Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber, an optical fiber cable and a radiation detecting system at a low cost. Further, the radiation detecting system is provided which can adequately monitor the radiation leak without delay. The optical fiber cable comprises: an optical fiber including; a core 12 having lightwave guide property and extending along one direction; a clad layer 14 covering over a peripheral surface of the core 12; and a scintillator material dispersed in the clad layer 14 and emitting light when radiation is applied, a radiation-shielding layer 24 covering substantially over a periphery of the optical fiber10, and a gap 26 located in at least one part of the radiation-shielding layer 24.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus has an objective lens that converges a laser beam on an optical recording medium and a lens holder that retains objective lens. The optical pickup apparatus also has a base member, four linear members having base ends supported by the base member and distal ends coupled to the lens holder. A driving device generates a magnetic force between the lens holder and the base member to elastically deform the linear members to thereby drive the objective lens in a focusing direction and/or a tracking direction. The four linear members have generally an identical configuration, and at least one portion of each of the four linear members in a longitudinal direction thereof has a cross section that is compressed and deformed in the focusing direction and/or tracking direction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a vehicle interior illumination device which has a high illuminating effect and which can be used for various kinds of illumination in a vehicle. The illumination device disposed in a roof portion of the interior of a vehicle, including: a first light-emitting section having a first light source constituted by a plurality of first LEDs disposed at substantially regular spaces; and a second light-emitting section having a second light source constituted by a second LED, and a second outer lens with which a light emission side of the second light source is covered and by which light emitted from said second light source is converged and radiated out.

Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a vehicle interior illumination device which has a high illuminating effect and which can be used for various kinds of illumination in a vehicle. The illumination device disposed in a roof portion of the interior of a vehicle, including: a first light-emitting section having a first light source constituted by a plurality of first LEDs disposed at substantially regular spaces; and a second light-emitting section having a second light source constituted by a second LED, and a second outer lens with which a light emission side of the second light source is covered and by which light emitted from said second light source is converged and radiated out.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber, an optical fiber cable and a radiation detecting system at a low cost. Further, the radiation detecting system is provided which can adequately monitor the radiation leak without delay. The optical fiber cable comprises: an optical fiber including; a core 12 having lightwave guide property and extending along one direction; a clad layer 14 covering over a peripheral surface of the core 12; and a scintillator material dispersed in the clad layer 14 and emitting light when radiation is applied, a radiation-shielding layer 24 covering substantially over a periphery of the optical fiber 10, and a gap 26 located in at least one part of the radiation-shielding layer 24.

Abstract: In an optical pickup device, wires 16A through 16D resiliently support a lens holder 12 in a cantilever fashion. Of the wires, wires 16A and 16C arranged so as to overlap when viewed in a tracking direction are fixed together by heat sealing. The wires 16B and 16D are arranged independently of each other. In each of the wires 16A through 16D, a portion 166 close to the base end of the wire is squeezed from a focusing direction, and a portion 167 close to the tip end of the wires is squeezed from the tracking direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber, an optical fiber cable and a radiation detecting system at a low cost. Further, the radiation detecting system is provided which can adequately monitor the radiation leak without delay. The optical fiber cable comprises: an optical fiber including; a core 12 having lightwave guide property and extending along one direction; a clad layer 14 covering over a peripheral surface of the core 12; and a scintillator material dispersed in the clad layer 14 and emitting light when radiation is applied, a radiation-shielding layer 24 covering substantially over a periphery of the optical fiber10, and a gap 26 located in at least one part of the radiation-shielding layer 24.

Abstract: The invention is directed to provide a vehicle interior illumination device which has a high illuminating effect and which can be used for various kinds of illumination in a vehicle. The illumination device disposed in a roof portion of the interior of a vehicle, including: a first light-emitting section having a first light source constituted by a plurality of first LEDs disposed at substantially regular spaces; and a second light-emitting section having a second light source constituted by a second LED, and a second outer lens with which a light emission side of the second light source is covered and by which light emitted from said second light source is converged and radiated out.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing sponge iron includes heating iron oxide together with a solid reducing agent to reduce the iron oxide into sponge iron, wherein the iron oxide includes a mixture of powdered hematite and powdered iron ore or a mixture of powdered hematite and powdered mill scale, the powdered hematite has a specific surface area of 2.0 m2/g or more, and the content of the powdered hematite is 5-45% by mass with respect to the total quantity of iron oxide.

Abstract: An interior illuminating apparatus for a vehicle includes an interior rear-view mirror which is connected and fixed to an interior ceiling of the vehicle for observing the rear, an LED which is provided in vicinity of the interior rear-view mirror at a forward position in a traveling direction of the vehicle and radiates ultraviolet light onto a center part of an instrument panel, an operating unit adapted to receive the ultraviolet light from the LED and provided in the center part of the instrument panel, and a starting switch for actuating the LED on and off. The operating unit has fluorescent layers coated thereon and containing substance which emits fluorescence when irradiated with the ultraviolet light from the LED.

Abstract: A planar light emitting device has a planar light emitter. It has a layered structure composed of a transparent body and a semi-transparent body. The transparent body is made of a transparent synthetic resin containing no light scattering material. The semi-transparent body is made of a semi-transparent synthetic resin containing a light scattering material. The transparent body and the semi-transparent body are joined to form a diffusion layer therebetween. An LED array is disposed at one side of the planar light emitter. The diffusion layer has a sea-islands structure. An island resin has a dimension of 0.1 to 50 microns. The light entering the island resin attenuates therein without reflecting at once due to its complicated shape. Namely, the light entering the diffusion layer generates uniform brightness.

Abstract: A passenger-cabin lighting device comprises as follows. A transparent member is made of synthetic resin not containing scattering material, and has a light emitting surface and a light reflecting surface. A semitransparent member is made of semitransparent synthetic resin containing the scattering material. The semitransparent member is bonded to an inside of the transparent member to constitute a 1 ight emitting body.

Abstract: A passenger-cabin lighting device comprises as follows. A transparent member is made of synthetic resin not containing scattering material, and has a light emitting surface and a light reflecting surface. A semitransparent member is made of semitransparent synthetic resin containing the scattering material. The semitransparent member is bonded to an inside of the transparent member to constitute a light emitting body. A plurality of light emitting diodes are diposed on one end face of the light emitting body for projecting light into the transparent member and the semitransparent member. A control circuit controls flickering of the plurality of light emitting diodes. The thus constructed passenger-cabin lighting device may be used for lighting and illuminating the passenger cabin, and for highlighting the car itself.

Abstract: A direct lighting unit fits in opposition to an opening of a roof of a vehicle's cabin so as to illuminate a light directly the cabin. An indirect lighting unit is disposed around the outer circumference of the direct lighting unit. The indirect lighting unit contains a plurality of LEDs disposed at fixed intervals so as to emit light outward. The LEDs are controlled to indirectly illuminate the roof. When the direct lighting unit is mounted to the roof, a fixing piece supports a grooved edge portion of the indirect lighting unit so that the indirect lighting unit is immovably held between the fixing piece and the roof. Thus, the direct and indirect lighting units are simultaneously secured to the roof.

Abstract: A planar light emitting device has a planar light emitter. It has a layered structure composed of a transparent body and a semi-transparent body. The transparent body is made of a transparent synthetic resin containing no light scattering material. The semi-transparent body is made of a semi-transparent synthetic resin containing a light scattering material. The transparent body and the semi-transparent body are joined to form a diffusion layer therebetween. An LED array is disposed at one side of the planar light emitter. The diffusion layer has a sea-islands structure. An island resin has a dimension of 0.1 to 50 microns. The light entering the island resin attenuates therein without reflecting at once due to its complicated shape. Namely, the light entering the diffusion layer generates uniform brightness.

Abstract: A detection whether a vehicle is stopped or movable is executed, and based on the result, the light source is controlled to be in the first light emitting state when the vehicle is stopped while the light source is controlled to be in the second light emitting state when the vehicle is drivable.

Abstract: In an optical pickup device, wires 16A through 16D resiliently support a lens holder 12 in a cantilever fashion. Of the wires, wires 16A and 16C arranged so as to overlap when viewed in a tracking direction are fixed together by heat sealing. The wires 16B and 16D are arranged independently of each other. In each of the wires 16A through 16D, a portion 166 close to the base end of the wire is squeezed from a focusing direction, and a portion 167 close to the tip end of the wires is squeezed from the tracking direction.

Abstract: An LED display device has an indicator having a housing. The housing has at least one incident portion which receives light from at least one LED. The incident portion has a reflection surface at its inside surface. LEDs emit light from one side or one longitudinal end of the incident portion. A refraction plate may be provided to direct emission of the incident light for viewing by a user.

Abstract: A vehicle display device such as a speed meter including indicators, many segments illuminated in two or more colors by plural LEDs and an indicator control circuit. The indicators dispose the segments so as to display a variable such as a car speed in a bar graph or in the form of a number. The indicator control circuit displays the variable by controlling the lighting of the LEDs and changes an emitted light color of indication based on a fixed color changing reference value in accordance with a value of the variable. The control circuit controls a duty ratio of a supply current or a current value in a predetermined set value range determined on the basis of the color changing reference value. Namely, brightness of the emitted light color before a color change is gradually decreased, while brightness of the emitted light color after the color change is gradually increased.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing a composite sintered body having inner and outer portions fitted with each other. The method includes the steps of: (a) preparing an inner powder compact; (b) preparing an outer powder compact; (c) fitting the inner and outer powder compacts with each other so as to prepare a composite powder compact; and (d) sintering the composite powder compact so as to prepare the composite sintered body. The inner and outer powder compacts are respectively selected such that, during the step (d), the amount of growth of the inner powder compact becomes greater than that of the outer powder compact. Each of the inner and outer composite powder compacts is made of one member selected from the group consisting of a wax-type segregation prevention powder mixture and a metal-soap-type segregation prevention powder mixture. At least one of the inner and outer composite powder compacts is made of the wax-type segregation prevention powder.