Abstract: A blood cell counter comprises a stirrer which stirs a whole blood sample in a sample container by moving the sample container, an aspirator which aspirates the whole blood sample by penetrating a lid of the sample container with an aspiration tube after stirring by the stirrer, a detector which counts the blood cells in the whole blood sample aspirated by the aspirator, and a force applying member which applies a force to the sample container in an upright state after stirring by the stirrer so as to remove the whole blood sample from the lid of the sample container.

Abstract: In an optical element integrated module, first through n-th optical data signals are externally input to first ports of first through n-th optical circulators and are input to first through n-th optical/optical converters via second ports. The first through n-th optical/optical converters modulate first through n-th optical short pulse trains in accordance with the first through n-th optical data signals. First through n-th modulated optical data signals are input to the second ports of the first through n-th optical circulators and are input to an optical time division multiplexing section. The optical time division multiplexing section generates optical time division multiplexed signals by time division multiplexing the first through n-th modulated optical data signals.

Abstract: A particle image analyzer provided with an image processor for executing predetermined image processes on a particle image containing an image of a particle, a reading means for reading test result data from a flash memory card on which are previously recorded test result data equivalent to the processing result of the image processor during normal operation, and a testing means for determining whether or not the image processor is operating normally by comparing the processing result obtained when the test image is used in the image processor, and test result data read from the flash memory card by the reading means.

Abstract: A particle image analyzing apparatus for analyzing an image of an imaged particle, the particle image analyzing apparatus comprising: an illuminating unit for providing dark field illumination the a particle; an imaging unit for acquiring capturing an imaged image by imaging the dark field illuminated particle; and an image processing unit for extracting a particle image from the imaged image captured by the imaging unit, based on a threshold value larger than a luminance value substantially corresponding to the background of the particle image, and analyzing the extracted particle image to obtain morphological feature information indicating the morphological feature of the particle; wherein the image processing unit extracts the particle image from the imaged image based on a threshold value larger than a luminance value substantially corresponding to the background of the particle image.

Abstract: A coating composition including of a (meth)acrylic resin (A) containing a hydroxyl group and a polyisocyanate compound (B) containing a plurality of isocyanate groups. The (meth)acrylic resin (A) is obtained by copolymerizing a monomer mixture essentially containing a polycaprolactone-modified hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate and a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate. The coating composition is characterized in that the hydroxyl group in the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate is a primary hydroxyl group and the hydroxyl number of the (meth)acrylic resin (A) is 125-145.

Abstract: In an optical element integrated module, first through n-th optical data signals are externally input to first ports of first through n-th optical circulators and are input to first through n-th optical/optical converters via second ports. The first through n-th optical/optical converters modulate first through n-th optical short pulse trains in accordance with the first through n-th optical data signals. First through n-th modulated optical data signals are input to the second ports of the first through n-th optical circulators and are input to an optical time division multiplexing section. The optical time division multiplexing section generates optical time division multiplexed signals by time division multiplexing the first through n-th modulated optical data signals.

Abstract: A particle image analyzing apparatus for analyzing an image of an imaged particle, the particle image analyzing apparatus comprising: an illuminating unit for providing dark field illumination the a particle; an imaging unit for acquiring capturing an imaged image by imaging the dark field illuminated particle; and an image processing unit for extracting a particle image from the imaged image captured by the imaging unit, based on a threshold value larger than a luminance value substantially corresponding to the background of the particle image, and analyzing the extracted particle image to obtain morphological feature information indicating the morphological feature of the particle; wherein the image processing unit extracts the particle image from the imaged image based on a threshold value larger than a luminance value substantially corresponding to the background of the particle image.

Abstract: An optical time-division multiplexer branches input light into a plurality of optical paths with different optical lengths. At least one path includes a section of optical fiber with an optical length that is adjustable by physical stretching. The input light is separately modulated on each optical path, and the modulated light signals are recombined into a multiplexed output light signal. Adjustment of the optical length of the optical fiber can compensate for changes in input wavelength and adjust the phase of successive pulses in the multiplexed output signal to provide a ?-radian shift that enables long-haul optical transmission.

Abstract: A particle image analyzer provided with an image processor for executing predetermined image processes on a particle image containing an image of a particle, a reading means for reading test result data from a flash memory card on which are previously recorded test result data equivalent to the processing result of the image processor during normal operation, and a testing means for determining whether or not the image processor is operating normally by comparing the processing result obtained when the test image is used in the image processor, and test result data read from the flash memory card by the reading means.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical modulator having an electroabsorptive layer and a pair of modulating voltage electrodes also has a direct-current voltage electrode, from which an unmodulated electric field can be applied to the electroabsorptive layer to adjust the output optical power level. The output optical power level can thus be adjusted without the need for an external attenuator, and without shifting the modulating voltage away from the part of the extinction ratio characteristic having the best linearity. An optical multiplexing module using semiconductor optical modulators of this type can generate a multiplexed output signal with a uniform optical power level simply by controlling the direct-current voltages applied to the semiconductor optical modulators.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical modulator having an electroabsorptive layer and a pair of modulating voltage electrodes also has a direct-current voltage electrode, from which an unmodulated electric field can be applied to the electroabsorptive layer to adjust the output optical power level. The output optical power level can thus be adjusted without the need for an external attenuator, and without shifting the modulating voltage away from the part of the extinction ratio characteristic having the best linearity. An optical multiplexing module using semiconductor optical modulators of this type can generate a multiplexed output signal with a uniform optical power level simply by controlling the direct-current voltages applied to the semiconductor optical modulators.

Abstract: An optical time-division multiplexer branches input light into a plurality of optical paths with different optical lengths. At least one path includes a section of optical fiber with an optical length that is adjustable by, for example, physical stretching. The input light is separately modulated on each optical path, and the modulated light signals are recombined into a multiplexed output light signal. Adjustment of the optical length of the optical fiber can compensate for changes in input wavelength and adjust the phase of successive pulses in the multiplexed output signal to provide a &pgr;-radian shift that enables long-haul optical transmission.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved optical amplifier, which comprises a rare earth doped optical fiber for amplifying the optical signal, at least one pump laser for providing a pump signal to the rare earth doped optical fiber, a wavelength division multiplexer for extracting a backward amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) signal in the C-band wavelength (1525-1565 nm) differ from the L-band wavelength (1565-1610 nm) containing the optical signal to be transmitted, a gain controller for controlling a power level of the pump signal based on a received power of the backward ASE signal.

Abstract: An optical device capable of detecting the intensity and wavelength of light from a light source with a high level of precision, and an optical module incorporating the optical device. The optical device has a planar lightwave circuit having a Y-branched core, a silicon substrate, a filter block, an optical fiber, and a first and a second photodiode. The end portion on the input side of the core is connected to the optical fiber. One end portion on the output side of the core is connected to the filter block, and the other on the same side is to the second photodiode. The light is divided at a predetermined ratio at the Y-branching portion. One of the branched light is sent through the filter block to be input to the first photodiode, and the other branched light is directly input to the second photodiode.

Abstract: An alignment system finds the coordinates of a first point on a photosensitive optical fiber by scanning an ultraviolet beam across the fiber several times at successively decreasing speeds and detecting light returned from the fiber. The coordinates of a second point on the fiber are found similarly. On the basis of the coordinates of the first and second points, the alignment system automatically aligns the fiber in a direction suitable for the formation of an optical filter in the fiber.

Abstract: An alignment system finds the coordinates of a first point on a photosensitive optical fiber by scanning an ultraviolet beam across the fiber several times at successively decreasing speeds and detecting light returned from the fiber. The coordinates of a second point on the fiber are found similarly. On the basis of the coordinates of the first and second points, the alignment system automatically aligns the fiber in a direction suitable for the formation of an optical filter in the fiber.

Abstract: A gas discharge panel with a plurality of electrically conductive oxide cathode electrodes and a plurality of anode electrodes that are arranged in a matrix in a sealed container. This electrically conductive oxide cathode electrode is formed using, for example, lanthanum chromite, lanthanum calcium chromite, alumina-doped zinc oxide, or antimony-doped tin oxide.

Abstract: A shampoo composition comprises an anionic surface active agent, amino acid-type anionic surface active agent, and an amphoteric surface active agent in a specified ratio therebetween. Cationic polymer compounds may optionally be incorporated. The shampoo composition has good detergency as well as foamability and is mild to the skin with good hair conditioning effects.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the preparation of a 2-alkyl-4-amino-5-aminomethylpyrimidine, which comprises subjecting a 2-alkyl-4-amino-5-formylpyrimidine to catalytic reaction with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a reduction catalyst.According to the process of this invention, the desired product can be obtained in much higher yield as compared with the processes known to the art.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 4-amino-5-dialkoxymethylpyrimidine derivative of the formula: ##STR1## which comprises reacting a propanenitrile derivative represented by the formula (I) or the novel compound represented by formula (II): ##STR2## with an amidine of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.6 are as defined in the specification. Also disclosed is a process for making the novel compounds of formula (II).