Abstract: A light incident surface of a lens is determined to have a shape of a virtual light incident surface (SF1). The virtual light incident surface (SF1) is defined based on normal directions (ni) respectively calculated at a plurality of light incident points (Pi) of the virtual light incident surface (SF1) such that lights emitted from a first light emitting point (S1) and incident on the respective light incident points (Pi) are projected onto a first projection point (r1) and that lights emitted from a second light emitting point (S2) and incident on the respective light incident points (Pi) are projected onto a second projection point (r2) spaced in a predetermined direction from the first projection point (r1).

Abstract: A method for producing instant noodles dried by a high-temperature hot air stream, wherein the noodles have a moreish taste and texture similar to fried noodles and yet have a low caloric value. The method for producing instant noodles dried by a high-temperature hot air stream comprises: step (a) producing a noodle band from a noodle dough prepared by adding an edible oil to a noodle dough material containing a raw material flour, and then producing raw noodle strands from the noodle band, step (b) adhering an edible oil to the raw noodle strands, and then steaming the raw noodle strands to produce steamed noodles, step (c) forming a noodle block by packing a predetermined amount of the steamed noodles into a retainer, and step (d) swelling and drying the noodle block by blowing a hot air stream at a temperature of 120° C. to 160° C. onto the noodle block from above and below the retainer at a stream speed of 30 m/s to 70 m/s for a period of 3 to 15 minutes.

Abstract: A vehicular illumination lamp includes a convex lens positioned on an optical axis in a vehicular longitudinal direction and a light emitting element positioned in a proximity of a rear side focal point of the convex lens. The vehicle lamp is configured so as to form a light distribution pattern that has a horizontal cut-off line and an oblique cut-off line in an upper end portion thereof by exercising deflection control, with a use of the convex lens, over light directly emitted from the light emitting element. The light emitting element includes a light emitting chip that has a rectangular light emitting surface.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a convex lens and a light emitting device. Light directly reaching a rear surface of the convex lens from the light emitting device is deflected through the convex lens to form a light distribution pattern having a horizontal cutoff line and an oblique cutoff line. The light emitting device includes a light emitting chip having a rectangular light emitting surface oriented to face the rear surface of the convex lens, and a corner of the rectangular light emitting surface is disposed on a rear focal point of the convex lens. A front surface of the convex lens includes a horizontally diffusing region which diffuses a part of the light in the horizontal direction, and an obliquely diffusing region which diffuses another part of the light toward the self lane side in an oblique direction forming an upward angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A light emitting module includes: a circuit board having a shape in which an outer peripheral edge of the circuit board corresponds to an outer peripheral edge of the circuit board before rotating the circuit board about a center point by an angle of 90 degrees in a direction orthogonal to a thickness direction of the circuit board; a semiconductor light emitting element; and a first and second electrodes that are formed on the circuit board at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center point.

Abstract: A press die and a processing method of the press die surface, and a manufacturing method of a vehicle body of an automobile, are capable of maintaining a high non-defective product rate of works after press processing, even in a case in which foreign matter such as iron filings and the like have adhered to a die surface. A press die for sheet metal forming has a multitude of concave portions on a die surface, and has a roughness (Ry) of a die surface on which the multitude of concave portions has been formed of 30 to 38 ?m.

Abstract: A light-emitting element is disposed to face the front side such that an end point of a rectangular or square light-emitting chip corresponding to the vehicle's own lane is positioned at a rear focal point of a convex lens. An additional lens is disposed to surround the convex lens. The additional lens includes an incident surface, a reflection surface, and an emitting surface. The additional lens is divided into a-plurality of fan-shaped areas in a circumferential direction with respect to an optical axis Ax. The division is performed for each angular range where a corner point of the light-emitting chip, which is positioned at an uppermost end of an image of the light-emitting chip formed on the reflection surface by the light emitted from the light-emitting element, becomes the same corner point.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a mold for a microlens having a desired radius (R) of curvature by electroplating. In this method, a minimum radius (Rmin) of curvature is utilized to achieve the desired curvature radius.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a microstructure array, such as a microlens array, and a mold for forming the microlens array, includes the steps of forming an array of microstructures with a curved profile in a discrete form on a substrate, and uniformly forming a continuous layer on the substrate and the discrete microstructures. Optically-unusable regions between the discrete microstructures, such as microlenses, can be readily reduced or eliminated by forming the continuous layer until flat portions between the microstructures disappear.

Abstract: A light-emitting element is disposed to face the front side such that an end point of a rectangular or square light-emitting chip corresponding to the vehicle's own lane is positioned at a rear focal point of a convex lens. An additional lens is disposed to surround the convex lens. The additional lens includes an incident surface, a reflection surface, and an emitting surface. The additional lens is divided into a-plurality of fan-shaped areas in a circumferential direction with respect to an optical axis Ax. The division is performed for each angular range where a corner point of the light-emitting chip, which is positioned at an uppermost end of an image of the light-emitting chip formed on the reflection surface by the light emitted from the light-emitting element, becomes the same corner point.

Abstract: A potential sensor including first and second detection electrodes opposed to an object of which a potential is to be measured, and a movable shutter so positioned between the detection electrodes and the potential-measured object with gaps thereto. The movable shutter can assume a first state and a second state. The first detection electrode is exposed to the potential-measured object wider when the movable shutter assumes the second state. The second detection electrode is exposed to the potential-measured object narrower when the movable shutter assumes the first state than when the movable shutter assumes the second state.

Abstract: An electric potential measuring device comprises a detection electrode of a conductive material disposed in opposition to an object and a movable structure comprised of a first solid material portion of a dielectric and a second solid material portion of another dielectric or a conductive material. A charge induced on the detection electrode by electric lines of force from the object is modulated by moving the movable structure with a drive mechanism, to measure an electric potential of the object. An image forming apparatus comprises the electric potential measuring device and an image forming means for performing a control of an image formation by using the electric potential measuring device.

Abstract: An electric potential measuring device has a detection electrode of a conductive material disposed in opposition to an object and a movable structure including a first solid material portion of a dielectric and a second solid material portion of another dielectric or a conductive material. A charge induced on the detection electrode by electric lines of force from the object is modulated by moving the movable structure with a drive mechanism, to measure an electric potential of the object. An image forming apparatus has the electric potential measuring device and an image forming unit for performing a control of an image formation by using the electric potential measuring device.

Abstract: The reflection surface of a reflector is formed by a parabolic cylindrical plane extending in the horizontal direction orthogonal to an optical axis. A light emitting element is configured to have five light emitting chips arranged in a T-shape and these light emitting chips are lighted in two lighting modes. In the first lighting mode, a special light emitting chip and a pair of the left and right side special light emitting chips which front end edges are aligned on the focal line of the parabolic cylindrical plane are lighted simultaneously, whereby a light distribution pattern having a narrow vertical width and a prolong shape is formed. In the second lighting mode, a special light emitting chip located at the center portion and two general light emitting chips disposed in series on the backward side thereof are lighted simultaneously, whereby a light distribution pattern having a large vertical width and a prolong shape is formed.

Abstract: A vehicular illumination lamp includes a convex lens positioned on an optical axis in a vehicular longitudinal direction and a light emitting element positioned in a proximity of a rear side focal point of the convex lens. The vehicle lamp is configured so as to form a light distribution pattern that has a horizontal cut-off line and an oblique cut-off line in an upper end portion thereof by exercising deflection control, with a use of the convex lens, over light directly emitted from the light emitting element. The light emitting element includes a light emitting chip that has a rectangular light emitting surface. The light emitting element is positioned facing forward in such a manner that a lower end edge of the light emitting chip is positioned on a plane that includes the optical axis, while one of end points of the lower end edge is positioned on the rear side focal point. An additional lens is provided around the convex lens.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting device includes: an infrared sensor which detects an object around a vehicle using infrared light; a visible light source which illuminates visible light to the object when the infrared sensor detects the object; a reflection mirror which reflects the infrared light and the visible light to an area around the vehicle; and a light path adjusting mechanism which adjusts light paths of the infrared light and the visible light in a synchronizing manner by rotating the reflection mirror.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp includes a convex lens and a light emitting device. Light directly reaching a rear surface of the convex lens from the light emitting device is deflected through the convex lens to form a light distribution pattern having a horizontal cutoff line and an oblique cutoff line. The light emitting device includes a light emitting chip having a rectangular light emitting surface oriented to face the rear surface of the convex lens, and a corner of the rectangular light emitting surface is disposed on a rear focal point of the convex lens. A front surface of the convex lens includes a horizontally diffusing region which diffuses a part of the light in the horizontal direction, and an obliquely diffusing region which diffuses another part of the light toward the self lane side in an oblique direction forming an upward angle with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A lamp unit includes a semiconductor light-emitting element portion, a reflector that radiates light from a light source forward of the lamp, and a driving portion that moves relative positions of the semiconductor light-emitting element portion and the reflector. The semiconductor light-emitting element portion is provided with a light-emitting surface whose outer peripheral shape is generally oblong, the reflector is provided with a parabolic surface that has a focus line in the horizontal direction, and the driving portion is configured such that rotation is possible within a horizontal plane of the light-emitting surface from a first position where a short side of the light-emitting surface is generally parallel to the focus line up to a second position where a long side of the light-emitting surface is generally parallel to the focus line.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp is provided. The vehicle lamp includes a lens disposed on an optical axis of the vehicle lamp, the optical axis extending in a front-and-rear direction of the vehicle lamp, the lens comprising a first concave lens portion; a plurality of light emitting elements disposed to a rear side of the lens and around the optical axis at regular intervals in a circumferential direction, the plurality of light emitting elements comprising at least one first light emitting element disposed to a rear side of the first concave lens portion; at least one first reflector corresponding to the at least one first light emitting element and disposed between the corresponding first light emitting element and the optical axis, wherein the first reflector comprises a first reflecting surface which reflects light from the corresponding first light emitting element toward the first concave lens portion.

Abstract: The projection lens of a lamp unit is configured as a plano-convex lens whose front surface is a convex curved surface and whose rear surface is a plane. The rear surface is constituted by a plane tilted upward with respect to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis and outward in a vehicle width direction.