Abstract: The present invention provides a switching power supply which includes a main rectifying and smoothing circuit (40) and a secondary rectifying and smoothing circuit (50) for rectifying and smoothing an output obtained at a secondary coil (22) of a converter transformer (20) whose primary coil (21) is supplied with a switching output from a switching element (30) which switches a direct input.

Abstract: An information center sends an OK message for a log-in and version information for a menu to a moving body terminal device. The moving body terminal device compares the version number of the menu held therein and the informed version number. If they are different, the device asks for menu update. In response to the request, the information center supplies difference data indicative of the difference between the menus of different versions to the moving body terminal device. Using the difference data, the moving body terminal device updates the menu held therein. With this arrangement, the menu used in the moving body terminal device can be effectively updated.

Abstract: A tape end detecting device for detecting the end of the tape enclosed within a cassette includes a light emitting element for generating a light pulse signal, a pair of light receiving element, a light guide means comprising a central prism and a pair of side prisms disposed at both sides of said cassette loaded in position, and a tape end signal generating circuit adopted for generating a tape end detecting signal only when it receives the light pulse signal. Therefore, the tape end detecting device operates to generate an output upon receipt of the light signal, but does not generate when the light coming from outside is received.

Abstract: An air filter element consists of an annularly arranged pleated filter medium having a plurality of radially extending pleats. Two sides or legs of each pleat are bonded to each other at the outer peripheral side to form an outer bonded section while one sides or legs of the adjacent pleats are bonded to each other at the inner peripheral side to form an inner bonded section, thereby forming a fluid path extending between the adjacent pleats along the length of each pleat. Additionally, outer and inner resilient seal members are so provided that a part of each outer bonded section is embedded in the outer seal member while a part of each inner bonded section is embedded in the inner sealing member.