Abstract: To provide an actuator which is easily made a small size and flexible, and has a large displacement. The actuator comprises a rod-shaped actuator element, having one axial end thereof fixed, including a dielectric film made of a dielectric elastomer and a plurality of electrodes arranged via the dielectric film, in the actuator element, the dielectric film extends as a voltage applied across the electrodes becomes large, and a load member connected to the other axial end of the actuator element and fixed in a state in which the actuator element is permitted to be extended axially, characterized in that making large the voltage applied across the electrodes causes the dielectric film to be extended, whereby the actuator element is extended axially according to the tension of the load member.

Abstract: A magnetic disc has a data area including a magnetic data zone and nonmagnetic portions for physically separating the magnetic data zone, and also has a servo area provided with a magnetic pattern made up of magnetic portions and nonmagnetic portions. The servo area includes a belt-like area elongated in a radial direction of the magnetic disc and having a circumferential length at least twice as long as a unit length readable by a magnetic head in a circumferential direction of the magnetic disc. The belt-like area is provided with magnetic regions and nonmagnetic regions alternating with each other in the radial direction of the disc, where each of the magnetic and nonmagnetic regions extends from the first end to the second end of the belt-like area that are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the disc.

Abstract: A first deformation sensor is arranged in a shock transmission member which is built in a vehicle and which constitutes a transmission path of a shock applied from the outside. A second deformation sensor is arranged in an exterior member which is exposed to the outside of a vehicle. Each of the first and second deformation sensors comprises a main body of sensor which has an elastomer and spherical conductive fillers blended in the elastomer in an approximately single particle state and with a high filling rate, and in which an electric resistance increases as an elastic deformation increases, and an electrode which is connected with the main body of sensor and is able to output the electric resistance.

Abstract: A deformation sensor, which has excellent workability and a high degree of freedom in shape design and which can detect deformation and load in a wide area of components and portions, has a main body of sensor, electrodes which are connected to the main body of sensor and can output electric resistances, and a restraining component which restrains elastic deformation of at least a part of the main body of sensor. The main body of sensor has an elastomer, and spherical conductive fillers which are blended into the elastomer at a high filling rate in an approximately single-particle state, and is elastically deformable. In the main body of sensor, as an elastic deformation increases, the electric resistance increases.

Abstract: A crosslinked elastomer body is composed of an electrically conductive composition comprising an electrically conductive filler and an insulative elastomer (matrix). The electrically conductive tiller is in a spherical particulate form and has an average particle diameter of 0.05 to 100 ?m. The electrically conductive filler has a critical volume fraction (?c) of not less than 30 vol % as determined at a first inflection point of a percolation curve at which an insulator-conductor transition occurs with an electrical resistance steeply reduced when the electrically conductive filler is gradually added to the elastomer. A resistance observed under compressive strain or bending strain increases according to the strain over a resistance observed under no strain when the electrically conductive filler is present in a volume fraction not less than the critical volume fraction (?c) in the composition.

Abstract: A high damping elastomer composition that has a high damping capability and is superior in the temperature dependency of rigidity. The high damping elastomer composition has at least one styrene block polymer as a main component. The ratio of a diblock component in the overall styrene block polymer is in the range of 50 to 95 wt. %.

Abstract: A high-damping elastomer composition comprises a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer (component A) and a ethylene-methyl methacrylate random copolymer (component B). In the high-damping elastomer composition of the present invention, the styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer (component A) and the ethylene-methyl methacrylate random copolymer (component B) form a so-called “islands-in-the-sea” structure which may vary depending on the blending ratio therebetween. The components A and B are partially compatibilized with each other in a homogeneously mixed state in sea-island interfaces.

Abstract: An optical pickup device for reading information recorded on an optical disc, the device having a semiconductor laser, a half mirror and a light-receiving element. The semiconductor laser and the half mirror are attached to each other via a grating, and the light-receiving element is attached on the surface of the half mirror.

Abstract: A high damping elastomer composition that has a high damping capability and is superior in the temperature dependency of rigidity. The high damping elastomer composition has at least one styrene block polymer as a main component. The ratio of a diblock component in the overall styrene block polymer is in the range of 50 to 95 wt.

Abstract: A high-damping elastomer composition comprises a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer (component A) and a ethylene-methyl methacrylate random copolymer (component B). In the high-damping elastomer composition of the present invention, the styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer (component A) and the ethylene-methyl methacrylate random copolymer (component B) form a so-called “islands-in-the-sea” structure which may vary depending on the blending ratio therebetween. The components A and B are partially compatibilized with each other in a homogeneously mixed state in sea-island interfaces.

Abstract: A high damping material composition useful as a vibration damper and an acoustic insulating material such as a sound insulating wall for an acoustic room, a sound insulating partition for a construction structure and a soundproofing wall for a vehicle. The high damping material composition of the present invention containing the following components (A) and (B); (A) a polymer having in the molecular chain thereof a chemical structural unit derived from the following (a); (a) at least one selected from the group consisting of an acrylic monomer, a methacrylic monomer, an ethylene-acrylic copolymer, an ethylene-methacrylic copolymer and vinyl acetate; (B) at least one damping property imparting agent selected from the group consisting of a hindered phenol compound, a phosphite ester compound, a phosphate ester compound, a basic compound containing nitrogen and a hindered amine compound.

Abstract: An air tempering apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle including a duct having a first passage through which tempered air is discharged into a front compartment portion in front of the front seats and a second passage through which tempered air is discharged into a rear compartment portion in rear of the front seats. A switch is provided for manual operation in the rear compartment portion to generate a command signal to a control unit which thereby controls the amount of tempered air discharged through the second passage into the rear compartment portion.