Abstract: A crash sensor is constructed for triggering a passive safety device, such as an air bag or a seat belt tightening device. The crash sensor is capable to distinguish between different types of impacts such as front impacts, rear impacts, side impacts, and minor impacts, for example occurring in a repair shop. For example, the air bag shall be deployed only in response to a frontal impact. The crash sensor has at leasst two acceleration sensors having sensitivity axes arranged at different angles relative to the longitudinal vehicle axis or travel direction. The output signals of the acceleration sensors are integrated in respective integrated circuits and supplied to a threshold value circuit which in turn provides the necessary signal for activating a trigger circuit.

Abstract: Thin, elongated material, such as ribbons, tapes, and the like, are passed through a treatment zone or chamber substantially in a frictionless manner to avoid distorting the elongated material. This purpose is achieved in that a plurality of direction changing stations in a treatment chamber simultaneously function as transport stations. The transport is accomplished by a flowing transport fluid which is applied to the elongated material through at least one, preferably several jet nozzles in the direction reversing stations. The fluid is applied in a direction substantially corresponding to the transport direction and passes around a guide surface where it forms a travelling cushion between the guide surface and the elongated material. The flow speed of the fluid corresponds at least to the transport speed or the inlet speed into the chamber.

Abstract: A liver function testing apparatus measures n-times the values .DELTA.logT.sub.1 and .DELTA.logT.sub.2 corresponding to pulse wave signals obtained upon passage through a prescribed optical path in vital tissue. A sensor (30) having first and second light sources (3, 4) and a light receiving element (6) is attached to a testee (5) before injection of a specific dye. A value .alpha..sub.0 is calculated by using a statistical computation with two variables as to n .DELTA.logT.sub.1 and .DELTA.logT.sub.2 on the basis of an equation of .DELTA.logT.sub.1 =.alpha..sub.0..DELTA.logT.sub.2..DELTA.logT.sub.1 and .DELTA.logT.sub.2 corresponding to pulse wave signals are measured in response to intensity levels of first light and second light passing through the vital tissue during a prescribed time following an injection on the basis of decision outputs representing levels of the first light and the second light from the light sources after the specific dye is injected.

Abstract: A drill bit has a throw-away drill bit tip in the form of an insert (21, 31) secured to a shank (22, 32) to be mounted in a drilling tool. The insert (21, 31) is disengageably mechanically connected to the shank (22, 32) without any screws. The insert (21, 31) is formed of a silicon carbide whisker reinforced alumina sintered body, and the shank (22, 32) is made of steel. Due to this structure, the insert (21, 31) has an excellent wear resistance and an adhesion resistance. The shank (22, 32) has a sufficient toughness against breakage. Such a drill bit does not require any resharpening for continuous use during bit life.

Abstract: A drill bit has a throw-away drill bit tip in the form of an insert (21, 31) secured to a shank (22, 32) to be mounted in a drilling tool. The insert (21, 31) is disengageably mechanically connected with the shank (22, 32) without any screws. At least a cutting edge of the insert (21, 31) is made of a diamond or cubic boron nitride sintered body, and the shank (22, 32) is made of steel. Due to this structure, the insert (21, 31) has an excellent wear resistance and an adhesion resistance. The shank (22, 32) has sufficient toughness against breakage. Such a drill bit does not require any resharpening for continuous use during bit life.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence or absence of an abnormality in a signal x having a frequency f from a signal source, is implemented by a circuit arrangement for deriving a now signal provided at the present time by the signal source, and for deriving a past signal at a point of time preceding the present time by an interval of time M/f where M is an integer. The circuit arrangement also detects an abnormality in the signal and/or the signal source compared to the new signal and to the past signal. The now signal x.sub.m is provided by the signal source at a point of. Another now-signal x.sup.'.sub.m is provided at a point of time preceding the now time t1 by t-1/4f. The signals Xm and xm are derived as a pair. A past signal x.sub.n corresponding to the signal x.sub.m and another past signal x'.sub.n corresponding to the signal x'.sub.m are also provided as a pair.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for the identification and encrypting/decrypting of messages permits converting an input message provided as characters, in character-by-character fashion and depending on preceding characters, to form an output message. An address branching network is employed for encrypting/decrypting. The address branching network includes selectable branches that are carriers of encrypting/decrypting characteristics. The selection of such branches is done in a step-by-step selection run through the branching network to convert any specific input message of optional length character-by-character into a specific selection path through the branching network. The output message is formed on the basis of the encrypting/decrypting characteristics from the branches selected on said selection path.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic insulated wire involves preparing an extrudable gel compound formed by dissolving a metal-organic compound in a solvent and adding at least one thermoplastic polymer or its monomer to the mixture to make the gel compound extrudable. The so prepared extrudable gel compound is then extruded around the outer periphery of a conductor for coating the conductor with a gel coating. Thereafter a heat treatment is performed for sintering the gel compound to form a ceramic coating.

Abstract: A radiation member (10) for a semiconductor device is formed by an aluminum alloy member having a low thermal expansion aluminum alloy section (11) and a high radiation aluminum alloy section (12) which are joined and integrally formed with each other. A semiconductor device (13) is carried on the major surface of the low thermal expansion aluminum alloy section (11). The low thermal expansion coefficient aluminum alloy has an average thermal expansion coefficient of not more than 17.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. The high radiation aluminum alloy is larger in thermal conductivity than the low thermal expansion aluminum alloy.

Abstract: A housing for a semiconductor device is improved to avoid thermal distortion. The housing is formed of an Al-Si compound material and includes a housing member having a space for holding the semiconductor device. Occlusion gas contained in the Al-Si compound material is removed so that at least any nitrogen gas remaining in occlusion after degassing is 0.1 percent by weight or less. Since the housing member substantially does not contain occlusion gas, the housing is not subject to thermal distortion even though the housing is exposed to heat in operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of producing a single crystal of a high-pressure phase material having a pressure region of at least 1000 atm. in an equilibrium state at 25.degree. C. This method is characterized in that a plurality of single-crystalline plates (3, 16) of the high-pressure phase material, as a substrate on which growth is then caused. The plates are so formed that the crystal orientations thereof are substantially equal to each other. The plates are arranged so that single major surface (3a) thereof are substantially flush with each other and so that the crystal orientations thereof are substantially along the same direction to form the substrate (1). The growth takes place out of a vapor-phase whereby a single-crystalline layer (4) of the high-pressure phase material is formed on the substrate (2) by vapor-phase synthesis.

Abstract: A plurality of current detectors are provided in a plurality of prescribed spots of a transmission line for locating a fault caused, e.g. by lightning. A plurality of discriminators are provided in correspondence to the plurality of current detectors. Each discriminator receives detected signals from an arbitrary pair of the plurality of current detectors for detecting a relative difference between arrival times of the detected signals while extracting low-frequency components from the detected signals respectively and for detecting a phase difference between the extracted low-frequency components. A locator receives relative time difference data and phase difference data from the plurality of discriminators, to locate a faulty point in the transmission line on the basis of the received data.

Abstract: A signal modification circuit receives an input signal and produces an output having a modified characteristic. When the signal modification circuit is embodied in an audio circuit receiving an analog audio signal having a first variant level at its input, the audio circuit produces an output signal having a second variant level in which a frequency characteristic in a high frequency range is modified so that the second variant level decreases in accordance with a function of l/fm (f being frequency and m being an integer determined depending upon the nature of the audio signal) relative to the first variant level while being trapped in selected discrete frequencies. For this purpose a combination of a low-pass filter and a plurality of trap filters connected in series with one another, or a combination of a low-pass filter and a plurality of band-pass filters connected in parallel to one another.

Abstract: A field effect type liquid crytal display device suitable for use in a high level multiplexing drive, has liquid crystal molecules twisted with an angle from 180.degree. to 350.degree. which are held between two polarizers. The liquid crystal display device generates an interference color due to a birefringent effect of liquid crystal. The occurrence the of this interference color can be prevented by laminating color compensation plates but if the thickness of the optical system increases, a deviation in a display position or a change in the contrast occurs dependent on the observing direction. A phase compensation for the color interference of the liquid crystal is achieved by setting the retardation of the liquid crystal cells having a large twist angle of the liquid crystal molecules and by laminating thin phase plates. Thus, the display quality is improved and the optical axis of an achromatic display can be easily adjusted.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate (1, 10) having a conductive electrode (2, 10), and a first semiconductor layer (3.sub.1, 11.sub.1) of a first conductivity type, a substantially intrinsic second semiconductor layer (3.sub.2, 11.sub.2) and a third semiconductor layer (3.sub.3, 11.sub.3) of the opposite conductivity type successively deposited on the conductive electrode. The hydrogen content in at least the first and second semiconductor layer (3.sub.1, 11.sub.1) is 10% or less. At least the second semiconductor layer (3.sub.2, 11.sub.2), is made of an amorphous semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an insulated wire coil is performed by covering the outer peripheral surface of a conductor with a mineral insulating layer, then coating the mineral insulating layer with a precursor solution of an oxide insulating material prior to winding the wire into a coil. After completion of the coil the precursor solution is dried.

Abstract: A method for storing a semiconductor substrate preserves the semiconductor substrate at a temperature not more than 10.degree. C. in a sealed manner. After the surface of the semiconductor substrate has been cleaned by etching or the like, the semiconductor substrate is put in a bag of a synthetic resin sheet. An inert gas is introduced into the bag or the bag is brought into a vacuum state, the bag is sealed, and then maintained at the above temperature, whereby the cleaned surface is not recontaminated for a prolonged period of time.

Abstract: A structural component of titanium or titanium alloy is provided with a protective coating made substantially of an oxidation resistant and diffusion inhibiting base layer (2), an intermediate layer (3) forming a titanium fire inhibiting layer, and a cover layer (4) forming a passivating sealing layer. These layers are applied by various methods.