Abstract: A fishing reel includes a spool, a spool shaft supported by a reel body so as to be freely rotatable and to rotate integrally with the spool, a clutch mechanism to switch between a transmitting state in which winding power is transmitted to the spool and a dis-transmitting state in which transmission of the winding power to the spool is cut off, a clutch operating unit to operate the clutch mechanism, a shift mechanism in a first mode while the clutch mechanism is in the transmitting state, and which shifts to a second mode that is different from the first mode while the clutch mechanism is in the dis-transmitting state, and a detection unit to detect at least one of the first mode or the second mode of the shift mechanism.

Abstract: An example apparatus includes a passgate circuit between first and second nodes, the passgate circuit having a plurality of transistors at least two of which are operatively connected in parallel in a first mode and operatively connected in series in a second mode. The plurality of transistors may include first and second transistors coupled in parallel between the first and second nodes and controlled in common by a first control signal activated in the first mode. The plurality of transistors may further include third and fourth transistors connected in series between the first and second nodes and controlled in common by a second control signal activated in the second mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device manufacturing method of embodiments includes: forming an insulating film on an outer peripheral portion of a surface of a first substrate; after forming the insulating film, forming a silicon layer in contact with the surface inside the insulating film; and forming a porous silicon layer by making the silicon layer inside the insulating film porous using an anodization method.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods, and structures providing for the accurate measurement of guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering in optical fiber transmission systems and facilities.

Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a table, a shaft, a sensor, and a first control unit. The table has a first surface on which a processing target object is placed, and is rotatable about a rotational axis in a first direction substantially orthogonal to the first surface. The shaft rotatably and movably holds a blade that machines the processing target object. The sensor measures a thickness of processing target object in a region to be machined by the blade. The first control unit controls rotation and movement of the shaft. The first control unit controls movement of the blade in the first direction based on a result of the measurement by the sensor.

Abstract: There is provided an electrode catheter for measuring an electric potential inside a heart of a subject. The electrode catheter includes: a shaft that is inserted into the heart, wherein the shaft includes a distal end portion, and a guide portion that is connected to the distal end portion; a non-contact electrode that is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the distal end portion or the guide portion; and at least one contact electrode that is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the distal end portion and that is configured to make contact with an endocardium of the heart. The non-contact electrode is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the distal end portion or the guide portion so as not to make contact with the endocardium in a state where the contact electrode is in contact with the endocardium.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for input buffer data feedback equalization (DFE). An input buffer includes a DFE circuit which adjusts a threshold voltage of the input buffer based on a previously latched data bit. The DFE circuit includes a number of DFE legs coupled in parallel to a node of the input buffer. Each DFE leg is selectively activated by a DFE code. Each DFE leg includes a capacitance (e.g., a field effect transistor) which is coupled to the node in an active leg based on the previously latched data bit. The previously latched data bit may also be used to generate a reset signal which couples the capacitors to ground. Each DFE leg may also include a transistor coupled to a bias voltage, which is stable across a range of PVT variations.

Abstract: A connection state identification system includes an identification information addition means and an identification information acquisition means. When an inspection optical signal, which is an optical signal for inspection transmitted by a first optical communication device to a second optical communication device, is received by the second optical communication device over inter-optical communication device optical paths, which are the optical paths included in the undersea optical cable system between the optical communication devices, the identification information addition means adds, to an unassigned frequency band of the inspection optical signal, the unassigned frequency band being a frequency band other than a frequency band assigned to optical communication, identification information differing for each inter-optical communication device optical path through which the inspection optical signal passes.

Abstract: In order to readily carry out communication between terminal stations, a submarine optical communication system includes a first terminal station including a first monitoring means for monitoring the signal quality of dummy light a first dummy light source that outputs dummy light to the second terminal station, and a first light transmitting means for transmitting an optical signal to the second terminal station, the optical signal including a first signal quality of the dummy light; and the second terminal station including a second dummy light source that outputs dummy light to the first monitoring means, a second monitoring means for monitoring the signal quality of the dummy light, and a light receiving means for receiving the optical signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe estimating/measuring core-cladding concentricity error in optical fibers. In sharp contrast to the prior art, our inventive method is based on measuring a seemingly unrelated property of fibers called guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering (GAWBS). As we shall show and describe, by analyzing this GAWBS property we advantageously determine what level of CCCE is exhibited by the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods for reducing guided acoustic wave Brillouin (GAWBS) noise in an optical fiber that may be included in an optical communications system by reducing the polarization diffusion length of the fiber by increasing the birefringence of the optical fiber, the increased birefringence of the optical fiber being increased with respect to its average magnitude. Additionally, the polarization diffusion length is reduced by reducing the coherence length of birefringence of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a three-way branching unit switch module having a small footprint suitable for application in an undersea application.

Abstract: A heating device includes: a temperature change unit that changes a temperature of a temperature change area; an induction unit that applies a stimulus to an induction area; and a controller, wherein the induction area is an area on skin surface, or an area that occupies a space that can be perspectively projected on the skin surface, the induction area is an area that does not overlap with the temperature change area, the induction unit applies at least one of a tactile stimulus and a visual stimulus to the induction area, the controller executes a first control for changing a temperature of a first temperature change area of the temperature change area and a second control for applying a stimulus to a first induction area of the induction area, and the second control is performed in accordance with the first control.

Abstract: In order to readily carry out communication between terminal stations, a submarine optical communication system includes a first terminal station including a first monitoring means for monitoring the signal quality of dummy light a first dummy light source that outputs dummy light to the second terminal station, and a first light transmitting means for transmitting an optical signal to the second terminal station, the optical signal including a first signal quality of the dummy light; and the second terminal station including a second dummy light source that outputs dummy light to the first monitoring means, a second monitoring means for monitoring the signal quality of the dummy light, and a light receiving means for receiving the optical signal.

Abstract: Earthquake detection via fiber sensing is provided using using a supervisory path of submarine cables wherein the supervisory system/path of a submarine optical cable conveys portion(s) of an optical signal back to an origin location periodically—i.e., at every repeater location. Advantageously, since it is known where a returning signal is coming from, a resolution equivalent to an undersea span length may be determined—which is sufficient for wide area disturbances such as earthquakes. The returned signal is sufficiently strong such that the signal-to-noise ratio of a returned/received signal is not limited by the ASE noise of the amplifiers. The returned signal is much larger as compared to a normal distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) return signal since the return signal according to aspects of the present disclosure is directed backward via an optical coupler/reflector/circulator having a much larger coupling ratio as compared to normal Rayleigh back scattering utilized in DAS.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe a method for estimating mode field distribution in optical fibers from guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering wherein light for which the optical mode-field distribution is determined remains in the optical fibers and the distribution is made for light inside the fiber, and not at a fiber/air interface or other perturbation points to the fiber resulting in a more accurate representation of the optical mode-field distribution in the fiber. Since light is always in the fiber during the determination, no complicated fiber preparation steps or procedures are required and the mode-field distribution is determined as an average distribution along the length of the fiber under test.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe methods for reducing guided acoustic wave Brillouin (GAWBS) noise in an optical fiber that may be included in an optical communications system by reducing the polarization diffusion length of the fiber by increasing the birefringence of the optical fiber, the increased birefringence of the optical fiber being increased with respect to its average magnitude. Additionally, the polarization diffusion length is reduced by reducing the coherence length of birefringence of the optical fiber.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to systems, methods, and structures providing for the accurate measurement of guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering in optical fiber transmission systems and facilities.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe estimating/measuring core-cladding concentricity error in optical fibers. In sharp contrast to the prior art, our inventive method is based on measuring a seemingly unrelated property of fibers called guided acoustic wave Brillouin scattering (GAWBS). As we shall show and describe, by analyzing this GAWBS property we advantageously determine what level of CCCE is exhibited by the optical fiber.

Abstract: In a wedge looseness diagnosis which is performed by striking wedges of a rotary electric machine, a variation of a wave form of a strike sound is reduced with respect to a variation of an amount of looseness of the wedges, and it is difficult that a slight difference of the amount of the looseness of the wedges is discriminated, so that the wedges are struck by a strike portion in a state where the wedges are pressed by a pressure portion which presses the wedges, and a strike sound at a high frequency is reduced, whereby an amount of a variation of magnitude of the strike sound is enlarged with respect to a valuation of the amount of the looseness of the wedges, and the amount of the looseness of the wedges is judged in accordance with the strike sound which is obtained by a strike sound measuring portion.