Abstract: An optical communication link has a plurality of light emitting elements and a plurality of light receiving elements associated with the respective light emitting elements, and a plurality of optical fibers each for conveying an optical signal emitted from one light emitting element to an associated light receiving element. The optical fibers have respective lengths that include at least two different lengths, and respective transmission losses per unit length that vary according the lengths of the optical fibers, so that variation of the transmission losses among the optical fibers due to difference in optical fiber length is prevented.

Abstract: Numerical aperture of transmitted light is varied to NAs by a transmitting lens. The numerical aperture, NAs, of the transmitted light is made larger than the numerical aperture, NAp, of an optical fiber, whereby the numerical aperture, NAf, of received light radiated from the optical fiber is made smaller as the transmission distance increases. A receiving optical system is arranged such that the receiving efficiency of the received light is increased by the provision of an aperture member according as the numerical aperture, NAf, is made smaller. This improves the receiving efficiency when the transmission distance is long and reduces a variation in the received light quantity even if the transmission distance is varied.

Abstract: There is featured a processing method for processing a target body that includes setting a beam area formed by a laser beam on the organic insulating film so as to be larger than an area formed by projecting a target part of an organic insulating film onto a horizontal plane. The method also includes, subsequently moving the organic insulating film toward the irardiated region of the laser beam, and terminating the irradiation with the laser beam when the end part of the target part coincides with the moving end part of the laser beam. This enables the resultant processed target surface to be smooth and free from reaction product including decomposed segments of the target body. Also featured is an optical component including an optical element having a surface that is processed according to the processing methods of the present invention.

Abstract: In a two-way optical communication device, a rising mirror bends light transmitted from a light-emitting element in a virtually perpendicular direction to a surface of a substrate, and the light is gathered on an end of an optical fiber via a light-gathering mirror having a curved surface and is coupled to the optical fiber. Further, in the two-way optical communication device, received light, that is propagated from the optical fiber, is reflected on the light-gathering mirror and is gathered on the light-receiving element. The two-way optical communication device can transmit and receive light through a single optical fiber, causing only small loss in transmission and reception, so that light can be efficiently coupled to an optical fiber such as a POF having a large diameter.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical communication device satisfies a condition of &thgr;fb≦0≦&thgr;fa or &thgr;fa≦0≦&thgr;fb when &thgr;fa and &thgr;fb are angles of inclination between an optical axis of an optical fiber and transmission light after incidence with a numerical aperture NA at an outermost periphery, and &thgr;fa and &thgr;fb are expressed as the follows:

Abstract: A two-way optical communication device for use in a two-way optical communication system for transmitting and receiving an optical signal via a single optical fiber, comprises a light emitting element for generating transmitted light, a photodetector for receiving incoming light emitted from the optical fiber, and a reflection mirror made of a thin film having a high reflectance, having first and second surfaces, the first surface being opposite to the second surface. An optical member including the reflection mirror is provided closer to the optical fiber than the light emitting element. The incoming light emitted from the optical fiber is reflected by the first surface of the reflection mirror to be guided to the photodetector. The transmitted light emitted from the light emitting element or the transmitted light reflected by an end surface of the optical fiber is reflected by at least a portion of the second surface of the reflection mirror to prevent the transmitted light from entering the photodetector.

Abstract: An optical communication module including: an emission member for emitting a transmission light beam; and a connection member for detachably connecting an optical fiber for external communication with the emission member, the connection member including a tubular accommodation part for coaxially receiving and fixing an end of the optical fiber to be connected, wherein the emission member and the connection member are arranged such that the transmission light beam intersects with an optical axis of the optical fiber at a predetermined angle to enter an end face of the optical fiber when the optical fiber is connected and the transmission light beam collides with an inner wall of the accommodation part when the optical fiber is detached.

Abstract: According to the method of processing in accordance with the present invention, first, a beam area formed by a laser beam on the organic insulating film is set to be larger than an area formed by projecting a target part of an organic insulating film onto a horizontal plane, subsequently, the organic insulating film is moved toward the irradiated region of the laser beam, and the irradiation with the laser beam is terminated when the end part of the target part coincides with the moving end part of the laser beam. This enables the resultant processed target surface to be smooth and free from reaction product including decomposed segments of the target body.

Abstract: There is featured a processing method for processing a target body that includes setting a beam area formed by a laser beam on the organic insulating film so as to be larger than an area formed by projecting a target part of an organic insulating film onto a horizontal plane. The method also includes, subsequently moving the organic insulating film toward the irradiated region of the laser beam, and terminating the irradiation with the laser beam when the end part of the target part coincides with the moving end part of the laser beam. This enables the resultant processed target surface to be smooth and free from reaction product including decomposed segments of the target body. Also featured is an optical component including an optical element having a surface that is processed according to the processing methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A laminate structure includes a base material made of a resin and a laminate material made of a metal, the laminate material being laminated as one or more plating layers on one surface or on both surfaces of the base material, wherein the laminate material has a flexural modulus of elasticity larger than that of the base material and has a thickness such that a changing rate of rigidity relative to the thickness ratio of the laminate material in the total laminate structure is larger than a changing rate of weight.

Abstract: Curling of edges of recording paper in a toner-image fixing device is prevented. A temperature control unit controls the operation of a heater-lamp for heating a fixing roller in such a way that the fixing roller temperature when the front edge of recording paper enters into the fixing device is lower than the fixing roller temperature when a tail end of the recording paper enters.

Abstract: In a fixing device, a sheet of paper carrying an image formed with pre-fixed toner is transported to a fixing nip region in which (1) a fixing roller heated by a heating roller outside of the fixing roller and (2) a pressure roller come into contact, so that the toner is melted and fixed on the sheet of paper. The heating roller is controlled so that a surface portion of the fixing roller in the vicinity of an exit of the fixing nip region constantly has a set temperature during the transport of the sheet of paper through the fixing nip region. By thus arranging a fixing device, the resultant fixing device features a short warm-up period, high thermal efficiency and uniform temperature distribution, capability of fixing color toner without application of oil, durability and safety, a simple structure and a low manufacturing cost, no curling of paper after fixation, and applicability to high-speed printing.

Abstract: A heat-resistant sheet is provided between a fusing roller and a pressing member made of a resilient material. The heat-resistant sheet is composed of a glass fiber substrate coated with or impregnating a fluororesin having good mold lubrication and heat-resistance, such as PFA and PTFE. A paper having a pre-fused toner image is carried through a section between the fusing roller and heat-resistant sheet. Accordingly, wear or separation of the heat-resistant sheet caused by friction with the fusing roller can be prevented, thereby improving durability of the heat-resistant sheet.

Abstract: A toner image fixing device possesses excellent toner-releasing property and paper-carrying ability. A fixing roller is covered with a layer of compound of PTFE and fluoroelastomer.

Abstract: Energy saving in a fixing unit having a low heat capacity is achieved by reducing a loss of heat transferring from a temperature sensing element to temperature sensing unit and by improving response of the safety device. A heat-insulating member is formed to cover a temperature fuse being a temperature sensing element and a heat-conductive filler or heat-conductive elastic member is formed between the temperature fuse and a sliding sheet. A temperature sensing means having the temperature sensing element abuts on a fixing roller through a sliding sheet interposed therebetween. A contacting portion of the temperature sensing means with the heat-insulating member and the filler or elastic member has a curved contacting surface fitting a cylindrical surface of the fixing roller. The heat-insulating member has a groove or a slit for engaging with a protrusion of the temperature sensing element to be secured to the heat-insulating member.

Abstract: A fixing device has a fixing roller, a press member disposed in a press state in an axial direction of the fixing roller on the periphery surface thereof, and a transport guide for guiding transport of paper. The press member is formed so that the free height of a guide part on an upstream side with respect to the transport direction of the paper is lower than that of the pressure portion pressed to the fixing roller via a heat resistant sheet. Therefore, since the apparent elasticity hardness of the pressure portion can be made relatively small, the nip width formed by the fixing roller and the press member can be made large. Consequently, the fixing of toner to the paper is improved. Even when, for example, a thin sheet of paper or an envelope is used as the paper, the fixing device can suppress the occurrence of paper jam, such as paper lodging, and improper paper insertion.

Abstract: A washing machine according to the present invention is a new washing machine which is compact and can realize uniform and good washing. The plane shape of a washing tub 211 is an approximately rectangular inner shape which is defined by a bottom 213, a pair of long side walls 214a and 214b, and a pair of short side walls 215a and 215b. A pulsator 212 is so provided on the one long side wall 214b out of the pair of long side walls that its center axis 219 is perpendicular to the long side wall 214b. The diameter A of a disk 220 of the pulsator 212 is so set that W<A. Further, a projection 221 of the pulsator 212 is a projection which is long in the radial direction of the disk 220, so that the height thereof from the surface of the disk 220 is large on the side of the circumference of the disk 220. In the washing machine, the pulsator 212 is increased in the efficiency of agitation of wash water and laundry in the washing tub 211 while being longitudinally arranged.

Abstract: The inner surface of a fixing roller is divided into two areas in the lengthwise direction thereof. In one of the areas where the increase rate of the surface temperature of the fixing roller is small, and improper fixing to recording paper is likely to occur, black heat resistant coating is applied to the inner surface of the fixing roller to improve heat absorption. In addition, in the other area where the surface state of the inner surface of the fixing roller is non-uniform, and heat absorption is not stable, transparent heat resistant coating is applied to the inner surface of the fixing roller to stabilize the heat absorption. It is attempted in this manner to make uniform the temperature of the fixing roller in the lengthwise direction thereof and thus to make uniform the fixing in the whole paper-passing area.

Abstract: A toner image fixing device has a heat-resistant sheet that possesses excellent durability, fixing ability, transporting ability and working reliability. In a toner image fixing device that has a fixing roller, a pressure member disposed as pressed against the fixing roller, and a heat-resistant sheet secured between the fixing roller and the pressure member and fixes a toner image on a recording medium by heat while the latter passing through nip portion formed between the fixing roller and the heat-resistant sheet. The heat-resistant sheet is a sheet made of synthetic resin PTFE containing polyimide.

Abstract: A corona discharge device includes a plurality of discharge electrodes each having a pointed tip for concentrating electric field, a plurality of resistors and a common electrode, each of the plurality of resistors connects corresponding one of the plurality of discharge electrodes to the common electrode, and causes a prescribed voltage drop within a range of from 200 V to 2000 V.