Abstract: A navigation system for providing different modes of navigation guidance to drivers is provided. A smart card stores user information. In a main apparatus, a parameter table storage section stores parameters which are used for controlling the outputting of navigation guidance to an entity. A control section acquires at least one parameter from the parameter table storage section based on the user information stored in the smart card, and thereafter generates information necessary for providing navigation guidance for the entity in accordance with the acquired parameter(s). A display section or an audio output section outputs various information generated by the control section.

Abstract: A push-on switch according to the present invention is constructed so that a pressing part faces the top surface of a dome-shaped movable contact, across a given clearance. Such a construction allows the pressing part to be pressed a distance until the pressing part touches the movable contact to be utilized for pre-loading, even if the movable contact has a short operation stroke.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel spiro compounds useful as neuropeptide Y receptor antagonists.

Abstract: A method of producing a ultra fine grain steel made of ferrite having a mean grain size of not larger that 3 &mgr;m as the base phase, after ingoting raw materials, by austenitizing the ingot by heating it to a temperature of at least an Ac 3 point, then, applying compression working of a reduction ratio of at least 50% at a temperature of from an Ae 3 point or lower to an Ar 3 point −150° C., or at a temperature of at least 550° C., and thereafter, cooling, wherein the strain rate as compression working is in the range of from 0.001 to 10/second.

Abstract: An arbitrarily positioned lateral perforation forming apparatus can form a lateral perforation at an arbitrary position or selected position in a continuous web paper at high precision by a simple control system with small control amount. A lateral roulette cylinder projecting a lateral roulette edge on its outer periphery, arranged on one side of the continuous web paper and rotating in a traveling direction of the continuous web paper; and a receptacle cylinder projecting an edge projecting portion opposing to the lateral roulette edge of the lateral roulette cylinder on its outer periphery, arranged on the other side of the continuous web paper, rotating in the traveling direction of the continuous web paper, and forming a lateral perforation in the continuous web paper when the edge receptacle portion opposes the roulette edge; are rotated in synchronism with traveling of the continuous web paper in the drive system.

Abstract: A magnetic information recorder/reproducer can reduce the possibility of breakage of parts and thus lessen the need for maintenance. A resilient member for pressing a magnetic medium against a magnetic head has a resilient, hard guide layer provided on one side thereof facing the magnetic medium. The guide layer prevents the magnetic medium from coming into contact with the resilient member. The resilient member is thus less like to be broken or worn because it does not contact the magnetic medium.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench having an open end (18) defined by front (20) and rear (22) jaws, in relation to a driving direction. The jaws are linked by an intermediate arcuate web (24). Each jaw includes an engagement surface (30, 36) for engaging the front half of a front surface (32) and a rear surface (38), respectively, of the head of a part to be turned. A projection (42) is provided on the arcuate web for engaging a bearing point (43) on an intermediate head surface (44) located immediately ahead of the rear surface (38) when no torque is applied and over the full range of applied torques. The bearing point (43) of the projection (42) is located in the front half of the intermediate surface (44). The entire arcuate web (24) is spaced apart from the head (28), except at the bearing point (43), when torque is applied as well as when no torque is applied.

Abstract: A combustor has a pilot nozzle 02 arranged at a central portion of an inner cylinder 01 opening at its end into a combustion chamber 018 and includes a plurality of main nozzles 03 arranged around its outer circumference. Along the outer circumference of a flame holding cone 014 for igniting a fuel F injected from the main nozzles 03 there are disposed elliptical extension pipes 016 of an elliptical sectional shape which are extended from the fronts of the main nozzles 03 to have openings at the axial position of the opening of the flame holding cone 014. As a result, a hot premixed flame 013 does not flow back to a main swirler zone 015 of the circumferential edges of the openings of the main nozzles 03 so that mixing between the fuel F and an air flow A can be improved, reducing the Nox emission while eliminating the burning of a base plate 04 and the main nozzles 03.

Abstract: A charging circuit is provided with a charge control switch connected in series with a rechargeable battery, and a current sensing circuit to determine whether or not current flows through the rechargeable battery. A charging control circuit is also included to determine a charge state of the rechargeable battery and to control operation of the charge control switch. Further an operation control circuit for allowing operation of the charging control circuit in response to current flow through the rechargeable battery determined by the current sensing circuit.

Abstract: A signal conversion recording method applies a signal recording method whereby a video signal converted to a frame rate greater than the frame rate of the signal source by repeating particular fields plural times is converted to an intermediate signal having a frame rate substantially equal to the frame rate of the original signal source by deleting these repeated redundant fields. This intermediate signal is compression coded to obtain the recording signal, and the recording signal is recorded to a recording medium together with a repeat first field flag RFF declaring whether a field was deleted, and a top field first flag TFF declaring which of the two fields in the each of the resulting frames is first on the time-base, is wherein when plural logical recording periods are provided on a single recording medium, the video signal is converted to the recording signal so that the flags hold particular values at the start and end of each recording period.

Abstract: A method of treating wastes includes partially combusting the wastes in a fluidized bed reactor at a relatively low temperature followed by separate gasification of gaseous material and char from the first gasification in a separate relatively high temperature reactor. This forms synthesis gas that is cooled, subjected to a conversion operation to produce hydrogen.

Abstract: A valve gear comprises a valve 1 having a valve element and a valve stem, and an actuator having a driving shaft for operating the valve element of the valve. A connecting portion 7 is provided on either the valve or the actuator. A sleeve having a smooth inner surface is fixedly or rotatably fitted in a bore formed in the connecting portion 7 so as to slidably receive the valve stem and the driving shaft and slidably contact the inner smooth surface of the sleeve with outer surfaces of the valve stem and the driving shaft. The valve stem and the driving shaft inserted into the sleeve through the opposite ends, of the sleeve are provided at their end portions with respective coupling portions, so that the stem and the shaft are able to engage with each other only at the particular one point of relative rotation of the stem and the shaft.

Abstract: A laser decontamination method includes the steps of incorporation of a condenser lens in a gas supply nozzle, supplying a gas toward a contaminated member while moving the gas supply nozzle relatively to and along a surface of the contaminated member with a laser beam which is condensed by the condenser lens applied thereto, and thereby continuously melting or evaporating a contaminated surface layer so as to remove the same to clean the contaminated member. The gas is supplied asymmetrically with respect to the axis of the laser beam.

Abstract: An electrophotographic toner excellent in fixing properties at a low temperature, resistance to offsetting and shelflife and suitable for a heat-fixing method can be provided by an electrophotographic toner containing, as a binder, a polyester resin having a carbodiimide crosslink or an electrophotographic toner containing a carbidiimide-crosslinked polyester resin and a low melting point compound having a melting initiation temperature of 60 to 100.degree. C.

Abstract: The photovoltaic device is provided with a photovoltaic element on the surface of a substrate, and a light diffuse transmission filter, which diffuses light passing through it, over the surface of the photovoltaic element. The light diffuse transmission filter is separated from the surface of the photovoltaic element via spacers or via a light transmitting gap layer.

Abstract: In a method of operating an inductor of a tapping device of a melt vessel, the inductor couples inductively during a working phase with an electrically conductive shaped component and is cooled by means of a fluid. The inductor is electrically decoupled and cooled by means of a fluid in another working phase.

Abstract: The safety apparatus using nets for elevated work site operations uses parallel line catchers for catching falling workers. Each space between two adjacent lines of a parallel line catcher can be widened opening an area for passing building materials such as boards therethrough by moving the lines outwardly. Therefore, even though falling workers can be caught, construction materials can be freely passed through the catchers.

Abstract: An emergency light includes a chemiluminescent light stick which can be easily operated to illuminate and taken out. When an operating lever is pushed, an engaging portion of a pivoting member pushes the bottom portion of the chemiluminescent light stick toward a wall surface. The chemiluminescent light stick has on the top end thereof a head secured to a holding hook of a holding member. The chemiluminescent light stick can be easily bent to illuminate by the lever principle with the protuberance of a case body serving as a fulcrum and the engaging portion serving as the point of action. When the operating lever is further pushed, the top end of the pivoting member protrudes frontward to open a top cover, and at the same time, the holding member which has been restricted by the pivoting member is released and it moves upward by the urging force of a flat spring and the pressing force applied by the head of the chemiluminescent light stick, thus enabling the chemiluminescent light stick to be removed.

Abstract: A workpiece holding device enables stable polishing to be performed without sacrificing the structural strength of a top ring or the space necessary for machining a through hole or implanting engaging pins while allowing close contact to be made between a workpiece to a polishing cloth on a polishing tool. The top ring includes a top ring member having a holder plate for holding the workpiece on a front surface and a cover plate attached to a back surface of the holder plate by engaging a depression section formed on a back surface of the holder plate with a protrusion section formed on a front surface of the cover plate. A curved surface bearing unit provided between an end portion of a drive shaft and a back surface of the cover plate couples the drive shaft and the top ring member while permitting motion of the top ring member relative to the polishing tool. At least a portion of the curved surface bearing unit is positioned within the depression section.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl) can be produced advantageously by (1) reacting a compound of the formula: ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above) with a halogenating agent or sulfonyl halide to give a compound of the formula: ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above and X is a halogen or an alkyl- or aryl-sulfonyloxy), (2) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR4## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR5## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), (3) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR6## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR7## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), and (4) subjecting the resulting compound to catalytic reduction.