Abstract: The rotary vacuum pump includes a pump housing, a rotary shaft, a thrust movement restriction mechanism and a first elastic member. The pump housing has therein a pump chamber. The rotary shaft has thereon a rotor rotatably disposed in the pump chamber. When the rotor is rotated with the rotary shaft, gas in the pump chamber is pumped thereby to draw gas into the pump chamber. The thrust movement restriction mechanism is provided for allowing the rotor to displace in the pump chamber in one thrust direction due to thermal expansion thereof during the operation of the rotary vacuum pump. The first elastic member is provided for urging the rotary shaft in the other thrust direction opposite to the one thrust direction.

Abstract: An in-vehicle optical disc reproducing apparatus according to the present invention reads disc specific information from an optical disc, and inputs vehicle specific information from an IC card, or the like. Next, the in-vehicle optical disc reproducing apparatus creates an encryption key from the disc specific information and the vehicle specific information, and then uses the created encryption key to encrypt content stored on the optical disc before the encrypted content is stored in a HDD. During the above process, if shaking of a vehicle is detected, the processing of storing the encrypted content to the HDD is stopped. When the encrypted content is reproduced, the disc specific information is checked. Only when an original disc is inserted, the encrypted content is decrypted by use of the stored encryption key to generate the original content so that the original content can be reproduced.

Abstract: A terminal transmits disk identification information and user information to a content delivery server for purchase of initial content in the case where the content to be stored in an optical disk is provided to a user. The user information and the content delivered by the content delivery server are written on the optical disk. The optical disk storing the initial content is set in the terminal for purchase of additional content. The terminal transmits, to the content delivery server, disk identification information, the user information and content information. The content delivery server determines whether or not the purchase of the additional content is authorized. When the content delivery server determines that the purchase of the additional content is authorized, the content delivery server delivers the additional content to the terminal. The terminal writes the additional content on the optical disk.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus, comprises a recording/reproducing portion, which is configured to record contents data coded on media, being same in a copyright protection regulation that is applied by the media differing in formats thereof, and to reproduce the contents data on the media, and a coding processor portion, which is configured to take out coded information of the contents data, to conduct a coding process thereon, wherein identification is made on format information of the medium, to hold the coding information within the apparatus, separately, for each of the format information, thereby holding the information of copyright protection regulations of the media differing in the formats thereof, so as to share them in common.

Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a vacuum pump when stopping the gas transferring operation thereof, the vacuum pump having a housing in which a pump chamber is formed and a gas transferring body which is rotatably disposed in the pump chamber for transferring gas, the method comprises the steps of reducing rotational speed of the gas transferring body to a first preset speed below a second preset speed that is lower than a normal speed of the gas transferring body during normal gas transferring operation of the vacuum pump, maintaining the speed of the gas transferring body below the second preset speed, and stopping the rotation of the gas transferring body when the temperature of the housing reaches a predetermined temperature which is lower than that of the housing during the normal gas transferring operation of the vacuum pump.

Abstract: A vacuum pump having a rotary shaft that is rotated by a drive source has a main pump and a sub pump. The main pump includes a pump chamber and a gas transferring body that is located in the pump chamber. The main pump is driven by the drive source through the rotary shaft for transferring gas to an exhaust space. The sub pump is connected to the exhaust space for partially exhausting the gas from the exhaust space. The sub pump is driven by the same drive source. The displacement volume of the sub pump is smaller than that of the main pump.

Abstract: A cooling unit which contains refrigerant for exchanging heat with an object member of cooling includes a refrigerant passage and cooling means. The refrigerant passage allows the refrigerant to circulate therethrough. The cooling means communicates with the refrigerant passage for supplying the refrigerant passage with the refrigerant. The cooling means includes a refrigeration circuit, a compressor, a condenser, decompression means, an evaporator, a refrigerant supply path, a refrigerant return path, refrigerant control means and first pressure control means. The refrigerant control means has an on mode which allows the refrigerant to circulate through the refrigerant passage at a flow rate which enables the refrigerant to maintain gas-liquid two-phase flow by allowing the condenser to communicate with the refrigerant passage, and an off mode which prevents the refrigerant from circulating through the refrigerant passage by preventing the condenser from communicating with the refrigerant passage.

Abstract: A diaphragm pump includes a diaphragm, a diaphragm case and a driver. The diaphragm has a center point and an outer peripheral portion. The diaphragm case supports the diaphragm at the outer peripheral portion thereof, thereby defining a pump chamber in the diaphragm case. The driver holds the diaphragm at the center point thereof. The diaphragm is deformed as the driver is reciprocated, thereby accomplishing a fluid to flow into and to be discharged out of the pump chamber. The driver includes a fitting member and a flange. The fitting member fits the diaphragm and has a first surface for contacting the diaphragm. The flange is formed outside the fitting member. The flange has a second surface for contacting the diaphragm when the diaphragm is deformed toward the pump chamber. The second surface has a first convex surface region which is formed continuously with the first surface.

Abstract: A vacuum pump has a housing and a pump mechanism accommodated in the housing. An exhaust-passage forming portion is located outside of the housing. The exhaust-passage forming portion forms an exhaust passage, which exhaust passage guides gas discharged from the pump mechanism toward the outside of the vacuum pump. A thermal conductor is connected to the outer surface of the exhaust-passage forming portion. The thermal conductor is made of a material having a thermal conductance of which is greater than that of the material for the exhaust-passage forming portion.

Abstract: A pulse signal generator comprising a magnetic element able (1) to cause a large Barkhausen jump; a detection member (2) for detecting a magnetic change in the magnetic element to generate a pulse signal; and a pair of magnetic field sources (3, 4, 6, and 7) provided in parallel to each other on both sides of the magnetic element such that their poles (3A, 4A) are opposed to each other so that when an object (5A) advances from one of opposite poles to the other of the magnetic field sources, a magnetic field applied to the magnetic element changes, causing a large Barkhausen jump in the magnetic element, thus causing the detection member to generate a pulse signal.

Abstract: A vacuum pump has a housing and a pump mechanism accommodated in the housing. An exhaust-passage forming portion is located outside of the housing. The exhaust-passage forming portion forms an exhaust passage, which exhaust passage guides gas discharged from the pump mechanism toward the outside of the vacuum pump. A thermal conductor is connected to the outer surface of the exhaust-passage forming portion. The thermal conductor is made of a material having a thermal conductance of which is greater than that of the material for the exhaust-passage forming portion.

Abstract: A vacuum pump draws gas by operating a gas conveying body in a pump chamber through rotation of a rotary shaft. The vacuum pump has an oil housing member. The oil housing member defines an oil zone adjacent to the pump chamber. The rotary shaft has a projecting portion that projects from the pump chamber into the oil zone through the oil housing member. Stoppers are located on the rotary shaft to integrally rotate with the rotary shaft and prevent oil from entering the pump chamber. The stoppers are located along the axial direction of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A vacuum pump having a rotary shaft that is rotated by a drive source has a main pump and a sub pump. The main pump includes a pump chamber and a gas transferring body that is located in the pump chamber. The main pump is driven by the drive source through the rotary shaft for transferring gas to an exhaust space. The sub pump is connected to the exhaust space for partially exhausting the gas from the exhaust space. The sub pump is driven by the same drive source. The displacement volume of the sub pump is smaller than that of the main pump.

Abstract: A vacuum pump has an alternating current motor, a rotary shaft and a gas transferring body. The alternating current motor runs at a certain speed based on frequency of alternating current and is sufficiently supplied with the alternating current. Gas is transferred from a certain space by the gas transferring body driven by the alternating current motor through the rotary shaft. A method for controlling a vacuum pump includes keeping a rotational speed of the alternating current motor at a second predetermined rotational speed, detecting a value of the alternating current to the alternating current motor, keeping the rotational speed at a first predetermined rotational speed that is higher than the second predetermined rotational speed when the detected alternating current value exceeds a first predetermined value, and keeping the rotational speed at the second predetermined rotational speed when the detected alternating current value becomes equal to a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A vacuum pump draws gas by operating a gas conveying body in a pump chamber through rotation of a rotary shaft. The vacuum pump has an oil housing member. The oil housing member defines an oil zone adjacent to the pump chamber. The rotary shaft has a projecting portion that projects from the pump chamber into the oil zone through the oil housing member. Stoppers are located on the rotary shaft to integrally rotate with the rotary shaft and prevent oil from entering the pump chamber. The stoppers are located along the axial direction of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A pulse signal generator comprising a magnetic element (1) able to cause a large Barkhausen jump; a detection member (2) for detecting a magnetic change in the magnetic element (1) to generate a pulse signal; and a pair of magnets (3, 4) provided on both sides of the magnetic element (1) such that their poles are opposed to each other; a magnetic circuit formation adjusting member (8, 9) attached to at least one of the magnets (3) so that when an object (5A) passes a pair of poles (3A, 4A) on one end of the magnets (3, 4), a magnetic field applied to the magnetic element changes to cause a large Barkhausen jump in the magnetic element (1), thus causing the detection member (2) to generate a pulse signal.

Abstract: A pulse signal generator comprising a magnetic element able (1) to cause a large Barkhausen jump; a detection member (2) for detecting a magnetic change in the magnetic element to generate a pulse signal; and a pair of magnetic field sources (3, 4, 6, and 7) provided in parallel to each other on both sides of the magnetic element such that their poles (3A, 4A) are opposed to each other so that when an object (5A) advances from one of opposite poles to the other of the magnetic field sources, a magnetic field applied to the magnetic element changes, causing a large Barkhausen jump in the magnetic element, thus causing the detection member to generate a pulse signal.

Abstract: An enclosure defined between two panel members is filled with a discharge gas. One of the panel members carries a sealing material surrounding the enclosure and has an evacuating and gas-filling port, while the other panel member carries a port blocking member formed in an appropriate positional relation to the port. The whole is heated, so that the sealing material may soften and join the panel members to each other along the edges thereof and form a gas-tight seal therebetween, while the blocking member also softens to close the port. The softened blocking member stays within the enclosure and the port. Nothing projects from either of the panel members at any angle thereto. A strong plasma display panel having only a minimum thickness as required can, therefore, be realized. If the joining of the panel members and the closing of the port are simultaneously carried out, the panel can be made quickly and at a low cost. The closing of the port can alternatively be done after the joining of the panel members.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of rotary head type such as a rotatable video tape recorder has a tape guide for guiding the magnetic tape when the tape runs on and around a cylinder carrying rotary heads. A tape loading movable member carries the tape guide. A tape loading drive is provided for driving the tape loading movable member so as to move the tape guide between a tape loading position where it places the magnetic tape in contact with the cylinder through a predetermined angle and an unloading position where it keeps the magnetic tape away from the cylinder. A locating unit is provided on at least one of the cylinder and a cylinder base carrying the cylinder. The locating unit is adapted for engaging with the tape loading movable member in the tape loading position so as to locate the tape guide with respect to the cylinder.