Abstract: A component feeding device (1) comprises a first feeder table (7) provided with a plurality of component supply units (6) aligned in parallel rows thereon, and arranged for movement in a direction of the parallel alignment, a second feeder table (8) provided with a plurality of component supply units (6) aligned in parallel rows thereon, and located behind the first feeder table (7), and a transfer unit (9) for receiving and conveying supplementary components from the component supply units (6) on the second feeder table (8) to a predetermined component feeding position. When a certain group of the components on the first feeder table (7) has been exhausted, their new supplies are picked up from the second feeder table (8) by the transfer unit (9), conveyed to the component feeding position, and placed on a board (5), thereby eliminating necessity for providing waiting spaces for feeder tables (7, 8) in a flow direction of boards (5) and increasing productivity with a compact arrangement.

Abstract: A viewfinder optical system has a relay optical system and an eyepiece optical system. The relay optical system has a first, a second, and a third relay lens. The eyepiece optical system has a first and a second eyepiece lens. The first eyepiece lens, which is disposed closest to a secondary-image plane formed by the relay optical system has an aspherical surface on its secondary-image plane side.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus is disclosed for securing and maneuvering an elongate tubing of general cross-section which permits longitudinal movement through the apparatus but inhibits lateral movement or vertical movement. The apparatus includes a channel for the tubing and two pair of opposed jaws which cooperate to limit the motion of a tubing held therein, and each jaw is provided a roller which permits the tubing to slide longitudinally through the apparatus while preventing lateral movement. The opposed jaws are mounted so as to open and close symmetrically about a centerline of the channel and the closing of the two pair of opposing jaws precisely centers the tubing on the centerline. The apparatus is rotatable, and is used in combination with a drive support unit to permit movement between the elongate tubing and an operation station for automated operation along the length of the tubing.

Abstract: A program translating apparatus is composed of a translation unit 103 and a link unit 108. The translation unit 103 includes a determination unit 105 which detects the stack size to be needed for each subroutine included in a source program to be translated into a machine instruction sequence and the name of a register to be retrieved in the process of each subroutine. The determination unit 105 then stores the stack size and the name detected into a file together with the machine instruction sequence. The link unit 108 includes the following units: A branch instruction detection unit 109 detects a branch instruction from the machine instruction sequence when machine instruction sequences stored in different files are linked each other. A file detection unit 110 and an acquisition unit 111 retrieve the stack size and the register name from the file which has the branch target subroutine.

Abstract: A debugging apparatus is disclosed which verifies a program to be embedded into a target machine by running the program in an environment which is one or the target machine, an emulator, and a simulator. Each environment includes operation state information of the program and inputs and outputs the operation state information in a form unique to the environment.

Abstract: A method and various structures are described for reducing excess photon noise in short coherence light sources, such as broadband superfluorescent fiber or superluminescent diodes, for example. The method contemplates splitting the light source signal into a plurality of components, thereby splitting, and reducing, the photon noise or "beat noise" as well as the light intensity. Each component travels in a separate path having a unique time delay which is longer than the coherence time of the light source. The light from each separate path is recombined at an output end, prior to detection, causing the signal to get back to its original intensity, while keeping the total beat noise at a reduced level. The paths may be created using different length polarization maintaining (PM) fibers, different length optical fibers, or multi-mode fibers having several propagation modes propagating at different rates.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes two lens components, and zooming is performed by moving a first lens component. The zooming is performed along a zoom curve such that the first lens component is moved out so that in-focus condition is obtained at a subject distance predetermined with respect to each focal length. As the subject distance, an excess focal length or a subject distance where the far side of the depth of field is the maximum flash reachable distance or a subject distance where the near side of the depth of field is the shortest object distance or a subject distance where the object distance or the magnification is fixed is set according to the purpose.

Abstract: An improved dressing for the fiber optic leads of a fiber optic gyroscope sensing coil and method for forming the same. A pair of fiber optic leads connect the sensing coil of a rotation sensing device to an integrated optics chip. The fiber optic leads are originally arranged to extend around the fiber optic sensing coil in different directions. The leads are formed of unequal lengths, where the longer of the leads is extended along an outer circumference of the sensing coil. The longer lead is bent so that the circumferential direction of longer lead reverses itself, and the longer lead then extends around the sensing coil in the same direction as the shorter lead. A low modulus adhesive is applied to the leads and cured to initially bond the leads in place against the sensing coil. The pair of leads are then wound in the same circumferential direction adjacent to each other fashion around the outer circumference of the sensing coil.

Abstract: A processor which executes positive conversion processing, which converts coded data into uncoded data, and saturation calculation processing, which rounds a value to an appropriate number of bits, at high speed. When a positive conversion saturation calculation instruction "MCSST D1" is decoded, the sum-product result register 6 outputs its held value to the path P1. The comparator 22 compares the magnitude of the held value of the sum-product result register 6 with the coded 32-bit integer "0x0000.sub.-- 00FF". The polarity judging unit 23 judges whether the eighth bit of the value held by the sum-product result register 6 is "ON". The multiplexer 24 outputs one of the maximum value "0x0000.sub.-- 00FF" generated by the constant generator 21, the zero value "0x0000.sub.-- 0000" generated by the zero generator 25, and the held value of the sum-product result register 6 to the data bus 18.

Abstract: A transmitting apparatus for an interactive communication system using a broadcast wave, which includes a first storage unit, a second storage unit, and a transmitting unit. The first storage unit stores a plurality of frames of image data. The second storage unit stores control information which shows links between said plurality of frames of image data stored in the first storage unit, and which indicates a combining of a supplementary design with the image data. These supplementary designs are stored by a receiving apparatus and are combined with the image represented by the image data. The transmitting unit repeatedly transmits a predetermined number of frames of image data together with corresponding control information.

Abstract: A zoom lens system has a plurality of lens units. Zooming is performed by varying distances between the lens units. A gradient index lens is included in the lens units. The gradient index lens has a gradient index in a direction vertical to an optical axis. The gradient index lens has at least one aspherical surface.

Abstract: An improved cannula having parallel conduits, one for removing material and one for injecting material, is disclosed. In certain medical procedures, it is necessary to deposit fluid while simultaneously withdrawing material in the same region. The present invention is designed to serve this task. The improved cannula of the present invention further features a sheath mounted on a needle for slidable movement therealong to facilitate the maneuvers required to perform the procedures. The cannula comprises a handle that includes a nozzle at one end which conveniently connects to a vacuum pump. The needle is connected to the handle and includes a plurality of apertures at a tip. A first conduit is formed from the apertures along the lumen of the needle through the handle and to the vacuum pump. Once the needle is inserted into a patient, the first conduit communicates the vacuum to a subdermal region which results in the removal of material therein.

Abstract: The combination briefcase and computer bag assembly includes a housing member having a bottom member, a plurality of side members, and a pair of pivotable top flap members. One of the side members includes a flexible floating compartment that is dimensionally configured to receive a portable computer. When the portable computer is held in the flexible floating compartment, it will substantially extend in the briefcase enclosure to protect the portable computer. Straps on the top flaps enable a top flap to be held in an open position when fastened about an extendable handle.

Abstract: A method of measuring microbial activity of microbes in real time includes preparing a medium to enable microbial activity and placing the medium in operative contact with an appropriate sensor. The sensor is scanned to provide measurement electrical signals representative of position and amount of microbial activity, the sensor being responsive to a by-product of the microbial activity, such as a change in pH. The measurement signals can then be processed to provide a visual image display, and the display can visually distinguish between levels of pH activity and coordinate positions of the microbial activity.

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 highly doped wedges within a tapered end of the fiber. The highly doped wedges adjacent the light transmitting core serve 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 wedges are in proximity to the core due to the tapering. The wedges, which are 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: An rf coil assembly for use in an NMR investigation, the assembly comprising(1) a transmitter coil (10) adapted to transmit an rf magnetic field suitable for the NMR investigation into a working region and comprising a plurality of serially connected winding elements (1-4); and(2) a receiver coil (9) electrically separate from the transmitter coil and adapted to receive an rf signal from the working region and comprising a plurality of serially connected winding elements (5-9).Winding elements of one coil are interleaved and substantially coaxial with winding elements of the other coil, and at least one of the coils comprises one or more winding elements which are counter-wound with respect to the other winding element(s) in the coil.

Abstract: A non-linear power amplifier for amplifying a constant envelope phase modulation component of a modulation signal and combining an amplitude envelope component of the modulation signal into the amplified constant envelope phase modulation component and method for performing the same. The power amplifier receives a constant envelope phase modulation signal and transmits the signal through a pair of amplifier stages which are impedance matched together. The first amplifier stage has a fixed gain which drives an impedance load and, in turn, the second amplifier stage. A variable resistance device is connected between a base of an amplifying transistor in the second amplifier stage and electrical ground for variably controlling the gain of the second amplifier stage by variably controlling the base-to-ground resistance of the amplifying transistor in the second amplifier stage.