Abstract: An optical film, which has been subjected to an orientation treatment, containing a low-molecular weight compound, in which a birefringence ?n(550 nm) is larger than zero (0) in an orientation direction, and the optical film satisfies the following expressions (1) and (2); and a phase difference plate, a polarizing plate and a liquid crystal display using the same: 0.5<?n(450 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.0; and??Expression (1) 1.05<?n(630 nm)/?n(550 nm)<1.5.

Abstract: A content reproducing device comprises a display unit and a speaker for reproducing a content together with a remote control to command the operation of the content reproducing device. The remote control has a video button operated to display a content list of reproducible video contents. When the video button of the remote control is pressed, the content reproducing device displays a content list of reproducible video contents on the display unit. When a content selection operation is performed by a user using the remote control to select an arbitrary content from the content list, the content reproducing device reproduces the selected content by the display unit and the speaker. The content reproducing device can find and reproduce a target content with fewer operations, so that it is easier to use it.

Abstract: A novel composition is disclosed. The composition comprises, at least, a polymer material and inorganic fine particles having adsorbed thereto molecules having at least one adsorptive group to the inorganic fine particle and a group capable of forming a liquid crystal core. A film made of the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an electronic device system where a controller and a target device are connected to each other via an IEEE 1394 serial bus, the controller comprises: command sending means for sequentially sending via the bus a power control command to change the power status of the target between the power-on state and the power-off state and a power status command to inquire the power status of the target device; change time calculating means for calculating power status change time needed for the target device to change the power status between the power-on state and the power-off state based on a response to the power status command that is received from the target device; and time interval determining means for determining a time interval from sending of the power control command to sending of the power status command based on the power status change time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information recording medium including a substrate; and a recording layer provided onto the substrate, to which information can be recorded and from which the information can be replayed by irradiating the medium with a laser having a short wavelength, specifically a highly versatile semiconductor laser having a wavelength near 405 nm, wherein the recording layer includes a specific compound, and the recording medium has superior recording properties. An information recording method capable of recording information at high density using a laser having a short wavelength is also provided.

Abstract: A novel nonlinear optical material is disclosed. The nonlinear optical material comprises a nonlinear optically-responsive layer formed by exposing a layer of a composition to light under an external electric field or an external magnetic field. The composition comprises a liquid crystalline/nonlinear optically-responsive compound having a polymerizable group and a nonlinear optically-responsive group, and a compound having at least one photoresponsive isomerization group, or comprises a polymer having a nonlinear optically-responsive group and a photoresponsive isomerization group.

Abstract: The title of a program with a recording duration longest among all recording durations is recorded as the program title of a relevant program file. Thereby, even when a user has performed an operation to record a program on a hard disk recorder by a method other than a timer recording, the program title of a program that is most likely to be a program a user really desires to record can be recorded as the program title of a program file created by the recording. Accordingly, a DTV or a STB can display on its display appropriate program titles in a program file list at the time of playback of a previously recorded program.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information recording medium, to which information can be recorded and from which the information can be replayed by irradiating the medium with a laser having a short wavelength, specifically a highly-versatile semiconductor laser having a wavelength near 405 nm, and having superior recording properties, as well as information recording method capable of recording information at high density using a laser having short wavelength.

Abstract: A novel optical member is disclosed. The optical member comprises a region having a distributed refractive index, wherein the region comprising a polymer having deuterium-substituted carbon atoms and halogen-substituted carbon atoms. A novel composition for preparation of optical member is also disclosed. The composition comprises an ester of an alcohol having a halogen-substituted carbon atom and a propenoic acid or derivative thereof having a deuterium-substituted carbon atom, a polymerization initiator for the ester and an organic compound having a low molecular weight and a different refractive index from that of a polymer of the ester.

Abstract: A cowling assembly for an outboard motor includes an improved construction that can supply relatively cool air containing little water to the induction device and can also supply air to cool engine components without reducing the charging efficiency. The outboard motor has an engine that includes an air induction device and is enclosed within the cowling. The cowling assembly defines a closed cavity in which the engine is contained and has an air intake system. An air intake duct structure introduces air into the cavity. The intake duct structure includes a plurality of relatively narrow connection passages and has an expansion chamber portion disposed on the downstream side of the passages. Intake noise is reduced by this construction. In one preferred form, the cowling assembly additionally has a second intake system. One or more connection passages communicate with the first air intake system and the second air intake system.

Abstract: An engine includes an air induction system, a fuel supply system, a lubrication system and a ventilation system. The fuel supply system has a fuel reservoir in which a space for fuel vapors is defined. The lubrication system lubricates a component of the engine with lubricant. The ventilation system couples a crankcase of the engine with the air induction system so as to deliver oil vapors in the crankcase to the air induction system. A fuel vapor passage is arranged to couple the space of the fuel reservoir with the ventilation system.

Abstract: An engine includes an air induction system, a fuel supply system, a lubrication system and a ventilation system. The fuel supply system has a fuel reservoir in which a space for fuel vapors is defined. The lubrication system lubricates a component of the engine with lubricant. The ventilation system couples a crankcase of the engine with the air induction system so as to deliver oil vapors in the crankcase to the air induction system. A fuel vapor passage is arranged to couple the space of the fuel reservoir with the ventilation system.

Abstract: An engine includes an air induction system, a fuel supply system, a lubrication system and a ventilation system. The fuel supply system has a fuel reservoir in which a space for fuel vapors is defined. The lubrication system lubricates a component of the engine with lubricant. The ventilation system couples a crankcase of the engine with the air induction system so as to deliver oil vapors in the crankcase to the air induction system. A fuel vapor passage is arranged to couple the space of the fuel reservoir with the ventilation system.

Abstract: An engine includes an air induction system, a fuel supply system, a lubrication system and a ventilation system. The fuel supply system has a fuel reservoir in which a space for fuel vapors is defined. The lubrication system lubricates a component of the engine with lubricant. The ventilation system couples a crankcase of the engine with the air induction system so as to deliver oil vapors in the crankcase to the air induction system. A fuel vapor passage is arranged to couple the space of the fuel reservoir with the ventilation system.

Abstract: An engine includes an air induction system, a fuel supply system, a lubrication system and a ventilation system. The fuel supply system has a fuel reservoir in which a space for fuel vapors is defined. The lubrication system lubricates a component of the engine with lubricant. The ventilation system couples a crankcase of the engine with the air induction system so as to deliver oil vapors in the crankcase to the air induction system. A fuel vapor passage is arranged to couple the space of the fuel reservoir with the ventilation system.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for use with an engine having four vertically-arranged cylinders and multiple charge formers prevents air or vapor pockets from accumulating within the fuel pump or fuel lines. A pair of fuel pumps are mounted vertically one above the other. A fuel inlet port of each pump is formed at the lower-most portion of the pump. A fuel discharge port is formed at the upper-most portion of each port. A conduit attached to the top fuel pump's discharge port supplies fuel to an uppermost and lowermost carburetor. A conduit from the lowermost fuel pump supplies fuel to the middle two carburetors. The uppermost carburetor's fuel inlet port is positioned vertically higher than the top fuel pump's discharge port. The second carburetor's fuel inlet port is positioned vertically higher than the second fuel pump's discharge port.

Abstract: A number of embodiments of four cycle outboard motors that have water cooled engines and an oil pan that is formed in the upper portion of the drive shaft housing. An exhaust pipe collects exhaust gases from an exhaust guide and delivers to a cavity that is formed in the oil pan by an interior wall thereof In many embodiments the exhaust pipe does not terminate below the lower surface of the oil pan and several arrangements are disclosed for delivering idle exhaust gases to the area between the exterior of the exhaust pipe and the interior surface of the oil pan that defines the cavity. Various arrangements are disclosed for conveying idle exhaust gases to this area and discharging them to the atmosphere through and above the water exhaust gas discharge. These arrangements incorporate a system for precluding water from entering into the engine through its exhaust system including the idle discharge.

Abstract: An anti-reflection film comprises a low refractive index layer provided on one surface of a transparent support. The low refractive index layer has a refractive index of not higher than 1.45. The low refractive index layer has a surface average reflectance of not higher than 1% within the visible region of 400 to 800 nm. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, an infrared absorbing layer is provided between the transparent support and the low refractive index layer. According to the second embodiment of the present invention, an infrared absorbing layer is provided on the other surface of the transparent support. The infrared absorbing layer contains an infrared absorbing dye. The infrared absorbing layer decreases a transmittance of the film to not higher than 40% at a wavelength within the infrared region of 800 to 1,100 nm. Plasma display panels using the anti-reflection films are also disclosed.

Abstract: An overheat protecting system and method for an internal combustion engine wherein a preventive action is initiated if the engine temperature exceeds normal temperature but is still below the danger level. The engine is protected by providing additional cooling such as by supplying additional fuel to the engine. The dangerous condition may also be sensed if the engine temperature increases at more than a predetermined rate for more than a predetermined time or if the engine temperature is more than a predetermined amount for more than a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet is composed of a transparent support, an orientation layer and an optically anisotropic layer. The orientation layer is made of a polymer, and the optically anisotropic layer is made of a liquid crystalline compound. The polymer of the orientation layer is chemically bonded to the liquid crystalline compound of the optically anisotropic layer via the interface of these layers. An element composed of a transparent support and a polymer layer of a polyvinyl alcohol at least one hydroxyl group of which is substituted with a group having a vinyl moiety, an oxiranyl moiety or an aziridinyl moiety, is useful for the preparation of the optical compensatory sheet.