Abstract: A laser beam machining method for a printed circuit board, for enabling to bring the depth of a bottom surface of grooves within an overlap region, which is irradiated with a laser beam, repetitively, to be nearly equal to that of the bottom surface of grooves within other regions, comprises the following steps of: fixing a line beam 4, which is shaped into a rectangular having a length sufficiently larger than its width, in a cross-section perpendicular to a central axis thereof; executing a belt-like machining on a certain region of the printed circuit board 6, while moving a mask 1 and the printed circuit board 6 in opposite directions, in a direction of the width of the line beam 4 (i.e.

Abstract: A laser machining apparatus capable of accurately projecting mask patterns onto a work piece and superior in machining accuracy. An auto-focusing unit is provided. The auto-focusing unit includes a television camera for observing alignment marks formed on the surface of the work piece so as to be able to measure the focal length of a projection lens. A main-scanning direction expansion/contraction ratio Ex of the work piece to its design value and a sub-scanning direction expansion/contraction ratio Ey of the work piece to its design value are obtained. The imaging magnification M of the projection lens is corrected to compensate the expansion/contraction ratio Ex. The moving speed of a mask and/or the moving speed of the work piece are corrected in consideration of the imaging magnification M of the projection lens so as to compensate the expansion/contraction ratio Ey.

Abstract: In a sensor mounting structure, a sensor is mounted in an outer portion of the floor panel in a width of the vehicle, and a step garnish, extending in a length of the vehicle, is attached above the outer portion so as to cover the sensor. The step garnish may have a rib extending in the length of the vehicle; and the sensor may be positioned inside the rib in the width of the vehicle. Preferably, the step garnish has a plurality of ribs extending in the length of the vehicle; each rib has clip portions for attaching the step garnish to the floor panel; and the sensor is positioned between two of the ribs. Typically, the rib protrudes downward from a lower face of the step garnish. The floor panel may have a concave portion; and the sensor may be attached to a bottom of the concave portion.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure includes a cushioning member provided at a rear surface of a rear bumper beam. The cushioning member has upper and lower hollow protrusions of different protrusion lengths extending transversely of the vehicle along the rear surface of the rear bumper beam. The upper hollow protrusion, having a protruding length longer than the protruding length of the lower hollow protrusion, includes a protrusion top with a pair of right and left slit-shaped openings provided on right and left sides of a central portion for allowing easy buckling of the upper protrusion.

Abstract: In a sensor mounting structure, a sensor is mounted in an outer portion of the floor panel in a width of the vehicle, and a step garnish, extending in a length of the vehicle, is attached above the outer portion so as to cover the sensor. The step garnish may have a rib extending in the length of the vehicle; and the sensor may be positioned inside the rib in the width of the vehicle. Preferably, the step garnish has a plurality of ribs extending in the length of the vehicle; each rib has clip portions for attaching the step garnish to the floor panel; and the sensor is positioned between two of the ribs. Typically, the rib protrudes downward from a lower face of the step garnish. The floor panel may have a concave portion; and the sensor may be attached to a bottom of the concave portion.

Abstract: A vehicle bumper structure includes a cushioning member provided at a rear surface of a rear bumper beam. The cushioning member has upper and lower hollow protrusions of different protrusion lengths extending transversely of the vehicle along the rear surface of the rear bumper beam. The upper hollow protrusion, having a protruding length longer than the protruding length of the lower hollow protrusion, includes a protrusion top with a pair of light and left slit-shaped openings provided on right and left sides of a central portion for allowing easy buckling of the upper protrusion.

Abstract: A retainer case accommodating an air bag and consisting of two separate parts, one being an open end side part terminating in an open end of the retainer case and the other being an inflator-secured end side part secured to the vehicle body, the open end side part and inflator-secured end side part being fitted together to form the retainer case. The open end side part of the retainer case is made less rigid than the inflator-secured end side part. When an impact is applied to the retainer case from the passenger compartment side, the open end side part undergoes a deformation and thus absorbs the impact. A stem of the air bag is secured to the retainer case with its edge clamped between the fitted portions of the open end side part and inflator-secured end side part of the retainer case.

Abstract: An occupant protective system for an automotive vehicle having a driver's seat and an assistant driver's seat. A magnitude of detected deceleration is compared with first and second threshold values, the second threshold value being greater than the first threshold value. If the magnitude of detected deceleration exceeds the second threshold value, both of a first air bag provided for the driver's seat and a second air bag provided for the assistant driver's seat are caused to be inflated even when the assistant driver's seat is not occupied, whereas if the magnitude of detected deceleration exceeds the first threshold value but does not exceed the second threshold value, the first air bag for the driver's seat alone is caused to be inflated when the assistant driver's seat is not occupied.

Abstract: A substrate for mounting optical components and electric circuit components thereon, comprising an insulating substrate on which an electric circuit is to be formed and a metallic portion on which optical components are to be fixed by welding. This construction may be reversed; that is, an insulated layer on which an electric circuit is to be formed may be provided on a metallic board on which optical components are to be fixed by welding. A device constituted using this substrate permits improvement of the frequency band characteristic and a long-term stabilization of optical coupling efficiency.