Abstract: A vehicle antenna device includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna surrounds an ignition key cylinder having a key insertion hole and is configured to receive a first signal transmitted from a first transmitter in a key insertion state where a key is inserted into the key insertion hole. The second antenna is configured to receive a second signal transmitted from a second transmitter. The first antenna is positioned between the first transmitter and the second antenna in the key insertion state.

Abstract: An interferometer for demodulating a differential M-phase shift keying signal includes a PLC type interferometer main body, a heating portion that heats the PLC type interferometer main body, and an intermediate member having a higher stiffness than that of the PLC type interferometer main body, for bonding the PLC type interferometer main body and the heating portion with each other while being sandwiched therebetween. A linear expansion coefficient difference between the PLC type interferometer main body and the intermediate member is equal to or smaller than 4.5×10?6/° C., and a thermal conductivity difference between the PLC type interferometer main body and the intermediate member is equal to or larger than 10 W/mK. A phase of an optical signal flowing through the interferometer is adjusted by using the heating portion and a second heating portion.

Abstract: A vehicle door outer handle system includes: an operating handle formed from a handle main body and a cover covering the outer side of the handle main body; a pair of electrodes; and a circuit board on which a detection circuit is provided for detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes; the electrodes and the circuit board being housed within the operating handle. The electrodes are patterned on the circuit board, and a ground pattern connected to the detection circuit is formed so as to be disposed at a position offset from the electrodes if viewed through the circuit board.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus (1) for manufacturing natural intestine sausages includes a stuffing tube (4), an intestine pushing member (6), an intestine-pushing-member driving device (7), an intestine receiving member (9), a braking member (10), a transporting device (11), a detecting device (13) for detecting the position of the intestine pushing member (6) with respect to the intestine receiving member (9), and a controlling device (15) for stopping the operation of a material supplying device (3). A distal end (4A) of the stuffing tube (4) is positioned in such a manner as to project from the braking member (10) toward the transporting device (11).

Abstract: A vehicle door outer handle system includes: an operating handle formed from a handle main body and a cover covering the outer side of the handle main body; a pair of electrodes; and a circuit board on which a detection circuit is provided for detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes; the electrodes and the circuit board being housed within the operating handle. The electrodes are patterned on the circuit board, and a ground pattern connected to the detection circuit is formed so as to be disposed at a position offset from the electrodes if viewed through the circuit board.

Abstract: A waveguide-type optical multiplexer/demultiplexer with low crosstalk characteristics and reduced wavelength dispersion is provided. A waveguide-type optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising, first, second and third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits connected in multistage, each multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit has four input-output ports, third input-output port of first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is connected to third input-output port of second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, and fourth input-output port of first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is connected to fourth input-output port of third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, when wavelength division multiplex signals having wavelength ?1, ?2, ?3, ?4, ?5, ?6 . . . are input through first input-output port of first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, multiplex signals of odd wavelength ?1, ?3, ?5 . . .

Abstract: When a first article is to be delivered to a customer and a second article is to be collected from the customer, first rack components required for delivery of the first article and second rack components not required for delivery of the first article, yet required for collecting the second article, are specified. Delivery procedure and collection procedure of the articles using the specified first rack components and second rack components are instructed to a worksite. Accordingly, delivery and collection of the articles can be carried out by making efficient use of the rack components commonly used for the first article and the second article.

Abstract: In an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits connected in multistage, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits each have two input ports and two output ports, an optical path, through which input optical signals with predetermined wavelengths are output after multiplexing and demultiplexing, varies depending upon the input port; the optical paths in each of the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits have mutually opposite wavelength dispersion characteristics, and one of the optical paths in a first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is connected to one of the optical paths, in a second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, having wavelength dispersion characteristics opposite to the optical path in the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit.

Abstract: In the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the invention, an MMI (multi mode interference) coupler having a percentage coupling of about 50% is used as first and second optical couplers, and a directional coupler having a percentage coupling of less than 10% is used as third and fourth optical couplers. By virtue of this constitution, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the invention has a small dependency upon wavelength and can be used in a wide waveband, is less susceptible to a preparation error, and, at the same time, has good wavelength flatness in passband and a wide rejection band.

Abstract: A waveguide-type optical multiplexer/demultiplexer with low crosstalk characteristics and reduced wavelength dispersion is provided. A waveguide-type optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising, first, second and third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits connected in multistage, each multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit has four input-outpu ports, third input-output port of first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is connected to third input-output port of second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, and fourth input-output port of first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is connected to fourth input-output port of third optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, when wavelength division multiplex signals having wavelength &lgr;1, &lgr;2, &lgr;3, &lgr;4, &lgr;5, &lgr;6 . . . are input through first input-output port of first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, multiplex signals of odd wavelength &lgr;1, &lgr;3, &lgr;5 . . .

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing foodstuffs such as sausages includes: a stuffed-casing forming and rotating device for forming a stuffed casing by discharging meat emulsion or ground meat as a stuffing material into an unstuffed casing formed of a natural intestine, and for rotating the stuffed casing via the unstuffed casing in a direction R about an axis X; a stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying device for producing a twisted portion in the stuffed casing by causing the stuffed casing formed by the stuffed-casing forming and rotating device and rotating in the direction R to be consecutively squeezed and constricted at a predetermined interval, and for conveying the stuffed casing, in which the twisted portion has occurred, in a direction A; and a cutting device for consecutively separating at the twisted portions the stuffed casing which has been formed by the stuffed-casing constriction-forming and conveying device.

Abstract: The object is to provide a method and an apparatus for manufacturing natural intestine sausages, which excel in sanitation and make it possible to reduce the waste of a natural intestine casing and a material.

Abstract: When a first article is to be delivered to a customer and a second article is to be collected from the customer, first rack components required for delivery of the first article and second rack components not required for delivery of the first article, yet required for collecting the second article, are specified. Delivery procedure and collection procedure of the articles using the specified first rack components and second rack components are instructed to a worksite. Accordingly, delivery and collection of the articles can be carried out by making efficient use of the rack components commonly used for the first article and the second article.

Abstract: In the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the invention, an MMI (multi mode interference) coupler having a percentage coupling of about 50% is used as first and second optical couplers, and a directional coupler having a percentage coupling of less than 10% is used as third and fourth optical couplers. By virtue of this constitution, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the invention has a small dependency upon wavelength and can be used in a wide waveband, is less susceptible to a preparation error, and, at the same time, has good wavelength flatness in passband and a wide rejection band.

Abstract: In an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer comprising optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits connected in multistage, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits each have two input ports and two output ports, an optical path, through which input optical signals with predetermined wavelengths are output after multiplexing and demultiplexing, varies depending upon the input port; the optical paths in each of the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuits have mutually opposite wavelength dispersion characteristics, and one of the optical paths in a first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit is connected to one of the optical paths, in a second optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit, having wavelength dispersion characteristics opposite to the optical path in the first optical multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit.

Abstract: A glass wave guide element, which is small in size and amenable to integration and mass-production, and a method of manufacturing the glass wave guide element are provided. The glass wave guide element includes a core having a diffraction grating formed on an under cladding, an over cladding covering the core and a heater for changing the Bragg wavelength of the diffraction grating, the heater being arranged on the over cladding. The core and a central portion of both claddings in a surrounding portion around the core are formed in a state of being continuously separated along a longitudinal direction of the core from the substrate through a gap, and the core and the surrounding portion around the core are formed in a state of being spatially intermittently separated in a width direction of the core from a surrounding portion of both claddings through a gap.

Abstract: A suspending device is provided with a device frame; a guiding device provided on an upper portion of the device frame and having a guide tube for guiding given portions of a chain of sausages, which are being conveyed and supplied by a nipping and conveying device, to a predetermined position while circularly moving its free end; a conveying device provided on the upper portion of the device frame in the same way as the guiding device, and adapted to convey the sausages formed into loops as the given portions of the sausages guided to the predetermined position by the guide tube of the guiding device are caught by the conveying device; a power generating device provided on the upper portion of the device frame and adapted to generate power constituting a conveying force for the sausages in the conveying device as well as a circularly moving force for circularly moving the guide tube of the guiding device; and a power transmitting device for transmitting the power generated by the power generating device to t

Abstract: An optical wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer, comprising: a substrate: and, provided thereon, input waveguides, output waveguides, an array waveguide diffraction grating comprising a plurality of waveguides with a predetermined difference in length being provided between the waveguides, an input slab waveguide for connecting the input waveguides to the array waveguide diffraction grating, an output slab waveguide for connecting the output waveguides to the array waveguide diffraction grating, and multimode waveguides, for example, tapered waveguides and parabolic waveguides, provided in a connecting section between the input waveguides and the input slab waveguide. The output slab waveguide may have a smaller radius than the input slab waveguide to narrow the width of the electric field distribution on the output side. The above construction can bring wavelength characteristics to a rectangular form to broaden the transmission band and at the same time can reduce the loss.

Abstract: An alternator for an engine normally operated as a generator is caused to operate as a synchronous motor according to the operating condition of the engine. If power generation by the alternator 1 is no longer necessary because a battery 9 is fully charged, or when the engine enters an acceleration condition, a switching controller 5 switches stator coils 12 for the alternator 1 from an output controller 7 to a rotating magnetic field generator 8. The rotating magnetic field generator 8 causes a stator 1S to generate a rotating magnetic field that rotates with a same rotation speed of a rotor 1R, so that the alternator 1 operates as a synchronous motor to generate such a torque 50 as to assist the torque or rotation of the engine.

Abstract: An induction machine used as a power generator for an internal combustion engine, and which generates a predetermined power regardless of a rotation speed of a rotor of the induction machine and the engine. A power P to be generated is controlled so as to be equal to an upper limit value Pmax or less, a lower limit value or more or, equal to a target value Pc. The power generation control is achieved in the following manner. A speed N2 of the rotating magnetic field electrically generated with a three-phase winding of the rotor 1R is controlled in accordance with the mechanical rotation speed N1 of the rotor 1R in order that a relative speed N of the rotating magnetic field generated in the rotor with respect to a stator coil is kept at an upper limit speed Nmax or less, a lower limit speed Nmin or more, or a target relative speed Nc.