Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8155941 | Simulation apparatus, simulation system, and simulation method A simulation apparatus includes an arithmetic process unit 20 that models a controlled plant and simulates the operation of the modeled controlled plant, and an interface unit 30 that inputs and outputs a signal between the arithmetic process unit 2... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8090138 | Audio devices for vehicles A vehicle audio device includes a vibrator (30), a first threaded member (20), a second threaded member (32), and a ring-shaped resilient member (25). The first threaded member (20) includes a tubular portion (22), an extern... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8045736 | Sound field reproduction system The present invention is directed to providing a sound field reproduction system that can enhance the sound separation between the front and rear seats or left and right seats of a vehicle. The sound field reproduction system includes a control unit for creating a f... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8040649 | Overcurrent protection apparatus and electronic apparatus An overcurrent protection apparatus includes two overcurrent protection circuits. The first overcurrent protection circuit compares an electric potential on the downstream side of a first resistance element with a reference potential produced by a second resistance ... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8036621 | Receiving apparatus, signal processing circuit, and signal receiving method There is provided a receiving apparatus having a simple configuration and an excellent ability to eliminate multipath noise, in which an antenna in a good reception state can be instantly selected. A reception signal from an antenna is inputted to an intermediate-fr... | 10/11/2011 |
| RE42806 | Navigation apparatus A navigation apparatus including a joystick which is adapted for three motions of leaning in a plurality of predetermined directions, rotating about an axial line and being pressed in a direction along the axial line. As a result of these three motions, an operation... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8004618 | Digital broadcast receiver A broadcast channel detection system enabling search of channels providing a digital television broadcast from among a large number of channels at a high speed. This is configured by a periodic signal detecting function unit 21 receiving as input a sel... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7962701 | Recording meduim playback apparatus In one aspect of the invention, text data recorded on a CD conforming to the CD-TEXT format is displayed using a minimum amount of memory. Storage capacity to be used per data item is calculated by dividing the available storage capacity by the number of text data i... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7881047 | Electronic apparatus An electronic apparatus includes an electronic apparatus main body; and a movable body which is mounted in the electronic apparatus main body, with its predetermined direction-wise one end supported thereon, so as to be displaceable between an encased condition wher... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7880669 | Radar apparatus To provide a radar apparatus capable of rapidly detecting an object at the end of a detecting range. The present invention provides a radar apparatus comprising a radar sensor that transmits a transmitting wave to a predetermined angular range and receives a reflect... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7865935 | Electronic apparatus having security function When an electronic apparatus is forcibly put into an inoperable state by theft, the inoperable state is canceled using a code from a dealer, without carrying the electronic apparatus into the dealer. After electric power is supplied again, a CD reproduction apparatu... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7810110 | Disc changer with support for swing arm in disc reproducing position A disc changer having a swing arm as a reproducing device in a disc drive unit can prevent an arm front end from being fluctuated when the swing arm reproduces the content of a disc or when a disc is mounted. The disc changer takes out a desired one disc from a stoc... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7802270 | Disk reproducing apparatus A disk reproducing apparatus with improved quality is provided which has a clamper and a clamper plate. By providing the clamp plate with connection portions radially extending from a radially inner peripheral portion toward radially outer peripheral portion of the ... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7729516 | Ranging device utilizing image processing An image size changing section obtains a size changed image by changing the size of one of two original images captured by a pair of cameras. If an edge of an object has many oblique components, the edge is difficult to detect as a vertical edge but, when the image ... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7714772 | Transmit-receive FM-CW radar apparatus A transmit-receive FM-CW radar apparatus according to one mode of the invention comprises: a mixer for downconverting an IF signal; a switch provided on the input side of the mixer; and a switch controller for controlling the switch on and off in different modes and... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7692531 | Remote starting control system The present invention teaches a remote starting control system having a simple construction and being low in cost, that can be mounted on a vehicle having an immobilizing function. The system, which is mounted on a vehicle equipped with an immobilizer for capturing ... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7684289 | Actuator for optical pickup, optical pickup, and apparatus for reading or recording information A high reading performance is secured in an optical pickup even if magnets are miniaturized. In an optical pickup, around a lens holder which holds a lens, track coils are wound from a range of a flange of the lens to the outside in a diameter direction. The track c... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7683503 | Dead battery preventing device for preventing engine start failure of vehicle having economy running function and dead battery prevention method A dead battery preventing device enables to prevent an engine start failure (a dead battery) of a vehicle having an economy running function which is caused by the vehicle's being left in an engine stall state. The dead battery preventing device to be mounted on a v... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7671298 | Heating line pattern structure of defogger formed on rear window glass panel of motor vehicle and rear glass panel A heating line pattern structure is provided, in which the effect of the heating lines of a defogger on an antenna for a TV broadcast especially for a digital TV broadcast may be decreased. The defogger is structured by arranging heating lines between bus bars on bo... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7650274 | Microcomputer logic development system A system for developing the preceding logic to be implemented in a built-in microcomputer that is used while being incorporated in an electronic control unit. The system includes: a motherboard having a first CPU, a first memory, and a first interface via which the ... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7634333 | Remote starting device and remote starting method A remote starting device prevents the temperature of exhaust gas from being made too high or the amount of toxic gas around a vehicle from being made too large by engine starting by remote control. The remote starting device controls a starter for starting an engine... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7629706 | Feed limiting device for limiting feed to electrical components and control device A feed limiting device lessens user discomfort and prevents excessive consumption of a battery. The feed limiting device for limiting feed to units U1-Un mounted on a vehicle in an economy running state, includes a condition satisfaction deciding unit for jud... | 12/08/2009 |
| 7610133 | Controller for electric power steering apparatus In a controller for an electric power steering apparatus, a target value calculation element, which calculates target values of the drive currents of a motor on the basis of a detected value of the steering torque, is constituted by a first integrated circuit provid... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7609035 | Power generation control device for controlling power generation system of movable body and power generation control method A power generation control device enables to conduct appropriate charge control and load limitations even if a technique (charge control technique) for restricting power generation by a generator in an accelerating state of a movable body is adopted in a movable bod... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7598889 | Driving information analysis apparatus and driving information analysis system A driving information analysis apparatus which serves well to assist drivers' safe driving with the ease of checking analysis results is provided. Based on driving information read by a CF card reader, a vehicle mark is displayed on a map to indicate position inform... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7561031 | Antitheft device The present invention was achieved in order to provide an antitheft device, which can prevent unauthorized intrusion into a car even if an engine is started by remote control, to be mounted on a vehicle having a remote engine starting system which starts the engine ... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7559013 | Error detecting device, error detection method and control system An error detecting device enables proper detection of an occurrence of a data error in a register. The error detecting device for detecting an occurrence of a data error in a register for holding input data with reception of a write permission comprises an operation... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7557858 | Imaging processing device and a method of processing an image An image processing device includes a camera that picks up an image, an image density recognizer that recognizes density of the image, and an exposure controller that in an exposure control period automatically controls an exposure of the camera based on the density... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7539572 | Image display An image display whereby one can extremely easily know the current position of one's own vehicle and also grasp the actual situation around the current position of the vehicle, and with which the user gets highly satisfied. The image display includes a display devic... | 05/26/2009 |
| 7532543 | Acoustic signal generating apparatus A PWM signal generator is operable to generate a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal at least one of before and after generating the first pulse signal. A duty ratio of the second pulse signal is gradually changed. A low-pass filter is operable to convert t... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7512041 | Information recording/reproducing apparatus that automatically stores information data before ejecting a recording medium An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a reproduction unit, an operation unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The reproduction unit reads information recorded in a recording medium. The operation unit instructs the reproduction unit to eject th... | 03/31/2009 |
| 7508381 | Display apparatus In an on-board display apparatus, a transmission type display device is provided in front, displays a touch switch display when necessary, and operates as a touch panel. The transmission type display device can be turned to be transparent, and an image display devic... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7499556 | Integrating apparatus An integrating apparatus to lower the levels of audio outputs of an on-board audio system immediately upon cessation of a noise level such as when a vehicle comes to a stop. Audio signals from an audio source are amplified through attenuating means by an amplifying ... | 03/03/2009 |
| 7489050 | Remote start-up control apparatus, and start-up control apparatus A remote start-up control apparatus which takes in a key code outputted on the basis of insertion of a key cylinder of an ignition key, and which is mounted on a vehicle which was equipped with an immobilizer unit for enabling a start-up of an engine, in case that i... | 02/10/2009 |
| 7474943 | Remote starting device and remote starting method A remote starting device prevents the temperature of exhaust gas from being made too high or the amount of toxic gas around a vehicle from being made too large by engine starting by remote control. The remote starting device controls a starter for starting an engine... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7470059 | Fault diagnostic apparatus A fault diagnostic apparatus is provided that enables improving estimate accuracy of the temperature of an object to be examined and to improve fault diagnosis accuracy of a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the object to be examined. The fault dia... | 12/30/2008 |
| D579447 | Combined digital disc player and automotive navigation system | 10/28/2008 |
| D579448 | Combined digital disc player and automotive navigation system | 10/28/2008 |
| 7429947 | Radar apparatus for detecting distance or velocity with respect to an object A radar apparatus includes a plurality of receiver circuit systems to correspond with a plurality of receiving antennas. Channel signals having the same characteristics are generated by the switching operation of a second switch from a received channel signal receiv... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7386714 | Transmitting data from a single storage unit between multiple processors during booting An electronic control unit includes a main microcomputer and a sub-microcomputer. Both the microcomputers include buffers for initialization and buffers for normal processing. At the time of startup of the main microcomputer and the sub-microcomputer, the sub-microc... | 06/10/2008 |
