Abstract: A spark plug assembly is produced in the following manner. Namely, an insulator having an axial through-hole with a metallic terminal fixed at an end thereof and a center electrode fixed at the other end and with packing layers of bulk powders of a conductive glass seal layer, a resistor and the like being formed in the through-hole between the metallic terminal and the center electrode. Subsequently, the spark plug assembly is heated so that the temperature of the side closer to the center electrode is higher than that of the side closer to the metallic terminal along the longitudinal axis of the insulator. Then, the packing layers of the bulk powders within the through-hole are pressed between the center electrode and the metallic terminal by applying pressure to the heated spark plug assembly so that the metallic terminal comes closer to the center electrode along the axis of the through-hole with the position of the center electrode being fixed relative to the through-hole.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain an oral glycyrrhizin preparation not only manufacturable by a simple method but also having an excellent property of being absorbed from the digestive tract. In the present invention, such oral preparations are made into enteric forms wherein glycyrrhizin is admixed with an effervescent agent in combination with an absorption enhancer such as a medium-chain fatty acid or a salt thereof. In the preparation of the present invention, it is now possible to achieve an excellent absorption of glycyrrhizin from the digestive tract by addition of an effervescent agent and, moreover, the preparation can be manufactured by a simple, convenient method without special steps.

Abstract: Scanning type exposure device that includes a projection optical system having a plurality of projection optical system modules configured to facilitate projection exposure of a pattern onto a photosensitive substrate based on a mask. The projection optical system modules are configured to be individually adjusted based on a displacement characteristic related to the mask. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing and using the scanning type exposure device.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a photomask for providing a pattern to a resist applied on a substrate is provided. The photomask includes a light blocking region forming a boundary between a first region and a second region on the substrate. A width of the light blocking region is such that the light blocking region is not projected on the resist.

Abstract: An optical disc reproducing apparatus reproduces different encoded audio signals from a first optical disc carrying recorded first audio data which is previously digitally converted by a non-compression-encoding and a second optical disc carrying recorded second audio data which is previously digitally converted by a compression-encoding.

Abstract: A pair of filtering membranes are solidly bonded to a membrane-supporting plate by fusibly bonding each of the filtering membranes to the resin membrane-supporting plate. A main fusible domain is formed along peripheral edges of each of the filtering membranes. In addition, a plurality of subordinate fusible domains are intermittently formed in plural locations on one side or on both sides of the main fusible domain. By virtue of the above structure, bonding strength is secured by the main fusible domain, and yet, bonding strength is reinforced by locally provided subordinate fusible domains. A channel is formed in the membrane-supporting plate so that permeated liquid can swiftly flow through the filtering system. In addition, a plurality of projections are formed on peripheral edges of a filtration membrane cartridge facing inner surface of each gutter formed inside of each slit plate by way of causing the respective projections to slidably come into contact with the inner surface of the gutter.

Abstract: A traveling control system for a motor vehicle includes a detector for detecting an object which exists in front of the motor vehicle to follow a vehicle traveling ahead. The system further includes a first course determination device for estimating a first course on which the motor vehicle will travel hereafter, an identification device for identifying an first target vehicle among the objects existing on the first course, and a second course estimation device for estimating, based on the first target vehicle, a second course on which the motor vehicle will travel hereafter at least while the first target vehicle is outside of the first course. The identification device identifies a second target vehicle among vehicles which travel on the first or second courses while the first target vehicle is outside of the first course.

Abstract: A programmable external storage control apparatus, including a buffer for temporarily storing data to be transferred between a host and an external storage, which stores a program for controlling data transfer between the host and the external storage and controls the data transfer between the host and the external storage by reading the data transfer control program from the buffer and executing it. The apparatus further includes a microprocessor that responds to a command from the host by starting the control of the data transfer by reading the data transfer control program. The microprocessor includes a memory for storing the data transfer control program in addition to other programs to be executed by the microprocessor. The microprocessor loads the data transfer control program from the memory into the buffer at the time of initialization. This allows the microprocessor to do other jobs such as servo control while the data transfer control program is executed.

Abstract: In a vehicle which sets a target vehicle-interval distance, and can execute auto-cruise control for controlling the vehicle speed so as to maintain the target vehicle-interval distance, when the auto-cruise control is not executed, a vehicle-interval distance to be set by a driver is detected together with the vehicle speed at that time. A plurality of sets of the vehicle speed and vehicle-interval distance data are accumulated, and the relationship between the vehicle speed and the vehicle-interval distance is calculated. Upon execution of the auto-cruise control, a vehicle-interval distance corresponding to the vehicle speed at that time is obtained from the calculated relationship, and the obtained vehicle-interval distance is set to be the target vehicle-interval distance.

Abstract: A thin film device comprising a substrate which is magnetic and has insulation property at least on the surface, coils formed spirally in a planar configuration on the substrate, a first interlayer insulation film formed to a portion excepting for the terminal portion of the coils and a magnetic material connection portion of the substrate, a magnetic film and a second interlayer insulation film formed successively on the first interlayer insulation film excepting for the terminal portions, and bump electrodes formed in connection with the terminal portions in which a crystallite material having a composition: Fe.sub.78 Ta.sub.10 C.sub.12 is used as the magnetic film. The thin film device can be formed an a reduced size and having a large inductance value. When the device is used as a noise filter, a cut-off frequency range can be lowered.

Abstract: A filtration membrane module submerged with processed liquid in the processing tank. Plural plate-like, rigid membrane cartridges are vertically placed in parallel to each other as properly spaced from the adjoining membrane cartridges. The cleaning stream generating means for supplying a flow parallel to the membrane surfaces of the membrane cartridges opposes the gaps between the membrane cartridges opposite to each other. The sucking means for sucking the permeated liquid in each membrane cartridge is communicated with each passage of permeated liquid in each membrane cartridge. The membrane supporting plate for retaining the filtration membrane of the membrane cartridge is made hollow using a rigid structure member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a curved rubber pipe is provided with a guide member (3) arranged concentrically with a mandrel (2, 402). A straight rubber semi-finished product (4) of an unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized rubber is inserted into the guide member (3). A die lubricant can be applied only to the inside of the rubber semi-finished product (4) over its whole length. The rubber semi-finished product (4) is fitted on the mandrel (2, 402) by pushing the product by a head (7) mounted on a leading end of an arm (6). One end of the curved rubber pipe (1) is gripped after vulcanizing by a gripping member (10) and is extracted from the mandrel (2, 402). By this method, it is possible to fit and smoothly extract the rubber semi-finished product (4). The method can also easily be automated.

Abstract: A method of fusion bonding of a mark plate places a mark plate, having a heat-melt portion formed on at least a part of a front surface-outer peripheral portion, a side surface and a back surface-outer peripheral portion, the heat-melt portion being made of a thermoplastic resin 6, into a recess portion provided on a surface of a wall plate. A peripheral portion of the mark plate is heated to a temperature not lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic resin from the front surface side of the wall plate by a front surface side heater, e.g. a heating platen 7, while heating the peripheral portion of the mark plate to a temperature not higher than the melting point of the wall plate from the back surface side of the wall plate by a back surface side heater, e.g. another heating platen.

Abstract: A refrigerant charge receptacle (25) is provided for interfacing between an air conditioning system (2) having a high-pressure pipe (241) and a low-pressure pipe (242) and a refrigerant charge apparatus, having a high-pressure charge valve (332a) and a low-pressure charge valve (332b), for charging the air conditioning system (2) with a refrigerant. The refrigerant charge receptacle (25) includes a receptacle block (251) having disposed within a high-pressure bore (251a) having the high-pressure pipe (241) attached thereto and a high-pressure opening (105b). Also disposed within the receptacle block (251) is a low-pressure bore (251b) having the low-pressure pipe (242) attached thereto and a low-pressure opening (106b). A high-pressure receptacle valve (252) is attached to the high-pressure opening (105b) for mating with and receiving a first flow of the refrigerant from the high-pressure charge valve (332a).

Abstract: A power transfer device adapted for use in combination with a primary transmission for an automotive vehicle, including a housing, a first output shaft rotatably mounted on the housing and having an input end for drive connection to an output shaft of the power transmission and an output end for drive connection to a first set of road wheels, a second output shaft rotatably mounted within the housing in parallel with the first output shaft and having an output end for drive connection to a second set of road wheels, a drive member rotatably mounted on the first output shaft, a driven member mounted on the second output shaft for rotation therewith and being drivingly connected to the drive member, a center differential in the form of a planetary gear unit mounted on the first output shaft and having a first output element in drive connection to the first output shaft and a second output element for drive connection to the drive member, and a changeover mechanism arranged between the planetary gear unit and th

Abstract: A resin composition of a saponified product of an ethylenic copolymer, which comprises 100 parts by weight of a saponified product of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate having 5 to 50 mol % of recurring units of --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- based on the ethylene monomer and also having a saponification degree of about 80% or more and 5 to 150 parts by weight of a polyamide having a relative viscosity of 2.1 to 3.5 and being subjected to terminal end modification leaving carboxylic end groups of 3.times.10.sup.-5 equivalent/g or less.The resin composition of the present invention has the gas barrier property, rigidity and heat resistance, and also is improved in pinhole resistance or impact resistance, and therefore it can be suitably used as packaging materials or functional parts.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rotor for rotary fluid pumps comprising the steps of assembling a hollow cylindrical body and both side plates to a hollow rotor body, providing the hollow rotor body with a plurality of sockets each receiving a separately fabricated U-shaped vane-groove forming member, and inserting the U-shaped vane-groove forming members into the respective sockets to fix the same to the rotor body by brazing. The U-shaped vane-groove forming member is made from a suitable material as a vane groove itself and sufficiently finished independently from the rotor body.

Abstract: The correcting lens comprises a plurality of regions which are formed at at least one portion of the effective surfaces on both sides of the lens by means of a plurality of border lines which are discontinuous in only one direction. The regions on one side are inclined in a direction different from that of the regions on the opposite side of the lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-contact type vane pump adapted to prevent the generation of heat due to direct contact between the outer edges of the rotatively driven vanes of the vane pump and the inner surface of the pump casing. The principle arrangement resides in this that the extent to which the vanes rotating under the action of centrifugal force extend radially during operation is suppressed by guide members of less frictional loss disposed in a region adjacent to the center where the peripheral speed is minimum. Non-contact type vane pumps having sub-arrangements based on said principal arrangement are also provided. Advantages and details of such arrangements will be made clear.