Abstract: A liquid delivery device comprises a flow channel for flowing a liquid, at least two pressure-generating means for generating pressures provided in the flow channel, and a variable member placed between the pressure-generating means and capable of transforming between a first stable state and a second stable state by a generated pressure; the device serving to select a branch of the flow channel by transforming the variable member into the first stable state or the second stable state. A valve for changeover of flow channel branches comprises a variable member placed between pressure-generating means and transformable between a first stable state and a second stable state by a generated pressure, the valve serving to select a branch of flow channel branches by the variable member.

Abstract: A liquid transfer apparatus comprises a liquid containing section for containing liquid, a liquid introducing section for introducing liquid into the liquid containing section and a liquid leading out section for leading out the liquid introduced into the liquid containing section. When a number of such liquid transfer apparatuses are connected together, the liquid introducing section and the liquid leading out section of such liquid transfer apparatus are arranged such that the liquid leading out section of a liquid transfer apparatus communicates with the liquid introducing section of another liquid transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A beam having a base material of silicon monocrystal and at least one projection which is integrally formed so as to be supported at least at one end thereof and which has two surfaces having an orientation plane (111), includes a bottom surface in a plane which is common with a plane of the base material; a groove penetrating from the bottom surface to a top of the projection; and a protecting member having a resistance property against a crystal anisotropic etching liquid and covering an inner wall of the groove.

Abstract: A process for producing a mass transfer device is provided which enables packing of a packing material uniformly in a flow channel, and transfers a specified substance by flowing a fluid containing the specified substance through a flow channel on a substrate. A mass transfer device produced by the process is also provided. The process for producing a mass transfer device comprises steps of preparing a substrate, forming a flow channel on the surface of the substrate, applying a liquid drop composed of a packing material and a liquid medium, and packing the packing material in the flow channel by removing the liquid medium.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head for discharging liquid droplets utilizing generated bubbles by heating liquid to bubble comprises discharge port for discharging liquid droplets, bubbling chamber communicated with the discharge port for filling liquid; heat-generating member arranged in the bubbling chamber, being supported in a state of having gaps on both sides to the inner wall faces of the bubbling chamber; and supporting portion for supporting the heat-generating member. Then, after the generation of bubble in liquid by the heat-generating member, the sufrace temperature of the heat-generating member is made lower than the bubbling temperature at the time of bubble extinction by the heat radiation from the heat-generating member to the supporting portion side. In this way, it is made possible to prevent liquid from being heated again to generate bubble subsequent to the bubble extinction.

Abstract: A liquid transport device capable of introducing and transporting a liquid and preventing a backward flow of the liquid in a small-sized analysis system is provided. The liquid transport device has a substrate 201, a ejection orifice 205 which is formed integrally with the substrate 201 and through which a liquid is ejected, a space portion 210 which is formed so as to communicate with the ejection orifice 205 and through which the liquid ejected from the ejection orifice flies, and a flow channel 204 which communicates with the space portion 210 and which is positioned within such a distance range that the flying liquid can reach the flow channel.

Abstract: A method of mixing plural liquids in a liquid chamber is provided which comprises steps of introducing plural liquids into the liquid chamber, and repeating expansion and shrinkage of a bubble in the liquids in the liquid chamber. In this method, the liquid may be heated to produce the bubble. A liquid-mixing apparatus for mixing plural liquids in a liquid chamber to obtain a liquid mixture is also provided. The liquid-mixing apparatus comprises a liquid chamber; flow channels for introducing the plural liquids into the liquid chamber; a heating part placed in the liquid chamber for heating the liquid mixture in the liquid chamber; and an energy-supplying means for causing expansion and shrinkage of a bubble in the liquid mixture in the liquid chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filling apparatus establishing positional coincidence between creases preformed in a packaging material and actual creases to thereby improve the appearance of a packaging container. A light source irradiates a portion of the outer circumferential surface of a packaging material tube which includes an overlap. A sensor receives light emitted from the light source and reflected from the outer circumferential surface of the tube. The overlap is detected as a peak in the sensor output. Light reflected from an edge portion of the packaging material exhibits greater intensity and is seen as a peak in the sensor output indicating position of the overlap.

Abstract: A liquid discharge head for discharging liquid droplets utilizing generated bubbles by heating liquid to bubble comprises discharge port for discharging liquid droplets, bubbling chamber communicated with the discharge port for filling liquid; heat-generating member arranged in the bubbling chamber, being supported in a state of having gaps on both sides to the inner wall faces of the bubbling chamber; and supporting portion for supporting the heat-generating member. Then, after the generation of bubble in liquid by the heat-generating member, the surface temperature of the heat-generating member is made lower than the bubbling temperature at the time of bubble extinction by the heat radiation from the heat-generating member to the supporting portion side. In this way, it is made possible to prevent liquid from being heated again to generate bubble subsequent to the bubble extinction.

Abstract: Probe including a cantilever having a movable end and formed from an elastic body, an electroconductive sensing needle arranged at the movable end of the cantilever, and a field effect transistor arranged at the movable end of the cantilever and having a gate electrode electronically connected to the electroconductive sensing needle. The probe may further comprise another field effect transistor formed on the cantilever and having its drain electrically connected to the sensing needle. The probe may be used in an information recording/reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A projection having a micro-aperture on the tip is formed. Firstly, a projection or a dent is formed on a substrate. Then, a film is formed on the surface of the projection or of the opposite side of the dent so as to make the film thin at and near the tip of the projection or the dent. The film is subsequently etched to expose the tip, which is further etched to produce a micro-aperture. Preferably, the film is formed of a thermo-plastic material such as glass, especially phospho-silicate glass to produce a viscous flow under heated conditions. The probe having a micro-aperture can be used for a surface scanner, an aligner or an information processor.

Abstract: A projection having a micro-aperture on the tip is formed. Firstly, a projection or a dent is formed on a substrate. Then, a film is formed on the surface of the projection or of the opposite side of the dent so as to make the film thin at and near the tip of the projection or the dent. The film is subsequently etched to expose the tip, which is further etched to produce a micro-aperture. Preferably, the film is formed of a thermo-plastic material such as glass, especially phospho-silicate glass to produce a viscous flow under heated conditions. The probe having a micro-aperture can be used for a surface scanner, an aligner or an information processor.

Abstract: A projection having a micro-aperture is formed by formiNg a dent having a pointed front end on a substrate, then depositing a light blocking material on the substrate except the front end of the dent, and peeling off the light blocking material from the substrate. The projection is suited as an optical probe of scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) for detecting or emitting light through the micro-aperture. For this purpose, the projection is formed on the end of a cantilever or on the end of an optical fiber. The dent having a pointed front end can be formed typically by patterned crystal-axis-anisotropic etching of a silicon substrate and subsequent thermal oxidation of the silicon surface.

Abstract: A probe for detecting minute physical behavior comprises a lever member, particularly in the form of a cantilever, formed of a monocrystalline silicon layer and a tip in the form of one-end-supported beam which is bowed and formed upon the lever member. The probe is manufactured by forming a film of a material with low density and high elasticity on the silicon layer of an SOI substrate, then oxidizing part of the silicon layer and removing the oxidized portion to form a tip with the material as a so-called bird's beak, and finally the SOI substrate is worked to form the cantilever shape of the lever member. The probe can be used for an information recording/reproducing device with good traceability even in high speed scanning over a recording medium.

Abstract: An Nd-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductor includes oxide including metallic elements of neodymium (Nd), barium (Ba) and copper (Cu), and has a structure in which fine particles of Nd.sub.4 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.2 O.sub.10 (i.e., Nd422) are dispersed uniformly in crystalline grains of NdBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x (i.e., Nd123). It is produced by preparing a mixture powder in which an Nd123 powder and an Nd422 powder are present uniformly, thermally treating the mixture powder in a temperature range where the Nd123 powder melts partially at least but the Nd422 powder hardly melts, and gradually cooling the partially melted mixture powder in a temperature range around a solidifying point of the Nd123 powder. It exhibits an enhanced magnetic-field-trapping capability in the regions of low magnetic field, because of the pinning effect resulting from the fine particles of Nd422 dispersed uniformly in the crystalline grains of Nd123.

Abstract: A superconducting oxide wire and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The wire comprises a pipe made of a metal and a superconducting oxide material filling the interior of the pipe and comprising superconducting oxide grains which are bonded to each other and which have a perovskite crystal structure having a C face and a C axis. The superconducting oxide grains contain more than 50 vol % of plate-shaped grains of which the length in the direction of the C face is greater than the length in the direction of the C axis. The C faces of most the plate-shaped grains are arranged to be directed toward longitudinal axis of the pipe.

Abstract: A ceramic resistor includes zinc oxide as a main component, and as essential components, aluminum oxide 3.0-40 mol %, magnesium oxide 2.0-40 mol %, silicon oxide 0.1-10 mol %, and at least one kind of compound 0.005-0.5 mol %, selected from a group consisting of calcium oxide, strontium oxide and barium oxide, and has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance. A neutral grounding resistor and a gas circuit breaker, each using the above-mentioned ceramic resistors, are disclosed.

Abstract: A substation includes standard arresters installed near a bushing of a power transmission line entrance and at a connecting bus of a transformer and one or more high voltage arresters having a discharge voltage 10 to 30% higher than a standard arrester. Each high voltage arrester uses zinc oxide elements and is disposed on a line side of a line entrance breaker and/or near an open end of a double main bus in the substation.

Abstract: A mixture of calcinated metallic oxides are mixed with ZnO and SiO.sub.2, granulated, compacted and then sintered to form a nonlinear resistor. After sintering, the formed ZnO resistor elements are heat treated, preferably in a two-step heat treating process.

Abstract: A superconducting oxide wire and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The wire comprises a pipe made of a metal and a superconducting oxide material filling the interior of the pipe and comprising superconducting oxide grains which are bonded to each other and which have a perovskite crystal structure having a C face and a C axis. The superconducting oxide grains contain more than 50 vol % of plate-shaped grains of which the length in the direction of the C face is greater than the length in the direction of the C axis. The C faces of most the plate-shaped grains are arranged to be directed toward longitudinal axis of the pipe.