Abstract: A discharge lamp ballast having a starting circuit including a second inductor connected between a first end of a discharge lamp and the positive voltage side of a first capacitor; a second capacitor forming a resonance circuit together with the second inductor; a second switching element connected between the positive terminal of a DC power source and the second end of the lamp; a third switching element connected between the second end of the lamp and the negative voltage side of the first capacitor; and a starting controller that controls both switching elements. The starting controller alternately turns both switching elements on and off so as to contribute resonance voltage of the resonance circuit for starting of the lamp in case of the starting mode.

Abstract: A charging device for use in charging plural types of secondary batteries includes a power source unit for supplying a charging current to an object secondary battery, a battery type signal receiving unit for receiving a battery type signal, a battery temperature signal receiving unit for receiving a battery temperature signal, a blowing unit for blowing an air to the secondary battery, a storage unit for storing reference judging temperatures for determination of charging-incongruent temperatures of the plural types of secondary batteries, in a matching relationship with the types of the secondary batteries, and a control unit. The control unit allows the blowing unit to perform a blowing operation, if the temperature of the secondary battery exceeds a reference judging temperature, and to stop the blowing operation, if otherwise.

Abstract: A massage chair including an electric reclining mechanism for moving a backrest into different sloping positions, a holding mechanism for holding at least one forearm of a user to fix to the base side, and a controller that controls operations of these mechanisms. The controller allows the holding mechanism to hold the at least one forearm and allows the electric reclining mechanism to move the backrest into at least one sloping position before moving the backrest into a final position. An inclination of the at least one sloping position from a sloping position of the different sloping positions when the at least one forearm is held by the holding mechanism is smaller than an inclination of the end position from a sloping position of the different sloping positions when the at least one forearm is held by the holding mechanism.

Abstract: A communications adapter for facilitating electronic communications with an electronic device is disclosed. The adapter is remotely reprogrammable by a provider computer through a communications network. The adapter includes a communications port for electronically connecting the adapter to the electronic device. The adapter also includes communications hardware for communicating with the provider computer through the communications network. In addition, the adapter includes a processor and memory. The memory is programmed with instructions to cause the adapter to receive new data sent by the provider computer via the communications network. The new data comprises device instructions for communicating with the electronic device through the communications port.

Abstract: A system and method for providing notification when a state of a monitored system persists for a specified period of time utilizing distributed monitoring devices is disclosed. It is first detected, utilizing a monitoring device, that a monitored system is in a specified state. A timer within the monitoring device is initiated in response to detecting that the monitored system is in the specified state. The monitored system is monitored, utilizing the monitoring device, to determine whether the monitored system remains in the specified state. If the monitored system remains in the specified state for a specified period of time, notification is transmitted from the monitoring device to a client device via a network.

Abstract: To provide a pump comprising an impeller which sucks and discharges liquid, a motor unit which drives the impeller, a parting plate which is disposed between the impeller and the motor unit and which partitions the impeller and the motor unit, a case formed with a pump chamber in which the impeller is accommodated, a suction port which is connected to the case and which sucks liquid and a discharge port which discharges liquid, wherein the case is provided with a discharge passage which discharges liquid introduced into the pump chamber from the suction port, the discharge passage has a predetermined diameter, the discharge passage is provided along an outer periphery of the pump chamber at a location at a predetermined distance from the outer periphery of the pump chamber, the pump further comprises at least one reflow passage which brings the discharge passage and the pump chamber into communication with each other and through which liquid flowing through the discharge passage flows back to the pump chamber

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing status data to a requesting device are disclosed. A request for status data is transmitted from a requesting device to a providing device. The request includes prior values of variables stored at the requesting device. At the providing device, the transmitted prior values are compared with current values of the variables stored at the providing device. Changed variables, which comprise variables for which the current value is different from the prior value, are identified. A variable map is formulated that identifies the changed variables. Current values for the changed variables and variable map are organized into a pre-defined format to form status data. The status data is transmitted to the requesting device.

Abstract: A multilayered device comprises an insulation sheet 1 having at least two foldable areas 11, 12 which are multilayered by being folded; and a first conductor 21A, 22A which is formed on a first face 11A, 12A and constitutes a first coil 51A, 52A having one turn or more, and a second conductor 21B, 22B which is formed on a second face 11B, 12B and constitutes a second coil 51B, 52B having one turn or more in the same winding direction as that of the first coil in each of the foldable areas, at least four conductors are disposed in parallel with each other by folding the insulation sheet so as to constitute an inductor, and thus, it enables to thin the thickness of the multilayer, to downsize and to lightweight even when it constitutes a coil device having a larger winding number.

Abstract: A rotary impact tool includes a drive shaft rotationally driven by a rotational drive power source, a hammer arranged around the drive shaft, a ball engaging with a cam groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft and a cam groove formed on the inner circumferential surface of the hammer, an anvil engageable with the hammer along a rotational direction and a spring for biasing the hammer toward the anvil. The hammer is designed to rotate along a rotational locus decided by the cam groove of the drive shaft and the cam groove of the hammer. The rotational locus of the hammer as seen in a development view describes a curve in which the lead angle of the rotational locus varies continuously with the change in hammer rotation angle.

Abstract: A blood pressure meter includes: a cuff; a case main body that has a cuff storing recess capable of storing the cuff at a back-side position of the case main body; a main block that is provided in the case main body at a front-side position and that has a display unit and an operation unit; a cover that is joined to a portion on the back side of the case main body to open and close freely by way of a hinge and that can cover the upper portion the case main body; and a lift-up portion that can lift the cuff upward from the cuff storing recess.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes a DC power source circuit; a power supply circuit for converting an output from the DC power source circuit into a square wave AC output to be supplied to a high pressure discharge lamp; a starting circuit for applying a high voltage output for lamp startup to the high pressure discharge lamp; a control circuit; and a half-wave discharge detection circuit for detecting a half-wave discharge. The detection circuit detects the half-wave discharge at an initial stage of the lamp startup and the control circuit controls the magnitude of a voltage of a square wave half period of one polarity having a load voltage of a larger magnitude and that of a square wave half period of the other polarity having a load voltage of a smaller magnitude to approximate to each other.

Abstract: A balance practicing machine that provides effective balancing practice through the compound movement of an adjustable seat that comfortably accommodates various body types. The balance practicing machine is equipped with a saddle-shaped seat upon which a user sits, a drive unit that imparts a swinging motion to the seat, expandable and contractible elements on the surface of the seat, and a mechanism to expand and contract the expandable and contractible elements.

Abstract: An autonomously moving robot that drives while evading an obstacle by an environment information acquisitioner. The information acquisitioner includes an imager that takes an image of a circumference on a driving route, an image recognition processor that extracts an area having a property relating to a region of a human body, a ranger that measures a range and an orientation to an object existing in the circumference on the driving route, a range information analyzer that obtains a shape of the object, and an environment recognizer that recognizes the environment information on the driving route. The environment recognizer compares the area extracted in the image recognition processor with the object recognized in the range information analyzer, and recognizes the object as a person when both of them agree with each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure provided with an insulation structure in a moving unit is manufactured easily. An optical scanning mirror (semiconductor structure) is formed by processing an SOI substrate consists of a first silicon layer, an oxide film and a second silicon layer. A moving unit, which is supported on a fixed frame through first hinges, is formed on the first silicon layer. The moving unit is divided into a plurality of regions by forming trenches (insulation structure). A supporting member formed of the oxide film and the second silicon layer is formed just below the trenches. The plurality of regions of the moving frame divided by the trenches are joined to the supporting member so that the moving unit is swingable with the supporting member. Thereby, the supporting member is formed by simple etching processes, and thus, mechanical strength of the moving unit is ensured.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an orthodontic appliance for accelerating the tooth aligning effect and shortening the treatment period, and has an object to provide an appliance which can bring about higher aligning effect than usual ways by giving vibration to tooth to be aligned to activate bone remodeling of the targeted tooth and the alveolar bone and enhance the shift of the tooth. This appliance includes a vibrating element and a dental mouthpiece having the vibrating element built therein. The provision of the vibrating element in the dental mouthpiece facilitates the application of vibration and handling, and continues the treatment safely even at home. The inner shape of the dental mouthpiece serves aligning treatment as well as acceleration of the effect.

Abstract: A compact position sensor with high operational reliability is provided. This sensor has a tubular detection coil, a magnetic core movable in the detection coil, a drive circuit for the detection coil, a signal processing circuit for converting a change in impedance of the detection coil into an electric signal, and a guide means for guiding a movement of the magnetic core in the detection coil. The guide means has a guide portion connected to the magnetic core and a support portion for slidably supporting the guide portion. The magnetic core can be smoothly displaced in the detection coil without contacting an inner surface of the detection coil by a sliding movement of the guide portion relative to the support portion.

Abstract: In a peer-to-peer network, one or more congestion events are defined that imply congestion on the network. In addition, one or more non-congestion events are defined that imply a lack of congestion on the network. When a node detects the occurrence of one or more of the defined congestion events, the node increases the spacing of connectionless protocol (e.g., UDP) packets that are sent by the node. When a node detects the occurrence of one or more of the defined non-congestion events, the node decreases the spacing of connectionless protocol packets that are sent by the node.

Abstract: In a plane emission device comprising a transparent substrate (1), a light scattering layer (2) formed on a surface of the transparent substrate (1), and a luminescent body (3) of organic or inorganic which is formed on a surface of the light scattering layer and emits light by light or electric energy, efficiency to takeout light to outside is improved. The light scattering layer (2) contains binder (4) and two kinds of fillers (5, 6), and when a refraction index of the binder (4) is assumed as Nb, a refraction index of one of the two kinds of fillers (5, 6) is assumed as Nf1, and a refraction index of the other is assumed as Nf2, a relationship that Nf2>Nb>Nf1 is satisfied. Since the light scattering layer (2) contains two kinds of fillers (5, 6), disorder occurs in critical angle when light exits from the light scattering layer (2) to the transparent substrate (1), incidence rate of light into the transparent substrate (1) rises, and efficiency to takeout the light to outside increases.

Abstract: An optical biological information measuring apparatus includes a measuring surface to be placed on the surface of a living body, a mark display section which displays a mark at a region to be measured on the surface of the living body, a light-emitting section which irradiates the living body with light of a predetermined wavelength and a light-receiving section which receives light irradiated onto the living body and returned from the living body, and measures information on the living body based on the received light. The optical biological information measuring apparatus is capable of measuring biological information with improved alignment accuracy.

Abstract: A thin board-to-board connector with high density in which there is no connection between three-dimensional complex metal springs. The board-to-board connector includes a connector having a bump for electrical connection having an umbrella shape on a board and connected to a circuit board and a connector having an elastic electrically conductive section having a through hole made in a conductive pattern on an elastic insulating board and connected to a circuit board electrically connected to the elastic conductive section. When a bump is inserted into the through hole, the elastic conductive section is electrically connected to the bump, and the side surface of the through hole is pressed against to the bump and elastically deformed and dented. Consequently, the bump is press-fit into the through hole.