Abstract: An image processing device includes an image processing unit, a UI unit, a VPN processing unit, and a housing. The image processing unit includes a printer and/or a scanner. The UI unit is the target of an input action performed by the user. The VPN processing unit connects to a VPN using authentication information obtained through the UI unit. The image processing unit, the UT unit, and the VPN processing unit are provided to the housing.

Abstract: In a spectrum measuring instrument of the present invention, a detecting surface of a detector is a two-dimensional detecting surface and spectrum light coming out from a dispersing element and is irradiated to a region A on the detecting surface. Signal intensity at the regions on the detecting surface other than the region A where the spectrum light is irradiated, is subtracted from signal intensity on the region A. Consequently, it is possible to obtain an accurate spectrum intensity signal by processing a detection signal in such a manner that adverse effects of stray light generated inside the spectrum measuring instrument and unwanted light generated by reflection and diffraction occurring on the surface of a detecting element are removed.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes upper and lower pivot shafts provided respectively in a swivel case and a pair of left and right stern brackets supporting the swivel case via a tilt shaft. Upper and lower end portions of an extendable part of a tilt system are mounted on the upper and lower pivot shafts. First and second mounting parts are provided on the upper pivot shaft so that they are offset in mutually opposite left and right directions from a central position between the pair of stern brackets. The offset of the second mounting part is set smaller than the offset of the first mounting part. Consequently, either a gas-assist type or power type tilt system can be mounted with good balance between the left and right stern brackets, thereby improving the appearance.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes upper and lower pivot shafts provided respectively in a swivel case and a pair of left and right stern brackets supporting the swivel case via a tilt shaft. Upper and lower end portions of an extendable part of a tilt system are mounted on the upper and lower pivot shafts. First and second mounting parts are provided on the upper pivot shaft so that they are offset in mutually opposite left and right directions from a central position between the pair of stern brackets. The offset of the second mounting part is set smaller than the offset of the first mounting part. Consequently, either a gas-assist type or power type tilt system can be mounted with good balance between the left and right stern brackets, thereby improving the appearance.

Abstract: In a steering handle device including a tilting switch, an overhang portion is formed on a switch case detachably secured to a lower surface of a steering handle, and protrudes from a side of the steering handle toward a side where a steersman is in position. A tilting switch is mounted in a switch-mounting bore which is open at a rear slant wall of the overhang portion. Thus, the steering handle can be also used commonly in an outboard engine system including no tilting switch.

Abstract: A display device having a memory property capable of maintaining a displayed information even in a state of being separated away from a power source as a result of decreasing the effect of external noise. The display device is detachably attached to a control unit that includes a drive circuit and a power source for driving the display device. The display device has a memory property and maintains the displayed image even in a state of being detached from the control unit. An input protection portion which is an electric load such as resistor, IC or capacitor is provided for the input portion leading to matrix electrodes from the connection terminals for electrically connecting the display device to the control unit. This prevents the infiltration of noise through the connection terminals and lowers a change in the displayed image.

Abstract: In a steering handle device including a tilting switch, an overhang portion is formed on a switch case detachably secured to a lower surface of a steering handle, and protrudes from a side of the steering handle toward a side where a steersman is in position. A tilting switch is mounted in a switch-mounting bore which is open at a rear slant wall of the overhang portion. Thus, the steering handle can be also used commonly in an outboard engine system including no tilting switch.

Abstract: In a spectrum measuring instrument of the present invention, a detecting surface (13a) of a detector (13) is a two-dimensional detecting surface and spectrum light coming out from a spectroscope is irradiated to a region A on the detecting surface (13a). Signal intensity at the regions on the detecting surface (13a) other than the region A where the spectrum light is irradiated is subtracted from signal intensity on the region A. Consequently, it is possible to obtain an accurate spectrum intensity signal by processing a detection signal in such a manner that adverse effects of stray light generated inside the spectrum measuring instrument and unwanted light generated by reflection and diffraction occurring on the surface of a detecting element are removed (FIG. 4).

Abstract: In an outboard engine system, a throttle grip position maintaining device includes a retained portion integrally formed on a throttle grip, a friction member axially superposed on the retained portion, a support member mounted to a steering bar handle to abut against an inner end face of the retained portion, a regulating member threadedly fitted over the support member and having an urging portion abutting against an outer end face of the friction member, and an anti-loosening means provided between the support member and the regulating member for inhibiting the disorderly movement of the regulating member. With such arrangement, even when a retaining force on the throttle grip is regulated, a thrust load is not applied to the throttle grip, and the retaining force can be maintained stably after the regulation.

Abstract: In an outboard engine system, a throttle grip position maintaining device includes a retained portion integrally formed on a throttle grip, a friction member axially superposed on the retained portion, a support member mounted to a steering bar handle to abut against an inner end face of the retained portion, a regulating member threadedly fitted over the support member and having an urging portion abutting against an outer end face of the friction member, and an anti-loosening means provided between the support member and the regulating member for inhibiting the disorderly movement of the regulating member. With such arrangement, even when a retaining force on the throttle grip is regulated, a thrust load is not applied to the throttle grip, and the retaining force can be maintained stably after the regulation.

Abstract: In a small display system in which the area of each of a display device and a driving device is approximately reduced to the area of an image display part, the display device having the image display part and the driving device having a driving IC for driving the display device can be attached to or detached from each other. Display device-side electrode terminals connected to lines for driving individual display pixels of the display device are provided on the reverse surface of the display device opposite to the image display part. Driving device-side electrode terminals corresponding to the respective display device-side electrode terminals are provided on the display device connecting part of the driving device. When the display device is attached to the driving device, both the driving device-side electrode terminals and the display device-side electrode terminals are electrically connected so that an image can be displayed on the display device by the driving device.

Abstract: In a marine propulsion system comprising: a drive shaft operably connected to an engine and carrying a drive bevel gear; a propeller shaft carrying a propeller; and a pair of driven bevel gears meshing with the drive bevel gear and selectively engageable with the propeller shaft via a clutch member, the propeller shaft is provided with an axially facing annular shoulder surface which faces a corresponding axially facing surface of one of the pair of driven bevel gears to determine an axial position of the propeller shaft, and a rolling thrust bearing is disposed between the mutually facing surfaces of the propeller shaft and the one of the pair of driven bevel gears. The rolling thrust bearing reduces the friction between the mutually facing surfaces of the propeller shaft and the one of the driven bevel gears when they rotate in opposite directions to each other, to thereby improve the durability of these component parts.

Abstract: In an outboard motor, a simple drain structure is provided which can drain the water that has entered the engine compartment while effectively preventing water from entering the engine compartment through the drain structure itself. A drain passage is formed in a peripheral portion of an engine mount member which, together with a part of an engine cover, constitutes a bottom of the engine compartment. A reed valve unit made of a resilient material and having a base portion and a valve portion is fittingly received by the side wall defining the drain passage of the mount member so that the valve portion normally closes the opening of the drain passage due to its own resiliency and bend to drain water when water accumulates in the drain passage.

Abstract: A four-cycle engine for an outboard motor includes an upwardly extending breather chamber which communicates with a projecting portion provided at a lower part of a crankcase and with an induction system via a PCV passage for returning a blow-by gas to intake manifolds. With this arrangement, it becomes possible to remove oil components from the blow-by gas within the PCV passage and hence to return the substantially oil-free blow-by gas to the intake manifolds.

Abstract: A vertical-type multicylinder engine includes a plurality of combustion chambers, an inlet muffler having a plurality of air intake passages, and a blow-by gas entry opening for introducing blow-by gas into the muffler, and a plurality of throttle valve devices provided downstream of the intake passages and upstream of the valve devices in corresponding relation thereto. The inlet muffler has a plurality of blow-by gas distributing paths that are formed inside the muffler to distributively direct the blow-by gas introduced via the blow-by gas entry opening to the corresponding throttle valve devices. Thus, the entry opening, distributing paths and intake passages of the muffler and the throttle valve devices together define a structure for returning the blow-by gas to an upstream portion of the engine intake system. The distributing paths have different sizes that become progressively greater as the respective distances, from the blow-by gas entry opening, of the paths increase.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetizable substrate and a magnetic layer formed on the substrate, in which the magnetic layer comprises not more than 13% by weight of one or more of rare earth elements of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb or Dy, 3-13% by weight of oxygen, balance of Co and inevitable impurities. The magnetic layer may contain less than 22% by weight of Ni. The magnetic recording medium has a favorable corrosion resistance and excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: An alloy target for magneto-optical recording having component and composition comprising 10 to 50 atom % of at least one rare earth element from Sm, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm and Er, the balance being substantially at least one transition metal from Co, Fe and Ni, and having a mixed structure comprising a phase of intermetallic compound of the rare earth element and the transition metal and a fine mixed phase of the rare earth element and intermetallic compound of the rare earth element and the transition metal or having a mixed structure comprising the structure above and a phase of the rare earth element alone. The target has uniform composition and high strength free from cracking, etc., shows less composition difference between film and target and less change of the film composition with elapse of sputtering time.

Abstract: A rare earth element-cobalt (RCo.sub.5) type magnetic powder suitable for the manufacture of a resinous magnet is produced by a method comprising the steps of mixing the oxides of the rare earth elements consisting of Sm, a first member comprising at least one element selected from between La and Ce, and a second member comprising at least one element selected from between Pr and Nd with a reducing agent and cobalt powder, heating the resulting mixture in the normal-pressure atmosphere of an inert gas to a temperature in the range of 900.degree. to 1,100.degree. C., then elevating the temperature of the mixture to a level in the range of 1,150.degree. to 1,200.degree. C., subsequently cooling the heated mixture to 800.degree. C. at a temperature decreasing rate in the range of 1.degree. to 5.degree. C./minute, lowering the temperature from 800.degree. C. to 700.degree. C. at a temperature decreasing rate of not less than 10.degree. C./minute, cooling the mixture further to a level in the range of 400.degree.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer formed on the substrate, in which the magnetic layer comprises 1-8% metal element M consisting of one or more of B, Al, Si, P, Ge, Sn, Sb, Se, Te, Pb, Bi, Cu, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, W and Ta, less than 13% by weight of one or more of rare earth elements of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, or Dy, 3-13% by weight of oxygen, balance of Co and inevitable impurities. The magnetic layer may contain less than 22% by weight of Ni. The magnetic recording medium has a favorable corrosion resistance and excellent magnetic properties.