Abstract: A photographing scenario generator is configured to generate a photographing scenario being a condition for photographing a workpiece based on a condition set in advance. The illumination adjuster is configured to switch, with an illumination condition of the photographing unit being set to be variable, the illumination condition to each of a plurality of illumination conditions during one-time relative approach or retreat between a photographing part and the workpiece. The omnifocal image creator is configured to create, for each illumination condition, an omnifocal image obtained by evaluating a focus for each local area based on a plurality of pieces of image data having different focal points, which have been acquired through photographing under the same illumination condition, and reconstructing the image data from a combination of in-focus local images.

Abstract: In a method for brazing a sheet material without use of flux, an inert gas is firstly introduced into an oxygen pump to reduce an oxygen partial pressure in the inert gas to 1×10?10 Pa or less, and the sheet material is heated in a brazing furnace in an atmosphere of the inert gas discharged from the oxygen pump. A core alloy of the sheet material or a brazing filler alloy cladded to a surface of the core alloy contains Mg. Both the core alloy and the brazing filler alloy may contain Mg. Accordingly, brazability of the sheet material is sufficiently improved.

Abstract: In a method for brazing a sheet material without use of flux, an inert gas is firstly introduced into an oxygen pump to reduce an oxygen partial pressure in the inert gas to 1×10?10 Pa or less, and the sheet material is heated in a brazing furnace in an atmosphere of the inert gas discharged from the oxygen pump. A core alloy of the sheet material or a brazing filler alloy cladded to a surface of the core alloy contains Mg. Both the core alloy and the brazing filler alloy may contain Mg. Accordingly, brazability of the sheet material is sufficiently improved.

Abstract: To provide a method for enhancing adhesion of a thin film, and a method for enhancing adhesion of a thin film provided with a surface function caused by the shape. Adhesion of a thin film can be enhanced by irradiating the surface of a parent material with a laser beam at a fluence in the vicinity of the machining threshold, scanning the irradiated part while overlapping to form a grating structure, and then forming a solid thin film in the grating structure. When the grating structure formed on the parent material is left on the solid thin film, adhesion of the thin film is enhanced and surface functions, e.g. reduction of friction and wear caused by the shape, suppression of adhesion of fine particles, and cell sensibility, can be exhibited in conjunction with the function of the solid thin film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanical seal sliding member with high lubricating characteristics, in which the coefficient of friction and the temperature of sliding surfaces are lowered and stabilized without excessive leakage. In the mechanical seal sliding member of the present invention, on the sliding surface 2, a plurality of grating sections 5 are formed separately in each of which a plurality of linear shape ridge portions parallel to each other are formed in a predetermined region with a predetermined pitch. The linear shape ridge portions of the plurality of grating sections are formed as inclined at a predetermined angle to a sliding direction of the sliding surfaces 2. Such periodic structure can improve the lubricating characteristics for lubrication.

Abstract: The oxygen partial pressure control unit includes a gas purification section for purifying the gas having the oxygen partial pressure controlled within a range of from 0.2 to 10?30 atm, and a tank for storing the purified gas produced by the gas purification section. The purified gas stored within the tank is supplied to the another unit. The oxygen partial pressure control unit includes a circulation circuit including the tank and the gas purification section. The gas filled in the tank 20 is caused to circulate along the circulation circuit, and the purified gas produced by the gas purification section is stored in the tank.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mechanical seal sliding member with high lubricating characteristics, in which the coefficient of friction and the temperature of sliding surfaces are lowered and stabilized without excessive leakage. In the mechanical seal sliding member of the present invention, on the sliding surface 2, a plurality of grating sections 5 are formed separately in each of which a plurality of linear shape ridge portions parallel to each other are formed in a predetermined region with a predetermined pitch. The linear shape ridge portions of the plurality of grating sections are formed as inclined at a predetermined angle to a sliding direction of the sliding surfaces 2. Such periodic structure can improve the lubricating characteristics for lubrication.

Abstract: A periodic structure is to be successively formed over an extensive area with a uniaxial laser beam. Such method includes irradiating a uniaxial laser beam near an ablation threshold to a surface of a material; and executing an overlapped scanning on the irradiated region, so as to cause an ablation by interference between an incident beam and a surface scattered wave along the material surface; increasing the scattered wave; causing an interference at an interval equal to a wavelength of the laser beam, to thereby cause spontaneous formation of a periodic structure. The periodic structure can be made to have a different ripple spacing by changing an incident angle of the laser beam to the material surface. When the laser incident beam has an angle, the ripple spacing can be changed by changing a scanning direction.

Abstract: To provide a method for enhancing adhesion of a thin film, and a method for enhancing adhesion of a thin film provided with a surface function caused by the shape. Adhesion of a thin film can be enhanced by irradiating the surface of a parent material with a laser beam at a fluence in the vicinity of the machining threshold, scanning the irradiated part while overlapping to form a grating structure, and then forming a solid thin film in the grating structure. When the grating structure formed on the parent material is left on the solid thin film, adhesion of the thin film is enhanced and surface functions, e.g. reduction of friction and wear caused by the shape, suppression of adhesion of fine particles, and cell sensibility, can be exhibited in conjunction with the function of the solid thin film.