Abstract: This invention provides a photovoltaic module for preventing insulation failure between an outer frame and connection leads. The photovoltaic module comprises: a photovoltaic submodule including a plurality of solar cells interposed between two light-transmitting substrates through the intermediary of an encapsulant and the connection leads extending from an edge between light-transmitting substrates and outputting generated electric currents; a terminal box attached near an edge of the photovoltaic submodule and housing connected parts between the connection leads and cables for outputting the electric currents to the outside; and an outer frame fitting over peripheral edges of the photovoltaic submodule. A side, of the light-receiving side light-transmitting substrate, from which the connection leads are pulled out, is made large so as to extend outward further than the other light-transmitting substrate.

Abstract: A light concentrator is described, for a device for the conversion of solar radiation into electrical, thermal or chemical energy, capable of conveying the radiation towards a surface of the conversion device. The concentrator comprises at least one portion of Fresnel lens of rotational symmetry, one face of which has a plurality of crests disposed concentrically about a center so as to form a segmented transverse profile of the portion of Fresnel lens. The profile is formed in such a manner that the focal distance of the Fresnel lens is variable in dependence on the radial distance from the center of the lens. The variation of the focal distance is determined such that, when the Fresnel lens is illuminated by polychromatic radiation, the superposition of the distributions of irradiance, produced by the lens at the individual wavelengths constituting the spectrum of the incident radiation, generates a substantially uniform distribution of polychromatic irradiance on the conversion device.

Abstract: A stacked photovoltaic apparatus capable of improving the output characteristics is provided. This stacked photovoltaic apparatus comprises a second power generation unit including a second semiconductor layer having a first refractive index and a third semiconductor layer of an amorphous semiconductor functioning as a photoelectric conversion layer, an intermediate layer formed between a first power generation unit and the second power generation unit with a second refractive index and a reflection promotive layer formed between the intermediate layer and the second power generation unit with such a third refractive index that the difference between the third refractive index and the first refractive index is larger than the difference between the second refractive index and the first refractive index.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The electrochemical cell comprises a first conductive layer; a metal oxide layer formed on the first conductive layer, the metal oxide layer comprising a plurality of adjacent metal oxide cells, spaced from one another; a functional dye layer formed on the metal oxide layer; a second conductive layer; and an electrolyte between the functional dye layer and the second conductive layer; wherein at least one of the first and second conductive layers is transparent. In one embodiment, the electrochemical cell further comprises separating means formed on the first conductive layer and surrounding each of the plurality of adjacent metal oxide cells.

Abstract: A water stopping structure includes a water stopping member that has an outer peripheral face which is inclined with respect to an axis direction of a shielded wire, and that is adapted to contract a diameter thereof and attached on an outer face of the shielded wire in a state that the outer peripheral face of the water stopping member is positioned to an end portion of the sheath which is adjacent to an exposed portion of the outer sheath, and a fastening ring that has an inner peripheral face which is corresponded to the outer peripheral face of the water stopping member in inclination. The fastening ring is slid in the axis direction of the shielded wire so as to press the end portion of the sheath of the shielded wire for contracting the diameter of the water stopping member in a state that the inner peripheral face of the fastening ring is arranged on the outer peripheral face of the water stopping member.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated ferromagnetic loop having a footprint characterized by a continuous wire shaped according to a predetermined planar pattern. In some embodiments, the predetermined planar pattern can be multiple contiguous polygons within a larger footprint used for establishing a sensor for the detection of moving vehicles. The footprint may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, an ellipse, or a circle, and/or other shapes or configurations. Similarly, each of the multiple contiguous polygons may include one of a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, a parallelogram, and/or other shapes or configurations. A loop sensor housing is arranged to enclose a continuous loop sensor wire configured in the predetermined planar pattern. The prefabricated loop sensor is inserted in a groove web pre-cut in a receiving medium to match the predetermined planar pattern.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a junction box for a use with a recessed luminaire fixture frame wherein the junction box may be accessed from two opposed sides, eliminating the need to move the fixture to access and inspect the junction box.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting electrical equipment includes a frame for carrying electrical equipment, a hinge connected to the frame, and a cable ring connected to the hinge. The cable ring is positioned between the frame and an axis of rotation of the hinge.

Abstract: A U-turn bus bar comprises a body portion constituting a linear essential part formed of a conductive plate member, having an overall thickness (t) and an overall width (2b); at least a terminal portion expanded in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the body portion; and a connection hole formed at one end of the body portion. The body portion includes a U-turn bend formed by bending the body portion into a U-turn shape.

Abstract: A bus system for use in electrical distribution equipment includes a generally U-shaped arrangement of conductors for supplying very high amperage (e.g., above 2000 amps) alternating current to the electrical distribution system. Compared to prior-art conductor arrangements, using the present arrangement, the conductors of a phase can be fabricated from less copper, which is an expensive metal. They also achieve better thermal dissipation and current distribution and mitigate skin effects. As a result, resistive losses, which increase with increased temperature, are reduced.

Abstract: A busway system includes a plurality of busbars arranged in a flat stacked configuration. The system further includes at least one uninsulated stab having a base in direct contact with one of the busbars at a first length portion of the busbars. The stab also has a tip extending away from the base and angled at the length of the busbars such that the tip is positioned at least in part at a second length portion of the busbars. The stab is insulated from other stabs via one or more of a MYLAR® sheet and a wall of a plug-in opening base.

Abstract: A device for managing a plurality of cables in a multi-cable environment includes a stationary member having a plurality of stationary channel portions. At least one movable member is movably secured to the stationary member. The at least one movable member has a plurality of movable channel portions corresponding in number and general configuration to the plurality of stationary channel portions. A plurality of indicia-bearing areas are provided, corresponding in number, and adjacent, to the plurality of stationary channel portions. The at least one moveable member is moveable between a cable placement position in which cables can be placed in the respective stationary channel portions, and a cable retaining position in which the cables are secured in channels formed by the cooperation of the stationary channel portions and the movable channel portions.

Abstract: A high-performance bonding wire that is suitable for semiconductor mounting technology, such as stacked chip bonding, thinning, and fine pitch mounting, where wire lean (leaning) at an upright position of a ball and spring failure can be suppressed and loop linearity and loop height stability are excellent. This bonding wire for a semiconductor device includes a core material made of a conductive metal, and a skin layer formed on the core material and containing a metal different from the core material as a main component; wherein a relationship between an average size (a) of crystal grains in the skin layer on a wire surface along a wire circumferential direction and an average size (b) of crystal grains in the core material on a normal cross section, the normal cross section being a cross section normal to a wire axis, satisfies an inequality of a/b?0.7.

Abstract: An insulated wire including a conductor, an inside coat of one or more layers arranged to cover the conductor, and an outside coat arranged to cover the outermost layer of the inside coat, wherein at least the layer of the inside coat which is in contact with the conductor is made from an olefin resin including a functional group, and the outside coatis made from a non-halogenous flame-retardant resin composition. The functional group is preferably one or more groups selected from a carboxylic acid group, an acid anhydrous group, an epoxy group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an alkenyl cyclic imino ether group, and a silane group.

Abstract: A wire guide for an electronic device has a base being mounted in the electronic device and a protecting tube being pivotally mounted in the base. Wires of the electronic device are mounted through the protecting tube so the wires pivot smoothly to connect the electronic device conveniently to a power supply. Therefore, The wires do not have to be bent or forced so the electronic device is more convenient to use, and safer since the wires and protective tube are not snapped easily.

Abstract: A barrier system for a line leadthrough in an electric installation has mutually adjacent wall elements forming barriers that extend in an axial longitudinal direction and are spaced apart from each other, forming channels. The wall elements lie partially on a support, at least at their lower ends. The wall elements are joined by a plug element to the leadthrough. Slots having a width which corresponds to the wall thickness of the wall elements are arranged in the plug element. The wall elements can be inserted into the slots, thus permitting a barrier system to be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a grommet configured of an elastic body, which is externally mounted on a group of electric wires spanned between a vehicle-body panel and a movable body coupled to the vehicle-body panel with a hinge. The grommet includes short large-diameter tubular sections having annular locking grooves inserted into and locked to through-holes respectively provided in the vehicle-body panel and the movable body at both ends in the lengthwise direction; long small-diameter tubular sections that are continuous with the large-diameter tubular sections; and a corrugated tubular section continuously provided between the small-diameter tubular sections at the both ends, the corrugated tubular section being bent into a U shape when the movable body is closed.

Abstract: A microstructure comprises a laminate structure having a first conductor, a second conductor, and an intervening insulator located between the first and the second conductors. The first conductor includes opposite faces in relation to the second conductor, side faces, and edge parts which form the boundaries of the aforementioned opposite faces and side faces. The second conductor includes an extended face extending beyond the edge parts exceeding the first conductor. The insulation film includes an area covering at least part of an edge part and/or at least part of a side face.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to electrical connectors that include a connector body having an inlet end opening and an outlet end portion wherein the outlet end portion is provided with an outer surface that slopes downwardly toward the outlet opening and having a complementary sloping or frustro-conical, snap fit, retaining ring with locking tangs and grounding tangs for snap locking the outlet end portion to an electric box or enclosure, and including an embodiment having a cable strap retainer hingedly connected to an associated cable support saddle to render the cable strap retainer readily detachable from the saddle in a manner that prohibits any unintentional detachment of the strap therefrom when rotated between a cable clamping and unclamping position suitable for securing thereto either a non-metallic cable or an armored or metal clad cable, wire conductor and the like.

Abstract: A conductor leadthrough for a field device is for connecting two electrical conductors. The conductor leadthrough comprises an external conductor and a sealing apparatus. The sealing apparatus is divided into a first separation device and a second separation device. The external conductor comprises a hollow internal region that extends along a longitudinal axis of the external conductor. The first separation device and the second separation device are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the external conductor so as to be spaced apart so that they can separate a section of the hollow internal region of the external conductor. A pourable-sealing device is filled into the separated section of the hollow internal region of the external conductor so that the sealing apparatus can provide a leakage rate whose value is below a predeterminable value of a leakage rate. A signal of a predeterminable frequency can be transmitted along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A combination weigher of the present invention comprises a plurality of weighing hoppers which are capable of selectively discharging the products in a first direction or in a second direction, a collecting chute which is configured to gather the products which have been discharged from the weighing hoppers in the first direction and to discharge them, a recycle conveyor which is configured to convey the products which have been discharged from the weighing hoppers in the second direction and have been loaded onto the recycle conveyor, a feeding means configured to feed the products to the weighing hoppers, a transport means which is configured to transport the products which have been discharged from the recycle conveyor to feed the products to the feeding means, a combination calculation means which is configured to determine a discharge combination, a recycle hopper determination means configured to determine weighing hoppers whose products should be recycled, and a control means configured to cause the we

Abstract: A method and apparatus of forming portions of tobacco, and of removing the same by an conveyor having at least one path of holders for a respective portion, in which the holders are filled with individual portions of the contents at least two filling lines of one or more filling stations, and, prior to the individual filling operations, individual portions of the contents are weighed and weighed portions that satisfy the predetermined conditions—acceptable portions—are filled cyclically into the holders and weighed portions that do not satisfy the predetermined conditions are detected and ejected as defective portions, characterized by components and steps of (a) following detection of a defective portion, that holder which the filling line originally predetermined for filling this holder would have filled with the contents portion, on which the defective portion is based, had the contents portion satisfied the predetermined conditions—defective-portion holder—is sensed, and a filling line other than that ori

Abstract: A two-stage switch apparatus includes: a PCB including first and second electrodes; a conductive dome disposed on the PCB; an insulating film covering a surface of the conductive dome on a side opposite to the PCB, and third and fourth electrodes above the conductive dome; and a button actuator provided over a side of the insulating film, which is opposite the PCB. The button actuator includes a conductive elastic body protruding to the side of the insulating film at positions corresponding to both the third and fourth electrodes. An analog portion is formed by the conductive elastic body, the third electrode and the fourth electrode, when the conductive elastic body contacts both the third and fourth electrodes. A digital portion is formed by the conductive dome and the second electrode, when the button actuator is pressed and the conductive dome is indented.

Abstract: A system and method according to which one or more sliders are actuated in order to, for example, operate one or more switches such as, for example, one or more circuit breaker switches.

Abstract: An inhibitor switch for detecting a shift position of a select lever is provided with: a terminal block fixed in a transmission case of an automatic transmission; a contact plate provided in the terminal block; an operating portion configured to cooperatively move with the select lever and to move along the contact plate; a movable contact formed on the operating portion and configured to slide on the contact plate to form an electric circuit according to a contact position between the contact plate and the movable contact; at least one disconnecting portion formed in the contact plate and cut at a plurality of positions after the contact plate is provided in the terminal block for interrupting electrical conduction; and at least one set of a plurality of disconnecting holes for cutting the disconnecting portion and formed in the terminal block by primary molding. The disconnecting holes respectively correspond to the plurality of positions at which the disconnecting portion is cut.

Abstract: An active-matrix device includes a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a first surface of the substrate; a plurality of switching elements provided to correspond to each of the pixel electrodes, each of the switching elements including a fixed electrode connected to the each pixel electrode, a movable electrode displaceably provided to contact with and separate from the fixed electrode, a driving electrode provided to oppose the movable electrode via an electrostatic gap, and an adhesion-preventing mechanism that prevents adhesion between the movable electrode and the driving electrode; a first wiring connected to the movable electrode; and a second wiring connected to the driving electrode, in which a voltage is applied between the movable electrode and the driving electrode to generate an electrostatic attraction between the movable electrode and the driving electrode so as to displace the movable electrode such that the movable electrode contacts with the fixed electrode to electrically

Abstract: A seal apparatus is disposed between a switchgear cabinet and a circuit breaker between the racked and unracked positions of the circuit breaker. The seal apparatus sealingly extends between the switchgear cabinet and the circuit breaker to resist fluid flow, such as exhaust gases and other matter, between an interior region of the switchgear cabinet and the exterior of the switchgear cabinet.

Abstract: A keyboard with backlighting functionality includes: a membrane circuit substrate having an upper circuit sheet, an insulator sheet, and a lower circuit sheet laminated together in sequence; a press key set having a plurality of press keys that are disposed on the membrane circuit substrate, and that are capable of being pressed so as to cause the membrane circuit substrate to transmit input signals; and at least one light-emitting element mounted onto a lower surface of the upper circuit sheet that faces the insulator sheet. The membrane circuit substrate is configured as a backlighting sheet that allows light from the light-emitting element to propagate therein, and is formed with a plurality of reflecting dots for directing the light that propagates in the membrane circuit substrate toward the press keys of the press key set.

Abstract: An actuator subassembly is provided for a rocker switch including a housing, a plunger and a number of contact elements. The actuator subassembly includes an operating member movably coupled to the rocker switch housing at or about an opening, and including at least one projection which extends into a cavity of the housing. A sub-actuator is removably coupled to such projection and includes a shaped portion, a number of contacting portions and a depth. The shaped portion cooperates with a plunger to provide a plurality of operating characteristics of the operating member, including a plurality of positions thereof. Each contacting portion contacts a corresponding one of the contact elements when the operating member is disposed in a corresponding one of the positions. When the actuator subassembly is coupled to the housing, the depth of the sub-actuator occupies less than one-third of the width of the cavity.

Abstract: A material piece scooping device, which extracts a material piece from a surface of an object to be scooped by cutting electric discharges between an electric discharge electrode and the object to be scooped, includes a rotation drive section 40, an arm portion 30 driven by the rotation drive section to rotate around a rotational axis X, an electrode holder 20 supported by the arm portion, and an electric discharge electrode 10 detachably mounted on the electrode holder. A sliding section for sliding the arm portion in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis and an arm length adjusting section for adjusting a length of the arm portion from the rotational axis thereof are provided, so as to adjust a trajectory of the electric discharge electrode as the arm portion rotates. The material piece can be scooped from the object along a line of the trajectory gnawing into the object.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for a welding gun is provided that has at least three positions in the example. The actuator assembly includes separate working and retract actuators. The working actuator includes a working rod movable between first and second positions. The retract actuator includes a retract rod independently movable relative to the working rod between third and fourth positions. The retract actuator is external to and non-concentrically arranged relative to the working actuator in the example shown. Actuation of the working and retract actuators is coordinated to provide at least three positions while enabling the actuators to be changed or modified independently from one another. A latching device is configured to selectively interlock the working and retract actuators to one another automatically in response to movement the working rod from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An improved automatic feedback control scheme enhances plasma spraying of powdered material through reduction of process variability and providing better ability to engineer coating structure. The present inventors discovered that controlling centroid position of the spatial distribution along with other output parameters, such as particle temperature, particle velocity, and molten mass flux rate, vastly increases control over the sprayed coating structure, including vertical and horizontal cracks, voids, and porosity. It also allows improved control over graded layers or compositionally varying layers of material, reduces variations, including variation in coating thickness, and allows increasing deposition rate. Various measurement and system control schemes are provided.

Abstract: A plasma source with discharge inducing bridges and a plasma processing system using the same. The plasma source may be constructed with a number of discharge inducing bridges, each discharge inducing bridge containing a magnetic core with a primary winding of a transformer. The discharge inducing bridges are positioned so as to face a susceptor. Each discharge inducing bridge is a hollow tube. When the electrical current of the primary winding of the transformer is driven, magnetic flux is induced to the magnetic core, so that inductive coupled plasma is formed around the discharge inducing bridges, and a plasma discharge is evenly induced horizontally/vertically along the discharge inducing bridges, so that uniform large-area high-density plasma is generated.

Abstract: A method of changing the temperature of a substrate during processing of the substrate includes providing the substrate on a substrate holder, the substrate holder including a temperature controlled substrate support for supporting the substrate, a temperature controlled base support for supporting the substrate support and a thermal insulator interposed between the temperature controlled substrate support and the temperature controlled base support.

Abstract: A drilling method and a laser machining apparatus which can shorten the measuring time of workpiece surface height and improve the machining efficiency in spite of irregularities of about 10-30 ?m high in the surface of a table. Surface heights of the table is measured at lattice points in advance. Top surface height at a desired point of the workpiece mounted on the table is measured. Surface height of the point is arithmetically obtained using heights of four points surrounding the point. The difference between the measured height and the arithmetically obtained height is set as the plate thickness of the workpiece. Top surface height of the workpiece at a machining position is regarded as the sum of the plate thickness and the height at that position obtained from the table surface heights.

Abstract: A system and method, in certain embodiments, sets an output polarity based on a selected process. The system and method may be used to operate a variety of equipment, such as welders, cutters, tools and so forth. In some embodiments, the system and method may include receiving an input signal and configuring circuitry to output power with a given polarity based on the input signal.

Abstract: A welding torch maintenance center that uses a microcontroller to control the operation, to configure the maintenance center, to repeat the reaming process for excessive spatter deposit inside the nozzle, to spray the nozzle with anti-spatter fluid, to cut the welding wire, to provide a tool center point check signal, and to provide diagnostic information.

Abstract: A device for enhancing vision for a hair curling iron for conventional curling iron of the general type having clamping members, two heating members, two bases and two styling members wherein the improvement comprises a mirror element attached to one of the bases. In another embodiment, a styling iron comprising an upper body having inner and outer surfaces, an upper cover attached to the upper body, a heating element between the upper cover and the inner surface, a lower body operationally attached to the upper body, the lower body having inner and outer surfaces, a lower cover attached to the lower body, a second heating element between the lower cover and the inner surface of the lower body, and a mirror attached to the outer surface of the upper body. Moreover, the styling iron may further comprise an insulating element between the heating element and the mirror.

Abstract: There is disclosed a heating element 10 comprising: at least a heat-resistant base member 1; a conductive layer 3 having a heater pattern 3a formed on the heat-resistant base member; a protection layer 4 with an insulating property formed on the conductive layer; and a corrosion-resistant layer 4p that is an oxide having an oxygen amount of stoichiometric ratio or less formed on the protection layer. There can be provided a heating element in which a corrosion-resistant layer whose resistivity or hardness is controlled is formed on a protection layer and through which the corrosive gas is difficult to be transmitted even under an environment of a high temperature and a corrosive gas and by which degradation due to corrosion of a conductive layer, particularly, a power-supply-terminal portion can be avoided and additionally which can fulfill a high function as an electrostatic chuck even when having a chuck pattern and which has a long operation life and is capable of being produced at a low cost.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for deploying control surfaces generally comprise a fin deployment system for projectiles. The fin deployment system is used to control the timing of the control surface deployment. In one embodiment, the deployment system comprises a clip that is configured to react the biasing force of one control surface against another in order to maintain the control surfaces in a non-deployed state until at least one control surface is able to overcome the retention force of the clip, thus beginning a chain reaction in which all of the control surfaces deploy sequentially.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and measuring light emitted from a sample and having a large dynamic range, e.g., a range of luminous intensity covering six or more orders of magnitude, that may be difficult to fully detect using a single detector with a limited detection range. Simultaneous measurements of the emitted light in two intensity ranges are performed using two detectors, e.g., one including a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and the other including a solid state detector such as a photodiode. A beam splitting element directs light emitted from a sample under investigation to both detectors simultaneously such that a portion of the light impinges on the first detector and a second portion of the light impinges on the second detector.

Abstract: Concentrating solar collector systems that utilize a concentrating reflector to direct incident solar radiation to a solar receiver are described. In one aspect, the reflective surface is arranged to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner in which the solar rays reflected from the opposing edges of the reflective surface are generally directed towards a central portion of the solar receiver. Rays reflected from selected central portions of the reflective surface are directed closer to the edges of the receiver than the solar rays reflected from the edges of the reflective surface. The described reflectors are generally intended for use in solar collector systems that track movements of the sun along at least one axis.

Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus to detect radiation. A substrate (1) has a conversion element on a first surface. The conversion element is configured to convert radiation into electric charges. A readout circuit is connected to a first region. The first region includes a first edge of the first surface. A driving circuit is connected to a second region other than the first region. The second region includes a second edge of the first surface. A light source (4) is arranged on a second surface side which faces the first surface. The light source (4) is arranged so as to face any regions of the second surface side except the first region.

Abstract: The method and system focuses a projected image with a multiple rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces and an ellipsoidal reflector-relay onto or in a user's eye. The image is projected from the first elliptical foci and is focused on the eye at the second foci. A peripherally mounted outboard projector unit uses three lenses and a substantially flat projector surface. Alternatively, an inboard mounted projector unit uses two lenses with non-rotationally symmetric aspheric surfaces and a biconic projector surface (organic light emitting diode (OLED) or curved silicon). The image projector-lens system and the ellipsoid pupil relay are correctly positioned on the head of the user by a head mount system which may be goggles, eye glasses worn by the user, or screens or shields depending from a head piece or helmet worn by the user.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a pixel electrode, a pixel transistor of a first conduction type, and a flip-flop. The pixel transistor has a control node connected to a scanning line, a first node connected to a data line, and a second node. The flip-flop has an inverter and a feedback transistor of a second conduction type opposite to the first conduction type. The inverter has an input node connected to the second node of the pixel transistor, and an output node connected to the pixel electrode. The feedback transistor is controlled to be turned on or off in accordance with an output of the inverter for supplying a high-level power source voltage or a low-level power source voltage to a common connection point of the second node of the pixel transistor and the input node of the inverter, in the ON state.

Abstract: An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.

Abstract: A photodetector integrated circuit (PDIC) capable of being used with at least two different types of optical discs includes a photodetector (PD) array and a switch matrix. The PD array includes a center channel PD and a side channel PD electrically isolated from the center channel PD. The switch matrix, which includes a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs, can be selectively configured in a plurality of different switch configurations. The side channel PD includes a plurality of electrically isolated PD sections. Each electrically isolated PD section of the side channel PD is adapted to detect light and provide an electrical output signal, indicative of the light detected by the PD section, to a different one of the inputs of the switch matrix.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of devices, the method including the steps of aiming a pointing device having a camera at an object representing a property of the device to be controlled and manipulating a control input on the pointing device to specify a degree of change for the property. The method further includes the steps of generating an image of a target area aimed at by the pointing device, interpreting the target area image to identify the chosen object, deducing the property of the device to be controlled based on the chosen object, and generating a control signal for the device to be controlled according to the degree of change for the deduced property.

Abstract: A method for processing and/or analyzing image information representing radiation in a spatially resolved manner using an optical system coupled to at least one detector includes the step of collecting said image information with said optical system using at least one micromechanical mirror moved such that the image information is scanned and coupled sequentially into the at least one detector.

Abstract: As shown in FIG. 1, a position detector (10) includes: an object to be detected having a pattern (2) formed for generating a position signal; and a sensor (3) for detecting the position signal according to the pattern (2) by receiving an electromagnetic wave generated on the object (1) by light irradiation. The pattern (2) is formed in a gradation shape visibly or invisibly so that an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength continuously different depending on the position on the object (1) can be sent to the sensor (3). This enables detection of an absolute angle of a rotary object and an absolute position on an XY plane with a simpler configuration, simplifies the device assembly, and reduces the device size.