Abstract: A driving mechanism using shape memory alloys comprises a first and a second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), a pin-like drive member (3) connected to each of the shape memory alloys coils (1, 2) extending in the axis direction, a substrate (4) having a wiring pattern (11) and a drive circuit (4a) to supply current to the shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), and a magnetic latch part (9) to hold the drive member (3), and the magnetic latch part (9) has a latch position in the axis direction of the drive member (3), the drive circuit (4a) selectively current-drives the first and the second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), the driven first or second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2) is heated and compressed to move the drive member (3) in the axis direction, and magnetic bodies (9a, 9b) provided to the drive member (3) is magnetically fixed at the latch position, thereby fixed and held in the axis direction.

Abstract: A scanning mirror unit for scanning a beam comprises: at least one cantilever which is formed by bonding an elastic material and a piezoelectric material together and supported by a base at its one end; and a movable mirror which is supported at least by a free end of the cantilever at its peripheral part. When voltage is applied to the piezoelectric material, the free end of the cantilever moves in a prescribed direction to press and move the peripheral part of the movable mirror while leaving a central part of the movable mirror at substantially the same position to cause a tilt to the movable mirror. With such composition of the scanning mirror unit, a reflecting member having a sufficient thickness (e.g. some hundreds of microns) can be employed for the movable mirror, by which a high power laser beam effective for treatment of affected parts, etc. can be reflected finely and durably.

Abstract: An active tube and its system are offered which can be directed by bending its tip, controlling the degree of bend, thereby easily capable of insertion into difficult positions, and which can be driven at low temperature at which it can be used for inspection and medical treatment. A bending mechanism (21) is constructed by wiring an SMA coil (21e) along an outer side of a working channel tube (21a). The bending mechanism (21) is inserted into an outer skin tube (25) with a plurality of built-in weights (22). A front tip (23) is attached to the front end side of the bending mechanism (21) as a tip (2) of an active tube (1). A main tube (4) is connected through the working channel tube (21a) at the tip (2). A wire (21g) is connected to the SMA coil (21e). Said wire (21g) is inserted to the behind end side (41) of the main tube (4) in a wiring channel (4B9 of the main tube, thereby makes it possible to drive the bending mechanism (21) from outside.

Abstract: A fluorescent material excellent in emission efficiency in white emission and a light-emitting apparatus employing this fluorescent material and having excellent color rendering are provided with a fluorescent material comprising a two-layer structure of a core of a particle size having a quantum effect and a shell covering this core in which the ground state energy of the core is in the range of 1.85 to 2.05 eV, the high order energy of the core is not in the ranges of 2.3 to 2.5 eV and 2.65 to 2.8 eV, or the ground state energy of the core is in the range of 2.3 to 2.5 eV, the high order energy of the core is not in the range of 2.65 to 2.8 eV an light-emitting apparatus employing these fluorescent materials.

Abstract: A silver halide photographic emulsion in which tabular grains each having an equivalent-circle diameter of 0.6 &mgr;m or more, a thickness of 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a a high-performance black matrix taking the palce of a Cr film black matrix and a high-performance color display thin film, which is comprises steps of vaporizing one or more organic pigments or vaporizing and exciting a metal or an alloy together with said organic pigments, and forming a thin film or a mixed composite thin film onto a substrate by the plasma exciting deposition.

Abstract: A protector for protecting a human body against local load such as a load applied to a shoulder through a strap suspending a heavy article such as a bag. The protector has a protector member the surface of which contactable with the human body is configured in conformity with the configuration of the local portion of the human body, e.g., a shoulder. The protector member may be provided with a strap support for supporting the strap and a strap retainer for retaining the strap on the strap support. The protector member has a high rigidity and a considerable area so as to distribute the load over a wider area on the local portion of the human body, thereby unburdening the load portion of the body, thus preventing fatigue, pair or other undesirable effect which otherwise may be caused by concentration of the load to a limited area.

Abstract: A plasma vapor deposition apparatus which can form high-quality films of ITO, for example, with high productivity, includes a vapor deposition chamber, a drive and a horizontally rotating circular holding plate connected to the drive located in a lower portion of the chamber, the circular holding plate having a circular vapor source material mounting centered at the rotational axis about which the plate is rotated by the drive, and coil-shaped electrodes for exciting vapor produced by evaporating the vapor source material. A film thickness correcting plate is interposed between the holding plate and the path along which the substrate is transported through the chamber by a transporting device. This plate is configured to so shield a portion of the substrate so that an excess of excited vapor particles do not accumulate at a given site on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to ensure advanced use of plasma and obtain a plasma-treated reformed surface.In order to realize the objects above-mentioned, the present invention comprises the step of treating the surface of a macromolecular material with iodine plasma.

Abstract: An apparatus for the synthesis of diamond by the vapor-phase process using a combustion flame is provided with a cover set in place in the peripheral region of a combustion burner for enveloping the combustion flame and provided, when necessary, with gas inlets. A method for the synthesis of diamond by the vapor-phase process using the apparatus described above effects the diamond deposition by forming a combustion flame for synthesis of diamond and, at the same time, varying the relative parallel positions of the combustion flame and the substrate.

Abstract: A composite diamond grain which comprises a heat-resistant grain as a nucleus and discrete diamond crystal particles distributed on the surface of the grain or diamond crystal films formed to cover the entire surface of the grain and a method for producing the composite diamond grain by the vapor-phase process are disclosed. For the filament method which is one form of the vapor-phase method, tantalum is useful as the material for the filament. Since tantalum is susceptible of embrittlement by hydrogen, a treatment to be performed on tantalum for the elimination of this drawback is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin film capacitor composed of a hybrid dielectric thin film that is sandwiched by a pair of electrodes. The hybrid dielectric thin film is obtained by complexing or accumulating first and second regions. The first region is derived from an ion plating source and the second region is derived from another ion plating source containing an auxiliary material to be coupled with the first region, both being obtained through an ion plating process. The use of the auxiliary material ensures a pinhole-free hybrid dielectric thin film.

Abstract: Composite diamond granules using granules of a ceramic substance line SiC as cores and covering the cores with a polycrystalline diamond coating are produced by the vapor phase method. The granules clearly manifest an automorphic diamond face and possess pyramidal projections, square faces, or rectangular faces on their surface. They are highly useful as abrasive granules for grinding. A grindstone obtained by mixing these granules with resin, metal, and vitrified binder and molding the resultant mixture is highly useful.

Abstract: A composite diamond grain which comprises a heat-resistant grain as a nucleus and discrete diamond crystal particles distributed on the surface of the grain or diamond crystal films formed to cover the entire surface of the grain and a method for producing the composite diamond grain by the vapor-phase process are disclosed. For the filament method which is one form of the vapor-phase method, tantalum is useful as the material for the filament. Since tantalum is susceptible of embrittlement by hydrogen, a treatment to be performed on tantalum for the elimination of this drawback is also disclosed.

Abstract: A conductive thin film is deposited on the surface of plastic film moving at high velocity by ion-plating using a pressure-gradient discharge. The moving velocity of the substrate film is as high as 8 to 30m/min. A conductive, thin film composed of indium oxide, tin oxide, TTD and similar substances is deposited on the plastic film, at a pressure of 1.times.10.sup.-5 to 1.times.10.sup.-1 Torr and a discharge voltage of 50 to 100 V.

Abstract: A method for vapor-phase synthesis of diamond comprises burning a raw material compound for synthesis of diamond thereby forming a combustion flame, disposing a substrate for deposition of diamond in said combustion flame, and keeping said substrate at a prescribed temperature, thereby inducing deposition of diamond on said substrate.

Abstract: To a light converter including an optical effect element is applied an electric input having an amplitude exceeding the linear region of the characteristic of the light converter. The number of the peaks of the output reaching a maximum amplitude is added to the magnitude of a peak of the output not reaching the maximum amplitude thereby measuring the magnitude of the input. Two or more light converters with differential or cumulative inputs may be used.

Abstract: A spherical structure constituting a practice golf ball and integrally formed of a tough synthetic resin has a polar axis and has: a circular equatorial vane perpendicular to the polar axis; a tubular hub disposed coaxially around the polar axis; a plurality of meridian vanes of substantially semicircular shape joined at their chordal parts to the hub part and spaced at equal angular intervals; and a middle band engirdling the spherical structure around the circumference of the equatorial vane, the semicircular outer edges of the meridian vanes and the middle band forming the outer spherical contour of the practice golf ball.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating a substrate with a material comprises means for providing an h.f. glow discharge region adjacent to a source for the material. The h.f. glow discharge ionizes the particles of the material of the source evaporated therefrom, instead of a conventional d.c. discharge produced by a d.c. electric field provided between the source and substrate. The h.f. glow discharge region providing means may comprise an h.f. electrode disposed in a gas-filled space of the apparatus between the evaporation source and the substrate and means for applying an h.f. electric voltage between the h.f. electrode and the evaporation source.