Abstract: A start control apparatus has a steering lock mechanism, which includes a lock pin and a lock control unit. The lock pin is selectively engaged and disengaged from the steering shaft. The lock control unit controls the lock pin. The start control apparatus further includes a portable communication device, a verification control unit, which communicates with the portable communication device, a power source control unit, which control power supply, an engine control unit, which controls the engine, a lock state detecting switch, which detects an engaged state and a disengaged state of the lock pin. The lock control unit and the power source control unit monitor detection signals from the lock state detecting switch. The engine is permitted to be started on condition that the control units acknowledge that the lock bar is in the disengaged state.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, in which a device driver program including operational configuration information is installed, includes a determining unit that reads confirmation indicating information to determine whether presence of consistency between the operational configuration information and actual device configuration information, which is configuration information of a device to be driven and controlled, is to be confirmed, upon installation of the device driver program in the information processing apparatus; an acquiring unit that acquires the actual device configuration information from the device, subsequent to the installation, if the determining unit determines that presence of the consistency is to be confirmed; a consistency confirming unit that determines whether there is consistency between the operational configuration information and the actual device configuration information; and a warning unit that transmits a warning message to a user if the consistency confirming unit determine

Abstract: A vehicle security device for improving the security level of a vehicle. The vehicle security device is connected to an engine and communicates with a portable device. A smart ECU performs a first coded communication to establish mutual authentication with the portable device. An ID code box is connected to the smart ECU, has a first code and a second code, and does not communicate with the portable device. The ID code box performs a second coded communication using the first code to establish a second mutual authentication with the smart ECU. An engine ECU performs a third coded communication using the second code to establish a third mutual authentication with the ID code box. The engine ECU enables the engine to be started when every one of the first, second, and third mutual authentications are established.

Abstract: A method in a data processing device for processing a print request from an application using a print driver or a plug-in module for extending the printer driver is disclosed. The method includes a discrimination step of discriminating a conflict between a setting inputted to the plug-in module and a setting inputted to at least one of the plug-in module or the printer driver and a notification step of notifying the application of response information relating to the reason for the conflict.

Abstract: There is provided a control program which allows a computer to execute a setting processing method having: an obtainment step of respectively obtaining conflict rules showing rules for avoiding conflict of setting values which are used in a plurality of print processes that are used in a first expanding function program to expand a function of a print processing related program and a second expanding function program to expand the function of the print processing related program; and a discrimination step of discriminating the presence or absence of conflict between setting values of print settings which are used in the first expanding function program and the second expanding function program by using the conflict rules obtained in the obtainment step.

Abstract: A method of controlling printing is provided, by which poster printing and double-sided printing are realized at the same time by suitably controlling an order of outputting pages for a divided image. A printer 1500 capable of double-sided printing prints two consecutive pages of print data on both sides of a sheet of paper, and a host computer 3000 generates print data such that each of the pages of print data is enlarged and divided and resultant data is printed on a plurality of media. Therefore, a first page of print data is divided into a predetermined number of pieces of print data in accordance with the number of sheets of print paper, and a second page of print data is also divided in the same manner. Next, a particular piece of print data for the first page and a particular piece of print data for the second page are selected from the predetermined number of pieces of print data for each of the first and second pages.

Abstract: This invention allows an application to set/modify an extension function without opening the user interface of a device driver in an environment in which the function extension of the device driver is implemented in a plugin form. To cause the application to execute printing processing using a printer driver as one of the device drivers and a function extension module having a parameter which cannot be set by the printer driver, the application reserves a memory area having a capacity including a parameter managed by the printer driver and a parameter managed by the function extension module. The application transfers at least the position of the memory area, an identifier for specifying a parameter, and the setting value of the parameter to the printer driver or function extension module to set the setting value in the parameter specified by the identifier of the memory area. The printer driver and function extension module perform printing processing using the parameter of the memory area.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, etc., are disclosed.

Abstract: An engine start/stop control system for preventing an engine from stopping when a vehicle is traveling. The system includes an IG1 driver circuit arranged between a power supply control unit and an IG1 relay. The IG1 driver circuit is activated in accordance with an activation signal from the power supply control unit or an output signal of a latch circuit and includes an FET for activating a relay. The latch circuit keeps the FET ON and the relay activated unless the vehicle stops traveling and a start/stop switch is pushed.

Abstract: An engine start/stop control system for preventing an engine from stopping when a vehicle is traveling. The system includes an IG1 driver circuit arranged between a power supply control unit and an IG1 relay. The IG1 driver circuit is activated in accordance with an activation signal from the power supply control unit or an output signal of a latch circuit and includes an FET for activating a relay. The latch circuit keeps the FET ON and the relay activated unless the vehicle stops traveling and a start/stop switch is pushed.

Abstract: A start control apparatus has a steering lock mechanism, which includes a lock pin and a lock control unit. The lock pin is selectively engaged and disengaged from the steering shaft. The lock control unit controls the lock pin. The start control apparatus further includes a portable communication device, a verification control unit, which communicates with the portable communication device, a power source control unit, which control power supply, an engine control unit, which controls the engine, a lock state detecting switch, which detects an engaged state and a disengaged state of the lock pin. The lock control unit and the power source control unit monitor detection signals from the lock state detecting switch. The engine is permitted to be started on condition that the control units acknowledge that the lock bar is in the disengaged state.

Abstract: An electronic key system includes an electronic key, a key cylinder, a transponder and an antenna. The key cylinder has a key insertion port to which an insertion portion of the electronic key is inserted. The key cylinder has an exposed end at which the key insertion port is formed, and a bottom spaced from the exposed end. The transponder is activated by electromotive force included by an externally applied electromagnetic field. The antenna receives a transponder signal transmitted by the transponder. The antenna is located in the vicinity of the bottom of the key cylinder.

Abstract: A wide slit nozzle having a slit as a discharge opening for a coating material is provided. The slit has a first thickness at a lateral center part and a second thickness at opposite lateral end parts. The second thickness of the lateral end part is set smaller than the first thickness at the lateral center part. The first thickness of the lateral center part is fixed. The second thickness of the lateral end part changes linearly from opposite lateral ends of the lateral center part to the opposite lateral ends of the slit. For example, the slit has dimensions: x=15 mm, y=14 mm, a &agr;=0.3 mm and &bgr;=0.6 mm. Consequently, an entire length or an entire width of the slit 2 is 15+14×2=43 mm. However, the coating material is discharged from the slit while applied with pressure, so that the coating material is coated while expanded wider than the width of the slit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data processing apparatus capable of controlling a peripheral device by using a driver program.

Abstract: In one aspect, the information processing apparatus disclosed in this application has a storage device that stores a device driver which incorporates access information regarding access to the server apparatus and a property display screen with instruction items for instructing a device driver request; a notification unit that, based on an instruction to the instruction items on the property display screen, refers to the access information and notifies the access information to an application that is capable of processing page information, in order to obtain driver update page information from the server apparatus; and an updating control unit that, based on an instruction to an update instruction section to request automatic update that is provided on a driver update page created based on the driver update page information obtained, controls a process to obtain device driver update information sent from the server apparatus and update the device driver stored in the storage device.

Abstract: To the end of obtaining favorable vibrato effects, provided is a tremolo device for stringed musical instruments comprising a string support assembly consisting of at least two individually pivoted segments, each individually carrying a string anchoring member, a spring for biasing the string support assembly segment in the direction for applying a tension to the string and a handle bar for pivoting the segment against the biasing force of the spring in the direction to reduce the tension of the string. By selectively or jointly moving the handle bars of the different segments, hitherto unknown special vibrato effects can be created. Optionally, a provision may be made so that the different segments may be coupled into a single body for producing conventional vibrato effects. Since the string support assembly is segmented, breakage of any single string will only affect the corresponding segment and not the other segment, the tuning process subsequent to the replacement of the broken string can be facilitated.

Abstract: A blow-up gas recirculating apparatus for returning blow-by gases from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine to an intake passage thereof includes a shield panel attached to a cylinder head cover in substantially covering relating to a DOHC valve mechanism housed in a cylinder head. A breather chamber is defined between the cylinder head cover and the shield panel and communicates with the interior of the cylinder head and an air intake unit, such as an air cleaner, of the internal combustion engine. The breather chamber comprises first through third breather chamber sections interconnected by constricted passages, While blow-by gases are flowing through the breather chamber, an oil mist can reliably be separated from the blow-by gases.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrically operable dust collector comprises a corrosion-resistant rigid frame, which has a relatively small coefficient of expansion, and a flexible conductive sheet secured under stress to the frame, and including a fiber cloth device, and a flexible material device coating the fiber cloth device; one of the devices is predominantly conductive, the other of the devices is substantially nonconductive.

Abstract: In an electrostatic apparatus using a toner layer carried by a developing roller for developing a latent image, a doctor blade applied with a voltage of the same polarity as that of the toner is used for partly scraping the toner layer. The toner scraped off is sucked by a suction means. An additional doctor blade is preferably used together with the main doctor blade to make rough and fine control of the thickness of the toner layer.

Abstract: In an electrostatic apparatus including a developing roller for applying a toner to an electrostatic latent image carrying drum, a squeeze roller is provided in the vicinity of the developing roller. The squeeze roller is applied with a voltage to attract a part of the toner layer on the developing roller and reduce the thickness of the toner layer.