Abstract: A large aperture zoom optical system and an image pickup apparatus have a five-lens-group arrangement of positive-negative-positive-negative-positive refractive powers. At the time of zooming, the fifth lens group is fixed, and at least the second lens group, the third lens group and the fourth lens group are moved. The third lens group for use in focusing is composed of a single lens element.

Abstract: A variable-focal-length lens system for projection which achieves focusing by movement of the entire system has a second to a fourth lens group as focal-length-varying lens groups and a first lens group as a distance-compensation lens group. The second to fourth lens groups individually move in the optical axis direction to vary the group-to-group distances so as to vary the focal length of the entire system. During focusing, the first lens group moves in the optical axis direction such that, as the projection distance varies from a remote distance to a close distance, curvature of field varies to the under side.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drive device 1 which is adapted to move a driven member used on a speed difference between during extending and during contracting in a course of vibration of a vibrator. The vibrator, e.g., a piezoelectric element 4, 5, is formed in a structure which has two resonance modes identical in terms of a vibration direction, and allows a ratio between resonance frequencies of the two resonance modes to become approximately 2. A drive signal to be given to the vibrator is configured to approximately conform to the two resonance modes. The drive device 1 having the above configuration makes it possible to generate pseudo-sawtooth displacement vibration multiplied by an amplitude amplification factor Q through resonance, thereby improving a movement speed, and allow a larger part of input energy to be used for mechanical vibration, thereby improving energy efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is an optical film which exhibits low internal haze, low internal scattering, and excellent moisture resistance though the film contains diacetylcellulose having excellent retardation-inducing properties. An optical film characterized by comprising: a cellulose acetate ? which has a 6% viscosity of 70 to 250 mPas and a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.0 to less than 2.5; another cellulose acetate ? which has a 6% viscosity lower than that of the cellulose acetate ? and a degree of acetyl substitution of 2.0 to less than 2.5; ester compound C which has 1 to 12 pyranose or furanose structures of at least one kind and in which all or a part of the OH groups of the structures are esterified; and polyester D represented by Formula (1). B-(G-A)n-G-B (1).

Abstract: A hard coat film has wide width and uniform and excellent surface hardness and does not easily suffer from exfoliation or cracks when the hard coat film is cut. A polarizing plate uses the hard coat film, and is employed in a liquid crystal display device. The hard coat film is obtained by arranging a hard coat layer on a cellulose acylate film. The hard coat film is characterized in that the cellulose acylate film contains elastic particles and a cellulose acetate that has a degree of substitution of acyl groups of 2.0 or more but less than 2.5, and the maximum value of tan ? (loss modulus/storage modulus) of the cellulose acylate film is 0.80-2.00 (inclusive) with respect to the film temperature from 20° C. to 200° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blood cell trajectory display device (1) for displaying the blood cell trajectory leading to an agglutination, that is equipped with a TV camera (3) for sequential photographing the flow of blood, a calculation unit (70) that analyzes the blood flow images obtained by the TV camera (3), and a display (8). The calculation unit (70) analyzes a plurality of blood flow image frames and detects the agglutination of blood cells in the blood, and in cases in which blood cell agglutination has been detected, detects the position of said blood cells in the blood flow image frame prior to the frame in which the agglutination was detected, and requests the trajectory of said blood cells to the agglutination point. The display (8) displays the blood cell trajectory requested by the calculation unit (70).

Abstract: A film mirror which is excellent in anti-staining and scratch resistance and can maintain good specular reflectance for sunlight over long period of time is disclosed, comprising a silver reflection layer provided on at least one side of a resin substrate, wherein the film mirror comprises an outermost layer on a light incident side and a surface of the outermost layer exhibits an electric resistance value of 1.0×10?3 to 1.1×109 ?·?, a pencil hardness of not less than H and less than 6H, and not more than 30 flaws in a steel wool test under a load of 500 g/cm2, and also disclosed are a production method thereof and a reflection device for solar power generation by use thereof.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element 1 as an electromechanical conversion element 1 and a drive device S according to the present invention include step portions 21 which are formed on each of a pair of external electrodes 11, 11 formed on outer peripheral surfaces of a laminated body 10 including a plurality of piezoelectric layers 10a and have a difference in height between the boundary of a connection region 11a for connection to a power supply member for supplying power and end sections 10c of the laminated body 10.

Abstract: A film mirror prevents a drop in the specular reflectance rate caused by the deterioration of a silver layer functioning as a reflective layer. The film mirror is either provided at least with an ultraviolet absorption layer, resin base layers which neighbor each other, a silver reflective layer, and a lower adjacent layer as the constituent layers, in this order, from the side in which light enters, or provided at least with an ultraviolet absorption layer, resin base layers which neighbor each other, an adhesive layer, a silver reflective layer, and a lower adjacent layer as the constituent layers, in said order, from the side in which light enters. Either the resin base layer or the adhesive layer contains a stabilizer.

Abstract: Image pickup lens unit (100) comprises, in order to minimize the positional displacement between an optical system and a holder therefor, compound lens (6), holder (2) which houses compound lens (6) therein, and cover (4) which covers compound lens (6). In holder (2), there is formed peripheral section (2e) which restricts the movement of compound lens (6) in the XY-direction. In cover (4), there is formed projecting section (4e) which restricts the movement of compound lens (6) in the Z-direction.

Abstract: There are disclosed a film mirror, which can be prevented from decrease in specular reflectance when a silver layer that serves as a reflective layer is deteriorated, is lightweight and flexible, can be produced at low cost, can have an enlarged surface area, can be produced on a large scale, exhibits excellent light stability and weather resistance, and exhibits good specular reflectance to solar light; a process for producing the film mirror; and a reflection device for solar power generation, which is equipped with such a film mirror. The film mirror comprises at least an adhesive layer, a silver reflection layer and an upper adjacent layer as constituent layers provided on the resin substrate sequentially in this order, in which at least the upper adjacent layer contains a binder and a corrosion inhibitor for silver.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light emission device comprising an LED element and a wavelength conversion section, the LED element emitting light of a specific wavelength and the wavelength conversion section converting the light emitted from the LED element to light of a specific wavelength, featured in that the wavelength conversion section is composed of a ceramic layer which has been formed employing, as a raw material, polysilazane containing a phosphor and inorganic fine particles with a particle size smaller than the phosphor.

Abstract: The invention provides a film mirror having excellent regular reflectance to solar heat, and exhibiting excellent light resistance and weather resistance, which is possible to sufficiently suppress regular reflectance decline; is lightweight and flexible; and can be large-area- and mass-produced at low cost, employing it as a film mirror for solar heat power generation under severe environment for long duration, and provides a manufacturing method and a reflection device for solar heat power generation thereof. A film mirror possessing a resin substrate and provided thereon, a silver reflection layer and a layer possessing at least one UV absorbent, provided on a light incidence side beyond the resin substrate and the silver reflection layer, wherein the at least one UV absorbent satisfies Aa?1.2×Ab. Aa represents absorbance at an absorption maximum peak in 260-320 nm, and Ab represents absorbance at an absorption maximum peak in 321-400 nm.

Abstract: A drive mechanism and a drive device which have an SMA actuator applied thereto, wherein the drive mechanism is configured in such a manner that the size of a constituent component contained within a driven part can be increased to enable the driven part to be moved stably and wherein the drive device is configured in such a manner that the diameter of a lens mounted to a lens unit can be increased to enable the lens unit to be smoothly displaced in the optical axis direction. The drive mechanism and the drive device are configured in such a manner that a drive support point for a lever member is provided at a corner of an affixed section, a guide body is provided to a second corner, which faces said corner, so as to protrude from the body section of the driven part, the guide body is supported slidably, and the drive mechanism and the drive device are provided with a drive guide section provided with a pressing spring for pressing the guide body.

Abstract: A drive mechanism and an imaging device according to the present invention each include: an ultrasonic linear actuator 4 provided with a rod 42 that moves reciprocally in response to expansion/contraction of a piezoelectric element 41 and a first group unit 2 serving as an example of a moving body that engages with the rod 42 with a prescribed frictional force. The moving body (first group unit 2) is provided with a holding member 24, a pressing member 30 or other member that engages with the rod 42 in such a way that fluctuation in the frictional force is suppressed, and drive performance is stabilized. As a consequence, the drive mechanism and the imaging device according to the present invention can suppress fluctuation in the frictional force (gripping force) of the moving body in the ultrasonic linear actuator 4, making it possible to stabilize drive performance.

Abstract: In an image pickup device 1 and a method for manufacturing same according to the present invention, one end of a rod 42 in an ultrasonic linear actuator 4 is supported tiltably by a first supporting section (for example, a front frame 52), and after the position of the ultrasonic linear actuator 4 is adjusted in such a manner that an optical axis of a moving lens group (for example, a first unit 2) which engages with the rod 42 is perpendicular to an element surface of an image pickup element 7, a piezoelectric element 41 which is connected to another end of the rod 42 is fixed by adhesive to a second supporting section (for example, a rear frame 51) which is disposed in the vicinity of the piezoelectric element 41.

Abstract: A polarizing plate, includes: a hard coat film; a protective film; and a polarizer sandwiched between the hard coat film and the protective film, wherein the hard coat film includes a first cellulose ester film being contact with the polarizer, and a hard coat layer provided on the first cellulose ester film, wherein the hard coat layer includes a composition containing a curable resin and at least one thermoplastic resin selected from a group of a thermoplastic polyester resin, a thermoplastic polyester urethane resin, and an acrylic resin not having an ethylenically-unsaturated double bond, and wherein the hard coat layer is a cured layer of the composition, and has 500 to 200,000 protrusions per mm2 on a surface thereof.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes: an electromechanical transducer element wherein mechanical displacement will occur when a voltage is applied thereto, a drive member that is moved by the electromechanical transducer element, a moving member that engages with the drive member so as to be able to make a slipping displacement relative to the same, regulating members for limiting the movement of the moving member by coming into contact with the moving member, a drive circuit for applying a cyclical drive voltage to the electromechanical transducer element, a detecting circuit for detecting the impedance of the electromechanical transducer element, and an evaluating means for determining that the moving member is in contact with one of the regulating members when the value detected by the detecting circuit is not less than a prescribed value.