Abstract: An electronic message forwarding system selectively forwards information to a plurality of different receiving device types. One or more user defined filters filter incoming messages, route the messages, and send the routed message to appropriate form converters to convert the message into a form appropriate to the receiving device type, such as e-mail, pager, facsimile, or telephone forwarding. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of filters, router, and form converters may be used to perform a message classification, channel selection, and channel output control function.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope, a flexible scope has an image sensor provided at a distal end thereof, and an optical light guide extending therethrough. The scope is detachably connectable, at a proximal end thereof, to a processing unit, which processes image-pixel signals successively read from the image sensor. A light source is provided in the processing unit such that light, emitted from the light source, is guided through the guide and radiates from the distal end of the scope. An aperture-stop is associated with the source that regulates the radiation of light from the distal end of the scope. A histogram generator generates a luminance-signal-histogram based on the processed signals. An average luminance level-value is approximately calculated based on luminance signals exhibiting thinned luminance levels extracted from the histogram.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a semiconductor switching device for outputting power and a control circuit for controlling the on/off operation of the semiconductor switching device. The control circuit includes a circuit for applying, when turning on the semiconductor switching device, a first control signal corresponding to the difference between the output voltage of the power supply apparatus and a first reference value to the semiconductor switching device in accordance with the increase in the output voltage from the power supply apparatus thereby to operate the semiconductor switching device in a non-saturated area, so that the semiconductor switching device is turned on gradually.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic fiber in which from a convergent extended wire, which is formed by a metallic fiber and a matrix member which is formed of a metallic material and whose dissolvability is higher than the dissolvability of the metallic fiber, the matrix member is continuously dissolved and removed by an electrolytic processing in a plurality of electrolytic tanks which are arranged in the conveying direction of the convergent extended wire, wherein: the convergent extended wire is passed through electrolytes in the plurality of electrolytic tanks, which are arranged in the shape of a gentle convex arch at the vertical direction upper side which includes the conveying passage of the convergent extended wire, the convergent extended wire is passed above a plurality of feeding devices which are provided at the outer sides of the electrolytes and which are disposed in the same arch-shape so as to correspond to the electrolytic tanks, in each of the plurality of electrolytic tanks, the metallic

Abstract: A thermal spray material includes a mixture of 5-30 weight % of an AlSi alloy powder with 95-70 weight percent of a cast iron powder to provide abrasion resistance for aluminum alloy parts. The AlSi alloy powder contains 12-30 weight % Si, at least one element selected from a group consisting of 0.5-5.0 weight % Cu and 0.2-3.0 weight % Mg, 1-15% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, and Ni, and a mass balance of Al. The cast iron powder contains 2-4 weight % C, no more than 0.3 weight % Si, and 0.5-3.0 weight % P. A sliding surface of a sliding member is thermal sprayed with a coating of this thermal spray material to provide a sliding member having excellent abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A mixed powder thermal spraying method in which:

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic fiber in which from a convergent extended wire, which is formed by a metallic fiber and a matrix member which is formed of a metallic material and whose dissolvability is higher than the dissolvability of the metallic fiber, the matrix member is continuously dissolved and removed by an electrolytic processing in a plurality of electrolytic tanks which are arranged in the conveying direction of the convergent extended wire, wherein: the convergent extended wire is passed through electrolytes in the plurality of electrolytic tanks, which are arranged in the shape of a gentle convex arch at the vertical direction upper side which includes the conveying passage of the convergent extended wire, the convergent extended wire is passed above a plurality of feeding devices which are provided at the outer sides of the electrolytes and which are disposed in the same arch-shape so as to correspond to the electrolytic tanks, in each of the plurality of electrolytic tanks, the metallic

Abstract: An olefin polymerization catalyst comprising the following components (A) and (B):

Abstract: A thermal spraying system for a cylinder, in which a cylinder is held on a turntable; a bore inside surface of said cylinder is subjected to thermal spraying by moving a thermal spraying gun in the axial direction in the bore of said cylinder while said cylinder is rotated; a suction port of a dust discharge pipe for sucking dust in the bore of said cylinder is disposed under said cylinder to suck and discharge dust in the bore of said cylinder; and the diameter of the suction port of said dust discharge pipe is larger than the inside diameter of the bore of said cylinder.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. A desired brightness of the image is input. The number of pulses generated is determined in accordance with the input desired brightness of the image. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope of the present invention includes a video-scope having an image sensor, a video-processor, to which a proximal end of the video-scope and a monitor are respectively connected, a character and mark generation controller, and an area-image changer. The character and mark generation controller generates character signals and indicator-mark signals, and then feeds the character signals and the indicator-mark signals to the monitor. The image-area changer changes a size of an image-area of the object image displayed on the screen of the monitor to another size, thus the object image is selectively displayed within one of plural image-areas on the screen in accordance with a size change of the image-area.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope, a video-scope has an image sensor for photographing an object image and a light guide for guiding light toward an object. A video-processor has a light source, a stop, a signal conversion circuit, a histogram processing circuit, and a CPU. When the video-scope is connected to the video-processor, light emitted from the light source is guided by the light guide and radiates from a distal end of the light guide, so that an object image is formed on the image sensor. The object image is then converted into the image-pixel signals. Further, a representative value, which relates to a brightness of the object image, is calculated on the basis of the image-pixel signals through the signal conversion circuit, the histogram processing circuit, and the CPU. Then, a control of light radiating from the distal end of the light guide is performed at regular time-intervals. Namely, the stop is controlled such that the brightness of the object image is proper.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope that is used to view an image of an object. A light shielding system shields light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope and a stepping motor drives the light shielding system for a plurality of predetermined time intervals. A system detects a brightness of the image during each of the plurality of predetermined time intervals and an input system inputs one of a plurality of desired brightnesses of the image. A generating system generates a predetermined number of pulses during each of the plurality of predetermined time intervals, the predetermined number of pulses being transmitted to the stepping motor and a system determines an angular position of the light shielding system.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a plurality of light shields for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A plurality of stepping motors drive the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. The number of pulses generated is determined in accordance with a difference between the brightness of the image detected during each of the time intervals and a desired brightness of the image. The pulses generated are used to control the drive of the plurality of stepping motors in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: A direct-current power-supply apparatus provided by the present invention comprises a switching converter for converting an input direct-current power into another direct-current power, a control circuit and an isolation means. The switching converter has a main switch device for generating a pulse voltage from the direct-current input, a synchronous-rectification circuit on the output side of the switching converter and a reverse-current-blocking switch. On the other hand, the control circuit includes a PWM formation unit for driving the main switch device, a synchronous-rectification control unit for controlling an operation to drive the synchronous-rectification circuit and a driving control unit for controlling an operation to drive the reverse-current-blocking switch. The control circuit operates by using a common electric potential appearing on the output side of the switching converter as a reference electric potential. A driving signal is applied to the main switch device through the isolation means.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic fiber in which from a convergent extended wire, which is formed by a metallic fiber and a matrix member which is formed of a metallic material and whose dissolvability is higher than the dissolvability of the metallic fiber, the matrix member is continuously dissolved and removed by an electrolytic processing in a plurality of electrolytic tanks which are arranged in the conveying direction of the convergent extended wire, wherein: the convergent extended wire is passed through electrolytes in the plurality of electrolytic tanks, which are arranged in the shape of a gentle convex arch at the vertical direction upper side which includes the conveying passage of the convergent extended wire, the convergent extended wire is passed above a plurality of feeding devices which are provided at the outer sides of the electrolytes and which are disposed in the same arch-shape so as to correspond to the electrolytic tanks, in each of the plurality of electrolytic tanks, the metallic

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield system for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. One of a plurality of brightness ranges is set in accord with desired brightness of image. A determination is made as to whether the detected brightness is within one of the ranges. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: A battery system includes a battery assembly having a plurality of modules, which are controlled by a system control circuit, each module including a module control circuit and a module by-pass circuit which is controlled via the module control circuit so as to suppress the charging variation among the plurality of modules. Each control circuit and the system-controlling circuit are connected to each other via a bilateral transmission medium and each module by-pass circuit is controlled based on information bilaterally transmitted between each module control circuit and the system control circuit via the bilateral transmission medium.

Abstract: A switch operation processing apparatus for use with a manually operable switch and a controlled device, for controlling the controlled device depending on switch operation of the manually operable switch. The apparatus detects any occurrence of switch operation of the manually operable switch, determines when a predefined temporal pattern of switch operation of the manually operable switch occurs and controls the controlled device depending on the determination. The apparatus may reduce or eliminate any inconvenience which otherwise could be caused by an unintentional, inadvertent operation of the manually operable switch made by the operator, Also, the apparatus may achieve bidirectional adjustment of a controlled device through manual operation of a simple electric switch, such as a push button switch.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for blasting an inside surface of a cylinder, in which a steady rough surface is always obtained efficiently in the whole region of inside surface of cylinder for an internal combustion engine. For this purpose, a blast gun 1, which is provided so as to be moved vertically by a traverser 11 and capable of rotating around the axis thereof, has a blast nozzle 3 for blowing blast particles 2 in the vicinity of the lower end thereof. The blowing direction of the blast nozzle 3 is slant downward. A cylinder block 4 is placed upright so that the axis of each cylinder is vertical with a cylinder head mating surface 4e on the upper side, and is isolated from the surrounding space by a cabinet 12. The blast gun 1 blows the blast particles 2 while lowering in each cylinder of the cylinder block 4, by which the inside surface 5 of cylinder is blasted. A blast particle recovering reservoir 13 is provided under the apparatus to recover the blast particles 2.