Abstract: A light emitting device includes: an LED; a reflecting mirror that reflects light emitted by the LED and radiates the light outside and has a reflecting surface shaped in a paraboloid of revolution; and a light absorptive material that, of the light emitted by the LED, blocks the light beyond a 1/4 beam angle ? from being incident on the reflecting mirror. The LED is provided at a position displaced from a focal point of the paraboloid of revolution.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes: an LED; a reflecting mirror that reflects light emitted by the LED and radiates the light outside and has a reflecting surface shaped in a paraboloid of revolution; and a light absorptive material that, of the light emitted by the LED, blocks the light beyond a 1/4 beam angle ? from being incident on the reflecting mirror. The LED is provided at a position displaced from a focal point of the paraboloid of revolution.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus includes a light-emitting diode that functions as a light source, and a teardrop-shaped translucent member formed of a translucent material. The teardrop-shaped translucent member includes a bottom portion via which the light emitted from the light-emitting diode is input, a lateral portion configured to provide total internal reflection of the light input via the bottom portion, and a top portion configured to focus the light subjected to total internal reflection by the lateral portion so as to form an image.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a first LED unit and a second LED unit configured to provide different color temperatures. A pulse/voltage conversion circuit is connected between a power supply line and a low-potential side reference line, and configured to convert the pulses of input electric power into a voltage. A voltage dividing circuit is connected between the output terminal of the pulse/voltage conversion circuit and the low-potential side reference line, and configured to divide the voltage converted by the pulse/voltage conversion circuit. The dividing node of the voltage dividing circuit and the low-potential side terminal of the second LED unit are connected.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a first LED unit and a second LED unit configured to provide different color temperatures. A pulse/voltage conversion circuit is connected between a power supply line and a low-potential side reference line, and configured to convert the pulses of input electric power into a voltage. A voltage dividing circuit is connected between the output terminal of the pulse/voltage conversion circuit and the low-potential side reference line, and configured to divide the voltage converted by the pulse/voltage conversion circuit. The dividing node of the voltage dividing circuit and the low-potential side terminal of the second LED unit are connected.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus includes a light-emitting diode that functions as a light source, and a teardrop-shaped translucent member formed of a translucent material. The teardrop-shaped translucent member includes a bottom portion via which the light emitted from the light-emitting diode is input, a lateral portion configured to provide total internal reflection of the light input via the bottom portion, and a top portion configured to focus the light subjected to total internal reflection by the lateral portion so as to form an image.

Abstract: The size of a driving apparatus to be mounted in a mobile terminal is desired to be reduced. In a driving apparatus according to the present invention, an arm member supports a member to be driven in a slidable manner. A first biasing member has a predetermined spring constant and biases the member to be driven via the arm member. A second biasing member has a spring constant that is smaller than the spring constant of the first biasing member and, by biasing the member to be driven in a direction that goes against the first biasing member, supports the member to be driven along with the arm member. A shape-memory alloy swings the arm member against the first biasing member by contracting when a drive current is supplied. The member to be driven is slid, when the arm member swings, by the second biasing member while keeping contact with the arm member.

Abstract: The size of a driving apparatus to be mounted in a mobile terminal is desired to be reduced. In a driving apparatus according to the present invention, an arm member supports a member to be driven in a slidable manner. A first biasing member has a predetermined spring constant and biases the member to be driven via the arm member. A second biasing member has a spring constant that is smaller than the spring constant of the first biasing member and, by biasing the member to be driven in a direction that goes against the first biasing member, supports the member to be driven along with the arm member. A shape-memory alloy swings the arm member against the first biasing member by contracting when a drive current is supplied. The member to be driven is slid, when the arm member swings, by the second biasing member while keeping contact with the arm member.

Abstract: A light emitting diode includes a light emitting body, a lead frame supplying power to the light emitting body and a light transmitting resin covering the light emitting body and part of the lead frame. The top surface of the light transmitting resin is formed as a plane at a position that satisfies a condition in which part of radiated light from the light emitting body is totally reflected. An inclined surface is formed at a position that satisfies a condition in which part of the radiated light is refracted in a downward direction away from a line perpendicular to the inclined surface.

Abstract: A light-emitting unit containing a substrate and light emitting diodes (LEDs) is housed inside a casing constituted by a first member and a second member which are joined together. The second member has a projecting piece which is inserted to the first member, and inside the projecting piece a passage is formed. When silicone is injected through an injection opening from an injector, the silicone starting from the projecting piece flows through in the order of the passage, first-member side space, connecting passage and second-member side space and it finally overflows from a discharge opening. By implementing this structure and process, the air or air bubbles inside the light-emitting unit is pushed outside completely.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus according to the present invention comprises a controller, a power supply cable and a plurality of light-emitting units. The plurality of light-emitting units shown are a first light-emitting unit, a second light-emitting unit, a third light-emitting unit, a fourth light-emitting unit, a fifth light-emitting unit, a sixth light-emitting unit, a seventh light-emitting unit and an eighth light-emitting unit. Each light-emitting unit is provided with a red LED, a green LED and a blue LED. A diode is connected to the red LED whose forward voltage is lower.

Abstract: A method of treating a shape memory alloy to improve its various characteristics and to cause it to exhibit a two-way shape memory effect. A raw shape memory alloy having a substantially uniformly fine-grained crystal structure is prepared and then its crystal orientations are arranged substantially in a direction suitable for an expected operational direction, such as tensile or twisting direction or the like, in which the shape memory alloy is expected to move when used in an actuator after the completion of the treatment.

Abstract: The present invention employs a shape memory alloy that exhibits a two-way shape memory effect and that has a stress-strain property that, in a stress-strain diagram, the stress-strain curve comprises a gentler gradient portion extending with relatively small gradients and a steeper gradient portion extending with relatively great gradients. The shape memory alloy is operated in the region surrounded by the gentler gradient portion, the steeper gradient portion, a practical stress limit line, a straight line connecting the intersection of the practical stress limit line and a strain limit line near shape recovery completion on which the strain of the shape memory alloy reaches a specified value in a state close to the shape recovery completion and the point where the strain is zero at a low temperature in the stress-strain diagram.

Abstract: A method of treating a shape memory alloy to improve its various characteristics and to cause it to exhibit a two-way shape memory effect. A raw shape memory alloy having a substantially uniformly fine-grained crystal structure is prepared and then its crystal orientations are arranged substantially in a direction suitable for an expected operational direction, such as tensile or twisting direction or the like, in which the shape memory alloy is expected to move when used in an actuator after the completion of the treatment.

Abstract: A method of treating a shape memory alloy to improve its various characteristics and to cause it to exhibit a two-way shape memory effect. A raw shape memory alloy having a substantially uniformly fine-grained crystal structure is prepared and then its crystal orientations are arranged substantially in a direction suitable for an expected operational direction, such as tensile or twisting direction or the like, in which the shape memory alloy is expected to move when used in an actuator after the completion of the treatment.

Abstract: A system for transmitting messages from a caller location to a receiver location using a plurality of computers 11 each coupled to another such as the Internet. The system also has a plurality of access devices 13a-131, which are coupled to the network through a telecommunication line. These access devices include computers, workstations, and the like. Each access device includes a voice conversion board for converting a voice message from a telephone device 17, 19 into digital data for transmission through the network.

Abstract: A valve including a wire-shaped element of shape memory alloy as its driving source. The wire-shaped element is mechanically associated with a valve element so as to undergo an elongation from its original length when the valve element is moved in a predetermined direction, which can be either a direction to open a valve port or a direction to close the valve port. A biasing device biases the valve element in the predetermined direction. When the shape memory alloy is not heated to its critical temperature, it undergoes an elongation due to the biasing device, allowing the valve element to close/open the valve port. On the other hand, when heated to its critical temperature or higher, the shape memory alloy exhibits the shape memory effect contracting to its original length, whereupon the valve element opens/closes the valve port.