Abstract: An optical waveguide plate for a surface light emitting apparatus and a surface light emitting apparatus using the optical waveguide plate that provides excellent uniformity in surface emission is disclosed. The optical waveguide plate comprises an end face introducing light emitted from a light source, and a light emitting surface outputting light introduced from the end face. The end face has a light introducing portion comprising a plurality of notched prisms which disperse incident light. The intervals between two adjacent prisms are set to become greater in proportion to the distance from the center of the light introducing portion. The angles of the prisms are also adjusted to provide uniform surface emission.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating relatively cool microwave plasma. The present invention provides a microwave plasma nozzle that includes a gas flow tube through which a gas flows, and a rod-shaped conductor that is disposed in the gas flow tube and has a tapered tip near the outlet of the gas flow tube. A portion of the rod-shaped conductor extends into a microwave cavity to receive microwaves passing in the cavity. These received microwaves are focused at the tapered tip to heat the gas into plasma. The microwave plasma nozzle also includes a vortex guide between the rod-shaped conductor and the gas flow tube imparting a helical shaped flow direction around the rod-shaped conductor to the gas flowing through the tube. The microwave plasma nozzle further includes a mechanism for electronically exciting the gas and a shielding mechanism for reducing a microwave power loss through the gas flow tube.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an ammonobasic method for preparing a gallium-containing nitride crystal, in which gallium-containing feedstock is crystallized on at least one crystallization seed in the presence of an alkali metal-containing component in a supercritical nitrogen-containing solvent. The method can provide monocrystalline gallium-containing nitride crystals having a very high quality.

Abstract: Keys, which are incorporated in an automatic player piano, are monitored with an optical transducer system. The optical transducer system includes sensor heads provided on both sides of the key trajectories, LEDs connected to predetermined sensor heads through optical fibers, LDDs connected to the other sensor heads through optical fibers and a controlling unit. A luminescence controller is connected to the LEDs for optimizing the luminescence, and bias controllers are respectively connected to the LDDs. The luminescence controller and bias controllers optimize the luminescence of emitted light and the bias level of electric signals so that the optical transducer system is free from the individuality of component parts and the deterioration.

Abstract: A first rectifying net, a rectifying grid and a second rectifying net are attached, as a rectifying part upstream of a duct through which air for cooling flows. A noise detection microphone detects noise within the duct. An error detection microphone is placed in the downstream side of the noise to detect error noise. An arithmetic circuit inputs a noise signal of the noise detection microphone, carries out an arithmetic of a transfer function so that an output signal of the error detection microphone becomes minimum, and outputs a control signal to a control sound source. The control sound source radiates a control sound having approximately the same sound pressure as and an opposite phase of the noise within the duct. Thus, the coherence between the noise in the upstream and downstream parts increases, thereby enhancing a sound-muffling effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for studying properties, especially physical properties of a surfactant. A fluid is introduced in the form of a sample volume in another fluid which is immiscible with said fluid so that an interface is formed between the one fluid and the other fluid, at least in a partial area of a surface of the sample volume. The sample volume is configured so as to be axially symmetrical around a given defining axis, whereby the interface is formed axially symmetrically with respect to the given defining axis. The surfactant is spread across the interface to form a surface film in the area of the interface with the surfactant. Thereupon the surface film can by studied microscopically.

Abstract: An OFDM baseband signal that has undergone a synchronization carrier modulation or a differential carrier modulation is inputted to a complex signal converter for nonlinear distortion equalization so as to be converted according to the N-th order function conversion characteristics (N>1). Then, nonlinear distortion in the OFDM baseband signal is compensated for. At this time, the following is used as a conversion equation: y(n)=x(n)+?am(n)xm(n)(m>1) wherein the values of the input signal, the output signal and the coefficient for m-th order distortion equalization at time n are, respectively, x(n), y(n) and am(n).

Abstract: An optical transducer includes a photo-electric converter supported by a shank flange rail and optical modulators respectively attached to hammers of an automatic player piano; since a neck portion makes a photo-modulating pattern closer to the rotational axis of each hammer than a boss portion adhered to the side surface of the hammer shank, the photo-modulating pattern is rotated in a narrow space in the vicinity of the rotational axis so as to permit the photo-electric converter to monitor the hammer motion between the rest position and the end position without any interference with other component parts, and the boss portion is easily adhered to the side surface under the condition that a worker lifts the hammer over the adjacent hammers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool whose width dimension is not increased even when it includes a tool magazine. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a forward and backward (Y-axis) direction in a front view of the machine tool; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in right and left (X-axis) direction; a column fixed on the bed a spindle head disposed on the column to support a spindle and movable in a vertical (Z-axis) direction; an automatic tool changer disposed on a back face side of the column, wherein the column has an opening which allows the back face side and a front face side of the column to communicate with each other, and the automatic tool changer replaces a tool on the spindle side by a tool on a tool magazine side through the opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate for epitaxy, especially for preparation of nitride semiconductor layers. Invention covers a bulk nitride mono-crystal characterized in that it is a mono-crystal of gallium nitride and its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to c-axis of hexagonal lattice of gallium nitride has a surface area greater than 100 mm2, it is more than 1.0 ?m thick and its C-plane surface dislocation density is less than 106/cm2, while its volume is sufficient to produce at least one further-processable non-polar A-plane or M-plane plate having a surface area at least 100 mm2. More generally, the present invention covers a bulk nitride mono-crystal which is characterized in that it is a mono-crystal of gallium-containing nitride and its cross-section in a plane perpendicular to c-axis of hexagonal lattice of gallium-containing nitride has a surface area greater than 100 mm2, it is more 1.0 ?m thick and its surface dislocation density is less than 106/cm2.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of enhancing approachability to a spindle to improve work efficiency even when it includes a workpiece changer. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a forward and backward (Y-axis) direction in a front view of the machine tool; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in a right and left (X-axis) direction; a column having a shape of a gate bridged over a travel range of the table and fixed on the bed; a spindle head disposed on the column to support a spindle and movable in a vertical (Z-axis) direction; a workpiece changer that turns a workpiece together with a pallet or turns the workpiece independently, for workpiece replacement, between a workpiece standby position set on a back face side of the bed and the table placed at a workpiece change position, the workpiece changer being disposed so as to set the workpiece change position at a position under the column.

Abstract: The present invention provides a machine tool capable of achieving a higher feed rate of a spindle and weight reduction while ensuring necessary stiffness of a column. The present invention includes: a bed; a saddle disposed on the bed to be movable in a Y-axis direction in a front view of the machine; a table disposed on the saddle to be movable in an X-axis direction; a column having a shape of a gate that is bridged over a travel range of the table and has right and left legs fixed on the bed and a beam connecting tops of the right and left legs; and a spindle head disposed on a front face of the beam to be movable in a Z-axis direction.

Abstract: A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor where a main element holder and an additional element holder are relatively moved in a direction perpendicular to an arrangement direction of optical axes. An engagement projection of the additional element holder is fit into a receiving hole of the main element holder and the hook of the additional element holder engages with the end edge of the main element holder, whereby the main element holder and the additional element holder are mechanically coupled to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an exposure department for exposing photographic paper conveyed at a first conveying speed, a development department for developing the photographic paper, conveyed at a second conveying speed lower than the first conveying speed, after being exposed in the exposure department. In the image forming apparatus, the relationship between 1) the distance along the conveying direction from a reference area to a micro area being the target of exposure correction, both the reference area and the micro area being on the photographic paper, and 2) the difference in tone between images formed at the reference area and the micro area when the reference area and the micro area are exposed to the same amount of light in the exposure department, and the relationship between the exposure of the photographic paper and the tone of the image at the reference area are stored.

Abstract: Two set of filter chips on the upper and lower surfaces, each of which has a wavelength characteristic corresponding to each wavelength component of wavelength-multiplexed light, are mounted on a transparent substrate to make an optical filter element. When the wavelength-multiplexed light is inputted to the optical filter element via an optical fiber and when the same light components as those having the wavelengths demultiplexed by an optical fiber is also inputted, the demultiplexed light and the replaced wavelength-multiplexed light will be obtained at another optical fibers, respectively.

Abstract: A printing device of the present invention includes a printing head for carrying out a printing operation on one side of a surface of a disk, such as a CD-R medium, and arranged such that the printing operation is performed on the disk as the disk and the printing head are relatively shifted by the rotation of the disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a probe (207) mounting device for a scanning probe microscope, especially a scanning force microscope, comprising a retaining member (200) for installation in a measuring assembly of a scanning probe microscope. The probe (207) is detachably mounted on the retaining member (200) by means of a clamping member (201), the clamping member being secured in self-locking fashion to the retaining member (200).

Abstract: A circuit board testing apparatus for testing continuity and/or short-circuit of wirings formed on a circuit board, includes an electromagnetic wave irradiator which irradiates first terminals of the wirings with an electromagnetic wave so that electrons are discharged from the first terminals by photoelectric effect. Discharged electrons are trapped by an electrode which is electrically biased to have a higher potential than that of the second terminals of the wirings, thereby causing an electric current to flow through the wirings via the electrode. Existence of open-circuit and/or short-circuit of the wirings is judged based on the current flowing the wirings.