Abstract: Solely lightwaves required to be wavelength converted are filtered out from the input broadband WDM lightwaves and are wavelength converted by use of FWM. Not only the broadband simultaneous wavelength conversion that is studied by many researchers, but also more flexible, sub-band wavelength conversion is realized. Frequency interval of the input WDM lightwaves is broadened or reduced in comparison of the frequency interval of the WDM lightwaves inputted to the wavelength converter. The frequency interval variation techniques using the wavelength converter, it can be realized to transfer from a transmission line less influenced by inter-channel crosstalk due to FWM to the different transmission lines strongly influenced by inter-channel crosstalk due to FWM, and vice versa.

Abstract: A stapling device for automatically binding a set of sheets is formed of a needle driving unit for driving a needle in the set of the sheets; a bending unit for bending the driven needle; two pairs of front and rear guide shafts for supporting the needle driving unit and the bending unit and guiding movements of these units in a sheet width direction; and moving shafts for moving these units along the guide shafts in the sheet width direction. By disposing each moving shaft between the front and rear guide shafts, each unit can be moved in the sheet width direction stably and smoothly, and the entire device can be structured small. Also, in at least one of the units, a small space is formed for a moving mechanism for at least one of needle driving device and bending device in a sheet thickness direction, to thereby achieve a further miniaturization of the entire device.

Abstract: First and second optical fibers are opposed to each other, between which first and second lenses constituting a lens system having an optical axis coincident with those of the optical fibers are arranged with a gap therebetween in the direction of the optical axis. The actuators, ect are used to move the first and second lenses with electrostatic forces, in opposite directions along the optical axes of the optical fibers by the same amount at the same time. Thereby, the spot size of the light incident on the optical fiber on the reception side is changed while maintaining the light propagating between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber point-symmetric in mode field shape. This changes the coupling efficiency between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, allowing an adjustment in light power.

Abstract: A coil component is provided which includes a pot core having a bottom in which through holes are formed, a composite coil retained in the pot core, and a cover core joined to the rim of the pot core. The coil has terminals inserted in the through holes to such an extent that the lower ends thereof do not protrude beyond the bottom, the bottom having membrane external electrodes formed on the outer surface thereof and connected with the terminals. The composite coil comprises an inner coil wound around an inner leg of the pot core and an outer coil wound around the inner coil with a gap formed between the inner and outer coils so as to make larger the length of the outer coil than the case where the outer coil is directly wound around the inner coil.

Abstract: The silicon substrate is masked on one surface of the silicon substrate where structures like combs and beams of comb drive are not to be formed on the other surface. The unmasked areas are then etched followed by masking areas on the other surface corresponding to the structures. Finally, the unmasked areas on the other surface are again etched by anisotropic reactive ion etching to form the structures.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a head portion for driving a staple into a sheet bundle and having a base portion and an attachment portion detachable from the base portion; an anvil portion arranged to face the head portion for receiving and bending the staple driven from the head portion; a head portion support member for engaging and supporting the base portion of the head portion; and an anvil portion support member for supporting the anvil portion. A moving device relatively moves the head portion, the anvil portion and the sheet bundle along surfaces of the sheet bundle placed at a stitching position between the head portion and the anvil portion.

Abstract: The invention comprises three parts: The first parts provides a miniaturized functional optical module, which is provided with a lens-exchange type collimator enabling rapid and easy exchange of an optical functional component and/or lenses and being compact in size and excellent in durability.

Abstract: In a moving sidewalk comprising loading-unloading belts and one or more of accelerating-decelerating belt(s) independently provided in front and in the rear of the main circulating belt, wherein the traveling speed of the loading-unloading belt and of the accelerating-decelerating belt are determined to decrease with the decreasing distance to the entrance and the exit thereof, and thus to increase with the decreasing distance to the main circulating belt, and the traveling speed of the main circulating belt is faster than both of these belts, the speeds of the belts adjacent with each other are determined so that the difference between squares of the speeds of these belts does not exceed the prescribed value in order to give no feeling of fear to the passenger.

Abstract: An approach for performing fault recovery in an optical communications network is disclosed. An optical switch is connected to working optical fibers and protection optical fibers, which carry WDM (wave division multiplexing) optical signals. The optical switches possess functionality to switch over the optical signals among the working optical fibers and the protection optical fibers. The optical switch includes dual unit optical switches that have a common driving mechanism. The common driving mechanism is configured to perform simultaneously switching operation of the unit optical switches to alter a switching state of the optical switch. Monitoring devices are distributed throughout the node to monitor the transmitted optical signals over the optical fibers, and to output monitoring signals that indicate one or more faults in these optical fibers. In response to the monitoring signals, a control device outputs control signals to the optical switches to effect an optical protection scheme.

Abstract: A coil component is provided which includes a pot core having a bottom in which through holes are formed, a composite coil retained in the pot core, and a cover core joined to the rim of the pot core. The coil has terminals inserted in the through holes to such an extent that the lower ends thereof do not protrude beyond the bottom, the bottom having membrane external electrodes formed on the outer surface thereof and connected with the terminals. The composite coil comprises an inner coil wound around an inner leg of the pot core and an outer coil wound around the inner coil with a gap formed between the inner and outer coils so as to make larger the length of the outer coil than the case where the outer coil is directly wound around the inner coil.

Abstract: An optical attenuator has first and second lenses provided individually on the respective end faces of first and second optical fibers that are opposed to each other across a space, and a shutter plate interposed between the lenses. The distance between the shutter plate and the second lens and a mode-field radius of propagating light on the second-lens-side surface of the shutter plate are set so that the respective signs of the real and imaginary parts of an evaluation function, representing a diffraction pattern of the propagating light that propagates from the first optical fiber to the second optical fiber, are inverted 60 times or more when a variable of the evaluation function is changed within an evaluation range.

Abstract: First and second optical fibers are opposed to each other, between which first and second lenses constituting a lens system having an optical axis coincident with those of the optical fibers are arranged with a gap therebetween in the direction of the optical axis. The actuators. ect are used to move the first and second lenses with electrostatic forces, in opposite directions along the optical axes of the optical fibers by the same amount at the same time. Thereby, the spot size of the light incident on the optical fiber on the reception side is changed while maintaining the light propagating between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber point-symmetric in mode field shape. This changes the coupling efficiency between the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, allowing an adjustment in light power.

Abstract: An variable optical attenuator according to the present invention has: a first optical fiber for emitting a light beam; a first lens for passing the light beam from the first optical fiber while diffusing the light beam; a second lens for focusing part of the diffused light beam; a second optical fiber for transmitting the focused light beam; and actuator for adjusting the optical path length between the first and second lenses.

Abstract: An optical attenuator (8) has a substrate (glass substrate) (1) and an optical attenuation film (2) that attenuates an input light with a predetermined optical attenuation factor, and the optical attenuation film (2) is disposed on a light input face (3) of the substrate (1). An angle defined by the light input face (3) and the light output face (4) of the substrate (1) is set to 0.15° to 0.5°. A protective film (5) for preventing the deterioration of the optical attenuation film (2) is formed on a surface of the optical attenuation film (2).

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator comprising one or more sheets of shutter plates provided between optical components arranged at opposite positions with a space therebetween and capable of shuttering al least one of light propagating between the optical components and a moving device for moving the shutter plate in a direction crossing a light path for the light. An edge section of said at least one shutter plate has a form adapted to reduction of the dependency of an optical attenuation rate on a wavelength.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a head portion for driving a staple into a sheet bundle and having a base portion and an attachment portion detachable from the base portion; an anvil portion arranged to face the head portion for receiving and bending the staple driven from the head portion; a head portion support member for engaging and supporting the base portion of the head portion; and an anvil portion support member for supporting the anvil portion. A moving device relatively moves the head portion, the anvil portion and the sheet bundle along surfaces of the sheet bundle placed at a stitching position between the head portion and the anvil portion.

Abstract: A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a head portion for driving a staple into a sheet bundle; an anvil portion opposingly arranged to the head portion for receiving and bending the staple driven from the head portion; a feeding device for feeding the sheet bundle between the head portion and the anvil portion; a guide member positioned between the head portion and the anvil portion for guiding the sheet bundle; and an auxiliary guide member disposed on an upstream side of the guide member in a sheet bundle feed direction of the sheet bundle fed by the feeding device. The auxiliary guide member leads the sheet bundle to the guide member without touching a leading edge of the sheet bundle fed by the feeding device on an upstream edge of the guide member in a sheet bundle feed direction.

Abstract: A common mode filter includes a drum-shaped core 1 with a winding 2 and a plate-like core fixed to flanges 1b to form a closed magnetic path. Concave portions 4a are formed in at least one of facing potions of both cores to provide gaps between the flanges 1b of the drum-shaped core and the plate-like core 4. A plurality of electrodes 3 each of which is successive over a upper surface, end face and lower surface of each flange are provided at portions corresponding to the gaps in each flange 1b. A plurality of windings 2 are wound around the winding core 1a so that both ends of each of the plurality of windings are electrically connected and secured to the portions of the electrodes on the upper surface of each of the flanges, respectively, by conductive fixing agent. The drum-shaped core 1 and the plate-like core 4 are fixed to each other by an adhesive 5.

Abstract: A moving walk for effecting transport in a longitudinal direction includes a series of belt modules with modules at a center portion running at a higher rate than modules at exit ends. Among the belt modules are at least first and second belt modules, each having a first end and a second end, a endless belt extending from the first end to the second end, and a drive circulating the endless belt. The first and second belt modules are disposed adjacent one another in the longitudinal direction with the second end of the first belt module opposing the first end of the second belt module. The second end of the first belt module is disposed higher that the first end of the second belt module when a passenger is transported from the first belt module to the second belt module to facilitate transition from module to module.

Abstract: A stapling device for automatically binding a set of sheets is formed of a needle driving unit for driving a needle in the set of the sheets; a bending unit for bending the driven needle; two pairs of front and rear guide shafts for supporting the needle driving unit and the bending unit and guiding movements of these units in a sheet width direction; and moving shafts for moving these units along the guide shafts in the sheet width direction. By disposing each moving shaft between the front and rear guide shafts, each unit can be moved in the sheet width direction stably and smoothly, and the entire device can be structured small. Also, in at least one of the units, a small space is formed for a moving mechanism for at least one of needle driving device and bending device in a sheet thickness direction, to thereby achieve a further miniaturization of the entire device.