Abstract: A windshield of a laminated glass curved to protrude toward the vehicle outside. An interlayer of the laminated glass is tensioned so that the windshield has a force acting to cause the entire laminated glass to flex toward a passenger compartment. The windshield is configured in its entirety to be flexible toward the inside of the passenger compartment, so that the impact of an object colliding with the windshield from the vehicle outside can be absorbed and impact received by the colliding object can be mitigated.

Abstract: A reproduction signal evaluation method of this invention includes the step of obtaining a reproduction signal from an information recording medium on which digital information is recorded with record marks having different sizes, the step of obtaining the amplitude of a first reproduction signal, of the signals contained in the reproduction signal, which reflects digital information recorded with a record mark having the maximum size, the step of obtaining the amplitude of a second reproduction signal, of the signals contained in the reproduction signal, which reflects digital information recorded with a record mark having the second smallest size, the step of obtaining an evaluation value from the ratio of the amplitudes of the first and second reproduction signals, and the step of evaluating a characteristic of the reproduction signal on the basis of the evaluation value.

Abstract: In a tube device of the invention, a casing 1 made of a fluororesin has: a tube 4 which is made of a fluororesin, and which surrounds a fluid tube 3; lid members 5 which are made of a fluororesin, and each of which includes a receiving portion 8 for receiving one end portion of the tube 4, at least one sealing face 10 disposed in the receiving portion, and a connecting portion 29 for another pipe 28; union nuts 6 which are made of a fluororesin, and each of which is fitted onto the end portion of the tube 4, and screwed to one end portion of one of the lid members 5; and a sealing portion 19 which is formed at least one place by fastening the union nuts 6 to the end portions of the lid members 5 to press the tube 4 from the outside of the tube, the end portions of the tube 4 and the sealing faces 10 of the lid members 5 being closely contacted with each other by the pressing function. A device element such as a filter member 3 is placed in the casing 1.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed which has a read channel reproducing user data from a data field synchronously with a sync mark detected in binary data obtained from a read signal. The read channel has a SYNC detection unit including a facility to predict the position of the sync mark utilizing the read signal. The SYNC detection unit predicts and detects the position of the sync mark in accordance with a preamble end signal.

Abstract: The time required for the program verify and erase verify operations can be shortened. The change of threshold values of memory cells can be suppressed even if the write and erase operations are executed repetitively. After the program and erase operations, whether the operations were properly executed can be judged simultaneously for all bit lines basing upon a change, after the pre-charge, of the potential at each bit line, without changing the column address. In the data rewrite oepration, the rewrite operation is not effected for a memory cell with the data once properly written, by changing the data in the data register.

Abstract: A reproduction signal evaluation method of this invention includes the step of obtaining a reproduction signal from an information recording medium on which digital information is recorded with record marks having different sizes, the step of obtaining the amplitude of a first reproduction signal, of the signals contained in the reproduction signal, which reflects digital information recorded with a record mark having the maximum size, the step of obtaining the amplitude of a second reproduction signal, of the signals contained in the reproduction signal, which reflects digital information recorded with a record mark having the second smallest size, the step of obtaining an evaluation value from the ratio of the amplitudes of the first and second reproduction signals, and the step of evaluating a characteristic of the reproduction signal on the basis of the evaluation value.

Abstract: The time required for the program verify and erase verify operations can be shortened. The change of threshold values of memory cells can be suppressed even if the write and erase operations are executed repetitively. After the program and erase operations, whether the operations were properly executed can be judged simultaneously for all bit lines basing upon a change, after the pre-charge, of the potential at each bit line, without changing the column address. In the data rewrite oepration, the rewrite operation is not effected for a memory cell with the data once properly written, by changing the data in the data register.

Abstract: A signal can be detected based on a level slice system and detection delay time can be reduced by setting the recording density of a header field in a linear direction lower (coarse) than that of a user data recording field. Further, a signal can be detected based on the level slice system and detection delay time can be reduced by using a mark position form having a large detection margin as an information recording system of the header field. A readout error of a sector number due to a detection error is compensated for by recording address marks AM for attaining byte synchronization of the header field in both of a head portion and tail portion of information recorded in the header field.

Abstract: A windshield mounting structure includes A-pillars for mounting a windshield and frangible members provided at the A-pillars for supporting the windshield. When an object collides with the windshield from the vehicle outside, the frangible members deform or break, thereby causing the windshield to move in its entirety or in part inward into a passenger compartment, absorbing the impact in collision.

Abstract: An improved four stroke engine for outboard motor having a protective cowling encircling the engine. The four stroke engine has V-shaped banks of cylinders and each bank is provided with a couple of overhead camshafts extending generally vertically. The engine has also a single crankshaft extending generally vertically. The crankshaft has a driving wheel, while each camshaft positioned on the inside of each bank has a driven wheel, which diameter is twice as large as the diameter of the driving wheel. The driven wheels on the camshafts are driven by an endless transmitter wound around the driving wheel and the driven wheels. The other camshafts of the respective banks are driven by the camshafts, which are directly driven by the crankshaft, with drive mechanisms. In another embodiment, both of the camshafts of the respective banks are driven by a couple of intermediate shafts and driven wheels placed on them. The driven wheels on the intermediate shafts are driven by the driving wheel on the crankshaft.

Abstract: An information recording medium of this invention has a spiral track. The spiral track has one or more header fields per round of the spiral track, and a data field located between neighboring header fields. The data field has a variable length corresponding to an integer multiple of a predetermined length Lw so as to minimize a deviation between the n-th header field in a predetermined round of the spiral track, and the n-th header field in a round different from the predetermined round in the track direction.

Abstract: A partial response (PR) waveform generator generates a digital value sequence of an expected PR waveform based on the output of a soft-decision Viterbi detector included in, for example, a first-stage decoder unit incorporated in an iterative decoder. The generator also generates flag information indicative of whether reliability of the digital value sequence is low or high, in parallel with the generation of the digital value sequence. An error detector detects error values in a PR equalized sample value sequence, needed for feedback control of a control target, using the digital value sequence of the expected PR waveform as a digital value sequence of a reference waveform. An error output controller controls the output of the error values detected by the error detector in accordance with the state of the flag information generated by the generator.

Abstract: A signal can be detected based on a level slice system and detection delay time can be reduced by setting the recording density of a header field in a linear direction lower (coarse) than that of a user data recording field. Further, a signal can be detected based on the level slice system and detection delay time can be reduced by using a mark position form having a large detection margin as an information recording system of the header field. A readout error of a sector number due to a detection error is compensated for by recording address marks AM for attaining byte synchronization of the header field in both of a head portion and tail portion of information recorded in the header field.

Abstract: An airbag device has a bag housing case, an airbag housed in the bag housing case, a plate member provided within the airbag, and a bag pressure release mechanism. When the internal pressure of the airbag reaches a predetermined pressure, the bag pressure release mechanism opens the airbag to prevent an increase in the internal pressure of the airbag. The plate member covers the bag pressure release mechanism when the airbag is in a deflated state. When the airbag is inflated, the plate member is released from coverage of the bag pressure release mechanism by an inflating force.

Abstract: There are provided a modulation table, a selector, and a counter. The modulation table is used for creating a plurality of modulation data candidates with respect to a mixture of user data and training data. The selector selects modulation data candidates. The counter counts DSVs for the selected modulation data and controls the selector. The DSV output from this counter is set to a specified value by keeping a state in which the training data is input.

Abstract: The present invention provides an airbag device for, upon collision of a vehicle carrying the airbag device with an obstacle, mitigating the impact of collision of the obstacle with an inflated airbag. The airbag device includes a bag housing case and a cover. A main airbag and a cover opening bag are housed in deflated, folded states within the bag housing case. First, the cover opening bag inflates by the inflow of gas, opening the cover. Gas also flows into the main airbag through the cover opening bag, thereby inflating the main airbag. If an obstacle collides with the inflated main airbag, a bag pressure release mechanism provided at the bottom of the bag housing case opens the main airbag, releasing gas within the main airbag and mitigating the impact on the obstacle.

Abstract: There is provided a method of working a plain bearing and a working apparatus of the plain bearing, which make it easy to perform working by forming a plurality of inclined surfaces of different angles in portions on both sides of the inner peripheral surface of the bearing alloy metal of the plain bearing in the axial direction thereof. In the working method and apparatus, a working holder 18 is provided which has a groove 20 extending on the inner peripheral surface in the peripheral direction and portions on both sides of the groove in the transverse direction formed in step-like shape, a half bearing 11 is housed in the working holder 18, and both ends of the half bearing 11 in the peripheral direction are pressed by use of pressing means 24. Then, the half bearing undergoes plastic deformation so as to be fitted into the groove and both sides of the half bearing in the axial direction thereof come into abutment with the edges 22, 23 of the step-like portions and are deformed in a polygonal line form.

Abstract: An information storage medium has a plurality of reference data recording areas that record reference data which is used in at least one of circuit constant adjustment of an information reproduction apparatus and characteristic evaluation.

Abstract: A windshield of a laminated glass curved to protrude toward the vehicle outside. An interlayer of the laminated glass is tensioned so that the windshield has a force acting to cause the entire laminated glass to flex toward a passenger compartment. The windshield is configured in its entirety to be flexible toward the inside of the passenger compartment, so that the impact of an object colliding with the windshield from the vehicle outside can be absorbed and impact received by the colliding object can be mitigated.

Abstract: A windshield mounting structure includes A-pillars for mounting a windshield and frangible members provided at the A-pillars for supporting the windshield. When an object collides with the windshield from the vehicle outside, the frangible members deform or break, thereby causing the windshield to move in its entirety or in part inward into a passenger compartment, absorbing the impact in collision.