Abstract: A thermal cycler is provided with a number of containing members 10 having a shape in conformity with a shape of micro tubes 6, nozzles 15 for jetting coolant to the respective containing members 10, a blower 5 for supplying the coolant to the nozzles 15, heaters 12 wound around the respective containing members 10, thermocouples 13 provided to be brought into contact with the respective containing members 10 and a control apparatus 14 for generating signals of the heaters 12 based on signals from the thermocouples 13 and outputting the generated signals. By carrying out independent temperature control for the respective micro tubes 6 by the control apparatus 14, accuracy of temperature control of the respective micro tubes 6 is promoted and the processing efficiency is promoted.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises stators a movable section, and a holder. The stator is fixed to the holder and forms a stator frame together with the holder. The stator is mounted to the holder, faces the stator, and is positioned a predetermined distance away from the stator. Stripe-shaped stator electrodes extending in a predetermined direction are formed on the stators. The movable section comprises a support body arranged within a predetermined clearance and movable in a predetermined direction and movable section electrodes formed on the surface of the support body and positioned to face the stator electrodes. The movable section electrodes are arranged deviant in the moving direction, and the movable section electrodes are arranged deviant in the direction opposite to the moving direction. The movable section is attracted by applying voltage at a predetermined timing to each of the stator electrodes so as to move the movable section.

Abstract: A biological material detection apparatus which detects a charged biological material such as a gene or protein contained in a sample liquid is disclosed. A biological material detection element includes a substrate, at least one first electrode formed on the substrate, and a plurality of second electrodes which are arrayed at predetermined intervals around the first electrode on the substrate along the circumferential direction and to which ligands that react with predetermined biological materials are respectively immobilized. A sample liquid is introduced toward the first electrode on the substrate. The introduced sample liquid is moved radially toward the second electrodes by electrical control.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises stators a movable section, and a holder. The stator is fixed to the holder and forms a stator frame together with the holder. The stator is mounted to the holder, faces the stator, and is positioned a predetermined distance away from the stator. Stripe-shaped stator electrodes extending in a predetermined direction are formed on the stators. The movable section comprises a support body arranged within a predetermined clearance and movable in a predetermined direction and movable section electrodes formed on the surface of the support body and positioned to face the stator electrodes. The movable section electrodes are arranged deviant in the moving direction, and the movable section electrodes are arranged deviant in the direction opposite to the moving direction. The movable section is attracted by applying voltage at a predetermined timing to each of the stator electrodes so as to move the movable section.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second stator sections having a first electrode array arranged in a first direction, and a second electrode array of electrodes extending in the first direction, respectively. A movable section having fifth and sixth electrodes arranged to face the first and second electrode arrays, respectively, is arranged between the first and second stator sections. A driving circuit alternately performs a first driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the adjacent electrodes of the first electrode array and a second driving operation in which a DC voltage is applied between the electrodes of the second electrode array. The voltage application is successively performed by deviating the positions of the electrodes to which the voltage is applied so as to move the movable section in the first direction while vibrating the movable section between the first and second stator sections.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator includes first and second electrode portions disposed at predetermined intervals, each electrode portion including one or more series of electrodes arranged successively in a predetermined direction; a slider disposed between the first and second electrode portions and having electrode portions at side faces opposed to the first and second electrode portions, the slider being movable in the predetermined direction; an electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit configured to detect electrostatic capacitances between each series of electrodes of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider; and a driving circuit configured to drive the slider in the predetermined direction by applying voltages between selected series of electrodes of one of the first and second electrode portions and the electrode portions of the slider, said selected series of electrodes being selected based on a detected result of the electrostatic capacitance detecting circuit.

Abstract: An electrostatic actuator comprises first and second movable sections and a stator. The stator has a hollow frame into which the movable sections are arranged independently. Driving electrodes are provided on surfaces of the movable sections and holding electrodes are also provided on the opposite surfaces pf the movable section. A driving electrode section is provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the driving electrodes on the movable section. Also, holding electrode sections are provided on the inner surface of the stator facing the holding electrodes on the movable section. Stripes of the electrodes are arranged in a longitudinal direction and each strip is extended in a lateral direction crossing the longitudinal direction, and the holding electrodes are extended in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A first stator is provided with stator electrodes sequentially arranged in a predetermined direction. An extended electrode is mounted on a second stator arranged to face the first stator. A slider is movably arranged between the first and second stators. The slider is provided with a large number of slider electrodes arranged to face the stator electrodes and a second slider electrode facing the extended electrode. The slider electrodes are maintained at the ground potential. A first and second driving voltage are periodically applied to the stator electrodes and to the extended electrode, respectively, which are opposite to each other in phase and are periodically switched between the ground potential and the positive driving voltage. Thus, the slider is moved in a direction while being vibrated.

Abstract: An information providing system according to the present invention comprises a center block 1 which totally controls all of the system, a data providing block 2 provided by each district with a prescribed range, a local control block which totally controls a plurality of shops in each district. The center block 1, the data providing block 2, and the local control block 4 send and receive various types of information via a network. When the information the customer desires does not exist in the shop 3, the shop 3 is provided the desirable information from the center block 1 and the local control block 4 via the network 5. On the occasion recording the information to the recording medium, label information relating to the information is also attached to the recording medium.

Abstract: An antenna system of the invention includes a plurality of antenna devices respectively configured to send or receive a plurality of radio beams, a plurality of electric feeding units respectively holding the plurality of antenna devices and a spherical lens having a center and causing the plurality of radio beam to converge into the plurality of antenna devices respectively. A holding rail holds the plurality of electric feeding units in such a manner that the plurality of antenna devices are movable along a substantially constant distance from the center of the spherical lens. According to the antenna system, the plurality of electric feeding units can be arranged for one spherical lens to follow the plurality of satellites. Thus, the antenna system can be arranged in a smaller space.

Abstract: A first objective lens and a second objective lens are fixedly mounted on a lens holder. The lens holder has four magnetic members embedded in a side thereof about an axis of rotation. The magnetic members are associated with coils respectively. The lens holder is rotatable supported by a support which has four permanent magnets fixedly mounted on a side thereof corresponding to the four coils. A pair of the magnets located opposite to each other is for the focusing control and the other pair of the magnets located opposite to each other is for the tracking control and the objective lens switching control. When the coils corresponding to the magnets are loaded with a switching signal, they turns the lens holder to switch the objective lenses from one to the other. When the coils corresponding to the magnets are loaded with a tracking drive signal, they perform the tracking control. When the coils corresponding to the magnets are loaded with a focusing drive signal, they perform the focusing control.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus includes a stationary optical system having a light source and a detector for detecting light reflected by a recording medium, which stationary optical system is arranged at a position fixed to the recording medium. Plural objective lenses for focusing/irradiating light emitted from the light source onto the recording medium are arranged on a rotating blade which is provided to be rotatable in a direction parallel to the recording medium. By controlling the waveform of a current to be supplied to a tracking coil, the blade is rotated and a desired one of the objective lenses is located on an optical axis of the light irradiated onto the recording medium.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing head slider has a recording/reproducing head for recording/reproducing data in and from a date recording medium. The head slider is installed in a recording/reproducing apparatus. A first slider is floated by a hydrodynamic force generated by the medium while rotating. A second slider is elastically supported by the first slider so as to be displaced in a plane direction of the medium, the head being mounted on the second slider. A force generating means, such as an electrode, is provided as facing the second slider via a gap, for generating a repellent force between the force generating means and the second slider. A distance of the gap is varied by applying a voltage to the force generating means in response to electrostatic capacity of the gap. The first slider may have two slider rails provided parallel to each other. A plate is fixed on the two rails so that the two rails are situated in a same plane with respect to the medium.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing head slider is provided which has a recording/reproducing head for recording and reproducing data in and from a recording medium. The head slider is installed in a recording/reproducing apparatus and driven so that the head slider floats over the recording medium by a hydrodynamic force. The head slider has multiple slider rails, each with a surface that faces the recording medium. The recording/reproducing head is fixed to an end of one of the slider rails. The head slider includes a push force application point surface portion for application of a push force which is located on the head slider closer to one slider rail than another slider rail. The head slider may have a first slider rail and a second slider rail. Further, the head slider may have a main slider rail; a first subsidiary slider rail; a first connecting portion connecting the main and first subsidiary slider rails; a second subsidiary slider rail; and a second connecting portion.

Abstract: The objective lens drive apparatus according to the present invention includes a movable member which can be moved along a surface of an optical information recording medium an objective lens installed on the movable member, for allowing a light beam to pass and for concentrating the beam onto an optical information recording medium, a first diaphragm member installed on the movable member, having a first opening for determining the diameter of the light beam passing, and a second diaphragm member such that the second diaphragm member can be excluded from or inserted into the light path of the light beam and has a second opening for determining the diameter of the light beam passing.

Abstract: An optical disk drive has a drive unit for driving a disk and an optical head for focusing a laser beam onto the disk. The optical head has a light source for emitting the laser beam, a galvanomirror for correcting a light passage of the emitted laser beam, and a lens for focusing the laser beam from the galvanomirror onto the disk. The galvanomirror has a rocking portion being electrically chargeable, and one surface of the rocking portion having a reflection surface for reflecting the laser beam. The rocking portion is rockably supported by first end portions of supporting portions. Second end portions of the supporting portions are connected to a second plate (fixing portion). The second plate has an opposed portion opposed to the other surface of the rocking portion with a predetermined gap interposed. Electrically chargeable electrodes are provided on the opposed portion of the second plate, for electrostatically driving the rocking portion thereby reflecting the laser beam at a desired angle.

Abstract: A galvanomirror includes a rocking member provided with a reflector. The rocking member is constituted of a semiconductor such as silicon, and connected to a hollow portion of a first plate through two elastic members. Second and third plates are insulatively bonded onto both sides of the first plate. Four electrodes are symmetrically provided on those portions of the second and third plates that correspond to the rocking member. In this constitution, if the rocking member is charged positively (negatively), the electrodes are charged negatively (positively), and the electrodes are charged positively (negatively), the rocking member is rotated (rocked) while the elastic members are twistedly deformed.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus includes a stationary optical system having a light source and a detector for detecting light reflected by a recording medium, which stationary optical system is arranged at a position fixed to the recording medium. Plural objective lenses for focusing/irradiating light emitted from the light source onto the recording medium are arranged on a rotating blade which is provided to be rotatable in a direction parallel to the recording medium. By controlling the waveform of a current to be supplied to a tracking coil, the blade is rotated and a desired one of the objective lenses is located on an optical axis of the light irradiated onto the recording medium.