Abstract: An object state identification method of identifying a position and a posture of an object by obtaining actual measured values, which are three-dimensional data, at points on a flat portion including an opening on a surface of the object by a sensor includes extracting a corresponding point value indicating the position of an edge of the opening based on a predetermined feature value, calculating a plane equation indicating a plane including the flat portion based on the corresponding point value to determine a virtual plane, extracting, as a stable point, an actual measured value that is in the virtual plane, and identifying the position, posture, etc., of the object based on the stable point.

Abstract: An object state identification method of identifying a position and a posture of an object by obtaining actual measured values at a plurality of points on a flat portion including an opening on a surface of the object by a sensor includes generating a model value group that is a set of model values indicating the positions of a plurality of points present on surfaces of a corner model, calculating a model feature value based on at least one model value included in the model value group, calculating an actual feature value by the same method used to calculate the model feature value, extracting a corresponding point value indicating a position of an edge of the opening based on the actual feature value that matches the model feature value, and identifying the position and posture of the object based on the corresponding point value.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a wire that is mounted on a vehicle body to which an external force is applied according to a running state during running of the vehicle, and applies a tension to the vehicle body; an actuator to adjust the tension of the wire to change a rigidity of the vehicle body; and a controller to output a control signal to the actuator. The controller determines the running state, outputs to the actuator a control signal designating a tension according to the determined running state, and controls distortion of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A rear apron panel is provided between a suspension tower and a dash panel. A vertical branch brace is provided to extend upwardly from a front side frame along an inner face of a suspension tower to form a closed cross section with a rear portion of the suspension tower. A deformation restraint member interconnects the apron frame and the vertical branch brace. Accordingly, there is provided a vehicle-body front structure which can restrain the apron frame from deforming outwardly in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle frontal collision to prevent the dash panel from moving back into the vehicle compartment too much.

Abstract: A battery is arranged at a specified position which is located on an outside of a front side frame in a vehicle width direction and between a front wheel and a crush can in a vehicle longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the battery can be positioned properly at a front portion of a vehicle so that the battery may not receive any improper thermal influence from an engine or a motor and not hurt the function of impact absorption in a vehicle frontal collision.

Abstract: A vehicle includes: a wire that is mounted on a vehicle body to which an external force is applied according to a running state during running of the vehicle, and applies a tension to the vehicle body; an actuator to adjust the tension of the wire to change a rigidity of the vehicle body; and a controller to output a control signal to the actuator. The controller determines the running state, outputs to the actuator a control signal designating a tension according to the determined running state, and controls distortion of the vehicle body.

Abstract: A method for detecting a foreign particle trapped between substrates of a liquid crystal display panel, by which a potential short caused by the particle can be made into a short with reliability, and thus it is possible to make a display defect manifest itself that is caused by the particle. The method is for detecting the presence of a foreign particle trapped between flexible substrates (21, 26) of a liquid crystal display panel (20), between the substrates liquid crystals filled, and the method includes making the panel pass between supporting rollers (3) arranged to support one surface of the panel, and a pressing roller (4) disposed at a position opposed to a space between the supporting units and arranged to press the other surface of the panel, bending the panel, and displacing the substrates with respect to each other in their surface directions.

Abstract: An engine includes: a crankshaft 12; a camshaft 36; and a timing transmission system 37 which has a drive rotation member 45, a driven rotation member 46, and an endless power transmission member 47, and which provides connection between the crankshaft 12 and the camshaft 36. An access window 55 through which the driven rotation member 46 is attached to and detached from the camshaft 36 is opened in an outer end surface 5c of the cylinder head 5. A lid body 57 for closing the access window 55 is jointed to the outer end surface 5c. The outer end surface 5c of the cylinder head 5 comprises a slanted surface 5c which is inclined so that at least a part of an outer periphery of the driven rotation member 46 on a side opposite from the drive rotation member 45 is exposed from the access window 55.

Abstract: A battery is arranged at a specified position which is located on an outside of a front side frame in a vehicle width direction and between a front wheel and a crush can in a vehicle longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the battery can be positioned properly at a front portion of a vehicle so that the battery may not receive any improper thermal influence from an engine or a motor and not hurt the function of impact absorption in a vehicle frontal collision.

Abstract: A commodity information registration system including a first terminal for inputting commodity information and a second terminal for performing a checkout process of a purchase. The first terminal has a bar-code input unit for reading barcodes including information having commodity specifying information and a code generating unit for creating a two-dimensional code including the commodity specifying information. The second terminal includes: a code input unit for reading the two-dimensional code so as to acquire the commodity specifying information; and a calculating unit for determining sales proceeds for each purchase and a total amount of all purchases in one transaction by using the commodity specifying information. The second terminal also stores sales data including the sales proceeds for each purchase in one transaction.

Abstract: A rear apron panel is provided between a suspension tower and a dash panel. A vertical branch brace is provided to extend upwardly from a front side frame along an inner face of a suspension tower to form a closed cross section with a rear portion of the suspension tower. A deformation restraint member interconnects the apron frame and the vertical branch brace. Accordingly, there is provided a vehicle-body front structure which can restrain the apron frame from deforming outwardly in the vehicle width direction in the vehicle frontal collision to prevent the dash panel from moving back into the vehicle compartment too much.

Abstract: A hinge reinforcement is provided at a hinge pillar at a specified position which corresponds to an upper door-hinge attachment portion. Attachment portions which extend toward a hinge pillar inner and are attached to this hinge pillar inner are provided at the hinge reinforcement which corresponds to the upper door-hinge attachment portion. A branch frame and a gusset member which transmit an impact load inputted from a front side frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction to the attachment portions via the hinge pillar inner are provided so as to extend from the front side frame. Accordingly, the impact load inputted to the vehicle body at the vehicle collision can be properly transmitted to the vehicle rear portion, so that the deformation of the vehicle compartment can be restrained surely.

Abstract: It is provided a method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet which is superior in a heat-resistance. A mixture is prepared by uniformly mixing a specific polymer having hydrolyzable silyl end groups and urethane linkages and/or urea linkages in the main chains or side chains with tackifying resins. A fluorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, complex of boron trifluoride, fluorinating agent and alkali metal salt of fluorine-containing inorganic acid is uniformly mixed into the mixture to obtain a precursor of a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent. The adhesive precursor is applied on the surface of a tape substrate or sheet substrate. It is obtained a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having three-dimensional reticulation structures by curing the specific polymer having hydrolyzable silyl end groups. Thereby, it is obtained the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet.

Abstract: In a V-type engine in which first and second banks arranged in a V-shape are provided continuously to a crankcase, and in which a carburetor is placed at a valley between the first and second banks, the carburetor is placed spaced from the first and second banks. Further, the carburetor is connected to intake ports of the first and second banks via first and second intake pipes, respectively, and first and second heat shield plates each made of synthetic resin are attached to side faces of the respective first and second banks, the side faces facing the carburetor, each of the first and second heat shield plates covering a corresponding one of the side faces and defining a cooling air passage between the heat shield plate and the side face. Accordingly, it is possible to surely prevent heat from the banks from affecting the carburetor in order to prevent percolation in the carburetor even in the case where the engine stops its operation in a high-temperature state.

Abstract: It is provided a method for producing a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet which is superior in a heat-resistance. A mixture is prepared by uniformly mixing a specific polymer having hydrolyzable silyl end groups and urethane linkages and/or urea linkages in the main chains or side chains with tackifying resins. A fluorine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, complex of boron trifluoride, fluorinating agent and alkali metal salt of fluorine-containing inorganic acid is uniformly mixed into the mixture to obtain a precursor of a pressure-sensitive adhesive agent. The adhesive precursor is applied on the surface of a tape substrate or sheet substrate. It is obtained a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer having three-dimensional reticulation structures by curing the specific polymer having hydrolyzable silyl end groups. Thereby, it is obtained the pressure-sensitive adhesive tape or sheet.

Abstract: A control device for an electrically operated power steering system includes: a power substrate comprising a plurality of switching elements, that converts DC electrical current to AC electrical current by switching operation of the plurality of switching elements; an output terminal for transmitting the AC electrical current to an electric motor that generates steering torque; a conductor for electrically connecting the power substrate to the output terminal; a metallic chassis that holds the power substrate and the conductor, and supports the output terminal; and a metallic cover that faces the output terminal, and that is connected to the metallic chassis.

Abstract: In a V-type engine, intake and exhaust rocker arms in each bank are arranged in a substantially inverted-V-shape in a plan view, so that side end portions of corresponding intake and exhaust push rods are positioned adjacent to each other. Slipper portions of first and second intake cam followers have end portions at one end along the axial direction of a camshaft protrude respectively in opposite directions to each other so that they face each other across an intake cam therebetween. Slipper portions of first and second exhaust cam followers have end portions at one end along the axial direction of the camshaft protrude respectively in opposite directions to each other so that they face each other across an exhaust cam therebetween. This reduces the distance between the push rods in each bank to provide a compact valve-operating device.

Abstract: A hinge reinforcement is provided at a hinge pillar at a specified position which corresponds to an upper door-hinge attachment portion. Attachment portions which extend toward a hinge pillar inner and are attached to this hinge pillar inner are provided at the hinge reinforcement which corresponds to the upper door-hinge attachment portion. A branch frame and a gusset member which transmit an impact load inputted from a front side frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction to the attachment portions via the hinge pillar inner are provided so as to extend from the front side frame. Accordingly, the impact load inputted to the vehicle body at the vehicle collision can be properly transmitted to the vehicle rear portion, so that the deformation of the vehicle compartment can be restrained surely.

Abstract: A method for detecting a foreign particle trapped between substrates of a liquid crystal display panel, by which a potential short caused by the particle can be made into a short with reliability, and thus it is possible to make a display defect manifest itself that is caused by the particle. The method is for detecting the presence of a foreign particle trapped between flexible substrates (21, 26) of a liquid crystal display panel (20), between the substrates liquid crystals filled, and the method includes making the panel pass between supporting rollers (3) arranged to support one surface of the panel, and a pressing roller (4) disposed at a position opposed to a space between the supporting units and arranged to press the other surface of the panel, bending the panel, and displacing the substrates with respect to each other in their surface directions.

Abstract: An engine includes: a crankshaft 12; a camshaft 36; and a timing transmission system 37 which has a drive rotation member 45, a driven rotation member 46, and an endless power transmission member 47, and which provides connection between the crankshaft 12 and the camshaft 36. An access window 55 through which the driven rotation member 46 is attached to and detached from the camshaft 36 is opened in an outer end surface 5c of the cylinder head 5. A lid body 57 for closing the access window 55 is jointed to the outer end surface 5c. The outer end surface 5c of the cylinder head 5 comprises a slanted surface 5c which is inclined so that at least a part of an outer periphery of the driven rotation member 46 on a side opposite from the drive rotation member 45 is exposed from the access window 55.