Abstract: A spark plug including: a ground electrode including a thick portion provided on a base end side, a thin portion provided on a distal end side, and a stepped portion provided on an inner peripheral surface between the thick portion and the thin portion; a noble metal tip partially embedded in an inner peripheral surface of the thin portion; and a bulge portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion between the stepped portion and the noble metal tip. When viewed from a side surface of the ground electrode, a relationship [a protruding height of the noble metal tip from the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion]?[a protruding height of the bulge portion from the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion].

Abstract: A vehicle lighting assembly is provided which uses a light guiding lens without a dedicated light source.

Abstract: A vehicle light is disclosed that can facilitate the replacement operation of an axial fan motor and the optical axis adjustment of an LED light source unit as well as can simultaneously promote dissipation of heat generated by the LED light source unit when powered. The vehicle light can include at least one LED light source unit disposed within a light chamber defined by a lens cover and a housing.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling a plasma-jet spark plug in a four-stroke internal combustion engine, including the steps of: causing the spark plug to generate a primary discharge during either a compression stroke or an expansion stroke of the engine in such a manner as to produce a plasma by the primary discharge; and causing the spark plug to generate a secondary discharge during a time after the primary discharge and before the completion of a subsequent intake stroke of the engine.

Abstract: A spark plug includes an outer electrode including an outer electrode tip of which a distal end surface is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of a leading end portion of a center electrode to define a spark discharge gap. A protruding insulator portion of a cylindrical insulator protrudes at least 1.0 mm from a leading end surface of a cylindrical metal shell. A protruding center electrode portion of the center electrode protrudes at least 3.5 mm from the leading end surface of the cylindrical metal shell. A relationship (?1+?2)/2?75 degrees is satisfied where the angle ?1 is defined as a central angle (degrees) of a first circular sector having a point B1 as a center thereof, and the angle ?2 is an average value (degrees) of the central angles of two second circular sectors having the point B1 as a center thereof.

Abstract: A center electrode includes a tapered electrode base member mount and a noble metal tip joined to the electrode base member mount via a fused portion in which the component of the noble metal tip and the component of the electrode base member mount are fused. In this state, the cross section area S1 at a tip side boundary between the fused portion and the noble metal tip and the cross section area S2 at a base member side boundary between the fused portion and the electrode base member mount satisfy the relational expression of S1<S2. Regarding the cross section area S3 at the base portion of the electrode base member mount, (S3?S2)/D satisfies the relational expression of 5?(S3?S2)/D?50. D is the shortest distance in the axis line direction from the base member side boundary to the base portion.

Abstract: A system that remotely controls a mobile body includes a guideway (i.e., balanced feeder line) for guiding the mobile body to its destination, and a coupling device provided on the mobile body for transmitting and receiving control information to control movement of the mobile body along the guideway. The coupling device includes a first loop antenna and a second loop antenna that are cross-connected to each other. A distance from the center of the balanced feeder line to the center of the first loop antenna is less than a distance from the center of the balanced feeder line to the center of the second loop antenna. The system can operate with an extremely low power of emission with a weak electric field intensity of a radio wave for controlling the movement of the mobile body.

Abstract: A vehicle light can include a plurality of light projection units each having a replaceable LED lamp, a reflector unit, a projection lens, and a shielding member. A housing can be provided that includes a lens and a rear side part, with the housing configured to accommodate the light projection units. The rear side part can include a mounting opening therethrough with a base plate configured to be hermetically attached to the housing through the mounting opening of the rear side part. The replaceable LED lamp can be attached to the base plate, and an elastic connecting member can be configured to hermetically connect the housing and the base plate so that the LED lamps can be individually replaced. Since the LED lamps can be individually replaced, untrained persons can carry out the replacement operation. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the replacement cost and time as well as improve the rate of operation of a vehicle.

Abstract: A plasma jet spark plug provides improved ignitability and durability by forming a part of a spark discharge gap outside the electric discharge space which generates plasma. An ignition system for the plasma jet spark plug is also disclosed. The plasma jet spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator defining an axial bore which partially surrounds the center electrode, a cavity surrounded by an inner circumferential face of the axial bore which extends from an opening portion of a front end of the axial bore of the insulator and wherein a front end face of the center electrode is formed. A ground electrode is bent towards a front end portion of the insulator.

Abstract: There is provided according to the present invention a manufacturing method of a spark plug that includes a cylindrical metal shell, a cylindrical ceramic insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode retained in the ceramic insulator and extending in an axial direction and a ground electrode having a rear end portion fixed to the metal shell and a front end portion formed with a protruding region facing a front end portion of the center electrode with a gap left therebetween and being of substantially uniform thickness except for an area where the protrusion is formed. The spark plug manufacturing method includes a press forming step for pressing the whole of a ground electrode material for constituting the ground electrode, so as to form a protruding region on a front end portion of the ground electrode material and a welding step for, after the press forming step, welding a rear end portion of the ground electrode material to the metal shell.

Abstract: Multiple light emitting device modules can be configured to illuminate in multiple different directions, while avoiding deterioration of radiation efficiency by use of fins. In a lighting fixture, multiple light emitting device modules can each have fins for radiating heat generated by the light emitting device. The multiple light emitting device modules can be arranged in such a manner that a main optical axis line of one light emitting device module and main optical axis lines of any other light emitting device modules form an angle larger than zero degrees, or are in a skewed position, and the fins can be arranged in such a manner that all the fins are parallel with respect to a vertical plane and roots of the fins are positioned at the same level as or lower than tips of the fins.

Abstract: A spark plug of the present invention includes a cylindrical metal shell, a cylindrical ceramic insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode retained in the ceramic insulator and extending in an axial direction, and a ground electrode formed into a bent shape and having a rear end portion fixed to the metal shell and a front end portion facing a front end portion of the center electrode with a gap left therebetween. The ground electrode contains a large thickness region formed on a rear end side thereof with a large thickness, a small thickness region formed on a front end side thereof with a smaller thickness than that of the large thickness region, a protruding region formed on the small thickness region and facing the center electrode and a thickness changing region formed between the large thickness region and the small thickness region and located at a different position from a position of a minimum curvature radius region of the bent shape of the ground electrode.

Abstract: Light emitting device modules illuminate at a wide angle in the longitudinal direction of a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture can be provided with a light emitting device module having a light emitting device, an installation member for mounting multiple light emitting device modules thereon, and a support for supporting the installation member. The installation member 2 can be bent in multiple stages so that light beams from the multiple light emitting device modules mounted on the installation member are pointed to multiple different directions. The installation member can be bent in multiple stages so that an angle between the main optical axis line of the light emitting device module mounted on the forefront part of the installation member and a horizontal plane is smaller than the angle between the main optical axis line of the light emitting device module mounted on the root part of the installation member and the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A spark plug includes an outer electrode including an outer electrode tip of which a distal end surface is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of a leading end portion of a center electrode to define a spark discharge gap. A protruding insulator portion of a cylindrical insulator protrudes at least 1.0 mm from a leading end surface of a cylindrical metal shell. A protruding center electrode portion of the center electrode protrudes at least 3.5 mm from the leading end surface of the cylindrical metal shell. A relationship (?1+?2)/2?75 degrees is satisfied where the angle ?1 is defined as a central angle (degrees) of a first circular sector having a point B1 as a center thereof, and the angle ?2 is an average value (degrees) of the central angles of two second circular sectors having the point B1 as a center thereof.

Abstract: A spark plug including: a center electrode; a substantially cylindrical insulator; a cylindrical metal shell; a ground electrode having a base end joined to a leading end portion of the metal shell and a distal end bent toward the axis line. The ground electrode includes: a thick portion provided on a base end side, a thin portion provided on a distal end side, and a stepped portion provided on an inner peripheral surface between the thick portion and the thin portion. A noble metal tip is joined to and partially embedded in the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion and disposed to form a gap between the noble metal tip and the leading end portion of the center electrode.

Abstract: A spark plug including: a ground electrode including a thick portion provided on a base end side, a thin portion provided on a distal end side, and a stepped portion provided on an inner peripheral surface between the thick portion and the thin portion; a noble metal tip partially embedded in an inner peripheral surface of the thin portion; and a bulge portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion between the stepped portion and the noble metal tip. When viewed from a side surface of the ground electrode, a relationship [a protruding height of the noble metal tip from the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion]?[a protruding height of the bulge portion from the inner peripheral surface of the thin portion].

Abstract: Light emitting device modules illuminate at a wide angle in the longitudinal direction of a lighting fixture. The lighting fixture can be provided with a light emitting device module having a light emitting device, an installation member for mounting multiple light emitting device modules thereon, and a support for supporting the installation member. The installation member 2 can be bent in multiple stages so that light beams from the multiple light emitting device modules mounted on the installation member are pointed to multiple different directions. The installation member can be bent in multiple stages so that an angle between the main optical axis line of the light emitting device module mounted on the forefront part of the installation member and a horizontal plane is smaller than the angle between the main optical axis line of the light emitting device module mounted on the root part of the installation member and the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting assembly is provided which uses a light guiding lens without a dedicated light source.

Abstract: Multiple light emitting device modules can be configured to illuminate in multiple different directions, while avoiding deterioration of radiation efficiency by use of fins. In a lighting fixture, multiple light emitting device modules can each have fins for radiating heat generated by the light emitting device. The multiple light emitting device modules can be arranged in such a manner that a main optical axis line of one light emitting device module and main optical axis lines of any other light emitting device modules form an angle larger than zero degrees, or are in a skewed position, and the fins can be arranged in such a manner that all the fins are parallel with respect to a vertical plane and roots of the fins are positioned at the same level as or lower than tips of the fins.

Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug includes a metal shell, an electrical insulator retained in the metal shell, a center electrode held in an axial hole of the electrical insulator to define a cavity by a front end face of the center electrode and an inner circumferential surface of the insulator axial hole and a ground electrode fitted to a front end face of the electrical insulator and formed with an opening for communication between the cavity and the outside of the spark plug and satisfies the following dimensional relationships: d?D?3d; 0.5 mm?d?1.5 mm; L1?1.5 mm; 2d?L2?3.5 mm; and L2+{(D?d)/2}?3.5 mm where D is a diameter of the ground electrode opening; L1 is a thickness of the ground electrode; d is a diameter of the cavity; and L2 is a depth of the cavity.