Abstract: A demodulator includes a splitter, a first dielectric substance, and a combiner. The splitter splits a differential phase shift keying optical signal into a first light beam and a second light beam and outputs the first light beam to a first optical path and the second light beam to a second optical path. The first dielectric substance is disposed in the first optical path and has a refractive index higher than the average refractive index of the second optical path. The combiner combines the first light beam and the second light beam and causes the beams to interfere with each other. The difference in length between the first and second optical paths and the refractive index of the first dielectric substance are set such that the first light beam is delayed by one bit with respect to the second light beam.

Abstract: A coupling element has a first interface, which is adapted to mechanically connect the coupling element to an actuator, a second interface, which is adapted to mechanically connect the coupling element to a valve, and a deformable portion, which is shaped in such a manner, that, as a result of a compression along an axial direction of the coupling element, the deformable portion irreversibly bends such that a projection is formed. Thereby, the projection is adapted to permanently engage with an annular groove formed at the actuator, such that the coupling element and the actuator are connected with each other in a non-detachable but rotatable manner.

Abstract: A bidirectional communication system which provides a wide variety of communication services to meet the needs of broadcast audiences. Each client terminal sends a service request message over a communications network and receives authorization, and after that, it transmits and receives the video information. A client management server receives service request messages from clients and executes a two-stage authentication process to grant authorization to them. A video data communication server transmits and receives the video information to/from the requesting clients when their identity has successfully been authenticated.

Abstract: A PLC (programmable logic controller) processor which carries out logical operations. The processor comprises a logical operation unit (2) for executing a logical operation, a jump inhibition unit (3), a jump condition checking unit (4) for checking whether or not a jump can be carried out while omitting executions of subsequent instructions, and a jump instruction execution unit (5) for executing the jump instruction. When the result of the checking by the jump condition checking means (4) indicates that subsequent instructions need not be executed and the jump should be carried out, the jump instruction execution means executes the jump, whereby unnecessary instructions are not executed, thus the speed of the logical processing is increased.

Abstract: A mounting mechanism for a ribbon cassette for mounting the ribbon cassette on a carrier of a printer having a pair of resiliently deformable arms which are formed in such a manner as to extend forwardly along the opposite side walls from a rear end of the ribbon cassette, and a pin is formed in an integrated relationship on each of the arms. A pair of holes for receiving the pins are formed on the carrier side of the printer, and the ribbon cassette is mounted onto the carrier by resiliently deforming the arms to fit the pins into the holes of the carrier.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal composition, including p-methoxybenzylidene-p'-n-butylaniline, p-butoxybenzylidene-p'-n-butylaniline and bis(p'-n-octyloxy benzylidene)-chloro-p-phenylenediamine, has desirable thermodynamic properties, including a nematic mesophase over a wide temperature range, and also has a high dynamic scattering contrast ratio.