Abstract: An optical member is arranged on a viewer-side of an image display panel. The optical member includes a circular polarizing plate having a first principal surface and a second principal surface, and a patterned light reflection layer arranged on a first principal surface-side of the circular polarizing plate. The circular polarizing plate is configured such that light incident from a second principal surface-side to a first principal surface-side is emitted as circular polarized light. The light reflection layer has a light-shielding property, and is configured to reflect light from a circular polarizing plate-side with fixed-end reflection.

Abstract: A light modulation film (1) includes a light modulation layer (30) whose state is reversibly changed between a transparent state by hydrogenation and a reflective state by dehydrogenation, and a catalyst layer (40) that promotes hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in the light modulation layer, in this order on a polymer film substrate (10). light modulation layer (30) includes a light modulation region (32) having a thickness of 10 nm or more on a catalyst layer (40)-side, and an oxidized region (31) on a polymer film substrate (10)-side.

Abstract: The light modulation film (1) is a hydrogen-activation-type light modulation film that includes an inorganic oxide layer (20), a light modulation layer (30) and a catalyst layer (40), in this order on a polymer film substrate (10). The light modulation layer (30) is a layer for reversibly changing states between a transparent state due to hydrogenation and a reflective state due to dehydrogenation. The catalyst layer (40) promotes hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in the light modulation layer. The inorganic oxide layer (20) contains an oxide of an element different from a metal element that constitutes the light modulation layer (30).

Abstract: A light modulation film (1) includes a light modulation layer (30) whose state is reversibly changed between a transparent state by hydrogenation and a reflective state by dehydrogenation, and a catalyst layer (40) that promotes hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in the light modulation layer, in this order on a polymer film substrate (10). In a thickness-direction distribution of an element concentration as measured by X-ray electron spectroscopy, the light modulation layer (30) includes a light modulation region (32) with an oxygen content of 50 atom % or more and having a thickness of 10 nm or more on a catalyst layer (40)-side, and an oxidized region (31) with an oxygen content of less than 50 atom % on a polymer film substrate (10)-side.

Abstract: The light modulation film (1) is a hydrogen-activation-type light modulation film that includes an inorganic oxide layer (20), a light modulation layer (30) and a catalyst layer (40), in this order on a polymer film substrate (10). The light modulation layer (30) is a layer for reversibly changing states between a transparent state due to hydrogenation and a reflective state due to dehydrogenation. The catalyst layer (40) promotes hydrogenation and dehydrogenation in the light modulation layer. The inorganic oxide layer (20) contains an oxide of an element different from a metal element that constitutes the light modulation layer (30).

Abstract: A vehicular foot-operated parking brake control apparatus is designed to achieve reliable and easy operation of the apparatus while also reducing the apparatus size and the stroke loss. The apparatus includes a mounting bracket that is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body, and a pedal that is rotatably mounted on the bracket for rotation about a rotational axis, with the pedal being connected to a parking brake control cable. The pedal is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth and a pawl is rotatably mounted on the bracket for rotation between a first rotational position in which the pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth and a second rotational position in which the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet teeth. The pawl is slidably mounted on the bracket to slide between a first slide position and a second slide position. The apparatus is designed to allow the parking brake to be engaged and disengaged by pressing on the pedal.

Abstract: A disc brake rotor has a plurality of radial groves on its opposite sides that are equiangularly spaced. The angular interval of the grooves on one side is different from the angular interval of the grooves on the other side, so that the vibrations of two different modes caused by the grooves on the opposite sides interfere with each other during braking operation. By thus suppressing stationary wave mode vibrations, the disc brake rotor prevents production of brake squeals.

Abstract: A pad clip for a disc brake includes a base portion for engaging with a concave portion of a mounting member of the disc brake, a spring portion which extends from the base portion for forcing a projection portion of a disc pad of the disc brake which is fit into the concave portion in the radial direction of the wheel and a curved extension portion which connects the spring portion to the base portion.

Abstract: A brake force control device for a vehicle includes a master cylinder generating a brake pressure by operation of an operating member of the vehicle, a wheel brake for being mounted on a vehicle wheel and connected to the master cylinder through a conduit, a pressure control chamber connected to the wheel brake, a displacement actuator which varies the capacity of the pressure control chamber and an electric controller for operating the displacement actuator so as to supply the brake pressure to the wheel brake when the master cylinder does not generate the brake pressure.

Abstract: A brake disc rotor which includes sliding plates on the inside and outside which are in parallel with and separated from each other in the axial direction of an axle; a plurality of inner and outer partition walls radially arranged between the sliding plates; a plurality of passages radially formed between the inner and outer partition walls; a plurality of inlet and outlet openings for communicating the passages; and a plurality of connecting openings for communicating the mutually adjacent passages. The stream flowing from the inlet opening is formed along an upper wall of the inner partition walls and the stream is formed in a flow separation portion in the vicinity of a lower wall of the outer partition wall through the connecting openings.

Abstract: A brake force control device for a vehicle includes a master cylinder for being operated by an operating member of the vehicle, a wheel brake for being mounted on a vehicle wheel which is connected to the master cylinder through a conduit, a pressure control chamber connected to the wheel brake, a displacement actuator which varies a capacity of the pressure control chamber and a control unit which controls the displacement actuator.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly which includes a disc rotor, a mounting member having arm portions in which a pair of grooves extending toward the axial direction of the disc rotor are provided therein, a pair of brake pads disposed to both sides of the disc rotor, at least one of the brake pads having a pair of ear portions which are outwardly projected in the rotational direction of the disc rotor and which are fitted into the grooves of the mounting member so as to be slidably supported on the mounting member, a caliper member slidably supported on the mounting member so as to be movable in an axial direction of the disc rotor and pressing each of the brake pads against faces of the disc rotor, respectively and pad clips engaged with the arm portions of the mounting member so as to cover faces of the grooves and being provided with a first elastic member which is formed on the pad clip in a body and which always outwardly urges the brake pad with a low load in the diametrical direction of the disc rotor through the

Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a mounting member and two brake pads mounted on the mounting member on opposite sides of a disc to be acted upon the brake pads. The brake pads are mounted on backing plates which have circumferential ends disposed in facing relationship to torsion-resisting surfaces of the mounting member. The torsion-resisting surfaces have circumferentially extending projections which engage the backing plates in a manner resisting radial outward movement of the brake pads in response to frictional braking forces.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a mounting member and two brake pads mounted on the mounting member on opposite sides of a disc to be acted upon the brake pads. The brake pads are mounted on backing plates which have circumferential ends disposed in facing relationship to torsion-resisting surfaces of the mounting member. The torsion-resisting surfaces have circumferentially extending projections which engage the backing plates in a manner resisting radial outward movement of the brake pads in response to frictional braking forces.

Abstract: An anti-squeal disc brake, having a disc rotor rotating with a wheel of a vehicle, a pair of friction pads each including a friction member and a backing plate secured to the friction member, an actuator device for forcing the pair of friction pads against opposite friction surfaces of the disc rotor, and a torque member which is secured to a fixed member of the vehicle and which supports the friction pads movably toward and away from the opposite friction surfaces of the rotor, the torque member receiving, through the backing plates, tangential forces which act on the friction pads during frictional contacts of the friction members with the friction surfaces of the rotor.

Abstract: An intermediate-lever device for a vehicle parking brake system including a first brake cable connected to a hand- or foot-operated control member, and a second brake cable connected to a parking brake mechanism on a vehicle wheel. The device comprises an intermediate lever connecting the first brake cable to the second brake cable, and a bracket pivotally supporting the intermediate lever. The intermediate lever and the bracket are accommodated in a console box disposed between right and left seats of a vehicle, and the bracket is secured to an upper surface of a floor panel of the vehicle with which the seats are associated.

Abstract: A wear-limit warning device for a vehicle disc brake, warning the vehicle driver that a maximum permissible wear limit is reached on the friction pad or pads. The warning device comprises a projection protruding sideways from the end face of a backing plate of each friction pad, and a warning member made from a spring sheet material. The warning member consists of a mounting leg portion, a contact portion and a spring portion connecting the leg and contact portions. The leg portion having a pair of legs which grip therebetween an end portion of the backing plate and the protruding projection thereby attaching the warning member to the backing plate and preventing the same from being shifted out of position during service. The contact portion extends along the end face of the projection until its end reaches a permissible wear limit level of the friction member of the friction pad, and is pressed against the end face of the projection with a resilient force of the spring portion.

Abstract: A sealing boot of elastomeric material for hermetically enclosing an annular opening between a support member and a movable member axially reciprocable on the support member, the sealing boot including a tubular bellows which is integrally formed at one end thereof with a first cylindrical sealing sleeve portion coupled over the support member and at the other end thereof with a second cylindrical sealing sleeve portion coupled within the movable member, the sealing boot being characterized in that the first cylindrical sealing sleeve portion being connected substantially at its center to the one end of the tubular bellows and being formed at its inner end shoulder with an annular thick wall tapering radially toward the inner wall surface of the tubular bellows.

Abstract: A device for warning the allowable wear-limit of a pad assembly in a disc brake. The device comprises (a) a vibration member composed of (i) a fixing portion secured to a lateral end portion of a backing plate of the pad assembly, (ii) a spring portion bent into a curve as an extension from the fixing portion for being located on the rear side of the pad assembly, and (iii) a vibrating portion extended from the spring portion, passing through between the lateral end portion of the backing plate and a torque member movably supporting the same, toward the friction surface of the disc rotor as far as almost reach at a tip thereof a wear limit of the pad assembly, (b) a supporting member supporting the vibrating portion at a root portion thereof against biasing force of the spring portion, and (c) a projection disposed on either the supporting member and the vibration portion for determining contact position therebetween.

Abstract: An improved disc brake caliper housing structure including a cylinder portion which has a cylinder wall section formed with a cylinder having a cylinder bore, a reaction portion located opposite to the cylinder portion axially of the cylinder, and a bridging portion connecting the cylinder and reaction portions. The bridging portion has a cross section, taken perpendicularly to the axis of the cylinder, which is of substantially circular arc configuration along the periphery of a disc rotor, and the cylinder wall section which has a fan-shaped profile to which the circumferential wall of the cylinder is virtually inscribed, has openings spaced radially of the cylinder. The openings are formed between both ends of the circular arc of the bridging portion, and those two segments of the circumferential wall of an open end portion of the cylinder which are nearest to the both ends of the bridging portion radially of the cylinder.