Abstract: A pointing device includes a first ground potential electrode; a second electrode for applying a voltage; a third electrode for measuring an electrical potential; a printed circuit board on which the first through the third electrodes are provided; a location pointing driving body that is provided on the printed circuit board and that is configured with a conductive part and that contacts the first and second electrodes, and a spherical part; a slide member that is located to cover a top part of the location pointing driving body and that is configured to drive the location pointing driving body by being slidable within a plane parallel to the printed circuit board; and a pressing force restriction member that is configured to restrict pressing force from the spherical part to the printed circuit board by receiving force from the slide member in the pressing direction.

Abstract: A multidirectional switch member and an electronic device includes an operation plate in which a pressing operation may be performed in a plurality of directions including four standard directions and a median direction extending between the four standard directions, a PCB that is located at the back side of the operation plate, a plurality of conductive bodies that are provided on the back side of the operation plate, a group of standard direction contact electrodes that each have a first electrode and a first ground potential electrode along each of the standard directions, and a group of median direction contact electrodes that have two of a second electrode and a second ground potential electrode along the median direction, wherein the two second electrodes and the first electrodes, which are located along both sides of the median direction, are located next to each other and are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A multidirectional input member according to the present invention includes a base plate on which a looped sensor that includes a plurality of groups of non-contacting electrodes configured in a loop is formed and an operation plate locating opposite to the base plate. The operation plate has a first loop-shaped protrusion that is located at a plane opposite to the base plate, that is protruded toward the base plate side, that is opposite to the looped sensor, and that is configured with a resistant rubber member. The first protrusion has a configuration in which its sectional area of a plane parallel to the base plate is tapered in the direction from the operation plate side toward the base plate side.

Abstract: A multidirectional input member according to the present invention includes a base plate on which a looped sensor that includes a plurality of groups of non-contacting electrodes configured in a loop is formed and an operation plate locating opposite to the base plate. The operation plate has a first loop-shaped protrusion that is located at a plane opposite to the base plate, that is protruded toward the base plate side, that is opposite to the looped sensor, and that is configured with a resistant rubber member. The first protrusion has a configuration in which its sectional area of a plane parallel to the base plate is tapered in the direction from the operation plate side toward the base plate side.

Abstract: The present application provides an input member and an electrical device that includes the input member in which a slide operation can be performed, and in which a predetermined input value for each position touched by a user can be entered. The input member includes that one or a plurality of conductive elastic bodies; an operation plate that has an operation plane and that has the conductive elastic bodies on a rear surface side of the operation plane; a base plate including a group of electrodes, the electrodes being provided at positions opposite to the conductive elastic bodies without contacting each other; and a plurality of protruding parts protruding from the conductive elastic bodies toward the base plate are aligned in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin keypad that includes an elastic sheet that is made of resin or elastomer, and a group of keys including a plurality of keys that are formed from one key sheet through laser-cutting, and that are fixed on the elastic sheet as a laser-cut configuration, wherein the plurality of keys is made of light curing resin with a thickness of 1.0 mm or less, and the narrowest spacing between the keys adjacent each other is equal to or less than 500 ?m.

Abstract: Input device in which a defect of a control disk is eliminated while making use of an advantage of the control disk and an electronic device using the input device. The input device may include: an operation panel, which may be operated by a user; a board, which may be arranged to be opposed to a surface opposite to an operation surface of the operation panel operated by the user; a conductive elastic body and a pusher, which may be fixed on the operation panel; and a sensor portion and a member to be pressed, which may be placed on the board to be opposed to the conductive elastic body and the pusher, respectively.

Abstract: A two-stage switch apparatus includes: a PCB including first and second electrodes; a conductive dome disposed on the PCB; an insulating film covering a surface of the conductive dome on a side opposite to the PCB, and third and fourth electrodes above the conductive dome; and a button actuator provided over a side of the insulating film, which is opposite the PCB. The button actuator includes a conductive elastic body protruding to the side of the insulating film at positions corresponding to both the third and fourth electrodes. An analog portion is formed by the conductive elastic body, the third electrode and the fourth electrode, when the conductive elastic body contacts both the third and fourth electrodes. A digital portion is formed by the conductive dome and the second electrode, when the button actuator is pressed and the conductive dome is indented.

Abstract: A two-stage switch apparatus includes: a PCB including first and second electrodes; a conductive dome disposed on the PCB; an insulating film covering a surface of the conductive dome on a side opposite to the PCB, and third and fourth electrodes above the conductive dome; and a button actuator provided over a side of the insulating film, which is opposite the PCB. The button actuator includes a conductive elastic body protruding to the side of the insulating film at positions corresponding to both the third and fourth electrodes. An analog portion is formed by the conductive elastic body, the third electrode and the fourth electrode, when the conductive elastic body contacts both the third and fourth electrodes. A digital portion is formed by the conductive dome and the second electrode, when the button actuator is pressed and the conductive dome is indented.

Abstract: A multidirectional switch member and an electronic device includes an operation plate in which a pressing operation may be performed in a plurality of directions including four standard directions and a median direction extending between the four standard directions, a PCB that is located at the back side of the operation plate, a plurality of conductive bodies that are provided on the back side of the operation plate, a group of standard direction contact electrodes that each have a first electrode and a first ground potential electrode along each of the standard directions, and a group of median direction contact electrodes that have two of a second electrode and a second ground potential electrode along the median direction, wherein the two second electrodes and the first electrodes, which are located along both sides of the median direction, are located next to each other and are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A pointing device includes a first ground potential electrode; a second electrode for applying a voltage; a third electrode for measuring an electrical potential; a printed circuit board on which the first through the third electrodes are provided; a location pointing driving body that is provided on the printed circuit board and that is configured with a conductive part and that contacts the first and second electrodes, and a spherical part; a slide member that is located to cover a top part of the location pointing driving body and that is configured to drive the location pointing driving body by being slidable within a plane parallel to the printed circuit board; and a pressing force restriction member that is configured to restrict pressing force from the spherical part to the printed circuit board by receiving force from the slide member in the pressing direction.

Abstract: A portable information processor (10) includes a storage unit (11) that stores information; a connecting unit (12) that connects to one of the device (1 (or 2)); an information acquiring unit (13) that acquires information from the connected device (1 (or 2)); an operation information generating unit (14) supplied with a driving power from a power source of the connected device (1 (or 2)) and generating operation information relating to the predetermined operation executable by the connected device (1 (or 2)) based on device identification information and the acquired information acquired by the information acquiring unit (13), and the information stored in the storage unit (11); and a control unit (15) that controls the connected device (1 (or 2)) based on the operation information generated by the operation information generating unit (14).

Abstract: A fuel-cell evaluation equipment includes a gas passageway for supplying gas to a fuel cell and a thermostat adapted to accommodate the fuel cell, wherein the gas passageway includes a first temperature regulator adapted to regulate the temperature of gas and a humidity regulator adapted to regulate the humidity of the gas. A thermostatic chamber of the thermostat regulates an inner temperature in the chamber according to a test condition. The thermostatic chamber is provided with a second temperature regulator into which gas flowing in the gas passageway flows. The gas flowing in the gas passageway is supplied to the fuel cell after heat exchange by the second temperature regulator.

Abstract: A temperature regulator has two headers connected to both ends of a heat receiving tube in which gas flows. The heat receiving tube has a heating element at the outer periphery thereof and a mixer accommodated therein to cause turbulent flow of gas passing through the heat receiving tube. The headers each have fins radially attached thereto, thereby ensuring strength of the headers and improving heat exchange efficiency.

Abstract: A portable information processor (10) includes a storage unit (11) that stores information; a connecting unit (12) that connects to one of the device (1 (or 2)); an information acquiring unit (13) that acquires information from the connected device (1 (or 2)); an operation information generating unit (14) supplied with a driving power from a power source of the connected device (1 (or 2)) and generating operation information relating to the predetermined operation executable by the connected device (1 (or 2)) based on device identification information and the acquired information acquired by the information acquiring unit (13), and the information stored in the storage unit (11); and a control unit (15) that controls the connected device (1 (or 2)) based on the operation information generated by the operation information generating unit (14).

Abstract: A portable information processor (10) includes a storage unit (11) that stores information; a connecting unit (12) that connects to one of the device (1 (or 2)); an information acquiring unit (13) that acquires information from the connected device (1 (or 2)); an operation information generating unit (14) supplied with a driving power from a power source of the connected device (1 (or 2)) and generating operation information relating to the predetermined operation executable by the connected device (1 (or 2)) based on device identification information and the acquired information acquired by the information acquiring unit (13), and the information stored in the storage unit (11); and a control unit (15) that controls the connected device (1 (or 2)) based on the operation information generated by the operation information generating unit (14).

Abstract: A portable information processor includes a storage unit that stores information; a connecting unit that connects to one of the device; an information acquiring unit that acquires information from the connected device; an operation information generating unit supplied with a driving power from a power source of the connected device and generating operation information relating to the predetermined operation executable by the connected device based on device identification information and the acquired information acquired by the information acquiring unit, and the information stored in the storage unit; and a control unit that controls the connected device based on the operation information generated by the operation information generating unit.

Abstract: In the present invention, the most likely transition source state bits are selected according to the path metric of the state bits corresponding to the state bits that could be taken for the encoded bits to be input, and are stored in the survival path memory. Therefore in the trace back processing, the decoded bits can be output only by repeating the extraction of the most significant bit of the transition source state bits. As a consequence, trace back processing can be performed very simply, and decoding processing becomes possible in a short time even if a general purpose processor executes the software.