Abstract: A variable focal length lens having a simple structure and capable of being used for applications requiring small size is provided, as well as a focal length adjusting device and an imaging device using the same. A variable focal length lens 10 has a lens 11, a positive electrode 13, and a negative electrode 14. A second layer 11b and a first layer 11a constituting the lens 11 are formed from polyvinyl chloride with which a plasticizer has been mixed. The hardness of these layers is adjusted by adjusting the mixing quantity, plasticizer type, or etc. The second layer 11b is formed so as so cover at least a light transmission region of the first layer 11a. When a voltage is applied between the positive electrode 13 and the negative electrode 14, the second layer 11 b and first layer 11 a are deformed to be pulled to the positive electrode 13, and thereby the curvature of the variable focal length lens 10 is varied to vary the focal length.

Abstract: A lens drive apparatus includes a lens holder holding a lens, a gear rotated by rotational force of a driving source, and a cam gear meshed with the gear. The lens holder is moved in an optical path direction by the cam gear. The lens holder has an engagement portion engaged with a cam portion of the cam gear and is arranged to move in response to a change in the cam portion in conjunction with the rotation of the cam gear. The cam gear has a teeth portion composed of plural teeth arranged in a circular shape. The teeth portion has an non-meshed portion not meshed with the gear and thicker than other teeth. The number of the pluses or the number of the rotation of the driving source is preset, whereby a position of the lens holder is recognized.

Abstract: A coreless motor able to be downsized and easy to be assembled and to ensure the concentricity between a motor shaft, a magnet, and an outer cylinder. The coreless motor includes an outer cylinder gear unit having an output shaft and a speed-reducer mechanism incorporated into a field assembly having a magnet fitted on an inner yoke and an outer cylinder fitted on an outer periphery of the magnet, a motor shaft unit having an inner lid rotatably supporting a motor shaft via ball bearings, a rotor unit having a circular plate attached with a commutator electrically connected to a coil, an outer lid unit having an outer lid mounted with brushes. The inner lid is incorporated in the inner yoke, the coil is incorporated in between the outer cylinder and the magnet, and the outer lid unit is attached to the rotor unit and the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A semiconductor reticle transportation container includes a box and a base, the box having an opening and the base including a reticle support. The reticle is placed on the support and the box is placed on the base so that the reticle passes through the opening while being lifted off of the support by plungers contacting the lower edge of the reticle. After the box is closed, the reticle is compliantly constrained horizontally and vertically and is held away from the support.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup unit having an image pickup element, an optical unit having lenses, a sector drive unit having sectors arranged in a space for arranging the sectors, and supporting members being fixed in the space for arranging the sectors and having lengths equal to at least a width of the space for arranging the sectors in a light axis direction.

Abstract: A print head which prevents printing force from being reduced by making the distance between the tip of a printing wire and a printing medium adjustable, and a printer equipped therewith are provided. When the tip of a wire (11) abrades through use of a print head (1) and printing force is reduced due to an increase in a distance between the printing surface of a print sheet (20) and the tip of the wire (11), a pull-out spacer (14) is pulled out. As the pull-out spacer (14) is pulled out, a distance L2 between the tip of a trace roller (12) and a reference surface (16a) of a frame is shortened to L1?2t, and a distance between the printing surface of the print sheet (20) and the reference surface (16a) of the frame, which is equal to a distance L2, is also shortened.

Abstract: A plug connector, mated with a complementary connector, includes a housing, a printed circuit board received in the housing, a cable with a plurality of conductors electrically attached to corresponding electrical pads of the printed circuit board, and a fastening portion. The housing includes a front housing defining a mating interface and L-shape rear housing. The mating interface includes a pair of tongue sections and an opening defined between the tongue sections. The printed circuit board has a plurality of electrical pads formed thereon, and defines a mating portion accessible from the mating interface and parallel to the pair of tongue sections. The fastening portion includes a connecting portion received in the housing and at least one column post passing through the housing and the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a novel and unique pneumatic paintball marker with a variety of novel features the first being an on/off compressed air control valve at the front of the marker below the barrel adjacent to the inline pressure regulator. Major innovations have been made in reducing the size and weight of the body of the marker along with the construction of the new fuse bolt assembly consisting of just four components and only one moving part. An anti-chop eye electronic system insures the paintballs are in the proper position with the addition of rubber ball detents to hold the paintballs in place so that they will not roll out the barrel prior to firing the marker.

Abstract: A sample inspection system has line sensors that generate sample picture data for layers of a sample disposed at different depths of the sample. The line sensors are arranged parallel to each other and displaced from each other in a vertical direction relative to the sample. A lens system focuses the layers of the sample at the different sample depths on the respective line sensors so that pictures of the layers at the different sample depths are read as line picture data by the line sensors. The sample inspection system includes an apparatus that stores the generated sample picture data, allows a planar region of the sample to be designated by a user for display, extracts picture data corresponding to the designated planar region for each of the sample layers from the sample picture data in response to designation of the planar region, and stores the extracted picture data as a set.

Abstract: A semiconductor reticle transportation container includes a box and a base, the box having an opening and the base including a reticle support. The reticle is placed on the support and the box is placed on the base so that the reticle passes through the opening while being lifted off of the support by plungers contacting the lower edge of the reticle. After the box is closed, the reticle is compliantly constrained horizontally and vertically and is held away from the support.

Abstract: A method for matching a first OPE curve (700) for a first exposure apparatus (10A) used to transfer an image to a wafer (28) to a second OPE curve (702) of a second exposure apparatus (10B). The method can include the step of adjusting a tilt of a wafer stage (50) that retains the wafer to adjust the first OPE curve. As provided herein, the first exposure apparatus (10A) has the first OPE curve (700) because of the design of the components used in the first exposure apparatus (10A), and the second exposure apparatus (10B) has a second OPE curve (702) because of the design of the components used in the second exposure apparatus (10B). Further, the tilt of the wafer stage (50) can be selectively adjusted until the first OPE curve (700) approximately matches the second OPE curve (702). With this design, the two exposure apparatuses (10A) (10B) can be used for the same lithographic process.

Abstract: A quick release press mount includes a first retainer clip, a second retainer clip, a clip base and a plurality of clip fasteners. The clip base includes a plurality of tapped holes. Fasteners are inserted through the first and second retainer clips and secured in the plurality of tapped holes. A press base has a shape that is sized to be received by a space created between the first and second retainer clips. The press base is attached to a bottom of a press or the like. A plurality of openings are formed through the clip base for attachment to a base or the like with a plurality of fasteners. A second embodiment of the quick release press mount includes a clip base with an extended height. A third embodiment of the quick release press mount eliminates the clip base.

Abstract: A new optical substrate design allows a target to be illuminated with minimal illumination of undesired surfaces within the image collection ray path.

Abstract: There is provided a shutter apparatus including a substrate having a shutter opening and at lease two sectors that are supported by spindles swingably and that open and close the shutter opening, and a spindle of one sector of the at lease two sectors is located in a swinging range of another sector of the at lease two sectors, and is a pin of a rod-shaped member formed on the substrate to be lower in an overall height than a height in which the another sector swings.

Abstract: A paintball loader, more specifically a paintball loader which rapidly and forcibly feeds paintballs to a paintball marker, comprises a rotor body having at least one rotor fin, and a drive motor for rotating the rotor body in a first direction. The paintball loader has a central outlet located radially inwards of the tip of the rotor fin and an abutment body arranged to interact with the at least one rotor fin. When the rotor body is rotated, a paintball, located in a space formed between the at least one rotor fin and the abutment body, is pushed out of the paintball loader through the central outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring channel characteristics of a multi-channel system. In accordance with the method and the apparatus, a first chirp is applied as an input to one channel of a multi-channel system at a first time, and a second chirp is applied as an input to another channel of the multi-channel system at a second time, the second time being separated from the first time by a predetermined first time interval. An output signal is acquired from a selected one of the channels. At least one crosstalk component is separated from non-crosstalk components in the output signal to characterize the selected channel based on non-crosstalk components. Preferably, the chirp is an exponential chirp that enables harmonic distortion components to be distinguished and measured in one channel in the presence of crosstalk from one or more other channels.

Abstract: A series of cell fill valves are interconnected by tubing and T-connections, one to each battery cell. Each cell fill valve is controlled by a ball in a seat in a single fill opening. The ball is controlled by a float on a pivotable lever arm with an end finger which holds the ball up to admit water with the float down and allows the ball to lower onto the seat as the cell fills causing the float to rise to a shutoff level when the cell is filled to a desired level.