Abstract: A customer support system uses information concerning device located at customer and supports the customer. A customer support center collects customer information using a communication line, and stores or transferring the information. Customer information systems connected with the customer support center via a communication line, use the information of the customer support center, and support the customer. The customer support center comprises a collector for collecting and distributing usage information and quality information of the device, and a memory storing the usage information and quality information of the device as it is or after modifying it. The customer information systems use the usage information and quality information of the device collected by the customer support center, and support the customers.

Abstract: A deformable conductive elastomer excellent in reliability, linearity, and mechanical characteristics, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. Elastomer particles with a particle size of 10 through 300 &mgr;m and conductive particles with a particle size of 10 through 40 &mgr;m are almost uniformly dispersed in a non-conductive elastomer. Ceramic particles with a particle size of 1000 nm or less are also almost uniformly dispersed in the non-conductive elastomer. At least the non-conductive elastomer uncrosslinked, the elastomer particles, and the conductive particles are added to the dispersion medium, and the mixture is vibrated, mixed, and dried to crosslink the uncrosslinked non-conductive elastomer. At least the non-conductive elastomer, the elastomer particles, and the conductive particles are added to the dispersion medium, and the mixture is vibrated, mixed, and dried.

Abstract: If a large external impact is applied to a magnetic disc apparatus, a slider jumps from a disc surface and rotates. When the slider jumps and rotates, its edges re-contact the disc surface to damage this surface. To reduce the rotation angle of the slider to control its position if an impact is effected, the present invention provides a roof on a load arm to reduce the contact angle at which the slider contacts the disc surface in order to relax the impact upon a contact.

Abstract: A current-limiting resistor is connected between a power-supply line and a heater provided near the oxygen-detecting element of limiting-current type oxygen sensor. A power MOSFET is connected between the heater and a ground line. The resistor and the heater have such resistances that a current I2 flowing through the resistor and the heater when the heater has a resistance R2 is about I1{square root over ((R1/R2))}, where I1 is a current flowing through the resistor and the heater when the heater has a resistance R1.

Abstract: A high-frequency oscillation circuit includes a resonance circuit and an active circuit. The active circuit includes a field-effect transistor and a capacitor. An impedance-conversion circuit including a high-impedance line, a capacitive stub, and a connecting line such as wire, is connected between the active circuit and the resonance circuit. Accordingly, the impedance-conversion circuit can convert the characteristic impedance of the resonance circuit so that the absolute value of the reflection coefficient of the active circuit increases. As a result, the oscillation conditions can be easily fulfilled.

Abstract: A spindle motor used in a magnetic disc apparatus having a hub to which a magnetic disc is mounted and a rotary shaft to which the hub is fixed. The rotary shaft is located in a bearing casing having one end opened and the other end closed by a hydrodynamic pressure radial bearing and hydrodynamic pressure thrust bearing, an inner diameter D and a width L of the hydrodynamic pressure bearing having a relationship of L/D<1.

Abstract: A magnetic-disc apparatus for recording or reproducing information in which a slider loading a magnetic-head is supported on a magnetic disc. A supporting mechanism for supporting the slider on the magnetic-disc includes a first supporting member mounting the slider and a second supporting member connected with the first supporting member. The first supporting member includes a mounting portion for mounting the slider, at least one flexible finger portion provided at opposite sides of the mounting portion and a connecting portion connected to the second supporting member. The second supporting member including at a tip portion, a constricted portion extended to an end direction having a narrow width than that between inner side edges of the two flexible finger portions and a projecting portion projecting from the constricted portion to the direction of width. The projecting portion is overlapped with the flexible finger portion in the outward direction of surface.

Abstract: A magnetic disc device includes a magnetic disc and a rotary shaft rotatably supporting the magnetic disc. The magnetic disk is laid in a bearing casing having one end opened, and having a bearing member at the other end. The rotary shaft is supported by a first hydrodynamic fluid bearing and a second hydrodynamic fluid bearing provided in the bearing member. The inner diameter D and the width L of the first hydrodynamic fluid bearing exhibits such a relationship as L/D>1.

Abstract: In a non-radiative dielectric line, slots opposing each other are respectively formed on two conductive plates and a dielectric strip is disposed within both the slots to form a NRD guide. Convex portions “P” protruding in the lateral direction to the propagating direction of an electromagnetic wave are formed at a predetermined position of the dielectric strip 3 while concave portions “H” are formed on internal surfaces of the slots in the conductive plates 1 and 2 so as to mate the both of them with each other. Variations in characteristics due to the positional slippage of the dielectric strip and so forth are prevented, and even when the dielectric strip is produced by machining, etc., the process is easily performed. Characteristics as a transmission line are also maintained without disturbing the electromagnetic field distribution in a mode to be propagated.

Abstract: A rotary shaft is rotatably supported by a hydrodynamic fluid radial bearing and a hydrodynamic fluid thrust bearing which are excellent in shock resistance, an bearing arrangement in which vibration in a translation mode of the shaft, among vibration components caused by unbalance force exerted to the rotary shaft, is supported by the radial bearing, and vibration in conical mode is supported by the thrust bearing, magnetic fluid is used as lubrication oil, and a permanent magnet is located between the radial bearing and the thrust bearing so as to apply a magnetic attracting force between the rotary shaft and the thrust bearing so as to carry out axial positioning in order to use the magnetic disc device in an arbitrary attaching posture.

Abstract: A server in a printing system acquires color space information for each of a plurality of printing units, generates color conversion information according to the color space information to standardize color representations for the printing units, and transmits print data with the color conversion information attached, to each of the printing units. This allows the printing units to produce printed materials of the same color representation even if they are of different types and operated under different printing conditions. This eliminates the need to do color proofing in the individual printing units, thereby improving efficiency in production of printed materials.

Abstract: A can lid made of a metal sheet having a resin coating on at least one surface thereof and superior in can openability, having an outer peripheral flat portion and an inner peripheral flat portion straddling a score line further having an outer bead and inner bead at the sides of the outer peripheral flat portion and the inner peripheral flat portion opposite to the score line, and having a cross-section where the score line becomes gradually thinner from the thicknesses of the outer peripheral flat portion and the inner peripheral flat portion and a process for forming the same.

Abstract: A system for processing and providing information on an apparatus used by a customer includes an information collection part collecting information on usage of the apparatus, an information management part managing the information on usage, and a data processing part processing the information on usage in accordance with a request from a user of the information.

Abstract: A transmission device sends status information representing status of a copier to a center through a PSTN. In the center, the status information of each copier is analyzed, and suggestion information selected based on a result of the analysis is provided to a terminal of the user of the copier concerned. In this case, the user is informed by an e-mail or through a Web page with using the terminal. The information includes: a suggestion to multiply the copier, replace the currently-used copier with a new copier, performance information regarding a model of the currently-used copier, information regarding a timing for replenishing/replacing an expendable supply (such as a toner unit, etc.), a suggestion to purchase the expendable supply, and the like.

Abstract: A disk drive unit includes a rotary member, which has a spindle, and has an information-recording disk fixedly mounted thereon, and a bearing unit rotatably supporting the spindle. The bearing unit includes a radial bearing device, provided in opposed relation to an outer peripheral surface of the spindle, and a thrust bearing device provided in opposed relation to a distal end surface of the spindle. The radial bearing device has a concentric arc-shaped bearing surface, which is concentric with the circular outer periphery of the spindle, and a non-concentric arc-shaped bearing surface which is non-concentric with the circular outer periphery of the spindle. The disk drive unit further includes a motor for imparting a rotational force to the spindle, and a lubricating fluid filled in the bearing unit.

Abstract: A disk drive unit includes a rotary member, which has a spindle, and has an information-recording disk fixedly mounted thereon, and a bearing unit rotatably supporting the spindle. The bearing unit includes a radial bearing device, provided in opposed relation to an outer peripheral surface of the spindle, and a thrust bearing device provided in opposed relation to a distal end surface of the spindle. The radial bearing device has a concentric arc-shaped bearing surface, which is concentric with the circular outer periphery of the spindle, and a non-concentric arc-shaped bearing surface which is non-concentric with the circular outer periphery of the spindle. The disk drive unit further includes a motor for imparting a rotational force to the spindle, and a lubricating fluid filled in the bearing unit.

Abstract: A device with a nonradiative dielectric waveguide which operates in a microwave band or in a millimeter wave band. The device with a nonradiative dielectric waveguide is, for example, an oscillator, a circulator, a coupler or the like. The device has a pair of parallel conductors, a dielectric strip which is disposed between the conductors and propagates a high-frequency electromagnetic wave in a specified mode, a mounting surface which is formed on one of the conductors, and an end surface which is defined by an end of each of the conductors so as to be vertical to a traveling direction of the electromagnetic wave propagated in the dielectric strip. An end of the dielectric strip is exposed at a corresponding end surface of the device.

Abstract: Shock-absorbing material made from a mixture of solid particles and viscous elastic material is arranged at the periphery of an information storage and retrieval device. When an external shock is applied to the device, the shock-absorbing material is greatly deformed and dissipates the shock energy by inner friction sufficiently to prevent damage to the inner mechanism of the device. The deformed shock-absorbing material can be restored to the original shape so that it is repeatedly usable. Furthermore, by comparing the deformed shape and the quick reference table provided with the device, the amount shock acceleration can be roughly determined. The device conforms to one of a series of dimensional standards for information storage and retrieval devices.

Abstract: A dielectric waveguide designed to avoid the influence of reflection of electromagnetic waves at connected portions of dielectric strips and to have an improved characteristic. The distance L between connection planes between pairs of dielectric strips adjacent in the direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave is set to an odd number multiple of ¼ of the guide wavelength. Reflected waves are thereby superposed in phase opposition to each other to cancel out. In this manner, propagation of a reflected signal to ports is limited.

Abstract: A disk drive unit includes a rotary member, which has a spindle, and has an information-recording disk fixedly mounted thereon, and a bearing unit rotatably supporting the spindle. The bearing unit includes a radial bearing device, provided in opposed relation to an outer peripheral surface of the spindle, and a thrust bearing device provided in opposed relation to a distal end surface of the spindle. The radial bearing device has a concentric arc-shaped bearing surface, which is concentric with the circular outer periphery of the spindle, and a non-concentric arc-shaped bearing surface which is non-concentric with the circular outer periphery of the spindle. The disk drive unit further includes a motor for imparting a rotational force to the spindle, and a lubricating fluid filled in the bearing unit.