387results about How to "Simple and compact" patented technology

A universal four-channel multimedia computer speaker system is connectable to audio sub-system control circuits (e.g., “sound cards”) of both the four-channel type and the conventional two-channel (stereo) type. With the audio sub-system control circuit being of a four-channel type, the universal four-channel audio system functions as a conventional multimedia computer four-channel surround sound audio system. With a four audio channel multimedia computer work and the audio sub-system control circuit being of a conventional two-channel (stereo) type, the universal four-channel audio system is configured to provide one pair of wide-band speakers (e.g., the front) with distinct audio playback according to respective right-front and left-front audio channels in a four or two audio channel multimedia computer work such as a game, music, etc. The universal four-channel audio system is configured to provide at the rear speakers distinct audio playback that are generated from the right-front and left-front audio channels in the four or two audio channel multimedia computer work. With respect to the rear speakers, the universal four-channel audio system includes a proxy audio signal component that provides respective right and left rear proxy audio signals to proximate the typical sound of actual right and left rear audio signals carried on a four audio channel multimedia computer work or simulated surround signals generated from conventional two channel multimedia work.

The output shaft of a combustion engine and/or the input shaft of a transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle is directly or indirectly connected to or connectable with the rotor of an electric machine. The stator of the electric machine surrounds the rotor and the latter surrounds, at least in part, a gearing and/or a clutch for and/or another constituent of the transmission. Such design contributes to compactness of the power train.

Provided is an inkjet recording device that has a conveying unit for conveying a recording medium, plural recording head groups each structured by plural unit heads disposed along the conveying direction, and an ink receiving unit for receiving ink discharged from the unit heads. The recording head groups, correspond respectively to plural individual recording regions which are sectioned off in the recording medium transverse direction which is orthogonal to the conveying direction, are disposed so as to be at respectively different positions at adjacent individual recording regions along the conveying direction. The ink receiving unit is disposed so as to face ink drop discharging surfaces of the unit heads. The conveying unit is plural conveying belts disposed at positions evading trajectories of the ink drops from the unit heads as seen in a direction of a line normal to the recording medium so as to be divided in the conveying direction.

A lock mechanism is mounted on a merchandise display rod to prevent the removal of some items of merchandise from the rod. A pair of members are pivotally joined at one end and move between locked and unlocked positions. Each of the members is formed with a partial slot which align with each other when in the locked position to extend about the rod. A magnetically attractable plunger is mounted within one of the members and engages a recess formed in the other member to secure the members in a closed locked position on the rod. A magnetic key moves the plunger to an unlocked position to enable the members to pivot apart to an unlocked open position. The distal end of the rod is bent at an angle sufficient to prevent sliding removal of the lock mechanism from the rod when the members are in the locked position yet enable removal of merchandise items forward of the lock mechanism from the rod.

An electroacoustic transducer comprising a magnetic circuit of a magnetically conductive material with a pair of opposed surfaces defining a gap there between, the magnetic circuit comprising one magnet. The magnet can either be positioned in the center of the magnetically conductive material so as to form two gaps. In an alternative embodiment the magnet is attached to the magnetic conductive material forming only one gap. The transducer further comprises a diaphragm and a coil system having electrically conducting paths fastened to the diaphragm. The coil system has portions of its paths situated in the gap. The transducer may be supplied with an additional diaphragm and coil system positioned on the opposite side of the magnetic circuit. In a preferred embodiment the transducer is rectangular. The transducer is suited for integration into miniature components such as mobile communication equipment and hearing aids. Embodiments of the transducer are suited for side-firing or side-shooting applications such as in mobile phones.

The invention relates to a food-cooking utensil including:

• • locking/unlocking means; and
  • a control member (6) for controlling the movement of said locking/unlocking means;
  • the control member (6) and the locking/unlocking means co-operating so that the position of the locking/unlocking means varies as a function of the position of the control member (6) in a first relationship while the control member (6) is being moved from its locking position towards its unlocking position, and so that the position of the locking/unlocking means varies as a function of the position of the control member (6) in a second relationship while the control member (6) is being moved from its unlocking position towards its locking position. Food pressure cooking devices.

A cooling system for an internal combustion engine incorporating a heat accumulator to temporarily store heat during peak heat loads. In automotive vehicles, the heat accumulator may store excess heat generated during vehicle acceleration or hill climbing and it may dissipate stored heat during vehicle cruise, deceleration, or engine idle. The heat accumulator contains phase change material with a solid-to-liquid transition temperature higher than the normal operating temperature of the cooling system. The invention enables reducing the size and weight of engine cooling system without compromising its performance. This is particularly important for improving fuel economy and reduction of emission in automotive vehicles. In addition, the invention enables reducing the coolant inventory in the system thereby allowing for faster engine warm-up and reduced emissions of harmful pollutants during a cold engine start. The invention may be also used for thermal management of engine oil, transmission fluid, or hydraulic fluid.

An optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an upper cover, a lower cover, and several vents. Each vent is arranged on the lower cover, and includes a first grille and a parallel second grille. The first and second grilles each include parallel louvers interleaved by parallel gaps. The first grille is arranged at an outer surface of the lower cover, while the second grille is arranged on an inner surface of the lower cover, with a clearance h separating the first and second grilles. Heat produced in the optical recording/reproducing apparatus is expelled out from the housing via the gaps of the second grille and the gaps of the first grille. However, external dust or contaminants that may enter the gaps of the first grille are blocked from entering the housing by the louvers of the second grille.

An electro-mechanical vehicle power transmission (10) comprises two planetary trains (12, 14) defining mechanical pathways, two electric machines (20, 22) defining an electrical pathway, and at least one torque transfer device (24) that can selectively couple between one component and another component or components to transfer torque. Each planetary train includes a sun member (12A, 14A), a ring member (12B, 14B), and a plurality of planet members (12C, 14C) engaged with the ring member and the sun member. Each planetary train includes a planet carrier (12D, 14D) configured to hold the planet members in an annular space between the ring member and the sun members. Each electric machine can be operated either as a motor to covert electrical energy to mechanical energy or as a generator to convert mechanic energy to electric energy. A first external coupler (16) receives mechanical power from a prime mover while a concentrically disposed second external coupler (18) delivers mechanical power to a driven member.

Tobacco dust which develops in a machine or production line for the making of smokers' products is put to use in that it is gathered and agglomerated into particles having or exceeding a required size. Metered quantities of such particles are admitted into a stream of fragmentized tobacco leaves before the stream is draped into a web of cigarette paper or the like.

An imaging device includes a housing including a first photographing aperture and a second photographing aperture which are open toward opposite directions; at least one image pickup device and an image processing circuit for processing signals output from the image pickup device, the image pickup device and the image processing circuit being positioned within the housing and lie in a plane including the first photographing aperture; a first optical system having a bent optical path for forming an image of light incident from the first photographing aperture on an imaging surface of the image pickup device, the bent optical path being defined by a plurality of reflecting surfaces of the first optical system; and a second optical system having a linear optical path for forming an image of light incident from the second photographing aperture on the imaging surface of the image pickup device.

An improved regulator circuit, temperature compensation bias circuit, and amplifier circuit are disclosed.

A non-contact type tonometer includes a air injector for blowing air to a cornea of a subject's eye along a reference axis to deform the cornea, a projection optical system for projecting projection light onto the subject's eye, a light-receiving optical system for receiving reflected light which is projected from the projection optical system and reflected on the subject's eye, an alignment unit for positioning the projection optical system and the light-receiving optical system in the direction of the reference axis based on a light amount of the reflected light which is received by the light-receiving optical system and an intraocular pressure detector for detecting a deformation of the cornea based on the reflected light amount. The projection optical system includes a light flux shape regulator which regulates the projection light such that the projection light has a non-circular shape extending in a predetermined direction.

An APC is provided in a five-axis controlling vertical machining center. A spindle head is movable in three mutually transverse axes directions to a workpiece. A table disposed below swings to be positioned and is directed upwardly and indexed. A pallet setup base is provided outside a machining area. A pallet change arm has pallet grip portions for gripping and releasing the pallets. The arm makes a swivel motion and makes an ascending and descending motion. Thus, the pallet is transferred between the table and the pallet setup base and is received and discharged to the table and the pallet setup base.

A programmable timer for timing the usage of electrical or electronic apparatus comprises a count up counter and a count down counter which count during the on condition of the electrical or electronic apparatus and a switch for selecting the counter output to be displayed on an LED or LCD display. A current/power sensor detects the on condition of the electrical or electronic apparatus and transmits a signal to the counters to count. A keypad is used to preset a time into the count down counter and a reset control resets the timer display to zero. When the switch is set to the count down mode, the display shows the time remaining from the preset time and when the time reaches zero, power to the electrical or electronic apparatus is interrupted. The timer has a locking cover that prevents unauthorized access to the timer controls and unauthorized removal of the electrical or electronic apparatus from the timer. A programmable microprocessor is provided for performing cost calculations based on usage of the electrical or electronic apparatus.

A sensor for detecting a target matter includes a chemical sensitive layer that is operable to react when exposed to the target matter and a piezoresistive material coupled to the chemical sensitive layer. The chemical sensitive layer is configured such that the reaction of the target matter with the chemical sensitive layer creates an interfacial tension at the interface of the chemical sensitive layer and the piezoresistive material that changes the electrical resistance of the piezoresistive material. However, the chemical sensitive layer is configured such that the reaction of the target matter with the chemical sensitive layer does not affect the bulk properties of the chemical sensitive layer enough to change the electrical resistance of the piezoresistive material. The sensor also includes an electrical circuit coupled to the piezoresistive material that is operable to detect the change in the electrical resistance of the piezoresistive material due to the interfacial tension.

A lockable switch mechanism for a machine guard includes a switch plunger and locking and switch mechanisms. The plunger moves, upon insertion of an actuator, between two positions to actuate the switch mechanism and is locked by the locking mechanism, which has one locking member biased against a surface of the plunger and another locking member that is displaceable between locked and released positions. The plunger has an annular shoulder that displaces the first locking member when the plunger is moved. The second locking member prevents displacement of the first locking member by the plunger to thereby prevent movement of the plunger. Thus removal of the actuator is prevented unless the second locking member has been moved to the unlocked position when the machine is in a safe condition.