portion thereof facing the first oblique portion with a second oblique portion which frictionally makes contact with the first oblique portion, and a shaft member for connecting the main body and the connector member in such a manner that the main body and the connector member are obliquely rotatable to each other.

Abstract: The belt body of a power transmission belt is composed of a rubber composition comprising ethylene-á-olefin elastomer as the raw material rubber. The ethylene-á-olefin elastomer as the raw material rubber comprises 7 to 12 mass % of a high molecular weight component having a molecular weight of 106 or more and an ethylene content of 65 mass % or more, and 26 to 60 mass % of a low molecular weight component having a molecular weight of 105 or less and an ethylene content of 60 mass % or less, and the ethylene-é-olefin elastomer has a Mooney viscosity of 50 ML1+4 or less (100 C.).

Abstract: A plurality of leg portions for mounting and a pair of engagement portions are formed at a mark. While the leg portions for mounting and engagement portions are being inserted through, the mark is mounted in a recess portion of a pad cover. Thereafter, a spring formed in a substantially annular shape is mounted to the leg portions for mounting, and bent end portions of the spring are resiliently engaged with the engagement portions. Accordingly, as compared with prior structures utilizing heat-caulking and metal-caulking, the mark can be mounted to the pad cover simply and reliably, and costs and the space which is used can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an operating apparatus of discharge lamp comprising an AC/DC converter means for converting an ac voltage into a dc voltage, a DC/AC converter means for converting a dc output voltage of the AC/DC converter means into a high frequency ac voltage, a discharge lamp coupled to an output terminal of the DC/AC converter means, and a controller means by which the output of the DC/AC converter means is made variable according to an integrated value based on a half cycle of the ac voltage.

Abstract: A shift lever device in which, by the integration with a key cylinder, a reduction in the use of space, simplification, cost reduction and weight lightening can be achieved. The shift lever device is such that the lever supported by a lock body that houses the key cylinder, and a first cam and second cam are provided integrally with the key cylinder. A shift lock pin and starter lock pin are provided in the lock body, and the first insertion hole, in which the shift lock pin is inserted by the first cam, and a second insertion hole and third insertion hole in which a starter lock pin is inserted by the second cam, are provided in a detent plate fixed in the shift lever. As a result, the shift lever device is integrated with the key cylinder and, for this reason, a reduction in the space for the mounting thereof, and moreover, as the connector components with the vehicle become unnecessary, a simplification, cost reduction and weight lightening, can be achieved.

Abstract: A cumulative error D is calculated by sequentially adding up errors, each representing a difference between a given average target number Ba and a number Bg of bits generated during every predetermined period of a coded bit stream. In determining a number Bt of bits allocated to a compression coder, a provisionally allocated bit number Bst is preset based on a coding complexity X such that a number of bits allocated to a scene with a high coding complexity exceeds the average target number Ba as for a frame just after the change of scenes. And if the cumulative error D exceeds a predetermined value, the provisionally allocated bit number Bst is corrected in accordance with the magnitude of the cumulative error D so as to be reducible to, but not less than, the average target number Ba. As for frames within the same scene on the other hand, a previously allocated bit number Bt is sequentially updated such that the cumulative error D does not exceed a predetermined maximum value Dmax.

Abstract: After depositing a first metal film of a first metal on a silicon-containing film including silicon as a main component, a second metal film of a nitride of a second metal is deposited on the first metal film. Then, a high-melting-point metal film is deposited on the second metal film, so as to form an electrode structure including the silicon-containing film, the first metal film, the second metal film and the high-melting-point metal film. The electrode structure is then subjected to a heat treatment at 750° C. or more. The first metal film has such a thickness that the first metal is nitrided to be changed into a nitride of the first metal and a silicide layer of the first metal is not formed in a surface portion of the silicon-containing film after the heat treatment.

Abstract: Provided is a highly reliable leak-proof pipe joint which is superior in workability, inexpensive and Light, superior in resistance against chlorine and oxygen contained in hot water or vapor, resistive against hydrolysis in hot water, superior in mechanical strength and impact resistance, and thereby capable of withstanding deformation due to water pressure or water hammer phenomenon. This pipe, joint has a main body and a connector or connecting the main body to a pipe, wherein at least either the main body or connector is formed from one type selected from a group consisting or resin in which thermoplastic elastomer is added to polyphenylene sulfide, polysulfone, polyphenyl sulfane, polyphthalimide and polyetherimide, and the main body and connector are formed integrally.

Abstract: A light-shielding blade material is provided that contributes to increased focal plane shutter speeds. A focal plane shutter has a front blade group and a rear blade group, each being composed of a plurality of light-shielding blades. At least one of these light-shielding blades is made of a Be—Al alloy material containing 40% by weight or more of Be, and has a thickness of 40 to 150 microns. This light-shielding blade is light in weight and high in stiffness, thereby significantly contributing the increased focal plane shutter speeds.

Abstract: An interconnect forming method includes the steps of: a) forming a through hole in an insulating film over a substrate; b) depositing a photosensitive masking material over the insulating film as well as inside the hole; c) patterning the material, thereby forming a mask pattern, which has an opening located over the hole and is used to define a trench; d) etching the insulating film to a predetermined depth using the mask pattern, thereby defining a trench pattern, linked to the hole, in an upper part of the insulating film; e) filling in the hole and the trench pattern with a conductive material; and f) before the trench pattern is defined, defining the mask pattern so that no remaining part of the material, which has been filled in the hole, will reach a level higher than the bottom of the trench pattern.

Abstract: A microcomputer is not stopped to be monitored even in a state in which a wrong standby signal is detected. A watchdog circuit 34 outputs a starting signal to a microcomputer 30. An output signal Q of a determination circuit 36 is reset by this starting signal. If the determination circuit does not detect a standby signal st when a clock signal CK is input from the started microcomputer, the output signal Q is set. However, if the determination circuit detects the standby signal st, the output signal is held in a reset state. Even if the standby signal st is input, because an AND circuit 38 does not output a standby signal ST due to the reset of the output signal Q, the watchdog circuit is prevented from entering a standby mode by the standby signal st.

Abstract: The laser drive device of this invention includes a laser, first and second current sources, a current amplifier, and first and second transistors. When the first transistor is OFF, a first current from the first current source is supplied to the current amplifier, where the current is amplified to generate a laser current to be supplied to the laser. Thus, the laser is turned ON. During this time, the second transistor is ON, allowing a second current to flow from a power supply node into the second current source. When the first transistor is ON, the entire or part of the first current flows into the second current source through the first transistor. This reduces the current supplied to the current amplifier and thus the laser current, resulting in turning OFF the laser. During this time, the second transistor is OFF. The values of the first and second currents are determined by a set current value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shift lever apparatus which shifts a shift lever connected to a transmission of a vehicle, and thereby, changes a shift range to a specific shift range from among a plurality of shift ranges preset in the transmission corresponding to the position to which the shift lever has been shifted, comprising: a key device which is provided at a side the shift lever and adjacent to the shift lever, and which holds an ignition key inserted therein so that the ignition key is rotatable, and restricts the removal of the ignition key at a rotation position other than a predetermined removal position; and a lock link which restricts the rotation of the ignition key to the removal position in the key device, and is displaced by a predetermined operation of the shift lever at a specific shift position corresponding to a specific shift range from among the plurality of shift ranges so as to release the restriction of the rotation of the ignition key.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal post filter assembly, of a millimeter wave band, using an NRD guide. A filter to which an electromagnetic wave travels is disposed in a filter housing which includes parallel conductive plates facing each other. The filter forms a plurality of inserting holes, by segmenting them into multi-stages, along the length direction of side surface of a dielectric line and parallel to the parallel conductive plates. The filter has a structure that multi-staged dielectric resonators are formed in a single body by inserting metal posts which provide discontinuous surfaces which cause a reflection with respect to the electromagnetic wave in each of the inserting holes. Each impedance of the multi-staged dielectric resonators has an impedance coupling relationship that the impedance becomes gradually and symmetrically smaller to both end stages.

Abstract: Disclosed is a belt tooth portion 11 of a toothed belt 8 incorporated in a toothed belt power transmission apparatus for use in equipment for business use. The belt tooth portion 11 comprises tooth root portions 12 formed of circularly arcuate surfaces which are arranged symmetrically with each other in respect to a centerline C2 in the tooth width direction, power transmission portions 13 formed of circularly arcuate surfaces of convex profile which contiguously adjoin the tooth root portions 12 and are arranged symmetrically with each other in respect to the tooth width direction centerline C2, tooth tip portions 14 formed of circularly arcuate surfaces which contiguously adjoin the power transmission portions 13 and are arranged symmetrically with each other in respect to the tooth width direction centerline C2, and a tooth crest surface 15 formed of an approximately flat surface which interconnects the tooth tip portions 14.

Abstract: Both types of short aramid fibers and non-aramid synthetic fibers are extruded from a side face of each rib in a V-ribbed belt. The extruded section of the short aramid fiber is formed in curled shape. The extruded section of the synthetic fiber is formed in a sector gradually broadened toward its distal end with its non-melting condition maintained. The root portions of the extruded sections of both types of short fibers are raised from the side face of the rib. The extruded sections of the short aramid fibers are extruded in multiple directions, whereas the extruded sections of the synthetic fibers are extruded in a given direction. The extruded section of the short aramid fiber is formed longer than the extruded section of the synthetic fibers.

Abstract: A webbing retractor having a force limiter mechanism whose energy absorption amount is large and which can reliably absorb energy. To this end, a wire is provided as an energy absorbing member having a fixing portion, a curved portion and a fit-in portion. When a spool rotates in a pull-out direction relative to a lock base, the fit-in portion is forcibly pulled-out from a fit-in hole and deformed while being strongly rubbed. Here, the fit-in portion deforms along an imaginary extended line of the curved portion. Thus, breaking of the wire due to concentration of shearing stress at one portion of the wire can be prevented. Deformation load which is applied to the wire can be reliably applied as force limiter load until a position of relative rotation of the spool with respect to the lock base which position is set in advance.