Abstract: Provided are a magnetic marker and a magnetic marker detection system with a reduced magnetic force. The magnetic marker detection system (1S) in which magnetism generated from the magnetic marker (1) laid on a road surface (53) is detected by a magnetic sensor (2) attached to a vehicle's body floor (50) of a vehicle (5) is a system with the magnetic marker (1) and the magnetic sensor (2) in combination, the magnetic marker having a surface with a magnetic flux density equal to or smaller than 40 mT and the magnetic sensor using a magneto-impedance element including an amorphous wire as a magneto-sensitive body with impedance in a high-frequency region changing in accordance with an external magnetic field.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic marker and a magnetic marker detection system with a reduced magnetic force. The magnetic marker detection system (1S) in which magnetism generated from the magnetic marker (1) laid on a road surface (53) is detected by a magnetic sensor (2) attached to a vehicle's body floor (50) of a vehicle (5) is a system with the magnetic marker (1) and the magnetic sensor (2) in combination, the magnetic marker having a magnetism reach ratio Gh/Gs, which is a ratio of a magnetic flux density Gh at a position at a height of 250 mm with respect to a magnetic flux density Gs of a surface, being equal to or larger than 0.5% and the magnetic sensor using a magneto-impedance element including a magneto-sensitive body with impedance changing in accordance with an external magnetic field.

Abstract: Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

Abstract: A minute magnetic body detecting sensor includes: a magnetic impedance element, with two magneto-sensitive bodies disposed in substantially two-dimensional directions such that an angle formed by respective sensitive axes is substantially 90 degrees; and a signal processing device, including a signal processing circuit, processing and amplifying damped oscillating voltages output by the two magneto-sensitive bodies that detected a local magnetic field due to a minute magnetic body that is a foreign substance, two square operating elements, squaring output signals, an adder, adding the squared signals, and a square root operating element, performing square root computation on the addition output and outputting a square root output, and enables high-precision detection of existence or non-existence of a minute magnetic body without detection overlooking.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic marker detection method with high detection reliability. The magnetic marker detection method for detecting a magnetic marker (10) laid on a road while a vehicle (5) having a plurality of, at least two or more, magnetic sensors attached thereto is travelling includes a gradient generating process of generating a first magnetic gradient, which is a difference between magnetic measurement values of two magnetic sensors and a filter processing process of generating a filter output value by performing filter processing by a high-pass filter as to a change of the first magnetic gradient in a travelling direction of the vehicle. The magnetic marker (10) is detected by an arithmetic operation process regarding the filter output value.

Abstract: Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.

Abstract: The invention provides highly fluorescent materials comprising a single (i=0) or a series (i=1, 2, etc.) of heterocyclic systems. The chromophores are particularly useful for absorption and emission of photons in the visible and near infrared wavelength range. The photo-stable highly luminescent chromophores are useful in various applications, including in wavelength conversion films. Wavelength conversion films have the potential to significantly enhance the solar harvesting efficiency of photovoltaic or solar cell devices.

Abstract: A reduced size/thickness magnetic detection device includes: a substrate; and a magneto-impedance element at one substrate surface side and including a magneto-sensitive wire and a detection coil. The wire senses an external magnetic field component in a first axis direction in which the wire extends. The coil loops around the wire, and includes left-side and right-side coil parts coexisting along the wire, and a magnetic field direction changing body of soft magnetic material having at least a part at another substrate surface side or in the substrate above an intermediate position between left-side and right-side coil parts. The body can change an external magnetic field component in a third axis direction intersecting the substrate to a measurement magnetic field component in the first axis direction. The external magnetic field component in the third axis direction can be detected from a left-side coil part output and a right-side coil part output.

Abstract: A magnetic detection device that is reduced in size and thickness, but also accurate, includes a substrate and an element disposed on the substrate and including a magneto-sensitive wire sensing an external magnetic field component in an extending direction and a detection coil looping around the magneto-sensitive wire. The magnetic detection device further includes a magnetic field deflector deflecting an external magnetic field around the magneto-sensitive wire, and having a nonmagnetic material core part and a soft magnetic material shell part covering an outer side of at least part of the core part. The magnetic field deflector has a hollow, rather than solid, structure of soft magnetic material. The soft magnetic material volume is therefore significantly smaller, and the hysteresis caused in the magnetic field deflector is remarkably reduced. With the magnetic detection device, the magnetic field component orthogonal to the substrate is also detected with higher accuracy.

Abstract: Described herein are transparent solar energy collection systems that comprise at least one holographic optical element, a transparent waveguide concentrator, and at least one solar energy conversion device.

Abstract: The invention provides highly fluorescent materials comprising a compound of formula (I): The chromophores are particularly useful for absorption and emission of photons in the visible and near infrared wavelength range. The photo-stable highly luminescent chromophores are useful in various applications, including in wavelength conversion films. Wavelength conversion films have the potential to significantly enhance the solar harvesting efficiency of photovoltaic or solar cell devices.

Abstract: (Subject) To provide a differential magnetic sensor capable of accurate magnetic detection of a local weak magnetic field even when there is a difference in detection sensitivity of a plurality of magnetic sensors used as a differential type magnetic sensor.

Abstract: An electrical pulse current is supplied to an amorphous wire from a pulse generator, an alternate current voltage whose magnitude is in response to an external magnetic field induced at both ends of a detecting coil wound around the amorphous wire is generated, a positive direct current is applied from a positive power supply by superimposing to the amorphous wire as a bias current so as to produce a bias of magnetization within the amorphous wire and the occurrence of pulse noises is restrained, so as to make it possible to perform high-sensitivity magnetic field detection.

Abstract: A magneto-sensitive wire for a magnetic impedance sensor and a method of manufacturing the same are provided which can prevent generation of abnormal noise in an output voltage and deterioration in hysteresis characteristics and enable higher-accuracy measurement than conventional magneto-sensitive wires. The magneto-sensitive wire (1) comprises an amorphous wire for detecting magnetism. The magnetic impedance sensor (6) has the magneto-sensitive wire (1) and a detection coil (3) around the magneto-sensitive wire (1). The magnetic impedance sensor (6) is configured to apply a pulse current to the magneto-sensitive wire (1) and detect a voltage generated in the detection coil (3) thereby capable of measuring strength of a magnetic field. The voltage has magnitude in response to strength of an external magnetic field. The magneto-sensitive wire (1) is a Co-based amorphous wire manufactured using an in-rotating liquid spinning method and finished by wire drawing.

Abstract: A ball rotational direction detecting system includes a magnetic sensor that is fixed in a ball, an acceleration sensor, a bearing recording unit that records a moving bearing, a magnetic dip recording unit that records a magnetic dip ? of geomagnetism, and a calculating unit. The calculating unit calculates the orientation of the rotation axis and the rotational direction of the ball with respect to a traveling direction F and a gravity direction G of the ball, based on a geomagnetism vector m, an acceleration vector a, the moving bearing, the magnetic dip ?, and time variations in the geomagnetism vector m or the acceleration vector a.

Abstract: A ball rotational direction detecting system includes a magnetic sensor that is fixed in a ball, an acceleration sensor, a bearing recording unit that records a moving bearing, a magnetic dip recording unit that records a magnetic dip ? of geomagnetism, and a calculating unit. The calculating unit calculates the orientation of the rotation axis and the rotational direction of the ball with respect to a traveling direction F and a gravity direction G of the ball, based on a geomagnetism vector m, an acceleration vector a, the moving bearing, the magnetic dip ?, and time variations in the geomagnetism vector m or the acceleration vector a.

Abstract: A magnetic field detecting device which comprises a magnetic impedance sensor including a magnetic impedance element 1 in which a pulse electrical current or a high frequency electrical current is applied from an oscillator 2 to an amorphous wire 10 and an alternate current or AC damped oscillation voltage, which is induced in a detecting coil 11 wound around the amorphous wire 10 and has a magnitude corresponding to an external magnetic field, is output, and an arbitrary magnetic field is applied to the amorphous wire by means of the magnetic field generated on the detecting coil 11 energized by connecting the detecting coil 11 to a voltage source or to a current source E through an impedance network 3 comprising of a resistor R or a coil L or a condenser C or comprising a combination of the resistor R, the coil L, and the condenser C.

Abstract: A magnetic field measurement device capable of accurate measurement of a magnetic field even after a sensitivity of an MI sensor varies is provided. A magnetic field measurement device (1) includes an MI sensor (2) and a sensitivity calculation means (3). The MI sensor (2) includes a magneto-sensitive body (20), a detection coil (21) and a magnetic field generation coil (22) that generates a magnetic field upon energization. The sensitivity calculation means (3) varies a current flowing in the magnetic field generation coil (22) in a state where an outside-sensor magnetic field HO acting on the magneto-sensitive body (20) from outside the MI sensor (2) is constant. Consequently, the magnetic field acting on the magneto-sensitive body (20) is varied to calculate a sensitivity a by dividing a variation in an output voltage of the detection coil (21) by a variation in the magnetic field acting on the magneto-sensitive body (20).

Abstract: A reduced size/thickness magnetic detection device includes: a substrate; and a magneto-impedance element at one substrate surface side and including a magneto-sensitive wire and a detection coil. The wire senses an external magnetic field component in a first axis direction in which the wire extends. The coil loops around the wire, and includes left-side and right-side coil parts coexisting along the wire, and a magnetic field direction changing body of soft magnetic material having at least a part at another substrate surface side or in the substrate above an intermediate position between left-side and right-side coil parts. The body can change an external magnetic field component in a third axis direction intersecting the substrate to a measurement magnetic field component in the first axis direction. The external magnetic field component in the third axis direction can be detected from a left-side coil part output and a right-side coil part output.

Abstract: Described herein are novel azo-benzene type chromophores. The chromophores are useful in photochromic compositions comprising a polymer matrix and a chromophore, wherein the chromophore is a novel azo-benzene type structure. The photochromic composition is photoresponsive upon irradiation by at least one wavelength of laser light across the visible light spectrum. Photochromic devices which comprise the novel azo-benzene type chromophore compound show significantly higher photoinduced birefringence, higher diffraction efficiency, and brighter images than devices that comprise well known azo-benzene chromophores. The photochromic composition may include a liquid crystal.