Abstract: A fuzzy inference engine has a plurality of individual inference sections (10) and a concluder section (110) for integrally processing outputs from the inference sections. In order for the inference sections to share membership function circuits and membership function generator circuits, these circuits are arranged in arrays disposed at location external with respect to the inference sections, which selectively use outputs from membership function circuit arrays (11, 12, 13) and the membership function generate circuit array (15).

Abstract: A device for processing optical data comprising:an optical waveguide formed on a substrate,a light source for the laser beam to be admitted into the waveguide,lens means provided on the waveguide for causing the beam propagating through the waveguide to emerge obliquely upward and focusing the emergent beam two-dimensionally,means for receiving the beam reflected obliquely from above,a base provided with the laser light source, the substrate and the light receiving means,a focusing drive mechanism for adjusting the position of the base upward or downward, anda tracking drive mechanism for adjusting the position of the base laterally.

Abstract: An electromagnetic relay having an electromagnetic block with a roughly U-shaped iron core formed with a pair of bent opposing magnetic poles at both the ends thereof and with a coil wound therearound via a spool; and an armature block with both ends thereof opposing the magnetic poles and with the middle portion thereof pivotally supported. A permanent magnet is disposed between the two opposing magnet poles of the iron core so as to oppose said armature. The permanent magnet is supported by a support member formed integral with the spool of the electromagnetic block. The armature is pivotally supported by the electromagnetic block.

Abstract: A reflection plate for a biochemical measuring instrument which is adapted to evaluate a biochemical value by obtaining a reflective property of a reflection surface of the reference reflection plate, obtaining a reflective property of test paper impregnated with biochemical sample and mounted on a test stick, and comparing the two reflective properties, wherein: the reflection surface of the reference reflection plate is depressed from the periphery thereof. Thereby, even though the test stick is required to be placed adjacent to the reflection surface to achieve a uniformity the optical arrangement in obtaining the two reflective properties, the contamination of the reflection surface from the sample can be prevented. Preferably, the reference reflection plate itself may be provided with a depression to defined the reflection surface at the bottom of this depression.

Abstract: An optical device manufacturing method includes a step of accumulating an optical device inorganic material on a stamper by use of a vacuum thin-film growing method, and a step of removing the accumulated material from the stamper, thereby producing an optical device.

Abstract: A programmable multi-membership function circuit comprises at least one or preferably two Z function circuits, at least one or preferably two S function circuits, and a fuzzy logic circuit for calculating fuzzy logic from the output of the Z function circuits and the output of the S function circuits. The fuzzy logic circuit comprises a MIN (intersection) circuit and a MAX (union) circuit, or the combination of these circuits.

Abstract: A photo-pickup wherein a light emitting portion, a surface acoustic wave generating portion, a lens portion, a light receiving portion and a control portion are integrally integrated on a base plate formed on its surface with a light transmission path. The light emitting portion propagates a light beam to the light transmission path. The light beam propagating in the light transmission path is first deflected within a plane of the light transmission path by surface acoustic wave propagating on the light transmission path and propagated towards the lens portion. The lens portion is provided to project the light beam outside from the light transmission path and effect two-dimentional focusing of the projected beam and adjustment of focal position. The light receiving portion comprises a combination of a plurality of light receiving elements disposed at suitable intervals from the projected position of the light beam to receive a reflected light of the light beam.

Abstract: There is provided a switch with contacts comprising: movable contact members (37A, 37B) which are made of leaf springs and are arranged along fixed contact members (29A, 29B); movable contacts (39A, 39B) fixed to the tip portions of the movable contact member so as to face fixed contacts (30A, 30B) fixed to the tip portions of the fixed contact members; and movable side fixed terminal members (35A, 35B) whose base end portions are joined to the base end portions of the movable contact members, wherein projecting portions (31A, 31B) which extend to the front side are formed at the tips of the fixed contact members and the tips of the movable side fixed terminal members are extended to the front side than the contact position. A pair of magnetic pole plates (50A, 50B, 51A, 51B) which face each other are arranged on both sides of the contact position along the front to back direction, respectively.

Abstract: Paper sheets, which are typified by bank notes, are maintained substantially upright between a freely movable pressure plate and a rotatively driven delivery/stacking roller opposing the pressure plate. Contact pressure which the delivery/stacking roller applies to the paper sheets is sensed by a pressure sensor. With the sensed contact pressure serving as an input, fuzzy inference is performed in accordance with predetermined rules, thereby to control the movement of the pressure plate in such a manner that the contact pressure will attain a proper value at all times.

Abstract: The electrical contact alloy is provided comprising Sb and either Au or Ag or both. In such alloys, Sb produces a non-catalytic effect to inhibit formation of carbon from organic gases derived from resin parts. Therefore, when electrical contacts of such alloys are assembled with resin parts into housings, poor contact due to carbon deposition is prevented to increase the useful life and reliability of the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A printed circuit board inspecting apparatus, in which image data of a packaged circuit board under inspection obtained by picking up the image of the circuit board are processed through predetermined processing procedure for examining packaged states of parts mounted on the packaged cicuit board. The apparatus comprises an imaging unit for picking up the image of a packaged circuit board, a decision unit for deciding the state of the parts mounted on the packaged circuit board, and a visualizing unit for displaying visibly the result of the decision and position of the relevant part in correspondence with each other. The apparatus can further include a land extracting unit for extracting lands from the image obtained through the imaging of the packaged circuit board under inspection, an alarm condition setting unit for setting the condition for generating an alarm, and an alarm generating unit for generating the alarm when the alarm condition is met by the result of decision made by the decision unit.

Abstract: A time switch turns on and off electric equipment connected to the switch. An on time at which the electric equipment is turned on and an off time at which the equipment is turned off are set through a time setting unit. Both the on time and the off time are displayed on a display unit.

Abstract: An indicator circuit for indicating the states of various electric components such as limit switches, comprising a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode, and a constant current device, such as a constant current diode, connected in series with the light emitting element. The constant current element significantly expands the operable range of the input voltage to the indicator circuit, and keeps the brightness of the light emitting device constant over a wide input voltage range. For high voltage applications, a plurality of constant current devices may be connected in series, and, preferably, balancing resistors and/or zener diodes may be connected in parallel with them.

Abstract: An electric switch comprising a fixed contact attached to a casing, a moveable contact piece carrying a moveable contact, an elastic piece which is actuated by an external force between two positions which are located on either side of the moveable contact piece along the common direction of motion of the moveable contact piece and the elastic piece, and a U-shaped spring member engaged between the free ends of the moveable contact piece and the elastic piece. As the elastic piece is moved past the moveable contact piece, the spring action of the U-shaped spring member upon the moveable contact piece changes its direction in such a manner that the moveable contact is positively pressed upon the fixed contact or displaced away from the latter without producing any indeterminate state of contact between the moveable and fixed contacts.

Abstract: In a distance measuring apparatus for optically detecting a distance to an object by using a triangulation method, two signals which are obtained from a position sensitive device are added and it is detected that the result of the addition has exceeded a predetermined threshold level. On the other hand, it is assumed that a signal waveform to drive a light emitting device is a signal whose level increases with an elapse of time. When the addition result exceeds the threshold level, the level of the drive signal is held constant. At this time, by dividing a signal obtained from the position sensitive device by the signal indicative of the addition result, a signal relating to the distance to the object is obtained.

Abstract: The tool monitor according to this invention comprises an acoustic emissions (AE) sensor to be mounted in the neighborhood of and without contact with a machine tool and a tool damage detection means adapted to detect any damage to a tool of the machine tool according to a level of an output AE signal within a predetermined frequency band generated from the AE sensor at the time of occurrence of damage. Since this AE sensor is not in contact with the machine tool spindle, work table or work piece, it is easy to set the sensitivity of the AE sensor and variations in the AE sensor output signal level are minimized. The AE sensor is also effectively protected against flying chips, and noise due to contact with the chips is reduced, thereby minimizing the possibility of erroneous operation.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an illuminated push-button switch structure in which, when the push button is pushed, the push-button guide member united to the button is depressed while being supported to slide by the switch base. Then, the switch lever of the switch mechanism associated with the push-button guide member is abruptly turned back with a predetermined depression stroke to afford a switching feel. This turn prevents further movement of the push button in a predetermined depression direction in order to eliminate any undesired vibration of the push button. Even if the push button is obliquely pushed, it is always prevented from being inclined to provide the stable switching operation at all times.

Abstract: A visual recognition device receives video signals representing an object to be recognized from a video camera, converts the video signals to a two-valued input pattern, and compares the input pattern with a standard pattern to recognize the object. The recognition device includes an auxiliary computing unit which carries out a predetermined auxiliary computation during a horizontal scan period of the video camera, in accordance with the state of the input pattern; a main computation unit for carrying out, during a vertical return scan blanking period of the video camera, a main computation based on computation results of the auxiliary computation unit; and a recognition unit for recognizing the input pattern with respect to the standard pattern based on computation results of the main computation unit with respect to the patterns.

Abstract: A hardware and software image processing system is disclosed in which geometric features are extracted from a graphic image included in a picture image of an object according to data on edge addresses by carrying out an edge detection and address data collection requiring a large amount of processing work using dedicated hardware circuitry and carrying out arithmetic and other processes by means of software and a microcomputer.

Abstract: In an electrode structure for a high frequency hyperthermia device, an electrode unit incorporating an electrode is provided at the front end of a supporting arm, and an inflatable insulated bag is provided on one side of the electrode unit, whereby the electrode unit is snugly brought into contact with the diseased part as the bag is inflated, and a cooling solution containing bag is detachably mounted on the other side of the electrode unit, whereby the solution containing bag can be readily replaced with a new one when broken, and the solution containing bag most suitable for treatment of the diseased part can be readily engaged with the electrode unit.