Abstract: The invention relates to a connection comprising at least two components having the following features: a first component and a second component, of which at least the second component comprises reinforced plastic, a self-piercing connection element (30) having a head and a shaft, the head thereof being supported on the first component and the shaft thereof running completely through the first and the second component, and a disc-shaped counter bearing to which the shaft is fastened such that the at least two components are fastened between the head and the counter bearing. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said connection.

Abstract: Protective containers for electronic equipment, and methods of testing and manufacture thereof, are provided.

Abstract: The method according to the present invention includes the steps of: sequentially applying a plurality of different voltages to an MR element and sequentially detecting output signals from the MR element; and eliminating the MR element as a defective product when an evaluation value, based on a difference of SN ratios of the output signals from the MR element respectively obtained for each applied voltage, is less than a threshold value, and selecting the MR element as a non-defective product when the evaluation value is greater than or equal to the threshold value.

Abstract: Method for aligning electrical contacts of first and second electronic circuits or assemblies, the first and second electronic circuits or assemblies each being provided with alignment features. The method includes placing electrical contacts of the second electronic circuit or assembly in contact or near contact with electrical contacts of the first electronic circuit or assembly. An alignment condition of alignment features of the first and second electronic circuits or assemblies are electrically sensed during the contact or near contact to obtain sensing information. The sensing information is stored and analyzed to determine a movement to be caused between the first and second electronic circuits or assemblies to achieve an improved alignment condition. Each of the alignment features comprises a plurality of alignment elements. The electrically sensing step electrically senses an alignment condition of alignment elements of alignment features of the first and second electronic circuits or assemblies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing a stator for a rotary electric machine, which involves preparing a stator core having a plurality of slots. Each of a plurality of coils is provided with a pair of coil ends, a first side, and a second side. The first side and/or the second side is inserted into the retaining groove of a jig, and each coil is set on the jig in a manner such that both coil ends extend further to the outside than the end surfaces of the jig in the axial direction thereof. The jig is disposed inside the stator core in the diameter direction. The space between the first side and the second side of the coil is expanded by applying pressing force to both coil ends from the axial direction of the stator core by means of a pressing member.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive device including: assembling a subassembly by fixing at least a bearing unit, a drive unit and a hub to a base member in a first clean room; cleaning the subassembly in a second clean room; and sealing the subassembly by a sealing member. The first clean room and the second clean room are communicated with each other by a communicating opening for transferring the subassembly, and an atmospheric pressure in the second clean room is equal to or higher than that in the first clean room.

Abstract: A transducer having an external contact surface includes a writer and a contact member. The writer has a portion extendable relative to an adjacent portion of the external contact surface. The contact member surrounds at least a portion of the extendable writer portion and is spaced from the extendable writer portion. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the contact member is approximately equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the extendable writer portion.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electrical heating device is provided. The electrical heating device includes a housing which encloses a circulation chamber through which a medium can flow and in which heating ribs protrude. The heating ribs are in thermally conducting contact with at least one PTC heating element. A control device is provided in a constructional unit with at least one assembled conductor board. The constructional unit is accommodated in a control housing that comprises a control housing cover and a control housing frame. The control housing frame circumferentially surrounds the assembled conductor board and is formed from a metallic material. The method includes installing the control housing on the housing such that a control element, producing a power loss, is held by the assembled conductor board and is placed in abutment with a cooling element formed on the housing.

Abstract: Cells (1) are first manufactured (S01). Each cell (1) is inspected (S02) and then adjusted to SOC 40% (S03). Thereafter, the cells (1) are assembled to form a cell stack (90) (S04). In the cell stack (90), the cells (1) constituting the cell stack (90) are collectively discharged so that their SOC becomes 30% (S05). This collective discharge is performed to collectively discharge the cells (1) in the cell stack (90). Thus, the same discharging conditions (equipment, time, environment, etc.) are established for the cells (1).

Abstract: The whole of a conductive material layer is formed on a bonding surface of an outer film having flexibility and barrier properties to prepare a composite body in which the conductive material layer is integrated with the outer film. A current collector is located within an application region, and at least a part of an electrode terminal is located outside the application region. A positive electrode active material precursor layer, an electrolyte precursor layer, and a negative electrode active material precursor layer are added to the composite body with plane positions thereof aligned with that of the current collector. These precursor layers are subjected to a crosslinking process. The application regions are applied, and the outer films are bonded, to seal a cell. The crosslinking process may be omitted.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an apparatus for crimping a terminal to an electrical wire, which have respective part numbers, and allows miniaturization of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a base, a drive portion, a plurality of applicators, a plurality of connection/disconnection portions and a control device. The drive portion drives the associated applicator to crimp the terminal to the electrical wire. The connection/disconnection portions each are disposed in one-to-one relation ship against the respective applicators. The each connection/disconnection portion is positionable at a connection and a disconnection position, where a driving force is transmitted to or released from the associated applicator. The control device controls the associated connection/disconnection portion so that the applicator corresponding to the part numbers of the electrical wire and the terminal can achieve crimping with the driving force from the drive portion.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an apparatus for manufacturing a multichannel electrode array for cranial nerve stimulation comprises: an electrode support (100) supporting a plurality of electric wires, and having a plurality of platinum rings inserted therein; a frame member (200) including a base (210), a pair of vertical frames (220), and a horizontal frame (240) to fix the electrode support (100); a rotating member (600) into the center of which the electrode support (100) is inserted, and which rotates such that electric wires are twisted, pair by pair, at the electrode support (100) so as to form a grid, when bobbins (700) that are wound with the electric wires slide; an elevating plate (500) rotatably and slidably supporting the rotating member (600); and a pair of left-side and right-side control units (800) and (900) which rotate the rotating member (600) such that the rotating member (600) slides along a length equal to that the grid.

Abstract: A method for producing a joined structure involving pressure-bonding a first circuit member and a second circuit member together via a connecting film while the circuit members are being heated, to thereby join the circuit members with each other, wherein the connecting film is defined and includes first and second layers wherein one of the first layer and the second layer is a conductive particle-containing organic resin layer, and the other layer is an insulating organic resin layer containing no conductive particles, and wherein the minimum melt viscosity of the conductive particle-containing organic resin layer is ten times or more greater than the minimum melt viscosity of the insulating organic resin layer.

Abstract: In a component mounting device (1) which has a first mounting lane (L1) and a second mounting lane (L2) and which is structured so as to be able to select either an independence mounting mode or an alternation mounting mode, when device type changing operation is performed with change of the type of boards which are the mounted objects, if a tape feeder float detecting sensor (17) that is provided in proximity of an opening (19) through which a part of the body or the foreign object enters in the component supplying part is, detects a part of the body such as a finger (26) of the operator or the foreign object, operation of the component mounting mechanism which belong to the mounting lane opposite to the mounting lane to which the component supplying part, in which the optical sensor is provided, belongs is stopped.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a lens drive device provided with a lens drive module having a movable body, a fixed body and a drive mechanism for driving the movable body, and a circuit board on which the lens drive module is mounted may include a module assembling step in which the lens drive module is assembled, a module mounting step in which the lens drive module is soldered by a reflow method after the module assembling step to be mounted on the circuit board, and a magnetizing step in which a drive magnet of the drive mechanism is magnetized after the module mounting step so that a magnetic pole of one end face and a magnetic pole of the other end face in the optical axis direction are different from each other.

Abstract: When the initial displacement greatly varies among cells in an element, there is a need to reduce a bias voltage to be applied between electrodes. This decreases the sensitivity. An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes an element having a plurality of cells. Each of the cells includes a first electrode and a second electrode that are provided with a cavity being disposed therebetween. A groove is provided at a position at a predetermined distance from the cavity of the cell on the outermost periphery of the element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods for forming electrical connections using liquid metals. Electrical connections that employ liquid metals are useful for testing and validation of semiconductor devices. Electrical connections are formed between the probes of a testing interface and the electronic interface of a device under test through a liquid metal region. In embodiments of the invention, liquid metal interconnects are comprised of gallium or liquid metal alloys of gallium. The use of liquid metal contacts does not require a predetermined amount of force be applied in order to reliably make an electrical connection.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an assembly method of a liquid crystal panel, which comprises the following steps of: preparing an array substrate, and an upper surface of the array substrate is provided with a plurality of contact pads along side edges thereof; preparing a CF substrate, wherein an area of the upper surface of the CF substrate is smaller than that of the upper surface of the array substrate; and stacking the CF substrate upon the array substrate, so that the contact pads of the array substrate are exposed out of the CF substrate. When aligning the liquid crystal by the Photo-alignment. In the present invention, a process of cutting the CF substrate can be omitted, so as to decrease the manufacture cost.

Abstract: Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient include a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent, and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The cannula is shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a patient's eyeball.

Abstract: A method for producing an aluminum piston for an internal combustion engine, which piston is designed as a round skirt piston. In the region of the radially outer end faces of the piston pin bosses the piston skirt has skirt recesses extending in the direction of the piston axis. In order to be able, when using the piston, to produce skirt recesses that have any shape a piston blank is produced in a forging process using a forging die, which piston blank has inner faces that are complementary to the outer shape of the piston having skirt recesses and not-recessed regions of the piston skirt, and the piston blank can then be further machined to produce the aluminum piston.

Abstract: A spherical cutter includes a spherically shaped body having open and closed ends defining a central cavity, multipoint cutting edges disposed along a circular rim at the open end, and the spherically shaped body generally defined by a radius and an origin. The cutting edges may be provided on cutting inserts removably attached to support teeth circumferentially disposed along the rim. The spherical cutter may be mounted to a rotatable spindle of a multi-axis computer numerically controlled machine with the radius and the origin located along a rotational axis of the spindle. The machine may be used for machining a cylindrical blank to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart integral rotor blades extending radially outwardly from a hub by machining each of the slots along a spherical surface defined by the radius and the origin.

Abstract: A heat pipe manufacturing method includes the steps of preparing a pipe and a wick structure; placing the wick structure in the pipe, vacuuming the pipe, and filling a working fluid in the pipe; and sealing the pipe. By manufacturing a heat pipe with this method, the risk of damaging the wick structure in the pipe during bending or pressing the pipe can be avoided to thereby ensure increased good yield. Further, with this method, the pipe can be pressed to form a thin heat pipe to thereby provide increased flexibility in production.

Abstract: Monolithic metal bodies (e.g., hard aluminum alloys) comprising a continuous microcavity contained within the body are disclosed. The ratio of the cross-sectional area of the metal body to the cross-sectional area of the microcavity may be not greater than 10. The produced metal bodies may be used in structural applications (e.g., aerospace vehicles) to monitor or test the integrity of the metal body.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bearing device for a wheel, the method including forming an inner shaft so that an outside diameter of the inner shaft at a first portion is smaller than an outside diameter of the inner shaft at a second portion which is adjacent to the first portion, the peripheral surface of the inner shaft at the first portion is to be heat-treated, and the peripheral surface of the inner shaft at the second portion is not to be heat-treated, and the first portion has a predetermined length in an axial direction, and heat-treating the peripheral surface of the inner shaft at the first portion, and finishing a peripheral surface of the inner shaft by lathe turning whereby a step is not formed at a border between the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: The actuated nail clipper is a grooming tool that has made it easier to clip nails. The present invention can change in length so the toe nails are easily reachable for the consumer. The elongated neck prevents the consumer from feeling any discomfort that is normally associated with clipping toe nails. A vacuum on the actuated nail clipper can suction in leftover nail clippings. The convenience of the vacuum allows for easier clean up. The present invention also includes a small light that is angled so the nail that is being cut is clearly visible to the consumer. The light helps reduce errors in nail clipping as well as decrease the strain on the consumer's eyes.

Abstract: An electric shaver includes an outer blade having blade holes defined by a frame, and an inner blade provided inside the outer blade to move relative to the outer blade and cut body hair inserted into the blade holes. Circumferences of the blade holes of the frame are bent toward the inner blade so as to provide hair lifting portions having rounded portions in the frame, and the frame provided with the hair lifting portions is located closer to a skin than to a surface of the inner blade on a skin side.

Abstract: A shaving razor having a cartridge containing a razor blade coupled to a monolithic yoke. The yoke is formed from a single piece of material possibly by injection molding. The yoke has a bridge and a pair of cross pieces each coupled to the bridge by a living hinge. The cartridge is coupled to the cross pieces and spans between the cross pieces.

Abstract: A tool for cutting and slitting the shielding of an electrical cable includes a cutting platform configured to engage the shield of the cable. A driven cutting blade is mounted for movement past the cutting platform into the shield. A fixture is provided for supporting the cable in a desired orientation during a cutting or slitting operation.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a folding knife includes a thumb post which longitudinally moves along slots in the handle of the knife. The thumb post is urged by a spring loaded locking lever into a notch in the base of the blade of the knife. When so positioned the thumb post retains the blade in an extended position. When the user pushes the thumb post out of the notch, the blade can be folded into the handle of the knife. In another embodiment the thumb post is an integral part of the locking lever, and it is a tab on the locking lever rather than the thumb post engages the notch in the base of the blade.

Abstract: In electric scissors, a rotating motion of a motor (21) is converted into a linear motion, and a link mechanism (A) is operated to open and close blades (11, 12) by the linear motion. The electric scissors includes a current control unit (110) that controls an electric current value to the motor (21), and a detection unit (120) that detects that an angle between the blades (11, 12) becomes a predetermined angle. The current control unit (110) changes an upper limit of the electric current value to be supplied to the motor (21) when the detection unit (120) detects that the angle between the blades (11, 12) becomes the predetermined angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting tool (1) comprising: a first handle (2) and a first blade (3) fixedly attached to each other, a second handle (4) and a second blade (5) pivotably attached to each other by a first pivot (6) and a second pivot (7). In order to obtain a cutting tool with an optimal cutting force, the cutting tool comprises a limiter (11) allowing the back end (9?) to move sideways (S) in relation to the second handle (4) and preventing the back end (9) at least from moving away from the second handle (4) in an axial direction (A) of the first pivot (6).

Abstract: An electric power tool (100) includes a power source (102) enclosed in a casing (104). The power source (102) is a brushless DC motor (202) which drives a drive mechanism (106) for a cutting device. Further, an oil pump is at least partly housed in the casing (104) of the electric power tool (100). The oil pump is also driven by the brushless DC motor (202).

Abstract: A rotary laser irradiating system, comprising a light emitting unit (41, 42) for emitting a laser beam, a rotator for forming a reference plane by projecting the laser beam by rotary irradiation, a tilt driving unit (21) for tilting the reference plane, a control unit (35) for controlling a light emission of the light emitting unit, and a tilted axis indicating means (35, 44) for turning off the laser beam so as to form a tilted reference axis indicating range in a tilt setting reference axis direction for setting a tilt.

Abstract: A sundial for telling apparent solar time and clock time across a range of latitudes and longitudes. A solar dial is formed with an index point and a noon hour point. A plurality of concentric latitude indicia are centered at the index point and at least one map indicium is overlaid by the concentric latitude indicia where the map indicium has geographic latitudes corresponding with the concentric latitude indicia on the solar dial. The solar dial also includes a plurality of solar time indicia radiating generally outward from the index point drawn with respect to the noon hour point according to the hour line equation at each concentric latitude indicia intercept. An elongated gnomon projects from the index point, whereby the sun's shadow cast by the gnomon intersects the solar time indicia in relation to the concentric latitude indicia to provide a reading of apparent solar time for the user's location on the map indicium.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a long-range sighting device for an archer's bow. The long-range sighting device including a strip of material having a length, a width, a perimeter and .a plurality of holes disposed therein, wherein the strip of material is supportable by a string of a bow.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element formed by a strip of magnetoresistive material which extends on a substrate of semiconductor material having an upper surface. The strip comprises at least one planar portion which extends parallel to the upper surface, and at least one transverse portion which extends in a direction transverse to the upper surface. The transverse portion is formed on a transverse wall of a dig. By providing a number of magnetoresistive elements perpendicular to one another it is possible to obtain an electronic compass that is insensitive to oscillations with respect to the horizontal plane parallel to the surface of the Earth.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a base, a cover and a rotating shaft. The base includes a platform formed on the base for placing a workpiece, a supporting post protruding from the platform, and a pair of opposite connecting seats protruding from an end of the base. Each connecting seat defines a pin hole. The cover includes a board portion defining a positioning hole corresponding to the supporting post, a hollow rotating portion defining a through hole, and a connecting portion interconnecting the board portion and the rotating portion. The rotating shaft extends through the rotating portion with two ends received in the pin holes, rotatably interconnecting the cover to the base. The radius of the through hole is larger than that of the rotating shaft. When the board portion presses on the workpiece, the supporting post lifts the board portion.

Abstract: A drying system positioned after a foregoing workstation or system for drying workpieces, includes a transport belt for the workpieces to be positioned on; and at least one oven including a main body and a drying member positioned on top of the main body for heating the air in the oven. The main body of the oven includes a base and an air guiding member positioned on the base, and the base and the air guiding member cooperatively define a chamber running through the at least one oven. The transport belt passes through the foregoing workstation and through the chamber. The integration of the drying system with other manufacturing workstations or systems may save time and labor used for transporting workpieces in between drying and other manufacturing steps. The disclosure also provides an oven utilized in the drying system.

Abstract: An air deflector (12, 12a) for an electric hair dryer (10) includes a housing (24, 24a) with an air passageway therethrough, and a nozzle (28, 28a) in the air passageway. The nozzle (28, 28a) includes an air inlet (30) receiving all the air entering the housing (24, 24a) and an air outlet (32) allowing the air received by the air inlet (30) to exit. The nozzle (28, 28a) oscillates relative to the housing (24, 24a) to continuously change the direction of the air from the air outlet (32).

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for treating a substrate, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for treating a substrate using a supercritical fluid. The apparatus for treating a substrate includes a process chamber in which an organic solvent remaining on a substrate is dissolved using a fluid provided as a supercritical fluid to dry the substrate and a recycling unit in which the organic solvent is separated from the fluid discharged from the process chamber to recycle the fluid.

Abstract: A clothes dryer and method for forming and supplying a treating chemistry solution to a laundry load located in the treating chamber of the clothes dryer.

Abstract: A fuel system comprising a fuel tank, a vent tank having a duct open to the ambient atmosphere, a first vent line fluidically connecting the fuel tank ullage to the vent tank, a gas drying system including a pump and a dehumidifying device disposed within the vent tank, and a second vent line fluidically connecting a dry gas outlet of the dehumidifying device to the ullage, wherein the pump is operable to maintain a higher pressure within the ullage than in the vent tank so as to drive vapour rich gas from the ullage into the vent tank via the first vent line. Also, a method of operating the fuel system and a method of retro-fitting the gas drying system in an existing fuel system. The gas drying system may optionally be a gas drying/inerting system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying bulk goods, in particular solids, such as granular materials, powders, grains, films, shreds, or the like, preferably plastic granular material, in a drying silo (9) by means of an air flow. The exhaust air flow (5) that is discharged from the drying silo (9) is dried in a wheel dryer (1). The adsorbent is regenerated and cooled in the wheel dryer. A rotatable drum (2) of the wheel dryer (1) is divided into at least three wheel segments, wherein the region of a wheel segment is used for drying or dehumidifying the exhaust air flow, the region of the second wheel segment is used for heating the adsorbent, and the region of the third wheel segment is used for cooling the adsorbent. The drying or dehumidifying phase (14) for the exhaust air flow (5) and preferably the adsorbent cooling occur in parallel, in particular in a continuous manner during the operation. The regenerating phase (15) with the adsorbent heating is carried out at intervals during the operation.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for treating a substrate and a method for discharge a supercritical fluid, and more particularly, an apparatus for treating a substrate using a supercritical fluid and a method for discharging the supercritical fluid using the same. The apparatus for treating the substrate includes a container for providing a supercritical fluid, a vent line through which the supercritical fluid is discharged from the container, and a freezing prevention unit disposed in the vent line to prevent the supercritical fluid from being frozen.

Abstract: A device for removable securing decorative objects to a thong type sandal and a sandal system incorporating such a device.

Abstract: A sole (10) for a shoe, in particular a running shoe, having a predetermined ball line (37) extending from an inner ball point to an outer ball point, and a ball rocker (38), wherein the ball rocker (38) is displaced rearwards towards a heel end (26) in relation to the ball line (37) by an average ball rocker spacing (41).

Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert.

Abstract: A foot covering comprising a three dimensional molded portion formed of an elastomeric material molded onto a fabric material, wherein the molded portion is molded seamlessly 360° about the foot covering. The molded portion also preferably includes openings or perforations within the area of the molded portion for breathability The foot covering is manufactured by placing a sock comprising a fabric material in the form of at least a portion of a sock over a first mold part in the form of at least a portion of a foot and bringing at least one second mold part into molding engagement with the first mold part to create a cavity with the fabric material on the first mold part within the cavity. The elastomeric material is then injected into the cavity to form a molded portion, wherein the elastomeric material is injected on the side of the fabric material opposite the first mold part.

Abstract: A waterproof vapor-permeable shoe, including an upper part that delimits a foot insertion region; a sole, made mainly of plastic material, provided with at least one region which is diffusely perforated with through holes in the direction of a walking surface; a vapor-permeable or perforated flat element, rigidly coupled to the lower part of the sole on which the tread of the sole is formed or rigidly coupled, the flat element adapted to limit the formation of hollows in the foot insertion region at the projection of the holes of the diffusely perforated region; and a waterproof vapor-permeable membrane associated with the upper part and/or with the sole; the membrane being arranged above the flat element so as to be superimposed on the diffusely perforated region.

Abstract: A heel cup formed from a flexible material is located under the heel region of an upper portion of an article of footwear. Lateral and medial counters extend upward from the heel cup on the lateral and medial sides, with the medial counter having a height less than that of the lateral counter, and with a rear edge of the heel cup being lower than the lateral and medial counters. A rear strap extends upward around the lateral counter and around the Achilles tendon of the wearer, and is secured to a location on the upper that is forward of the wearer's ankle. During cutting movements in which the article is worn on the outside foot, tilting of the wearer foot and ankle toward the medial side pulls the strap and causes the lateral counter to conform to and support the wearer heel.