Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that includes a plurality of focus detection pixels, a phase difference detection type of a first focus detector, a contrast detection type of a second focus detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to allow the second focus detector to continue the focus detection when the shift amount detected by the first focus detector is larger than a threshold even when the second focus detector detects the lens position corresponding to the peak of the contrast value, and to move the image pickup lens to a lens position that provides a peak of a contrast value detected by the second focus detector when the shift amount is the threshold or smaller.

Abstract: To stop, in an emergency, a revolving superstructure quickly from rotating while preventing damage of a mechanical brake. A revolving superstructure is driven swiveling using a permanent magnetic-type swiveling electric motor; in an emergency, such as a malfunction in a drive or control system for the swiveling electric motor, allowing electric power generated in the electric motor due to inertial rotation to be consumed in an external braking resistor so as to make an electric braking action; and a mechanical brake is activated to stop the rotation and hold the stopped revolving superstructure when a rotation speed of the revolving superstructure becomes equal to or lower than a preset value.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array in which memory cells are arranged in a row and column direction, a circuit for applying a first voltage to a selected bit line, a circuit for applying a second voltage to unselected bit lines and word lines, a circuit for reading a current flowing in a selected memory cell, a voltage suppressor circuit for suppressing fluctuation of the second voltage with respect to each word line and bit line provided in the circuit for applying the second voltage, and a second voltage control circuit for applying the first voltage to the selected bit line and a dummy second voltage to the unselected bit lines and the word lines during the preset period and controlling the voltage suppressor circuit during a reading period so that the second voltage may fluctuate in a fluctuation direction of the first voltage.

Abstract: A steering apparatus including an attaching bracket having a slot, respectively, a column supported on the attaching bracket, a fastening rod inserted into the slot and the column, an operation lever attached to the fastening rod, a cam mechanism converting an operating movement of the operation lever into an axial movement of the fastening rod, and a tilt lock mechanism including an eccentric cam rotating in accordance with the operation of the operation lever, an irregularity portion being formed on a cam face of the eccentric cam, and an irregularity portion formed on the cam face. When the operation lever is operated, the cam mechanism moves the fastening rod so as to fasten and clamp the column by the attaching bracket at a desired tilt position and the irregularity portion comes into contact with the attaching bracket so as to regulate an upward movement of the column.

Abstract: A determining unit determines the state of the microprocessor. A setting unit sets a power supply voltage to be supplied to the microprocessor according to the state of the microprocessor determined by the determining unit. A power supply circuit supplies the power supply voltage set by the setting unit, to the microprocessor via a power supply line. The determining unit determines repeatedly the state of the microprocessor at preset timing, and the setting unit resets the power supply voltage every time the determination is performed by the determining unit.

Abstract: A camera includes a camera control unit configured to acquire information on an accessory mounted on the camera by performing communication with an accessory control unit included in the accessory and to control a photographing operation based on the information on the accessory. When the camera control unit acquires, from the accessory control unit, first information that is required prior to start of photographing and second information that is required prior to generation of image data after the start of photographing, if the camera control unit determines that a photographer has performed an operation to start a photographing operation during a period in which the camera control unit is performing communication to acquire the second information, the camera control unit executes a photographic sequence in priority to acquiring the second information and thereafter acquires the second information.

Abstract: An optical recording medium containing one or more compounds selected from imide compounds having a metallocene residue in a recording layer and an imide compound represented by a general formula (1): wherein a ring AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or more linking groups; n represents the number of imide groups bonded to the ring AR; Am represents any one of substituents A1 to An bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group; and m represents an integer of from 1 to n, with the proviso that at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of A1 to An is one having at least one substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes a focus detection unit, determination unit, and selection unit. The focus detection unit includes a plurality of focus detection regions in a frame. The determination unit determines whether the focus detection unit has captured an object during servo autofocus in which the focus detection unit repeats focus detection even after obtaining an in-focus object image so that the focus follows motion of the object. The selection unit selects a focus detection region indicating the closest distance from the plurality of focus detection regions if the determination unit determines that the object has not been captured. The selection unit selects, as a focusing target, a focus detection region indicating a focus detection result nearest to the previous focus detection result from the plurality of focus detection regions if the determination unit determines that the object has been captured.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a medium drive apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus for performing recording and reproduction on and from a recording medium in accordance with a request from the information processing apparatus, which may include an inputting and outputting section configured to record and reproduce data on and from a recording medium, and a control section configured to execute a first operation process as a reproduction only mode, a second operation process as a recording and reproduction mode, an authentication process with the information processing apparatus, and a mode changing process of changing the operation mode from the reproduction only mode to the recording and reproduction mode in response to success in the authentication by the authentication process thereby to control the recording operation and the reproduction operation of the inputting and outputting section.

Abstract: When an outer circumference of a clamping portion 25 and an outer circumference of a circular outer circumference 26 are restrained by a die 6 while inserting a non-circular punch 5 into a circular hole 28, paddings 27, 27 are pressed by a semi-circular inner circumference of the die 6 to thereby be forced into interior of the circular hole 28. The volume of the paddings 27, 27 is set to be substantially the same as a volume obtained by subtracting the volume of a non-circular hole 23 in an extension shaft 2 from the volume of the circular hole 28. The circular hole 28 is deformed, and the paddings 27, 27 forced into the circular hole 28 abut with inclined planes 52, 52 of the punch 5, whereby the non-circular hole 23 is formed in the extension shaft 2.

Abstract: A steering column apparatus comprising: a steering column provided with a body-side bracket mounted to a body strength member to have a pair of side plate portions opposed each other to be extended in a vertical direction, and a substantially cylindrical distance unit for supporting a steering shaft to be rotatable therein and having a pair of pressed and expanding portions formed to be expanded by plastic working to be pressed and supported by the side plate portions of the body-side bracket; and an adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting a position of the steering column with respect to the side plate portions of the body-side bracket within a predetermined range, wherein the steering column is formed with a reinforcement portion for enhancing the clamping rigidity of the distance unit with respect to the side plate portions.

Abstract: Existing modems of time division duplex (TDD) type can be utilized without modification to perform a high speed wireless communication with stable communication quality in other frequency bands such as quasi-millimeter to millimeter wave bands. There are included a circulator (11) connected to TDD modems (1, 2) and receives signals transmitted thereby to output those signals from a first connection terminal (p1) and outputs signals received at a second connection terminal (p2) to the TDD modems (1, 2), and a frequency converter (2a) that raise the frequency of the signals from the circulator (11) by a predetermined frequency width and lowers the frequency of signals from a receive antenna (32) by a predetermined frequency width.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle has a steering column rotatably supporting a steering shaft, a first support member held between opposed flat plate portions of an upper bracket and supporting the steering column, a second support member held between opposed flat plate portions of a lower bracket and supporting the steering column, a first support mechanism for supporting the steering column on the upper bracket, and a second support mechanism for supporting the steering column on the lower bracket, wherein the steering column, the first support member and the second support member are integrally formed, the first support member is integrally formed with a first swelling portion having a pair of side portions that respectively press-abut on a pair of opposed flat plate portions of the upper bracket, and the second support member is integrally formed with a second swelling portion having a pair of side portions that respectively press-abut on a pair of opposed flat plate portions of the lower bracket.

Abstract: To stop, in an emergency, a revolving superstructure quickly from rotating while preventing damage of a mechanical brake. A revolving superstructure is driven swiveling using a permanent magnetic-type swiveling electric motor; in an emergency, such as a malfunction in a drive or control system for the swiveling electric motor, allowing electric power generated in the electric motor due to inertial rotation to be consumed in an external braking resistor so as to make an electric braking action; and a mechanical brake is activated to stop the rotation and hold the stopped revolving superstructure when a rotation speed of the revolving superstructure becomes equal to or lower than a preset value.

Abstract: An optical recording medium containing one or more compounds selected from imide compounds having a metallocene residue in a recording layer and an imide compound represented by a general formula (1): wherein a ring AR represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic ring residue or a residue formed by combining two or more aromatic ring residues via one or more linking groups; n represents the number of imide groups bonded to the ring AR; Am represents any one of substituents A1 to An bonded to a nitrogen atom of each imide group; and m represents an integer of from 1 to n, with the proviso that at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of A1 to An is one having at least one substituted or unsubstituted metallocene residue.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array in which memory cells are arranged in a row and column direction, a circuit for applying a first voltage to a selected bit line, a circuit for applying a second voltage to unselected bit lines and word lines, a circuit for reading a current flowing in a selected memory cell, a voltage suppressor circuit for suppressing fluctuation of the second voltage with respect to each word line and bit line provided in the circuit for applying the second voltage, and a second voltage control circuit for applying the first voltage to the selected bit line and a dummy second voltage to the unselected bit lines and the word lines during the preset period and controlling the voltage suppressor circuit during a reading period so that the second voltage may fluctuate in a fluctuation direction of the first voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a column readout voltage supply circuit which supplies a predetermined first voltage when readout is selected and supplies a predetermined second voltage which is different from the fist voltage when the readout is not selected, to each column selection line, a row readout voltage supply circuit which supplies the second voltage to each row selection line at the time of readout, a sense circuit which detects a current flowing in the selected row selection line separately from a current flowing in the non-selected row selection lines to detect an electric resistance state of the selected memory cell at the time of readout, and a column voltage displacement prevention circuit which prevents displacement of a supplied voltage level for each of the non-selected column selection lines at the time of readout.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device having a crosspoint-type memory cell array includes a column readout voltage supply circuit 12 which supplies a predetermined first voltage when readout is selected, and supplies a second voltage different from the first voltage when the readout is not selected, to each of column selection lines BL, a row readout voltage supply circuit 11 which supplies the second voltage to each of row selection lines DL at the time of readout, a sense circuit 15 which senses a current flowing in the selected row selection line DL separately from a current flowing in the unselected row selection lines DL and senses an electric resistance state of the selected memory cell at the time of readout, and a row voltage displacement prevention circuit 31 which prevents a displacement in a supplied voltage level in at least selected row selection line DL at the time of readout.

Abstract: A solid laser apparatus has either a combination of a lowpass filter (9c) and a highpass filter (9d) or a bandpass filter 9f provided in its output control circuit (8, 9, 10) for increasing the gain and adjusting the phase of a signal in the vicinity of the relaxation oscillating frequency. Also, a solid laser apparatus has the phase shift circuit (9g) provided in its output control circuit (8,9,10) for advancing the phase of a signal in the vicinity of the relaxation oscillating frequency thereof. Moreover, a solid laser apparatus has a pseudo notch filter (9h), which is arranged for the gain to have a local minimum at the relaxation oscillating frequency of the solid laser apparatus, provided in the output control circuit (8,9,10) so that the peak of the gain transmission characteristic of the nonlinear optical device (4) or of a combination of the nonlinear optical device (4) and the microchip laser crystal (3) is offset.

Abstract: In a frequency converter, a phase-locked loop generates a local-oscillation signal having a low frequency, of a plurality of local-oscillation signals having different frequencies, based on an intermediate frequency beacon signal that results from mixing a predetermined beacon signal with the local-oscillation frequency signal. Even if the phase-locked loop is used to generate the low frequency local-oscillation signal only, a frequency offset and a phase noise taking place in remaining high frequency local-oscillation signals are compensated for or canceled out. The frequency converter thus results in a high frequency accuracy. This arrangement reduces the number of bulky, costly and power-consuming phase-locked oscillators, typically used in the quasi millimeter band or the millimeter band. A simplified, compact frequency converter is thus provided, reducing both installation and operating costs.