Abstract: A wire harness protection structure includes a bundle of electric wires, and a protector formed into a tubular body that extends in a longitudinal direction of the bundle of electric wires and having a portion of the bundle of electric wires provided in an inner space of the tubular body. The protector is formed of a protection material including a base material and a binder material having a melting point lower than that of the base material. A joint portion of the protector is joined by heating and melting and then cooling and solidifying the binder material. The binder material in an inner peripheral surface is heated and melted and then cooled and solidified such that the inner peripheral surface, which faces the inner space, is harder than an outer peripheral surface of the protector.

Abstract: A wire harness includes a bundle of electric wires and a protector protecting the bundle of electric wires by extending in a longitudinal direction of the bundle of electric wires and surrounding a portion thereof. The protector includes a base material and a binder material having a lower melting point than the base material, the protector being joined in a joint portion thereof by cooling and solidifying the melted binder material. In a case where a first side portion and a second side portion are each provided as a portion along the longitudinal direction in an outer peripheral surface of the protector and the second side portion is disposed opposite the first side portion with the bundle of electric wires therebetween, a portion of the binder material in each of the first side portion and the second side portion is melted, cooled, and solidified such that the second side portion is harder than the first side portion.

Abstract: A wire protector is provided that is lightweight, that has a simple structure, and that is capable of covering a circumference of wires along a length direction thereof and of preventing an occurrence of noise due to contact with the wires sheathed therein. The wire protector covers the circumference of the wires in the length direction thereof, is configured with a cylindrical member made of a hot press processed non-woven fabric, is formed such that an inner surface is more pliable than an outer surface hardened by the hot press process, and has a slit from the outer surface to the inner surface formed along the entire length direction.

Abstract: A controller includes a housing and at least one key provided for protruding and retreating movement on the housing. The key includes: a body formed in a transversely elongated configuration elongated in a first direction; and a first stem positioned on one end side of the body in the first direction and extending along a third direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and a second direction which is a protruding direction of the key from the housing. The housing includes: a biasing member for biasing the key in the second direction; and a first restricting portion positioned on the second direction side with respect to the first stem for engaging with the first stem biased by the biasing member.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a front panel made of resin. The front panel is disposed on the front side of an organic electroluminescent display panel and functions as the front surface of the electronic device; and an adhesive agent layer formed between the organic electroluminescent display panel and the front panel. The organic electroluminescent display panel is fixed to the front panel via the adhesive agent layer. This structure is able to reduce a load applied to the organic electroluminescent display panel and ensure shock resistance for the organic electroluminescent display panel.

Abstract: A connector protection structure includes a connector electrically connected to an electric wire and a protector protecting the connector by surrounding the connector. The protector is formed of a protection material that includes a base material and a binder material having a melting point lower than that of the base material, and is joined in a joint portion thereof by cooling and solidifying the melted binder material. The connector is accommodated in an inner space formed in an inner surface of the protector. The binder material in the inner surface and outer surface is melted, cooled, and solidified such that the inner surface of the protector is harder than the outer surface of the protector.

Abstract: The ignitability of a spark plug configured without a noble metal for a center electrode and a ground electrode is improved. The spark plug comprises a center electrode, an insulator, a metal shell, and a ground electrode including a discharge surface. The ground electrode forms a spark gap between the discharge surface and the center electrode. The center electrode and the ground electrode both do not include a noble metal. The ground electrode comprises a proximal end portion combined with the metal shell and positioned above, the discharge surface and a distal end portion including the discharge surface and positioned below the proximal end portion while continued from the proximal end portion. A width Da of the center electrode viewed from a first direction and a width Db of the proximal end portion viewed from the first direction satisfy Db/Da?0.92. The first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction and directing from the proximal end portion to the center electrode.

Abstract: A controller (portable electronic apparatus) includes a housing and a key provided for protruding and retreating movement on the housing. The housing has a front face, a rear face, and a side face for connecting the front face and the rear face to each other. The key has a body having one end inserted in an opening formed in the side face and the other end exposed to the outside of the housing, and an extension extending along the side face from the other end of the body to the outside farther than an end edge of the opening. With the controller (portable electronic apparatus), the area of the face of the key which is exposed to the outside of the housing, that is, the area of the face which opposes to a finger of a user, can be increased. Therefore, at whichever position the face is depressed, the key can be inputted and the contact area with the finger can be increased.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a manipulating apparatus (mobile terminal) including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion (directional manipulating portion) with which an input manipulation is carried out. The manipulating portion includes: a key top exposed to an outside of the chassis through an opening portion, which the chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which the key top is formed within the chassis; a circuit board in which a detecting portion (switches) is disposed in a position corresponding to the key top; and a flat plate-shaped elastic body (elastic body) interposed between the key main body and the detecting portion; in which the elastic body is provided integrally with the base portion.

Abstract: An operation member and an electronic device capable of maintaining operability while enhancing cushioning properties provided in the outer surface of an operation member are provided. An operation stick has a cushion portion and a base portion on which the cushion portion is placed. The base portion is supported to be movable. The base portion has a frame portion surrounding the outer periphery of the cushion portion. The base portion and the frame portion are formed of a material having a higher rigidity than that of the material of the cushion portion.

Abstract: A powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus and a powdery/granular material flowability evaluation method are provided to evaluate the flowability of a powdery/granular material in a dynamic state of the powdery/granular material. The powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus (A) has a hopper (111) for storing a powdery/granular material to be measured, a vertical tube (11) having a flow-in port (1121) connected with a discharge port (1112) of the hopper (111) through which the powdery/granular material is discharged, a vibrator (2) for giving vibration to the tube (11), a laser vibrometer (3) for measuring the amplitude of the tube (11), an electric balance (4) for measuring the weight of the powdery/granular material fallen through the tube 11 from the hopper (111), and an evaluation value calculating section (512) for calculating an evaluation value evaluating the flowability of the powdery/granular material based on the measured amplitude and weight.

Abstract: The ignitability of a spark plug configured without a noble metal for a center electrode and a ground electrode is improved. The spark plug comprises a center electrode, an insulator, a metal shell, and a ground electrode including a discharge surface. The ground electrode forms a spark gap between the discharge surface and the center electrode. The center electrode and the ground electrode both do not include a noble metal. The ground electrode comprises a proximal end portion combined with the metal shell and positioned above, the discharge surface and a distal end portion including the discharge surface and positioned below the proximal end portion while continued from the proximal end portion. A width Da of the center electrode viewed from a first direction and a width Db of the proximal end portion viewed from the first direction satisfy Db/Da?0.92. The first direction is perpendicular to the axial direction and directing from the proximal end portion to the center electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a manipulating apparatus (mobile terminal) including a chassis provided with a manipulating portion (directional manipulating portion) with which an input manipulation is carried out. The manipulating portion includes: a key top exposed to an outside of the chassis through an opening portion, which the chassis has, and a key main body having a base portion on which the key top is formed within the chassis; a circuit board in which a detecting portion (switches) is disposed in a position corresponding to the key top,; and a flat plate-shaped elastic body (elastic body) interposed between the key main body and the detecting portion; in which the elastic body is provided integrally with the base portion.

Abstract: A powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus and a powdery/granular material flowability evaluation method are provided to evaluate the flowability of a powdery/granular material in a dynamic state of the powdery/granular material. The powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus (A) has a hopper (111) for storing a powdery/granular material to be measured, a vertical tube (11) having a flow-in port (1121) connected with a discharge port (1112) of the hopper (111) through which the powdery/granular material is discharged, a vibrator (2) for giving vibration to the tube (11), a laser vibrometer (3) for measuring the amplitude of the tube (11), an electric balance (4) for measuring the weight of the powdery/granular material fallen through the tube 11 from the hopper (111), and an evaluation value calculating section (512) for calculating an evaluation value evaluating the flowability of the powdery/granular material based on the measured amplitude and weight.

Abstract: A controller (portable electronic apparatus) includes a housing and a key provided for protruding and retreating movement on the housing. The housing has a front face, a rear face, and a side face for connecting the front face and the rear face to each other. The key has a body having one end inserted in an opening formed in the side face and the other end exposed to the outside of the housing, and an extension extending along the side face from the other end of the body to the outside farther than an end edge of the opening. With the controller (portable electronic apparatus), the area of the face of the key which is exposed to the outside of the housing, that is, the area of the face which opposes to a finger of a user, can be increased. Therefore, at whichever position the face is depressed, the key can be inputted and the contact area with the finger can be increased.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus having a base unit that is fastenable to a dashboard at a driver's seat of a vehicle; a front panel unit that is attachable to and detachable from the base unit and is equipped with a display displaying map data; and a microcomputer that performs a navigation function to indicate a determined location of the vehicle on the map data, it is configured such that a part of the front panel unit projects from a surface of the dashboard toward a user seated in the driver's seat, as viewed from side, when the front panel unit is attached to the base unit. With this, the degree of freedom of front panel unit attachment/detachment with respect to the base unit is improved without sacrificing the appearance of the navigation apparatus.

Abstract: A powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus and a powdery/granular material flowability evaluation method are provided to evaluate the flowability of a powdery/granular material in a dynamic state of the powdery/granular material. The powdery/granular material flowability evaluation apparatus (A) has a hopper (111) for storing a powdery/granular material to be measured, a vertical tube (11) having a flow-in port (1121) connected with a discharge port (1112) of the hopper (111) through which the powdery/granular material is discharged, a vibrator (2) for giving vibration to the tube (11), a laser vibrometer (3) for measuring the amplitude of the tube (11), an electric balance (4) for measuring the weight of the powdery/granular material fallen through the tube 11 from the hopper (111), and an evaluation value calculating section (512) for calculating an evaluation value evaluating the flowability of the powdery/granular material based on the measured amplitude and weight.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus having a base unit that is fastenable to a vehicle and a front panel unit that is attachable to and detachable from the base unit, it is configured such that there are provided with at least three detectors including a GPS signal receiver, wheel speed sensor and gyrosensor; and the microcomputer of the front panel unit determines the detector or detectors to be used for determining the location of the vehicle in accordance with output condition of the detector or detectors. Since the determination is made based on the output condition of the detector or detectors, the detector(s) used for location determination can be optimally selected to enhance the accuracy of vehicle location determination, while the flexibility of detector use in location determination can be improved in the point that the location determination is not necessarily restricted to use of the three detectors.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus having a cradle unit that is fastenable to a vehicle and is equipped with at least a microcomputer; and a front panel unit that is attachable to and detachable from the cradle unit and is equipped with at least a display displaying map data and a microcomputer performing a navigation function to indicate a determined location of the vehicle on the map data, it is configured such that a panel is integrally formed at bottom of the cradle unit to be attachable to the vehicle. With this, it becomes possible to provide the navigation apparatus configured such that a member having a microcomputer performing a navigation function is attachable/detachable to/from the main body, i.e., the base unit, thereby improving ease of use, that the member can be easily attached to the dashboard of the vehicle, and that unnatural impression is prevented from arising in the appearance.

Abstract: In a navigation apparatus having: a base unit fastenable to a vehicle and equipped with at least a microcomputer; and a front panel unit attachable to and detachable from the base unit and equipped with at least a display displaying map data and a microcomputer performing a navigation function to indicate a determined location of the vehicle on the map data, a front surface of the front panel unit is made same size as a mating face of the base unit; and the display occupies 70% or greater of length of the front panel unit in a lateral direction. With this, the front panel unit including the microcomputer for performing navigation functions can be configured to be attachable/detachable to/from the base unit to enhance ease of use, and the size (area) of the display formed in the front panel unit can be increased to improve viewability.