Abstract: A mold has a moling surface of a material containing silicon carbide and/or silicon nitride as a main component and a carbon thin film formed on the molding surface to prevent fusion sticking. A glass substance which has a sag point not higher than 565.degree. C. and a predetermined composition free from arsenic oxide is introduced into the mold. The glass substance is press-formed in a heated and softened condition into a glass optical element of high precision.

Abstract: A method for irradiating a workpiece making a relative move in accordance with a work program with a laser beam for cutting the workpiece includes steps of interrupting the cutting being executed and then restarting the cutting. As the cutting is restarted, machining of the workpiece is performed under specified conditions for a predetermined distance and a predetermined time to provide sufficient machining of the workpiece.

Abstract: A connecting end portion of a planar circuit body and method of making same in which an end portion is directly formed into a terminal thereby improving conductivity and simplifying the connection. According to one embodiment, a connecting end portion of a flat cable is formed by laminating a rectangular circuit conductor with an insulating cover material, a terminal member is fixedly secured to the planar circuit conductor at an end portion of the circuit conductor with a conductive adhesive agent, and plated metal layer is formed thereon.

Abstract: In a method for forming a groove-type isolation area, an insulating pattern is formed by a selective oxidation process or a LOCOS process on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is etched with a mask of the insulating pattern to create a groove in the semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is buried in the groove to form the groove-type isolation area.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention regenerates solitons in-line by synchronously modulating the solitons using a non-linear optical loop mirror as an optical modulator, the NOLM modulator being controlled by a clock signal recovered from the soliton signal by clock recovery means which may be all-optical means or electro-optical means. The NOLM includes an input coupler which may be a 50/50 coupler or an asymmetrical coupler. Said input coupler may be a 2x2 coupler or a 3x3 coupler. In a particular embodiment, the regenerating system further includes a plurality of optical amplifiers and a plurality of "guiding" filters. Application to long-distance soliton optical telecommunications.