Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a surface profile of an object to be measured includes a measuring probe positioned to contact the surface of the object to be measured, guide mechanism for supporting and guiding the measuring probe in an axis direction of the measuring probe, tilt angle adjustment mechanism for tilting the guide mechanism at a predetermined tilt angle to a horizontal direction so that the measuring probe contact the surface of the object to be measured with a predetermined contact force, and drive mechanism for relatively driving at least one of the measuring probe and the object to scan the surface of the object to be measured with the measuring probe. The contact force is derived from a tilt direction component of the gravity of the measuring probe generated when the measuring probe is tilted.

Abstract: A composition comprising a non-fiber organic extract of psyllium which is anti-tumorigenic is described. The composition both restores gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and inhibits anchorage independent growth of mammalian cells which have been transformed with the ras oncogene. The composition is a useful chemotherapy and chemopreventative agent. The composition was identified using a novel method for determining the anti-tumorigenic potential of a compound or composition.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an obstacle to a power regulated window, which can detect existence of an obstacle by a method of differential current at low rotating speed of a motor M and reduce a force of biting an obstacle and prevent from detecting an obstacle unexpectedly at high rotating speed, includes current detecting means 1 for detecting a value of load current IL flowing through the motor M, reference-value generating means 4 for generating a reference value RF correspondingly to rotating speed N of the motor M for judging when the value of load current IL exceeds a predetermined value of over-load current, and comparing means 5 for judging whether or not the value of load current IL exceeds the reference value RF.

Abstract: A device for detecting failure of a field effect transistor (FET) includes a first FET1 connected in series with a motor M between a power source terminal and ground, a motor control unit 11 for on/off controlling a voltage to be applied to said motor to set normal/reverse operation and stopping of said motor, a gate control unit for on/off controlling a gate voltage to be applied to said FET to control driving of said motor, a voltage applying means VB, R1 for applying a positive voltage at a prescribed voltage level to the current input terminal of the FET; a voltage detecting unit CMP1 for detecting the voltage level of the positive voltage thus applied when said gate voltage is off; and a failure detecting unit 14 for detecting short-circuiting failure of the FET on the basis of a change in the voltage level detected by said voltage detecting unit when said gate voltage is off while said motor stops.

Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper housing, a pair of friction members, and a piston. The caliper housing includes a support portion and a cylinder portion coupled to the support portion. The cylinder portion has a piston chamber with a fluid inlet opening. The cylinder portion is an independent component from the support portion. Preferably, the caliper housing includes parts constructed of deformed sheet material such as press formed sheet metal. The parts are preferably fixedly coupled together by welding, brazing and bolts. The friction members are coupled to the caliper housing to form a rotor slot. The piston is mounted in the piston chamber to move one friction member between a release position and a braking position. In one embodiment, an integrated mounting member and a flanged cylinder is provided. In another embodiment, a pair of flanged cylinders with a pair of movable pistons is provided.

Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper housing, a pair of friction members, and a piston. The caliper housing includes a support portion and a cylinder portion coupled to the support portion. The cylinder portion has a piston chamber with a fluid inlet opening. The cylinder portion is an independent component from the support portion. Preferably, the caliper housing includes parts constructed of deformed sheet material such as press formed sheet metal. The parts are preferably fixedly coupled together by welding, brazing and bolts. The friction members are coupled to the caliper housing to form a rotor slot. The piston is mounted in the piston chamber to move one friction member between a release position and a braking position. In one embodiment, an integrated mounting member and a flanged cylinder is provided. In another embodiment, a pair of flanged cylinders with a pair of movable pistons is provided.

Abstract: A signal/vibration detecting technique employs a simple structure to identify a target optical fiber among many and carry out a bidirectional conversation through the target optical fiber.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a nickel hydroxide powder and a nickel oxyhydroxide powder is disclosed, wherein the positive electrode active material has (1) a mean particle circularity from 0.95 to 1, (2) a mean particle size from 5 to 20 &mgr;m on a volume basis, and (3) a specific surface area from 5 to 20 m2/g, and (4) at least the nickel hydroxide powder has an X-ray diffraction pattern where a full width at half maximum of a peak attributed to (101) face is from 0.7 to 1.2 deg/2&thgr; and a peak intensity ratio of a peak attributed to (001) face to a peak attributed to (101) face is not less than 1.1.

Abstract: The method for producing a positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery is disclosed. The method includes a first oxidation treatment of a raw material powder comprising a nickel hydroxide solid solution and cobalt hydroxide to oxidize the cobalt hydroxide to a cobalt oxyhydroxide; and a second oxidation treatment of the powder obtained in the first oxidation treatment to oxidize the nickel hydroxide solid solution to a nickel oxyhydroxide solid solution.

Abstract: A signal/vibration detecting technique employs a simple structure to identify a target optical fiber among many and carry out a bidirectional conversation through the target optical fiber. First ends of optical fibers (202A, 202B), one of which is a target optical fiber, are connected to an optical transceiver (201). Second ends of the optical fibers are connected to each other to form a loop. A local unit (203) is installed at the loop. The local unit vibrates the loop, and the optical transceiver emits lights so that the lights are oppositely propagated through the loop. The propagated lights are coupled together so that they interfere with each other. In the intensity of the interfering lights, a change corresponding to the vibration is detected to identify the target optical fiber. Once the target optical fiber is identified, it is used to carry out a conversation between the optical transceiver and the local unit.

Abstract: There is provided media converter having an integrated local information transmission function and a fault alarm signal communication system for transmitting local information using a frequency outside the communication frequency bands for data signals. In the subscriber's media converter, based on input local information, a control section sets a transmission frequency outside the communication frequency bands and outputs a signal instructing that a transmission be made. A media independent interface section receives this signal and transmits the signal in the instructed frequency. In the station media converter, a media independent interface section detects the frequency in which the local information is transmitted from the received signal. A control section then generates local information using the detected frequency and outputs it to an SNMP unit.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image, including a binder, a coloring agent and a charge controlling agent. When that portion of the toner which has a particle diameter of 5.04 &mgr;m or less accounts for 15-60% of the total number N of the toner, that portion of the toner which provides a number average particle diameter of 4.0 to 4.5 &mgr;m has such a content C1% by weight of the charge controlling agent that gives a ratio of C1/CT of 1.00 to 1.10, where CT is a total amount, in terms of % by weight, of the charge controlling agent in the toner. When that portion of the toner which has a particle diameter of 5.04 &mgr;m or less accounts for 15% or less of the total number N, that portion of the toner which provides a number average particle diameter of 4.2 to 4.8 &mgr;m has such a content C2% by weight of the charge controlling agent that gives a ratio of C2/CT of 1.02 to 1.15.

Abstract: The method for producing a positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery is disclosed. The method includes a first oxidation treatment of a raw material powder comprising a nickel hydroxide solid solution and cobalt hydroxide to oxidize the cobalt hydroxide to a cobalt oxyhydroxide; and a second oxidation treatment of the powder obtained in the first oxidation treatment to oxidize the nickel hydroxide solid solution to a nickel oxyhydroxide solid solution.

Abstract: A bicycle disc brake assembly is provided with a double disc brake rotor with a pair of floating discs and a bicycle disc brake caliper with four friction members. The center or intermediate friction members are floating friction pads. The bicycle disc brake caliper also has a caliper housing with a single piston unit. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a disc brake mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the disc brake of the bicycle wheel. The double disc brake rotor has a support member with first and second disc brake members movably coupled thereto. More specifically, the support member has an outer attachment portion and an inner attachment portion. The inner attachment portion is configured to be coupled to rotate with a hub about a center rotational axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-capacity sealed nickel-metal hydride storage battery superior in high-current discharge, without extending the injection time of an electrolyte. This battery includes an electrode group, a metal case for accommodating the electrode group, and a seal plate provided with a safety vent, for sealing an opening of the case, and the electrode group has a structure in which, round a non-sintered type cylindrical electrode of one polarity, a non-sintered type hollow cylindrical electrode of the other polarity and a non-sintered type hollow cylindrical electrode of the one polarity are layered alternately in the form of concentric circles with a separator between the electrodes.

Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided with a cooling system that transfers heat away from the actuating fluid. Basically, the bicycle disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston unit, with a coolant member of the cooling system attached to the housing. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a brake disc mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the brake disc of the bicycle wheel. The coolant member has a coolant area for receiving coolant to create a coolant heat sink that transfers heat from the housing. The housing has an actuating passage in fluid communication with the piston unit to move the piston unit via an actuating fluid. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a pump and a reservoir.

Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided with a detachable cooling system that transfers heat away from the actuating fluid. Basically, the bicycle disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston unit, with a coolant member of the cooling system attached to the housing. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a brake disc mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the brake disc of the bicycle wheel. The coolant member has a coolant area for receiving coolant to create a coolant heat sink that transfers heat from the housing. The housing has an actuating passage in fluid communication with the piston unit to move the piston unit via an actuating fluid. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a pump and a reservoir.

Abstract: A toner for developing an electrostatic image, including a binder, a coloring agent and a charge controlling agent. When that portion of the toner which has a particle diameter of 5.04 &mgr;m or less accounts for 15-60% of the total number N of the toner, that portion of the toner which provides a number average particle diameter of 4.0 to 4.5 &mgr;m has such a content C1% by weight of the charge controlling agent that gives a ratio of C1/CT of 1.00 to 1.10, where CT is a total amount, in terms of % by weight, of the charge controlling agent in the toner. When that portion of the toner which has a particle diameter of 5.04 &mgr;m or less accounts for 15% or less of the total number N, that portion of the toner which provides a number average particle diameter of 4.2 to 4.8 &mgr;m has such a content C2% by weight of the charge controlling agent that gives a ratio of C2/CT of 1.02 to 1.15.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode material for alkaline storage batteries which has high energy density and causes little capacity reduction even when a charge/discharge cycle is repeated at high temperatures. The positive electrode material for alkaline storage batteries of the present invention comprises nickel hydroxide particles and a layers of cobalt oxide coating the nickel hydroxide particles. A valence of cobalt of the cobalt oxide is larger than 3.0, and the cobalt oxide contains sodium ions or potassium ions inside the crystal and further fixes lithium hydroxide or lithium ions.

Abstract: A polypeptide composition obtained by independently hydrolyzing 7S component (&bgr;-conglycinin) and 11S component (glycinin) of soybean protein is shown. The polypeptide composition contains hydrolysates of both 7S and 11S components which has good emulsifying and whipping capabilities and is useful for the production of food products including ices, meringues, spread pastes, beverages, farinaceous products, etc.