Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioning apparatus, including: a refrigerant circulation channel that flows a refrigerant, the refrigerant circulation channel provided in a refrigeration cycle system including, as connected in a cyclic pattern, a compressor for the refrigerant, an outdoor heat-exchanger exchanging heat between the refrigerant and an outdoor air, an expansion valve reducing pressure of the refrigerant, and an air-conditioning heat-exchange circuit exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air to be introduced into a vehicle interior; and an equipment heat-exchange circuit connected in parallel to the circuit and exchanging heat between the refrigerant and in-vehicle equipment. The circuit includes a cooling heat-transfer medium circulation channel that circulates a heat-transfer medium for cooling.

Abstract: A cooling system of an electric vehicle includes a cooling medium circulation path that circulates a cooling medium to an electrically powered drive unit of a vehicle, a heat exchange unit between the cooling medium and external air, a cooling medium circulation unit, a blower unit that blows air against the heat exchange unit, and a control unit that controls the cooling medium circulation unit and the blower unit, thus controlling cooling of the electrically powered drive unit. The control unit controls the cooling medium circulation unit and the blower unit in a first cooling mode, when a drive force for the vehicle is in a first operational region, and controls in a second cooling mode that provides a higher cooling capability than the first cooling mode, when the drive force for the vehicle is in a second operational region that is higher than the first operational region.

Abstract: An operating device capable of assuring safety when operating on-vehicle equipment of an automobile is implemented. The operating device includes force sensors buried in a grasping part of a steering wheel in a vehicle, a detector for detecting force acted on the grasping part on the basis of an output signal of each of the force sensors, and a controller for outputting an operating signal to a piece of the on-vehicle equipment mounted on the vehicle on the basis of a detected signal supplied from the detector. As a result, it is possible to operate force sensors and operate the on-vehicle equipment by adjusting force used to grip the steering wheel or pressing the steering wheel without letting go the driver's hold of the steering wheel.

Abstract: A foreign object detection apparatus has at least one pair of first and second members which are members configuring a space, in which bills to be processed are deposited, and disposed to face each other to push and sandwich the bills therebetween, the first member provided with antennas made of a copper foil and applied with a voltage from a voltage applying unit and the second member made of a conductive material and grounded to configure a virtual capacitor; a measuring unit which is disposed to measure a voltage generated according to electrostatic capacitance of the virtual capacitor; and a judging unit which judges the presence or not of a foreign object according to a difference between a prescribed reference signal and a changed output voltage from the measuring unit depending on a change in electrostatic capacitance of the virtual capacitor due to the foreign object included in the bills.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear actuator, including: a screw unit rotatably driven by a driving motor; a nut unit screwed to the screw unit; a slider attached to the nut unit, in which the slider and the nut unit move linearly by the rotation of the screw unit; a guide restricting both surfaces of the slider; a first antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider; a second antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider, and opposing the first antenna; and a third antenna attached to both side walls of the slider, being interposed between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein position of the slider is detected based on a change in capacitance due to displacement of the third antenna with respect to the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: A vehicle warning system has an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle, tactile information-generating elements for notifying a driver of the obstacle information based on information received from the obstacle sensor, and a controller for controlling the actuation of the tactile information-generating elements. The tactile information-generating elements are installed in the cushion of a driver seat, with a fore-and-aft and/or left-right arrangement. The controller controls the tactile information-generating elements based on the information from the obstacle sensor as well as information from one or more of a steering wheel-sensor, a blinker sensor, a brake sensor, and a vehicle speedometer.

Abstract: A foreign object detection apparatus has at least one pair of first and second members which are members configuring a space, in which bills to be processed are deposited, and disposed to face each other to push and sandwich the bills therebetween, the first member provided with antennas made of a copper foil and applied with a voltage from a voltage applying unit and the second member made of a conductive material and grounded to configure a virtual capacitor; a measuring unit which is disposed to measure a voltage generated according to electrostatic capacitance of the virtual capacitor; and a judging unit which judges the presence or not of a foreign object according to a difference between a prescribed reference signal and a changed output voltage from the measuring unit depending on a change in electrostatic capacitance of the virtual capacitor due to the foreign object included in the bills.

Abstract: An operating device capable of assuring safety when operating on-vehicle equipment of an automobile is implemented. The operating device includes force sensors buried in a grasping part of a steering wheel in a vehicle, a detector for detecting force acted on the grasping part on the basis of an output signal of each of the force sensors, and a controller for outputting an operating signal to a piece of the on-vehicle equipment mounted on the vehicle on the basis of a detected signal supplied from the detector. As a result, it is possible to operate force sensors and operate the on-vehicle equipment by adjusting force used to grip the steering wheel or pressing the steering wheel without letting go the driver's hold of the steering wheel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear actuator, including: a screw unit rotatably driven by a driving motor; a nut unit screwed to the screw unit; a slider attached to the nut unit, in which the slider and the nut unit move linearly by the rotation of the screw unit; a guide restricting both surfaces of the slider; a first antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider; a second antenna attached to a side wall of the guide opposite to the slider, and opposing the first antenna; and a third antenna attached to both side walls of the slider, being interposed between the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein position of the slider is detected based on a change in capacitance due to displacement of the third antenna with respect to the first antenna and the second antenna.

Abstract: The present invention ensures easy identification of an approaching object by the driver, and guides the driver to a destination by a car navigation system by allowing the driver to keep watching ahead. Wherein a warning is not issued if the driver has been aware of an approaching obstacle and that his vehicle is being guided to the destination. (Means of Solving the Problems) A vehicle warning system comprises: an obstacle sensor for detecting approach of an obstacle to a vehicle; tactile information-generating elements for notifying a driver of the obstacle information based on the information of the obstacle sensor; and a controller for controlling the actuation of the tactile information-generating elements. The tactile information-generating elements are installed in a cushion of a driver seat with a fore-and-aft arrangement and/or a left-right arrangement.

Abstract: An approach position input device includes a plurality of antennas arranged in the form of a lattice. An oscillator applies a high-frequency ac voltage to the antennas. A signal processing circuit processes signals from the antennas. A change-over switch including switching elements sequentially changes over a connection between the antennas and the signal processing circuit. CPU sends a selection signal to the change-over switch for antenna selection. CPU calculates an approach position of a human body according to signals from the signal processing circuit. CPU instructs the change-over switch to apply the ac voltage from the oscillator only to the antenna selected according to the selection signal.

Abstract: An approach position input device includes a plurality of antennas arranged in the form of a lattice. An oscillator applies a high-frequency ac voltage to the antennas. A signal processing circuit processes signals from the antennas. A change-over switch including switching elements sequentially changes over a connection between the antennas and the signal processing circuit. CPU sends a selection signal to the change-over switch for antenna selection. CPU calculates an approach position of a human body according to signals from the signal processing circuit. CPU instructs the change-over switch to apply the ac voltage from the oscillator only to the antenna selected according to the selection signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items to a stacker which is positioned above the feeder and on which the sheet-like items are stacked in an upright position. Both the feeder and the stacker have a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the stacker is normally positioned at a first distance above the bottom surface of the feeder. A bottom surface opening mechanism is able to open the bottom surface of the stacker to permit sheet-like items stacked in the stacker to be transferred to the feeder. A bottom surface moving mechanism is able to move the bottom surface of the feeder unit and the bottom surface of the stacker unit toward each other so as to position the stacker bottom surface at a second distance above the feeder bottom surface, with the second distance being less than the first distance, and is able to return the bottom surfaces to a position in which they are spaced by the first distance.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items to a stacker which is positioned above the feeder and on which the sheet-like items are stacked in an upright position. Both the feeder and the stacker have a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the stacker is normally positioned at a first distance above the bottom surface of the feeder. A bottom surface opening mechanism is able to open the bottom surface of the stacker to permit sheet-like items stacked in the stacker to be transferred to the feeder. A bottom surface moving mechanism is able to move the bottom surface of the feeder unit and the bottom surface of the stacker unit toward each other so as to position the stacker bottom surface at a second distance above the feeder bottom surface, with the second distance being less than the first distance, and is able to return the bottom surfaces to a position in which they are spaced by the first distance.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting and distributing sheet-like items, such as postal matter. A feeder successively feeds the sheet-like items with the front surfaces of all the items facing in the same direction. A stacker is positioned above the feeder for stacking the sheet-like items in an upright position. As the sheet-like items are conveyed from the feeder to the stacker, a selector activates either a first reader or a second reader to read address codes applied to the front surfaces or the back surfaces of the sheet-like items. The selector selects the one of the first reader and the second reader to be activated based on which of the front surfaces and the back surfaces of the sheet like items have address codes thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sorter system wherein sorters that can perform sorting operations such as destination and delivery sorting operations and sequencing operations such as a carrier route sequencing operation for sheets with sorting information attached thereto as required can be configured. Transfer devices are coupled to sorting information readers means for reading sorting information from sheets transferred by transfer devices. A plurality of sorters for loading the sheets therein according to the sorting information read by the sorting information readers are coupled to the transfer devices in such a way that any number of sorters can be added or removed from said sorters as required. This invention can provide a sorter system capable of expanding sorting and sequencing functions, and also reduce costs and a required installation space.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting sheets or the like, in which mail distributed to a number of collection sections can be easily recycled to a feeder for sorting the mail in accordance with the delivery order. Stackers, in which mail is sorted in accordance with address codes, are provided on an upper portion of the feeder. By pulling out a bottom plate of the stackers, the mail in the stackers falls down into the feeder. The mail distributed once can be recycled to the feeder in a short period of time, thereby reducing the time for carrier route sequencing of the mail. The mail is conveyed in a path extending both above and below the feeder and the stackers, thereby reducing the area required for the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting sheet-like items, in which the items, which are to be sorted to plural collecting sections, can be easily recycled to a feeder for sorting the items in multiple sorts in accordance with a desired sorting order or sequence. A stacker is provided on an upper portion of feeder. By pulling out a bottom plate of the stacker, the once sorted items in the stacker are caused to fall down into the feeder. The items can thus be rapidly recycled to the feeder for another sort, thereby reducing the time required for complete sorting or sequencing of the mail.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing an end of a flat electrical cable for connection to electrical contacts of a connector is disclosed. The apparatus includes a clamp (10) having a movable section (12) for clamping the cable, a positioning device (100) for positioning the clamp section (12) in response to a sensing member (102), conductor aligning comb members (250) and a cutting and bending device (270) for cutting and bending the conductors (1) of the cable.

Abstract: Wire processing apparatus comprises first and second wire treatment stations. Wires are fed through the second station and their free ends are terminated to an electrical connector at the first station. Wire lengthening rollers are then operated to advance the wires by different lengths, so that they form loops between the wire treatment stations. During such advance of the wires, wire tensioning rollers are operated to keep the wires in tension between the tensioning rollers and the wire lengthening rollers and to pay out the wires into the loops. The wire lengthening, and the wire tensioning, rollers are then stopped and the wires are simultaneously severed at the second wire treatment station and the severed ends of the leads so formed are terminated to a second electrical connector at the second wire treatment station, after which, the terminated leads are ejected from the apparatus.