Abstract: A stereoscopic image capture device of this invention includes: an image capturing face on which light from an object is incident; an optical element disposed on a side of the image capturing face on which the light is incident, the optical element converting an angle at which the light is incident thereon to a distance from an optical axis the optical element; and an afocal optical system including a plurality of lenses, wherein the afocal optical system forms, on the optical element, an image of the object formed on one of the plurality of lenses which is closest to the object.

Abstract: A retardation film made of a polymerized liquid crystal material of the present invention includes: a first region having a first flat surface pattern; and a second region having a second flat surface pattern, wherein a thickness in the first region is different from that in the second region, thereby retardations in the first region and in the second region are different from each other.

Abstract: Peripheral velocity of a toner support is set up so as to satisfy the following condition:L/T.ltoreq.vs.ltoreq.(d/t).multidot.cos .theta.-(1/t)(L.sup.2 -d.sup.2 sin .sup.2 .theta.).sup.1/2assuming that d denotes the distance between centers of two adjacent gates, .theta. the angle of slant connected between centers of the same two gates, L the maximum length of toner-free area on peripheral surface of the toner support, vs the peripheral velocity of the toner support, t the time lag between voltage application to one annular electrode and to the other, and T is the time interval between successive voltage applications to an identical gate (the shortest period of time during which the voltage for inhibiting passage of the toner is applied to the gate).

Abstract: An alignment device connects a stump socket (1) to a prosthetic limb (21). The alignment device has an alignment member (8) with an opening (12) receiving a pin (7) connected to the stump socket (1). The size of the opening (12) is considerably greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the pin (7) and the pin can be locked in any position within the opening (12). This achieves a considerable improvement of the wear characteristics by lateral adjustment.

Abstract: An extrusion system for providing a foamed material in which a material such as a polymer material is supplied to an extruder for movement through a rotating screw member. The material is placed in a molten state and a foaming agent, such as a supercritical fluid, is introduced into the extruder at a selected pressure so that a two-phase mixture of the molten material and the foaming agent is formed. The foaming agent is then diffused into and dissolved in the molten material to form a single-phase solution which is forwarded from a solution formation to a nucleation device. A thermodynamic instability is induced through a rapid pressure drop, e.g., higher than 0.9 GPa/s in the nucleation device to nucleate microcells in the solution. A further shaping device, e.g., a die, can be used to produce a foamed material of a desired shape.

Abstract: A rotary motor and a rotary magnetic bearing are integrated in a compact assembly that is contact-less. A stator assembly surrounds a ferromagnetic rotor with an annular air gap which can accommodate a cylindrical wall, e.g. of a chamber for semiconductor wafer processing. The stator assembly has a permanent magnet or magnets sandwiched between vertically spaced magnetic stator plates with plural pole segments. The rotor is preferably a ring of a magnetic stainless steel with complementary pole teeth. The stator assembly (i) levitates and passively centers the rotor along a vertical axis and against tilt about either horizontal axis, (ii) provides a radial position bias for the rotor, and (iii) establishes a motor flux field at the rotor poles. Polyphase coils wound on the stator plates produce a rotating flux field that drives the rotor as a synchronous homopolar motor. A rotor without pole teeth allows operation with an asynchronous inductive drive.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a discharge head and a discharge control device. The discharge head includes an ink chamber with a discharge hole, a first heater for heating and gasifying ink, a shutter unit, provided at the discharge hole portion, controlled to discharge gasified ink intermittently according to an electrical signal corresponding to image data to be recorded, and a first member for maintaining the temperature of the discharge hole sufficiently lower than the temperature of the first heater in operation of the first heater before initiation and after completion of image data recording. The discharge control device controls the shutter unit.

Abstract: A method of producing an object by successive solidification of layers of a powder material is disclosed. The method provides a preformed base plate having a metal plate with a solidified layer of a powder material formed thereon. Then, successive layers of said powder material are applied and solidified on the solidified layer of the base plate to form the object. In further detail, the method for produces a three-dimensional by providing a support and a preformed base plate having an upper surface for supporting the object. The base plate is removably attached to the support. Means are provided for adjusting the elevation of said upper surface. A layer of the powder material is applied to the upper surface of the base plate. The powder material is solidified at points corresponding to a cross-section of the object by irradiation with electromagnetic or particle radiation. Then, the applying and solidifying steps are repeated for completing the object.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal display device is described. The device has a pair of substrates having at least an electrode film and an alignment film, and a complex made of a ferroelectric liquid crystal material and a polymer material disposed between the substrates. The complex has a network structure such that the network structure stabilizes the orientation of molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material. Directions of pretilt angles of the molecules of the ferroelectric liquid crystal material located at interfaces between the substrates and the ferroelectric liquid crystal material are substantially identical. The ferroelectric liquid crystal material has a chevron layer structure, and a bending direction of the chevron layer structure is substantially identical to the directions of the pretilt angles of the molecules at the interfaces.

Abstract: A fixing device is disclosed for fixing an unfixed toner image onto a sheet of paper by sandwiching in a contacting portion between an fixing roller and a pressing roller, and thus transporting, the sheet carrying thereon the unfixed toner image. The blade includes a base body made from a heat resistant rubber material (e.g., fluororubber) and a fluororesin sheet adhered to the surface of the base body by an adhesive agent so as to cover an edge portion of the blade. This permits provision of a fixing device with an oil-applying function which has superb durability and stability over a long period of time. The fluororesin sheet is preferably a tetrafluoroethylene=perfluoroalkylvinylether copolymer sheet. The adhesive agent is preferably a single component room-temperature-setting type silicone adhesive agent.

Abstract: A photocoupler according to the present invention includes: an optical waveguide including a substrate, at least a first dielectric layer provided on the substrate, the first dielectric layer having a tapered structure whose thickness varies in an x-direction in which light is propagated after coupling, and a second dielectric layer provided on the first dielectric layer; a light incidence component provided above the optical waveguide, which causes light incident thereon to be directed toward a surface of the optical waveguide at a prescribed angle; and a bonding section for bonding the light incidence component to the optical waveguide. The bonding section has an edge surface which makes contact with the surface of the waveguide in a straight line and has a portion which makes contact with neither the light incidence component nor the surface of the optical waveguide. The tapered structure of the first dielectric layer has a shape set such that a radiation pattern of light with a wavelength .lambda.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improvement in microcellular or supermicrocellular polymer extrusion systems. Both conventional and microcellular systems employ an extruder which plasticates polymer pellets into a polymer melt; a gas metering system, whereby a gas is injected directly in the polymer melt flow in the extruder; a mixing and homogenizing section of the extruder, which creates a single-phase solution of the polymer and the gas; and a nucleation device at the outlet end of the extruder. In this invention, the improvement to the conventional system comprises the nucleation means attached to said extruder which is a gear pump acting as a throttle rather than a pump. With this improvement, the discharge pressure is dictated by die resistance and flow rate as delivered by the gear throttle, and the pressure drop of the polymer/gas single-phase solution is nearly instantaneous.

Abstract: A very light, high force reaction-mass actuator using high energy density magnetostrictive material to accelerate a mass, producing a reaction force that can be used to oppose vibration forces. The reaction-mass actuator is configured having an axially symmetric design that features a Terfenol-D rod as a core. Surrounding the rod is a magnetic coil which provides the changing magnetizing field used to actively control magnetostrictive strain of the Terfenol rod. The magnetic coil also provides a magnetic flux based on a D.C. current, for biasing the Terfenol rod. The magnetic coil, disposed about the fixed magnetostrictive rod, is incorporated into a reaction mass assembly that is suspended and sealed inside an enclosed, stiff outer shell or housing by an elastomeric material mounting configuration that facilitates an output force with suppressed harmonic content. In addition, the elastomeric mounting configuration provides sealing protection against external factors.

Abstract: In a method for fabricating a solar cell, an amorphous silicon film of a first conductivity type is formed on a substrate, and nickel silicide is formed thereon. The amorphous silicon film is crystallized through heat treatment to obtain a crystalline silicon film of the first conductivity type. Residual nickel silicide on the surface of the crystalline silicon film of the first conductivity type is removed. Another crystalline silicon film of a second conductivity type is further formed on the surface of the crystalline silicon film of the first conductivity type.