Abstract: For manufacturing tape or yarns, plastic polymer material is extruded into a film (20, 21) having a pattern of parallel, longitudinal, alternating ribs (31, 32) and deep, narrow grooves (33, 34) on each of its two opposite sides, at least a plurality of the grooves (33, 34) in one side each being located diametrically opposite one of the grooves (34, 33) in the other, opposite side. Yarns and tapes obtained in the form of or from such a film typically have a substantially improved tensile strength and are more supple and smooth.

Abstract: A resist pattern is formed with a phase-shifting mask 4 in which transparent regions through an opaque region are different 180.degree. in phase from one another. In this case, when positive resist 1 is subjected to exposure, the widths of the opaque regions 5A and 5B of the mask 4 are changed according to a pattern adjacent thereto, so that a fine pattern having the same line width is formed with high accuracy.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an dispersion compensating optical fiber technology, comprising a central core, a middle part with a refractive index lower than this central core, and a cladding with a refractive index higher than said middle part and lower than said central core, characterized in: an outer diameter of said middle part being 2.5.about.3.5 times an outer diameter of said central core; a relative refractive index difference of said cladding to said middle part being -0.08.about.-0.2% with the refractive index of the cladding being zero; and having substantially single-mode transmission in the wavelength 1.55 .mu.m band, the chromatic dispersion being -80 ps/nm/km or less, the dispersion slope being +0.08 ps/nm.sup.2 /km or less, and the bending loss being 1.0 dB/m or less.

Abstract: An n.sup.+ drain layer 2 and an n.sup.- layer 1 on n.sup.+ drain layer 2 constitute a substrate for the semiconductor arrangement. A p-type base region 3 is in the surface portion of n.sup.- layer 1. An n.sup.+ source region 6 is formed in the surface portion of p-type base region 3. A p.sup.+ region 5, deeper than n.sup.+ source region 6 and shallower than p-type base region 3, partially overlaps n.sup.+ source region 6 and extends thoroughly into the portion of p-type base region 3 surrounded by n.sup.+ source region 6. A channel portion 7 is in the surface portion of p-type base region 3 extending between n.sup.- layer 1 and n.sup.+ source regions 6. A gate electrode 8 is disposed above channel portion 7 with a gate insulation film 9 interposed therebetween. A source electrode 11 contacts with p.sup.+ region 5 and n.sup.+ source region 6. An inter-layer insulation film 10 on gate electrode 8 insulates source electrode 11 from gate electrode 8. A drain electrode 12 is on the surface of n.sup.

Abstract: An operation shaft receiving-type electric component capable of reducing the number of parts required therefor and preventing generation of noise. An electric component body which includes an electric component unit varied in electric properties due to a variation in rotation angle of the operation shaft is arranged between an operation section of an operation shaft and a mechanism unit. A push-type lock and release mechanism is constituted by a guide member held stationary, both a slider member and a rotary slider each rotatably fitted on the operation shaft, a spring holder and a spring member. The guide member is provided with a plurality of primary guide grooves and secondary guide grooves, in which projections of the slide member are fitted, respectively. The rotary slider is provided with a plurality of projections, which are fitted in the main guide grooves, respectively.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for use in the treatment of psoriasis, having isopropyl myristate as a first active ingredient and a different anti-psoriatic agent as a second active ingredient; preferably they are combined in the same pharmaceutical composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for accepting a request for use of a virtual prepaid card involving the following stages:a user of a virtual prepaid card is connected to a server containing a data base, particularly version numbers, which are incremented when the corresponding cards are empty or obsolete,said user is authenticated with the server by communicating thereto an authentication sequence and a version number,said server supplies these numbers to a security processor having the capacity to recalculate the authentication sequence and check the validity thereof,in the case of the validity thereof, the processor transmits to the server a consumption authorization,after receiving said authorization the server gives agreement to the use request, within the limits of the credit remaining on the card and the validity date of the latter.

Abstract: A portable apparatus including a transparent and flexible protective lid which openably and closably covers a touch pad which also serves as a display screen. The lid has a U-shaped slit portion formed therein and has a protrusion on a surface of the U-shaped slit portion facing the touch panel. When the protective lid is closed, the slit portion may be pushed down to actuate the touch panel. When the protective lid is open, the touch panel may be directly actuated.

Abstract: A process for production of a moulded ceramic and/or metallic body from a ductile material comprising one or more ceramic and/or metallic components, which material is fed into the pre-heated mould cavity (1) of a moulding tool. The moulded tool includes at least two mould parts (4, 5) of which at least one wholly or partly consists of a microporous material with communicating micropores. At least one mould cavity (1) comprising at least one mould surface (2, 3) exhibiting closed micropores is arranged in the microporous mould part (4, 5) or in a microporous section (6) thereof. The microporous mould part (4, 5) or the microporous section (6) thereof is pre-heated by supply of warm fluid, such as a heated gas. Said part (4, 5) or section (6) is after terminated moulding cooled by supply of cold fluid, such as a condensed gas. the invention includes in a further aspect a moulded body produced according to the process.

Abstract: A laundry washing machine comprises a tub (11) rotatably housing a wash drum (12) supporting laundry items, water supply means (13) for the supply of water to the tub (11), level sensing means (15, 16, 17) for sensing the liquid level in the tub (11) and liquid draining means (20, 32, 33) for draining off wash and rinse liquid from the tub (11) said liquid draining means including a bottom valve (20) with a valve housing (21) and a movable valve member (27) adapted to sealingly bear against an annular edge (26) in the valve housing (21). The level sensing means comprises a chamber (17) annularly surrounding said annular edge (26). The upper part of said chamber is adapted to communicated with a pressure sensor (15) and the lower part of said chamber is adapted to communicate with the interior of the tub via at least one channel (42) having a small cross section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing leaks in a compressed natural gas fuel system on an assembly line. The apparatus includes a filling receptacle, a filling conduit, a fuel tank assembly, a supply conduit, a pressure regulating assembly, and a joint box. The filling conduit extends between the filling receptacle and the fuel tank assembly. The supply conduit extends between the fuel tank assembly and the pressure regulating assembly. The joint box includes a valve which regulates fluid communication between the filling conduit and the supply conduit. In the method according to the present invention, the tank assembly is fluidly isolated from the remainder of the fuel system and the filling conduit and supply conduit are fluidly connected, by opening the joint box valve, to permit pressurization and leak detection of a first portion of the fuel system.

Abstract: With employment of two images acquired by imaging an imaging object at two different positions and also parameters of a camera under imaging operation at these positions, both the imaging positions with respect to an origin, and also positions of the imaging object with respect to both the imaging positions are obtained as three-dimensional vectors. With employment of the calculated three-dimensional vector of the imaging position with respect to the origin and also the three-dimensional vector of the imaging object position with respect to the imaging position, the imaging object position with respect to the origin is mapped as the three-dimensional vector.

Abstract: A rearview mirror for motor vehicle comprises an optical system and a reflect mirror which are properly intalled in the vehicle. The scene behind the vehicle can be imaged by the optical system and projected to the reflect mirror so that driver can see the back scene and the relative position between the vehicle and other objects behind. The optical system comprises convex lenses, or concave lenses and prisms.

Abstract: A gas heater is provided with a combustion status sensor that provides heater performance data to a controller that controls the heater according to the sensor data and stored calibration parameters optimized for the particular heater.

Abstract: A method that solves the problem of suppressing disturbing effects of transition and alkaline earth metal compounds during bleaching of chemically digested lignocellulosic pulp in a sequence with oxygen bleaching prior to oxidative stages with introduction of for instance ozone, superoxides, hydrogen peroxide and peroxy acids. The conditions during the oxygen bleaching are chosen so that the properties of these metal compounds are changed and the compounds removed from the pulp during the oxygen bleaching under such conditions that the attack on the cellulose is small and the fluctuations of the pulp quality due to fluctuating amounts of these metal compounds decrease markedly.

Abstract: In a motor chain saw comprising a motor housing (10), a removable clutch cover (16) and an emergency chain brake (18-20) attached to the clutch cover, a hand guard (11) is provided which is pivotably attached to the motor housing by at least one lever (12). The lever (12) is provided with a first clutch part (14) which is adapted to be releasably engaged with a second, complementary clutch part (15) connected to the chain brake.

Abstract: In a drying and pressing machine that includes a pressing cylinder, a flow spun stainless steel pressing cylinder is used, produced in one piece and without welding. This cylinder (10) has a reduced thickness. It rests on rollers (10) that comprise glass fiber reinforcement and a resin matrix. Each roller (12) is mounted on a fixed spindle (24) using a ball bearing (26).

Abstract: A control system which comprises a reduction gear unit containing gears, a motor being disposed on an input side of said reduction gear unit, a sensor for detecting a turning angle of said motor, and control means for inputting output from said sensor and controlling turning of said motor. The control system further includes gear output angle variation estimation means for estimating a gear output angle variation of said reduction gear unit based on the motor turning angle. An angle transmission error is estimated based on the motor turning angle, whereby load tip locus accuracy can be improved without lowering responsivity of the control system.

Abstract: A device for transporting air with the aid of so-called electrical ion-wind, said device including at least one corona electrode (10), e.g. thread shaped, that extends transverse to the air flow path, and at least one target electrode (16) and one duct electrode (12) provided downstream of the corona electrode, said target electrode (16) and said duct electrode (12) being connected to respective terminals of a d.c. voltage source (11) having such a voltage that a corona discharge generating air ions occurs at the corona electrode. The duct electrode (12) is designed of both a current carrying frame and an electrically insulating casing therearound and hence the around the corona electrode (10) generated ions will not be able to reach the current carrying frame of the duct electrode (12).