Abstract: An object of this invention is to suppress the amount of etchant used. A liquid etchant is stored in an etchant vessel, and vaporized by a vaporization unit. A fragile layer such as a porous layer is selectively etched with the vaporized etchant.

Abstract: Even when the substrate size increases, the substrate is processed (etched) uniformly. An ultrasonic oscillator (103) is arranged under an etching container (101). A substrate (120) is horizontally arranged in the etching container (101). Accordingly, the substrate (120) is arranged while making a surface face the ultrasonic oscillator (103). The substrate (120) is etched while being rotated by a rotating mechanism (130).

Abstract: Openings are formed at the bottom of an anodizing container. A shower-type current path forming mechanism is arranged at the lower portion of the anodizing container. The mechanism has a pressure vessel. A shower head is arranged at the upper portion of the pressure vessel. A conductive solution in a shower form is injected or discharged from the shower head to form a liquid electrode under the lower surface of a substrate. Accordingly, a current flows between a cathode and an anode to anodize the substrate. The apparatus also has a mechanism which makes a chemical solution overflow from a chemical solution container to form a flow of the chemical solution near the lower surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A navigator receives, through communication with a server, only such map information or locality information as is considered to be necessary, and stores it by overriding with it already used map information and locality information. Thus, the navigator, despite having a small storage capacity, is free from interruption of display. Receiving minimum needed information helps save the communication charge.

Abstract: By causing a rubber product to be immersed into or coated with a treating liquid prepared by adding hydrogen peroxide and other additives such as surfactant, alcohol, thickening agent, other surface tension depressant into an aqueous acetic acid or formic acid solution, it becomes possible to efficiently epoxidize the surface layer of the rubber product to thereby provide the rubber product surface with non-adhesive property, sliding property and other barriering properties, without causing toxic gases and contamination due to powder dust during the manufacturing process and without deteriorating properties inherent in the rubber product such as elasticity, elongation and tensile strength.

Abstract: A folding electronic apparatus according to the present invention has a foldable structure by comprising a first frame 3 functioning as a lid and pivoting on a hinge 9 of its main body 2. A first frame 3A comprising a 14-inch flat display panel 5A is longitudinally longer than a first frame 3B comprising a 13-inch flat display panel 5B. A second frame 4A corresponds to the size of the first frame 3A, and a second frame 4B corresponds to the size of the first frame 3B. The second frame 4A may be mounted on the main body 2 when a notebook personal computer 10A using the first frame 3A is fabricated, while the second frame 4B may be mounted on the main body 2 when a notebook personal computer 10B using the first frame 3B is fabricated. Almost complete overlapping between the first frame 3 and the main body (the main body with the second frame) 2 in a case where the first frame 3 is folded can be realized without changing the size of the main body 2.

Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device includes an armature, a pair of electromagnets disposed in an opposed relation to each other on opposite sides of the armature so as to be able to apply an electromagnetic attracting force to the armature, and a pair of return springs for biasing the armature toward the electromagnets, respectively. In the electromagnetic driving device, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with operational conditions. Thus, it is possible to insure the attracting and maintaining of the armature to and on the electromagnets irrespective of changes in operational conditions. In addition, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with the distance between the armature and the electromagnets. Thus, it is possible to avoid a wasteful consumption of electric power in the electromagnets to enable a reliable attracting and maintaining of the armature.

Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device includes an armature, a pair of electromagnets disposed in an opposed relation to each other on opposite sides of the armature so as to be able to apply an electromagnetic attracting force to the armature, and a pair of return springs for biasing the armature toward the electromagnets, respectively. In the electromagnetic driving device, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with operational conditions. Thus, it is possible to insure the attracting and maintaining of the armature to and on the electromagnets irrespective of changes in operational conditions. In addition, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with the distance between the armature and the electromagnets. Thus, it is possible to avoid a wasteful consumption of electric power in the electromagnets to enable a reliable attracting and maintaining of the armature.

Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device includes an armature, a pair of electromagnets disposed in an opposed relation to each other on opposite sides of the armature so as to be able to apply an electromagnetic attracting force to the armature, and a pair of return springs for biasing the armature toward the electromagnets, respectively. In the electromagnetic driving device, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with operational conditions. Thus, it is possible to insure the attracting and maintaining of the armature to and on the electromagnets irrespective of changes in operational conditions. In addition, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with the distance between the armature and the electromagnets. Thus, it is possible to avoid a wasteful consumption of electric power in the electromagnets to enable a reliable attracting and maintaining of the armature.

Abstract: A control system for an electromagnetic valve having a valve element, a pair of solenoids opposed to each other and disposed to drive the valve element in respective directions opposite to each other and between a first extreme position and a second extreme position, and a spring interposed between the solenoids, for biasing the valve element toward a neutral position intermediate between the first and second extreme positions. The solenoids are controlled such that when the valve element is to start moving from one of the first and second extreme positions toward the other extreme position, energization of a corresponding one of the solenoids is terminated, and energization of the other solenoid is started when a predetermined delay time period elapses from the termination of the corresponding one solenoid.

Abstract: In a valve operating system designed to open and close intake valves of an internal combustion engine by an electromagnetic force, a first electromagnetic driving device for electromagnetically driving a first intake valve capable of opening and closing a first intake valve bore and a second electromagnetic driving device for electromagnetically driving a second intake valve capable of opening and closing a second intake valve bore are controlled by a control device in a manner so that when the engine is in a predetermined operational state, the first intake valve is opened and closed in a condition in which the second intake valve has been closed and stopped. Thus, it is possible to produce a swirl equivalent to that produced by changing of the lift amount, to provide a reduction in consumed electric power and to achieve a reliable engine operation, e.g., starting.

Abstract: An electromagnetic driving device includes an armature, a pair of electromagnets disposed in an opposed relation to each other on opposite sides of the armature so as to be able to apply an electromagnetic attracting force to the armature, and a pair of return springs for biasing the armature toward the electromagnets, respectively. In the electromagnetic driving device, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with operational conditions. Thus, it is possible to insure the attracting and maintaining of the armature to and on the electromagnets irrespective of changes in operational conditions. In addition, the energizing quantity for the electromagnets is varied in accordance with the distance between the armature and the electromagnets. Thus, it is possible to avoid a wasteful consumption of electric power in the electromagnets to enable a reliable attracting and maintaining of the armature.

Abstract: An SOHC-type valve operating system in an internal combustion engine having a single cam shaft commonly provided for a pair of intake valves and a pair of exhaust valves. A plurality of intake valve driving members are rockably disposed between the cam shaft and the pair of intake valves and have an operative-connection switchover mechanism for switching over the connection and disconnection of the intake valve driving members. A pair of exhaust valve driving members are rockably disposed between the cam shaft and the pair of exhaust valves and independently operate each of the exhaust valves. The operative-connection switchover mechanism includes a switchover pin movable between a position for operatively connecting adjacent intake valve driving members and a position for releasing such connection, which pin is slidably mounted in a cylindrical sleeve secured to the intake valve driving members for guiding the movement of the switchover pin.

Abstract: A valve operating device for an internal combustion engine having a drive rocker arm operatively associated with an intake or exhaust valve and a free rocker arm releasable from the intake or exhaust valve. The drive rocker arm and the free rocker arm are disposed adjacent to each other and operable selectively in mutually different modes according to the rotation of the camshaft. In one embodiment either the drive or free rocker arm has two arms connected together with one arm on each side of the other rocker arm for balanced loading. A selective coupling mechanism is disposed between the drive rocker arm and the free rocker arm for selectively connecting and disconnecting them with a coupling pin movable in a direction substantially normal to the axis of the rocker shaft.