Abstract: An imaging device comprises: an imager configured to image a target; a main-body display configured to display thereon image information acquired by the imager; a main-body communicator configured to communicate with external equipment including a display via a network; a storage configured to store therein the acquired image information and information for indicating a predetermined content; and a display controller configured to cause the display or the main-body display to display thereon the information for indicating the predetermined content.

Abstract: When a menu image transition occurs from a first hierarchical level to a second hierarchical level and to a third hierarchical level, boundary lines B1 and B2, which are near but not in contact each other, are displayed on a display screen to divide it into three areas, R1, R2, and R3. A triangle mark is displayed in area R1 to indicate that there is a higher hierarchical level. Areas R1 and R2 allow the user to recognize that there are the first and second hierarchical levels which are higher. Information (for example, thumbnail images) corresponding to the third hierarchical level is displayed in area R3.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tubular member construction capable of preventing the end portion of a flexible pipe formed of a band member from coming loose without costing. The flexible pipe is formed by winding a metallic tubular member in a spiral shape in an overlapped manner, and a plurality of wavy corrugations are formed on the peripheral wall surface of the flexible pipe continuously in the axial direction. In order to prevent a band member located in an end portion of the flexible pipe from coming loose, collapsed portions are formed on corrugations located in the end portions of the tubular member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tubular member construction capable of preventing the end portion of a flexible pipe formed of a band member from coming loose without costing. The flexible pipe is formed by winding a metallic tubular member in a spiral shape in an overlapped manner, and a plurality of wavy corrugations are formed on the peripheral wall surface of the flexible pipe continuously in the axial direction. In order to prevent a band member located in an end portion of the flexible pipe from coming loose, collapsed portions are formed on corrugations located in the end portions of the tubular member.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the quality of a silicon wafer is characterized by analyzing a silicon wafer by an infrared absorption spectrum, and then evaluating the quality of the silicon crystal based on an absorbance ratio represented by the following formula (1): {(Absorbance &agr;1 at an arbitrary wavenumber between 1055 and 1080 cm−1)−(Absorbance &agr;BL of base line)}/{(Absorbance &agr;2 at an arbitrary wavenumber between 1100 and 1120 cm−1)−(Absorbance &agr;BL of base line)}  (1) wherein absorbances &agr;1 and &agr;2 represent absorbances of the measured silicon wafer, and base line absorbance &agr;BL represents the absorbance of a base line of the measured silicon wafer, which is drawn from 1030 to 1170 cm−1. By using the quality evaluating method of the present invention, internal crystal defects of silicon can be precisely detected in a non-destructive manner.

Abstract: Pipe-like air duct is formed of hard aluminum foil. Concaves and convexes give flexibility to the air duct. For the air duct, kraft paper is wound on both surfaces of the aluminum foil. This air duct is disposed between an outer panel and an inner panel of vehicle body along the panels, laid to the rear seat of the vehicle, and connected to a blow-off port for the rear seat. In a collision of the vehicle, the air duct is subjected to plastic deformation, by which the shock energy caused by an external force is absorbed.

Abstract: A body for absorbing impact energy is designed as a flexible pipe and is characterized in that the walls of the pipe are made of several layers and comprise at least one metal layer and at least one paper or plastic layer. The cross-section of the absorbing body is designed in such a way that at least one section of its wall is substantially straight and extends substantially parallel to the direction from which an impact is expected.

Abstract: A planetary gear system includes a main planetary gear train including first and second planetary gear sets coaxial with an input shaft, and a secondary planetary gear train including a third planetary gear set coaxial with an output shaft. Each gear set has three rotary active elements, a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet carrier. Among six rotary active elements of the first and second gear sets, one active element of the first gear set is connected with one active element of the second gear set, and another active element of the first gear set is connected with another active element of the second gear set so that each connected element pair rotates as a unit. Furthermore, the third gear set is combined with the main gear train in such a compound manner that rotations of two different active elements of the third gear set are restricted, respectively by two different active elements of the main gear train.