Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes plural rotating members that are rotatable; an annular circulating member that is wound around the plural rotating members and circulates when the rotating members rotate; a retaining member attached to an attaching portion of the circulating member and that circulates together with the circulating member, the retaining member being configured to retain a recording medium in an area where the attaching portion comes into contact with one of the rotating members; an image forming section that forms an image on the recording medium at an image forming position defined on a circulation path along which the circulating member circulates; a delivering unit that delivers the recording medium to a retaining position where the recording medium is to be retained by the retaining member; a detector that detects rotation of the one rotating member; and a controller that controls delivery of the recording medium from the delivering unit to the retaining position, the delivery being con

Abstract: A rocket engine comprises a combustion chamber and a rocket nozzle that communicates with the combustion chamber. A metal wire supply device supplies a metal wire, which is fuel, to the combustion chamber. A water vapor generator supplies water vapor as an oxidant to the combustion chamber. An ignition device ignites the metal wire in a water vapor atmosphere.

Abstract: A light-weight and inexpensively-manufacturable case member of an airbag device is provided. The case member includes an inner portion integrally formed with an edge portion of an opening portion of a housing portion configured to internally hold a folded airbag and an inflator. A lid is fixed to a housing portion at a position where the lid at least partially covers the airbag housed in the housing portion. The opening portion is covered by an outer portion. Thus, a light-weight case member in which the inflator and the folded airbag are housed in the housing portion and covered by the lid can be manufactured inexpensively, without integration of a separately provided housing portion and lid or fixing the airbag or the inflator using an additional component.

Abstract: A light-weight and inexpensively-manufacturable case member of an airbag device is provided. The case member includes an inner portion integrally formed with an edge portion of an opening portion of a housing portion configured to internally hold a folded airbag and an inflator. A lid is fixed to a housing portion at a position where the lid at least partially covers the airbag housed in the housing portion. The opening portion is covered by an outer portion. Thus, a light-weight case member in which the inflator and the folded airbag are housed in the housing portion and covered by the lid can be manufactured inexpensively, without integration of a separately provided housing portion and lid or fixing the airbag or the inflator using an additional component.

Abstract: This invention provides a process and apparatus for producing a carbonaceous film such as a DLC film using a solid raw material without the need to supply a high energy radiation such as a laser beam. The process comprises providing a solid organic material as a raw material, applying a discharge energy to the material to form plasma, and depositing the plasma onto a base material to form a carbonaceous film. This process is preferably carried out by using a film production apparatus (1) comprising discharge means (10). The discharge means (10) comprises a pair of electrodes (a raw material holder) (12, 14) for holding a raw material (50) and voltage applying means (20) for applying voltage across the electrodes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor. In the apparatus, a determination circuit determines the number of pixels to be interpolated in each block of the original image and positions where they are interpolated in accordance with the conversion magnification factor. The block includes a predetermined number of pixels of the original image. A converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels at the positions where they are interpolated in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficients are determined with the positions and data values of the pixels in the block, and combines the pixel data for the digital original image and the generated pixel data to output a converted digital image. The interpolation equation includes spline functions and Bezier functions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor. In the apparatus, a determination circuit determines the number of pixels to be interpolated in each block of the original image and positions where they are interpolated in accordance with the conversion magnification factor. The block includes a predetermined number of pixels of the original image. A converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels at the positions where they are interpolated in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficients are determined with the positions and data values of the pixels in the block, and combines the pixel data for the digital original image and the generated pixel data to output a converted digital image. The interpolation equation includes spline functions and Bezier functions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor. In the apparatus, a determination circuit determines the number of pixels to be interpolated in each block of the original image and positions where they are interpolated in accordance with the conversion magnification factor. The block includes a predetermined number of pixels of the original image. A converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels at the positions where they are interpolated in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficients are determined with the positions and data values of the pixels in the block, and combines the pixel data for the digital original image and the generated pixel data to output a converted digital image. The interpolation equation includes spline functions and Bezier functions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor. In the apparatus, a determination circuit determines the number of pixels to be interpolated in each block of the original image and positions where they are interpolated in accordance with the conversion magnification factor. The block includes a predetermined number of pixels of the original image. A converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels at the positions where they are interpolated in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficients are determined with the positions and data values of the pixels in the block, and combines the pixel data for the digital original image and the generated pixel data to output a converted digital image. The interpolation equation includes spline functions and Bezier functions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resolution conversion apparatus for converting an original digital image into a digital image having a different number of pixels in accordance with an instructed conversion magnification factor. In the apparatus, a determination circuit determines the number of pixels to be interpolated in each block of the original image and positions where they are interpolated in accordance with the conversion magnification factor. The block includes a predetermined number of pixels of the original image. A converted image generation circuit generates pixel data for the interpolation pixels at the positions where they are interpolated in accordance with a predetermined interpolation equation whose coefficients are determined with the positions and data values of the pixels in the block, and combines the pixel data for the digital original image and the generated pixel data to output a converted digital image. The interpolation equation includes spline functions and Bezier functions.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for aiding the transmission of intent enables a severely physically-handicapped person, who has lost muscular energy due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy or the like, to transmit his/her intent through an electroencephalogram wave. A mechanical switch and an electroencephalogram wave switch are used in combination to allow the transmission of intent over the entire period of such a disease.

Abstract: An illumination device consists of a light emitting element, a casing for supporting the light emitting element, and a colored cap which covers the light emitting element. The cap has a flat top surface so that the device can be held by suction stably at the top surface by means of a suction nozzle that is used commonly for other electronic parts and can be carried and mounted on a circuit board by the automatic part mounting equipment. The cap also has the formation of a curving surface section between the flat top surface and cylindrical section so that an increased amount of light is transmitted in the up-oblique direction through the curving surface section, thereby compensating the degraded light distribution caused by the formation of the flat top surface.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system for a camera comprises a motor rotatable in opposite directions, a drive member driven for rotation by the motor, a distance-setting member rotatable together with the drive member to place an objective lens in an initial position and movable to a predetermined forward position, and a holding mechanism for holding the distance-setting member in the predetermined forward position. The position of the drive member is identified at each monitoring point, and a position identification signal is generated. The sequence of movement of the distance-setting member is analyzed from a starting position to the predetermined forward position. The system further provides for preventing improper holding of the distance-setting member at its initial position.

Abstract: A camera having a lens shutter and a focal-plane shutter, includes a selector circuit for selecting either a lens shutter mode or a focal-plane shutter mode; a first driving device for controlling either the programmed exposure value of the lens shutter or the size of the aperture, the first driving device including a motor and an actuating member driven by the motor, the actuating member including a peripheral surface with a first cam for controlling the programmed exposure value of the lens shutter in response to forward rotation of the motor, and a second cam for controlling the size of the aperture in response to reverse rotation of the motor, the first cam having an inclination in a first direction and the second cam having a less steep inclination in an opposite direction; a pivotally mounted opening lever connecting the lens shutter to the actuating member, the lever defining a first arm and a second arm, the first arm in engagement with the actuating member and the second arm connected with the lens s