Abstract: In order to obtain a ceramics system superconducting wire, a bulk type ceramics system superconductor or its precursor previously treated to have orientativity in its crystal structure is reduced in diameter in a state charged in a metallic pipe, thereby being elongated, and then heat treated. In the as-formed superconducting wire, crystal orientativity of a bulk formed of the superconductor or its precursor is maintained, whereby it is possible to obtain a superconducting wire having high critical current density. In order to further improve the critical current density, it is effective that the diameter reduction working step and the heat treatment step are alternately repeated a plurality of times.

Abstract: A magnetic recording system for recording signals onto coat-type magnetic tape using magnetic powder by using a magnetic head, and a magnetic recording system for recording signals onto a coat-type magnetic disk using magnetic powder by running magnetic head in contact with the disk, are disclosed. The magnetic tape has a coercive force Hc of 2000 to 3800 Oe in the former system, while the magnetic disk has a coercive force He of 2000 to 3500 Oe in the latter system. In both systems, signals are recorded by using a magnetic head using magnetic core members having a saturation magnetic flux density of 15 kG or greater. The magnetic core member having the saturation magnetic Flux density of 15 kG or greater is exemplified by a material expressed by a composition formula (Fe.sub.95.5 Al.sub.1 V.sub.0.5 Nb.sub.0.5 Cu.sub.0.5 Ru.sub.2).sub.92 N.sub.6 O.sub.2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetoresistance material, i.e. a conductive material that exhibits magnetoresistance, which is an inhomogeneous system consisting of a nonmagnetic matrix and ultrafine particles of a ferromagnetic material such as Co or Ni--Fe--Co dispersed in the nonmagnetic matrix. With the aim of reducing deterioration of the magnetoresistance effect, an alloy or mixture of at least two metal elements selected from Cu, Ag, Au and Pt is used as the material of the nonmagnetic matrix. Optionally, the nonmagnetic matrix may contain a limited quantity of a supplementary element selected from Al, Cr, In, Mn, Mo, Nb, Pd, Ta, Ti, W, V, Zr and Ir. A film of the magnetoresistance material can be formed on a substrate, and it is optional to interpose a buffer layer between the film and the substrate and/or cover the film with a protective layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconductor is carried out by first preparing a material composed of Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7. This material is heated/molten in a platinum crucible. A melt thus obtained is drawn out from a high-temperature frame provided above the platinum crucible and heated to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the material. The melt thus drawn out is cooled by natural standing, to be solidified. As the result, an elongated superconductor composed of Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 can be obtained. This superconductor enters a superconductive state at 90 K.

Abstract: A Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O ceramic superconductor contains 0112 phases which are finely dispersed in a 2212-phase matrix with its c-axis oriented perpendicular to a growth direction.A method of preparing a Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O ceramic superconductor comprises the steps of growing crystals under conditions satisfying:G/R.gtoreq.1 and G.multidot.R.gtoreq.10000where G (K/cm) represents the temperature gradient at a solid-liquid interface and R (mm/h) represents the rate of crystal growth, and annealing the grown crystals in an atmosphere having oxygen partial pressure of at least 0.05 atm. within a temperature-range of 800.degree. to 860.degree. C. for at least 2 hours.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance film has an artificial lattice film structure having alternating conductive and magnetic layers. The anisotropic magnetic field H.sub.k of the magnetic layers and the anti-ferromagnetic coupling magnetic field H.sub.s between the magnetic layers which face each other through the conductive layers satisfy the relationship H.sub.k <H.sub.s. The conductive layers contain 0.05 to 5 atomic % of at least one material selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel. The thickness d of each conductive layer is selected in the range of 1.02.times.d.sub.max .ltoreq.d.ltoreq.1.10.times.d.sub.max or 0.90.times.d.sub.max .ltoreq.d.ltoreq.0.98.times.d.sub.max. The magnetoresistance is exhibited substantially isotropically in the plane of the layers. The magnetoresistance film has large magnetoresistance prevented from being reduced due to the anisotropy of the magnetic layers, a high sensitivity, and keeps its large magnetoresistance stably.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconductor by applying a floating zone method to a raw material sintered ingot. This method is adapted to obtain an elongated superconductor which can provide high critical current density. A floating zone is moved along the raw material sintered ingot with such speed difference that the speed in its forward end portion is higher than that in its rear end portion, thereby to obtain a superconductor having a smaller diameter. In order to attain a higher crystal orientation property, it is preferable to select the product of the diameter (D mm) of a superconductor provided with a crystal orientation property, which is produced after passage of the floating zone, and the speed (V mm/h) for moving the floating zone in a range of 0.5.ltoreq.DV.ltoreq.20 and to select pressure P of an atmosphere encircling the floating zone in a range of 0<P.ltoreq.3 [kgf/cm.sup.2 ] as well as to pass the floating zone along the raw material sintered ingot at least twice.

Abstract: A Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O ceramic superconductor contains 0112 phases which are finely dispersed in a 2212-phase matrix with its c-axis oriented perpendicular to a growth direction.A method of preparing a Bi--Sr--Ca--Cu--O ceramic superconductor comprises the steps of growing crystals under conditions satisfying:G/R.gtoreq.1 and G.R.gtoreq.10000where G (K/cm) represents the temperature gradient at a solid-liquid interface and R (mm/h) represents the rate of crystal growth, and annealing the grown crystals in an atmosphere having oxygen partial pressure of at least 0.05 atm. within a temperature-range of 800.degree. to 860.degree. C. for at least 2 hours.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconductive conductor containing a superconductive ceramic material generally expressed by the composition AaBbCc, where A represents at least a sort of element selected from a group of those belonging to the groups Ia, IIa and IIIb of the periodic table, B represent at least a single element selected from a group consisting of groups Ib, IIb and IIIa of the periodic table, C represents at least a single sort of element selected from a group of oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine and sulfur and a, b and c represent numbers showing composition ratios of A, B and C respectively, includes a step of melting a material generally expressed by a formula AaBb, a step of continuously drawing out a melt of AaBb from a hole provided in a frame, a step of solidifying the AaBb melt drawn out from the hole and a step of heating a solidified body of AaBb in an atmosphere containing C.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a magnetic thin film of a composition expressed as (Co.sub.a Pt.sub.b M.sub.c.sup.I M.sub.d.sup.II) Ox (where a, b, c, d are atomic percent; and x is weight percent). In this composition, a+b+c+d=100, 0<a, 0<b.ltoreq.50, 0<c.ltoreq.20, 0<d.ltoreq.20, 0<x.ltoreq.10. M.sup.I is at least one element selected from P, Si and Ge; and M.sup.II is at least one element selected from B, Ga, Al, In, Sn and Sb. Such magnetic thin film is capable of retaining a large coercive force regardless of its thickness and can be formed without the necessity of raising the base temperature during deposition of a magnetic layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting wire consisting essentially of mixing superconducting ceramic powders selected from a group selected from a group consisting of Y-Sr-Cu-O, Y-Ba-Cu-O, La-Sr-Cu-O, La-Ba-Cu-O and Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O with metal powder, filling the mixture in a metal pipe and forming the mixture into wire by at least one of extrusion, drawing and swaging. The resulting wire would have superconductivity which is not reduced upon distortion by external stress.

Abstract: Additive elements are added to Fe-N soft magnetic thin films along with oxygen, so that the thermal stability is remarkably improved. After annealing treatment at approximately 550.degree. C., it is possible to provide an Fe-N soft magnetic thin film with a low coercive force. Similarly, it is also possible to provide a soft magnetic thin film having a low coercive force by introducing a combination of specific types of additive elements to Fe-N soft magnetic thin films. When oxygen is further added to the film, it is also possible to provide a soft magnetic thin film which has very excellent soft magnetic characteristics and good thermal stability. The soft magnetic thin films of the invention have good soft magnetic characteristics, a high saturation magnetic flux density and good thermal stability. A magnetic head of a metal-in-gap type using the soft magnetic thin film is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a soft magnetic thin film having a basic composition of FecoNi or FeCoDy which is specified for use as a single layer film for increasing the saturation magnetic flux density and the coercive force.The soft magnetic properties are achieved by laminating the above defined soft magnetic thin film as the first soft magnetic thin film layer with a second magnetic thin film layer. In this case, crystal structures of the first and the second soft magnetic thin films should appropriately be selected and combined.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a superconducting wire is carried out by first preparing a material being composed of Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7. This material is melted in a platinum crucible. A melt thus obtained is drawn out from a hole provided on the bottom wall of the crucible to be linearly discharged. The linearly discharged melt is cooled and solidified. A cooling/solidifying space for such a step is set at a temperature less by about 10.degree. C. than the solidifying point of the material, and a slow-cooling zone is provided next to the cooling/solidifying space. This slow-cooling zone is provided to be at a relatively high temperature in a portion closer to the hole while having a temperature gradient along a direction for linearly discharging the melt. A superconducting wire being composed of Y.sub.1 Ba.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.7 is obtained. This superconducting wire superconducts at 85K.

Abstract: A mechanism for bending an elongated body such as the tube of an endoscope without the use of electric elements, thereby eliminating a shock hazard. A shape-memorizing alloy is inserted into the elongated body at portions to be bent. In some embodiments, heat for causing the shape-memorizing alloy and hence the elongated body to bend is produced by light carried by an optical fiber, while in other embodiments frictional heat produced by a mechanism vibrator is employed. In some embodiments using light, a shutter arrangement is added to control the heating of the shape-memorizing alloy.

Abstract: In a system for integrally controlling an automatic transmission and an engine, an apparatus for controlling the automatic transmission and an apparatus for controlling the engine are formed separately from each other to reduce size and cost, and to facilitate the mounting of control means onto a vehicle. Further, if trouble occurs in this communication system between the engine control apparatus and the automatic transmission control apparatus countermeasures are properly performed, and a trouble is reduced as much as possible.

Abstract: A mechanism for bending an elongated body such as the tube of an endoscope without the use of electric elements, thereby eliminating a shock hazard. A shape-memorizing alloy is inserted into the elongated body at portions to be bent. In some embodiments, heat for causing the shape-memorizing alloy and hence the elongated body to bend is produced by light carried by an optical fiber, while in other embodiments frictional heat produced by a mechanism vibrator is employed. In some embodiments using light, a shutter arrangement is added to control the heating of the shape-memorizing alloy.

Abstract: The engine idling speed control system in an internal combustion engine for a vehicle provided with an automatic transmission device. A shift down operation induced for attaining an engine braking effect is detected, and upon detection of such a shift down operation, the idling speed control system is controlled so that the intake air amount is incremented. As a result, an increase in an engine torque is obtained for decreasing shock during a shift down operation executed in an automatic transmission.

Abstract: A method of producing functional alloys by adding not more than 20 atomic percent Cr to a TiPd alloy with 40-60 atomic percent Ti which develops thermoelastic martensitic transformation, for adjusting the transformation point of the alloy. Such a functional alloy may comprise in addition to the Ti, 0.001-20 atomic percent Cr, the balance being Pd.

Abstract: Disclosed is a soft magnetic thin film which has superior soft magnetic characteristics and high saturation magnetic flux density. The magnetic thin film is formed by physical vapor deposition process and composed of Fe, Ga, and Si with optional inclusion of Co, Ru, or Cr.