Abstract: An engine start controller shortens the time required from when an operation switch is operated to when an engine is started. The engine start controller controls starting of the engine of a vehicle and power supply to an electric device system. A control unit selectively locks the steering shaft of the vehicle and performs authentication with a portable device, which is carried by a user of the vehicle, for permitting use of the vehicle. An operation switch is connected to the control unit and generates an operation signal when operated by the user. The control unit unlocks the steering shaft in parallel with supplying power to the electric device system when the operation signal is generated and use of the vehicle is permitted through the authentication.

Abstract: Incorporation of an odor-reducing additive selected from the group consisting of: (i) a low molecular weight primary or secondary amino compound of low volatility, containing at least one amino group and two or more carbon atoms and having a weak basicity of Pkb in the range of 2-8; (ii) succinimide; (iii) anthranilic acid; (iv) 4-amino benzonic acid, and mixtures thereof, into a polyacetal resin to reduce its formaldehyde odor. A combination of the odor-reducing additive with a weak acidic imino was found to have a synergistic effect in further reducing the formaldehyde odor.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes working elements of cleaner, that is, a blower and a dust collection unit disposed in a nozzle section of which casing is composed of an upper unit and a lower unit, and having a handle coupled to the nozzle section. At least one of the working elements is supported by the upper unit and a support unit provided in the lower unit or by the lower unit and a support unit provided in the upper unit. Therefore, the cleaner can be repaired without having all screws removed, thus repaired conveniently.

Abstract: In a flat type plasma discharge display device which includes a discharge sustaining electrode group (X) having first and second discharge sustaining electrodes and an address electrode group (Y) having address electrodes, a plurality of plasma discharge parts (P) are formed for one discharge start part thereof, and the plasma discharge parts relating to one discharge start part are driven sequentially or simultaneously to emit a light, whereby it becomes possible that plasma display of high definition and high luminance is performed in the flat type plasma discharge display device.

Abstract: An electric vacuum cleaner includes an inlet port through which a suctioned air stream including dirt particles pass and a centrifugal separation member having a substantially circular space therein. The centrifugal separation member has a swirl portion to swirl the dust-laden suction air stream along an inner surface of the centrifugal separation member. By forming swirl passageway between the swirl portion and the inner surface of the centrifugal separation member, the high velocity swirling air stream can be made and consequently an efficiency of separating the dirt particles from the suction air and collecting the dirt particles can be improved.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a first dirt separation unit and a second dirt separation unit. The first dirt separation unit has a first inlet port through which a suction air stream including dirt particles is introduced thereinto, and the second dirt separation unit has a second inlet port through which the air stream introduced into the first dirt separation unit is introduced into the second dirt separation. The first and the second inlet port are disposed such that they are not registered with each other. Accordingly, the dirt particles suctioned are separated in two stages, thereby decreasing the possibility of occlusion of a filter and rapid deterioration of a suction force.

Abstract: A process for laser welding together a laser beam transparent polyester article and a laser beam opaque polyester article. The method limits the use of a laser beam at an energy level not greater than 100 W at a scanning speed not greater than 1000 cm/min., thus causing the articles to be welded together and maintaining a high weld strength.

Abstract: A plasma display device comprises a first panel provided with discharge sustaining electrodes and a dielectric layer on the inside thereof, and a second panel laminated on the first panel so as to form discharge spaces on the inside, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a silicon oxide layer having a density of not less than 6.1×1022 atoms/cm3. Preferably, the density of the silicon oxide layer is not less than 6.4×1022 atoms/cm3. Where a sputtering method is used as a method of forming the silicon oxide layer, the concentration of oxygen gas in an atmosphere gas introduced into the sputtering apparatus is controlled to be 5 to 30 vol % during film formation.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized by the following:

Abstract: A plasma display device disclosed herein is capable of enhancing the contrast of external light, facilitating application of phosphor paste on the bottom of each space surrounded by lattice-like barrier ribs, and reducing a variation in applied amount of the phosphor paste as much as possible.

Abstract: A thin-film layer with a cured layer formed on its surface wherein the thin film layer is formed by using a prepared solution and photo-initiated polymerization which results in aggregation within the prepared solution.

Abstract: A thin-film layer comprises a molecular and/or particle assembly layer defining a cured layer over an organic layer, and is formed by coating a substrate with a polymer solution based on one resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins and the like, and further applying, onto the polymer solution, a polymer/particle mixture solution containing therein at least one particle selected from the group consisting of metal particles, organic particles, inorganic particles, colloidal particles and the like and then followed by exposing the polymer/particle mixture solution to light and/or heat, thereby inducing a crosslinking polymerization reaction in the polymer/particle mixture solution over the polymer solution for gelating the particles.

Abstract: A method of forming fine partition walls by which fine partition walls with stable shape can be formed with good processing accuracy and at good grinding efficiency by a jet processing technique, a method of producing a planar display device by application of the method, and an abrasive for jet processing to be used in these methods, are disclosed. The fine partition walls are formed on the surface of a substrate, by jet processing using an abrasive comprised of a powder of calcium carbonate coated with silicone on the surfaces thereof. Each of the particles constituting the abrasive has a three-dimensional shape comprised of a stack of different-sized triangular or more-angular polygonal layers. The maximum particle diameter of the abrasive is not more than ½ times the width (W1) of the fine partition walls, and the mean particle diameter of the abrasive is not more than ⅕ times the width (W1) of the fine partition walls.

Abstract: First and second diffraction grating layers are provided above a semiconductor substrate, and spaced from each other in an output direction of a beam. A connecting layer is flat and sandwiched between the first and second diffraction grating layers. An active layer is disposed above or below the first and second diffraction grating layers and the connecting layer. A cladding layer is disposed above the active layer or above the first and second diffraction grating layers and the connecting layer. A diffraction grating including the first and second diffraction grating layers has a plurality of slits penetrating from an upper surface to a lower surface and perpendicular to the output direction of the beam. The connecting layer is formed from two layers grown epitaxially in a direction perpendicular to the output direction of the beam. One of the two layers is formed of the same material as the first and second diffraction grating layers.

Abstract: An alternating current driven type plasma display device comprising a first panel and a second panel, said first panel having sustain electrodes formed on a first substrate and a dielectric material layer formed on the first substrate and the sustain electrodes, wherein the first panel and the second panel are bonded to each other in their circumferential portions, characterized in that the dielectric material layer has a thickness of 1.5×10−5 m or less.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus in which an appropriate color separation table is selected for an unexpected print medium. In plural color separation tables 108, maximum total color-material color discharge amounts are set to be stepwisely different. A &ggr; correction table 109 is used upon correction of &ggr; characteristics of the respective color-material colors regarding a print medium. A maximum total ink-amount calculation unit 110 calculates a maximum value of total ink amount for each color separation table 108 by using the &ggr; correction table 109. A color separation table selector 107 determines a maximum value approximate to a value set by a maximum total ink-amount setting unit 106 from the calculated maximum values, and selects a color separation table corresponding to the determined maximum value. A color separation processor 102 performs processing based on the selected color separation table.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an electric blower generating the suction force; a suction port body on which the suction force of the electric blower acts and which sucks in the dust on the surface to be cleaned; and a centrifugal force dust collection section to collect the dust from the suction port body. The electric blower includes a fan section and a low input type motor to drive the fan section.

Abstract: The invention provides fragrance-emitting shaped articles such as slide fasteners which retain the various characteristics inherent to polyacetal resins. Shaped articles such as the row of engaging teeth, top end stop and bottom end stop or separable end stop assembly for a slide fastener are manufactured from a resin composition comprising a polyacetal resin and a fragrance material having an aldehyde group-free chemical structure and a boiling point which is at least as high as the polyacetal resin processing temperature.

Abstract: As a method of calibrating colors other than primary colors such as secondary colors, the contents of an ink color-separation table are reconstructed. However, it is difficult to reconstruct the ink color-separation table within the limitation of total ink amount permissible for a print sheet. Accordingly, a color patch corresponding to a signal value of a color to be calibrated is formed in a printer, then the signal value is calibrated based on a measured color value of the formed color patch and a target value corresponding to the signal value of the color to be calibrated, and calibration multidimensional table data is generated based on the measured color value of the formed color patch.

Abstract: A carbon wire heating element sealing heater is provided. Therein, a carbon wire heating element using carbon fibers is sealed in a quartz glass member, wherein absorption water quantity of the carbon wire heating element is 2×10−3 g/cm3 or less.