Abstract: A method for the production of a completely impregnated composite material having the surface thereof coated with a thermosetting resin and essentially consisting of a thermoplastic resin matrix including minute voids filled with a thermosetting resin and reinforcing fibers, which method comprises setting in place a roller and a collecting section disposed in the direction of the rotation of the roller, rotating the roller, feeding thermoplastic resin fibers and reinforcing fibers to the roller, causing the roller to throw a uniform mixture of the two types of fibers onto the collecting section, thereby forming a composite mat of the uniform mixture on the collecting section, then thermally compressing the composite mat and further solidifying the compressed composite mat by cooling and forming a composite material of the shape of a plate, further heating the composite material, thereby melting and expanding the thermoplastic resin forming the matrix, then cooling the expanded composite material, thereby form

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for the production of an oxide superconducting tape material having a composition of Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.8, which method consists essentially of forming a sandwich structure comprising a layer formed of a superconducting powder consisting essentially of Bi, Sr, Ca, Cu, and O and having an essential structure of Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.8 and silver sheet layers, the superconducting powder layer being interposed between the silver sheet layers, heating the sandwich structure at a temperature in the range of 810.degree.-910.degree. C. in an atmosphere consisting of oxygen and an inert gas and having an oxygen partial pressure in the range of 0-90%, thereby melting the superconducting powder layer, and then elevating the oxygen partial pressure of the atmosphere while retaining the same heating temperature, thereby crystallizing the molten superconducting powder layer.

Abstract: A field emission device of simple structure enables stabilization and control of field emission current. Emission current is controlled by a plurality of control voltage systems. An emitter having a sharp tip is fabricated by processing a p-type semiconductor substrate, and an n-type source region is provided on the p-type semiconductor substrate surface at a position that is laterally separated from the emitter. An electrode layer having an aperture facing the apex portion of the emitter is provided on an insulating layer, the electrode layer extending to above the n-type source region. Voltage applied to the electrode layer to apply an extractor field to the apex portion of the emitter and to induce inversion layers at the emitter surface and the surface of the p-type semiconductor substrate. The electrode layer is divided into a plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: A multi-legged walking apparatus includes a first plurality of legs having a large weight support capacity and a second plurality of legs providing a large thrust force. The first plurality of legs provide a smaller thrust force than the thrust force of the second plurality of legs, and the second plurality of legs have a smaller weight support capacity than the weight support capacity of the first plurality of legs. The overall weight of the apparatus is supported substantially by the first plurality of legs, and the overall thrust of the apparatus is provided substantially by the second plurality of legs.

Abstract: A surface hydrophobic active carbon is disclosed which has undergone a treatment with trimethyl chlorosilane and exhibits a silicon concentration on the surface thereof, Si.sub.2p /C.sub.1s, in the range of 0.005-0.03 as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and a humidity for starting adsorption of water in the range of 45-60% as determined from the equilibrium adsorbed water content curve, and a method for the production of a surface hydrophobic active carbon is disclosed which comprises exposing active carbon to trimethyl chlorosilane, allowing the exposure to continue for a prescribed length of time, evacuating the ambience, thereby removing excess amount of trimethyl chlorosilane, and subsequently heating the active carbon under a vacuum.

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in materials using infrared thermography, includes placing the rear surface of an object to be inspected close to the front surface of a thermoplate controlled by a temperature controller, and the front surface of the object in a vacuum chamber. At the other end of the vacuum chamber, on the outside, an infrared camera is arranged facing the object, so that a vacuum is maintained between the object and the camera. Defects are detected from thermal images of the object, obtained with the infrared camera.

Abstract: A method of non-contact micromanipulation using ultrasound includes providing a concave ultrasound transducer in a liquid medium in which micro particles are distributed, positioning a reflector at the focal point position of the transducer and radiating ultrasound from the transducer to form a standing wave field between the transducer and the reflector to align and trap micro particles at half wavelength intervals along the axis of the transducer.

Abstract: A method for the production of a superconducting polycrystalline wire rod having all the crystal (a, b, c) axes thereof aligned is disclosed, which consists of a step of arraying a plurality of superconducting whiskers of a composition of Bi.sub.2 Sr.sub.2 CaCu.sub.2 O.sub.8 (Bi-2212 phase) in such a manner as to parallellize the fiber axes of the whiskers and then aligning all the crystal axes of the superconducting whiskers with parallellized fiber axes and a step of heat-treating the resultant whiskers.

Abstract: A method for locating a source position of an anomalous signal in a radial bearing comprises using a signal detection sensor, an inner-ring positional detection sensor for detecting a rotational position of a bearing inner ring, and a ball positional detection sensor for detecting a revolution position of bearing-balls. Signals from the signal detection sensor, inner-ring positional detection sensor, and ball positional detection sensor are used to locate positions of contact between balls and the inner or outer ring at a time of anomalous signal generation, within a load zone, as an anomalous signal source position.

Abstract: A method of producing a three-dimensional form includes the steps of spraying from at least one nozzle a gas including particles of materials having different properties onto a base surface to deposit a layer of particles, repeatedly spray-depositing layers of particles each on the upper surface of a deposition layer, thereby building up a three-dimensional object consisting of the accumulated deposition layers each having different properties in a two-dimensional plane, and utilizing the different properties in the accumulated deposition layers to remove part of the three-dimensional object, thereby producing a desired three-dimensional form.

Abstract: A precision positioning control apparatus includes a coarse positioner, a fine positioner, a displacement totalizer for totaling the displacements of the two positioners, a total displacement detector for producing a total displacement signal, a comparator for producing an error signal, a coarse positioner adjuster for adjusting the error signal and inputting the adjusted signal to the coarse positioner, and fine positioner adjuster for adjusting the error signal and inputting the adjusted signal to the fine positioner. The coarse position adjuster includes a gain element, a transfer element, a limitter, an integrator, a gain adjuster and an adder.

Abstract: A material having ultrafine gold particles immobilized thereon consists essentially of at least one support selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal sulfides, and carbonaceous substances and ultrafine gold particles having a maximum particle diameter of 250 angstroms and deposited on the support with strong interaction. The material exhibits high activity as a catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. It is produced by causing a vaporized organic gold complex to contact at least one support selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal sulfides, and carbonaceous substances in an atmosphere of reduced pressure thereby inducing adsorption of the vapor of organic gold complex on the support and then heating the product of the adsorption to a temperature in the range of 100.degree.-700.degree. C.

Abstract: An x-ray exposure system that reduces the time required to evacuate an internal chamber of a vacuum vessel, uses a low-power laser to produce the plasma that generates the x-rays, and enables the sample to be maintained outside the vacuum vessel. The system includes a detachable cover member that hermetically seals the opening of the vacuum vessel. The cover member includes a through-hole that forms an x-ray irradiation window and is sealed by an x-ray transmission member. In the through-hole, an x-ray generation target is provided that is irradiated by an external laser beam, via a laser beam entry window.

Abstract: A method for producing a SiO.sub.2 glass material having regions changed in light refractive index is provided which comprises implanting at least 5.times.10.sup.19 Ge ions/cm.sup.3 into a SiO.sub.2 glass substrate, heat-treating the substrate at a temperature exceeding 300.degree. C., and exposing the substrate to an ultraviolet light. Also provided is a SiO.sub.2 glass material produced by the method.

Abstract: A wide view angle display apparatus includes a pair of display devices each including a display for displaying an image, a high resolution display for superimposing a high resolution image at a center portion of the displayed image and eye movement detection means for ascertaining the view point of the user's eye, a support/drive means associated with each display device for supporting the display device and moving it in accordance with a signal from the eye movement detection means to keep the center of the displayed image coincident with the view point, a video signal generating means associated with each display devices for sending a view point video signal to the display based on a signal from the eye movement detection means, and a high resolution video signal generating means associated with each display device for sending a high resolution video signal to the high resolution display.

Abstract: A staircase hoist for wheelchair users includes a hoist carrier plate having a pair of brackets, two guide rails in slidable engagement with the pair of brackets to maintain the hoist carrier plate in a prescribed attitude, the guide rails being disposed vertically parallel to one another on a staircase wall along an angle of flight of the staircase, a drive motor on the hoist carrier plate, a plurality of arms radiating from a drive shaft rotated by the motor that rotate in opposition to the staircase wall, a tip of each arm having a roller, and a plurality of drive guides disposed between the guide rails at a prescribed distance from the wall that sequentially engage with the rollers on the arms. The drive shaft that rotates the arms is set at an angle to the staircase wall to prevent rollers that have terminated engagement with a drive guide coming into contact with other drive guides while being rotated around into position for the next engagement.

Abstract: A method for thermal diffusivity measurement includes the steps of periodically heating a sample with a heat source modulated at an operating frequency, detecting an ac temperature of the sample at a detection point a predetermined distance apart from a heating point of the sample, the ac temperature being a periodic temperature oscillation, measuring a phase of the detected ac temperature by a phase sensitive detection operation, maintaining the phase constant by controlling the operating frequency of the heat source based on the measured phase to realize a constant-wave-number condition in which both a wave number and a thermal diffusion length are kept constant, and determining the thermal diffusivity of the sample based on the relative change in the operating frequency under the constant-wave-number condition.

Abstract: A field emission device of simple structure enables stabilization and control of field emission current. A three-dimensional emitter formed on a base member incorporates therein a source layer on the side in contact with the base member, a drain layer on the side of the distal end including a tip and a channel region layer between the source layer and the drain layer. A gate is formed near the emitter. A strong electric field generated by applying a voltage to the gate causes cold electrons to be emitted from the emitter tip and the voltage applied to the gate also controls the conductivity of the channel region layer, whereby the field emission current emitted from the tip of the emitter is stabilized and controlled.

Abstract: A method for the production of a high-strength high-toughness silicon nitride sinter includes the steps of mixing a silicon nitride powder with a sintering additive, adding to the resultant mixture as seed particles 0.1 to 10% by volume, based on the amount of the mixture, of elongated single crystal .beta.-silicon nitride particles having a larger minor diameter than the average particle diameter of the silicon nitride powder and having an aspect ratio of at least 2, forming the resultant mixture so as to orient the elongated single crystal .beta.-silicon nitride particles as seed particles in a specific direction, and heating the green body to density it and simultaneously induce epitaxial growth of single crystal .beta.-silicon nitride particles, and a high-strength, high-toughness silicon nitride sinter obtained by the method.

Abstract: Photocatalyst particles consist essentially of a matrix consisting of the crystal phase of a semiconducting metal oxide as a photocatalyst and ferromagnetic metal particles dispersed in the matrix, having an average particle diameter of 15 nm at most and a specific surface area of 100 m.sup.2 /g at least, and permitting recovery by a magnetic force.