Abstract: A highly efficient electromagnetic actuator which can reduce leakage of the magnetic flux is provided. The electromagnetic actuator comprises a first coil 31, a movable body 2 adapted to move on the central axis of the first coil 31, a first stator 11 covering the top face, bottom face and outer peripheral face of the first coil 31, and a permanent magnet 15 adapted to firmly latch the movable body 2 at one end point of its movable range. A second stator 12 adapted to control the magnetic flux generated from the permanent magnet 15 is provided in succession with the first stator 11. By providing the second stator 12, when releasing the movable body 2 from its firmly latched state, the permanent magnet 15 is not inversely excited or demagnetized.

Abstract: A process for producing a fine silver particle colloidal dispersion the fine silver particles of which have a larger average particle diameter than those in the conventional Carey-Lea process and also which has superior dispersion stability. An aqueous silver nitrate solution is allowed to react with a mixed solution of an aqueous iron(II) sulfate solution and an aqueous sodium citrate solution, and the resultant reaction fluid containing an agglomerate of fine silver particles is left at 0 to 100° C. to obtain an agglomerate of fine silver particles having grown into granular particles. Next, this agglomerate of fine silver particles having grown into granular particles is filtered, and, to the resultant cake of the agglomerate of fine silver particles, pure water is added to obtain a fine silver particle colloidal dispersion having an average particle diameter of 20 to 200 nm.

Abstract: A near-field optical probe has a planar substrate formed with a through-hole and a phase shifter layer translucent to light having a wavelength of illumination light used to illuminate the substrate for producing near-field light. The phase shifter layer is effective to cause a shift of phase in the illumination light by 180 degrees and is provided on the substrate so as to cover one opening of the through-hole to form a microscopic aperture for producing near-field light.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a planar substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and an inverted conical or pyramidal hole extending through the first and second surfaces. The conical or pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and is disposed on the first surface of the planar substrate. An optical waveguide is disposed on the second surface of the planar substrate for propagating light. A light reflection film is disposed in the optical waveguide for reflecting in the direction of the fine aperture light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A semiconductor acceleration sensor includes an acceleration sensor chip that includes a weight portion, a base portion provided around the weight portion with a gap therebetween, and beam portions flexibly connecting the weight portion and the base portion; and a stopper plate that is provided above the acceleration sensor chip. The stopper plate includes: a plurality of fixing portions that are protrudingly provided at positions opposite to the base portion and are fixed to the base portion; first concave portions that are formed around the fixing portions at positions opposite to the weight portion and define the displacement of the weight portion; and a second concave portion that is formed at a position opposite to the beam portions and is deeper than the first concave portion.

Abstract: A photocurable and thermosetting resin composition comprising (A) a carboxylic acid-containing photosensitive resin having at least one carboxyl group and at least two ethylenically unsaturated bonds in its molecule, (B) a filler, (C) a photopolymerization initiator, (D) a diluent, and (E) a compound having at least two cyclic ether groups and/or cyclic thioether groups in its molecule, wherein the difference between the refractive index of the carboxylic acid-containing photosensitive resin (A) and that of the filler (B) is 0.20 or less, and the average grain diameter of the filler (B) is 0.5 to 0.05 ?m, and wherein the photo-curing and thermosetting resin composition can be developed by a diluted alkali solution, and can be pattern-formed by a laser oscillation light source of 350 to 420 nm in wavelength.

Abstract: A contact detection apparatus that allows faster detection and a pinch prevention apparatus equipped with such a detection apparatus are provided. The contact detection apparatus includes a first electrode (430) made of a flexible conductive material and extending throughout a contact detection range, a second electrode (440) apart from the first electrode and extending on the back side of the first electrode, and detection means for detecting contact of an object with the first electrode based on the capacitance of the first electrode. The first electrode is made of a conductive resin containing an embedded conductor.

Abstract: A power supply unit operation is switched depending on a load requirement. Namely, when the load requirement is smaller than a predetermined value, operation of a fuel cell system is stopped and electric power is obtained from a secondary battery during an intermittent operation mode. Alternatively, when the load requirement is equal to or larger than the predetermined value, the electric power is obtained from a fuel cell during a steady operation mode.

Abstract: Provided is a photocurable resin composition developable with a rare alkali solution, including a carboxylic acid-containing resin (A), a coloring agent (B) composed of a compound having an aminoantraquinone skeleton, a photopolymerization initiator (C), and a compound (D) having two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups within one molecule thereof, the composition being sufficiently colored while controlling absorption in the ultraviolet region using the coloring agent composed of a compound having an aminoantraquinone skeleton, having high sensitivity to ultraviolet and laser exposure, and providing good dry tack in a state of a dry coating film.

Abstract: A NOx sensor includes a sensor element equipped with first and second pumping cells to define first and second measurement chambers. The first pumping cell exerts an oxygen pumping action against the first measurement chamber to adjust the oxygen concentration in the gas under measurement within the first measurement chamber to a given level. The second pumping cell exerts an oxygen pumping action against the second measurement chamber to produce a pumping cell current according to the NOx concentration in the gas under measurement. When the moisture content of the gas under measurement changes from 2 vol % to 8 vol %, the NOx sensor allows a variation of NOx concentration detection value based on the pumping cell current in such a manner that the NOx concentration detection value reaches a transient peak value of 20 ppm or smaller and converges to ±5 ppm of a reference value within 5 seconds.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention can include a vehicle seat, a seat frame having a cushion frame, the cushion frame with a first and second side frame, a bead extending from an outer side of one of the first and second side frame, the bead including a first and second inclined surface connected at a ridge portion, and a notch portion defined in a lower portion of the at least one of the first and second side frame, wherein the notch portion is positioned proximate the bead.

Abstract: In a steering device 10, the upper side portion of a rubber boot 120 is fixedly fitted on a case outer cylindrical component 41 of a cable case 39, and the lower side portion of the rubber boot 120 is fixed to a dashboard 100 of a vehicle body 14 over the entire circumference thereof. Thus, the case outer cylindrical component 41 can be secured against rotation more firmly compared with a prior art steering device wherein such a case outer cylindrical component is fixed at two portions thereon by means of a wire of a V-letter shape. Further, the problem attendant on the wire of the V-letter shape in the prior art steering device no longer arises even in the car models wherein the case outer cylindrical component 41 and the dashboard 100 are relatively far from each other. That is, it can be realized to secure the case outer cylindrical component 41 of the cable case 39 against rotation relative to the vehicle body 14 even in any car model.

Abstract: A method of producing an electroconductive metal film and an electroconductive metal film produced thereby, the production method being capable of forming an electroconductive metal film having a low resistance by utilizing a compression treatment even when a conventional electroconductive metal film forming coating liquid (fine metal particle colloidal dispersion) is adopted and subjected to a drying treatment or heat treatment at a low temperature. The method includes adopting an electroconductive metal film forming coating liquid containing therein fine metal particles as a main component; coating the coating liquid onto a substrate; subsequently drying the coated coating liquid; and applying a compression treatment to the dried residual to form an electroconductive metal film on the substrate.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has a light source for generating linearly polarized light, a medium having linear marks disposed in overlapping relation to one another, and an optical head disposed between the light source and the medium and having a fine aperture. A polarized light control portion in the light source controls the linearly polarized light to pass through the fine aperture of the optical head to generate near-field light having a preselected polarization direction and to irradiate the linear marks of the medium with the near-field light so that the preselected polarization direction of the near-field light is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the linear marks. A detector detects light scattered by the linear mark irradiated with the near-field light.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a silver paste composition suitable for use in laser direct imaging devices employing a light source emitting a laser having a maximum wavelength of 350 to 420 nm, useful in forming a high-definition conductive pattern efficiently, and superior in storage stability, a conductive pattern formed by using the composition, a plasma display having the pattern, and a method of forming the conductive pattern by using the composition. An alkali development-type silver paste composition of the present invention comprises (A) a carboxyl group-containing resin, (B) a glass frit, (C) a silver powder, (D) a compound having at least one radically polymerizable unsaturated group in its molecule, and (E-1) an oxime-based photopolymerization initiator represented by the following general formula (I).

Abstract: A device for polishing the peripheral edge part of a semiconductor wafer includes a wafer stage for holding the wafer, a wafer stage unit including devices for rotating the wafer stage, causing the wafer stage to undergo a rotary reciprocating motion within the same plane as the surface of the wafer stage, and moving the wafer stage parallel to the surface, a notch polishing part for polishing the notch on the wafer and a bevel polishing part for polishing the beveled part of the wafer. Pure water is supplied to the wafer to prevent it from becoming dry as it is transported from the notch polishing part to the bevel polishing part.

Abstract: A sensing circuit for a vibration type of angular rate sensor comprises a vibrator, driving unit, follow-up signal forming unit, normal voltage-range setting unit, and determining unit. The driving unit drives the vibrator to vibrate at a predetermined amplitude by using, as a feedback signal, an error voltage signal in which an amplitude of vibration of the vibrator is reflected. The follow-up signal forming unit forms, by using the error voltage signal, a follow-up signal following up the error voltage signal at changes which are gentler than changes in the error signal. The normal voltage-range setting unit sets a range of a normal voltage for the error voltage signal by using the follow-up signal. The determining unit determines whether or not the sensor circuit is in a malfunctioning condition, by using an estimation as to whether or not the error voltage signal is within the range of the normal voltage.

Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus for controlling a gas sensor includes a resistance detection unit and a heater control unit. The resistance detection unit detects a resistance of an object cell of the gas sensor. When the resistance of the object cell is lower than a predetermined threshold, the heater control unit controls energization of a heater such that the resistance detected by the resistance detection unit is a first predetermined resistance. Subsequently, after elapse of a predetermined time, the heater control unit further controls energization of the heater in such a manner that the resistance detected by the resistance detection unit is a second predetermined resistance of a resistance value that is higher than that of the first predetermined resistance.

Abstract: An optical microcantilever for a scanning near field microscope comprises a support section, a cantilever-shaped optical waveguide, and a light blocking wall. The optical waveguide has a free end, a fixed end fixed to the support section and terminating in a light input/output end, and a tip formed at a side of the free end of the cantilever and having a microscopic aperture at an end thereof. The light blocking wall blocks the transmission of light scattered from a region of the light input/output end in the direction of the tip of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A challenge of the present invention is to develop a method for repeatedly forming a reverse transferred pattern in a simple and efficient manner onto the surfaces of Zr based, Ti based, Cu based, Ni based and Fe based metallic glass that have supercooled liquid temperatures of not lower than 400° C. and are also required to be molded at not lower than 400° C. (a) An image pattern is converted into bitmap data being mirror reversed with respect to a real image, (b) high energy density light 15 is repeatedly flashed, and the surface of a mold 20 is scanned while one of dot holes 24 is formed by one-time irradiation, to form an image pattern as dots assembled pattern 21 onto the surface of the mold 20 in accordance with the bitmap data, and (c) the dots assembled pattern 21 is reverse-transfer molded onto a metallic glass 1 within a supercooled liquid temperature range Tg-Tx by means of the mold 20 which is for dots assembled pattern formation.