Abstract: A device for modulating and controlling the level of luminosity output by a lighting facility. The modulation may be of average current or voltage. The device modulates electrical power in a cyclical manner for input to the lighting facility, so that the resulting modulation of the luminosity output serves to exercise the eyes of persons exposed thereto. The average luminosity, and the amplitude and period of modulation can be set and adjusted by the user. The rate of modulation is sufficiently slow that the level of change of luminosity is accommodated by human eyes and is imperceptible through the eyes of persons exposed thereto. In one embodiment, an illuminance sensor is provided to read the actual illumination of a lighted object. The values of the illumination so read are fed back in the device to adjust the luminosity of the lighting facility, so that the object is illuminated in the desired cyclical manner.

Abstract: In a portable computer, with a body section having a keyboard with a plurality of keys, and a cover section having a display unit, rotatably coupled by a pair of hinge portions, the hinge portions are provided at opposite sides of the cover section and coupled with the rear end of the body section. A battery enclosing portion of the body section is provided between the hinge portions. With this construction, the battery enclosing portion does not obstruct a reduction in depth of the whole apparatus, so that a dimension of the display unit can be increased in comparison to conventional ones, and the display unit can be easily seen.

Abstract: In a gas heater, a ceramic heater is used to ignite gas supplied to a gas burner. The ceramic heater is disposed in flame while the gas is burnt such that a change in the resistance value of the ceramic heater is sensed by a resistance value sensor to detect a flame extinction. Since the resistance value is varied between ceramic heaters, the deviation of the resistance value is compensated for depending on a reference value at a reference temperature of the ceramic heater so as to detect the flame extinction.

Abstract: An image sensor apparatus includes a matrix array of optical/electrical conversion elements, switching elements for taking out electric charge stored on the conversion elements, and drive circuits for driving the switching elements thereby to take out image signals from the conversion elements in parallel. A matrix array of noise signal retaining circuits is provided on output sides of the conversion elements for temporarily retaining in parallel, as noise signals, signals produced while the optical/electrical conversion elements are not being driven. Subtracting circuits are provided for subtracting from the parallel image signals in parallel the noise signals retained in the noise signal retaining circuits. A multiplexer converts the parallel output signals from the subtracting circuits into a serial signal in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling air-exchange and pressure conditions in an air-conditioned room by opening and closing ducts and operating fans. The apparatus provides required indoor air pressure, such as a positive pressure for preventing dust from entering a room, or a cyclically modulated pressure in specific modes for achieving special atmospheric effects, such as to improve the spirits of occupants or to expel insects. The rate of change of the indoor pressure relative to the outdoor pressure can be measured in order to detect the degree of airtightness of the room. A warning signal is triggered when an abnormal condition of airtightness occurs, so that users may take steps to minimize unnecessary air-exchange, reduce energy consumption, and increase efficiency for air filtering and air conditioning.

Abstract: An image sensor module suitable for use in a handy-type image input apparatus comprises an image sensor device which has connection terminals only on one side and the opposite side of the image sensor device is trued up with an edge portion of a module substrate on which the image sensor device is fixed.

Abstract: A method for automatically adjusting die height in a press having a plurality of dies aligned in a work transfer direction includes a load pattern setting member for inputting possible load patterns, each pattern corresponding to the number of dies under load. A correction setting member is provided for inputting an amount of correction (compensation) by which the position of the bottom of the slide in each load pattern is rectified to a basic position corresponding to a basic load pattern. A pattern identifier is provided for identifying the current load pattern when the slide is at a given position. A correction controller is provided for selecting the proper amount of correction of the position of the bottom of the slide for the identified load pattern and sending a drive control signal corresponding to this amount to a slide position adjustment unit.

Abstract: A device for supporting a wafer comprises a base plate for arranging the wafer thereabove and a plurality of supports circumferentially arranged on the base plate to support the peripheral of the wafer. In order to expose portions of the wafer covered by the supports, either an annular member to engage with the supports for moving them radially outward, or a roller driven by a motor to rotate the wafer relative to the supports is provided.

Abstract: A photoelectric transducer device including a plurality of sensor elements made up of photodiodes and blocking diodes on a substrate, connected into a linear pattern which extends in a primary scanning direction, the sensor elements to be driven in a suitable sequence to read image data from an original document. Each sensor element include a first lower electrode formed on the substrate, a second lower electrode, formed on the substrate and electrically separated from the first electrode, a photodiode formed on the first electrode, a blocking diode formed on the second electrode for preventing crosstalk, and an upper electrode formed on the photodiode and blocking diode for electrically connecting them. Lead wires for connecting the sensor elements to output circuits extend in the primary scanning direction on the first lower electrodes with an insulating film in between, the first lower electrodes being selectively connected to the lead wires through holes provided in the insulating film.

Abstract: A dry-etched amorphous silicon device which includes an amorphous silicon layer between upper and lower electrodes wherein the adverse effects of dangling silicon bonds on the periphery of the amorphous silicon layer are avoided by cutting back the peripheral surface of at least one of the electrodes to be radially inward of the peripheral surface of the amorphous silicon layer by at least one micron with respect to an axis of the device.

Abstract: A method of sealing a pressure vessel so that pressurized gas in the vessel is released if the temperature of the gas approaches a critical temperature. An end plate having a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface, is provided with a bore perforating the plate at a low point of the concave surface. A central portion of the plate surrounding the bore bending downwardly to the bore so as to define a cavity in the plate. The plate is oriented with the concave surface facing in an upward direction. An alloy pellet, having a melting point which is lower than the critical temperature, is provided onto the concave surface so that the pellet is gravitationally drawn to rest in the cavity. The end plate is then heated at a temperature higher that the melting point of the pellet so that the pellet is melted and plugs the bore. The end plate is then cooled to solidify the melted pellet in the cavity and in the bore.

Abstract: A full contact image sensor device comprising sensor elements adapted to macroscopically touch a document to receive reflected light from the document and to generate electric signals in response thereto, wherein a receiving surface of each sensor element has an uneven contour and the device wherein each sensor element corresponding to a pixel comprises a plurality of sensor element blocks is proposed. The devices are easily manufactured and have excellent MTF and sensitivity.

Abstract: A device for automatically adjusting die height in a press having a plurality of dies aligned in a work transfer direction includes a load pattern setting member for inputting possible load patterns, each pattern corresponding to the number of dies under load. A correction setting member is provided for inputting an amount of correction (compensation) by which the position of the bottom of the slide in each load pattern is rectified to a basic position corresponding to a basic load pattern. A pattern identifier is provided for identifying the current load pattern when the slide is at a given position. A correction controller is provided for selecting the proper amount of correction of the position of the bottom of the slide for the identified load pattern and sending a drive control signal corresponding to this amount to a slide position adjustment unit.

Abstract: An image sensor device having a plurality of sensor elements connected in a matrix is driven by sequentially applying successive driving pulses, wherein a leading edge of a driving pulse coincides with a trailing edge of a preceding driving pulse and the slew rate at the leading edge is equal to the slew rate at the trailing edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for clarifying water. The apparatus includes a mixing chamber for mixing the water to be clarified with pressurized water and air to obtain a mixture in which particles attached to air bubbles are suspended. The mixing chamber is connected to a flotation tank which holds a body of water whose upper surface is maintained at a predetermined level. The mixture, including the particles attached to air bubbles, is delivered by a distribution pipe from an upper part of the mixing chamber onto the surface of the water in the tank so that the floatables come to a floating position on the surface without causing agitation or turbulence below the surface. A skimmer rake skims the floatables to an outlet where they are removed from the tank leaving the water at the bottom of the tank clarified.

Abstract: An inductive method and apparatus for forming detached spheromak plasma using a thin-walled metal toroidal ring, with external current leads and internal poloidal and toroidal field coils located inside a vacuum chamber filled with low density hydrogen gas and an external axial field generating coil. The presence of a current in the poloidal field coils, and an externally generated axial field sets up the initial poloidal field configuration in which the field is strongest toward the major axis of the toroid. The internal toroidal-field-generating coil is then pulsed on, ionizing the gas and inducing poloidal current and toroidal magnetic field into the plasma region in the sleeve exterior to and adjacent to the ring and causing the plasma to expand away from the ring and toward the major axis. Next the current in the poloidal field coils in the ring is reversed. This induces toroidal current into the plasma and causes the poloidal magnetic field lines to reconnect.

Abstract: A fusion reactor device in which the toroidal magnetic field and at least a portion of the poloidal magnetic field are provided by a single set of modular coils. The coils are arranged on the surface of a low aspect ratio toroid in planes having the cylindrical coordinate relationship .phi.=.phi..sub.i +kz where k is a constant equal to each coil's pitch and .phi..sub.i is the toroidal angle at which the i'th coil intersects the z=o plane. The device may be described as a modular, high beta torsation whose screw symmetry is pointed along the systems major (z) axis. The toroid defined by the modular coils preferably has a racetrack minor cross section. When vertical field coils and preferably a toroidal plasma current are provided for magnetic field surface closure within the toroid, a vacuum magnetic field of racetrack shaped minor cross section with improved stability and beta valves is obtained.

Abstract: A high power switching circuit which utilizes a four-terminal Darlington transistor block to improve switching speed, particularly in rapid turn-off. Two independent reverse drive currents are utilized during turn off in order to expel the minority carriers of the Darlington pair at their own charge sweep-out rate. The reverse drive current may be provided by a current transformer, the secondary of which is tapped to the base terminal of the power stage of the Darlington block. In one application, the switching circuit is used in each power switching element in a chopper-inverter drive of an electric vehicle propulsion system.

Abstract: A toroidal magnet for confining a high magnetic field for use in fusion reactor research and nuclear particle detection. The magnet includes a series of conductor elements arranged about and fixed at its small major radius portion to the outer surface of a central cylindrical support each conductor element having a geometry such as to maintain the conductor elements in pure tension when a high current flows therein, and a support assembly which redistributes all or part of the tension which would otherwise arise in the small major radius portion of each coil element to the large major radius portion thereof.