Abstract: An optical scanner and a two-dimensional scanning device using the same are provided. The optical scanner includes a scanning mechanism and a swing support. The swing support is designed to support the scanning mechanism on a housing so as to allow the scanning mechanism to swing and made up of a plurality of springs. The springs are so constructed so as resist unwanted vibrations acting on the optical scanner in directions different from a scan direction, thereby ensuring a stable scan of a light beam at all the time.

Abstract: An equalizer and an equalization method are provided which are capable of suppressing distortion specific to radio unit, and reducing both the oversampling number and the amount of calculations without causing characteristic deterioration.

Abstract: An equalizer and equalization method as well as a receiver and reception method are provided which have little deterioration of the error rate characteristic even at a low oversampling rate in order to overcome the disadvantages of symbol synchronization and demodulation processing at a high oversampling rate, which is the problem of the QAM system. The equalizer equalizes a detection signal obtained by detecting a transmission signal with periodically inserted known symbol patterns made up of at least one symbol.

Abstract: A total-focus imaging apparatus comprises a variable-focus lens unit with a focal position thereof changeable at high speeds, a CCD element, a microcomputer and a liquid-crystal display unit. The microcomputer includes an image memory, an image processing circuit and a control circuit. The variable-focus lens unit and the CCD element allow an object of observation to be photographed to generate a number of images with the focal positions thereof slightly different from each other and the image to be stored in the image memory. Pixels each brought to a focus are selected by the image processing circuit from pixels of the images to generate an image of the observation object comprising only pixels each brought to a focus. Such an image is then displayed on the liquid-crystal display unit. Thus, an image of the observation object which is all but completely brought to a focus can be presented in a semi-real-time manner.

Abstract: An optical scanner and a two-dimensional scanning device using the same are provided. The optical scanner includes a scanning mechanism and a swing support. The swing support is designed to support the scanning mechanism on a housing so as to allow the scanning mechanism to swing and made up of a plurality of springs. The springs are so constructed so as resist unwanted vibrations acting on the optical scanner in directions different from a scan direction, thereby ensuring a stable scan of a light beam at all the time.

Abstract: A variable focus lens device having a temperature compensation function whose construction is simple and which can be inexpensively manufactured. The device has a lens member including a lens container having a transparent elastic film, a transparent sealing member forming an internal volume, and a transparent liquid filling the internal volume, a stack-type piezoelectric actuator for varying the focus of the lens member by deforming the transparent elastic film by fluctuating the pressure inside the internal volume, and a tank connected to the internal volume by narrow passages. The tank and the narrow passages absorb temperature fluctuation components of the transparent liquid, which varies due to thermal expansion and contraction. The tank and the passages thereby form a temperature compensator, that, because the passages are narrow, does not react to sudden oscillating pressure components caused by the stack-type piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A signal characterizer for performing functional transformations such as Fast Fourier Transforms (FFTs), which converts an input serial analog signal into a plurality of parallel discrete signals using an analog-type serial-to-parallel converter. The discrete signals are then supplied to the input terminals of butterfly operation circuits to process the parallel discrete signals into a plurality of transformed signals. A switch supplies the transformed signals to a serial signal output terminal. The switch is controlled by a controller so that the input signal sequence is converted to a serial signal sequence according to a predetermined order.

Abstract: A low temperature sintering ceramic material, having low temperature sinterability and excellent thermal conductivity, is particularly suitable for use in making an IC substrate of a ceramic printed plate board. This low temperature sintering ceramic material has two composition types. One is a binary composition type ceramic material consisting essentially of MgO and B.sub.2 O.sub.3, and the other is a ternary composition type ceramic material composed of principal components consisting of MgO and B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and assisting components consisting of one or more selected from Li.sub.2 O, Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O, a fluoride of an alkali metal and a fluoride of an alkaline earth metal. After sintering, MgO and B.sub.2 O.sub.3 are respectively contained at 50 to 90 mol% and 10 to 50 mol% on 100 mol% of the total amount of MgO and B.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A ceramic heater body is formed in a plate shape, and has electrode attaching portions at both ends of the heater body. A plurality of openings are formed in the electrode attaching portion, and a metallized layer is formed on the inner peripheral surface of each of the openings. Electrodes having a plurality of wires are connected to the electrode attaching portions, for supplying power to the heater body. The metal wires are inserted into the openings formed having the metallized layers on the inner peripheral surfaces, and are secured by brazing to the metallized layers. The diameter of the metal wire is set to 0.5 to 3 mm, and the metal wires are buried in the openings, at a depth of 1 to 5 mm.

Abstract: A ceramic heater for regenerating a fine particle collecting filter which is exposed to exhaust gases at elevated temperatures. This ceramic heater comprises two electrode potions, a heat generation portion connected to the two electrode portions and a holding projection portion of a ceramic heater connected to the side of the heat generating portion. The two electrode portions, the heat generating portion and the holding projection portion are formed integrally.

Abstract: The ceramic heater of the present invention is used for regenerating a fine particle collecting filter which is exposed to exhaust gases at elevated temperatures. In this ceramic heater, which is capable of being cantilevered, two electrode portions are provided on a single straight or curved line and heat generating portion is positioned on one side of said line. The heat generating portion comprises a ring-like portion and two leg portions integrally connected to the ring-like portion at two connecting portions which approximately bisect the ring-like portion. The two electrode portions are provided at fore ends of the leg portions respectively, and the ring-like portion and the two electrode portions conjointly form a triangle.