Abstract: An electric propulsion unit can include a propeller for producing thrust, a motor for driving the propeller, and a fuel cell for supplying electric power to drive the motor. The fuel cell can include a fuel cell stack for generating power and a fuel tank for feeding fuel to the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: In an oscillation type linear actuator for reciprocally moving a plurality of moving members held in parallel with each other in a predetermined direction owing to electromagnetic action between a stator and them, two moving members reciprocally moving in opposite phases with each other are coupled by a coupling member having spring function, and a non-displacing portion of a plate spring portion of the coupling member which is not displaced substantially is restricted by a stopper. Even when an external force is applied to one of two moving members reciprocally moving in the opposite phases each other, motion of the other moving member is transmitted to the moving member via the coupling member, so that reduction of amplitude of the moving member to which the external force is applied can be restricted, and a balance of amplitudes of two moving members is maintained.

Abstract: An electric power control device can have multiple fuel cells, loading devices driven by the electric power supplied by the multiple fuel cells, and a control device for operating the fuel cells in response to the electric power load required by the loading devices. The control device can have an efficiency characteristics recognition device for recognizing the efficiency characteristics for each of the multiple fuel cells, an electric power requirement recognition device for recognizing the electric power required by the loading devices, and a fuel cell operation control device for controlling the operation of the fuel cells so that the efficiency characteristics get closer to the maximum efficiency loading point in response to the recognized electric power requirement.

Abstract: An oscillatory linear actuator including a plurality of movable elements configured to move in a linear direction, a stationary component configured to drive the plurality of movable elements to move in the linear direction, and a plurality of connecting devices elastically connecting the plurality of movable elements with each other and positioned on at least one end portion of the plurality of movable elements in the linear direction, each of the plurality of connecting devices being extending away from the plurality of movable elements in opposite directions.

Abstract: In an oscillation type linear actuator for reciprocally moving a plurality of moving members held in parallel with each other in a predetermined direction owing to electromagnetic action between a stator and them, two moving members reciprocally moving in opposite phases with each other are coupled by a coupling member having spring function, and a non-displacing portion of a plate spring portion of the coupling member which is not displaced substantially is restricted by a stopper. Even when an external force is applied to one of two moving members reciprocally moving in the opposite phases each other, motion of the other moving member is transmitted to the moving member via the coupling member, so that reduction of amplitude of the moving member to which the external force is applied can be restricted, and a balance of amplitudes of two moving members is maintained.

Abstract: A linear oscillating actuator system which is capable of canceling out the stator vibrations for driving a load with a minimum of vibrations. The system includes an oscillator carrying a permanent magnet as well as an output shaft for connection to the load. A stator assembly is incorporated within a housing and is configured to movably support the oscillator and to carry an electromagnet. The electromagnet generates a magnetic field which interacts with the permanent magnet to reciprocate the oscillator relative to the stator assembly in a linear path. A balancer is added to the system for canceling out undesired stator vibrations. The balancer are commonly supported to the stator assembly to be driven thereby in parallel with the oscillator. The balancer is configured to have a mass generally equal to that of the oscillator and to be devoid of any output member.

Abstract: Method for connecting an optical fiber to a GRIN lens, and a method for producing an optical filter module having an optical fiber and a GRIN lens, comprising arranging the optical fiber in contact with or in the immediate vicinity of the GRIN lens, directing a laser beam onto a part of the optical fiber and/or a part of the GRIN lens, the laser beam heating at least a part of the optical fiber and/or a part of the GRIN lens in such a way that a connection is formed between the optical fiber and the GRIN lens, and the optical axis of the laser beam being aligned oblique to the optical axis of the optical fiber, as well as optical filter modules produced in accordance with the method.

Abstract: In order to produce an improved coupling between waveguides of different refractive indexes, provision is made of a connecting device for connecting at least two optical waveguides (5, 6), in the case of which a first optical waveguide (5) is held relative to a second optical waveguide (6), an end face (7, 71, 72) of the first waveguide (5) running obliquely to the optical axis (11) of the first waveguide (5), and an end face (8, 81, 82) of the second waveguide (6) running obliquely to the optical axis of the second waveguide (6). In this case, the refractive index of at least one light-guiding region of the first optical waveguide (5) differs from the refractive index of a light-guiding region of the second optical waveguide (6), and the optical axes of the first and the second optical waveguides (5, 6) are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

Abstract: An oscillatory linear actuator including a plurality of movable elements configured to move in a linear direction, a stationary component configured to drive the plurality of movable elements to move in the linear direction, and a plurality of connecting devices elastically connecting the plurality of movable elements with each other and positioned on at least one end portion of the plurality of movable elements in the linear direction, each of the plurality of connecting devices being extending away from the plurality of movable elements in opposite directions.

Abstract: In order to produce an improved coupling between waveguides of different refractive indexes, provision is made of a connecting device for connecting at least two optical waveguides (5, 6), in the case of which a first optical waveguide (5) is held relative to a second optical waveguide (6), an end face (7, 71, 72) of the first waveguide (5) running obliquely to the optical axis (11) of the first waveguide (5), and an end face (8, 81, 82) of the second waveguide (6) running obliquely to the optical axis of the second waveguide (6). In this case, the refractive index of at least one light-guiding region of the first optical waveguide (5) differs from the refractive index of a light-guiding region of the second optical waveguide (6), and the optical axes of the first and the second optical waveguides (5, 6) are arranged substantially parallel to one another.

Abstract: An electric hair cutting device includes a stationary comb-type blade and an oscillating comb-type blade that is driven with a reciprocating movement against the stationary blade. A magnetically-driven oscillation generator is connected to the oscillating blade to impart a reciprocating movement to the blade through a structure that eliminates the need for drive power conversion components.

Abstract: An improved linear oscillating actuator is capable of minimizing the undesired vibrations while moving first and second oscillators in parallel paths. The first and second oscillators carry first and second drive elements respectively for driving connection to individual reciprocating loads. The first and second drive elements project upwardly respectively from the first and second oscillators such that the first drive element is disposed immediately upwardly of the second oscillator and the second drive elements is disposed immediately upwardly of the first oscillator. With this reverse arrangement of the first and second drive elements relative to the first and second oscillators, the individual oscillating systems each including the oscillator, the drive element and the corresponding reciprocating load can have its mass center disposed in close proximity to a mass center of the actuator, thereby enabling to reduce undesired vibrations which would otherwise occur around the mass center of the actuator.

Abstract: An improved linear oscillating actuator is capable of minimizing the undesired vibrations while moving first and second oscillators in parallel paths. The first and second oscillators carry first and second drive elements respectively for driving connection to individual reciprocating loads. The first and second drive elements project upwardly respectively from the first and second oscillators such that the first drive element is disposed immediately upwardly of the second oscillator and the second drive elements is disposed immediately upwardly of the first oscillator. With this reverse arrangement of the first and second drive elements relative to the first and second oscillators, the individual oscillating systems each including the oscillator, the drive element and the corresponding reciprocating load can have its mass center disposed in close proximity to a mass center of the actuator, thereby enabling to reduce undesired vibrations which would otherwise occur around the mass center of the actuator.

Abstract: An optical filter arrangement that is especially useful for optical signal transmission, multiplexing and demultiplexing purposes has an optical filter, a reflecting arrangement, and a holder for holding the optical filter and the reflecting arrangement.

Abstract: A multi-channel signal processing apparatus comprises a memory unit, a signal processing unit for single-channel implementing predetermined signal processing using a memory region of the memory unit according to a signal processing program for single-channel, an address generation unit generating a first memory address for single-channel processing, a pointer adding unit adding a pointer value indicating the head of an unused memory region of the memory unit to the first memory address generated by the address generation unit each time the signal processing in the signal processing unit is completed to generate a second memory address, and an address selecting unit selecting either the first memory address or the second memory address as a real address for the memory unit, thereby enabling multi-channel signal processing having a high processing efficiency without adding a large modification to the signal processing program for single-channel.

Abstract: A watercraft incorporates a vertically elongated displacement hull section to elevate the riders of the watercraft well above the water level when the watercraft is up on plane. During normal low-speed displacement hull-type operation, the elongated displacement hull section remains submerged, and does not appreciably affect the stability of the watercraft. When the watercraft is accelerated to planing speed, however, the elongated displacement hull section rises out of the water, and the watercraft planes on the planing surface disposed at the bottom of the elongated displacement hull section. In this manner, the operator/riders are lifted a significant distance above the surface of the water. The watercraft further incorporates an elongated displacement hull section having a bulged section which is sized to accommodate the watercraft engine within the elongated displacement hull section.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for assigning channels to a plurality of DSP's to be used comprises a control circuit for controlling the DSP's, a library for storing a plurality of signal processing algorithms, and a channel assignment table. The control circuit, when an assignment designation of a channel and an algorithm for each of the DSP's is received, compares the designated algorithm with the algorithms having been already downloaded to the DSP's based on the table, thereby downloading only an algorithm required to be newly downloaded from the library to the DSP's or between the DSP's and assigning the downloaded algorithm to the received channel. The channel assignment table can fixedly/variably store a relationship between processing positions (time slots) in addition to the relationship between the channels and the DSP's.

Abstract: On the basis of parameters representing background noise characteristics and parameters representing voice characteristics of a current frame, a voice activity detector 42 identifies whether the current frame is a non-active voice segment of background noise only or an active voice segment in which background noise has been superimposed on voice. The voice activity detector updates the background-noise characteristic parameters in each frame, irrespective of whether requirements for updating the background-noise characteristic parameters have been satisfied, in an interval of time from start of a steady operation for detection of voice activity to identification of an active voice segment. Further, the voice activity detector 42 relaxes the update requirements of the background-noise characteristic parameters based upon results of voice activity and voice non-activity detection and, when these requirements have been satisfied, updates the background-noise characteristic parameters.

Abstract: A coded frame synchronization method for decoding coded information sent every frame includes the steps of: (a) receiving a coded frame having error detection or correction codes, each of which is provided every predetermined number of bits, error detection or correction codes being added to the coded frame in accordance with a predetermined pattern; (b) pulling the coded frame in synchronization by performing an error detection process every predetermined number of bits to be compared with results of the error detection process and thus detecting a phase of the error detection or correction codes; and (c) recognizing a leading end of the coded frame on the basis of the phase of the error detection or correction codes.

Abstract: A single light emitted from a laser source is split into multiple beams. The multiple beams are illuminated by a multi-beam scanner to scan a substrate of interest. An optical system is provided for focusing the multiple beams independently on the substrate and directing a reflected light or a transmitted light of the multiple beams on the substrate. Aperture regulating members are disposed at equal intervals corresponding to the interval between the multiple beams for controlling the multiple beams directed from the substrate by the optical system. The multiple beams passed through their respective aperture regulating members are received by an optical detector assembly which detect a change in the amount of the multiple beams. The substrate is continuously moved by a movable table on a plane substantially vertical to the multiple beams and in a direction arranged at substantially a right angle to the scanning direction of the multiple beams.