Abstract: Provided is a reproducing apparatus including: an optical system that obtains a signal light by radiating light emitted from a light source and generates a reference light from the light emitted from the light source, with respect to a recording medium, and that generates first to fourth groups of the signal light beams and the reference light beams, with respect to the superposed light in which the signal light and the reference light are superposed onto each other; a light receiving unit that receives light beams of the first to fourth groups of the signal light beams and the reference light beams respectively through first to fourth light receiving elements; and a reproduction signal generation circuit that calculates a first differential signal and a second differential signal, and that generates a reproduction signal by performing an arithmetic operation using the first and second differential signals.

Abstract: A reproducing device includes a light generation and emission unit that obtains signal light as reflection light, which reflects recording signals of a land and a groove, by irradiating an optical recording medium with light and generates reference light so as to emit the signal light and the reference light in a superposed manner, a detection optical system that generates a first combination of signal light and reference light, a second combination of signal light and reference light, a third combination of signal light and reference light, and a fourth combination of signal light and reference light respectively, a light receiving unit in which the first to fourth combinations of signal light and reference light are respectively received by first to fourth light receiving elements, and a reproduction unit that reproduces the recording signals of the land and the groove on the basis of first to fourth light receiving signals.

Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium, including a recording target track that is a track on which small record carriers are arranged and on which information recording is performed by modulating the small record carriers through light irradiation; and a wobbling track on which the small record carriers are arranged in a wobbling manner, wherein a single wobbling track is formed to run parallel to a set of a plurality of recording target tracks.

Abstract: A reproducing device includes a light generation and emission unit that obtains signal light as reflection light, which reflects recording signals of a land and a groove, by irradiating an optical recording medium with light and generates reference light so as to emit the signal light and the reference light in a superposed manner, a detection optical system that generates a first combination of signal light and reference light, a second combination of signal light and reference light, a third combination of signal light and reference light, and a fourth combination of signal light and reference light respectively, a light receiving unit in which the first to fourth combinations of signal light and reference light are respectively received by first to fourth light receiving elements, and a reproduction unit that reproduces the recording signals of the land and the groove on the basis of first to fourth light receiving signals.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an insulator which can suppress quenching between fluorescent dyes and enhance fluorescence intensity. The present invention provides, in order to achieve this object, an insulator which contains a ring entity of nonplanar structure and suppresses reduction in fluorescence intensity of one or two or more fluorescent labels adjacent to the insulator.

Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium, including a plurality of tracks on each of which small record carriers are arranged in a wobbling manner, each of the small record carriers storing a recording state by modulation according to light irradiation, wherein the tracks are arranged adjacent to each other in a tracking direction which is a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the tracks, and there is a reflectance difference between a forming portion and a non-forming portion of the small record carrier in both of a recording state and a non-recording state of the small record carrier.

Abstract: Provided is an optical recording medium, including a recording target track that is a track on which small record carriers are arranged and on which information recording is performed by modulating the small record carriers through light irradiation; and a wobbling track on which the small record carriers are arranged in a wobbling manner, wherein a single wobbling track is formed to run parallel to a set of a plurality of recording target tracks.

Abstract: An objective lens includes as a front lens disposed on the most objective side: a front lens configured to have a laminated structure wherein a first thin film of which the permittivity is negative, and a second thin film of which the permittivity is positive are mutually laminated, and also the films are formed so as to have a rectangular shape protruding on a side to which light from a light source is input, as a cross-sectional shape thereof.

Abstract: An objective lens includes: a solid immersion lens having a super-hemispherical or hemispherical shape, wherein a hyper-lens portion is formed in a part of an object-side surface of the solid immersion lens and integrated therewith by alternately stacking a first thin film having a positive dielectric constant and a second thin film having a negative dielectric constant along spherical shapes starting from a spherical shape having a radius Ri around a predetermined reference point Pr set outside the object-side surface of the solid immersion lens to a spherical surface having a radius Ro (Ro>Ri) around the reference point Pr.

Abstract: A signal detecting device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a near-field light generating section that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and generates near-field light near an interface with the semiconductor substrate; a light source that outputs light having wavelength corresponding to photon energy about a half as large as band-gap energy of a material of the semiconductor substrate; and a current detecting unit that detects a photocurrent generated in the semiconductor substrate when the near-field light is generated.

Abstract: A signal detecting device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a near-field light generating section that is provided on the semiconductor substrate and generates near-field light near an interface with the semiconductor substrate; a light source that outputs light having wavelength corresponding to photon energy about a half as large as band-gap energy of a material of the semiconductor substrate; and a current detecting unit that detects a photocurrent generated in the semiconductor substrate when the near-field light is generated.

Abstract: Under the condition that a semiconductor maker and a photomask maker are separated but these are mutually connected with a communication line, the semiconductor maker gives a photomask fabrication schedule information to the photomask maker via the communication line, while the photomask maker fabricates the photomask depending on such fabrication schedule information and delivers the photomask to the semiconductor maker. The photomask maker periodically sends, in the course of fabrication process, a photomask fabrication progress information to the semiconductor maker via the communication line. The semiconductor maker regenerates the photomask fabrication schedule information depending on the photomask fabrication progress information sent from the photomask maker and then transfers the re-generated photomask fabrication schedule information to the photomask maker via the communication line.

Abstract: Under the condition that a semiconductor maker and a photomask maker are separated but these are mutually connected with a communication line, the semiconductor maker gives a photomask fabrication schedule information to the photomaskmaker via the communication line, while the photomask maker fabricates the photomask depending on such fabrication schedule information and delivers the photomask to the semiconductor maker. The photomask maker periodically sends, in the course of fabrication process, a photomask fabrication progress information to the semiconductor maker via the communication line. The semiconductor maker regenerates the photomask fabrication schedule information depending on the photomask fabrication progress information sent from the photomask maker and then transfers the re-generated photomask fabrication schedule information to the photomask maker via the communication line.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymer, comprises a dense layer existing in the inner surface and a porous layer existing in the layer other than the dense layer, wherein the hollow fiber membrane has a porosity of 60 to 90%, an overall mass transfer coefficient for myoglobin in a water-based system of not less than 0.003 cm/min., and a rejection rate for albumin in a bovine blood system of not less than 97%. The EVA hollow fiber membrane is useful for hemopurification membranes such as hemodialysis membranes, hemodiafiltration membranes, hemofiltration membranes and continuous hemofiltration membranes, and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane made of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol polymer, comprising a dense layer existing in the inner surface and a porous layer existing in the layer other than the dense layer, wherein the hollow fiber membrane has a porosity of 60 to 90%, an overall mass transfer coefficient for myoglobin in a water-based system of not less than 0.003 cm/min., and a rejection rate for albumin in a bovine blood system of not less than 97%. The EVA hollow fiber membrane is useful for hemopurification membranes such as hemodialysis membranes, hemodiafiltration membranes, hemofiltration membranes and continuous hemofiltration membranes, and a process for producing the same.

Abstract: An off-line automatic viscosity measuring apparatus, which can execute viscosity measurement of a plurality of specimens while automatically replacing rotors, is provided. The off-line automatic viscosity measuring apparatus according to the invention has: a detachable rotor 7; a viscosity detection head 33 for executing viscosity measurement with the rotor 7 connected thereto; a detection head moving mechanism 34 for moving the viscosity detection head 33 up and down and left and right; a separation aid mechanism 50 for aiding in separation of the rotor 7 and the viscosity detection head 33; and a rotor magazine mechanism 40 for holding a plurality of rotors 7. The viscosity detection head 33 has a bottom end formed with a detection head attaching/detaching part for accepting the rotor 7. The rotor 7 has a top end formed with a rotor side attaching/detaching part being inserted into the detection head attaching/detaching part for connecting the rotor 7 and the viscosity detection head 33.

Abstract: A rotary viscometer has a control mode for measuring the viscosity of a liquid sample with a high viscosity or a high yield value in an ultra-low shear rate range using a spring relaxation method. In this rotary viscometer, a pivot protecting device attains a locked state in which a pivot is separated from a bearing and a rotor shaft is locked against the rotation therein, a released state in which the lock of the rotor shaft is released while the pivot is in contact with the bearing, and a latched state disposed therebetween, in which the rotation of the rotor shaft is locked and the pivot is in contact with the bearing. Responding to user's instructions, a control device controls a locking motor to bring the pivot protecting device to a designated state, and controls a rotational driving motor in accordance with the state. For the spring relaxation measurement, the control device controls so that the spring is wound up while the pivot protecting device is in the latched state.

Abstract: A rotary viscosimeter has a control mode for measuring the viscosity of a liquid by a spring relaxation method and a control mode for measuring the viscosity by rotating a rotor 6a at a constant speed. In this rotary viscosimeter, a driving power is transmitted from a driving power source to a rotor shaft 5b via a spring 4a for rotating the rotor 6a. The rotor shaft 5b is supported on a pivot 11 and a bearing 12. When the viscosity is measured by the spring relaxation method, locking of the rotor shaft 5b is released after the spring 4a is biased while the rotor shaft 5b has been locked. When measurement of the viscosity is performed by rotating the rotor 6a at a constant speed, the rotor 6a is rotated while the locking of the rotor shaft 5b is released. When measurement is not being performed, the rotor shaft 5b is locked and the pivot 11 is separated from the bearing 12.

Abstract: A rotary viscosimeter includes a rotor driven to rotate in a liquid, the viscosity of which is to be measured. A first drive shaft or rotor shaft supports the rotor and transmits a rotary driving force to the rotor. A rotary driving apparatus has a motor for driving the rotor with an output shaft for supplying the driving force. A second drive shaft transmits the drive force from the motor to the rotor shaft. A first link elastically links the output shaft of the motor with the second drive shaft to transmit the driving force therebetween. A support includes a pivot and a bearing for rotatably supporting the motor shaft and second link which by-passes the support for linking the rotor shaft with the second shaft. A detector senses the angular displacement between the output shaft and the rotor shaft. A pivot protector has a locking mechanism for locking the rotor shaft from rotating and for disengaging the lock. A pivot separating mechanism separates and engages the pivot and the bearing of the support.

Abstract: An automatic weld flaw detector comprises a comparator for comparing the height of an echo from a detected flaw upon movement of a probe over each unit distance with a maximum echo height already known, a counting circuit adapted to work in response to the comparing action of the comparator so as to determine the distance the probe has covered, a device adapted to be actuated by the output from the comparator thereby to memorize separately the maximum value of echo height and the output at that moment from the counting circuit, and a recorder connected to the memorizing device.