Abstract: An image processing device and method which is provided with means for converting image data from an image sensor into image data emphasizing a change in brightness in each of plural divisions of a whole luminous area by using a conversion table and which is therefore capable of easily and immediately enhancing the contrast of an image taken by an image sensor possessing a wide dynamic range of its logarithmic output characteristic.

Abstract: A high speed video camera capable of taking video of a high speed phenomena by an image sensor composed of a matrix of MOS type light sensor circuits each representing a unit pixel and having a wide dynamic range with no occurrence of afterglow, recording the video by storing image data output from the image sensor, executing compensation of outputs of the image sensor based on the image data read from the memory at a normal processing speed and displaying the video based on the compensated video data on a display device. Accordingly, with this camera, it is possible for the user to take and record video of a high speed phenomenon at a very high speed while executing compensation for variations in outputs of the image sensor at a normal processing speed based on the video data read from the memory.

Abstract: An antivibration clamp comprises a base made of hard resin and an object-holding portion of hard resin supported by the base. The object-holding portion includes a curved wall defining a recess for receiving an elongated object, and a resilient holding finger extending obliquely from the top of the curved wall or its vicinity toward the recess of the curved wall to press against the outer surface of an object received in the curved wall. The curved wall has an inner wall surface on which a plurality of elongated rigid ribs are formed to protrude inward and extend in the width direction of the curved wall with the ribs being spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the curved wall. The inner wall surface and the ribs of the curved wall are coated with an antivibration material made of soft resin.

Abstract: An antivibration clamp comprises a base made of hard resin and an object-holding portion of hard resin supported by the base. The object-holding portion includes a curved wall defining a recess for receiving an elongated object, and a resilient holding finger extending obliquely from the top of the curved wall or its vicinity toward the recess of the curved wall to press against the outer surface of an object received in the curved wall. The curved wall has an inner wall surface on which a plurality of elongated rigid ribs are formed to protrude inward and extend in the width direction of the curved wall with the ribs being spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the curved wall. The inner wall surface and the ribs of the curved wall are coated with an antivibration material made of soft resin.

Abstract: A parking brake device which can not only better the safety, but also reduce the cost by simplifying the construction. A shock absorbing portion 35, 36 which resists an operating force in pulling a brake lever 30 toward the compartment and which is deformed by an impact force in the direction which is approximately opposite to the direction of pulling the brake lever 30 toward the compartment, absorbing the impact force is provided.

Abstract: An opening/closing apparatus including a trapping detection structure which reliably implements detection of trapping of foreign objects, even at a structure at which an outer peripheral edge of a moving body or an inner peripheral edge of an opening includes corner portions with small radii of curvature. A pressure sensor which detects external forces from directions intersecting a length direction thereof is provided at an outer periphery portion of a back door. However, at a corner portion, at a lower end portion of a door side portion or the like, the pressure sensor is provided with a large curvature such that the pressure sensor keeps distant from the corner portion. In place thereof, another pressure sensor, with a facing pair of electrode sheets, is provided along the corner portion. When one or more of these pressure sensors detects an external force, the back door is moved for opening.

Abstract: A method for the production of a sunroof includes a step for applying adhesive into an edge section and a molding groove along the edge section of glass disposed accurately on a lower mold. A foaming material is applied in the molding groove at a peripheral portion of the glass outside the applied adhesive. The adhesive and the foaming material applied on the glass are molded by connecting the lower mold to an upper mold with a frame, and then heated a step of heating in a state in which the molds are pressed in a vertical direction. The lower and upper molds are detached, and a sunroof is discharged as a finished product.

Abstract: A robot is provided to run so that a trace of the robot efficiently covers a given area according to the detection of a boundary of the area. A spiral pattern running, wherein a radius of the spiral is gradually increased, is started at a desired location in the area and is paused upon the detection of a boundary wall by sensors. Then, a random pattern running, which includes turning to depart from the wall and running forward, is conducted. After the turning has been repeated a predetermined number of times through simulations, the spiral pattern running is resumed at a location spaced from the last turning spot by a predetermined distance or a predetermined length of running time.

Abstract: A hollow shaft is manufactured by defining a through hole axially in a shaft blank to produce a cylindrical hollow shaft blank, inserting a mandrel in the through hole of the hollow shaft blank, holding opposite ends of the mandrel concentrically with the through hole, and rotating the hollow shaft blank about its own axis while cutting an outer circumferential surface of at least one end of the hollow shaft blank concentrically with the through hole to form a reference outer circumferential surface on the at least one end of the hollow shaft blank. After the reference outer circumferential surface is formed, it is held in position, and the hollow shaft blank is rotated about its own axis while cutting a predetermined thickness of an outer circumferential surface of the hollow shaft blank over a substantially entire length thereof for thereby finishing the hollow shaft blank into a hollow shaft.

Abstract: An electric cable (2) includes a conductor (2a) which comprises a plurality of strands (21) and an insulation sheath (2b) which covers an outer periphery of the conductor (2a). An insulation displacement terminal (5) effects an insulation displacement connection with the conductor (2a) with the strands (21) being compressed into a slot width in which a contact resistance is in a stable area and the strands are not cut. The terminal (5) comprises: a slot (5a) having a given slot width (WS): a first pair of slopes (5b) opposed to each other and formed on an open part of the slot (5a) at an upper side with respect to an inserting direction of the electric cable (2), the first pair of slopes (5b) being adapted to guide the electric cable (2) into the slot (5a); and a second pair of slopes (5c) opposed to each other and formed on the open part of the slot (5a) at a lower side with respect to the direction of insertion of the electric cable.

Abstract: An engine exhaust emission control system in an outboard engine is provided. The exhaust emission control system has a catalyst unit mounted in an engine block exhaust gas passage in the outboard engine. The catalyst unit comprises a catalyst carrier having at least one catalyst element carried therein and a flexible porous bag having at least a portion of the catalyst therein. The catalyst unit is formed to be positioned within the engine block exhaust passage so as to extend therealong and the catalyst unit is removably inserted and detachably mounted in the exhaust gas passage.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying system for an internal combustion engine includes an alternator driven by the engine. A regulator controls voltage generated by the alternator. An electrically-heated catalyzer is arranged in the exhaust system of the engine and connected to the alternator to be electrically heated by electric power generated by the alternator. An ECU controls the regulator to control the voltage generated by the alternator and supplied to the electrically-heated catalyzer, according to operating conditions of the engine detected by sensors such as an engine coolant temperature sensor and an intake air temperature sensor.

Abstract: An electric wheel motor mounted integrally in a wheel has at least one electric leader line extending from the inside of a motor main body of the motor to the outside thereof. A breather passage is provided in the at least one electric leader line and communicates the inside of the motor main body with the outside thereof.

Abstract: Water which drops on an upper surface of a connector housing will often flow through a rear side of the housing onto electric wires. A part of the water enters a terminal containing chamber. This invention prevents penetration of the water. A connector includes a connector housing (10) provided with a terminal containing chamber (11a) which is open to a rear side of the housing. The housing (10) is provided with a visor (13) which extends from an upper surface of the housing to an upper part of the rear side to cover an upper part of an opening of the chamber (11a). Water drops (D) from the upper surface of the housing (10) cannot flow down on electric wires (20) drawn out from the terminal containing chamber (11a) and thus cannot enter the chamber (11a) through the wires (20).

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, and a crankshaft. The control system has an electromagnetic driving section which electromagnetically causes opening and closing of at least one of the at least one intake valve and the at least one exhaust valve. A crank angle sensor generates a crank angle signal whenever the crankshaft rotates through a predetermined angle, and a cylinder position sensor generates a cylinder-discriminating signal indicative of a predetermined crank angle of a particular cylinder of a plurality of the cylinders. A piston position sensor detects an operating state or position of the piston of each of the plurality of the cylinders, based on the generated crank angle signal and the generated cylinder-discriminating signal.

Abstract: A valve seat for an internal combustion engine provided with a base member, wherein said base member comprises; a matrix of iron-based alloy comprising (a) carbon in a range of 0.5-1.5 weight % based on weight of said base member, (b) at least one element selected from a group consisting of nickel, cobalt and molybdenum in a range of 2.0-20.0 weight % in total based on weight of said base member and (c) iron as a remainder; cobalt-based hard particles dispersed in said matrix in a range of 26-50 weight % based on weight of said base member.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders each having at least one intake valve, at least one exhaust valve, and a crankshaft. The control system has an electromagnetic driving section which electromagnetically causes opening and closing of at least one of the at least one intake valve and the at least one exhaust valve. A crank angle sensor generates a crank angle signal whenever the crankshaft rotates through a predetermined angle, and a cylinder position sensor generates a cylinder-discriminating signal indicative of a predetermined crank angle of a particular cylinder of a plurality of the cylinders. A piston position sensor detects an operating state or position of the piston of each of the plurality of the cylinders, based on the generated crank angle signal and the generated cylinder-discriminating signal.

Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying system for an internal combustion engine includes an alternator driven by the engine. A regulator controls voltage generated by the alternator. An electrically-heated catalyzer is arranged in the exhaust system of the engine and connected to the alternator to be electrically heated by electric power generated by the alternator. An ECU controls the regulator to control the voltage generated by the alternator and supplied to the electrically-heated catalyzer, according to a degree of aging of the electrically-heated catalyzer.

Abstract: A control system for an electromagnetic valve having a valve element, a pair of solenoids opposed to each other and disposed to drive the valve element in respective directions opposite to each other and between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, and a spring interposed between the solenoids, for biasing the valve element toward a neutral position intermediate between the first and second extreme positions. The solenoids are controlled such that when the valve element is to start moving from one of the first and second extreme positions toward the other extreme position, energization of a corresponding one of the solenoids is terminated, and energization of the other solenoid is started when a predetermined delay time period elapses from the termination of the corresponding one solenoid.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine comprises an ECU which calculates an amount of fuel to be supplied to the engine and determines a direct supply ratio and a carry-off ratio, based on operating conditions of the engine. The direct supply ratio is a ratio of a fuel amount directly drawn into the engine in a predetermined operating cycle of the engine to the whole fuel amount injected in the same operating cycle, and the carry-off ratio is a ratio of a fuel amount carried off the inner surface of the intake pipe and drawn into the engine in the predetermined operating cycle to the whole fuel amount which adhered to the inner surface of the intake pipe in an operating cycle immediately preceding the predetermined operating cycle.