Abstract: An optical thin-film vapor deposition apparatus and method are capable of producing an optical thin-film by vapor depositing a vapor deposition substance onto substrates (14) within a vacuum vessel (10). A dome shaped holder (12) is disposed within the vacuum vessel (10) and holds the substrates (14). A drive rotates the dome shaped holder (12). A vapor depositing source (34) is disposed oppositely to the substrates (14). An ion source (38) irradiates ions to the substrates (14). A neutralizer (40) irradiates electrons to the substrates (14). The ion source (38) is disposed at an angle between an axis, along which ions are irradiated from the ion source (38), and a line perpendicular to a surface of each of the substrates (14). The angle is between 8° inclusive and 40° inclusive. A ratio of a distance in a vertical direction between (i) a center of rotational axis of the dome shaped holder (12), and (ii) a center of the ion source (38), relative to a diameter of the dome shaped holder (12), is between 0.

Abstract: An FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensor is equipped with a plurality of stress detection sensors made up from optical fibers in which gratings that reflect light of a specified wavelength are arrayed, and a stress direction converter that converts stresses applied from the exterior into stresses of a direction in which the gratings are arrayed, and which transmits the stresses to each of the gratings. Consequently, the stress direction converter can transmit stresses, which are applied from a body, to a plurality of gratings.

Abstract: An optical sensor circuit has a photodiode PD, a MOS transistor Q1, a voltage controller 13 which supplies a gate voltage and a drain voltage to the transistor, etc. The voltage controller includes initial setting means 15. In the initial setting means, an electrostatic capacitance element of the photodiode is charged/discharged while setting a gate voltage of the transistor Q1 to a high gate voltage value VgH, only for a predetermined time period, and setting a drain voltage to a low drain voltage value VdL, only for a predetermined time period. Thereafter, the drain voltage is set to VdH, and, after elapse of a predetermined time period, the gate voltage is set to VgL. VgH, VdH, and VdL satisfy relational expressions of “VgH?VdH<Vth and VgH?VdL>Vth where Vth: a threshold voltage of the MOS transistor Q1”.

Abstract: A plurality of catalytic units (42) and (43) are disposed in series with each other in a direction conforming to the direction (X) of flow of the exhaust gases (G) and include respective honeycomb carrier structure each having a catalyst deposited thereon. Of the plural catalytic units, at least two catalytic units (42) and (43), which are positioned downstream and upstream relative to each other with respect to the direction (X) of flow of the exhaust gases (G), respectively, are such that the downstream catalytic unit (42) has a higher cell density, a smaller capacity of the honeycomb carrier structure and a larger amount of an element, due to become a major catalyst, carried thereby per unitary capacity than those in the upstream catalytic unit (43).

Abstract: A scanning circuit of an image sensor using light sensor circuits each representing a unit pixel and producing a sensor signal corresponding to a current flowing in a photoelectric converting element, in which pixel signals are saturated by previously turning on the light sensor circuits and sequentially reading saturated pixel sensor signals, achieving stable and high-speed reading-out of the sensor signals from the image sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle including an engine coupled to a transmission via a clutch, includes a fuel feed stop controller configured to stop fuel feeding to the engine when a first fuel feed stop condition is satisfied, and a clutch state detector configured to detect whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged, wherein the fuel feed stop controller is configured to resume the fuel feeding to the engine, when a second fuel feed stop condition continues to be satisfied and the clutch continues to be disengaged for a predetermined delay time from a time point when the first fuel feed stop condition is satisfied and the clutch state detector starts to detect that the clutch is disengaged.

Abstract: An optical fiber sensor which functions as a tactile sensor includes a plurality of shearing stress sensor sections including respective optical fibers and a plurality of gratings for reflecting light beams having predetermined wavelengths. The gratings are disposed in the optical fibers and arrayed along a plane parallel to the direction in which a shearing stress is applied from an object to the shearing stress sensor sections. The sensor also includes a perpendicular stress sensor section including an optical fiber and a plurality of gratings for reflecting a light beam having a predetermined wavelength. The gratings are disposed in the optical fiber and arrayed along a plane parallel to the direction in which a perpendicular stress is applied from the object to the perpendicular stress sensor section. Preferably, stress direction converting means such as elastic members for converting the direction of an applied stress are mounted on the optical fibers.

Abstract: A electronic device is mounted on a circumferential surface of an inner liner by tucking first, second and third edges of a device plate between a first holding plane of a first guide tab and a surface of a holder plate, between a second holding plane of a second guide tab and the surface of the holder plate, and between a third holding plane of a third guide tab and the surface of the holder plate. The electronic device can be stably-mounted over the long term without difficulty and can be removed from the circumferential surface of the inner liner without difficulty.

Abstract: An optical sensor circuit has a photodiode PD, a MOS transistor Q1, a voltage controller 13 which supplies a gate voltage and a drain voltage to the transistor, etc. The voltage controller includes initial setting means 15. In the initial setting means, an electrostatic capacitance element of the photodiode is charged/discharged while setting a gate voltage of the transistor Q1 to a high gate voltage value VgH, only for a predetermined time period, and setting a drain voltage to a low drain voltage value VdL, only for a predetermined time period. Thereafter, the drain voltage is set to VdH, and, after elapse of a predetermined time period, the gate voltage is set to VgL. VgH, VdH, and VdL satisfy relational expressions of “VgH?VdH<Vth and VgH?VdL>Vth where Vth: a threshold voltage of the MOS transistor Q1”.

Abstract: A welding condition monitoring device for monitoring the welding state of a welding work portion by taking an image thereof by an image sensor having a wide dynamic range and capable of taking an image covering a very bright welding portion and relatively dark portion. The monitoring device selectively emphasizes the outputs of the image sensor for any of luminance areas of the image taken by the image sensor using a sensor output characteristic table and can provide an image clearly showing both the very bright welding portion and the dark bead portion with a sufficient contrast allowing an observer to reliably recognize the objects in the image.

Abstract: A welding condition monitoring device for monitoring the welding state of a welding work portion by taking an image thereof by an image sensor having a wide dynamic range and capable of taking an image covering a very bright welding portion and relatively dark portion. The monitoring device selectively emphasizes the outputs of the image sensor for any of luminance areas of the image taken by the image sensor using a sensor output characteristic table and can provide an image clearly showing both the very bright welding portion and the dark bead portion with a sufficient contrast allowing an observer to reliably recognize the objects in the image.

Abstract: An output compensating device capable of optimally compensating output signals of an image sensor composed of a number of light-sensor circuits, each of which represents a unit pixel and is capable of producing in a photoelectric converting element a sensor current proportional to a quantity of light falling thereon, converting the current into a voltage signal by a MOS type transistor with a logarithmic output characteristic in a weak inverse state, initializing itself by removing a charge accumulated in a parasitic capacitor of the photoelectric converting element by changing a drain voltage of the transistor to a value lower than a normal value for a specified time and outputting a pixel signal having a logarithmic characteristic at a large quantity of the sensor current and a pixel signal having a non-logarithmic characteristic at a small quantity of the sensor current.

Abstract: A short arc type high voltage electrical discharge electrode includes an electrode center spindle made from a refractory metal and having a tip; and an electrode main body made from a refractory metal and disposed at the tip of the electrode center spindle. The electrode center spindle is subjected to final sintering, the electrode main body is subjected to temporary sintering, and the final-sintered electrode center spindle is inserted into a center hole of the temporary-sintered electrode main body so as to form combination which is sintered together.

Abstract: Is disclosed a scanning circuit of an image sensor using light sensor circuits each representing a unit pixel and producing a sensor signal corresponding to a current flowing in a photoelectric converting element, which is provided with a means for saturating pixel signals by previously turning on the light sensor circuits and sequentially reading saturated pixel sensor signals, achieving stable and high-speed reading-out of the sensor signals from the image sensor.

Abstract: A welding condition monitoring device for monitoring the welding state of a welding work portion by taking an image thereof by an image sensor having a wide dynamic range and capable of taking an image covering a very bright welding portion and relatively dark portion. The monitoring device selectively emphasizes the outputs of the image sensor for any of luminance areas of the image taken by the image sensor using a sensor output characteristic table and can provide an image clearly showing both the very bright welding portion and the dark bead portion with a sufficient contrast allowing an observer to reliably recognize the objects in the image.

Abstract: An output compensating device capable of optimally compensating output signals of an image sensor composed of a number of light-sensor circuits, each of which represents a unit pixel and is capable of producing in a photoelectric converting element a sensor current proportional to a quantity of light falling thereon, converting the current into a voltage signal by a MOS type transistor with a logarithmic output characteristic in a weak inverse state, initializing itself by removing a charge accumulated in a parasitic capacitor of the photoelectric converting element by changing a drain voltage of the transistor to a value lower than a normal value for a specified time and outputting a pixel signal having a logarithmic characteristic at a large quantity of the sensor current and a pixel signal having a non-logarithmic characteristic at a small quantity of the sensor current.

Abstract: A method for the production of monoethylene glycol of high purity is disclosed which comprises subjecting ethylene to catalytic vapor phase oxidation with a molecular oxygen-containing gas thereby obtaining an ethylene oxide-containing gas, exposing the ethylene oxide-containing gas to an absorbing solution and stripping the resultant ethylene oxide-containing solution in a stripper, condensing the vapor emanating from the top of the stripper thereby obtaining crude ethylene oxide, subjecting at least part of the crude ethylene oxide to a hydration reaction, adding an alkaline substance to the hydration reaction solution in an amount of not less than 0.5 atomic equivalent weight relative to the chlorine atom contained in the hydration reaction solution or dehydrating the hydration reaction solution and introducing the side cut technique to the monoethylene glycol rectification column, and acquiring the monoethylene glycol from the side cut part.

Abstract: An impregnated cathode and a method of manufacturing the same are provided for suppressing emission of unwanted electrons and particles generated from an excess electron emitting substance so as to achieve a steady electron emission characteristic. The impregnated cathode is placed directly beneath an electron emission hole of a first grid. The impregnated cathode is made up of a first sintered porous element whose surface functions as an electron emitting region and a second sintered porous element whose surface is a peripheral region other than the electron emitting region. The porosity of the first sintered porous element is greater than that of the second sintered porous element. Not only the first sintered porous element having the electron emitting region but also the second sintered porous element corresponding to the region around the electron emitting region is impregnated with the electron emitting substance.

Abstract: An impregnated cathode and a method of manufacturing the same are provided for suppressing emission of unwanted electrons and particles generated from an excess electron emitting substance so as to achieve a steady electron emission characteristic. The impregnated cathode is placed directly beneath an electron emission hole of a first grid. The impregnated cathode is made up of a first sintered porous element whose surface functions as an electron emitting region and a second sintered porous element whose surface is a peripheral region other than the electron emitting region. The porosity of the first sintered porous element is greater than that of the second sintered porous element. Not only the first sintered porous element having the electron emitting region but also the second sintered porous element corresponding to the region around the electron emitting region is impregnated with the electron emitting substance.

Abstract: An amphoteric porous particulate containing a basic polysaccharide and a polymer of an organic acid containing a reactive vinyl group or a salt thereof and having an average particle size of 50 .mu.m or less, is capable of adsorbing a large amount of an acid or a base that is stronger than the acid or basic groups thereof and is useful in a deodorant or a cosmetic. The amphoteric porous particulate is made by emulsifying or suspending an aqueous solution containing a basic polysaccharide and an organic acid having a reactive vinyl group in a hydrophobic solvent, followed by polymerization. A deodorant may be made of a chitosan particulate having an average particle size of 0.01 to 50 .mu.m. A polysiloxane having long-chain alkyl groups and a melting point of 20.degree. C. or above is useful as an oil component of a deodorant.