Author: claimsbot

1. A movable contact unit with a light-guiding function comprising:
a push-input type movable contact made of a metallic thin plate that is formed into an upwardly protruded dome shape; and
a base sheet made of an insulating film disposed along the domed shape of the movable contact, which holds the movable contact by an adhesive layer disposed on a lower surface of the base sheet and guides light emitted from a light source disposed at a side position to illuminate an upper side of the base sheet,
wherein, a film whose refractive index of light is lower than a refractive index of light of the base sheet is disposed between the base sheet and the adhesive layer.
2. The movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 1, wherein an uneven section is disposed in a section, where the film lies beneath the base sheet, on an upper surface or a lower surface of the base sheet so as to guide light upward.
3. The movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 2, wherein refractive index of the uneven section is substantially equal to or higher than the refractive index of the base sheet.
4. The movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 2, wherein the uneven section and the film are disposed on a lower surface of the base sheet, and the uneven section is covered with the film.
5. The movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 3, wherein the uneven section and the film are disposed on a lower surface of the base sheet, and the uneven section is covered with the film.
6. A lighted panel switch comprising:
the movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 1,
wherein the movable contact unit is disposed on a predetermined position on a circuit board having a fixed contact so as to form a discrete switch.
7. A lighted panel switch comprising:
the movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 2,
wherein the movable contact unit is disposed on a predetermined position on a circuit board having a fixed contact so as to form a discrete switch.
8. A lighted panel switch comprising:
the movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 3,
wherein the movable contact unit is disposed on a predetermined position on a circuit board having a fixed contact so as to form a discrete switch.
9. A lighted panel switch comprising:
the movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 4,
wherein the movable contact unit is disposed on a predetermined position on a circuit board having a fixed contact so as to form a discrete switch.
10. A lighted panel switch comprising:
the movable contact unit with a light-guiding function of claim 5,
wherein the movable contact unit is disposed on a predetermined position on a circuit board having a fixed contact so as to form a discrete switch.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A device comprising:
two spaced, opposed, planar, deflectable spring members having a central section and an elongated central axis, each of the spring members having a first end and an opposed second end, each of the spring members having an undeflected position wherein the first end and the second end are generally planar to each other and located along the central axis and a deflected position responsive to a compression deflection force applied concurrently to the first end and the second end of each of the spring members wherein the central sections thereof are urged in opposing directions to each other forming a receiving opening;
a first pair of planar support members operatively connected to each side of and enclosing one of the deflectable spring members;
a second pair of planar support members operatively connected on to each side of and enclosing the other of the deflectable spring members; and
a longitudinally extendable, elastic member having a thickness which reduces in dimension in response to a longitudinal tension force and which maintains the dimension of its width dimension in response to a longitudinal tension force, the elastic member being operatively coupled to one of the first pair and the second pair of support members;
wherein the elastic member is expanded in response to a longitudinal tension force generated in response to a compression deflection source being applied to the spring members urging the central sections thereof into opposing directions to each other forming a receiving opening and contracting the elastic member back into its original position responsive to a compression deflection source being removed from the spring members forming a clamping force within the space between the spring members.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the elastic member is formed into an endless loop and wherein the elastic member is operatively connected with the first pair of support members and the second pair of support members and the pair of spaced deflectable spring members.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first pair of support members and the second pair of support members are formed of leather material.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the elastic member has an overall width in the range of about \xbd inch to about 1 and \xbd inches.
5. A device comprising:
a first side member assembly and a spaced second side member assembly, each of the first side member assembly and the second side member assembly having a flexible member having a first end and an opposed second end, each of the flexible members having an undeflected position wherein the first end and the second end are generally planar to each other and a deflected position responsive to a compression deflection force applied concurrently to the first end and the second end of each of the flexible members wherein the flexible members are urged in opposing directions to each other forming a receiving opening;
a first pair of planar support members and a second pair of planar support members operatively connected to each side of and enclosing each of the flexible members forming each of the first side member assembly and the second side member assembly; and
an elastic member having a thickness which reduces in dimension in response to a longitudinal tension force and which maintains its width dimension in response to a longitudinal tension force, the elastic member being operatively coupled to the first pair of support members and the second pair of support members and each of the flexible members, wherein the elastic member is expanded by a longitudinal tension force in response to a compression deflection source concurrently applied to the first side member assembly and the second side member assembly including the flexible members forming a receiving opening and contracting the elastic fabric material back into its original position in response to a compression deflection force being removed from the first side member assembly and the second side member assembly.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the elastic member is a woven, elastic fabric material formed into a pair of fabric material segments.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein the elastic member is an endless loop operatively connected to the flexible members.
8. The device of claim 5 wherein the elastic member is an endless loop operatively connected to the first pair and the second pair of support members.
9. The device of claim 5 wherein the flexible members are spring steel.
10. The device of claim 5 wherein the support members are leather.

1. An event communication apparatus for a protection relay which transmits event data to a supervisory monitor, the event communication apparatus comprising:
a shared memory configured to store and provide data to share;
a main processing module configured to, whenever an event occurs, update previous event data to a status information of the event and a status occurrence time information as new event data, and write the updated event data into the shared memory; and
a communication module configured to periodically read status information from the shared memory, compare the read status information with pre-stored previous status information to determine whether there is a status change, determine occurrence of a new event when there is the status change, and transmit corresponding event data to the supervisory monitor immediately when the new event occurs.
2. The event communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication module comprises an event buffer configured to store status information and status occurrence time information as event data about the new event.
3. The event communication apparatus of claim 2, wherein when the event data stored in the event buffer is updated to new event data, the communication module is configured to transmit the updated event data immediately to the supervisory monitor.
4. The event communication apparatus of claim 3, wherein the communication module comprises a priority setting information storage unit in which a priority of an operation of periodically reading the shared memory is set higher than priorities of other operations.
5. The event communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main processing module comprises a priority setting information storage unit in which a priority of an operation of writing event data in the shared memory immediately whenever the event data occurs is set higher than priorities of other operations.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus for examining the internal structure of an object by reflection mode scanning acoustic microscopy, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid bath having a closed side wall and a top wall, the closed side wall defining a closed perimeter and including an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion having the top wall attached thereto, the closed side wall and top wall defining a generally hollow interior of the fluid bath, the top wall substantially covering the interior of the fluid bath and defining a acoustic transducer assembly opening that extends through the top wall, wherein the closed side wall and the top wall are made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid; and
an acoustic transducer assembly having a first end extending at least partially through the acoustic transducer assembly opening of the top wall, the first end adapted to emit an acoustic signal and receive acoustic signals; and
a scanning means for scanning the acoustic transducer over a given area of a surface of an object, wherein the given area is enclosed by the closed side wall of the fluid bath, and wherein the scanning means is adapted to provide the acoustic transducer assembly with at least three degrees of freedom.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:
means for holding a jig to a portion of the object, and when the jig is held to the surface of the object, the bottom portion of the closed side wall conforms to the contour of the surface in contact with the bottom portion such that the closed side wall forms an essentially fluid tight seal.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanning means is adapted to provide the acoustic transducer assembly with five degrees of freedom.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scanning means includes a jig, and further including:
a brace attached to the jig with the closed side wall interposing the brace and jig; and
a spring extending from the brace to the bottom portion of the closed side wall, wherein the spring biases the bottom portion of the closed side wall away from the brace.
5. An apparatus for examining the internal structure of an object by reflection mode scanning acoustic microscopy, the apparatus comprising:
a fluid bath having a closed side wall and a top wall, the closed side wall defining a closed perimeter and including an upper portion and a bottom portion, the upper portion having the top wall attached thereto, the closed side wall and top wall defining a generally hollow interior of the fluid bath, the top wall substantially covering the interior of the fluid bath and defining a acoustic transducer assembly opening that extends through the top wall, wherein the closed side wall and the top wall are made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid; and
an acoustic transducer assembly having a first end extending at least partially through the acoustic transducer assembly opening of the top wall, the first end adapted to emit an acoustic signal and receive acoustic signals; and

a scanning means for scanning the acoustic transducer over a given area of a surface of an object, wherein the given area is enclosed by the closed side wall of the fluid bath, wherein the scanning means further includes:
a jig having a pair of opposed longitudinal members and a pair of opposed cross members, the pair of longitudinal members having first and second ends and defining a longitudinal direction, the pair of cross members defining a transverse direction, one of the cross members extending between the first ends of the pair of opposed longitudinal members, the other cross member extending between the second ends of the pair of opposed longitudinal members;
a first shutter attached to the pair of longitudinal members and extending therebetween, wherein the first shutter substantially covers the top wall and defines a longitudinal opening; and
a second shutter attached to pair of cross members and extending therebetween, wherein the second shutter substantially covers the first shutter and defines a transverse opening, and wherein the longitudinal and transverse openings are aligned with the acoustic transducer assembly opening defined by the top wall such that the acoustic transducer assembly extends through the longitudinal, transverse and acoustic transducer assembly openings.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first shutter is movable in the transverse direction, and the second shutter is moveable in the longitudinal direction.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when the fluid bath is filled with a fluid and inverted such that the top wall is at the bottom of the fluid bath and the weight of the fluid is applied to the top wall, the first and second shutters are adapted to support the weight of the fluid and the top wall.
8. A fluid bath for coupling acoustic signals between an acoustic transducer assembly and an object, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly is used to examine the internal structure of the object using reflection mode acoustic microscopy, the fluid bath comprising:
a side wall defining a closed perimeter, the side wall having an upper portion and a bottom portion such that the acoustic transducer assembly is movable in three planes; and
an interior flap extending from the bottom portion of the side wall into the interior of the closed perimeter, and wherein the side wall and the interior flap are made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein the bottom portion of the side wall includes a resilient pliable strip for contacting a surface of the object.
10. The device of claim 8, further including:
a jig;
a brace adapted to attached to the jig with the side wall interposing the brace and jig; and
a spring extending from the brace to the bottom portion of the side wall, wherein the spring biases the bottom portion of the side wall away form the brace.
11. The device of claim 8, further including:
a top wall extending inward over the closed perimeter defined by the side wall, the top wall attached to the upper portion of the side wall, the top wall defining an acoustic transducer assembly opening that extends through the top wall, and wherein the top wall is made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid.
12. The device of claim 11, further including:
a fluid support assembly disposed proximal to the top wall, the fluid support assembly adapted to support the weight of the fluid in the fluid bath.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the top wall is made from a stretchable material.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the top wall defines multiple pleats that fold and unfold in response to movement of the acoustic transducer assembly opening.
15. A fluid bath for coupling acoustic signals between an acoustic transducer assembly and an object, wherein the acoustic transducer assembly is used to examine the internal structure of the object using reflection mode acoustic microscopy, the fluid bath comprising:
a side wall defining a closed perimeter, the side wall having an upper portion and a bottom portion;
an interior flap extending from the bottom portion of the side wall into the interior of the closed perimeter, and wherein the side wall and the interior flap are made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid;
a top wall extending inward over the closed perimeter defined by the side wall, the top wall attached to the upper portion of the side wall, the top wall defining an acoustic transducer assembly opening that extends through the top wall, and wherein the top wall is made from a material that is essentially impermeable to the fluid; and
a fluid support assembly disposed proximal to the top wall, the fluid support assembly adapted to support the weight of the fluid in the fluid bath, the fluid support assembly including:
a first shutter attached to pair of longitudinal members and extending therebetween, wherein the first shutter substantially covers the top wall and defines a longitudinal opening; and
a second shutter attached to pair of cross members and extending therebetween, wherein the second shutter substantially covers the first shutter and defines a transverse opening, and wherein the longitudinal and transverse openings are aligned with the acoustic transducer assembly opening defined by the top wall such that at least a portion of the acoustic transducer assembly extends through the longitudinal, transverse and acoustic transducer assembly openings.
16. A method for examining the internal structure of an object using reflection mode acoustic scanning microscopy, the method comprising the steps of:
disposing a fluid bath on at least a first portion of the surface of the object, the fluid bath having generally hollow interior and adapted to receive at least a portion of an acoustic transducer assembly;
disposing a first end of an acoustic transducer assembly such that the first end is received by the fluid bath;
receiving at the fluid bath a fluid, wherein the fluid in the fluid bath extends from the first end of the acoustic transducer assembly to a portion of the surface of the object; and
scanning the acoustic transducer assembly in three planes over a first given area of the surface of the object, wherein the fluid in the fluid bath carries acoustic signal between the first end of the acoustic transducer assembly and the first given area of the surface of the object, and wherein the surface of the object is generally disposed in air.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of disposing the fluid bath further includes the step of:
removably affixing the fluid bath to at least the first portion of the surface of the object.
18. The method of claim 16, responsive to having scanned the first given area of the surface of the object, further including the steps of:
removing the fluid bath from the first portion of the surface of the object;
disposing the fluid bath on a second portion of the surface of the object; and
scanning the acoustic transducer assembly over a second given area of the surface of the object, wherein the fluid in the fluid bath carries acoustic signal between the first end of the acoustic transducer assembly and the second given area of the surface of the object.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the object is immersed substantially in air.
20. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:
coupling the acoustic transducer assembly to a jig, wherein the position of the acoustic transducer assembly is governed by the jig.
21. The method of claim 16, further including the step of:
providing a fluid support assembly, the fluid support assembly adapted to support the weight of the fluid in the fluid bath.