Abstract: A clutch apparatus is equipped with two clutch structures having a clutch drum therein. A driven plate and a piston are provided in the clutch drum of each clutch structure, and a primary coned disc spring and a secondary coned disc spring, which are ring-shaped, are provided between the driven plate and the piston. A flat portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of a convex surface of the primary coned disc spring, and the flat portion can come into contact with a counter member first when a load is applied. A load in a flat condition due to elastic deformation is adjusted by the flat portion so as to be a desirable value. Blanks and of the primary coned disc spring and the secondary coned disc spring can be obtained from one sheet of material having the same thickness. In this case, the flat portion is formed by press forming on an inner peripheral portion of the blank in view of the shape thereof after bending forming is performed.

Abstract: In the case that a lift amount of a second valve body for controlling a small flow rate is equal to or less than a predetermined amount, a pilot passage is closed by a pilot valve body, and a first valve port is closed by a first valve body for controlling a large flow rate, thereby taking a small flow rate control state in which a flow rate is controlled in correspondence to the lift amount of the second valve body, and in the case that the lift amount of the second valve body goes beyond the predetermined amount, the pilot valve body is moved up in conjunction with an upward movement of a valve shaft so as to open the pilot passage, thereby taking a large flow rate control state in which the first valve body opens the first valve port on the basis of this.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an epilayer; pixel electrodes; a photoelectric converting film formed above the pixel electrodes and converting incident light into electric signals; a transparent electrode formed on the photoelectric converting film; charge accumulating regions of an n-type each (i) formed in the epilayer to correspond to one of the pixel electrodes, (ii) electrically connected to the one corresponding pixel electrode, and (iii) accumulating signal charges generated by the photoelectric converting film through the photo-electrically conversion; charge barrier regions of a p-type each formed in the epilayer to contact a bottom of a corresponding one of the charge accumulating regions; and charge draining regions of an n-type each formed in the epilayer to contact a bottom of a corresponding one of the charge barrier regions.

Abstract: To provide a dialysate extraction apparatus which can automate disinfecting work for a collection port or a sealing device of an opening/closing device and can reliably and easily clean the collection port or the sealing device of the opening/closing device. A dialysate extraction apparatus includes a dialysate extraction device that has an introduction port and a discharge port which are connected to a flow route of a liquid and can circulate the liquid and that has a collection port which can collect the circulated liquid; a cap that is attachable to and detachable from the collection port of the dialysate extraction device and can open and close the collection port; a sealing device that is attached to the cap and seals the collection port in a state where the cap is attached to the collection port of the dialysate extraction device; and a heating device that can heat the sealing device of the cap.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a toner-image forming unit, a transfer unit, a cleaner, a plurality of cylindrical transport path forming members, a falling transport path forming member, and a discharge port. The falling transport path forming member has through holes in a side wall thereof. A second end of each of the transport path forming members is inserted into a corresponding one of the through holes. The falling transport path forming member forms a falling transport path that causes toner ejected from an ejection port disposed in the second end to fall. The discharge port is disposed in a lower part of the falling transport path forming member to discharge the toner to a discharge destination. The second ends of the transport path forming members are disposed offset from each other in a horizontal direction on the side wall of the falling transport path forming member.

Abstract: The present invention performs special heat treatment on a polymer film in a temperature range from (i) a lower limit to temperature rise being equal to or higher than a starting temperature of thermal decomposition of the polymer film, i.e., which is a temperature observed at an early stage of the thermal decomposition of the polymer film, to (ii) an upper limit to temperature rise being equal to or lower than an intermediate temperature of thermal decomposition of the polymer film. This reduces foaming in the film during graphitization treatment following the special heat treatment. Thus, even with a higher heating rate for graphitization, it is possible to produce a graphite film having good quality.

Abstract: A drive unit includes an ultrasonic actuator having an actuator body formed using a piezoelectric element, and a driving element provided on the actuator body and configured to output a driving force by moving according to the vibration of the actuator body, and a control section configured to induce the vibration in the actuator body by applying a first and a second AC voltages having a same frequency and different phases to the piezoelectric element. The control section adjusts the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage so that the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage have different voltage values from each other.

Abstract: A vehicle detection apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a controller detecting a vehicle from an image obtained by photographing the vehicle. The controller extracts a plurality of line-segment components indicating a boundary between a specific region of the vehicle and a vehicle body and included in the image. The controller measures a position of the vehicle based on coordinate information between the extracted line-segment components and photographing position information of the image.

Abstract: Provided is a technique of finely performing congestion determination and congestion control on a cellular communication system employing a C-RAN architecture. An instruction is given to a control device to acquire location information of a terminal in a cell of a C-RAN using a first message between network nodes, acquire a congestion indicator of the cell of the C-RAN using a second message between the network nodes, determine the occurrence of congestion of the cell based on the congestion indicator, identify a terminal staying in a cell in which congestion is occurring based on the location information of the terminal, and limit a maximum usable bandwidth of the specified terminal.

Abstract: A corneal endothelial cell photographing apparatus for photographing endothelial cells of a patient eye's cornea, includes: a cornea photographing optical system including an imaging device and configured to project light toward the cornea and photograph the corneal endothelial cells through the imaging device; a light projecting optical system to project detection light in a first oblique direction to the cornea to detect a focus state of the cornea photographing optical system relative to the cornea; a detecting optical system including a detector with arranged pixels and configured to receive, in a second oblique direction opposite to the first oblique direction, corneal reflection light resulting from the detection light and including reflection light from the corneal endothelium through the detector, and detect an intensity distribution of the corneal reflection light in a depth direction; and a controller to cause a monitor to display the intensity distribution output from the detector.

Abstract: A corneal endothelial cell analysis method includes: a step of displaying a photographed image including endothelial cells of a cornea of an examinee's eye on a monitor; a step of setting, based on an operation signal from a user interface, regions of the endothelial cells for each or more than one of the cells with respect to the photographed image displayed on the monitor, the setting step including setting the endothelial cell regions on the one photographed image by use of setting modes including at least a first setting mode of setting the endothelial cell regions and a second setting mode different from the first setting mode; and a step of obtaining an analysis result on the endothelial cells of the examinee's eye based on the endothelial cell regions set by the first setting mode and the endothelial cell regions set by the second setting mode.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes primary imaging section, secondary imaging section, and image signal processor. The image signal processor is configured to, based on the primary image signal, cut out at least a part from the secondary image signal and generate a cutout image signal; determine whether or not either one of the primary image signal and the secondary image signal has a specific pattern; calculate parallax information based on the primary image signal and the cutout image signal, and correct the parallax information when the either one image signal is determined to have the specific pattern; and generate a new secondary image signal based on the primary image signal and one of the parallax information and the corrected parallax information.

Abstract: In order to provide is an analyzing apparatus capable of preventing an intentional or negligent interventional action on an analysis, an analyzing apparatus 1 is connected to a controlling computer 2, and performs a predetermined analysis according to a control instruction given through the controlling computer 2. The analyzing apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 11 for enabling a user to perform an input operation for controlling the analyzing apparatus 1. When the analyzing apparatus 1 is under control of the controlling computer 2, the input operation performed through the operation unit 11 is disabled.

Abstract: Provided is a mascara applicator for shaping eyelashes while heating the eyelashes and applying mascara liquid while heating the mascara liquid to a suitable temperature so that application of makeup on the eyelashes can be carried out in a short time in total. The mascara applicator includes: a container 1 for housing mascara liquid; an application body 2 to be attached to and detached from the container 1; and a shaping body 3 to be attached to and detached from the application body 2. The application body 2 includes an application rod 11 in a shape of a hollow shaft to be inserted into the container 1 and an application portion 12 provided at an end portion of the application rod 11. The shaping body 3 includes a shaping rod 21 to be housed by insertion into the application rod 11, a heating shaping portion 22, and a heater 29. The heater 29 can be switched between an OFF state and two stages of ON states.

Abstract: Provided is a rubber composition having an intramolecular double bond capable of sulfur cross-linking, comprising at least one of 1 to 100 parts by mass of carbon black and 10 to 150 parts by mass of an inorganic filler other than carbon black, 0.1 to 50 parts by mass of a sulfur-containing compounding agent and 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of a hydrocarbon compound with both terminal groups thioesterified, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber having an intramolecular double bond capable of sulfur cross-linking. This rubber composition can provide a vulcanized substance having excellent toughness, for example, as a part of at least one of a cap tread, a side wall, a belt, an inner liner, a carcass and a bead of a pneumatic tire without substantially reducing processability of an unvulcanized substance and vulcanizate physical properties of the vulcanized substance.

Abstract: A torque sensor includes a first magnet fixed to a first shaft, a tubular magnetic yoke assembly in which a magnetic yoke core is molded with a resin member, and a first magnetic sensor that detects a magnetic flux from the first magnet induced by the magnetic yoke core. The torque sensor also includes a collar made of a ferromagnetic body that is fixed to an inner circumference of the magnetic yoke assembly and to which a second shaft is press-fitted and fixed, and a second magnet for an index sensor that is disposed on an outer circumference of the magnetic yoke assembly. At least a part of the collar is disposed between the magnetic yoke core and the second magnet with respect to an axial direction of the magnetic yoke assembly.

Abstract: Provided are: a novel chiral 4-boronophenylalanine (BPA) derivative; a method for producing the derivative; and a method for producing 18F-2-fluoro-4-borono-L-phenylalanine (18F-labeled BPA; 18F-BPA) using the derivative. A compound represented by formula (1) is prepared. In the formula, R represents BR3R4, BX3? or BX3?M+ (wherein X represents a halogen atom, and M+ represents a monovalent monoatomic cation, a polyatomic cation or a complex cation); R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group PG1; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a protecting group PG2; R3 and R4 independently represent OH, or R3, R4 and B together form a ring that serves as a protecting group; and Y represents a halogen atom, NO2, NH2, Sn(R6)3, N?N—NR7R8, OSO2R9, NR10R11, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyliodo group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic iodo group. The compound is reacted with a fluorination reagent to prepare 18F-labeled BPA.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, wherein an exhaust purification catalyst (13) and a hydrocarbon supply valve (15) are arranged in an engine exhaust passage, the internal combustion engine being provided with a low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation device (LPL) for recirculating exhaust gas downstream of the exhaust air purification catalyst (13). When a lock up clutch (66) in a torque converter (27) should engage, non-sliding engagement of the lock up clutch (66) is prohibited in a case where an exhaust gas recirculation action is performed by the low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation device (LPL) and hydrocarbons are sprayed from the hydrocarbon supply valve (15) at predetermined cycles.

Abstract: First and second upstream fins and first and second downstream fins are arranged in the air passage of air-conditioning air to pivot. The first upstream fin includes an upstream body with a cutout extending upstream from the downstream edge. A transmission shaft, which extends along upstream fin shafts, is arranged in the cutout. The first downstream fin includes a downstream body with a slidable operation knob. The operation knob includes a fork that is rotationally supported with a support shaft. The fork includes a pair of transmission pieces, which extends upstream from the operation knob and sandwiches the transmission shaft. The transmission shaft includes a pair of stoppers, which is located at positions that are spaced from each other in the extending direction of the transmission shaft and that sandwich the transmission pieces. The stoppers are caused to contact the transmission pieces by operation of the operation knob.

Abstract: An inertial device is disclosed that includes an inertial sensor unit configured to generate an output representing motion of a target holding the inertial device; a storage unit configured to store factors which are associated with different outputs to be generated by the inertial sensor unit, respectively; a generation unit configured to generate a waveform which represents variation of velocity of the inertial device in a predetermined period by using one of the factors corresponding to the output generated by the inertial sensor unit; a combination unit configured to combine the waveform with one or more previous waveforms which have been generated by the generation unit; and an estimation unit configured to estimate a position where the inertial device is currently located using a velocity obtained from the combined waveform.