Abstract: A strain sensor includes a marker, detectors and a calculator. The marker is disposed on a surface of a measurement object and includes a strain body and surface plasmon generating particles. In the strain body, a strain is formed by a load. The surface plasmon generating particles are arranged in two directions which are parallel to two in-plane directions of a light receiving surface of the strain body. The first detector detects a spectral intensity of a light which has been reflected on the marker or has passed through the marker. The second detector detects absorption spectral peaks corresponding to the respective array directions of the particles from the spectral intensity. The calculator calculates the quantity of the strain of the marker based on a difference in wavelength of the two absorption spectral peaks.

Abstract: A structural color changeable material includes a strain body and surface plasmon generating particles. In the strain body, a strain is produced by an external pressure or an internal change. The surface plasmon generating particles generate surface plasmon and are contained in the strain body. The surface plasmon is generated by an incident light with a wavelength of 2400 nm or less. A mean particle size of the surface plasmon generating particles is equal to or less than the wavelength of the incident light. The surface plasmon generating particles are periodically arranged parallel to an in-plane direction of a reflection surface of the incident light.

Abstract: A drive device includes a drive member, a light source, a marker, a detector, a signal processor and a strain controller. The drive member includes at least a material which generates a plasmon. The drive member generates strain in response to input energy. The marker is formed on a surface of the drive member. Strain occurs in the marker in accordance with a deformation of the drive member and the marker reflects or transmits light emitted from the light source. The detector detects a light intensity of light reflected from or transmitted through the marker. The signal processor calculates an amount of strain which occurs in the marker based on the light intensity. The strain controller controls an amount of strain of the drive member based on the amount of strain calculated by the signal processor.

Abstract: Provided is a gas detection method using a localized surface plasmon sensor that can transmit, reflect, or scatter applied electromagnetic waves and that causes a change in a response spectrum of the applied electromagnetic waves due to interaction with a target to be detected, wherein the localized surface plasmon sensor includes at least an aggregate of particles having a core-shell structure composed of a core made of a substance having a maximum optical absorption peak wavelength due to surface plasmon resonances in an infrared region and a shell covering the core, the shell absorbs or reacts with the target to be detected to show a change in its refractive index, and the core has an average particle diameter D1 of 0.6 ?m or more but less than the maximum optical absorption peak wavelength of the core.

Abstract: A strain sensor includes a light source, a marker which is disposed on a measuring object so that light from the light source is reflected by or transmitted through the marker, a detector which detects the intensity of the light from the marker, and a signal processor which calculates a strain amount based on the detected light intensity. The marker is a flat film including first and second media having different refractive indexes. The second medium is periodically arrayed in the first medium and exists simultaneously with the first medium on a plane parallel to the marker mounting surface. The maximum length of the second medium in a direction parallel to the mounting surface is shorter than the wavelength of the emitted light. The first and second media deform in response to load in a direction parallel to the mounting surface.

Abstract: A strain sensor includes a light source, a marker which is disposed on a measuring object so that light from the light source is reflected by or transmitted through the marker, a detector which detects the intensity of the light from the marker, and a signal processor which calculates a strain amount based on the detected light intensity. The marker is a flat film including first and second media having different refractive indexes. The second medium is periodically arrayed in the first medium and exists simultaneously with the first medium on a plane parallel to the marker mounting surface. The maximum length of the second medium in a direction parallel to the mounting surface is shorter than the wavelength of the emitted light. The first and second media deform in response to load in a direction parallel to the mounting surface.

Abstract: In an oblique-incidence optical system, a pair of optical beams are incident from the deflection section on an optically anisotropic common scanning lens. First and second individual scanning lenses are optically anisotropic and on which the one and the other of the pair of optical beams are respectively incident from the common scanning lens. Light sources are arranged such that their respective planes of polarization are symmetrical to each other. The first and second individual scanning lenses are arranged so as to be symmetrical to each other, the common scanning lens has a symmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis, and each of the individual scanning lenses has an asymmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image reading mechanism configured to read an image from a document; an image forming mechanism configured to print the image read by the image reading mechanism on a recording sheet; and an image inspection mechanism configured to read the image printed on the recording sheet in the image forming mechanism. The image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism each include: a light source configured to irradiate a reading target with light; and a solid-state image sensing device on which reflected light from the reading target is made incident, and configured to perform photoelectric conversion operation. Light emitting members forming the light sources of the image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism have the same spectral characteristics.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image reading mechanism configured to read an image from a document; an image forming mechanism configured to print the image read by the image reading mechanism on a recording sheet; and an image inspection mechanism configured to read the image printed on the recording sheet in the image forming mechanism. The image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism each include: a light source configured to irradiate a reading target with light; and a solid-state image sensing device on which reflected light from the reading target is made incident, and configured to perform photoelectric conversion operation. Light emitting members forming the light sources of the image reading mechanism and the image inspection mechanism have the same spectral characteristics.

Abstract: An elevating container includes an elliptically shaped main tube, a non-circularly shaped moveable support unit which moves upwardly or downwardly along an inner surface of a storage tube of the main tube without rotating, and a driving unit fitted to the main tube to rotate in threaded engagement to the support unit without moving upwardly or downwardly. A seal section at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the storage tube and a sealing cylinder at the lower end of the support unit are air-tightly fitted to each other. In addition, positioning ribs are provided at the lower end of the storage tube, and positioning notches are provided at the lower end of the moveable support unit. When the positioning ribs and the positioning notches are engaged with each other, a circumferential misalignment between the main tube and the support unit is corrected.

Abstract: In a laser scanning optical system, at least one of one or more scanning optical elements is made of a material having a photoelastic coefficient equal to or greater than 20×10?12 [Pa?1]; wherein at least one of one or more reflectors comprises a basal plate, and a metal film and a single-layer optical thin film evaporated on the basal plate; wherein the single-layer optical thin film has a thickness greater than 0.15? and less than 0.40?, wherein ? is a wavelength of the light beam; and wherein the light beams heading to both ends of an effective scanning range of the imaging surface, of which image heights are maximum, enter the one or more reflectors at angles of incidence equal to or greater than 10 degrees and less than 55 degrees.

Abstract: In an oblique-incidence optical system, a pair of optical beams are incident from the deflection section on an optically anisotropic common scanning lens. First and second individual scanning lenses are optically anisotropic and on which the one and the other of the pair of optical beams are respectively incident from the common scanning lens. Light sources are arranged such that their respective planes of polarization are symmetrical to each other. The first and second individual scanning lenses are arranged so as to be symmetrical to each other, the common scanning lens has a symmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis, and each of the individual scanning lenses has an asymmetrical shape in the secondary direction with respect to a plane including its own optical axis.

Abstract: An advancing container constructed from an elliptically tubular body tube (1), a tubular tray body (21) having a non-circular shaped lateral cross-section and non-rotatably moves up and down in a containing tube section (2) in the body tube (1), and a driving body (11) mounted to the body tube (1) so as to be able to rotate and not to be able to move up and down and screw-fitted to the tray body (21). A seal section (3) at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the containing tube section (2) and a seal tube section (24) at the lower end of the tray body (21) are adapted to be able to be tightly fitted to each other. A positioning rib (4) is provided at the lower end of the containing tube section (2), and a positioning cutout (25) is provided at the lower end of the tray body (21). When the positioning rib (4) and the positioning cutout (25) are engaged with each other, circumferential displacements of the body tube (1) and the tray body (21) are corrected.

Abstract: A discharge container that discharges an appropriated amount of a creamy cosmetic, medical supply, or the like. The discharge container may include a cylindrical body and a cylindrical lid with a top. The lid covers an opening, and is rotatably engaged with the opening. A top wall portion of the top is brought into sliding contact with an upper end surface of a rotatable partitioning plate such that any contents in the discharge container are pressed by relative rotation between the container body and the lid, resulting in the contents being discharged through a discharge opening provided on the top wall.

Abstract: A discharge container includes a cylindrical container body with a bottom which includes a support extending upward from a bottom wall along a center axis, and a fixed partitioning plate extending from a region from a peripheral wall to a bottom wall as a base end to partition the inside of the container body in a radial direction; a rotor which includes a cylindrical shaft piece rotatably engaging with the outer surface of the support, and a rotatable partitioning plate extending from the cylindrical shaft piece as a base end to be arranged in a radial direction along with the fixed partitioning plate; and a cylindrical lid with a top which has a top wall having a saucer-shaped upper surface, and a downwardly extending shaft extending downwardly from the lower surface of the top wall and engaging with the cylindrical shaft piece from above such that the downwardly extending shaft cannot rotate therein, the lid covering the cylindrical opening as a lid and rotatably engaging with the cylindrical opening, wher

Abstract: A cap for mounting on an aerosol container, which is able to automatically release the gas remaining therein with a simple action, when the container is to be discarded, said cap comprising a top plate member having a periphery connected to an upper end portion of a tubular body, wherein said top plate member has an aperture and a lid for closing the aperture, said lid has a fixed end which is connected to a margin of the aperture through a bendable line, such that the lid is able to turn from a first position in which the lid closes the aperture, to a second position in which the lid is protruding into the tubular body member so as to get in touch with a top face of the discharge head that is depressed downwardly, and the top plate member also has a stopper for fixing the lid in the second position so as to keep the discharge head in such a pressed state.

Abstract: A cap for mounting on an aerosol container, which is able to automatically release the gas remaining therein with a simple action, when the container is to be discarded, said cap comprising a top plate member having a periphery connected to an upper end portion of a tubular body, wherein said top plate member has an aperture and a lid for closing the aperture, said lid has a fixed end which is connected to a margin of the aperture through a bendable line, such that the lid is able to turn from a first position in which the lid closes the aperture, to a second position in which the lid is protruding into the tubular body member so as to get in touch with a top face of the discharge head that is depressed downwardly, and the top plate member also has a stopper for fixing the lid in the second position so as to keep the discharge head in such a pressed state.

Abstract: A cap for mounting on an aerosol container, which is able to automatically release the gas remaining therein with a simple action, when the container is to be discarded, said cap comprising a top plate member having a periphery connected to an upper end portion of a tubular body, wherein said top plate member has an aperture and a lid for closing the aperture, said lid has a fixed end which is connected to a margin of the aperture through a bendable line, such that the lid is able to turn from a first position in which the lid closes the aperture, to a second position in which the lid is protruding into the tubular body member so as to get in touch with a top face of the discharge head that is depressed downwardly, and the top plate member also has a stopper for fixing the lid in the second position so as to keep the discharge head in such a pressed state.

Abstract: A cap for mounting on an aerosol container, which is able to automatically release the gas remaining therein with a simple action, when the container is to be discarded, said cap comprising a top plate member having a periphery connected to an upper end portion of a tubular body, wherein said top plate member has an aperture and a lid for closing the aperture, said lid has a fixed end which is connected to a margin of the aperture through a bendable line, such that the lid is able to turn from a first position in which the lid closes the aperture, to a second position in which the lid protruding into the tubular body member so as to get in touch with a top face of the discharge head that is depressed downwardly, and the top plate member also has a stopper for fixing the lid in the second position so as to keep the discharge head in such a pressed state.

Abstract: A cap for mounting on an aerosol container, which is able to automatically release the gas remaining therein with a simple action, when the container is to be discarded, said cap comprising a top plate member having a periphery connected to an upper end portion of a tubular body, wherein said top plate member has an aperture and a lid for closing the aperture, said lid has a fixed end which is connected to a margin of the aperture through a bendable line, such that the lid is able to turn from a first position in which the lid closes the aperture, to a second position in which the lid protruding into the tubular body member so as to get in touch with a top face of the discharge head that is depressed downwardly, and the top plate member also has a stopper for fixing the lid in the second position so as to keep the discharge head in such a pressed state.