Abstract: An inhaler has a cap body (150) for defining a flow path (101) through which an airflow moves and having, formed in it, first and second air inhalation openings (152a, 152b) for introducing outside air into the flow path (101) from the outside of a nebulizer (100A); an air inhalation valve (140) for opening and closing the first air inhalation opening (152a) by using the difference in pressure between the flow path (101) and the outside of the nebulizer (100A); and a shielding section (132) capable of selectively shielding either of the first and second air inhalation openings (152a, 152b).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rotary driving device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of mounting a turntable, which is equipped with an anti-slipping section on a disc-placeable surface, to a rotary shaft; rotating the turntable; and shaving off a disc-contact surface, with which a disc contacts when the disc is placed, of the anti-slipping section with a cutting tool through a cutting off machining method from outside of the disc-placeable surface toward the rotary shaft. A cutting edge of the cutting tool is placed widthwise in parallel with an end face of the anti-slipping section and thickness-wise along an axial direction of the rotary shaft. The cutting edge is set such that the sections of the tool other than the cutting edge do not touch the anti-slipping section.

Abstract: An ampoule for containing a specified amount of liquid inside to be used for a liquid atomizer has a tubular main body having an open front part including an outlet at one end and an open back part at an opposite end. A piston is inserted into the main body from the open front part in an airtight manner and is slidable axially inside the main body. Another piston is inserted into the main body from the open back part in an airtight manner so as to be slidable axially inside the main body. The two pistons form a reservoir in between for storing a liquid. The forwardly located piston has a weakened part on the side that faces the reservoir. As a sharp member extending from the other piston penetrates this weakened, the reservoir and the outlet become connected and the liquid inside the reservoir is discharged.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an ear type clinical thermometer in which the main body can be held according to the position of the eardrum of the person whose temperature is being measured. There is provided an ear type clinical thermometer comprising: a main body to be held by hand at a time when an eardrum temperature is to be measured; and a probe fixed to the main body while protruding from the main body and to be inserted into an external auditory canal of a person whose eardrum temperature is to be measured at the time when the measurement is to be taken. The main body has a side at which the probe protrudes from the main body and a side opposite to this side, and the side opposite to the side at which the probe protrudes from the main body is constructed of a curved surface having a substantially constant curvature along a direction perpendicular to a reference plane containing the center axis of the probe.

Abstract: A first thermistor 8 and a second thermistor 9 are arranged forwardly and rearwardly of a thermopile sensor 5. A thermopile chip 55 is arranged and interposed between the first thermistor 8 and an integrated thermistor 57. A sensor cover is mounted in contact with front and side portions of a can portion 59 of a thermopile casing 56. A temperature or a radiant quantity of infrared rays on the front portion of the can portion is estimated from a temperature change of the integrated thermistor per second.

Abstract: A trunk section 11 constituted by a rigid member and a thin film section 12 having infrared permeability can be obtained by integral moulding using the same resin material, and the outer peripheral surface of the trunk section 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the thin film section 12 are formed such that the outer peripheral surfaces are smoothly connected to each other. The connection portion therebetween is free from a step or a seam.

Abstract: A liquid atomizer includes a main body and an ampoule holder detachably attached to the main body for holding ampoules in an annular formation. The main body has an atomizing part for atomizing the liquid discharged from outlets of the ampoules. The outlet of each of these ampoules can be disposed proximal to the atomizing part by moving the ampoules around the annular formation. Positioning devices are between the main body and the ampoule holder for positioning the ampoule holder properly with respect to the main body. The ampoule holder holds the ampoules such that each of the ampoules can move between an advanced position and a retracted position. The outlet of each ampoule moves into the atomizing part when the ampoule moves to the advanced position. The ampoule holder is able to undergo a rotary motion with respect to the main body when each of the ampoules is at the retracted position.

Abstract: A memory block is subject to an erasure operation by a batch operation. Subsequently, a read-out test is conducted upon the memory block to count the number of unerased memory cells. If the count FN is equal to or greater than a given number TF, a plurality of erasure operations are conducted consecutively next. If FN<TF, a single erasure operation is conducted next, subsequently followed by a read-out test. The erasure operations and the read-out tests are repeated.

Abstract: A first thermistor 8 and a second thermistor 9 are arranged forwardly and rearwardly of a thermopile sensor 5. A thermopile chip 55 is arranged and interposed between the first thermistor 8 and an integrated thermistor 57. A sensor cover is mounted in contact with front and side portions of a can portion 59 of a thermopile casing 56. A temperature or a radiant quantity of infrared rays on the front portion of the can portion is estimated from a temperature change of the integrated thermistor per second.

Abstract: A first thermistor 8 and a second thermistor 9 are arranged forwardly and rearwardly of a thermopile sensor 5. A thermopile chip 55 is arranged and interposed between the first thermistor 8 and an integrated thermistor 57. A sensor cover is mounted in contact with front and side portions of a can portion 59 of a thermopile casing 56. A temperature or a radiant quantity of infrared rays on the front portion of the can portion is estimated from a temperature change of the integrated thermistor per second.

Abstract: A liquid atomizer includes a main body and an ampoule holder detachably attached to the main body for holding ampoules in an annular formation. The main body has an atomizing part for atomizing the liquid discharged from outlets of the ampoules. The outlet of each of these ampoules can be disposed proximal to the atomizing part by moving the ampoules around the annular formation. Positioning devices are between the main body and the ampoule holder for positioning the ampoule holder properly with respect to the main body. The ampoule holder holds the ampoules such that each of the ampoules can move between an advanced position and a retracted position. The outlet of each ampoule moves into the atomizing part when the ampoule moves to the advanced position. The ampoule holder is able to undergo a rotary motion with respect to the main body when each of the ampoules is at the retracted position.

Abstract: An ampoule for containing a specified amount of liquid inside to be used for a liquid atomizer has a tubular main body having an open front part including an outlet at one end and an open back part at an opposite end. A piston is inserted into the main body from the open front part in an airtight manner and is slidable axially inside the main body. Another piston is inserted into the main body from the open back part in an airtight manner so as to be slidable axially inside the main body. The two pistons form a reservoir in between for storing a liquid. The forwardly located piston has a weakened part on the side that faces the reservoir. As a sharp member extending from the other piston penetrates this weakened, the reservoir and the outlet become connected and the liquid inside the reservoir is discharged.

Abstract: A secondary reservoir (16) is filled with a liquid medicine by a fixed amount via a liquid transfer path (18) from a primary reservoir (10) for storing the liquid medicine to be nebulized. When a liquid supply button (40) is slid to left, an operating rod (42) pushes a piston (20) and power supply switch turns on. As piston (20) moves to left, the liquid medicine in secondary reservoir (16) is pushed, thereby moving a valve (22) to left and opening a liquid transfer path (24). Then, a nebulizing part is supplied with the fixed amount of liquid medicine from secondary reservoir (16), and thus performs nebulization. Thus, a liquid nebulizing apparatus is attained, in which a constant amount of liquid is transferred to the nebulizing part to stabilize the nebulization, and in which such a function is realized at low costs.

Abstract: A first thermistor 8 and a second thermistor 9 are arranged forwardly and rearwardly of a thermopile sensor 5. A thermopile chip 55 is arranged and interposed between the first thermistor 8 and an integrated thermistor 57. A sensor cover is mounted in contact with front and side portions of a can portion 59 of a thermopile casing 56. A temperature or a radiant quantity of infrared rays on the front portion of the can portion is estimated from a temperature change of the integrated thermistor per second.

Abstract: An infrared ray clinical thermometer enhanced in fitted probe cover stability is provided with a simple structure. A mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a fitted probe cover is provided near the root of a probe, and is mainly composed of a slide member as a movable part, a spring as thrusting means for thrusting the slide member, and a switch for making contact with and departing from the slide member. The slide member is movable disposed in a direction nearly perpendicular to the detaching direction of the probe cover, that is, from the inner side to the outer side, and from the outer side to the inner side of the probe.

Abstract: An inhaler has a tubular case defining inside a flow route for medicament. A capsule containing the medicament serving as its source is on the upstream side and a mouthpiece is on the opposite downstream side. A rotor with a convex surface on the upstream side is rotatably placed in the flow route inside the tubular case. A motor rotates the rotor when a patient breathes in the medicament such that a shearing force will operate on the medicament particles and the medicament is separated from lactose.

Abstract: An infrared sensor 20 is held in a housing 10 by a sensor holder 28 made of synthetic resin. A waveguide 30 for guiding infrared radiation, which is emitted from a target, to the infrared sensor 20 is supported by waveguide holders 31, 32 made of synthetic resin (or metal). An air layer (insulative layer, gap) 34 resides between an inner end (terminal end) 30b of the waveguide 30 and the infrared sensor 20. A probe 40 made of synthetic resin surrounding an externally protruding portion of the waveguide 30 is provided. An air layer (insulating layer, gap) 33 resides between the tip of the probe 40 and a tip (outer end) 30a of the waveguide 30. The tip of the waveguide 30 is covered by a cap 50.

Abstract: An infrared ray clinical thermometer enhanced in fitted probe cover stability is provided with a simple structure. A mechanism for detecting the presence or absence of a fitted probe cover is provided near the root of a probe, and is mainly composed of a slide member as a movable part, a spring as thrusting means for thrusting the slide member, and a switch for making contact with and departing from the slide member. The slide member is movable disposed in a direction nearly perpendicular to the detaching direction of the probe cover, that is, from the inner side to the outer side, and from the outer side to the inner side of the probe.

Abstract: A trunk section 11 constituted by a rigid member and a thin film section 12 having infrared permeability can be obtained by integral moulding using the same resin material, and the outer peripheral surface of the trunk section 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the thin film section 12 are formed such that the outer peripheral surfaces are smoothly connected to each other. The connection portion therebetween is free from a step or a seam.

Abstract: A testing method which reduces a testing time for a flash memory is proposed.