Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a controller that estimates or detects an air replacement state of a fuel electrode and a hydrogen circulation path while the operation of the fuel cell system is stopped. Upon starting the fuel cell system, the controller changes the order in which the operation of a hydrogen circulation pump is started and a hydrogen pressure regulator is opened to start the supply of hydrogen gas on the basis of the estimated or detected air replacement state, thereby preventing deterioration caused by uneven distribution of air and hydrogen in the fuel electrode.

Abstract: A miniature camera lens actuation apparatus provides an auto-macro function in which a camera lens element has two focus positions. In one type of apparatus, a shape memory alloy actuator arranged to drive movement of the camera lens element relative to a support structure against an end-stop arranged to limit the movement. The shape memory alloy actuator is connected to one of the movable element and the support structure by a compliant connector. This limits the stresses on the shape memory alloy actuator and therefore increases its lifetime. In another type of apparatus, the suspension system supporting the movable element on the support structure provides the movable element with two stable positions along the movement direction.

Abstract: A loudspeaker comprises a region devoid of electroacoustic transducers and at least two groups of electroacoustic transducers at the periphery of the region. Each of the groups is configured to produce a different sound field representative of an audio signal and each of the groups comprise a different set of transducers. This allows a more compact loudspeaker to be provided because the transducers can be located around the periphery of a visual display screen. Sound quality is not compromised because groups of transducers forming a subset of the totality of transducers are used for each sound signal, thereby avoiding alias beams.

Abstract: A fuel cell system including: a fuel gas supply start command unit (101) for commanding start of a fuel gas supply to a fuel cell (1); a voltage detector (21) for detecting a fuel cell voltage; a control unit (103) for performing a deterioration preventing control for the fuel cell (1) based on the fuel cell voltage (CV) and a start command from the fuel gas supply start command unit (101); and another control unit (104) for controlling fuel gas feed rate according to the start command and the deterioration preventing control. The deterioration preventing control is performed at start-up of the fuel cell system. The fuel gas supply is started according to the start command, and after the deterioration preventing control is started, the fuel gas feed rate is increased.

Abstract: An ice blasting apparatus comprises: an ice making device operating a cutting blade to shave off ice freezing on an inner wall of the freezing casing and continuously discharges the shaved ice as flake-shaped ice pellets; an ice mixing tank mixing the ice pellets and water and maintaining the resulting ice slurry at a predetermined concentration with a concentration sensor; and a blast gun blasting the ice slurry. A trimming method is performed on a film insert molding with a film material adhering to a face of a resin molding and extending beyond a periphery edge of the resin molding. A blast gun facing the face with the film adhering to it blasts ice slurry of a required concentration toward the vicinity of the periphery edge of the resin molding to remove the unnecessary portion of the film material extending beyond the periphery edge of the resin molding.

Abstract: An ice blasting apparatus comprises: an ice making device operating a cutting blade to shave off ice freezing on an inner wall of the freezing casing and continuously discharges the shaved ice as flake-shaped ice pellets; an ice mixing tank mixing the ice pellets and water and maintaining the resulting ice slurry at a predetermined concentration with a concentration sensor; and a blast gun blasting the ice slurry. A trimming method is performed on a film insert molding with a film material adhering to a face of a resin molding and extending beyond a periphery edge of the resin molding. A blast gun facing the face with the film adhering to it blasts ice slurry of a required concentration toward the vicinity of the periphery edge of the resin molding to remove the unnecessary portion of the film material extending beyond the periphery edge of the resin molding.

Abstract: A lead frame having thereon a plurality of semiconductor devices is prepared by immersing it in a flux solution to activate the lead frame surface and to remove oxide film. The lead frame is then transferred to a coating block unit, and the lead frame is moved along a lateral passage which extend through the coating block unit. During movement through the passage, the lead sections of the lead frame are coated on both upper and lower surfaces thereof with liquid solder which ascends by capillary action along a slit which projects upwardly from a liquid solder bath and communicates with the passage. The solder in the slit, where it communicates with the passage, is continually replenish by capillary action from the bath as the solder coats the lead sections as the lead frame moves through the passage.

Abstract: A lead frame having thereon a plurality of semiconductor devices is prepared by immersing it in a flux solution to activate the lead frame surface and to remove oxide film. The lead frame is then transferred to a coating block unit, and the lead frame is moved along a lateral passage which extend through the coating block unit. During movement through the passage, the lead sections of the lead frame are coated on both upper and lower surfaces thereof with liquid solder which ascends by capillary action along a slit which projects upwardly from a liquid solder bath and communicates with the passage. The solder in the slit, where it communicates with the passage, is continually replenish by capillary action from the bath as the solder coats the lead sections as the lead frame moves through the passage.

Abstract: A pair of solder coating rolls are disposed horizontally adjacent one another for rotation about parallel horizontal axes, and are spaced apart to define a narrow vertically-oriented nip therebetween for accommodating a lead frame therein. Lower parts of the rolls contact a solder bath, and counter rotation of the rolls carries the solder upwardly on the periphery of the rolls to create a small pool of solder at the upper end of the nip. The lead frame is driven vertically upwardly through the nip, which nip has a minimal dimension greater than the lead frame thickness. The lead frame is driven vertically upwardly at a linear speed which is different from, and preferably slower than, the peripheral speed fo the solder coating rolls. This enables preheating of the surface of the lead frame due to its longer exposure to and contact with the hot solder which coats the periphery of the rolls, thereby improving the wetability of the lead frame surface.

Abstract: An automatic equalizer comprises a transversal filter connected to receive an input signal such as a television signal in which a predetermined periodic reference signal is present and having variable tap gains, and a correlator for forming the correlation between the input and output signals of the transversal filter and correcting the tap gains of the transversal filter to cancel out distortion components such as ghost component contained in the input signal. For the purpose of preventing the slow convergence and fluctuation of tap gains of the transversal filter due to non-periodic noise components contained in the input signal, a circuit is further provided to integrate a predetermined portion of the waveform of the reference signal contained in the input signal. An output signal of the waveform integrator circuit is correlated with the output signal of the transversal filter by the correlator.

Abstract: A colored reflective plate having excellent recurrent reflectivity, durability and fabricability is produced economically with high productivity by subjecting a base plate such as a steel plate, an aluminum plate and a plywood successively to the following treatments: coating and drying a colored paint on the base plate to form a primary colored layer, coating or printing a colored paint on said primary colored layer partially or totally with a thickness in the range from 30 to 80% of the mean radius of glass beads to be coated subsequently thereon, to form an intermediate colored layer, scattering glass beads having a refractive index in the range from 1.9 to 2.

Abstract: An Operation Program-Presetting System comprising twelve program data-supplying switches arranged in the same order as the time-indicating notations on a clock dial with means for generating a unique coded signal corresponding to the data-supplying switch operated. The coded signals given forth successively by the sequential operation of the switches are separated into time data and control data and stored in sets containing both time and control data. The time data represents the "hour" and "five-minute" units corresponding to the time-indicating notations on a clock dial, and the control data instructs the operation of external appliances. A time comparator compares the stored time data with a current time signal and, upon coincidence, a coincidence signal causes external appliances to be operated in accordance with the control data included in the set having the coincident time data.

Abstract: A differential amplifier including first and second transistors is provided. A first input terminal is connected via a resistor to the base of the first transistor, a second input terminal is connected to the base of the second transistor, and the emitters of the first and second transistors are connected to one terminal of a first current source. A current mirror circuit including third and fourth transistors of the complementary type to the first and second transistors is connected between the collector of the second transistor and one terminal of a second current source which has a current capacity substantially half that of the first current source. The other terminals of the first and second current sources ar connected together and a fifth transistor of the same type as the third and fourth transistors is connected between the collector of the first transistor and a power source terminal and the base of the fifth transistor is connected to the one terminal of the second current source.

Abstract: A television receiving program-presetting system comprises means for storing receiving program information in a specified address of a memory; a circuit for defining a vertical address position on a Braun tube screen by counting horizontal synchronizing pulses; a circuit for designating a horizontal address position on the Braun tube screen by counting clock pulses having a higher frequency than the horizontal synchronizing pulses; means for successively producing address information designating the addresses of the memory upon receipt of the outputs from at least the vertical address position defining circuit; means for supplying the address information to the memory and successively reading out the stored program information therefrom; a circuit for generating signals denoting character patterns corresponding to the program information thus read out; means for displaying the character patterns in the form of program information at that address position on the Braun tube screen which is designated by an outp