Abstract: A washing vessel capable of housing an endoscope is formed in an apparatus body. A washing solution containing a detergent is spurted against the endoscope arranged within the washing vessel for washing the endoscope. Also, an oxide-based disinfecting-sterilizing solution is supplied into the washing vessel for disinfecting-sterilizing the endoscope after the washing step together with the washing vessel.

Abstract: A washing vessel capable of housing an endoscope is formed in an apparatus body. A washing solution containing a detergent is spurted against the endoscope arranged within the washing vessel for washing the endoscope. Also, an oxide-based disinfecting-sterilizing solution is supplied into the washing vessel for disinfecting-sterilizing the endoscope after the washing step together with the washing vessel.

Abstract: In a freeze-concentrating apparatus, an aqueous solution is cooled by a cooling cylinder 22 serving as a heat exchanger for cooling to continuously produce a suspension containing ice crystals. A liquid component is separated and discharged from the suspension to increase the ratio of the ice crystals, and the ice crystals are grown to produce a column-shaped ice cake. The ice cake is cut into an ice pillar of a given length and a concentrated solution is taken out from the ice pillar.

Abstract: A platinum thin film having a thickness of 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m is formed by means of the sputtering method on a press face of a die based on the use of a cemented carbide base material. A nickel thin film having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 &mgr;m and a thin film made of an alloy of platinum and iridium are allowed to intervene between the cemented carbide base material and the platinum thin film, if necessary. Alternatively, an alloy thin film having a thickness of 0.01 to 5 &mgr;m, which contains 10 to 70% by weight of iridium and 30 to 90% by weight of one or more species of metals selected from metals of the platinum group except for iridium, may be allowed to intervene between the cemented carbide base material and the platinum thin film.

Abstract: An article surveillance security system with self-alarm operates at 6 through 10 MHz as a central frequency, receives a swept low level radio wave within ±5 through 15% from the central frequency, and sounds the alarm. It includes a tuning circuit (1) tuning to the central frequency, and a differential amplifier (2) for amplifying and detecting the output of the tuning circuit. The load resistance (R1) of the differential amplifier is set to 3 through 5 M&OHgr;, and the operating current of the differential amplifier is set to 3 &mgr;A or less. The base-emitter of the amplification/detection transistor (Tr1) of the differential amplifier are connected to the base-emitter of another diode-connected transistor (Tr2) to stabilize a bias drift by temperature. Thus, a receiving circuit of an article surveillance security system with self-alarm (tag) is realized with ability having a power supply of approximately four-year durability, stably operating with a very low level radio wave at 8.

Abstract: A swing-type actuator for use in a magnetic disk unit which includes a magnetic head; an arm supporting the head and a movable coil acting in a magnetic circuit. The movable coil is composed of a coil bobbin having a conductive wire wrapped around the bobbin. The bobbin is produced by injection molding into the bobbin of a thermoplastic resin having a flexural modulus of at least 8×102 kgf/mm2 and a heat deformation temperature of at least 200° C. under a load of 18.6 kg/cm2. A junction member to which the arm and the bobbin are integrally fixed by insert molding is made of the same resin as the bobbin or another thermoplastic resin being selected from the group consisting of a polybutylene terephthalate resin, a polyphenylene sulfide resin, a polyamide, a polyether ether ketone resin and thermotropic liquid crystal polymer.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and a process for efficiently removing particles generated during a laser marking of the semiconductor wafer substrate, thereby improving the yield. The process of the invention for marking a semiconductor wafer substrate by a beam of laser radiation comprises the steps of flowing a gas over a marking region at a predetermined flow rate and removing the gas from the marking region at the same predetermined flow rate, thereby generating a gas flow having a predetermined flow rate over and adjacent the marking region so that particles produced from the semiconductor wafer substrate while it is being marked will be removed. In a preferred embodiment, the semiconductor wafer substrate may be mounted with its upper surface to be marked directed downwardly while the laser marking beam is directed upwardly to the substrate.

Abstract: A heat-fused unitary ferrule includes a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate. The first glass substrate and the second glass substrate are unitarily joined by heat-fusion. A method for producing a heat-fused unitary ferrule includes the steps of: bringing a surface to be heat-fused of the first glass substrate having a groove for fixing an optical fiber into contact with a surface to be heat-fused of the second glass substrate; and subjecting the first and second glass substrates to heat-fusion at a temperature ranging from (Tg1-100).degree. C. to (Tg2+150).degree. C. (Tg1 denotes the higher glass transition temperature, and Tg2 denotes the lower glass transition temperature of the first and second glass substrates).

Abstract: A cooling device for a notebook personal computer which has a personal computer body accommodating an exothermic electronic element and a display hinged in an openable/closable manner to the personal computer body through a hinge mechanism, including a first heat pipe having a first end portion arranged along the display and a second end portion arranged in parallel with a center line of rotation of said hinge mechanism; a second heat pipe having a first end portion arranged on the electronic element in a heat transferable manner and a second end portion arranged in thermal contact with the second end portion of said first heat pipe; and a connector defining a first hole having an axis and configured to receive the second portion of the first heat pipe, a second hole having an axis different from the axis of the first hole and configured to receive the second portion of the second heat pipe, the first and second holes communicating with each other; wherein at least one of the second end portions is positioned

Abstract: An encoding circuit with a function of zero continuous-suppression in a data transmission system according to the present invention includes an EXZ detecting unit, a NRZ pulse generating unit and an output control unit. The EXZ detecting unit receives serial data indicating a NRZ signal and binary information indicating a code rule, and outputs EXZ pulses and delay data. The NRZ pulse generating unit receives the EXZ pulses from the EXZ detecting unit, and outputs an EXZ detecting signal, bipolar rule pulses and violation pulses. The output control unit receives the EXZ detecting signal, the bipolar rule pulses and the violation pulses, these are output from the NRZ pulse generating unit, and the delay data from the EXZ detecting unit, and outputs P-pole pulses and N-pole pulses to an external stage, and an odd signal to the NRZ pulse generating unit.

Abstract: A data recording device 10 for a camera 1 uses a collecting plate 11 formed of a light transmitting resin with a fluorescent substance dispersed therein as a collecting element for collecting external light. The collecting plate 11 includes a vertically elongated flat light receiving portion 21 and a flat light emitting portion 22 protruding at a right angle from the back side of the light receiving portion, the end portion of the light emitting portion 22 constituting a light emitting surface 22a. External light incident on a surface 21a of the light receiving portion 21 enters the light receiving portion and is absorbed by the fluorescent substance, which generates fluorescence. The fluorescence is propagated through the collecting plate as it is reflected by the interface between the ambient air and the collecting plate before it is applied to a liquid crystal panel 12 for data recording from the light emitting surface 22a of the light emitting portion 22.

Abstract: In data projection display device (6) of data-projection device (1), outgoing-light side light-shielding mask (622) is provided on outgoing-light surface (602b) of outgoing-light side electrode substrate (602) of liquid crystal cell (604). Gap G among translucent segments (701-710) formed on light-shielding mask (622) is determined according to the thickness of outgoing-light side electrode substrate (602). If Go is used to indicate gap G that can produce a clear projection image when electrode substrate (602) having a thickness t=0.4 mm is used, a value obtained by adding the increase in diffusion ?.DELTA.=0.017 mm! when light is passing through the electrode substrate to gap Go is used as the gap G between the translucent segments of light-shielding mask (622) when an electrode substrate having a thickness t=0.55 mm is used.

Abstract: A data imprinting apparatus for a camera prevents image dropout and loss of image sharpness in the imprinted image even when the path length from the light source to the data imprinting LCD is shortened, or when the diffusion angle of the emitted light is increased. In a camera data imprinting apparatus 1 the relationship between the position of a segment 630 on the liquid crystal panel 604 and the position of a light transmitting segment 660 on the light mask 622 is determined with consideration given to the diffusion angle of the emitted light so that the corresponding light transmitting segment 660 of the light mask 622 is positioned within the illumination area 640 formed on the light mask 622 by light passing a segment 630 switched to the light transmitting state. The illumination area 640 is thus formed at a position which is not partially offset from the light transmitting segment 660 of the light mask. Partial dropout of the imprinted data image, or partial loss of sharpness, can thus be avoided.

Abstract: An actuator for a magnetic head of a disk device has a rotating arm constructed of resin. The arm is supported rotatably in a housing on an electrically conducting shaft, and a magnetic head supported by a supporting member at one end of the arm is moved to various positions above the magnetic disk when the arm is rotated by a rotating mechanism. An electrically conducting mechanism conducts static electricity from the supporting member of the magnetic head to the shaft so that static electricity is prevented from accumulating on the head supporting member of the resin arm or in its vicinity.

Abstract: An arm unit for a hard disk drive is made by assembling together a plurality of stacked arms, a bearing member for supporting the arm unit upon a pivot shaft, and a coil for providing a magnetic force to swing the arm unit around the pivot shaft. Spacers are provided between the arms, and structural are provided for maintaining gaps between the arms and the spacers. Holes formed in the arms and in the spacers receive the bearing member while maintaining a predetermined gap. These assembled elements are then arranged within a mold and are fixed together into one unitary body by resin injected into the mold. By this construction, the assembly of the unit into the mold is facilitated, and the manufacturing cost of the arm unit is reduced.

Abstract: A video contrast enhancer enhances luminance contrast by dividing each video frame or field into blocks, calculating a mean luminance level for each block, selecting mapping functions on the basis of these mean luminance levels over a series of frames or fields, and mapping the video luminance levels according to the selected mapping functions. Color-saturation contrast is enhanced by modifying the amplitude of the modulated chrominance signal by the histogram equalization method, preferably by making a single linear modification in each period of the chrominance signal, so that color phase is not affected. For video signals with non-picture bands, these enhancements are preferably restricted to the picture area. If a black offset is present, it is preferably removed.

Abstract: Motion-adaptive chrominance-luminance separation of a composite video signal is accomplished by comb-filtering the video signal on the time axis, bandpass-filtering the video signal on at least one spatial axis selected according to spatial correlation detected in the video signal, and combining the two filtered results in proportion to motion detected in the video signal. Motion is detected in part by obtaining a one-frame difference signal that has been filtered to eliminate chrominance information; here too the filtering is performed on at least one spatial axis selected according to spatial correlation. Selecting the spatial filtering axes according to spatial correlation enables chrominance and luminance to be separated effectively without unnecessary information loss.

Abstract: A motion-adaptive scanning-line conversion circuit which converts part or the entirety of a first video signal into a second video signal. The circuit includes a data reducing circuit, such as a low pass filter and a decimator, which lowers the sampling frequency of the first video signal to reduce the amount of data in the first video signal. The conversion circuit can also include a detection circuit which detects the vertical edge of a stationary part of a picture represented by the reduced first video signal, and a motion detection circuit which determines the amount of motion of the pixels in the reduced first video signal. Based upon the detection of a vertical edge, a selection circuit selects between an output of an inter-field scanning-line conversion circuit and an intra-field scanning-line conversion circuit operating on the reduced first video signal and the first video signal, respectively.

Abstract: An igniter for electric ignition systems is made up of intergrally formed terminals and heating elements of metal thin film. Therefore, it maintains its stable ignition performance, high safety, and high reliability over a long period of time even in a severe environment. The heating element is covered with a protective coating film made of an inorganic material to ensure good heat conduction and to maintain the initial performance over a long period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a water-dispersion-type hot-rolling lubricant for the production of seamless steel pipes. This lubricant features the inclusion of a salt of a polybasic high molecular acid in addition to fine graphite powder, a water-insoluble fine particulate synthetic resin and water as principal components and fine gilsonite powder as an optional component. Even when the surface temperature of a mandrel bar is in a high temperature range of 100.degree.-400.degree. C., this lubricant can form a uniform and thick coating film on the surface of the bar so that the lubricant can exhibit extremely good hot-rolling lubrication performance.