A method based on image defocus information is disclosed for determining distance (or ranging) of objects from a camera system and autofocusing of camera systems. The method uses signal processing techniques. The present invention includes a camera characterized by a set of four camera parameters: position of the image detector inside the camera, focal length of the optical system in the camera, the size of the aperture of the camera, and the characteristics of the light filter in the camera. In…

A stable automatic or semi-automatic firearm having a differential recoil system in which an open bolt has a designed mass and closing velocity to impact and drive a reciprocating barrel forwardly without rebound and remain locked to the barrel during the period when there is high firing pressure in the barrel. Since the bolt supports the cartridge during the time of high pressure, the cartridge is prevented from prematurely being extracted and rupturing; and since recoil momentum is utilized in…

A firearm including a basic action system having differential recoil, blow-back operation with moving barrel and a firing mechanism for use in conjunction with the basic action system of the invention or any other type of system operable to fire from a closed-bolt position and an open-bolt position. The basic action system utilizes a single spring which positively positions the bolt and barrel for semi-automatic, closed-bolt firing, while also providing the necessary spring and positioning actio…

An automatic transmission includes a parallel-axis gear pair including a first gear having a shaft portion and a gear portion, and a second gear which meshes with the first gear; a case that has a supporting wall which is adjacent to the gear portion of the first gear and rotatably supports the shaft portion of the first gear; and a frictional engagement apparatus that includes friction members, a piston that presses on, so as to apply, the friction members, and a hydraulic chamber that holds hy…

In a direct injection type automatic sampler, a sampling needle having a liquid sample collected from a sample vessel by using suction force of a pump is inserted into an injection port. Then, a flow path-switching valve is rotated to switch a flow path to make a flow of mobile phase liquid pass through a loop to thereby introduce the collected sample into a column. The injection port is directly incorporated in the flow path-switching valve.

A choke valve is controlled finely suited to the running state of an engine. A throttle valve 8 and a choke valve 9 are provided in series on an intake pipe 6, and the opening degree of the choke valve 9 is controlled by a stepping motor 11. A choke valve opening degree upon start of engine (start opening degree) is determined depending on the engine temperature. The start opening degree judging unit 27 judges whether the start opening degree is closer to the fully closed side or fully opened si…

An automatic lathe (10) is provided with a first spindle (14) having an axis of rotation (14a), a first tool rest (18) capable of holding a plurality of tools (22) in a parallel arrangement, a second tool rest (20) capable of holding a plurality of tools (22) in parallel arrangements in a first row and second row exhibiting mutually different nose orientations, and a second spindle (16) having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the first spindle and capable of being located …

A drive unit for driving at least two axles of an all-wheel drive vehicle, having a housing (3), an input gear (5) meshing with an output gear (4) of a gear-shift transmission (2), a center differential (6) coaxially disposed relative to the input gear (5) and one of the axles. To yield maximum rigidity at minimum structural dimensions the input gear (5) is rigidly mounted to a cage (20) of the center differential (6), the cage (20) being journalled at one end in a first tapered roller bearing (…

An automatic toilet seat cleaning unit comprises a cabinet adapted to receive at least one toilet seat in a stowed position, an electric motor operatively connected to the toilet seat and a cleaning unit. The unit is adapted to clean a toilet seat when the seat is raised or moved to be stowed within the cabinet by the electric motor. The cabinet includes at least one door adapted to open to allow a toilet seat to be received in the stowed position. Also included is a method of operating the clea…

An automatic switch includes a main body having a circuit board provided therein, and at least two sets of connectors connected to the main body via signal cables. The main body has an integral enclosure formed through multiple times of injection molding to include a circuit-protecting layer for enclosing the circuit board, an outer case enclosing the circuit-protecting layer, and an anti-slipping layer coating an outer surface of the outer case.