Abstract: An optical apparatus which achieves fast focusing operation and allows accurate focusing is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes a first focus detector which detects a focus state on a subject, a second focus detector which detects a focus state on the subject in a detection method different from a detection method of the first focus detector, and a controller which has a function of detecting whether or not the subject is a moving body and a function of performing focus control of an image-taking optical system in a first sequence in which at least one of the first and second focus detectors is used and a second sequence in which at least the other of the focus detectors is used. The controller preferentially uses one of the first and second sequences depending on the result of the detection with the moving body detecting function.

Abstract: An A/D conversion circuit including a plurality of resistor elements connected in series between a low-potential power supply and a high-potential power supply. The A/D conversion circuit includes a plurality of comparators that compare a reference voltage divided by each of the resistor elements with an analog input voltage, the comparators having a sample-and-hold function for holding a sampled analog input voltage. The plurality of comparators also include a high-order bit comparator and a low-order bit comparator having different sampling sources. The high-order bit comparator may be configured to compare the analog input voltage and one of the reference voltages to obtain a determination result. The low-order bit comparator may old the analog voltage from the time that the low-order bit comparator retrieves the analog input voltage until the low-order bit comparator performs comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fungicide for agricultural and horticultural use which is characterized by containing an inorganic copper compound and a polymer thickener having a sulfonyl group. This fungicide for agricultural and horticultural use exhibits higher plant disease-control effects than conventional inorganic copper-based fungicides.

Abstract: A holder includes a first cover that covers a part of a corrugated tube in a radial direction of the corrugated tube, and a second cover engaged with the first cover and that covers a remaining part of the corrugated tube in the radial direction. A first retaining portion is formed on the first cover and is engaged in a groove on a bellows-shaped outer face of the corrugated tube. A second retaining portion is formed on the second cover and is engaged in the groove on the bellows-shaped outer face of the corrugated tube. The first cover includes a base portion and a pair of side wall portions extended vertically respectively from both ends of the base portion. The first retaining portion includes a first retaining piece which continuously extends from one of the side wall portions to the base portion and a second retaining piece which continuously extends from the other of the side wall portions to the base portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device 10 is provided with a first hetero junction 40b configured with two types of nitride semiconductors having different bandgap energy from each other, a second hetero junction 50b configured with two types of nitride semiconductors having different bandgap energy from each other, and a gate electrode 58 facing the second hetero junction 50b. The second hetero junction 50b is configured to be electrically connected to the first hetero junction 40b. The first hetero junction 40b is a c-plane and the second hetero junction 50b is either an a-plane or an m-plane.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a control shaft, an actuator, and an oil accumulation portion. The control shaft is configured to vary a lift amount of an engine valve in accordance with a rotational position of the control shaft. The actuator is configured to drive the control shaft to make the lift amount of the engine valve to be a start lift amount before the engine is started. The actuator includes a worm wheel and a worm. The worm wheel is provided at the control shaft and is disposed in an engine body. The worm is disposed below the control shaft and engages with the worm wheel. The oil accumulation portion is provided at at least one of the control shaft and the worm wheel and is configured to drop oil onto the worm in accordance with the rotation of the control shaft when the engine is started.

Abstract: A flash controlling method is disclosed. The method includes: acquiring image data by photographing a subject; detecting a predetermined target object from the image data; calculating a distance to the predetermined target object based on a size of the detected predetermined target object; controlling an amount of flash light to be emitted based on the calculated distance; setting a predetermined threshold based on a reachable distance of the flash light; and inhibiting emission of the flash light when the calculated distance is larger than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The gas barrier film of the present invention is a gas barrier film comprising a base material, and an inorganic thin film composed of a silicon oxide film formed on one or both surfaces of the base material, wherein radical density of the Pb center of the silicon oxide film observed by an electron spin resonance method (ESR method) is from 1×1016 to 1×1019 spins/cm3, or a gas barrier film comprising a base material, an inorganic thin film containing silicon oxide and the other metal component formed on one or both surfaces of the base material, wherein radical density of the Pb center of the silicon oxide in the inorganic thin film observed by an ESR method is from 13×1014 to 3×1017 spins/mol, and a laminate wherein at least one paper and/or plastic film is laminated on the gas barrier film.

Abstract: A cartridge detachable from a printer has a roll paper unit including roll paper, a roller, and flanges, and a separation member used to pull out the roll paper from the roll paper unit. Upon rotating the roll paper unit in a direction to feed out the roll paper, the roll paper is brought into contact with the separation member, thereby pulling out the roll paper from the roll paper unit and feeding out the roll paper to outside the cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is a housing for a resin fluid dynamic bearing device in which deterioration with time of a fixing force for another member is mitigated and which can maintain a high bearing performance for a long period of time. The housing formed of a resin composition exhibiting a compression creep amount of 8% or less when a compressive pressure of 80 MPa is applied for 168 hours at an atmosphere temperature of 80° C., provides a sufficient fixing force for the another member fixed with a press-fitting force, for example, a bearing sleeve press-fitted into an inner periphery of the housing even after a long term use. Thus, there is no fear of fixing positions of the another member with respect to the housing being deviated and a high bearing performance is maintained for a long period of time.

Abstract: A hub portion of a fluid dynamic bearing device is formed from a resin composition in which polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is employed as a base resin and with which carbon fibers are mixed. In this manner, the wear resistance and the conductivity can be improved. Alternatively, both portions of a stationary body and a rotating body of the fluid dynamic bearing device which portions face to each other through a bearing gap are formed from a resin composition in which polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) is employed as the base resin. In this manner, excellent wear resistance can be obtained.

Abstract: While applying an ultrasonic vibration to a housing 7 and/or a bearing sleeve 8, the outer peripheral surface 8d of the bearing sleeve 8 is press-fitted into the inner peripheral surface 7c of the housing 7 with a predetermined interference, and is welded thereto. During the press-fitting, the region of the inner peripheral surface 7c of the housing 7 coming into contact with the bearing sleeve 8 is melted or softened by the action of the ultrasonic vibration, so that, as compared with a case in which only press-fitting is conducted, the requisite press-fitting force at the time of press-fitting can be substantially reduced.

Abstract: Provided is a fluid bearing device with a hub part having high molding precision and dimensional stability and capable of being produced at low cost. An annular gate (14) is formed at a portion of a cavity (15) corresponding to an outer peripheral edge portion of a lower end surface (10c1) of a flange part (10c), and a molten resin (P) is filled into the cavity (15) through the annular gate (14) to form a hub part (10) made of resin. The hub part (10) molded by the injection molding exhibits a radial resin orientation through an entire periphery thereof. Further, an annular gate trace (16) is formed at the outer peripheral edge portion of the lower end surface (10c1) of the flange part (10c) of the hub part (10).

Abstract: A light-emitting device includes a light-emitting diode, a red light-emitting phosphor layer, a yellow light-emitting phosphor layer, and a blue light-emitting phosphor layer. These layers are stacked in the stacking sequence of the yellow, blue, and red phosphor layers in order of increasing distance from the LED. The stacking sequence of the yellow and blue phosphor layers is first determined in such a manner that these layers do not interact with each other. The stacking sequence of the red and yellow phosphor layers and the stacking sequence of the red and blue phosphor layers are determined by the discriminant D. This determination of the stacking sequence suppresses a reduction in the conversion efficiency of the phosphors due to concentration quenching, improving the emission efficiency of the light-emitting device.

Abstract: It is an object to improve bearing rigidity in a thrust direction at high temperatures and reduce a torque at low temperatures. An axial member is arranged in such a manner that an outer circumferential surface of an axial part is opposed to an inner circumferential surface of a bearing sleeve with a radial bearing gap interposed therebetween, and both end faces of a flange part are opposed to one end face of the bearing sleeve and a bottom face of a housing with thrust bearing gaps interposed therebetween, respectively. In this manner, the axial member is supported by dynamic pressures generated in the respective bearing gaps in the thrust direction in a non-contact manner. The flange part of the axial member is formed of a resin in such a manner that its linear expansion coefficient in its axial direction is equal to or larger than that of the housing.

Abstract: In this type of fluid dynamic bearing device, there is formed a resin member capable of suppressing the intrusion of a lubricating oil as much as possible even when carbon fibers are compounded. A housing part 7 as the resin member can be obtained by injection-molding a resin composition in which PPS is a base resin, and carbon fibers are compounded. The housing part 7 is in contact with an ester-based lubricating oil filled in the inside of the bearing. In this case, the plurality of carbon fibers bound with a binder material not containing an urethane resin are cut and the carbon fibers minced by cutting are compounded into PPS to thereby obtain the above-described resin composition.

Abstract: High-precision, low-cost molding of dynamic pressure generating grooves is made possible. An ultrasonic generating device 20 is connected to an injection mold 10. The dynamic pressure generating grooves are molded by means of radial dynamic pressure generating groove forming parts 16 and a thrust dynamic pressure generating groove forming part 17 provided in the injection mold 10, with ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic generating device 20 being applied to the injection mold 10 during the injection molding.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an inorganic-organic hybrid film which is excellent in transparency, adhesion, heat resistance, weatherability, and anti-rust property, whose refractive index may be controlled easily, and which is also excellent in hardness. Also provided are an inorganic-organic hybrid composition as a starting material for the film, and a hard coating material, an optical material, an anti-rust coating material, and a conductive coating material, all utilizing the composition. The composition is characterized by containing organic component (A) composed of monomer component (a1) containing a particular diol (meth)acrylate compound (U) having a urethane bond, or polymer component (a2) containing polymer (P) obtained by polymerization of monomer component (a1), and inorganic component (B), wherein the ratio of the organic component (A) to the inorganic component (B) is 1:99 to 99:1 by mass.

Abstract: The present invention easily provides a compact recording apparatus including a paper chamber capable of containing paper and a ribbon chamber containing an ink ribbon in a manner such that the ink ribbon on a supply shaft can be taken up onto a take-up shaft, by utilizing the dead spaces in the paper chamber and the ribbon chamber. The distance between the paper chamber and the rotation center of the take-up shaft is larger than the radius of a ribbon take-up portion of the take-up shaft and is smaller than the radius of a fully taken up roll of the ink ribbon.

Abstract: This invention can increase the focusing speed and quickly focus a camera to an object regardless of the position of the object within the field of the viewfinder. When the position of a main object falls within a range in which phase difference AF is impossible, the lens scan range of contrast AF is determined by referring to distance measurement information of phase difference AF near the main object or immediately preceding distance measurement information of phase difference AF. The scan range of contrast AF is narrowed to increase the focusing speed.