Abstract: A method and system for controlling a flow control valve, comprising measuring a flow at a suitable point of a flow process and calculating a pressure drop across the valve from a Cv curve of the valve, a measured valve opening ?m, and the measured flow (Qm). From this calculated pressure drop, a flow set point (Qsp), and an inverse Cv curve of the valve, a new valve opening (?c) providing the desired flow is calculated. The control is thus adapted to each operating point and its prevailing flow gain and linearizes the dependence between flow control and flow.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is provided with a judgment unit which makes a gas leak judgment based on a pressure drop of fuel gas in a gas leak detection portion by consuming the fuel gas in the gas leak detection portion of the fuel gas supply system by electric power generation of a fuel cell and causing auxiliary devices to consume the electric power generated by the fuel cell, and comprises a control unit which increases consumption of the fuel gas in the gas leak detection portion by increasing the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices. With this arrangement, where the electric power generation of the fuel cell and the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices result in an insufficient consumption of the fuel gas, the consumption of the fuel gas can be accelerated by increasing the electric power consumption of the auxiliary devices. Thereby, a rapid gas leak judgment can be achieved.

Abstract: The invention provides an electronic component and a manufacturing method thereof that can achieve an improved adhesion strength when the electronic component is solder-mounted onto an external substrate and can thereby obtain considerably improved electric properties and reliabilities, etc. An electronic component, which is a capacitor 1, has: a circuit element 5a formed on a substrate 2; an electrode layer 5b connected to the circuit element 5a; passivation layers 6 and 8 that cover the electrode layer 5b; and terminal electrodes 9a and 9b connected to the electrode layer 5b via via-conductors Va and Vb formed through the passivation layers 6 and 8, the terminal electrodes 9a and 9b being formed to cover the side wall of the passivation layers 6 and 8.

Abstract: A solenoid valve apparatus includes a solenoid valve and a switching device that switches between a first state in which the working fluid in the pump chamber is discharged when the solenoid valve functions as a regulator valve and a second state in which discharge of the working fluid from the pump chamber is prohibited when the solenoid valve functions as the electromagnetic pump.

Abstract: The substrate comprises a first silicon layer, a target layer made from silicon-germanium alloy-base material forming a three-dimensional pattern with first and second securing areas and at least one connecting area. The first silicon layer is tensile stressed and/or the target layer contains carbon atoms. The first silicon layer is eliminated in the connecting area. The target layer of the connecting area is thermally oxidized so as to form the nanowire. The lattice parameter of the first silicon layer is identical to the lattice parameter of the material constituting the suspended beam, after said first silicon layer has been eliminated.

Abstract: A planetary reduction gear apparatus has a sun gear having external teeth; planetary gears, each having external teeth and configured to be meshed with the sun gear; planetary shafts, each being a rotation shaft of the planetary gear; a ring gear having internal teeth and configured to be meshed with the planetary gears; and a planetary carrier including an annular base plate and an annular back plate. The planetary carrier supports the planetary shafts between the annular base plate and the annular back plate and determines a relative position between planetary gears. The annular base plate is integrally formed with one end of the planetary shaft to support the one end. The annular back plate supports the other end of the planetary shaft. At least one of the planetary shaft and the planetary carrier has lower stiffness in its part adjacent to the one end of the planetary shaft than stiffness of its part adjacent to the other end thereof.

Abstract: To provide a vehicle control device that improves the accuracy of an automatic follow-up control in an inverted pendulum vehicle, a vehicle control device according to the present invention performs an automatic follow-up running control in an inverted pendulum vehicle so as to automatically follow a preceding vehicle.

Abstract: An organ perfusion apparatus and method monitor, sustain and/or restore viability of organs and preserve organs for storage and/or transport. Other apparatus include an organ transporter, an organ cassette and an organ diagnostic device. Organ viability is restored by restoring high energy nucleotide (e.g., ATP) levels by perfusing the organ with a medical fluid, such as an oxygenated cross-linked hemoglobin-based bicarbonate medical fluid, at normothermic temperatures. In the hypothermic mode, the organ is perfused with a medical fluid, preferably a simple crystalloid solution containing antioxidants, intermittently or in slow continuous flow. Viability of the organ may be automatically monitored, preferably by monitoring characteristics of the medical fluid perfusate. The perfusion process can be automatically controlled using a control program.

Abstract: A sewing machine operating device includes a plurality of operating members configured to be operated by a user with his/her foot, the operating members having respective detectors which each detect an action of the foot in a contact or non-contact manner and include at least two detectors mounted so as to be opposed to each other while the foot placed on the base is interposed between the detectors from sides of the foot, a signal output unit configured to generate an operation signal according to operation of each operating member and deliver the operation signal via a connecting mechanism to the sewing machine body, and a position adjusting mechanism configured to change a position of at least one of the operating members mounted on the base, the position adjusting mechanism including a distance adjusting mechanism adjusting a distance between the at least two detectors in an increasing or decreasing direction.

Abstract: A steering control device for a vehicle includes a steering characteristic setting unit setting the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle in a predetermined range (near an induction target tire angle for guiding to a target locus), which is determined on the basis of the target locus upon vehicle traveling, to be wider than the range of a steering manipulation angle corresponding to a tire angle outside of the predetermined range. A reduction gear ratio of a steering mechanism in the predetermined range increases.

Abstract: At a predetermined position during the lateral movement of a carriage 10, a gap switching mechanism 30 for switching a gap between a recording head 15 and a recording medium is provided. The recording head 15 is mounted facing downward on the carriage 10. A part close to one side on a lower end of the carriage is slidably and pivotably supported by a guide shaft 11 of a round shaft shape. A switching block member 13 provided with several abutment portions 52 and 53 with different heights, which are positioned so as to be opposed to a slide portion 12a at an upper end of a frame 12 extending in a vertical direction along a back of the carriage. The A switching block member 13 is pivotably supported by the carriage. A first pushing portion 56 is located at a left end of the frame so as to abut against the switching block member 13.

Abstract: A boundary layer energizer (20) for energizing a boundary layer flow (33) over a surface (22), the boundary layer energizer (20) comprising one or more passages (24) terminating in one or more respective holes (26) provided on the surface (22), wherein the one or more passages (24) comprises at least one fin (25) configured so as to generate a vortex flow in the one or more passages (24) such that, when in use, a fluid emanating from the one or more passages (24) flows in a vortex.

Abstract: In an electric power steering system, a motor drive controller that has an inverter circuit board and a control circuit board housed in a control case is provided so as to overlap a control case fixation surface formed at an end portion of a gear housing in the axial direction of a steering shaft, so that it is possible to reduce the projection in the axial direction of a motor as compared to the conventional one. In addition, a metallic board is used for the inverter circuit board and the inverter circuit board is fixed to the control case fixation surface so as to be in surface contact therewith, so that it is possible to efficiently dissipate the heat generated on the inverter circuit board into the gear housing and a fixation support plate.

Abstract: A method for driving a discharge lamp that supplies an AC current to a discharge lamp having a first electrode and a second electrode so as to produce discharge and to cause the discharge lamp to emit light includes, during a steady operation in which the AC current is supplied to the discharge lamp, changing a difference between the absolute values of average current values for two polarities during one cycle of the AC current in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a power tool with a rational placement of a dynamic vibration reducer within a tool body. A representative hammer drill embodied as a power tool according to this invention has a dynamic vibration reducer 151 which is placed within an internal space 110 located to a motion converting section 113 side of a driving motor 111 within a body 103. An inner edge of the internal space is defined by an outer edge of the motion converting section 113, and an outer edge of the internal space is defined by an outer periphery of the driving motor 111.

Abstract: A carrier for carrying a power tool may include a tool bit holder supporting at least one tool bit and a tool bit restraint device that is capable of preventing the at least one tool bit from being dropped out of the tool bit holder. The tool bit restraint device includes a tool bit restraint member. The tool bit restraint member is arranged and constructed so as to substantially uniformly press the at least one tool bit, thereby restraining the at least one tool bit.

Abstract: Process for producing fabrics comprising at least one layer of unidirectionally arranged polymeric tapes with the tapes comprising at least a core component, the process comprises the steps of forming at least one layer of unidirectionally arranged polymeric tapes in a weaving machine with the polymeric tapes being used as warp yarn and a binding thread being used as weft yarn or with the polymeric tapes being used as weft yarn and a binding thread being used as warp yarn and subsequently consolidating the at least one monolayer using pressure and heat, characterized in that the melting temperature of the binding yarns lies below the consolidating temperature and the melting temperature of the core component of the polymeric tapes lies above the consolidating temperature.