Abstract: An input device, which is small-sized and inexpensive in spite of being simple in construction and thin, comprises at least one primary electrode and a plurality of secondary electrodes, both electrodes being formed in the same plane. A position of a dielectric is identified on the basis of differences in electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the secondary electrodes, which electrostatic capacity is changed by the dielectric positioned on a surface side of the both electrodes.

Abstract: Whether a human body is touching or not is detected highly accurately at high speed. Switch SW1 is turned on to charge condenser Ca by power supply Vcc. The switch SW1 is turned off to transfer the electric charge charged in the condenser Ca to condensers Cs and Cx. The switches SW2 and SW3 are repeatedly turned on and off for a predetermined short time, and thus the electric charge charged in the condenser Ca is slowly discharged through resistor R. The unknown charging voltage Vx of the condenser Cx is compared with the reference voltage Vref by comparator Comp, and the unknown capacitance of the condenser Cx is computed based on the number of times to count turning on and off until it is smaller than the reference voltage Vref. When the computed unknown capacitance of the condenser Cx is the value near the capacitance of a human body, it is determined that a human body is touching. The invention can be applied to a touch sensor.

Abstract: A mark is displayed to a manually scrapped component capable of being disassembled manually without disassembling or crushing by machine at the time of discard or recovery of an electric appliance after use, and the manually scrapped component is manually scrapped from a product, and in the case of crushing by machine thereafter, the mark display is a mark capable of separation into plural kinds of substance on which a cost burden is imposed and valuable substance after recovery, and scrapping can be performed easily at low cost.

Abstract: An input circuit has a first current-limiting resistor, a second current-limiting resistor, and an AC-input photocoupler. The photocoupler has an input terminal connected to a first external terminal and another input terminal connected to a positive electrode through the first current-limiting resistor and also to a ground electrode through the second current-limiting resistor. The first external terminal is connected to a PNP transistor and NPN transistors.

Abstract: In a refrigerating cycle incorporating a second flow controller having a throttle section, which is composed of an inlet noise eliminating space 19, an inlet side porous permeable member 20 communicating in a refrigerant flow direction, an orifice 23, an outlet side foamed metal 25, and an outlet noise eliminating space 27, and a multi-directional valve, a gas/liquid two-phase refrigerant is caused to pass through the throttle section.

Abstract: A system for disposing of wastes, in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of terminal devices located at sites in which steps in a waste-recycling process are carried out, a network, and a host server making communication with the terminal devices through the network. Each of the terminal devices transmits data indicative of a condition of waste in each of the steps, to the host server, and the host server compares the data in each of the steps to one another to judge whether the condition of waste changes in each of the steps.

Abstract: An information input device is provided which is to make input of information by operating a disk-shaped rotating member. The device includes the rotating member (36) which is rotatable with one main side thereof being operated, rotation detecting means (23, 32) for detecting a rotation of the rotating member (36), a central switch activator (26) provided at the center of rotation of the rotating member (36), a central switch (270) which is activated by operating the central switch activator (26), and a plurality of peripheral switches (27) which are turned on when a portion, apart from the center of rotation, of the rotating member (36) is pressed. Rotating the rotating member and pressing the apart portion makes input of information, and operating the central switch activator sets the information thus entered.

Abstract: To obtain an air conditioning apparatus which provides a favorable atmosphere to the ear and saves energy even if the suction resistance of the impeller becomes high due to such as dust in the air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioning apparatus is provided with an impeller which is formed by a plurality of vanes and a ring for supporting the plurality of vanes, and includes a nozzle portion formed by a stabilizer and an air outlet, a cross flow fan formed by a guide wall, and a heat exchanger. The ratio H/&phgr;D2 of the outside diameter &phgr; D2 of the impeller to the height H of the air conditioning apparatus is 2.2 or above and 3.0 or below.

Abstract: An input device, which is small-sized and inexpensive in spite of being simple in construction and thin, comprises at least one primary electrode and a plurality of secondary electrodes, both electrodes being formed in the same plane. A position of a dielectric is identified on the basis of differences in electrostatic capacity between the primary electrode and the secondary electrodes, which electrostatic capacity is changed by the dielectric positioned on a surface side of the both electrodes.

Abstract: In a refrigerating cycle incorporating a second flow controller having a throttle section, which is composed of an inlet noise eliminating space 19, an inlet side porous permeable member 20 communicating in a refrigerant flow direction, an orifice 23, an outlet side foamed metal 25, and an outlet noise eliminating space 27, and a multi-directional valve, a gas/liquid two-phase refrigerant is caused to pass through the throttle section.

Abstract: To obtain an air conditioning apparatus which provides a favorable atmosphere to the ear and saves energy even if the suction resistance of the impeller becomes high due to such as dust in the air conditioning apparatus. The air conditioning apparatus is provided with an impeller which is formed by a plurality of vanes and a ring for supporting the plurality of vanes, and includes a nozzle portion formed by a stabilizer and an air outlet, a cross flow fan formed by a guide wall, and a heat exchanger. The ratio H/&phgr;D2 of the outside diameter &phgr;D2 of the impeller to the height H of the air conditioning apparatus is 2.2 or above and 3.0 or below.

Abstract: A refrigerating cycle apparatus including an inverter driven compressor with controllable speed of rotation, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, outdoor heat exchanger, a defrosting condition detector for detecting a frosting state of the outdoor heat exchanger in a heating operation, a defrosting operation controller for carrying out a defrosting operation based on a detection signal from the defrosting condition detector and having a minimum operable frequency controller for controlling a minimum operable frequency for the compressor on restarting after completion of the defrosting operation and/or a starting speed controller for controlling a starting speed for the compressor based on a detection signal from the defrosting condition detector on restarting after completion of the defrosting operation in order to provide proper lubrication after a defrost operation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a reversible rotary compressor which can compress refrigerant in either of the forward and reverse directions, without providing a valve mechanism in a closed container. In a reversible rotary compressor including a cylinder, a rolling piston, and a slide vane, two inlet/outlet ports are formed in a space between the outer surface of the rolling piston and the inner surface of the cylinder in a state that the two inlet/outlet ports are disposed on both sides of the slide vane. The two inlet/outlet ports are closed by the rolling piston when the rolling piston is positioned at the top dead center and fully opened when the rolling piston is positioned at the bottom dead center. Two refrigerant pipes, coupled with the inlet/outlet ports, are provided in the side wall of the cylinder.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing the deterioration of a zinc oxide type lighting arrester having one or more series-connected non-linear resistance elements including steps of elimination of the effects of capacitive currents from phase currents; obtaining a synthesized waveform using a window type transformer based on the resistance elements alone; and diagnosing the presence of a deteriorated non-linear resistance element by generating a first pulse voltage when the maximum crest value of the synthesized waveforms exceeds a predetermined value, generating a second pulse voltage representative of terminal voltage of the resistance element, and calculating the difference between the first and second pulse voltages.