Abstract: A small object identifying device and its identifying method according to which a large number of small objects can be identified. In one embodiment, the device includes a dispersion region section which disperses a large quantity of several kinds of small objects which are labeled by a combination of the presence/absence or measure of label elements of several kinds. A measuring device distributes and associates kinds of said label elements to two or more measurement points and measures the presence/absence or the measure of said label elements of the kinds which have been associated with respective measurement points. An identifying section associates the measurement results measured at each measurement point to thereby identify said small objects.

Abstract: In a Raman optical amplification system in which WDM optical signals comprising two or more signal bands are transmitted in a transmission line, and in which a plurality of pumping lightwaves are introduced into said transmission line so that WDM optical signals in the shortest signal band are Raman-amplified by said plurality of pumping lightwaves, the interval between the longest pumping wavelength and the next-longest pumping wavelength differs by 0.2 to 1.4 THz in frequency. This makes it possible to flatten the level of the WDM signals by means of canceling the Raman gain ripple on the longer wavelength region of the distributed amplification.

Abstract: An optical pulse generator comprises a comb-like dispersion profiled fiber formed into an optical loop mirror. The fiber may comprise three or more segments of fiber having alternating highly dispersive and highly nonlinear characteristics. The optical loop mirror construction splits an input pulse into two portions that propagate through the CDPF in opposite directions. The pulse portions are re-combined, and a compressed pulse with reduced noise is produced.

Abstract: On a second thermo-module there are disposed a prism, an optical filter, and a sub-mount, via a base respectively. On the front side of the sub-mount, there are disposed a first photodetector and a second photodetector. The optical filter is structured with a crystal member that satisfies a condition that ?+(1/n0)×(?n/?T) becomes not more than 3.5, where ? is a coefficient of linear expansion, n0 is a refractive index at a normal temperature, and ?n is a change of a refractive index corresponding to a temperature variation ?T.

Abstract: A waveform converter for altering the waveform and optical spectrum of an optical signal may comprise a nonlinear element having a nonlinear effect on optical pulses, a dispersion element having a dispersion effect on optical pulses, and a wavelength selecting element configured to select spectral components in a desired wavelength region.

Abstract: Solely lightwaves required to be wavelength converted are filtered out from the input broadband WDM lightwaves and are wavelength converted by use of FWM. Not only the broadband simultaneous wavelength conversion that is studied by many researchers, but also more flexible, sub-band wavelength conversion is realized. Frequency interval of the input WDM lightwaves is broadened or reduced in comparison of the frequency interval of the WDM lightwaves inputted to the wavelength converter. The frequency interval variation techniques using the wavelength converter, it can be realized to transfer from a transmission line less influenced by inter-channel crosstalk due to FWM to the different transmission lines strongly influenced by inter-channel crosstalk due to FWM, and vice versa.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy brazing sheet having a four-layered structure, of sheet thickness 0.2 mm or less, and having a core alloy, a filler alloy of an Al—Si alloy on one surface of the core alloy, a sacrificial anode material of an Al—Zn alloy on the other surface of the core alloy, and an intermediate layer between the core alloy and sacrificial anode material, wherein the core alloy is composed of an Al alloy containing given amounts of Si, Fe, Mn, and Cu, with the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities, and wherein the intermediate layer is composed of an Al alloy containing given amounts of Si, Fe, Mn, and Cu, with the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple-core optical connector and its manufacturing method, wherein the end faces of optical fibers are made free from any damage. Optical fibers (12) are inserted into optical fiber insertion holes (2) of a ferrule (1) of a multiple-core connector, which is equipped with a plurality of optical fiber insertion holes (2) and made of plastic resin, and are fixed therein with an adhesive agent. Fitting pin holes (3) for axial alignment are constructed of a hole of a sleeve (5) made of a material, the hardness of which is higher than that of the plastic resin and optical fibers (12). If the connection end faces of the ferrule (1) for multiple-core optical connector are buffing-finished by using free abrasive grains, since the end face of the sleeve (5) having a higher hardness is less ground than the optical fibers (12), the end face of the sleeve (5) is formed to protrude from the connection end face of the optical fibers (12).

Abstract: The present invention provides inexpensive electric contact materials having higher hardness and higher melting point and being more excellent in the points of wear resistance and environmental resistance over the electric contact materials of Ag type, Au type, platinum group type, etc. having been used so far, production methods thereof and electric contacts used said contact materials.In the electric contact materials of the invention, basically, a covering layer having at least one selected from transition metals of groups IVa (Ti, Zr, Hf, etc.), Va (V, Nb, Ta, etc.) and VIa (Cr, Mo, W, etc.) as a major ingredient is formed on the substrate as an electric contact in a thickness of 0.03 to 100 .mu.m, and, if need be, a fixed intermediate layer is formed between said covering layer of electric contact and substrate or a fixed surface layer is formed on the outside of covering layer of electric contact, thus aiming at further improvement in the characteristics of contact.

Abstract: A flat cable which has a connection termination with interlayer peeling films interposed between conductors and insulating films at predetermined intervals along a length of the flat cable. When connecting the flat cable, by cutting the termination with the interlayer films, the insulating film ends and interlayer film ends positioned at the cut portion are folded back to form a folded back portion. This folded back portion is made to catch on to the protective insulator of the connection device, so as to prevent poor contact etc. by ensuring that no intolerable force acts on the connection portion of the conductors even if a tensile force is applied to the connection portion. Further, in the connection termination, connection terminals are inserted between the interlayer peeling films and connectors to connect to the conductors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mode field conversion fiber component formed by fusion-connecting connection end surfaces of two optical components having different mode fields. The mode fields of the two optical components are conformed to each other at the connection end surfaces, and are continuously varied near the connection end surfaces. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a mode field conversion fiber component, having the steps of butting connection end surfaces of two optical fibers having different mode fields, fusion-connecting the connection end surfaces of the two optical fibers, and heating a fusion-connecting portion of the connection end surfaces, diffusing core dopant, and conforming the mode fields of the two optical fibers.

Abstract: A process for straightening teeth using super-elastic NiTi arch wires of the same diameter but having different recovery forces is carried out by using NiTi wires that have a transition temperature below body temperature with brackets on the teeth. The different recovery force is set for each wire by heat treating the wires at different temperatures and/or for different periods of time. In this manner the forces applied to the teeth can be changed while still using arch wires of the same diameter.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a current blocking layer and confinement current passing part formed on a semiconductor layer, and an electrode metal layer disposed on said current blocking layer and confinement current passing part, wherein the current blocking layer is made of semiconductor material, and the contact resistance of current blocking layer and electrode metal layer is higher than the contact resistance of electrode metal layer and semiconductor layer, and/or the resistivity of the current blocking layer is higher than that of the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: For electronic circuit members including a high density fine pattern electrode and a flexible printed circuit, a reinforced connecting part includes a reinforcing fastener which is a substantially cylindrical section shaped element having edges defining an axial slit clamping the circuit members. The reinforcing fastener is formed of an alloy having both superelastic and shape memory characteristics at a temperature above the Martensite transformation temperature of the alloy. The alloy is brought to a temperature above the Martensite transformation temperature after the slit is opened at a temperature below the Martensite temperature of the alloy and the electronic circuit members are attached via the slit. The circuit members can thus be fastened with a substantially constant force over time due to the superelastic and shape memory characteristics of the alloy.

Abstract: The specification discloses a polycrystalline boron nitride of high purity and high density consisting essentially of rhombohedral crystals in which the three-fold rotation axes, parallel to the c-axis in the notation of hexagonal crystal system, of the crystals have a preferred orientation. The polycrystalline rhombohedral boron nitride can be obtained as bulk or thin film articles with desired shapes by chemical vapor deposition including the steps of introducing a source gas of boron and a source gas into a reactor containing a heated substrate and depositing boron nitride onto the heated substrate, wherein a diffusion layer of the source gas of nitrogen and/or the carrier gas is formed around the substrate. The polycrystalline rhombohedral boron nitride such obtained is very useful in applications such as crucibles for melting semiconductors, various jigs for high temperature services, high-frequency insulator, microwave transmission window and source material of boron for semiconductor.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a composition of an optical fiber base material to be measured by radioactive rays, which comprises the steps of irradiating radioactive rays from a radiation generator to the composition containing a plurality of elements or the substance, emitting the transmitted rays of the base material to a plurality of single crystals to produce several types of transmitted rays of specific energy, and measuring the transmitted rays by a radiation detector to analyze the compositions of the constituent elements in the base material. Thus, this method can accurately and economically analyze the composition in response to the constituent elements of the composition and the thickness of the composition.

Abstract: A silver-coated electric material wherein a partial or total surface of an electroconductive or non-electroconductive substrate is provided with a coating of silver or silver alloy, having the first intermediate coating layer made of Ni, Co, Cr, Pd or their alloys and the second intermediate coating layer made of Sn, Cd, Pd, Ru or their alloys between the silver coating and the surface of the substrate, and the method of preparing the same.

Abstract: A zinc-halogen battery having a negative electrode of zinc electrode, a positive electrode of halogen electrode, and an electrolyte of aqueous solution containing a zinc halide as a main component thereof, which is characterized in that said electrolyte contains Tl and/or Tl compound and further at least one additive selected from the group consisting of Mo, W, Sn, Pb, Bi and the compounds thereof, if necessary, with addition of In and/or In compound.

Abstract: A high permeability alloy having an excellent wear resistance, comprising 3-10 wt % of Al, 4-11 wt % of Si, 2.1-20.0 wt % of Ru and the balance Fe, and further containing or not containing 0.01-1.0 wt % of at least one element selected from a group consisting of rare earth elements, Zr and Nb, and/or 0.2-0.5 wt % of Ti, or 0.5-20.0 wt % of Cr.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously electroplating wire or the like wherein two or more drums combine a power supply with a wire turn direction, each drum having a vertical and rotatable shaft, are provided; a wire or the like to be electroplated is wound on the drums in multiple stages so as to be run; an electroplating cell is positioned between the drums so that the wire to be electroplated is arranged to pass in and out of the electroplating cell in multiple stages and repeatedly; and, particularly, an end of the electroplating cell is provided with a slit for passage of the wire to be electroplated, the slit being provided with weir plates placed one on top of another such that the weir plates put each of wires in multiple stages running through the electroplating cell between upper and lower weir plates and passage holes for running the wires at multiple stages are formed at joints between individual weir plates.