Abstract: A surface property measurement technology by which a surface property of a substance can be evaluated with high accuracy, is provided. A surface property measurement method includes radiating an ultrasonic wave to a measurement target and acquiring a reflected signal from the measurement target; calculating, by a measurement apparatus, a maximum value of a cross-correlation function between the reflected signal from the measurement target and a reference reflected signal from a reference substance acquired in advance; calculating a reflection component at an interface, by using the maximum value of the cross-correlation function; and outputting, as a measurement value, one of an acoustic impedance of the measurement target or an acoustic impedance of the reference substance, according to a result of comparing the reflection component with the reference reflected signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic measurement method includes irradiating an object to be measured with an ultrasonic wave, acquiring a reflection wave from the object, calculating at a processor an acoustic impedance in a depth direction of the object from the reflection wave, and estimating and outputting a thickness of the object based upon an inflection point determined by second-order differentiation of the acoustic impedance.

Abstract: An ultrasonic-image-construction apparatus can construct an ultrasonic-tomographic image of a thin, layer-structured target object to be measured relatively easily and highly accurately in a manner in which such layered structure is easily understood. An ultrasonic transducer of an ultrasonic-image-constructing apparatus transmits ultrasonic waves to the target object. A reference substance makes contact with a base substrate, with such ultrasonic waves being incident on the target object via the base substrate, then receives an impulse response of an ultrasonic waveform. A computing means performs calculation to estimate acoustic-physical-property distribution in consideration of the multiple-reflections influence based on normalized-impulse information obtained from impulse-response information of such ultrasonic waveform incident on the reference substance and from impulse-response information of such ultrasonic waveform incident on the target object.

Abstract: A smell sensor includes an ion sensor in which a sensing section provided with a sensitive film configured to change a potential in accordance with a state of a measurement target is formed on a semiconductor substrate; a substance adsorption film disposed on the sensitive film and configured to change the state with adsorption of a smell substance; and a reference electrode configured to apply a reference voltage to the substance adsorption film. The reference electrode is disposed to be separated from the sensitive film and not to overlap the sensing section when viewed in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Powder particles for forming a homogeneous green body having a sufficient strength and a process for producing a green body by using the powder particles. A green body is shaped by using powder particles of composite particles in which thermoplastic resin particles are scattered on surfaces of large particles in an amount within a predetermined volume ratio range with respect to the large particles, and loaded to form resin pools in contact point peripheral areas of adjoining ones of the large particles and form voids in areas other than the contact point peripheral areas when the thermoplastic resin particles are melted. A green body packed with the powder particles each having a small amount of the thermoplastic resin particles attached thereon is placed under a melting condition of the thermoplastic resin particles, the thermoplastic resin is melted and gathers around contact points (or proximal points) of the adjoining powder particles.

Abstract: An ion concentration distribution measurement device includes a unit detection element for outputting charges of an amount according to an ion concentration, and an integration circuit for outputting a signal value according to the amount of charges which are output from the unit detection element. The unit detection element includes a MOS transistor, an ion sensitive portion, a first capacitive portion, and a transfer switch. The integration circuit includes an amplifier, a second capacitive portion, and a reset switch.

Abstract: A wireless power transmission apparatus includes a high-frequency power generator, a power-transmitting electrode, a plurality of power-receiving electrodes, a switchable matching device, a detection circuit and a controller. The high-frequency power generator generates high-frequency power. The power-transmitting electrode is configured to transmit the high-frequency power generated by the high-frequency power generator. Each of the power-receiving electrodes is capable of wirelessly receiving the high-frequency power from the power-transmitting electrode. The matching device is electrically connected with the power-transmitting electrode and includes one or more matching circuits. The detection circuit detects, based on the output of reflected power from the power-transmitting electrode, whether or not the generation of the high-frequency power by the high-frequency power generator and the transmission of the high-frequency power at the power-transmitting electrode match each other.

Abstract: A transformer is provided between a power supply and a load, and includes a front stage circuit and a rear stage circuit each having a function of performing switching so as to alternately invert a polarity of output relative to input. The transformer further includes: a series unit provided in at least one of both circuits and composed of a pair of reactance elements connected in series to each other via a connection point; and a switch device which, with both ends of the series unit serving as a first port, causes a part between one end of the series unit and the connection point, and a part between the other end of the series unit and the connection point, to serve as a second port alternately through switching while inverting a polarity, and executes power transmission from the first port to the second port or vice versa.

Abstract: A high frequency oscillator has a high frequency generation part, an oscillation part, a matching unit, rectification element parts and switch parts. The oscillation part oscillates high frequency power generated by the high frequency generation part. The matching unit is arranged between the high frequency generation part and the oscillation part, and has one or more capacitors and matching circuits having difference characteristics so as to perform matching between the high frequency generation part and the oscillation part. The rectification element parts and the matching circuits are arranged in one-to-one correspondence. The rectification element parts rectify high frequency power supplied from the high frequency generation part to the oscillation part. The switch part is connected to the corresponding rectification element part to switch the corresponding capacitor connected to the corresponding matching circuit through the corresponding rectification element part.

Abstract: [Problem to Be Solved] A pouring control method for controlling an automatic pouring device with a tilting-type ladle is provided. By the method, a lip of a pouring ladle approaches a sprue of a mold without striking any object located within the range of its movement. Also, by the method, the molten metal that runs out of the ladle can accurately fill the mold.

Abstract: Provided are: a bond construction of an FRP material to a structure characterized in that a bonding layer formed from a fibrous substrate and a resin is interposed between the structure and the FRP material, and the bonding layer is protruded from an edge of the FRP material; and a bonding method. Repair or reinforcement of an existing structure can be made easily and reliably at a construction site with a required FRP material, and in particular, a sufficiently strong bonding force can be exerted between the structure and the FRP material for repair or reinforcement and a targeted repair or reinforcement performance due to the FRP material can be exhibited for the structure more reliably.

Abstract: An ion concentration distribution measurement device includes a unit detection element for outputting charges of an amount according to an ion concentration, and an integration circuit for outputting a signal value according to the amount of charges which are output from the unit detection element. The unit detection element includes a MOS transistor, an ion sensitive portion, a first capacitive portion, and a transfer switch. The integration circuit includes an amplifier, a second capacitive portion, and a reset switch.

Abstract: Proposed is a device for detecting a chemical/physical phenomenon, in which, via a novel scheme, charges are accumulated in a charge accumulation region. An amount of charges thus accumulated reflects the potential of a sensing region and the potential corresponds to an external environment (chemical phenomenon or physical phenomenon) to be detected. A charge accumulation region 5 includes a first potential well region FD1 that is continuous with a sensing region 3, the boundary potential of the charges held in the first potential well region FD1 being made equal to the potential of the sensing region 3, whereby the potential of the sensing region 3 is made to be reflected in the amount of charges held in the first potential well region FD1.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a device for manufacturing composite particles constructed by flow paths having relatively great widths and capable of controlling an adsorption ratio of particles, and to provide a method for manufacturing composite particles using this manufacturing device. [Solution] A device for manufacturing composite particles includes at least one first inlet flow path (2) for supplying a first fluid, at least one second inlet flow path (3) for supplying a second fluid, and a mixing flow path (5) for merging the first fluid and the second fluid supplied respectively from the first inlet flow path and the second inlet flow path and allowing the two kinds of fluids to flow down for a predetermined length while mixing the two kinds of fluids. The mixing flow path is a continuous flow path and has a heterogeneous cross-sectional flow path area in a continuity direction thereof.

Abstract: A surface property measurement technology by which a surface property of a substance can be evaluated with high accuracy, is provided. A surface property measurement method includes radiating an ultrasonic wave to a measurement target and acquiring a reflected signal from the measurement target; calculating, by a measurement apparatus, a maximum value of a cross-correlation function between the reflected signal from the measurement target and a reference reflected signal from a reference substance acquired in advance; calculating a reflection component at an interface, by using the maximum value of the cross-correlation function; and outputting, as a measurement value, one of an acoustic impedance of the measurement target or an acoustic impedance of the reference substance, according to a result of comparing the reflection component with the reference reflected signal.

Abstract: Powder particles for forming a homogeneous green body having a sufficient strength and a process for producing a green body by using the powder particles. A green body is shaped by using powder particles of composite particles in which thermoplastic resin particles are scattered on surfaces of large particles in an amount within a predetermined volume ratio range with respect to the large particles, and loaded to form resin pools in contact point peripheral areas of adjoining ones of the large particles and form voids in areas other than the contact point peripheral areas when the thermoplastic resin particles are melted. A green body packed with the powder particles each having a small amount of the thermoplastic resin particles attached thereon is placed under a melting condition of the thermoplastic resin particles, the thermoplastic resin is melted and gathers around contact points (or proximal points) of the adjoining powder particles.

Abstract: A transformer includes a front stage circuit and a rear stage circuit. As a front stage circuit, a switch series unit, which is connected in parallel to a power supply, includes odd-numbered switches and even-numbered switches alternately turned ON. Mutual connection points of the respective switches and points at both ends of the switch series unit are regarded as m nodes in total. Capacitors are provided on at least one of a first electrical path combining odd nodes to lead them to a first output port, and a second electrical path combining even nodes to lead them to a second output port. The capacitors are present so as to correspond to at least (m?1) nodes. The rear stage circuit includes an element series unit, which is composed of a pair of semiconductor elements connected in series to each other for conducting operations of mutually opposite polarities, and necessary inductors.

Abstract: A front stage circuit of a transformer includes a switch series unit, capacitors, and a ground electrical path. The switch series unit, connected in parallel to a power supply, includes odd-numbered/even-numbered switches configured to be alternately turned ON. Assuming that mutual connection points of the switches and points at both ends of the switch series unit are m nodes in total, and one of the points at the both ends is a ground node, the capacitors are provided on at least one of a first electrical path that combines odd nodes and leads them to a first output port, and a second electrical path that combines even nodes and leads them to a second output port, and the capacitors are present to correspond to (m?1) nodes excluding the ground node. The ground electrical path connects the ground node directly to the first output port without an interposed capacitor.

Abstract: An image photography play method which is suited to playing a stereoscopic video. The image photography method includes: a step of forming a hologram pattern from a reference light and a subject light; a step of digitally processing the obtained hologram pattern; a step of writing the digitized hologram pattern as a magnetized vector pattern to a spatial lighting modulator which is formed from a magneto-optical material; and a step of inputting linearly polarized light into the spatial lighting modulator and playing an image according to the digitized hologram pattern.

Abstract: An airborne microbial measurement apparatus and a measurement method thereof are provided. An airborne microbial measurement apparatus according to an embodiment includes a discharge apparatus including a discharge electrode and a voltage supply unit applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode. A substrate is provided to a side of the discharge apparatus to collect an airborne microbe from air by a high voltage applied to the discharge electrode. A reagent injection apparatus supplies a dyeing reagent to the microbe collected on the substrate or a DNA of the microbe. A light emission measurement apparatus senses a quantity of light generated from the DNA to which the dyeing reagent is supplied. The discharge apparatus includes a controller controlling the voltage supply unit so that the voltage is applied to collect the airborne microbe or destroy an external wall of the collected airborne microbe.