Abstract: A liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head, a liquid supply passage, a gas discharge passage, a gas-permeable film, a switching device, and a differential pressure valve. The gas-permeable film allows only gases to pass therethrough and provides a partition separating the gas discharge passage and the liquid supply passage. The switching device selectively connects a sucking device with one of the gas discharge passage and a liquid suction cap. The differential pressure valve is disposed in a portion of the gas discharge passage between the gas permeable film and the switching device and opens by a suction pressure from the sucking device to communicate the gas permeable film with the switching device when the sucking device is operating, and prevents communication between the gas permeable film and the switching device when the sucking device is not operating.

Abstract: When the driving printed wires from the drive IC are passed between the terminal lands and connected to respective terminal lands, and the printed wires of a number greater than the number of printed wires that can be passed between the terminal lands are required, the driving printed wires from the drive IC are led on the outer side of the columns of the plurality of terminal lands and connected to respective terminal lands.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus includes a belt drive mechanism configured to move a carriage reciprocally placed on guide rails. The belt drive mechanism is comprised of a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a timing belt, which is stretched between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The carriage includes a belt holder, which is configured to hold the timing belt, and a torsion coil spring, which is configured to urge elastically the belt holder to the carriage. The belt holder is disposed in a position to urge the carriage to one of the guide rail, and movable toward the guide rail relative to the carriage.

Abstract: A fluid ejection apparatus includes a fluid ejection head comprising a nozzle through which fluid is ejected, a fluid supply passage through which fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection head, a suction device configured to draw fluid from the nozzle, and a movable member positioned within a predetermined portion of the fluid supply passage. The movable member has openings formed therethrough, and is configured to hold air bubbles therein. The movable member is further configured to move between a first position and a second position downstream of the first position in a fluid flowing direction. When the movable member is in the second position, the movable member partitions the predetermined portion of the fluid supply passage into a first space upstream of the movable member and a second space downstream of the movable member.

Abstract: Methods and compositions that include a method of cementing comprising providing a cement composition comprising water, a hydraulic cement, and an additive comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a stevia retarder and inulin; placing the cement composition in a subterranean formation; and permitting the cement composition to set in the formation.

Abstract: An EEG cap (8) having 64 or 128 electrodes (10) is placed on the head of the subject (11) who is viewing CRT monitor (14). The signals on each channel are amplified by amplifier (17) and sent to an analog-to-digital converter (20). PC (23) captures and records the amplified signals and the signals are processed by signal processing PC (26) performing linear signal processing. The resulting signal is sent back to a feedback/display PC (29) having monitor (14).

Abstract: In a switch (mechanical switch) in a drive circuit, an electric potential according to the temperature of a driver IC is given to a gate electrode from a switch control circuit. During normal operation, a lever is in contact with terminals, and thus a terminal connected to an input terminal to which power is supplied from outside and a terminal connected to the drive circuit are connected to each other. On the other hand, when the electric potential given to the gate electrode is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the lever is deformed due to electrostatic forces between the lever and the gate electrode and separates from the terminal, and thus the connection between the terminals is disconnected. The driver IC including the switch and the above-mentioned circuit is constructed as MEMS.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for providing e-commerce and accounting services to organizations and service providers for offerings ordered by the organization via an on-line interactive communication network. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system whereby a third party intermediary can absorb certain payment, collection and billing functions on behalf of an organization and service providers which provide services to the organization. The term service provider as used herein refers to any entity or individual that provides a service, including the service of providing goods.

Abstract: A balloon catheter having a multi-layered balloon which has a first layer and at least a second layer, and which has noncompliant limited radial expansion beyond the nominal diameter of the balloon. By selecting the polymeric materials forming the balloon layers, and arranging and radially expanding the multiple layers of the balloon in accordance with the invention, a balloon is provided having an improved low compliance, preferably in combination with high flexibility and softness.

Abstract: A multifunction device includes an image scanning unit and an image printing unit. The multifunction device further includes au operation panel which is positioned on a front side of the image scanning unit. The operation panel includes a display portion. Each of the display portion and the operation panel has a horizontal center line and a vertical center line which is perpendicular to the horizontal center line. A length of the vertical center line of the display portion is about equal to a length of the vertical center line of the operation panel. A ratio of a length of the horizontal center line of the display portion to the length of the vertical center line of the display portion is greater than 4/3.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device having a first sheet feeding path and a second sheet feeding path through which a sheet is configured to be fed. A first sheet-guiding member is disposed between the first sheet feeding path and the second sheet feeding path. The first sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a first position and a second position. A second sheet-guiding member is disposed opposite the first sheet feeding path. The second sheet-guiding member is configured to move between a third position and a fourth position. A connecting member is configured to selectively couple the first sheet-guiding member to the second sheet-guiding member.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for editing and parsing compressed digital information. The compressed digital information may include visual information which is edited and parsed in the compressed domain. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for detecting moving objects in a compressed digital bitstream which represents a sequence of fields or frames of video information for one or more captured scenes of video.

Abstract: An antenna connected to a circuit portion and configured to effect transmission and reception of information by radio communication, the antenna including a driven meander line portion which has a feed section connected to the circuit portion and which is a line conductor formed in a meandering pattern, and a parasitic meander line portion which does not have a feed section connected to the circuit portion and which is a line conductor formed in a meandering pattern, the parasitic meander line portion being positioned relative to the driven meander line portion, so as to influence an input impedance of the driven meander line portion, wherein the driven and parasitic line portions have respective extensions of the line conductors formed at respective opposite longitudinal ends of the antenna. Also disclosed in a transponder in the form of a radio-frequency identification tag including the antenna and capable of radio communication with an interrogator.

Abstract: Method for enhancing in a mammalian cell the activity of an enzyme associated with Gaucher Disease by administering a competitive inhibitor of glucocerebrosidase in an amount effective to enhance the activity of the enzyme. Preferred compounds for use in the method are imino sugars and related compounds. In particular, C8-12-alkyl derivatives of N-alkyl-deoxynojirimycin, isofagomine compounds, and calystegine compoiunds are effective to enhance glucocerebrosidase activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for extracting solids (23; 123) from a suspension (22; 122) containing the solids (23; 123) and suspension liquid (32; 132) in a continuously or virtually continuously operating filter device (10; 110) using a filtering material (26; 126), on the one side of which, the high-pressure side (30; 130), a higher pressure prevails than on its other side, the low-pressure side (42; 142), and which passes successively through a plurality of working zones (I-V; I-IV) of the filter device (10; 110) in a working direction (U), the suspension (22; 122) being supplied to the filtering material (26; 126) on its high-pressure side (30; 130) in a first working zone (I) and being filtered, the suspension liquid (22; 122) flowing through the filtering material (26; 126) on account of the difference in pressure between the high-pressure side (30; 130) and the low-pressure side (42; 142) while at least some of the solids (23; 123) are deposited on the filtering material (26; 126).

Abstract: An electrical appliance includes an upper and lower main bodies, in which the upper main body is pivotally movable about a side edge of the lower main body to selectively be in an open state in which the top surface of the lower main body is exposed and a closed state in which the upper main body is disposed above the lower main body. A liquid crystal display panel is disposed on the top surface of the lower main body in the vicinity of a side edge near the front surface thereof. A notched opening is formed in the upper main body so that the display surface of the liquid crystal display panel is visible when the upper main body is in the closed state.

Abstract: A water-based ink set for ink-jet recording includes: the infrared absorptive ink that contains the antimony-tin composite oxide fine particles and water; and the color ink that contains the coloring agent and water. The water-based ink set for ink-jet recording is applicable to an ink-jet recording method for recording an image by ejecting the inks onto a recording medium to cause the inks to adhere to the recording medium. When an image having infrared absorptivity is recorded, at least the infrared absorptive ink is ejected onto a recording medium to cause the infrared absorptive ink to adhere to the recording medium.