Abstract: An optical multiplexer including a first and a second optical waveguides, and a multiplexing unit. The first and second optical waveguides have a first and a second mode coupling regions being proximate to each other with a predetermined gap width, the optical waveguides in the first and second mode coupling regions form the multiplexing unit. Light transfers between the optical waveguides in the first and second mode coupling regions, first light in the optical waveguide in the first mode coupling region and second light in the optical waveguide in the first or second mode coupling regions having the wavelength different from the first light are multiplexed to one of the waveguides in the first and second mode coupling regions, and the core cross-section of the optical waveguide at least in the first and second mode coupling regions in the first and second optical waveguides is asymmetric in the height direction.

Abstract: A silicone rubber molded body (10) has an article contact surface (11). The article contact surface (11) has a coefficient of rolling resistance lowered by a fluorination treatment on the article contact surface (11).

Abstract: The mold assembly for magnesium alloys comprises a mold and/or a core, each formed of an air permeable material. The air permeable material is any one or any combination of a network, a sheet having multiple holes, and cloth. The network, the sheet or the cloth is any one or any combination of a metal, a chemical fiber, and a ceramic material. The invention also provides a casting method for magnesium alloys, which uses that mold assembly.

Abstract: An electrode having a thermoplastic resin having gas permiability and a metal (3b) supported in a three-dimensional matrix form; an electrolyte composite having an electrolyte membrane (1) and a pair of electrodes (3), the electrodes (3) comprising a porous thermoplastic resin having gas permiability and a metal (3b) supported in a three-dimensional matrix form; a method of manufacturing an electrode (3) comprising plating a metal coating on surfaces of numerous particles (3a) of a thermoplastic resin, and pressurizing the particles; and a method of manufacturing an electrolyte composite having an electrolyte membrane (1), and a pair of electrodes (3), comprising manufacturing the electrodes (3) by plating a metal coating on surfaces of numerous particles (3a) of a thermoplastic resin and pressurizing the particles, and joining the electrolyte membrane (1) through the catalyst to one surface of each electrode and joining the electrolyte membranes, or joining the electrodes (3) through the catalysts (2) to opp

Abstract: Numerous particles of thermoplastic resin supporting a metal on surfaces thereof are joined together by pressure welding. The metal is supported in a three-dimensional matrix on the group of joined particles.

Abstract: There is provided a fluorocarbon compound-hydrogen storage alloy composite which has a sufficient water-repellent property and can efficiently absorb a hydrogen gas. The composite comprises hydrogen storage alloy particles which have a plated metal film covering at least a part of the particles, the plated metal film containing at least one fine particle of a fluorocarbon compound. Examples of the metal used for plating include Ni, Cu, Co, Ni-P, Ni-W, Ni-W-P, Ni-B, Ni-W-B, Cu-Ni, Cu-P, Co-P, Co-B, and Co-W. Polytetrafluoroethylene is preferably used for the fluorocarbon compound. The fluorocarbon compound hydrogen storage alloy composite is prepared by electrolytically plating the hydrogen storage alloy particles in a pyrophosphate bath with fine particles of a fluorocarbon compound dispersed therein.

Abstract: According to an image information retrieval/display apparatus, an original image is represented by a hierarchical structure from a global image of high level to a local image of low level in accordance with resolutions thereof. Only difference information between the images of the respective levels is coded and stored, so that the number of codes will not be increased. When an operator directly designates any partial area within the displayed global image, local images are sequentially retrieved. By adding and combining the difference information of the retrieved local image in the designated area within the global image, the desired local image can be displayed at high speed.

Abstract: An optical head for use with an optical disk has a unit packaging an optical path conversion device for converting a light beam path from substantially in parallel to the surface of a rotating optical disk into a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the optical disk, a lens system for focusing the light beam onto the recording surface of the optical disk, and a focus controlling mechanism for adjusting the focus of the lens system. A head outer shell supports the unit by one or more diaphragms for movement of the unit in the parallel direction of the optical path. A track control mechanism which includes an electromagnetic actuator adjusts the positional relation of the unit relative to outer shell in that parallel direction without causing unit movement in the perpendicular direction.

Abstract: A small-sized video or audio reading pickup device in which a light beam generator generates a light beam directed to a focussing device which focuses the light beam into a beam spot on an information carrier. The focussing device is mounted on an upper portion of a cylindrical hollow support disposed in a resiliently supported frame and a beam deflecting mirror is fixedly mounted within the cylindrical hollow support and independently thereof in vertical alignment with the focussing device. A light beam generated by the beam generating device is laterally directed to and deflected off the deflecting mirror and focused via the focussing device onto the information carrier, with the vertical positioning of the cylindrical hollow support being controlled to control the size of the beam spot. Lateral positioning of the light beam on the carrier is also controlled by lateral translation of the frame, and a photo-sensitive detector is arranged to detect light beam intensity reflected from the carrier.

Abstract: A phase shifter for adding a deterministic phase to an original information to be recorded in hologram. The phase shifter consists of a number of unit cells arranged in a matrix. A set of the unit cells are provided which will cause a certain phase shift to a light passing through each kind of the unit cells so as to distribute the light irradiance of the original information more evenly over the Fourier transformed plane. The invention suggests a solution to make the phase shifter with the unit cells arranged by the deterministic phase distribution.