Abstract: Methods and apparatuses consistent with the present invention provide for improved cleaning while minimizing mechanical damage to clothes in automatic washer cycles using time-varying wash chamber oscillations. An automatic washer has a wash chamber with a central axis and is rotatable about the central axis. Items are loaded into the wash chamber. Wash liquid is supplied into the wash chamber. The wash chamber is oscillated about the central axis by time-varying oscillations.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire according to the present invention enhances visibility of a mark formed on a sidewall portion, and reduces cure trouble due to an air pocket produced during molding of the mark. Two circumferential projections 9 extending in the circumferential direction of the tire are disposed on the surface 2a of a sidewall portion 2 at a prescribed distance in the radial direction of the tire. At least two radial projections 10 extending in the radial direction of the tire and connected to the two circumferential projections 9 are disposed at a prescribed distance in the circumferential direction of the tire between the two circumferential projections 9. A region defined by the circumferential projections 9 and radial projections 10 is formed in a depression surface 11 depressed from the surface 2a of the sidewall portion 2. At least one mark 8 protruding beyond the surface 2a of the sidewall portion 2 is provided on the depression surface 11.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure regulating valve, the opening of which can be automatically changed in a pressure-related manner, including a control diaphragm that is subjected to a reference pressure, to the gas pressure as well as to a governor spring, wherein a change in the differential pressure causes an adjustment of the control diaphragm and the latter itself or a closing element actuated by it changes the opening through an outflow cross-section, and wherein a structure that is arranged adjacent to the outflow cross-section on the diaphragm side forms a stop for the control diaphragm or for the closing element in the closed position of said control diaphragm.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning and maneuvering a sludge, or manure, distributing hose used in fertilizing a field includes a first frame adapted for coupling to a three-point tractor hitch and a second frame pivotally coupled to an aft portion of the first frame. Attached to and disposed aft of the second frame is a horizontally oriented, rotatable wheel assembly adapted to engage, lift and position the hose and to provide for changes in the direction of the hose as it is pulled through a field during fertilizing. The wheel assembly is horizontally and vertically pivotable about the first frame for respectively facilitating maneuvering of the hose in a field and for raising the wheel assembly for transport. A locking mechanism is provided for engaging and preventing rotation of the wheel assembly when desired. Hydraulic cylinders connected to the tractor's hydraulic system allow for changing the configuration of the apparatus.

Abstract: A processing method for a workpiece which includes a first modified region forming step of forming first modified regions along first division lines and second division lines near the front side of the workpiece, a second modified region forming step of forming second modified regions at intersecting regions between the first division lines and the second division lines at predetermined positions between the back side of the workpiece and the first modified regions formed in the workpiece by performing the first modified region forming step, and a dividing step of applying an external force to the workpiece after performing the first and second modified region forming steps to thereby divide the workpiece along the first division lines and the second division lines into individual chips.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing an analog signal that is generated by a high energy photon detector in response to a high energy photon interaction. A digital edge is generated representing the time of the interaction along a first path, and the energy of the interaction is encoded as a delay from the digital edge along a second path. The generated digital edge and the delay encode the time and energy of the analog signal using pulse width modulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a pull type farm implement has an elongated tongue being drawn by a motor vehicle having a vehicle hitch on the rear end thereof configured for attachment to the tongue, the apparatus including a hydraulic hitch mechanism configured to have one end portion attached to the vehicle hitch and an opposite end portion configured to be attached to the tongue of the implement in a non-pivoting manner, the hitch mechanism having at least one hydraulic cylinder for selectively adjusting the lateral position of the front end of the tongue. An optional GPS is operable to detect the position of the tool bar relative to the desired path and repeatedly generate position signals and apparatus for controlling the hydraulic hitch mechanism to adjust the lateral position of the tongue so that the implement follows the desired path of movement in response to the GPS signals.

Abstract: To provide a CAM system and method which can facilitate change of a machining posture and a machining procedure, and can aid an operation of forming an optimum machining path. Machining features capable of being integrated into one are obtained and a machining procedure for the integrated machining feature is obtained. Based on the machining procedure, design data is converted to manufacturing data. The manufacturing data capable of machining the integrated machining feature together can be therefore obtained in contrast with the case of separately machining the individual machining features which constitute the integrated machining feature.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus holds a plurality of intermediate smoothed images smoothed at a plurality of preset level values, reduces the N-th frame image of a moving image received from the outside to generate a reduced image, performs a smoothing process on the generated reduced image at the plurality of preset level values to generate a plurality of intermediate smoothed images, stores the generated intermediate smoothed images in an intermediate smoothed image storing unit, acquires, when generating the smoothed images of the frames after the (N+1)-th frame, one or a plurality of intermediate smoothed images from the plurality of intermediate smoothed images of the N-th frame stored in the intermediate smoothed image storing unit, synthesizes the acquired intermediate smoothed images of the N-th frame and the frames after the (N+1)-th frame of the moving image received from the outside, and generates smoothed images.

Abstract: Provided is a pneumatic tire having an improved driving stability with reduced weight by use of an inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer. A pneumatic tire of the present invention includes: a pair of bead portions; a carcass layer bridged between the pair of bead portions; a belt layer disposed on an outer circumferential side of the carcass layer; an inner liner layer disposed along an inner surface of the carcass layer, the inner liner layer including a film made of a thermoplastic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer composition that is obtained by blending a thermoplastic resin with an elastomer; and bead cores buried in the bead portions, respectively. The inner liner layer is wound up around the bead cores from an inner side of the tire to an outer side thereof.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a low-frequency-component storage unit that stores therein a low-frequency component generated from a frame in an input moving image composed of a plurality of frames, a low-frequency-component generating unit that generates a low-frequency component from an N-th frame of the input moving image, and stores the low-frequency component in the low-frequency-component storage unit, and a dynamic-range correcting unit that corrects a dynamic range by using an (N+1)-th or later frame of the input moving image and the low-frequency component of the N-th frame stored in the low-frequency-component storage unit.

Abstract: A laser processing method for a semiconductor wafer including a groove forming step of applying a pulsed laser beam having an absorption wavelength to the semiconductor wafer along a division line formed on the semiconductor wafer to thereby form a laser processed groove along the division lines on the semiconductor wafer, wherein the pulse width of the pulsed laser beam to be applied in the groove forming step is set to 2 ns or less, and the peak energy density is set in the range of 5 to 200 GW/cm2.

Abstract: A leak detector for use with a piping system, where the leak detector includes a housing configured to be attached to a conduit and a valve configured and arranged for axial movement with respect to the housing. Additionally, there is a magnet attached to the valve for movement therewith. Embodiments of the invention also preferably include a magnetically-actuated switch positioned within the leak detector along an axial flow path of a fluid such that axial movement of the magnet triggers the switch, which indicates fluid flow through the leak detector. In certain embodiments, there is also a leak passageway that permits a relatively small amount of fluid to pass to an outlet side of the valve even when a diaphragm is in seating contact with the valve if fluid pressure on the outlet side of the valve is slightly lower than fluid pressure on an inlet side of the valve.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel includes a glass substrate with pixel electrodes that are arranged in a matrix shape, TFTs that are connected to the pixel electrodes, and a glass substrate with an opposing electrode and color filters that are arranged in a matrix shape. A liquid crystal layer is formed in a space between the glass substrates by filling a ferroelectric liquid crystal into the space. When writing display data, and when deleting display data that has been written, a voltage, not including 0V, that becomes a voltage potential, or in other words, a voltage that is greater than a threshold voltage at which the optical characteristic of the filled ferroelectric liquid crystal changes is applied between the opposing electrode and pixel electrodes. An image is displayed over all gradation numbers, including the low-gradation side, and the display characteristic is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for the production of mono-esters and di-esters from the reaction of HMF and a reactant selected from a diacid or a diacid derivative; typical reactants are PAN, phthaloyl dichloride, dimethyl phthalate, maleic acid, and maleic anhydride or mono-esters that can be prepared from HMF and MAN.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a three-dimensional acoustic panning device enabling a three-dimensional-panning of a sound source as a sound image panning.

Abstract: An example embodiment of a method for making gold nanoparticles includes steps of reacting a gold salt with a phosphino amino acid. Example phosphino amino acids include trimers, with a particular example being a trimeric amino acid conjugate containing one phosphino group. In an example method of the invention, the gold nanoparticles may be produced in timer periods of less than about 3 minutes, and at temperatures of less than about 30° C. Other methods of the invention are directed to methods for stabilizing gold nanoparticles, and to methods for making gold nanochains.