Abstract: To provide a heat radiation member having high durability that can favorably retain the thermal conductivity under application of heat cycles, suitable for mounting a semiconductor element of a power module. The heat radiation member includes a laminated structure including metal materials 21 and 22 and a carbon material 10 having the following property (A) bonded to each other; (A) in pressurizing one principal surface of a plate specimen having a thickness of 11 mm of the carbon material with nitrogen gas of 200 kPa, the carbon material having a gas permeability of the nitrogen gas permeating to the other principal surface with a flow rate of 5 L/min or more and 30 L/min or less per 0.01 m2 in terms of area of the pressurized principal surface, the pressurized principal surface having an area of 0.005 m2 or more.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire (SBW) mode of steering road wheels by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device. The steering apparatus includes a clutch which is composed of a shaft that rotates together with the steering device, an internal gear ring which has a rotation center coinciding with that of the shaft and transmits its rotation to the steering mechanism, an external gear ring partially intermeshed with the internal gear ring, lock members which transmit/disconnect the rotation of the shaft to the external gear, and a lock operating member for displacing the lock members to lock/unlock positions.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire (SBW) mode in which road wheels are steered by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device. The steering apparatus comprises: a connecting mechanism which can connect the steering device and the steering mechanism mechanically; and an SBW control unit which sets the connecting mechanism to a disconnected state to control the steering mechanism based on an operating amount of the steering device under the steer-by-wire mode, and sets the connecting mechanism to a connected state to switch a steering mode from the steer-by-wire mode to a steer-by-wire backup mode when it has been determined that the steer-by-wire mode cannot be executed properly. The connecting mechanism is set to the disconnected state while being energized and set to the connected state while being non-energized.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of executing a steer-by-wire (SBW) mode of steering road wheels by a steering mechanism mechanically disconnected with a steering device. The steering apparatus includes a clutch which is composed of a shaft rotated together with the steering device, an internal gear ring which has a rotation center coincide with that of the shaft and transmits its rotation to the steering mechanism, an external gear ring partially intermeshed with the internal gear ring, lock members which transmit/disconnect the rotation of the shaft to the external gear, and a lock operating member for displacing the lock members to lock/unlock positions.

Abstract: In a steer-by-wire vehicle steering system configured to execute a direct-coupled mode via a clutch for failsafe, the clutch includes a first member fixed to a clutch output shaft, a second member defining a cylindrical outer peripheral wall surface in rolling-contact with a cylindrical inner peripheral wall surface of the first member, and a pair of spring-loaded wedges movably interposed between the two members. Also provided is a lock pin, which squeezes into and retreats out of a space defined between the two opposing first wedge ends to ensure a lock state, namely, the engaged state with the jammed wedges and an unlock state, namely, the disengaged state with the unjammed wedges. A steering-movement transmission member, fixed to a clutch input shaft, is interleaved between the circumferentially-spaced second wedge ends to keep the two opposing first wedge ends in close proximity to each other.

Abstract: A number-of-commands counter counts number of commands received during a predetermined measurement period, which is timed by a timer. An access interval determiner determines command reception frequency from the count result, and decides on an optimum access interval time. An MIB update unit updates <access interval MIB> based on the optimum access interval time. An SNMP agent responds to an obtaining command and transmits <access interval MIB>. An MIB receiver receives <access interval MIB> and an MIB obtainer analyzes <access interval MIB> to recognize the access interval time. A timer setter sets the recognized access interval time at a timer as a timer setting.

Abstract: When a multifunction apparatus transmits a request for a menu to a network menu server, the network menu server transmits a network menu data table including functions provided in the multifunction apparatus and functions provided in the network menu server. When the network menu is displayed on a panel, a function can be selected from the panel of the multifunction apparatus. When the selected function is provided in the multifunction apparatus, the function is executed by the multifunction apparatus. When the selected function is provided in the network menu server, the function is executed by coordination of both the network menu server and the multifunction apparatus.

Abstract: Each operation screen for jobs to be executed by a multifunction apparatus is layered, according operation steps of the multifunction apparatus, and registered in a distribution server. Menus for displaying the operation screens are also registered in the distribution server, the menus being arranged in a tree-shape configuration. Corresponding to an operation on the multifunction apparatus, the menus are sequentially delivered from the distribution server to the multifunction apparatus, starting from a menu in the top layer. The multifunction apparatus displays each operation screen based on the delivered menus. Menu includes display text (text displayed on the operation screen), next screen name (screen name of the subordinate screen displayed on the operation screen), and action (command for the multifunction apparatus to execute).

Abstract: Menus to be executed by an individual multifunction apparatus are pre-registered in a distribution server for each multifunction apparatus. When the distribution server receives a menu screen obtaining request, a model code, and a sort key from one of the multifunction apparatus, the distribution server accesses a multifunction apparatus menu registration table of the requesting multifunction apparatus and sorts the order of menus according to the sort key. Then, the distribution server transmits the sorted menu screen back to the multifunction apparatus. The multifunction apparatus displays the sorted menu screen, received from the distribution server, on an LCD of a panel. The order of the displayed menus is based on the order specified by the sort key.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus transmits a menu screen obtaining request and a sort key to a distribution server located on a LAN. Upon receiving the menu screen obtaining request and the sort key from the multifunction apparatus, the distribution server sorts, according to the sort key, the order of menus displayed on the menu screen, and transmits sorted menu screen back to the multifunction apparatus. The multifunction apparatus displays the sorted menu screen, received from the distribution server, on an LCD. When a menu is selected from the displayed menu screen, the multifunction apparatus executes the menu.

Abstract: A multifunction apparatus having at least a printer function and a network communication function is provided with an LCD that displays an input screen where an authentication data is input. When a user inputs authentication data on the input screen, the data is transmitted to an authentication server. The authentication server makes a determination as to permitting the use of the multifunction apparatus and the access to the network, by checking a user table that registers user data authorizing the use of the multifunction apparatus and access data indicating whether the access to the network is permitted. Upon receiving the authentication result, the multifunction apparatus makes a determination as to permitting the use of the multifunction apparatus and the access to the network.

Abstract: An upper rail is slidably engaged with a lower rail in a manner to define an elongate enclosed space therebetween. A lock plate is placed in the elongate enclosed space and secured to the lower rail. A latch lever includes a pawl portion and an input arm and is placed in the elongate enclosed space. The latch lever is pivotally connected to the upper rail to pivot between a lock position where the pawl portion is engaged with a part of the lock plate to establish a locked engagement between the lower and upper rails and an unlock position where the pawl portion is released from the lock plate to cancel the locked engagement. The latch lever is pivoted in a direction from the lock position to the unlock position when the input arm is applied with an external force. A spring member is placed in the elongate enclosed space to bias the latch lever to pivot toward the lock position, An opening is formed in the upper rail for having a given part of the input arm projected outward therethrough.

Abstract: An upper rail is slidably engaged with a lower rail in a manner to define an elongate enclosed space therebetween. A lock plate is placed in the elongate enclosed space and secured to the lower rail. A latch lever includes a pawl portion and an input arm and is placed in the elongate enclosed space. The latch lever is pivotally connected to the upper rail to pivot between a lock position where the pawl portion is engaged with a part of the lock plate to establish a locked engagement between the lower and upper rails and an unlock position where the pawl portion is released from the lock plate to cancel the locked engagement. The latch lever is pivoted in a direction from the lock position to the unlock position when the input arm is applied with an external force. A spring member is placed in the elongate enclosed space to bias the latch lever to pivot toward the lock position, An opening is formed in the upper rail for having a given part of the input arm projected outward therethrough.

Abstract: A number-of-commands counter counts number of commands received during a predetermined measurement period, which is timed by a timer. An access interval determiner determines command reception frequency from the count result, and decides on an optimum access interval time. An MIB update unit updates <access interval MIB> based on the optimum access interval time. An SNMP agent responds to an obtaining command and transmits <access interval MIB>. An MIB receiver receives <access interval MIB> and an MIB obtainer analyzes <access interval MIB> to recognize the access interval time. A timer setter sets the recognized access interval time at a timer as a timer setting.

Abstract: A chuck for microcontacts for gripping each microcontact with stable and strong holding force and conveying each gripped microcontact to a given mounting position. The chuck for microcontacts comprises a table, an elastic member provided to be movable toward or away from the table by air suction wherein the the micropinis inserted into a groove defined in the table, and the elastic member is pressed down toward the table by air suction so as to grip the the micropin.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus for a card medium having an optical signal in bar code form written thereon. The optical reading apparatus includes a receiving section for receiving cassette holding the card medium, and a light source for projecting a light beam spot on the optical signal written on the card medium. A reader reads the optical signal by moving the light beam spot in a scanning direction along the optical signal to scan the optical signal, and a guiding device moves the cassette in a direction substantially normal to the scanning direction, as the card medium held in the cassette is inserted into the receiving section. The optical signal written on the card medium is optically read while the cassette is being moved by the guiding device.

Abstract: An information reading apparatus comprises a laser diode, a mirror having a planar emission mirror unit for reflecting a laser beam emitted from the laser diode towards a target optical pattern and a concave condensing mirror unit, formed integral with the emission mirror unit, for condensing a reflection beam from the optical pattern in a predetermined direction, a photodetector, situated in such a position as not to interrupt the reflection beam from the optical pattern, for receiving the condensed reflection beam and converting the same to an electric signal, and a mirror driving apparatus for reflecting the laser beam from the scan mirror in a reciprocal rotational operation by an attractive force of a permanent magnet and a coil and a restoring force of a resilient body clamped by dampers on both sides, and reciprocally scanning the beam over a bar code within a predetermined range.

Abstract: In a cassette tape recorder, a base is of a rectangular shape having a transverse length substantially equal to the longitudinal length of a cassette to be inserted. A pair of side walls are attached to opposite longitudinal side edges of the base to face each other, a capstan is located at the transverse center of the base, and a flywheel has a diameter substantially equal to the transverse length of the base. A head lever and a pinch roller lever are elongate and are arranged on the base along the transverse direction thereof and near the capstan. A cassette holder is located between the side walls, on the capstan side of the head lever, so that a substantial part of the holder overlies the flywheel. A solenoid device is mounted on the base on the opposite side of the head lever to the capstan, so that a plunger of the solenoid device may move along the longitudinal direction of the base.