Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one elastic member is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion of each link member is engaged. The elastic member exerts biasing force, relative to a displacement or shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from, e.g., substantially orthogonal to, the vertical shifting direction of the key top.

Abstract: A color copying machine has 4 color image forming units arranged at equal spaces along a first direction above a conveyor belt endlessly running in the first direction. Images formed by the image forming units are superimposed and a color images is formed on a paper that is conveyed by the conveyor belt. When correcting misregistration of colors, wedge shaped marks formed on the conveyor belt are detected by sensors and correction amounts based on the detection result are set up. Then, the correction control is executed based on the correction amounts. Further, a straight line mark extending in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction is formed and color misregistration caused by secular speed change of the conveyor belt by the effect of radiant heat is corrected. In this case, a correction amount is changed based on the straight mark detection result.

Abstract: A key switch comprising a base, a key top arranged above the base, a pair of link members interlocked to each other and operatively engaged with the base and the key top to support the key top above the base and direct the key top in a vertical direction, and a switching mechanism for selectively opening and closing an electric circuit in connection with a vertical movement of the key top. Each of the link members includes a sliding portion slidably and shiftably engaged with either one of the base and the key top. At least one plate spring is disposed between at least one of the link members and either one of the base and the key top with which the sliding portion is engaged, to exert a biasing force, relative to a shifting amount of the sliding portion, onto at least one of the link members in a direction different from the vertical direction.

Abstract: The emergency call such as Enhanced 911 call or the like is also originated through an exchange such as PBX (Private Branch Exchange). In this case, the identification information such as the extension number of the extension telephone terminal connected to the PBX should be transmitted to a network corresponding to the emergency call. For the extension telephone terminal, it is necessary to unhook or to capture an arbitrary line by the line key, before inputting the dial data “911”. Independent of the capture of arbitrary line, the PBX searches a vacant line connected to the network corresponding to the emergency call, captures the vacant line, transmits the identification information such as the extension number, and switches over and connects the extension telephone terminal from the line captured by the terminal to the vacant line.

Abstract: An NOx absorbent is arranged in an engine exhaust passage absorbs NOx when the air-fuel ratio of inflowing exhaust gas is lean and discharges absorbed NOx or SOx when the oxygen concentration of inflowing exhaust gas decreases. When the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx absorbent is rich, previously absorbed NOx or SOx is discharged from the NOx absorbent. When NOx or SOx is to be discharged from the NOx absorbent, oxygen is left in the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx absorbent and the oxygen concentration of this exhaust gas is maintained within a predetermined range.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an exhaust gas purification device, comprising a NOx absorbent arranged in an exhaust passage of an engine for absorbing NOx therein when an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas flowing into the NOx absorbent is lean, the NOx absorbent discharging NOx absorbed therein when a concentration of the oxygen in the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx absorbent decreases, a trapping element arranged in the exhaust passage upstream of the NOx absorbent for trapping particulates, a processing element for processing the particulates trapped in the trapping element to regenerate the trapping element, and a preventing element for preventing the exhaust gas from flowing into the NOx absorbent from the trapping element when the trapping element is regenerated.

Abstract: To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device structure that enables cost reduction in the production of packages, inclusive of the cost for chips, and may cause less changes in connection resistance even under conditions of a long-term environmental resistance test. In a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor chip face-down bonded to a wiring board, it has a structure wherein projecting metal portions are provided at the opposing wiring board terminals without forming bumps on bonding pads of the chip, the whole chip surface is bonded with an organic, anisotropic conductive adhesive material, and the whole or at least an edge of the back of the chip is covered with a sealing material.

Abstract: An exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine desorbs SOx by reversing a flow of an exhaust gas through an NOx storage-reduction catalyst, of which a structure is simplified as follows. A first exhaust pipe connected to an engine is connected to a first port of an emission switching valve having four ports. A second exhaust pipe 10, through which the exhaust gas is discharged into the atmospheric air, is connected to a second port, a third exhaust pipe connected to an inlet of a catalytic converter is connected to a third port. A fourth exhaust pipe connected to an outlet of the catalytic converter 30 is connected to a fourth port. When the emission switching valve is set in a forward flow position, the first exhaust pipe is connected to the third exhaust pipe, and the second exhaust pipe is connected to the fourth exhaust pipe, whereby the exhaust gas flows toward the outlet from the inlet within the catalytic converter.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying device for an engine comprises a catalyst arranged in the exhaust passage for purifying the exhaust gas, the catalyst having an oxidizing ability. An amount of sulfate adsorbed in the catalyst is obtained. When the adsorbed sulfate amount becomes larger than a predetermined amount, a reducing agent is fed to the catalyst temporarily to desorb the adsorbed sulfate from the catalyst and reduce the sulfate. At this time, the amount of the reducing agent is set to make the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the catalyst rich.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas purification device, a catalytic converter containing selective reduction catalysts is disposed in an exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine capable of being operated at a lean air-fuel ratio. The catalytic converter includes a plurality of the selective reduction catalysts disposed in series in the casing of the catalytic converter. Bypass passages which supply the exhaust gas to downstream selective reduction catalysts in the casing by bypassing the upstream catalysts are provided. When a reducing agent is supplied to the exhaust gas upstream of the converter, a part of the supplied reducing agent directly reaches the downstream selective reduction catalyst through the bypass passages without being oxidized by the upstream selective reduction catalysts. Therefore, the NOx purifying abilities of the downstream catalysts are improved and the formation of sulfates on the downstream catalysts is suppressed.

Abstract: A photosensor signal processing apparatus is used in combination with an image sensor comprised of a matrix of pixels or photosensors capable of producing an output as a linear function and a logarithmic function of incident illumination. The apparatus includes a correction data storage device which stores therein a set of data about the respective photosensors for the correction of individual outputs of the photosensors, and a correcting device for correcting the respective output values of the photosensors on the basis of the correction data. Thus, even when the individual outputs of the photosensors generate have different characteristics, the output characteristic variation between the photosensors are corrected such that the output characteristics of all the photosensors agree with a reference output characteristic. A fixed pattern noise resulting from the pixel-to-pixel output characteristic variation can be suppressed.

Abstract: A catalyst is housed in a casing arranged in the exhaust passage of the engine. A pressure reducing valve, which is usually closed, is arranged in a bypass passage branching off from the exhaust passage upstream of the casing. The fuel injector usually injects fuel at the combustion stroke or the exhaust stroke to feed hydrocarbon, and NOX is reduced in the catalyst by the hydrocarbon. When the catalyst is judged to be poisoned, the timing of the secondary fuel injection is advanced with respect to the timing of the usual secondary fuel injection, and the pressure reducing valve is opened to reduce the pressure in the casing. In this way, the catalyst is reactivated.

Abstract: This invention provides an antipruritic comprising an opiate &kgr; receptor agonist as an effective component, a new morphinan quaternary ammonium salt derivative and a new morphinan-N-oxide derivative which are useful in treating pruritus complicated with some diseases.

Abstract: A three-way catalyst (8a) is connected to a first cylinder group 1a. The exhaust gas of the first cylinder group (1a), which has passed through the three-way catalyst (8a), and the exhaust gas of a second cylinder group (1b) are introduced to an exhaust gas purifying catalyst (14). The second cylinder group (1b) performs the lean operation. The first cylinder group (1a) performs the rich operation to synthesize NH.sub.3 from NO.sub.X in the exhaust gas of the first cylinder group (1a) in the three-way catalyst (8a). In the exhaust gas purifying catalyst (14), NO.sub.X in the exhaust gas of the second cylinder group 1b is purified by NH.sub.3 from the three-way catalyst (8a). The amount of HC flowing to the three-way catalyst (8a) is obtained. When the HC amount exceeds a predetermined amount, the first cylinder group 1a must perform the lean operation temporarily, to thereby maintain the excellent catalytic activity of the three-way catalyst (8a).

Abstract: A compression ignition type engine, wherein a first combustion where the amount of the recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is larger than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks and almost no soot is produced and a second combustion where the amount of recirculated exhaust gas supplied to the combustion chamber is smaller than the amount of recirculated exhaust gas where the amount of production of soot peaks are selectively switched between and wherein the air-fuel ratio is temporarily made rich immediately before switching from the first combustion to the second combustion or immediately after switching from the second combustion to the first combustion.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst in which catalytic activation particles 3 composed of a catalytic element or its compound are carried on a carrier 1. The catalytic activation particles 3, as carried on the carrier 1 and exposed to the outside of the carrier 1, are coated with the carrier 1 by 20 to 90% of their whole surface area. Also disclosed is a process for producing the exhaust gas purifying catalyst.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating between a user or client and a network access entity such as a server or another client using an IC card. The method includes a step of executing an initial authentication using the IC card when the user first communicates with the network access entity, a step of commonly holding authentication information in both the user and the network access entity if the initial authentication achieves success, and a step of executing a re-authentication using the commonly held authentication information without using the IC card when the user communicates again with the same network access entity within a predetermined period of time after the last authentication.

Abstract: A device for purifying the exhaust gas of an engine comprises a NO.sub.X absorbent arranged in the exhaust passage. The NO.sub.X absorbent absorbs NO.sub.X therein when the air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas is lean, and releases the absorbed NO.sub.X therefrom when the oxygen concentration in the inflowing exhaust gas becomes lower. The NO.sub.X absorbent also absorbs SO.sub.X therein when the air-fuel ratio of the inflowing exhaust gas is lean, and releases the absorbed SO.sub.X therefrom when the oxygen concentration in the inflowing exhaust gas becomes lower, with the temperature of the NO.sub.X absorbent being higher than a SO.sub.X releasing temperature. The air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing to the NO.sub.X absorbent is made rich temporarily when the temperature of the NO.sub.X absorbent is higher than SO.sub.X releasing temperature and when the flow rate of the exhaust gas flowing through the NO.sub.X absorbent is lower than a predetermined flow rate, to release the absorbed SO.sub.

Abstract: A circuit board connector for high density line connections for facilitating soldering of connector pins to electrodes on a circuit board. Provided is a connector wherein a first recessed portion and a second projecting portion of a first housing unit engage a first projecting portion and a second recessed portion of a second housing unit, so that the arms of connector pins that extend along the side walls of the recessed portions are electrically connected to the arms of connector pins extending along the corresponding projecting portions, and wherein a height H1 to the top surface of the first recessed portion is shorter than a height H2 to the top surface of the second projecting portion, and a height H3 to the top surface of the first projecting portion, engaging the first recessed portion, is greater than a height H4 to the top surface of the second recessed portion, engaging the second projecting portion.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an exhaust gas purification device for an engine having an exhaust passage, the device comprising a catalyst arranged in the exhaust passage and having an upstream end and a downstream end, a purification ratio of exhaust gas by the catalyst becoming more than a predetermined ratio when a temperature of the catalyst is within a predetermined temperature range, cooling means for cooling the upstream end of the catalyst, heating means for heating the downstream end of the catalyst, and control means for controlling the cooling means and the heating means to maintain the temperature of a portion of the catalyst, which portion is positioned between the upstream end and the downstream end, in the predetermined temperature range.