Abstract: A drill bit penetration measurement system and method for determining a depth of penetration of a rotating drill bit in a bore. A first sensor outputs a first signal representative of a displacement of the leading edge of the drill bit in the bore. A second sensor outputs a second signal representative of a force applied to the leading edge of the drill bit. A processor outputs a third signal representative of the depth of penetration of the leading edge of the drill bit when the leading edge of the drill bit passes from a first medium having a first density to a second medium having a second density. The third signal is based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: A clamp rod (5) is inserted into a housing (3) rotatably around an axis and movably downwards for clamping. The clamp rod (5) has an outer peripheral portion formed with three guide grooves (26) which are arranged peripherally at substantially the same spacing. An engaging ball (29) which is fitted into every guide groove (26) is supported by a lower end wall (3b) of the housing (3). Each of the guide grooves (26) comprises a rotary groove (27) and a straight groove (28) which is in upward continuity with the rotary groove (27). The rotary grooves (27) as well as the straight grooves (28) are arranged in parallel with one another. A partition wall between the adjacent guide grooves (26), (26) has a minimum thickness (T) set to a value smaller than a diameter (D) of the engaging ball (29).

Abstract: A body ornament has first and second positioning arms that are pivotally connected together. The first positioning arm crosses the second positioning arm at first and second crossing points. A generally elongated loop is formed between the crossing points for receiving the body part. The size of the loop is adjustable by pivoting the positioning arms either toward or away from each other. The positioning arms are preferably biased toward each other so that a minimal loop size is initially formed. In one embodiment, the pivot joint between the first and second positioning arms includes a pivot pin. A loop is formed at one end of the pin for receiving a decorative item. In a further embodiment, the pivot joint is in the form of an integral hinge that biases the first and second positioning arms toward each other.

Abstract: A toy car wash play set including a toy vehicle car wash station, including a conveyer belt for transporting a toy vehicle from a first position to a second position, scrubbing rollers for simulating scrubbing rollers used in car washes for full-scale vehicles, and a bubble producing apparatus for simulating soap suds generated by car washes for full-scale vehicles. The conveyer belt and the bubble producing apparatus are motorized. The toy car wash play set further comprises a base section, the car wash station being elevated with respect to the base section. A manually operated elevator for raising a toy vehicle from the base section to the car wash station is provided, along with a rinse station which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator. The toy car wash may further comprise a drying station which includes a fan which may be rotated under the action of a manual actuator and a rotating table in the base section rotatable under the action of a manual actuator.

Abstract: A shading device includes a shell member mounted on a roof of an automobile in a direction transverse to a front-to-rear direction of the automobile and having a receiving space, a winding shaft pivotally mounted in the receiving space of the shell member, a shading member wound around the winding shaft and received within the shell member, a pair of spaced apart base members adapted to be mounted on the automobile and spaced from the shell member in the front-to-rear direction, at least one pair of supporting legs mountable on the base members respectively, and an operating bar connected to one end portion of the shading member and operable to unwind the shading member. The operating bar is mountable detachably on the supporting legs to stretch out the shading member.

Abstract: A method for testing integrated circuits is provided. The method includes providing an excitation voltage to a device, such as a MOSFET. A power supply voltage is also provided to the device, such as a drain to source voltage or VCC. The quiescent power supply current of the device is then measured, such as the IDDQ of the MOSFET. The power supply voltage to the device is then varied, and it is determined whether a change in the IDDQ of the device exceeds a predetermined allowable change.

Abstract: A sound activated toy vehicle includes a body, a chassis, and a motor. The chassis accommodates the body and has at least a front wheel and a rear wheel. The motor is drivingly connected to at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel. The toy vehicle also includes a sound transducer configured to generate an electrical signal in response to detected sound. The toy vehicle also includes a controller having an input electrically connected to the sound transducer and an output electrically connected to the motor. The controller changes the output to the motor when the electrical signal is received by the input from the sound transducer. The toy vehicle also includes a vehicle accessory having an exterior portion. The vehicle accessory is mounted for movement between a first position and a second position by mechanical power from the motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage alloy electrode composed of a hydrogen storage alloy having a CaCu5 region and a Ce2Ni7 region in the crystal structure and satisfies the relational formula: p:q=1:(4+a), where p is the sum of the mole fraction of an element occupying the Ca site of the CaCu5 region and the mole fraction of an element occupying the Ce site of the Ce2Ni7 region, q is the sum of the mole fraction of an element occupying the Cu site of the CaCu5 region and the mole fraction of an element occupying the Ni site of the Ce2Ni7 region, and −0.2≦a≦0.4. Accordingly, although the hydrogen storage alloy electrode contains a little or no Co, it is possible to obtain an electrode having little deterioration due to pulverization of the alloy and a high capacity.

Abstract: Composition for use in a washing machine, characterized by a basic composition evolving its function essentially in the main washing cycle of the washing machine and in the form of a tablet, and at least one particle with at least one core comprising at least one substance evolving its function essentially in the rinsing cycles, and a covering substantially completely surrounding the core or cores comprising at least one compound, whose solubility increases with decreasing concentration of a specific ion in the surrounding medium, the at least one particle being placed in or on the tablet in such a way that the surface of the particle or particles is at the most in partial direct contact with the surface of the basic composition surrounding the same and the concentration of the specific ion in the local environment of the particle or particles is sufficiently high up to a substantially complete dissolving of the tablet in order to prevent a substantial dissolving of the covering or a substantial detachment of

Abstract: A bidirectional database replication system includes a plurality of nodes. Each transaction at an originating node is paused prior to a commit operation. Ready to commit tokens are sent to the other nodes in the system to determine if the other nodes are prepared for the commit operation for the paused transaction. If all of the ready to commit tokens properly return to the originating node from the other nodes, thereby indicating that the other nodes are prepared for the commit operation, then the transaction is commited. For lengthy transactions, ready to sync tokens are assigned at one or more predesignated intermediate points in the transaction, and propagate throughout the system in a similar manner. The transaction continues to execute as long as all ready to sync tokens properly return to the originating node. The pause-before-commit and sync point schemes are used to avoid collisions at any of the nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an improved separator plate. The fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; and a cathode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode, wherein each of the anode-side and cathode-side conductive separator plates is composed of a metal and a conductive coat which has resistance to oxidation and covers a surface of the metal. Alternatively, the above-mentioned separator plates are formed of a metal and a coat having resistance to oxidation and have roughened surfaces with recessions and protrusions, and portions of a top surface of the protruding portions, which lack the coat, are electrically connected to an electrode.

Abstract: The invention comprises a modular illumination system comprising at least one mounting strip; one or more emitter strips each having an outwardly directed face in use through which infra red light may be transmitted; one or more printed circuit boards each carrying a plurality of infra red light emitting diodes; and one or more contact elements. The system is such that the or each emitter strip can interconnect with a mounting strip to form a conduit through which a power supply bus may be carried. Each contact element is adapted to complete an electrical connection between the power supply bus and a printed circuit board mounted behind the outwardly directed face of the emitter strip. The system is easily assembled and is advantageously used to provide a source of covert illumination for security or other monitoring purposes.

Abstract: The specification discloses a fuel cell comprising stacked unit cells, each of the unit cells including a pair of electrodes having a catalytic reaction layer and a gas diffusion layer, an electrolyte layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, a separator having a flow path for supplying a fuel gas to one electrode and a separator having a flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the other electrode, the separators being placed on the outer side of the electrodes and the unit cells being stacked with the separators placed therebetween, wherein at least the catalytic reaction layer, the gas diffusion layer or the flow path has water-repelling properties. Thereby, a fuel cell having a superior cell performance is obtained.

Abstract: The invention includes a bilayer antireflection coating, multilayer antireflection coatings, and a method for making a multilayer antireflective coated substrate. The bilayer and multilayer coatings include layers having metallic oxides, at least one layer in each of such coatings having as a material with an index of refraction at least about 1.90, a layer comprising oxides of zirconium such that when subjected to heat treatments, such as tempering, the coatings substantially retain their optical properties. The coatings further include layers having materials of low index of refraction which include oxides of aluminum which provide coating stability and increased precursor storage life. In the method, the layers are applied by successive dip coating techniques using solvent-based solutions and the resulting coatings can be used to coat large sized substrates which can be later cut, trimmed and/or otherwise shaped and later heat treated with substantial retention of optical properties.

Abstract: The electrochromic devices have an ion conductive layer formed by curing a composition comprising a bipyridinium compound represented by the formula a specific metallocene compound and a precursor of a polymeric solid electrolyte, between two electrically conductive substrates, at least one of which is transparent.

Abstract: A steering wheel for steering and braking an vehicle having a steering and braking system. A first steering wheel segment is spaced from and rotatably fixed to the hub. A second steering wheel segment is spaced from and rotatably fixed to the hub such that the second steering wheel segment is rotatable, in combination with the hub, about the steering axis to steer the vehicle. The second steering wheel segment is pivotably movable between an equilibrium position in which the second steering wheel segment is aligned with the first steering wheel segment to define at least a part of a steering wheel perimeter and a braking position. Wherein the second steering wheel segment is displaced from alignment from the first steering wheel segment to actuate the braking system so that the steering wheel can simultaneously steer and brake the vehicle.

Abstract: A digital data transmission apparatus and a transmission method thereof in accordance with the present invention includes a reproduction section reproducing digital data of at least one channel from a recording medium, a multiplexing section for dividing one frame in a television signal into n transmission areas on a line-by-line basis, and a transmitting section for transmitting data multiplexed by the multiplexing section.

Abstract: A biosensor that enables rapid and simple quantitation of a substrate with high accuracy and demonstrates an excellent preservation characteristic by best retaining enzyme activity is disclosed. The biosensor comprises an electrically insulating base plate, an electrode system including at least a working electrode and a counter electrode formed on the base plate, and a reaction layer containing at least an enzyme and a sugar. The reaction layer may be formed on the electrode system. The enzyme may be selected from glucose oxidase, glucose dehydrogenase, and fructose dehydrogenase. The sugar is trehalose, sucrose, glycerol, mannitol, and ribose. If the enzyme selected is glucose dehydrogenase whose coenzyme is pyrrolo-quinoline quinone, the use of trehalose is preferable.

Abstract: In a method for examination of the surface of an object for a topographic and/or a chemical property, the object-surface is impinged with surface-structure selective biocomponents for examination of a topographic property and/or with chemoselective biocomponents for the examination of a chemical property, together with a nutrient medium and/or an osmotic protective medium for the biocomponents. The biocomponents contained in the nutrient medium and/or the osmotic protective medium are in contact with the object-surface or are spaced from the object surface by less than the detection range of the biocomponents. The object surface is then examined with the biocomponents contained in the nutrient medium and/or the osmotic protective medium by determining at least one examination measurement value. The examination measurement value is compared with a reference measurement value, and conclusions can be drawn about the topographic and/or chemical properties of the object from the result of the comparison.

Abstract: An emblem comprises a first layer of fabric which has been deformed by a calendering process including the application of heat and pressure. A pattern is formed on the first surface of the fabric layer and a second layer of thermoplastic adhesive material is bonded to a second surface of the fabric layer. The application of the calendering process to the fabric layer compresses and deforms the fibers of the fabric to provide a flat, even surface with high luster.