Abstract: A light beam from a light source is divided by a beam splitter into two branches, thereby providing a probing light having a single linear polarization and a reference light having a linear polarization which has the same polarization axis as that of the probing light. A frequency shifter which is driven in accordance with a modulation signal shifts the frequency of at least one of the probing light and the reference light. The probing light irradiates a specimen to be inspected, and the light reflected from the specimen and the reference light impinge on a photoelectric transducer to be heterodyned to provide a beat signal. A parameter representing the nature of a foreign matter is extracted from the beat signal and the reference signal used as the modulation signal, and the extracted parameter is processed to detect the presence of a foreign matter.

Abstract: A foreign matter processing apparatus is disclosed for detecting a foreign matter sticking to the surface of a sample such as a circuit board. In the sample processing apparatus of the present invention, a fine foreign matter sticking to a surface of a sample is detected, and the composition of the detected foreign matter is analyzed. Then, it is determined based on a result of the analysis and various data registered in advance whether or not it is required to remove the foreign matter, and the foreign matter, whose removal has been determined to be required, is removed from the surface of the sample. Accordingly, detection, analysis and removal of a foreign matter on the surface of a sample can be performed by a single apparatus.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a titanium nitride aluminum based sintered material having excellent durability and able to be cheaply produced and cut spheroidal graphite cast iron at high speed and be used as a cutting tool material having a long life, and a method of production the same. The present invention resides in a production method of a titanium nitride aluminum based sintered material characterized in that powder of Ti.sub.(1-x) Al.sub.x N (x=0.05.about.0.70) is sintered. Said x is preferably set to a range from 0.05 to 0.15 or from 0.50 to 0.70. 0.2 to 11.1% of an additive by volume constructed by TiO.sub.y (y=1.about.2) and/or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is preferably externally added to the above titanium nitride aluminum based sintered material.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cubic boron nitride based sintered material having excellent durability and capable of cutting at least spheroidal graphite cast iron at high speed and usable in a cutting tool having a long life, and a production method of this cubic boron nitride based sintered material. The present invention resides in a production method of a cubic boron nitride based sintered material characterized in that a mixing raw material is produced by mixing powder of Ti.sub.(1-x) Al.sub.x N(x=0.05.about.0.70) and the powder of a cubic boron nitride, and is next sintered. A compounding ratio of the above mixing raw material is preferably set such that this mixing raw material includes 10 to 90% of the above Ti.sub.(1-x) Al.sub.x N(x=0.05.about.0.70) by volume and 10 to 90% of the above cubic boron nitride by volume.

Abstract: An error rate measurement system measures a bit error rate of an optical pulse train having a very high frequency and a short pulse width such as an optical soliton signal.

Abstract: A fin-line antenna 51 comprises fins 51a and 51b and a fin-line antenna 52 comprises fins 52a and 52b. The fins 51b and 52b are integrated into one body and connected to a ground layer of a strip line 31. The length of each antenna 51 or 52 is one wavelength. A millimetric wave of waveguide mode which is received by one of the antennas 51 and 52 is split into four paths and each split wave is injected into each of four divided portions of a signal line of the strip line 31 comprising series connections of many Josephson junctions. One end of each divided portion is grounded via a termination resistor 38 and a capacitor 39. A summed output of the generated voltage of each Josephson junction is obtained between both ends 42 and 43 of the strip line 31.

Abstract: An improved backward Brillouin scattering optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) device is provided which is capable of detecting the deterioration of or anticipating the fracture in an optical cable or optical fiber and measuring the position of the failure part with high resolution. To accomplish this, the OTDR constantly or periodically supplies an optical pulse having a power level of +8 dBm or higher from an optical pulse generator 20 to an optical cable, monitors a power ratio between the optical pulse supplied to the optical cable and a reflected pulse by an optical power comparator 40, detects correlation between the supplied optical pulse and the reflected pulse by a correlation detector 27 while switching the supplied optical pulse to a pseudo random optical pulse, and calculates the failure position of the optical cable when the factor of correlation shows the maximum value.

Abstract: An ultra high accuracy voltage measurement system utilizes a Josephson junction voltage generator whose voltage is controlled by a high precision frequency.

Abstract: A hole burning measurement system realizes accurate analysis of a photochemical hole burning effect in an optical device.

Abstract: An ellipsometry optical system is to analyze light beams reflected from or transmitted through optical devices or materials.

Abstract: A powder of diamond or high-pressure phase boron nitride core particles charged into a coating space as it is dispersed, and a precursor of a coat forming substance allowed to contact and/or impinge against the particles in the powder of core particles so that their surfaces are covered with the coat forming substance, thereby preparing coated diamond or high-pressure phase boron nitride particles which are subsequently sintered. The thusly produced diamond of high-pressure phase boron nitride sinter is composed of coated core particles of high performance that are superhard, uniform, dense and sintered firmly, and which have a controlled microstructure.

Abstract: A membrane switch is actuated by pressure transmitted from a movable key member through two coaxial springs connected end-to-end. A first of the two springs is held by the key member in a partially strained state requiring an initial force to strain it further. The second spring, smaller in diameter and stiffer than the first, has a free end at which force is applied to the membrane switch. As a top of the key member is pressed, the free end of the second spring moves toward, touches, then presses the membrane switch. Force builds rapidly with displacement in the small spring until it reaches the initial force under which the first spring is retained. This initial force is made roughly equal to the force required to actuate the membrane switch. After that point, the force-displacement characteristic is that of the two-spring combination, which is less stiff than the second spring alone. Thus, long key travel is permitted while the actuation force is reached early in the displacement of the key member.

Abstract: A key switch operating unit having an elastic cylinder hermetically interposed between the top surface of a housing and the lower surface of a flange portion of a key stem, and a rubber bottom cover covering the lower opening of the housing so as to define an airtight inner space. The housing has an inner partition wall and an outer peripheral wall to define a dust protective space. Small foreign substances such as dust and liquid tending to enter into the inside of the housing when operating the key switch can be prevented from entering.

Abstract: A double-axis key switch has a key cap with a pair of key stems which slide into a housing to actuate a pair of switches. The key stems are slightly out of parallel so that the axes of the key stems meet in a direction of stroke relative to the key cap. However, the sleeves, into which the key stems insert, are parallel. When the key cap is pressed off-center, causing tilting of the key cap, one key stem advances ahead of the other. Because of the relative positions of the axes, binding forces increase in the leading key stem and decrease in the following stem. The asymmetry of the binding forces tends to correct the tilting of the key cap so that the key cap advances symmetrically and smoothly.

Abstract: In a keyboard switch that switches on and off by sliding a key stem, the key stem is slidably inserted in a key stem sleeve that is integral with the housing of the keyboard switch. The key stem comprises a sliding member integrally formed therewith and a keytop support whose shape is a wide flange formed integrally with and projecting outwardly from the outer periphery of the sliding member. An elastic hollow cylinder has one end hermetically joining the lower face of the keytop support and its other end hermetically joining the outer periphery of the key stem guide sleeve. With this structure, there can be no gap between the sliding member and the keytop support, so the interior of the keyboard switch is kept completely free from dust and moisture.

Abstract: A method of producing a curable composition containing a prepolymer having a polythioether skeleton, characterized by comprising addition reacting (A) 4,4'-bis(methacryloylthio)-diphenylsulfide having the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is a polyvalent organic group composed of an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon and n represents an integer of 2 or more, with the functional group equivalent ratio of the mercapto groups of the component (B) (ii) to the methacryloyl groups of the component (A) being from 0.02 to 1.01, in another vinyl monomer copolymerizable with 4,4'-bis(methacryloylthio)diphenylsulfide having the above formula (I) in the presence of a base catalyst.

Abstract: 4,4'-Bis(methacryloylthio)diphenylsulfide having the formula (I): ##STR1## and a curable composition characterized by comprising: (A) 4,4'-bis(methacryloylthio)diphenylsulfide having the above formula (I):(B) (i) another vinyl monomer copolymerizable with 4,4'-bis(methacryloylthio)diphenylsulfide having the above formula (I), and (ii) a polythiol represented by the formula (II):R-(SH).sub.n (II)wherein R is a polyvalent organic group and n represents an integer of 2 or more, wherein the content of the component (B)(i), when the component (B)(i) is present, in the total amount of said components (A), (B)(i) and (B)(ii) is 10 to 90% by weight, and the functional group equivalent ratio of the mercapto groups of the component (B)(ii), when the component (B)(ii) is present, to the methacryloyl groups of the component (A) is from 0.02 to 1.

Abstract: By using an EIP source lock counter, a frequency of a Gunn oscillator is stabilized. This increases the frequency stability of a circuit. An oscillation output of the Gunn Oscillator is supplied to the EIP source lock counter, and a phase lock signal indicative of a phase shift of the oscillation frequency from the EIP source lock counter relative to a preset reference frequency is supplied to a driver circuit. The driver circuit includes level shift circuit which level-shifts the phase lock signal thereof. A phase compensation circuit in the driver circuit boosts a gain as well as advances a phase at a high frequency region. The current amplifier circuit amplifies a current amplitude of the output of the level shift circuit, and the amplified output therefrom controls an oscillation frequency of the Gunn oscillator using negative feedback.

Abstract: A liquid polymerizable prepolymer having good storage stability is prepared by addition reaction of a polyene compound having a group ##STR1## (R.sub.1 =H or CH.sub.3) with a polythiol compound in the presence of a basic catalyst under such a condition that the ratio of the total number of vinyl groups to the total number of thiol groups is at least 2. The liquid polymerizable prepolymer is used alone or in combination with an aliphatic polyfunctional vinyl monomer having a refractive index of at least 1.45 for the manufacture of an optical element.

Abstract: A cubic boron nitride-containing high-density inorganic composite sintered article is produced by a method which essentially consists of preparing a mixture of a cubic boron nitride powder with an inorganic compound powder capable of forming a high-rigidity sintered article under the conditions permitting the cubic boron nitride to remain in a substantially metastable, though not thermodynamically stable, state, a mixture of an inorganic compound-coated cubic boron nitride powder with an inorganic compound powder, or an inorganic compound-coated cubic boron nitride powder, and sintering the mixture of the cubic boron nitride powder with an inorganic compound powder, the mixture of the inorganic compound-coated cubic boron nitride powder with an inorganic compound powder or an inorganic compound-coated cubic boron nitrides powder, under the conditions of not more than 2,000 MPa of pressure and not more than 1,500.degree. C.