Abstract: A seat latch mechanism accommodating a pair of seatback positions, comprising a housing, a latch assembly, and an actuation assembly operably supported by the housing and in operable communication with the latch assembly to selectively unlatch the latch assembly. The housing is adapted to receive a striker assembly having a first and second striker bar, whereby the latch mechanism is adapted to lock the first striker bar in a first latched position and the second striker bar in a second latched position. The actuator serves to apply a force to either of the first or second striker bars when in the first and second latched positions respectively to reduce noise and avoid chucking. The actuation handle serves to release the striker assembly from the latch mechanism and also to allow the first and second striker bars to toggle between the first and second latched positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus comprising a wavelength variable light source for shifting a wavelength of light stepwise within a predetermined range and applying the light with the shifted wavelength onto a light transmissible object that is to be measured and is provided with a gap; a camera for taking an image of an interference fringe formed by the light transmitted by said object, correspondingly to each step of the shifted wavelength; an image memory for storing images taken by said camera; and means for obtaining a change in the intensity of the images taken by said camera, at each of predetermined positions of each image over said predetermined wavelength range; and means for determining gap values of a plurality of points of the gap based on the obtained changes in the intensity.

Abstract: A discharge lamp includes a luminous bulb in which a luminous material is enclosed and a pair of electrodes are opposed to each other in the luminous bulb; and a pair of sealing portions for sealing a pair of metal foils electrically connected to the pair of electrodes, respectively. Each of the pair of metal foils has an external lead on a side opposite to a side electrically connected to a corresponding electrode of the pair of electrodes. At least one of the pair of sealing portions is provided with a reflective film on a surface of the sealing portion in a portion where a connection portion of the external lead and the metal foil is sealed. The reflective film contains a material having a reflectance larger than that of a material constituting the sealing portion.

Abstract: The image processor of the present invention generates a more natural synthesized image from camera images taken with a plurality of cameras capturing the surroundings of a vehicle. A parameter storage section stores a plurality of image synthesis parameter groups representing the correspondence between the camera images and the synthesized image and having different spatial or temporal resolution relations. A parameter selection section selects the image synthesis parameter group according to the output of a vehicle motion detection section for detecting the motion of the vehicle such as the driving speed and direction. An image synthesis section generates the synthesized image from the camera images according to the selected image synthesis parameter group.

Abstract: A bracket for use in mounting a safety switch in series with a thermocouple provides improved positioning of the switch to detect conditions causing safety concerns. The bracket includes adjustable support members for providing connection of the safety switch to a thermocouple and maintaining the position of the safety switch for improved detection. The bracket provides for mounting the safety switch connected in series to the thermocouple within a water heater for detection of overheat conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle roof includes a roof panel having at least one longitudinal side, an upward extending bead integrally formed along the longitudinal side, at least one claw fixedly attached to the bead, and at least one cross member attached to and extending from the claw, across an upper surface of the roof panel. The bead preferably extends along a substantial length of the longitudinal side, and includes an inward relief formed therein to enable attachment of the claw. A roofliner may also be fixedly attached to and run across a lower surface of the roof panel. The vehicle roof, and roofliner preferably define a prefabricated unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compact solid state silicon-based condenser microphone systems suitable for batch production. The combination of the different elements forming the microphone system is easier and more economical to manufacture compared to any other system disclosed in prior art. In addition the invention is compatible with electronic equipment manufacturing processes, such as SMD pick and place techniques. The invention uses a transducer chip comprising a chamber, a diaphragm that is positioned at the first lower surface and covering the second opening of the transducer chip. The transducer chip is flip-chip mounted onto a post-processed chip also comprising a chamber. The microphone system can be electrically connected to an external substrate by conventional techniques such as wire bonding.

Abstract: A switching device includes a strip-shaped actuator element including a shape memory alloy, which is connected to a movable contact part of a switching contact. It is intended that an at least largely extended shape has been impressed into the actuator element at an annealing temperature. It is intended that, in the operating state in which the switching function is not triggered, the element rests on a deflecting element with frictional engagement in such a way that the deflecting element exerts, on the concave inner side of the actuator element, a counterforce partially counteracting the curving of the latter in this state.

Abstract: An inkjet head driving circuit driving piezoelectric actuators 21 for ink ejection provided on an inkjet head H is provided with an analog switch 71 (72) whose input can be switched between the output voltage of a D/A converter 62 (63) and ground potential, and outputs either that output voltage or ground potential to a waveform generating portion 64. The analog switch 71 (72) is configured such that when a digital signal for generating a voltage rising waveform (voltage falling waveform) with the waveform generating portion 64 is input into the D/A converter 62 (63), the input into the analog switch 71 (72) is switched from ground potential to the output voltage of the D/A converter 62 (63).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for forming a sheet of polymeric material, such as polycarbonate. A forming mold is provided having halves that engage for forming a heated sheet therebetween. Each of the halves defines an interior cavity having a peripheral edge. The sheet is retained between the peripheral edges of the halves and a vacuum is generated within one of the cavities for drawing the sheet therein, whereby a sensing mechanism detects a draw depth for initiating a cooling mechanism to cool the sheet to a temperature below a glass transition temperature of the material. A series of retention mechanisms are provided about the peripheral edge of one of the halves, for biasing the sheet into engagement with the peripheral edge of the opposing half. A trimming mechanism is further provided for trimming the perimeter of the sheet to a desired form.

Abstract: A high resolution hyperspectral imaging apparatus (10) for analyzing atmospheric constituents. The apparatus (10) includes an optical telescope that receives an optical beam to be analyzed. A beam splitter (20) separates the optical beam into a first beam and a second beam that have separate wavelengths. A first spectrograph (72) analyzes the first beam and a second spectrograph (74) analyzes the second beam. Both spectrographs (72, 74) include a lens assembly (36, 44), a grating (42, 50) and a detector (54, 52). The gratings (42, 50) separate the beams into representative wavelengths that are recorded by the detectors (54, 52).

Abstract: A power supply unit for an internal combustion engine capable of more stably providing drive power to a control circuit of the internal combustion engine and capable of more rapidly starting up the control circuit.

Abstract: A battery management system used for monitoring battery pack characteristics for electric or hybrid vehicles. The battery management system includes a processing unit which is easily connected to a battery pack of a vehicle for testing the battery pack according to the test method of the present invention. The battery management system tests a battery pack and records, stores and analyzes test data. The battery management system may also transfer data to a computer unit. The computer unit can share data and analysis on a network or the Internet.

Abstract: An operating shaft (1) for operation of switching contacts in a multipole electrical power breaker has a shaft tube (2), which is intended to provide a rotating bearing, and levers (4) which project from it and are composed of dye-cast metal. These levers (4) are mounted on the shaft tube (2), which is formed from a tubular semi-finished product composed of a metal which has a higher melting point than that of the levers (4). All the levers on an operating shaft (1) can be formed as an integral dye-cast body (3) or as individual dye-cast bodies. The described configuration allows operating shafts (1) for power breakers of different sizes to be manufactured integrally.

Abstract: An intruder-resistant latch useful for latching an aircraft flight deck door includes a damper for reducing noise while the door is being operated. The latch also includes a driver member having coated pins that reduce noise while the latch is in operation. The latch allows a flight deck door to be operated with minimal disturbance to a flight crew at work and/or crew members who may be resting. The latch is fabricated of ballistic impact-resistant material(s).

Abstract: A magnetically navigable atherectomy device includes a cutting head, a flexible drive shaft having a proximal and a distal end, with the cutting device on the distal end, and a magnet associated with the cutting head, the magnet of sufficient size to allow the cutting head to be oriented by an externally applied magnetic field. The magnet may be a portion of the cutting head made from a magnetically permeable or permanent magnetic material, a portion of the drive shaft made from a magnetically permeable or permanent magnetic material; a separate magnet between the cutting head and the drive shaft, a portion a magnet on a sheath covering the drive shaft. Alternatively a guide wire can provided with a magnetic material on its distal end. Through the application of a magnetic field and/or a magnetic gradient, the artherectomy device can be guided to the location of the atheromatous material in the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a relaying method using the ratio of induced voltages or the ratio of flux linkage increments. The protective relaying method for power transformers with one or more phases includes the first step of obtaining primary and secondary voltages and currents of the transformer; the second step of calculating induced voltages, induced voltage differences, ratio of primary and secondary induced voltages, or ratio of primary and secondary induced voltage differences from the currents and the voltages; the third step of calculating at least one predetermined decision parameter derived from at least one predetermined equation; the fourth step of deciding whether an internal winding fault occurs by comparing the decision parameter to the induced voltages, the induced voltage differences, the ratio of primary and secondary induced voltages, or the ratio of primary and secondary induced voltage differences.

Abstract: A vehicle article carrier specifically adapted for use on a roof of a cab of a pickup truck. The vehicle article carrier includes a slidably extendable article carrier sub-system which allows the overall length of the vehicle article carrier to be effectively increased to better support elongated items such as bicycles, kayaks, canoes and virtually any other item having a length such that would make it awkward to support on an otherwise conventional article carrier assembly having a longitudinal length short enough to be secured to the roof of the pickup truck.