Abstract: An encoding apparatus includes an extremum detector configured to detect extremum pixels having extrema in input image data and the number of extrema corresponding to the number of the extremum pixels; and an encoder configured to encode the image data by an encoded-data amount that is based on the number of extrema detected by the extrema detector. A decoding apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive input of an encoding parameter that is set in accordance with the number of extrema corresponding to the number of extremum pixels having extrema in image data and input of encoded image data encoded by a data amount that is based on the encoding parameter; and a decoder configured to decode the encoded image data input via the input unit, on the basis of the encoding parameter input via the input unit, and to output decoded image data.

Abstract: A resin roll (1) comprises a lower winding layer (3) comprising a fiber-reinforced resin formed on an outer periphery of a roll core (2), and an outer sleeve (5) comprising a synthetic resin formed on the outside through an adhesive layer (4). A non-woven fiber aggregate layer (8) which constitutes an outer periphery of the lower winding layer (3) is formed such that a tape-shaped non-woven fiber aggregate in which a fiber material mainly comprising inorganic fibers is coupled with a binder is sequentially transferred and the non-woven fiber aggregate is impregnated with a liquid thermosetting resin and wound around the outer periphery of the roll core (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a display apparatus and a display method that enable multiple users to view high resolution moving images from various viewing points of the users. A light-control screen 25 is rotated, and projectors 211 to 21N irradiate the screen 25 from various directions with light rays corresponding to image data captured from those directions. In this case, when the forward direction of the light-control screen 25 is aligned with the projecting direction of one of the projectors 21n, an image corresponding to light rays emitted from the projector 21n is displayed on the light-control screen 25. The present invention may be applied to a display apparatus for displaying images.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to adjust the focus position of an optical pickup. A brightness measuring apparatus having a half mirror and an objective lens focusing on the half mirror is disposed at a position facing an optical pickup PUi, in a manner such that the objective lens OB of the optical pickup PUi faces the half mirror. Then, the optical pickup PUi is operated to start a focus servo, while the position of multi-lens provided in the optical pickup PUi is changed continuously, thereby measuring a highest brightness of a spot light image incident on the half mirror through the objective lens, by virtue of the brightness measuring apparatus. Subsequently, a highest brightness change caused by changing the position of the multi-lens ML is inspected so as to fix the multi-lens ML at a position when the maximum highest brightness has been obtained, thereby effecting an optimum focus position adjustment for an optical pickup.

Abstract: A collapsible telescopic steering apparatus includes a steering column having an outer tube and an inner tube. The tubes can be switched between a press-fit state and a loose-fit state. The position of a steering wheel is adjusted by way of relative sliding movement of the loose-fitted tubes along an axial direction thereof. A shock absorbing projection is provided on at least one of an inner periphery of the outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube, as confronting to the counterpart tube. The shock absorbing projection is normally spaced away from the counterpart tube but is deformed as pressed against the counterpart tube in association with relative sliding movement of the press-fitted tubes upon collision, thereby absorbing the shock of the collision.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a transfer section which receives, from an external source, a second program for modifying a function of a first program stored in a read-only memory (ROM) and information required in activation of the second program, and which writes the program and the information to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and a load section which activates the second program on the basis of the information written to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory to modify the function of the first program.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a reduction gear mechanism (17) for reducing the rotation speed of an output shaft (16) of an electric motor (15). The reduction gear mechanism (17) comprises an inscribed gear (39) rotatable interlockingly with the output shaft (16), and a circumscribed gear (40) in which the inscribed gear (39) is inscribed. An endless belt connects a driving pulley (41) integrally rotatable with the circumscribed gear (40) and a driven pulley (42) disposed so as to surround a steerable shaft. By heightening the reduction gear ratio by the speed reduction using the inscribed gear (39) and the circumscribed gear (40), the reduction gear mechanism (17) as a whole can achieve a high reduction gear ratio without making the diameter of the driving pulley (41) very small.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A collapsible telescopic steering apparatus comprises a steering column having an inner tube and an outer tube which are engaged with each other. The engagement state of the tubes is switchable between a press-fit state and a loose-fit state. Upon vehicle collision, the tubes in the press-fit state are slid relative to each other for shock absorption. For telescopic adjustment, the tubes in the loose-fit state are slid relative to each other to adjust the fore-and-aft position of a steering wheel.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A detecting unit for detecting a torque applied to a rotor according to rotation of the rotor having an input shaft and an output shaft connected with each other by a torsion bar and a detection circuit board connected with the detecting unit are molded with synthetic resin material to form a mold member. The installation of the mold member into a housing, which has a cylinder portion to surround the rotor and a retainer having an opening formed at the peripheral wall of the cylinder portion, is achieved by inserting the mold member into the retainer from the radial direction through the opening of the retainer.

Abstract: An electric power steering system is provided, which comprises a steering assist electric motor, and a reduction gear mechanism for reducing a rotation speed of a rotatable shaft of the electric motor. The reduction gear mechanism comprises a worm shaft driven by the rotatable shaft, and a worm wheel driven by the warm shaft. The electric power steering system further comprises a joint for coupling the rotatable shaft to the worm shaft for transmission of a driving force. Longitudinally biasing means is provided in association with the joint for longitudinally biasing the worm shaft.

Abstract: A foldable transportation container comprises a container body formed into a box having a rectangular bottom, and a pair of first side walls and a pair of second side walls provided along the periphery of the bottom wall, rotating means provided on the lower ends of the side walls so that the side walls can be folded inward of the container body, an engagement member provided on the outside face of the first side wall. Engagement portions are provided on both ends of each second side wall. The first side walls are folded onto the upper face of the bottom wall and then the second side walls are folded onto the first side walls. An operation portion is provided at the substantial center of each engagement member. Engagement projections are provided at the ends of each engagement member. The engagement portions are engaged with the engagement projections to limit inward rotation of the first side walls.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced resin roll (1) comprises a roll core (2) and a covering layer (4) formed around a periphery of the roll core (2) through an under winding layer (3) interposed therebetween. The covering layer (4) contains a fiber material (6) mainly composed of inorganic fibers. The fiber material (6) is uniformly dispersed in the covering layer (4). The covering layer (4) is formed by impregnating a tape-shaped nonwoven fiber complex in which the fiber material (6) is coupled by a binder, with a liquid thermosetting resin material and winding the impregnated fiber complex around the under winding layer (3).

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a rack shaft movable in the axial direction. The rack shaft is meshed with a pinion rotated in response to the operation of a steering member. The rotation of the output shaft in an electric motor is decelerated by first and second gears which are meshed with each other. A motion conversion mechanism for converting the rotation of the second gear into the axial movement of the rack shaft comprises a rotating cylinder rotated in synchronization with the second gear and a screw shaft. The screw shaft is integrally provided coaxially with the rack shaft and is screwed into the rotating cylinder through a rolling member. A screw groove in the screw shaft and the teeth in the first gear are twisted in the same direction.

Abstract: A basic manufacturing method of a resin roll includes a procedure in which a synthetic resin outer cylinder (1) molded in the shape of a cylinder is arranged so as to cover an outer surface of a metal core (2), a clearance formed between metal core (2) and outer cylinder 1 is filled with a thermoset adhesive (3), and adhesive (3) is hardened to integrate the constituents into one piece through bonding. The manufacturing method of a resin roll has a feature in that integration of the constituents into one piece through bonding is performed by first hardening of the adhesive in a state where outer cylinder (1) is held at a first temperature and adhesive (3) is thereafter heated at a second temperature higher than the first temperature for second hardening.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical pickup astigmatism adjusting method capable of easily correcting an astigmatism even if the spot shape of a light beam converged on an optical disc is not a true circle. An optical pickup astigmatism adjusting system of the present invention finds an inter-focal distance L0 between a focal position where a light beam is converged in RAD direction and another focal position where a light beam is converged in TAN direction, and a further inter-focal distance L45 between a focal position where a light beam is converged in a direction inclined 45 degrees from RAD direction and another focal position where a light beam is converged in a direction inclined 45 degrees from TAN direction, thereby measuring an astigmatism in accordance with the inter-focal distances L0 and L45. Then, an installation angle of a reflection mirror is adjusted in accordance with the inter-focal distances L0 and L45, thus correcting the astigmatism.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises a speed reduction mechanism for decelerating the rotation of an output shaft in an electric motor for steering assist. The speed reduction mechanism comprises a driving gear connected to the output shaft in the electric motor and a driven gear meshed with the driving gear. One of respective tooth sections in the driving gear and the driven gear includes a tooth section formed of a material having a relatively low hardness, and the other tooth section includes a tooth section formed of a material having a relatively high hardness. The profile of the tooth section formed of the material having a relatively low hardness is shifted in the direction in which the thickness at the root of the teeth of the tooth section is increased. The profile of the tooth section formed of the material having a relatively high hardness is shifted in the direction in which the thickness at the root of the teeth of the tooth section is decreased.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus comprises an electric motor for producing a steering assist force, and a speed reduction mechanism for decelerating the rotation of an output shaft in the electric motor. The speed reduction mechanism comprises an input pulley driven by the electric motor, an output pulley connected to a steering shaft, and a belt for connecting the input pulley and the output pulley to each other. The belt comprises a helical toothed belt. The input pulley and the output pulley respectively include helical toothed pulleys meshed with the helical toothed belt.