Abstract: A substrate onto which a coating solution is dropped is rotated at a low speed in a first rotational mode and then after an interval of time at a high speed in a second rotational mode. At the end of the first rotational mode, the coating solution is coated to a thickness larger than a given thickness on irregularities on the substrate such as twin patterns and a global pattern, with the coating solution being coated to a thickness smaller than the given thickness between the twin patterns. Subsequently, at the start of the second rotational mode, the coating solution coated on the twin patterns and the global pattern flows into spaces between these patterns. At the end of the second rotational mode, the thickness of the coating solution on the twin patterns is almost nil, and the thickness of the coating solution on the global pattern is small in its entirety though it is somewhat large in the central area of the global pattern.

Abstract: The road friction is determined from the deviation of the estimated yaw rate under a standard condition from the actually measured yaw rate. The system for determining the road friction includes a parameter identification unit which determines a parameter of a variation term defined in the transfer function of the model for the vehicle response. The variation term may consist of a zero-th order or a first-order transfer function which would not cause any large computation load, and may not depend on the vehicle speed. The determined road friction may be used for controlling the rear wheel steering angle of a four wheel steering vehicle.

Abstract: The invention provides apparatus for manufacturing a truss, comprising a plurality of press heads (8) arranged in a single plane about a fixed datum point (12) and movable within the plane about the datum point (12), wherein the press heads (8) are each connected to control means for automatically positioning each head (8) with respect to the datum point (12).

Abstract: A tube bending apparatus, comprising a tube holding mechanism; a first head member for substantially preventing lateral movement of a first portion of the tube; a unit for translating the tube along its longitudinal axis so as to be substantially adjacent the first head member; a unit for rotating the tube about its longitudinal axis; a bend arm member which is pivotally connected to the first head member; a drive mechanism for rotating the bend arm member so as to contact the tube for bending thereof; and wherein the drive mechanism comprises an electric motor and associated gearing for directly coupling the motor to the bend arm member.

Abstract: The concentration of a developer for use in developing resists in the fabrication of integrated circuits of semiconductors is adjusted highly accurately using a load cell. A stock developer and pure water are supplied to a mixing tank supported on a load cell, and mixed into a diluted developer in the mixing tank. The concentration of the diluted developer from the mixing tank is analyzed by an automatic analyzer, which then calculates the weight of a stock developer or pure water to be introduced into the mixing tank based on the analyzed concentration in order to achieve a predetermined concentration. Then, either a stock developer or pure water of the calculated weight is supplied to the mixing tank until the weight, as measured by the load cell, of the mixing tank containing the stock developer and the pure water is increased by the calculated weight. Thereafter, the diluted developer is transferred from the mixing tank to a reservoir tank, while both tanks are maintained under a nitrogen gas atmosphere.

Abstract: A driving condition-monitoring apparatus for an automotive vehicle monitors a driving condition of a driver of the automotive vehicle. At least one of behavior of the vehicle, a driving operation of the driver, and at least one condition of the driver is detected to thereby generate driving condition-indicative data indicative of the driving condition of the driver. It is determined whether the driving condition of the driver is abnormal, based on the driving condition-indicative data generated. When it is not determined that the driving condition of the driver is abnormal, a degree of normality of the driving condition of the driver is determined by inputting a plurality of pieces of the driving condition-indicative data to a neural network. At least one of warning and control of the vehicle is carried out depending on a result of the determination as to whether the driving condition of the driver is abnormal and the degree of normality of the driving condition of the driver.

Abstract: A harness holder is disposed to extend along the inside of a cover member which covers a driving pulley and a timing belt, and a harness extending from a crank angle sensor is supported in the harness holder and prevented from contacting the belt and/or pulley. A locking claw projectingly provided at an end of the harness holder is fitted into a grommet mounted on the cover member to guide the harness 21 to the outside of the cover member. Thus, a fixing device such as a bolt for fixing the harness holder can be eliminated and moreover, a tip end of the locking claw can be visually observed from the outside of the cover member to confirm the mounted state of the harness holder.

Abstract: A driving state-monitoring apparatus for an automotive vehicle monitors a driving state of a driver of the automotive vehicle. A driving state parameter indicative of the driving state of the driver is calculated based on at least one of behavior of the automotive vehicle, a driving operation of the driver, and a condition of the driver. The driving state parameter is compared with a reference value. It is determined whether or not the driving state of the driver is normal, based on a result of the comparison. The reference value is changed based on the driving state parameter in such a direction that it becomes less possible to determine that the driving state of the driver is normal.

Abstract: A load securing device for a vehicle includes a hitch mechanism securable to a vehicle for selectively fixing a trailer to the vehicle for being towed thereby, a load carrying mechanism for carrying loads externally of the vehicle, and a fastening mechanism for fastening the load carrying mechanism to the hitch mechanism such that both the load carrying mechanism and the hitch mechanism may be simultaneously used. The hitch mechanism is adjustable such that a trailer-engaging hitch member thereof may be stably disposed at different vertical levels relative to the vehicle, and the hitch mechanism is also adjustable such that the hitching member may be disposed at different longitudinally projecting positions relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: An energy absorbing trim structure for a vehicle comprises an ornamental panel shaped to cover a rigid structural member of a vehicle body, a plurality of fins or projections provided on one face of the panel in an aligned arrangement, and an elongate stabilizing member also provided on the face of the panel and innerconnecting the fins to give lateral stability thereto.

Abstract: A badge holder apparatus for displaying information pertaining to the wearer's official position, comprising a first backing member to which a badge selectively attaches; a second backing member which is connected to the first backing member; a necklace member which is operably associated with the second backing member; a first plate member which is disposed along an exposed surface of the second backing member and having information printed thereon; and wherein the first backing member and the second backing member are substantially rigid.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a piece of work has a work supporting table which is movable only in one horizontal direction, and a spindle unit including a cutting tool which is disposed below the table for cutting the work from below. The spindle unit is movable in another horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction in which the table is movable, and in a vertical direction. The apparatus requires only a small space for installation, is simple in construction, an can perform an accurate cutting job at a high speed.

Abstract: A rotating cup type liquid supply device comprises an inner cup 3, a vacuum chuck 5 disposed in the center of a bottom surface of the inner cup 3 for holding thereon a planar material W to be treated, and a tray 7 fixed onto the bottom surface of the inner cup 3 for substantially surrounding the planar material W held by the vacuum chuck 5. The tray is of a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and includes an tapered wall portion 9 turned inwardly along a circumferential wall portion thereof for defining an upper opening 8 of the tray 7. The tray 7 further includes a plurality of drain guiding conduits 10 each extending at a predetermined angle outwardly from an outer peripheral portion thereof. Also, the tray can be provided thereon with the cover having an opening slightly larger than the planar material W.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing metal-ceramic composite materials, comprising setting a porous shaped material of an oxide-type ceramic and magnesium in a furnace; establishing a rare gas atmosphere, subliming the magnesium under heat, and dispersing the resulting magnesium vapor into the porous shaped material all within the furnace; introducing nitrogen gas into the furnace, causing the gas to react with the sublimed magnesium to form magnesium nitride (Mg.sub.3 N.sub.2), bringing the magnesium nitride into contact with the oxide in the surface of the porous shaped material thereby reducing the oxide and exposing metal atoms at the material surface, and thereafter infiltrating a molten metal into the porous shaped material.

Abstract: Light-transmissive ceramics are disclosed composed of a plurality of oxides each having a negative standard Gibbs energy of formation (.DELTA.Gf.sup.0) with an absolute value greater than 1581.9 KJ/mol. The light-transmissive ceramics are produced by subjecting the oxides to hot isostatic pressing at a high temperature under a high pressure after they have been subjected to primary sintering. The light-transmissive ceramics of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 /La.sub.2 O.sub.3 are of a composite structure with particles of La.sub.2 O.sub.3 being present between particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, rather than Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and La.sub.2 O.sub.3 forming a solid solution. In the composite structure, the particles of La.sub.2 O.sub.3 have sizes that are 1/3 to 1/30 of the particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. Maximum size particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 have a longer axis of 30 .mu.m or less and a shorter axis of 20 .mu.m or less, and maximum size particles of La.sub.2 O.sub.3 or the like have a longer axis of 10 .mu.

Abstract: In a vehicle steering control system, an actuating torque is applied to steerable wheels according to a steering torque applied to a steering wheel in a conventional manner, and an additional actuating torque is applied to the steering wheel by an electric motor according to lateral dynamic conditions of the vehicle so as to control the lateral stability of the vehicle even in the presence of external interferences such as crosswind. Such external interferences are detected as a lateral dynamic condition of the vehicle such as the yaw rate of the vehicle, and the steering control system produces a steering reaction which counteracts such a lateral dynamic condition by applying the additional actuating torque to the steerable wheels so that the vehicle may maintain a straight course in spite of such external interferences without requiring any intentional efforts by the vehicle operator.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a solar collector unit comprises a pair of spaced carriers, and a support net for supporting a solar collector unit thereon. The support net includes a set of longitudinal wires extending between the carriers, and a set of transverse wires extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal wires and welded thereto. A pair of tension mechanisms are mounted to the carriers to adjust the tension of the longitudinal wires. The tension mechanisms include holders for holding opposite ends of the longitudinal wires between the carriers, and fasteners operatively associated with the holders to adjust the tension of the longitudinal wires so that the longitudinal wires are aligned in a transverse direction.

Abstract: A coating nozzle includes an elongate nozzle body having a coating solution reservoir defined longitudinally therein for being supplied with a coating solution from an external coating solution supply. The elongate nozzle body also has a coating solution holder defined therein and opening away from the coating solution reservoir, for holding a coating solution against falling off as droplets under surface tension of the coating solution. A plurality of passages are defined in the elongate nozzle body and held in communication with the coating solution reservoir and the coating solution holder, for supplying the coating solution from the coating solution reservoir to the coating solution holder. The arrangement of the reservoir, the solution holder and the passages in the elongate nozzle body assures that a uniform layer of coating solution is deposited by the nozzle on a surface of a planar substrate.

Abstract: A binding system for attaching a boot to a snowshoe wherein a greater percentage of the energy from the movements of the boot is transmitted to the snowshoe binding and the snowshoe which then assists in the more efficient movement of the snowshoe. The binding system also provides increased control of the snowshoe. The binding system comprises resilient elastic flexible material attached to the perimeter of the boot and straps looped through the front of the toe area of the boot to points in the front perimeter of the snowshoe and also a resilient elastic strap around the instep of the boot attached to the rear section of the snowshoe.

Abstract: When a subject vehicle is traveling on a main line which is a preferential road, the number of lanes of the main line and a lane on which the subject vehicle is traveling are detected (at steps S1 and S2). When there is a merging section with a subordinate line (at step S3), an information transmitted from another vehicle is received (at step S4). If another vehicle which will merge to the subject vehicle exists on the subordinate line (at step S5), an approach degree between the subject vehicle and the other vehicle at the merging section is determined based on the vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and the information of the other vehicle (at steps S6 and S7). If the approach degree is large, namely, there is a possibility that the subject vehicle may interfere with the other vehicle (at step S8), a vehicle traveling behind the subject vehicle is detected by a radar or the like (at step S9).