Abstract: The present invention can provide a polymer film having an Ra (arithmetic average roughness) of 0.5 ?m to 2.5 ?m, an Ry (maximum height) of 3 ?m to 11 ?m, an Rz (ten-point average height) of 3 ?m to 8 ?m, and a light transmittance of 85% or higher. A preferable embodiment of the present invention can provide, at the same time, an optical diffusion function, an improved luminance, a transmittance and the like which are of a sufficient level not realized conventionally. In a still preferable embodiment, Sm (average concave-concave/convex-convex interval) of 90 ?m to 160 ?m and the average inter-local peak interval (S) is 5 ?m to 15 ?m.

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 inverted conical or pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and disposed in the first surface and having at least one curved slant surface. An optical waveguide extends into the inverted conical or pyramidal hole of the planar substrate for propagating light along an optical path. A mirror is disposed in the optical waveguide for bending in the direction of the fine aperture the optical path of the light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a triblock copolymer, that is multipurpose yet has sufficient properties particularly for medical applications, and is useful as a material having excellent flexibility and water absorbability, as well as to a method for producing the same, and a biocompatible material. The copolymer of the present invention is composed of segments A1 and A2 each composed of a polymer having a depsipeptide unit, such as a segment selected from a homopolymer of depsipeptide or a copolymer of lactide and depsipeptide, and segment B composed of polyalkylene glycol, such as PEG, and is a A1-B-A2 triblock copolymer having a number average molecular weight of 8000 to 500000. The biocompatible material of the present invention contains the triblock copolymer as a main component, and may be used as a tissue anti-adhesion barrier.

Abstract: In a method of detecting an angular velocity V? of an angular velocity sensor including a vibrating body, a monitoring signal Vm(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a first direction and a sensing signal Vs(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a second direction crossing the first direction are detected. A difference in time between a first feature point where the monitoring signal Vm(t) crosses a first reference level and a second feature point where the sensing signal Vs(t) crosses a second reference level is set as At, a sensing direct-current voltage corresponding to an amplitude of the sensing signal Vs(t) is set as Vsd, a driving frequency is set as fd, and the angular velocity V? is calculated from formula of. V?=Vsd×sin(2·?·fd·?T).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a nitrogen oxide purifying catalyst using an NOx sensor, the method including: calculating a detection integrated value by integrating corresponding values corresponding to the NOx sensor output signal obtained until a first predetermined detection period has elapsed after the NOx sensor begins to generate an output signal and subtracting a variation integrated value. The variation integrated value is calculated by integrating corresponding values obtained until a predetermined second detection period has elapsed after the NOx sensor beings to generate an output signal when driven in a gas atmosphere having a constant nitrogen oxide concentration.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter reducing reversed current in a low load state and increasing output voltage response speed. An error amplification circuit generates an error signal from the output voltage. A pulse signal generation circuit generates a first pulse signal in accordance with the error signal. A comparison circuit generates a comparison result signal from the error signal. A drive signal generation circuit generates a constant level signal and a second pulse signal. An output circuit receives the first pulse signal and either the constant level signal or the second pulse signal to generate first and second drive signals for driving first and second transistors. The output circuit generates the second drive signal in accordance with the first pulse signal when receiving the constant level signal and generates the second drive signal with the first and second pulse signals when receiving the second pulse signal.

Abstract: To provide an image display device including a lower electrode, an upper electrode, and an electron acceleration layer composed of an insulator or a semiconductor provided there between, and further including a thin film electron source array that emits electrons from the upper electrode, and a phosphor surface, wherein degradation of an electron emission characteristic caused by an increase of a work function due to an adhesive material to the above-described upper electrode is suppressed. An amount of S content adhering to the upper electrode is set equal to or less than 20 mol % of a total amount of elements used as the upper electrode in terms of elements by using an element belonging to Group VIII or Group Ib or a laminated film or alloy film thereof as a component of the upper electrode of the thin film electron source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reutilization and method of shaping of waste plastic which reduces the amount of volatile ingredients and oil cake* to extents preferable as materials for coke ovens, enables the formation of plastic granular materials able to maintain suitable shapes even after charging into a coke oven, and does not require expensive facilities for treating any produced hydrogen chloride gas, that is, a method of reutilization of waste plastic characterized by melting waste plastic at over 160° C. to 250° C. in temperature in part or whole, compression shaping it to thereby obtain a plastic granular material having an apparent density of 0.7 to 1.2 kg/liter, and mixing this plastic granular material with coal for dry distillation in a coke oven.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes a thin film layer formed on a top surface of a planar optical transmission medium, and a catalyst layer formed on a top surface of the thin film layer. A first interface is created between the planar optical transmission medium and the thin film layer. A substrate is joined to a bottom surface of the planar optical transmission medium so that a second interface is created between the planar optical transmission medium and the substrate. On entering a first end portion of the planer optical transmission medium, light from a light source is spread by an entrance section, and the spread light is transmitted inside the planar optical transmission medium to a second end portion by being reflected by the first and second interfaces alternately. Light exiting from the second end portion is transmitted to an optical sensor by an exit light-collecting section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film suitable for improvement of luminance, contrast and view angle of a liquid crystal display. Specifically disclosed is a retardation film having a thickness of 30-500 ?m, a light transmittance of not less than 85%, and an Nz factor of not less than 10.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a black 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 black matrix pattern efficiently, and superior in storage stability, a black matrix pattern formed by using the composition, a plasma display having the pattern, and a method of forming the black matrix pattern by using the composition. An alkali development-type black paste composition of the present invention comprises (A) a carboxyl group-containing resin, (B) a glass frit, (C) a black pigment, (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: An information reproducing apparatus has a medium with a linear tracking mark extending in a scanning direction and a linear data mark extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A light control unit irradiates the data mark with a first near-field light polarized in the scanning direction and irradiates the tracking mark with a second near-field light polarized in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A detector detects light scattered by the data mark and the tracking mark irradiated with the first near-field light and the second near-field light, respectively. A signal processing unit processes a first output signal from the detector corresponding to the detected light scattered by the data mark and processes a second output signal from the detector corresponding to the detected light scattered by the tracking mark.

Abstract: Methods for pretreating and improving coking coal quality for producing blast-furnace coke by: (a) rapid-heating the coal charge in a fluidized-bed to a temperature range between not lower than 300° C. and not higher than the temperature at which the coal charge begins to soften, at a rate of 30 to 103 ° C./min., (b) classifying the rapid-heated coal charge to fine- and coarse-size coal, and then (c-1) briquetting the fine-size coal or (c-2) rapid-heating the fine- and coarse-size coal individually in a pneumatic preheater to a temperature range between not lower than 300° C. and not higher than the temperature at which the coal charge begins to soften, at a rate of 103 to 105 ° C./min., and (d) forming the fine-size coal.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes an inner ring including a flange a tubular portion which has an end face; an outer ring coupled to the inner ring through a plurality of rolling elements; and a drive force-receiving portion including a plurality of teeth which is radially formed on the end face in a direction intersecting an axial direction. A surface of the each teeth is coated by a coating.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an information recording/reproduction device for implementing high-density information recording and reading using mutual interaction of a recording medium with near field light, and particularly to a near field optical head with a high optical efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. This is achieved by enabling an energy propagation mechanism via a plasmon by forming a layer dispersed with metal particulate at a microscopic opening generating near field light, and therefore increase optical efficiency.

Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas sensor element having a first measurement chamber (16); a first pumping cell (11); a second measurement chamber (18) into which a gas to be measured having a controlled oxygen partial pressure is introduced; and a second pumping cell (13) having a second inner pump electrode (13b) and a second counterpart electrode (13c) pump electrode configured to detect a specific gas component. The second inner pump electrode is made of a material that contains, as a principal ingredient, two kinds of Pt particles having different particle sizes and whose particle size ratio measured by a sedimentation particle-size distribution ranges from 1.75 to 14.2. A mixing ratio between large Pt particles and small Pt particles has a mass ratio of 10/90 to 50/50. A 10 kHz-1 Hz resistance value across the second pumping cell at 600° C. is 150? or less.

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.