Abstract: A mirror apparatus including a reflecting mirror reflecting light, partition walls, the walls and the reflecting mirror defining a plurality of air chambers, and a regulator regulating air pressure in at least one of the air chambers. With this configuration, the front surface of the reflecting mirror is deformed into a smooth shape so as to correct optical aberration.

Abstract: An optical micromotor having a rotor the rotation whereof can be controlled flexibly and freely through simple arrangement, and a micropump that uses this micromotor. The optical micromotor and the micropump have a rotor (15) that rotates about a central axis. The rotor (15) has an optical trap (bead) (2), which is trapped by a light beam (4), provided at least at one location thereon. When the optical trap (2) is irradiated with the laser beam (4), the rotor is held at a prescribed position together with the optical trap (2). When the laser beam (4) is moved or changed over, the rotor (15) rotates about the central axis together with the optical trap (2).

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical element holding apparatus including a force generating actuator configured to deform the optical element, a measuring device configured to measure a position of the optical element, and a displacement causing actuator configured to position the optical element based on the measured position.

Abstract: A spark plug having a protrusion amount t of not smaller than 0.3 mm and satisfying a relation ?1+?2?93° in which ?1 is an included angle between virtual lines s1 and s2, and ?2 is an included angle between virtual lines s3 and s4 when the virtual line s1 is taken as a line parallel to a direction of an axis and including the other end side edge on a leading end surface of a first precious metal tip, the virtual line s2 is taken as a line connecting the other end side edge and a point of intersection between an inner circumferential surface of a ground electrode body and the other end surface of the ground electrode body, the virtual line s3 is taken as a line parallel to the direction of the axis and including the other end side edge on a leading end surface of a center electrode, and the virtual line s4 is taken as a line including the other end side edge and tangent to an insulator.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical element driving apparatus which includes a first actuator configured to drive an optical element in accordance with a deformation target value, a sensor arranged to measure a position and an orientation of the optical element, a second actuator configured to drive the optical element in accordance with position and orientation target values and an output of the sensor, and a correcting unit configured to correct a measurement error of the sensor caused by deformation of the optical element.

Abstract: A spark plug having a protrusion amount t of not smaller than 0.3 mm and satisfying a relation ?1+?2?93° in which ?1 is an included angle between virtual lines s1 and s2, and ?2 is an included angle between virtual lines s3 and s4 when the virtual line s1 is taken as a line parallel to a direction of an axis and including the other end side edge on a leading end surface of a first precious metal tip, the virtual line s2 is taken as a line connecting the other end side edge and a point of intersection between an inner circumferential surface of a ground electrode body and the other end surface of the ground electrode body, the virtual line s3 is taken as a line parallel to the direction of the axis and including the other end side edge on a leading end surface of a center electrode, and the virtual line s4 is taken as a line including the other end side edge and tangent to an insulator.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical element holding apparatus including a force generating actuator configured to deform the optical element, a measuring device configured to measure a position of the optical element, and a displacement causing actuator configured to position the optical element based on the measured position.

Abstract: A mirror apparatus including a reflecting mirror reflecting light, partition walls, the walls and the reflecting mirror defining a plurality of air chambers, and a regulator regulating air pressure in at least one of the air chambers. With this configuration, the front surface of the reflecting mirror is deformed into a smooth shape so as to correct optical aberration.

Abstract: An optical unit includes a plate having a fixed position, an optical element having a specific optical action, a fixing device for partially fixing the optical element, and a deforming device, located between the plate and the optical element, for applying a deforming force to the optical element to asymmetrically change a surface shape of the optical element.

Abstract: A spark plug having a protrusion amount t of not smaller than 0.3 mm and satisfying a relation ?1+?2?93° in which ?1 is an included angle between virtual lines s1 and s2, and ?2 is an included angle between virtual lines s3 and s4 when the virtual line s1 is taken as a line parallel to a direction of an axis and including the other end side edge on a leading end surface of a first precious metal tip, the virtual line s2 is taken as a line connecting the other end side edge and a point of intersection between an inner circumferential surface of a ground electrode body and the other end surface of the ground electrode body, the virtual line s3 is taken as a line parallel to the direction of the axis and including the other end side edge on a leading end surface of a center electrode, and the virtual line s4 is taken as a line including the other end side edge and tangent to an insulator.

Abstract: In driving a movable body in the target direction, a force in another direction which may act on the movable body is reduced. This invention has a system including a current amplifier (534X) which drives X1 and X2 electromagnets (the first actuator) for aligning the movable body in the X direction, a system including a current amplifier (534Y) which drives Y1 and Y2 electromagnets (the second actuator) for aligning the movable body in the Y direction, a subordinate direction component correction unit (601X) which reduces a force in the Y direction acting on the movable body when driving the movable body in the X direction by the first actuator, and a subordinate direction component correction unit (601Y) which reduces a force in the X direction acting on the movable body when driving the movable body in the Y direction by the second actuator.

Abstract: A fluid control mechanism applicable to a micro tool or the like which can be comparatively easily downsized and further does not require any particular external power supply unit. The fluid control mechanism has a laser irradiation control unit to control irradiation of light beam 5 generated by a laser generation unit, and a liquid tank 2, having at least one liquid passing port and a lens to collect the light beam in the liquid tank, to hold liquid. The laser irradiation control unit emits the light beam to the lens to collect the light beam by the lens, thereby causes thermal expansion of the liquid in the liquid tank, to control inflow/outflow of the liquid via the liquid passing port.

Abstract: An optical micromotor having a rotor the rotation whereof can be controlled flexibly and freely through simple arrangement, and a micropump that uses this micromotor. The optical micromotor and the micropump have a rotor (15) that rotates about a central axis. The rotor (15) has an optical trap (bead) (2), which is trapped by a light beam (4), provided at least at one location thereon. When the optical trap (2) is irradiated with the laser beam (4), the rotor is held at a prescribed position together with the optical trap (2). When the laser beam (4) is moved or changed over, the rotor (15) rotates about the central axis together with the optical trap (2).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spark plug, the spark plug includes: a cylindrical metal shell having a portion to be caulked and a tool-engaging portion that is to be attached on an engine; an insulator that is inserted into the metal shell and extends axially; and a caulking metallic mold, the method including caulking the portion to be caulked to be fixed to an outer circumferential face of the insulator with the caulking metallic mold, where in the caulking metallic mold includes a face, the face including a hard carbon film that includes an amorphous carbon phase, and the face is contact with or sliding to the portion to be caulked.

Abstract: An insulator for spark plug comprises an alumina-based sintered body comprising: Al2O3 as a main component; and at least one component (hereinafter referred to as “&bgr; component”) selected from the group consisting of Ca component, Sr component and Ba component, wherein the alumina-based sintered body comprises particles comprising a compound comprising the &bgr; component and Al component, the compound having a molar ratio of the Al component to the &bgr; component of 4.5 to 6.7 as calculated in terms of oxides thereof, and has a relative density of 90% or more.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a spark plug, the spark plug comprises: a cylindrical metal shell having a portion to be caulked and a tool-engaging portion that is to be attached on an engine; an insulator that is inserted into the metal shell and extends axially; and a caulking metallic mold, the method comprising caulking the portion to be caulked to be fixed to an outer circumferential face of the insulator with the caulking metallic mold, wherein the caulking metallic mold comprises a face, the face comprising a hard carbon film that comprises an amorphous carbon phase, and the face is contact with or sliding to the portion to be caulked.

Abstract: A positioning device includes a stage which is movable along a reference surface, a stage driving mechanism for driving the stage, and an inertia imparting mechanism for reducing a reaction force produced by driving the stage. The inertia imparting mechanism has a mass body, which is movable with respect to a stage base or a structure, and a mass body driving mechanism for driving the mass body, and the stage base or structure is given inertia by driving the mass body. The inertia imparting mechanism also includes a reaction force compensation, which, by moving the mass body, reduces reaction force caused by motion of the stage, and a positioning compensation control system, which compensates for the position of the mass body. Thus, it is possible to reduce a reaction force produced by motion of the stage, and to compensate for position offset of the mass body.

Abstract: The invention provides a spark plug having an insulator which is composed mainly of alumina, and which is more superior in voltage endurance characteristics at high temperatures as compared with the prior-art materials. An insulator 2 of a spark plug 100 is made of an insulating material which is composed mainly of alumina, and which contains Al component within a range of 95 to 99.7 wt % in weight converted to Al2O3, and in which an area ratio occupied by alumina base principal-phase particles with particle size not less than 20 &mgr;m is not less than 50% as a cross-sectional structure of the insulator is observed. By making the alumina base principal-phase particles appropriately coarse like this, the voltage endurance characteristics of the insulator can be remarkably improved.

Abstract: An insulator for spark plug comprises an alumina-based sintered body comprising: Al2O3 (alumina) as a main component; and at least one component (hereinafter referred to as “E. component”) selected from the group consisting of Ca (calcium) component, Sr (strontium) component and Ba (barium) component, wherein the alumina-based sintered body comprises particles comprising a compound comprising the E. component and Al (aluminum) component, the compound having a molar ratio of the Al component to the E. component of 4.5 to 6.7 as calculated in terms of oxides thereof, and has a relative density of 90% or more.

Abstract: In a transfer sheet and a method of transferring a figuration to a ceramic product, an ink is provided by mixing a chromophoric pigment for expressing a desired coloration, a vitreous powder and thermoplastic resin. A sheet of paper or plastic film is prepared on which an appropriate figuration is screen printed with the use of the ink to transfer it to an outer surface of a ceramic product. A thermoplastic separable layer is provided between the mount sheet and a pigment layer. The pigment layer is coated with an adhesive layer.