Abstract: A semiconductor laser and an optical device employing the semiconductor laser are described. The semiconductor laser comprises and activating layer; first and second cladding layers for sandwiching the activating layer, the energy gaps of which are greater than that of the activating layer; a current blocking layer provided in contact with both sides of the activating layer; a first electrode electrically connected to the first cladding layer; and a second electrode electrically connected to the second cladding layer. The activating layer has a structure that the activating layer is two-dimensionally confined within the first cladding layer, the second cladding layer, and the current blocking layer, reflectivity of at least on end face of a resonator of the activating layer is less than, or equal to 5%, and loss in the resonator of the activating layer is higher than, or equal to 100 cm.sup.-3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting device to emit a light which substantially does not elevate the ACTH level in human blood. Such a light hardly causes stresses when used in illumination. This renders the lighting device very useful in comfortable illuminated spaces for visual tasks.

Abstract: A filling composition consisting essentially of about 20-75% by volume of xenon gas and about 15-80% by volume of nitrogen gas exhibits excellent luminous characteristics and an extended life expectancy but hardly causes arc discharge when enclosed in incandescent lamp. Incandescent lamps using the filling composition emit a light which is natural, appropriately high in color temperature, excellent in color rendering properties and gentle to the eye when operated at a voltage exceeding their rating but not exceeding 150% thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting device to emit a light which substantially does not delay the latency of P100 wave in human VEP. Such a light hardly causes eyestrain when used in illumination. This renders the lighting device very useful in various illuminations directed to retaining healthy eyes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel luminaire wherein a switching power supply circuitry is used to operate one or more incandescent lamps at a dc voltage exceeding their rating. The luminaire emits a flickerless light with a color temperature of about 2,900 K. or higher which is natural, closer to sunlight, superior in color rendering properties, gentle to the eyes, therefore very useful in illumination. The switching power supply circuitry exhibits a high power efficiency and capacity, and the output voltage is easily regulatable to a desired magnitude for lamp dimming.

Abstract: A robot system for taking out workpieces from a box using a robot having a floating hand and a workpiece recognition apparatus. The workpiece recognition apparatus detects the position and inclination of a selected workpiece, and calculates a target position and a desired inclined posture of the hand. The posture is so decided that a line of intersection of the floating plane of the hand with a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the workpiece, becomes parallel to a horizontal direction, and the center axis of the wrist portion becomes perpendicular to the line of intersection. Data indicating the target position and the desired inclined posture are transmitted to the robot controller of the system, so that the controller drives the servomotors of the robot in such a way that the hand moves toward the target position with a desired inclined posture. With this operation, the hand contacts with the selected workpiece at a predetermined position to pick up the workpiece.

Abstract: A negative-phase output signal in an ECL circuit is extracted by an emitter-follower circuit, and the extracted signal is differentiated at its leading edge by a capacitor driven by the emitter-follower circuit so as to form a pulse wave, thus the differentiated signal drives a transistor connected in parallel with an emitter-follower resistor to which a positive-phase output signal is supplied. With this operation, a large amount of current flows only at the trailing edge of the output signal to shorten the fall time of the output from the logic circuit.

Abstract: A method and a system for recognizing the location of a cylindrical shaft is provided for use in positioning an end effector of an industrial robot which handles said shaft. In the method and system, a multilevel gray image of the cylindrical shaft which is generated by a change coupled device (CCD) image sensor is first differentiated, and the absolute values of picture elements constituting the differentiated gray image are then binarized on the basis of a threshold value so as to extract an accentuated pattern image which is inherent to the shape of the cylindrical shaft. The accentuated pattern image thus extracted is then collated with a reference accentuated pattern image (template) so as to generate a normal curve signal which has its peak point at a position where the axis of said cylindrical shaft is located. The normal curve data is then binarized on the basis of another predetermined threshold value to generate a single strip image.

Abstract: A method for teaching a machining line to be machined is disclosed. A borderline is formed along the machining line on a workpiece. Then, a borderline sensor is moved across the borderline at each sensing position. The positions of the sensor are stored as a teaching position at each time when the borderline is detected by the sensor. The sensing interval between each teaching position is automatically adjusted according to the change in the curvature of the borderline. At the place where the curvature of the borderline becomes large, the sensing interval is shortened in order to maintain teaching accuracy.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device having a first photodetector constructed on one major surface of a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor laser chip mounted on the major surface adjacent to the first photodetector, and a second photodetector constructed on the major surface adjacent to the first photodetector at the side thereof opposite to the semiconductor laser chip, said second photodetector being positioned during manufacture to detect emissions from the laser chip of an adjacent fixedly positioned laser device.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device is disclosed herein in which a semiconductor laser chip is mounted on a surface of a semiconductor substrate at one region and a plurality of photo-detecting portions for receiving laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser chip are provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate at another region separated from the semiconductor laser chip.

Abstract: Coffee extracts are processed in a continuous countercurrent process of split extraction to obtain (1) atmospheric solids, (2) a push-out of low concentration, mainly atmospheric solids and (3) autoclave solids. Each stream can be further processed separately before recombining to achieve desired flavor characteristics.

Abstract: In a high frequency induction heating device for a brake shoe lining, a high frequency induction heating coil is arranged to extend zigzag in a curved shape along the inner circumferential surface of the rim of a brake shoe body from one end to the other thereof and is opposed to the inner circumferential surface of the rim; at least three carrying rods are arranged to have their one ends discretely connected to two ends of each of the curved parts and to the middle of the length of the curved part of the coil on their one sides respectively while the other ends of the carrying rods are connected to a fixed supporting member; and the curvature of the curved part of the coil is variable by adjusting the lengths of the carrying rods.

Abstract: A new laser structure having self-aligned junction stripe geometry grown by the MO CVD process is disclosed. The laser is grown on a groove-etched substrate and has a DH structure with a small V-shaped active region. A current path in the V-shaped region is formed using anomalous zinc diffusion during growth, which allows a broad area metal contact for both sides of the wafer.

Abstract: A novel process for the production of fluorine-containing multi-component copolymers having functional groups is disclosed, which process is characterized in that tetrafluoroethylene having the formula: CF.sub.2 .dbd.CF.sub.2 ; one or two or more .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluoroacrylate having the generic formula: CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFCOOC.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 wherein n represents an integer of 1 or greater; and one or two or more .alpha.-olefin having the generic formula: ##STR1## wherein j and m each independently represents an integer of 0 to 11 inclusive; are copolymerized with one another in the presence of a radical initiator. The resultant interpolymer is hydrolyzed and cross-linked using ionizing radiation.

Abstract: A novel process for the production of fluorine-containing multi-component copolymers having functional groups is disclosed, which process is characterized in that tetrafluoroethylene having the formula: CF.sub.2 .dbd.CF.sub.2 ; one or two or more .alpha.,.beta.,.beta.-trifluoroacrylate having the generic formula: CF.sub.2 .dbd.CFCOOC.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 wherein n represents an integer of 1 or greater; and one or two or more .alpha.-olefin having the generic formula: ##STR1## wherein j and m each independently represents an integer of 0 to 11 inclusive; are copolymerized with one another in the presence of a radical initiator.