Abstract: A sensor including a micro-bridge heater which is located above a depression in the surface of a substrate. The heater includes a first insulating film on the substrate, a conductive film on the first insulating film, and a second insulating film on the conductive film. The first and second insulating films are made of the same material, preferably tantalum oxide (Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) and are the same thickness. A foundation film is not employed as an adhesive between the first insulating film and the conductive film due to the strong adherence between the first insulating film and the conductive film which is preferably made of platinum or a platinum alloy. Because the first and second insulating films are made of the same material and have the same thicknesses, the insulating films have similar rates of thermal expansion and the expansion or contraction of the insulating films offset each other, thus reducing the thermal stress imposed on the conductive film.

Abstract: A cassette tape player compatible with cassette tapes of different formats incorporates a cassette holder which holds an analog compact cassette and a digital compact cassette in a state they are placed one upon another. The cassette holder includes a cassette holder main body having an analog cassette storage section, a digital cassette storage section, and a second cassette holder member. The second cassette holder member is supported by the cassette holder main body such that it is slightly movable in a moving direction of the cassette holder, and has a slider moving lever for opening the slider of the digital cassette. A cassette tape player with such a cassette holder has separate magnetic heads for analog and digital signals, thereby lengthening the life of the magnetic heads and achieving faithful recording and reproduction.

Abstract: A cooling liquid is injected into and supplied to a cooling tubular body along its inner periphery to form a cooling liquid layer flowing down the inner peripheral surface of the body while revolving. A molten metal is then injected into the cooling liquid layer from the inner peripheral side thereof to divide, rapidly cool and solidify the stream of molten metal with the cooling liquid layer and obtain a metal powder. Since the metal powder is continuously obtained upon flowing down the tubular body along with the cooling liquid, the liquid can be continuously removed from the powder by suitable means, and the power can be subsequently dried continuously.

Abstract: A cooling liquid is injected into and supplied to a cooling tubular body along its inner periphery to form a cooling liquid layer flowing down the inner peripheral surface of the body while revolving. A molten metal is then injected into the cooling liquid layer from the inner peripheral side thereof to divide, rapidly cool and solidify the stream of molten metal with the cooling liquid layer and obtain a metal powder. Since the metal powder is continuously obtained upon flowing down the tubular body along with the cooling liquid, the liquid can be continuously removed from the powder by suitable means, and the power can be subsequently dried continuously.