Abstract: An ion concentration measuring apparatus having a housing member with a measuring electrode assembly movably mounted within the housing member is provided. A calibration fluid reservoir is also mounted within the housing member. The measuring electrode assembly can be extended for a measuring mode of operation of retracted within the housing member and appropriately sealed so that it will contact the calibration fluid for a calibration operation.

Abstract: A component mounting apparatus for automatically mounting components on a circuit board includes a mounting unit for picking up a component from a component pickup location and mounting it at a mounting location. The mounting table can be driven to the pickup location and can removably secure a cassette table that can support a plurality of components that are to be mounted on the circuit board. A cassette table can be removable clamped to the mounting table. A carrier cart can transport the cassette table to a position for attachment to the mounting table. The carrier cart can be appropriately aligned and secured relative to the mounting table to enable the cassette table to be removably attached to the mounting table.

Abstract: An improved photo detector assembly for a particle size distribution measuring equipment provides a unitary opaque coating deposited above a photo detector layer with a plurality of concentric apertures that can be defined with high precision about a concentric center. The masking can be applied in a production environment to ensure high accuracy and a compact size.

Abstract: A method and device for generating mesh to be used in numerical analysis for regions of an object to be analyzed, the regions of an object to be analyzed being input as data for a geometric model which defines their geometric form in a coordinate system which is set as a standard. This geometric model is then divided into equal parts in the coordinate directions of the coordinate system to generate blocks. After this, the vertices, endpoints and points of the shapes formed by the intersection or touching of the boundaries of the geometric model and each of the generated blocks are extracted. These extracted points, along with the vertices, endpoints and points of the geometric model and the vertices of the generated blocks, are set as nodes. Finally, mesh elements are generated for each block using the nodes.

Abstract: An improved planar disposable flashlight is presented having a one-piece housing for mounting the elements of the flashlight in a fixed structural relationship while providing support and protection to the flashlight. The one piece housing includes a pair of resilient C-shaped clamps which releasably grasp a pair of light bulb shafts and position the light bulbs in a predetermined position, and a protective bumper is provided which separates the light bulbs and protects them from impact. The housing also comprises channels which communicate the electrical leads from the light bulbs to the switch and the connections to the battery's terminals, securing the leads from crimping or snagging. A recessed area is provided for securing a pressure sensitive switch therein, bordered by columns which protect the switch from inadvertent activation.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing disks comprising a disk passage having an outlet in which the disks are arranged edge-to-edge for storage and dispensing. A closure member, such as a rotatable spherical member, is provided for closing the outlet. The closure member is arranged to apply force to a face of a disk in the region of the outlet whereby the disk is dispensed from the outlet through a guide assembly. The closure member is opened by the camming action of the disk in the region of the outlet. A spring plate is provided to bias the closure member towards a closed position wherein the outlet is normally closed.

Abstract: A child harness and tether is provided having superior comfort and safety features, the tether comprising a detachable strap adjustable in length and connectable to a harness using a tangle resistant rotating clasp where the position of the connection is away from the child's waist area to prevent undo stress or injury. The harness is fully adjustable to accommodate children of various sizes and utilizes Velcro.RTM. type fasteners at the waistband adjustment for a proper, easy fit. A pair of shoulder straps connect in the back of the child at a vertical flap which extends from the waistband, and connect in front of the child to the waistband in a sliding relationship. Both shoulder straps forms loops to capture the waistband while permitting the shoulder straps, which are joined together, to move along the waistband for greater flexibility.

Abstract: A branch instruction includes a set of branch prediction information 13b and a set of branch history information 13c. The set of branch prediction information 13b is made up of 1 bit which predicts whether a branch will be performed during the next execution of the instruction. The set of branch history information 13c is made up of 2 bits showing a frequency, with which the branch has been taken, is "very high", "high", "low" or "very low". An instruction fetching unit 12 prefetches an instruction from a cache memory 11a in accordance with the set of branch prediction information 13b. After an instruction executing unit 15 completes an execution of the branch instruction, a branch history information generating unit 16 generates a new set of branch history information and a branch prediction information generating unit 17 generates a new set of branch prediction information, in accordance with the execution result and the preceding branch history information 13c.

Abstract: A data conversion apparatus is provided as a data transmitting apparatus in a data communication system which achieves pseudo interactive communications by using one-way communications between the data transmitting apparatus and a plurality of data receiving apparatuses. The data conversion apparatus converts documents stored inside into images to be displayed on the screen, such as a TV screen. In doing so, if the document includes character strings or image information as link destination information which specifies another document as a link destination, the data conversion apparatus adds a supplementary design into the image of the link destination information for the viewer to recognize such information.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus for DMA-transferring stream data between a memory and each of n ports.

Abstract: Stretch marks, keratoses and other skin lesions can be ameliorated or cured through repeated topical application, to affected skin, of a dermatological composition containing unsaponifiable lipids extracted from avocado seeds. The effective composition is an emulsion containing between about 5 and 15 weight percent of the unsaponifiable lipids. The effectiveness of the composition is augmented by the addition of zinc and/or copper chelates.

Abstract: A first converting circuit converts K-level image data, and suppresses a diffusion range of data by an N-level converting circuit. The N-level converting circuit converts a K-level image into an N-level gradation image (K>N). An image memory stores the N-level gradation image. An estimating circuit converts the N-level gradation image into an M-level gradation image (N<M). A second converting circuit returns the M-level gradation image into the form before the conversion according to a conversion amount from the first converting circuit. Accordingly, density ripple can be suppressed even in a small scanning aperture. A control circuit sets a conversion table to the first converting circuit and the second converting circuit according to a setting signal from a control panel, and outputs a control signal to the estimating circuit, so that processing mode is set in response to different images, and image quality is adjusted.

Abstract: A unitarily-molded pillow for mounting in a spa and having a flexible membrane positioned therein and with respect to a water discharge jet by an integrally-molded support structure including an upper collar, a lower rim, and respective side shoulders, the support structure being integrated into a smooth, contoured front surface providing integral neck and head support, with the membrane positioned to provide a pleasing warm neck massage effect and the jet being adjustable via an air valve for user comfort.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system connectable to the public switched telephone network having a base station and one or more handsets communicating with the base station by an RF link using a time division duplex direct sequence spread spectrum quadrature modulation technique, having a gain imbalance compensation system for balancing the gain between the I and Q channels. Gain imbalance estimation is performed as part of a calibration cycle when the handset is in the cradle of the base station. The controller of the unit causes another unit to send a data signal with a frequency error. The baseband receiver performs the operation .vertline.I.vertline.-.vertline.Q.vertline., which is an indication of gain error. The results are stored in an accumulator over a set period of time. The controller reads the accumulator and uses an iterative process, increasing or decreasing the gain link compensation until no gain imbalance error is obtained.

Abstract: A tensioner and tensioning system for maintaining tension in a printer liner while providing manual advancement of the printer liner without accessing the inner compartment of the printer. A tension comprises first and second end brought in proximity to form a channel, and a middle portion formed into a circular configuration to hold the roll of printer liner. A stopper is included within the channel between the two ends which resists movement of the liner and promotes tension. The liner is preferably advances against the resistance of the tensioner by a take-up roller cooperating with a one-directional clutch which advances the liner without relaxation to maintain tension. The one-directional clutch is operated from an external area on the printer to enable the manual advancement of the liner without accessing the printer's inner compartment.

Abstract: A thin, disposable, extremely bright flashlight is constructed around a thin, planar dry cell battery. The battery, a switch, and miniature incandescent lamps are sealed within a flexible cover of approximately the size of a playing card. The sealed construction removes any danger from electrical sparks in a flammable atmosphere. A window of translucent or transparent material is provided at one end of the package. Two miniature lamps, which may be overdriven to increase their brightness, are located behind this window. The lamps are sufficiently bright that a beam collimation system is unnecessary. Squeezing the package at a designated location closes a dome switch, causing the lamps to light. Releasing pressure on the dome switch opens the circuit so that the light cannot be inadvertently left on.

Abstract: A water jet circulation pump is fitted with a pump shroud having a collector portion for collecting exhaust from a pump vent and conducting the exhaust to an exhaust port.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus has a luminous flux deflector and a single f.theta. lens. The deflector deflects a convergent luminous flux on a scanned surface at a uniform angular velocity. The f.theta. lens is arranged between the deflector and the scanned surface. The f.theta. lens is bi-convex in a main scanning direction and is made of a material having a refractive index of at most 1.6. One surface of the f.theta. lens in a main scanning direction is so curved that a radius of curvature in the main scanning direction A decreases as an angle of view in the main scanning direction increases.

Abstract: Attenuation of an optical signal at the end of an optical fiber is achieved by positioning a high absorption region at the end of the fiber. A first embodiment teaches a highly doped annulus within a tapered end of the fiber. The highly doped annulus about the light transmitting core serves to absorb light at the end of the fiber. The light transmitting core of the fiber is reduced in diameter due to the tapering, causing the field of light to expand beyond the core. The highly doped annulus is in proximity to the core due to the tapering. The annulus, which is preferably heavily doped with a rare earth such as erbium, absorbs the escaping light in sufficient quantities, both in the initial pass through the tapered region and again upon reflection of the light at the end of the tapered region, such that the attenuation of the reflected light is within acceptable limits without regard to the condition of the fiber's end surface.

Abstract: A sorting method is employed to draw data for polygons in a frame memory provided in a video game machine. The order in which the polygon data are to be drawn in the frame buffer memory is determined. For this, the polygon data are sorted. Data, for polygons, that include values on the first three-dimensional coordinates are divided into groups by employing distances between two points; from a predetermined point on the first three-dimensional coordinates to a point on the first three-dimensional coordinates in consonance with the coordinates of individual polygons Then, the order in which polygons are drawn in the frame buffer memory by employing the data for the polygons that belong to the individual groups is determined to be the order beginning with a group that has the largest or smallest distance between the two points. Through the above described procedures, the high speed sorting of the data for polygons is possible. At the same time, a memory area for the storage of data for polygons can be reduced.