Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a stacked piezoelectric element with excellent durability, which exhibits an excellent piezoelectric performance irrespective of containing or not containing Pb in the ceramic layer, ensures sufficiently suppressed segregation of the electrically conducting base metal material in the ceramic layer and allows for no segregation of a strengthening substance itself.

Abstract: A fuel cell assembly has a housing defining an electricity generation/combustion chamber, and electricity generation/combustion means disposed within the housing. A fuel gas and an oxygen-containing gas are supplied to the electricity generation/combustion means, and a combustion gas formed within the electricity generation/combustion chamber is discharged from the electricity generation/combustion chamber. A heat exchanger having a first channel and a second channel is disposed on at least one surface of the housing, the combustion gas is discharged from the interior of the electricity generation/combustion chamber through the first channel of the heat exchanger, and one of the oxygen-containing gas and the fuel gas is supplied to the electricity generation/combustion means through the second channel of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An ignition system has an ignition circuit and an ion current detecting circuit. The ignition circuit has an ignition coil that has relatively low inductance of about less than 10 henries (H) because it is used in conjunction with a separate energy accumulating coil, and a driving circuit for a multi-spark ignition sequence. The ion current detecting circuit detects a second harmonic component of engine knock. The components of the system are designed so that the resonance frequency of an ion current path substantially coincides with the second harmonic frequency component, so that the Q-value of the ion current path is greater than 1. As a result, it is possible to improve knock detecting accuracy.

Abstract: In an engine ignition unit, a transistor and a current detecting resistor are connected to primary and secondary windings of an ignition coil, respectively. The current detecting resistor is used for detecting a current flowing between the opposing electrodes of spark plug. At an ignition by the spark plug, high-frequency square wave signals are generated by an oscillator after an ignition signal is cut off. The square wave signals turn on and off the transistor. By this operation, a battery voltage is intermittently applied to the primary winding and an ion current is measured. A frequency of the square wave signals is set close to a resonant frequency of an ion current path including the spark plug, the secondary winding of the ignition coil and the current detecting resistor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a projection exposure apparatus (10) for and method of imaging a reticle (R) having patterned surface onto a substrate (W) in photolithographic processes for manufacturing a variety of devices. The invention further relates to an optical system (C) having a folding member (M1) suited to the projection exposure apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the optical system. The projection exposure apparatus comprises an illumination optical system (IS) and a reticle stage (RS) capable of holding the reticle so the normal line to its patterned surface is in the direction of gravity. The apparatus also includes a substrate stage (WS) capable of holding the substrate with its surface normal parallel to the direction of gravity. The optical system includes a first imaging optical system (A) comprising a concave reflecting mirror and a dioptric optical member arranged along a first optical axis. The first imaging optical system (A) forms an intermediate image of the patterned surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a projection exposure apparatus (10) for and method of imaging a reticle (R) having patterned surface onto a substrate (W) in photolithographic processes for manufacturing a variety of devices. The invention further relates to an optical system (C) having a folding member (M1) suited to the projection exposure apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the optical system. The projection exposure apparatus comprises an illumination optical system (IS) and a reticle stage (RS) capable of holding the reticle so the normal line to its patterned surface is in the direction of gravity. The apparatus also includes a substrate stage (WS) capable of holding the substrate with its surface normal parallel to the direction of gravity. The optical system includes a first imaging optical system (A) comprising a concave reflecting mirror and a dioptric optical member arranged along a first optical axis. The first imaging optical system (A) forms an intermediate image of the patterned surface.

Abstract: A battery, an energy charge inductance, and a first transistor are connected in series in an ignition system. A primary winding and a second switching device are connected in series between the ground and a point between the energy charge inductance and the first switching device. A drive circuit switches periodically on and off the first switching device and the second switching device during multispark duration of the spark plug such that each switching device has a different switching status from each other. After the multispark duration, the drive circuit switches periodically on and off the second transistor with a short switching interval. The switching interval is set such that a relatively low voltage that almost causes a spark is impressed to the spark plug. An ion current detection is implemented by using this voltage as a power source.

Abstract: A projection exposure apparatus for transferring a pattern on a mask onto a substrate, including a projection optical system having a first reflection optical element for bending an optical axis, a first optical system arranged between the mask and the first reflection optical element, and a second optical system arranged between the first reflection optical element and the substrate; a frame for integrally supporting a first barrel for holding the first optical system and a second barrel for holding the second optical system, and a connecting member for connecting the first barrel and the second barrel at positions different from the frame.

Abstract: An ignition system with an ion current detecting circuit has an ignition circuit and an ion current detecting circuit. The ignition circuit has an ignition coil that has relatively low inductance about less than 10 henries (H), and a driving circuit for a multi-spark ignition sequence. The ion current detecting circuit detects a second harmonic component of the knock. The components of the system are designed so that a resonance frequency of an ion current path substantially coincide with the second harmonic frequency, and so that a Q-value of the ion current path is greater than 1. As a result, it is possible to improve a knock detecting accuracy.

Abstract: In an engine ignition unit, a transistor and a current detecting resistor are connected to primary and secondary windings of an ignition coil, respectively. The current detecting resistor is used for detecting a current flowing between the opposing electrodes of spark plug. At an ignition by the spark plug, high-frequency square wave signals are generated by an oscillator after an ignition signal is cut off. The square wave signals turn on and off the transistor. By this operation, a battery voltage is intermittently applied to the primary winding and an ion current is measured. A frequency of the square wave signals is set close to a resonant frequency of an ion current path including the spark plug, the secondary winding of the ignition coil and the current detecting resistor.

Abstract: A battery, an energy charge inductance, and a first transistor are connected in series in an ignition system. A primary winding and a second switching device are connected in series between the ground and a point between the energy charge inductance and the first switching device. A drive circuit switches periodically on and of f the first switching device and the second switching device during multispark duration of the spark plug such that each switching device has a different switching status from each other. After the multispark duration, the drive circuit switches periodically on and off the second transistor with a short switching interval. The switching interval is set such that a relatively low voltage that almost causes a spark is impressed to the spark plug. An ion current detection is implemented by using this voltage as a power source.

Abstract: To excellently grow flame kernel while lowering breakdown voltage, a bypass electrode comprising a semiconductor material is installed in a path bypassing an inductive spark gap between a center electrode and a ground electrode, and the center electrode and the ground electrode are electrically connected by the bypass electrode and capacitive discharge is carried out by applying breakdown voltage between the center electrode and the ground electrode via the bypass electrode, and thereafter, inductive discharge is carried out through the inductive spark gap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a projection exposure apparatus (10) for and method of imaging a reticle (R) having patterned surface onto a substrate (W) in photolithographic processes for manufacturing a variety of devices. The invention further relates to an optical system (C) having a folding member (M1) suited to the projection exposure apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the optical system. The projection exposure apparatus comprises an illumination optical system (IS) and a reticle stage (RS) capable of holding the reticle so the normal line to its patterned surface is in the direction of gravity. The apparatus also includes a substrate stage (WS) capable of holding the substrate with its surface normal parallel to the direction of gravity. The optical system includes a first imaging optical system (A) comprising a concave reflecting mirror and a dioptric optical member arranged along a first optical axis. The first imaging optical system (A) forms an intermediate image of the patterned surface.

Abstract: A holder improving the optical performance of a reflecting optical member in a projection optical system which projects an image of a pattern formed on a mask onto a photosensitive substrate, and an exposure apparatus having the holder. A support mechanism supports a back surface of the reflecting optical member, which is reverse to a reflecting surface thereof, at at least three points. The support points are positioned on a circumference away from the center of the reflecting surface by a distance at least 0.6 times the distance from the center of the reflecting surface to the outer periphery of the reflecting optical member such that the support points are circumferentially spaced along the circumference at equal intervals. Alternatively, a holding member supports the reflecting optical member and forms a closed chamber in combination with the reflecting optical member.

Abstract: In a radio telephone equipment which includes a portable radiotelephone (100) and a booster (400), an output from the portable radiotelephone (100) whose output level is set according to a level control signal transmitted from a base station is amplified with a preset amplification factor by an automatic gain control circuit (22) provided in the booster (400). As a result, since the amplification factor of the amplifier in the booster and the portable radiotelephone are independently controlled, the booster can be connected to even a portable radiotelephone which is designed without considering that it will be connected to the booster.

Abstract: The exposure projection apparatus includes an illumination system which illuminates a mask with a light beam, and a optical projection system which projects the image of a pattern formed on the mask onto a substrate. The optical projection system includes a first barrel which holds a plurality of optical elements, at least three second barrels, each holding at least one optical element disposed between the mask and the first barrel, so that the coma, astigmatism, and distortion of the optical projection system can be adjusted, and a first optical element which is disposed between the substrate and the first barrel so that either the spherical aberration or curvature of field of the optical projection system, or both, can be adjusted.

Abstract: Four specified lenses 22.sub.1 to 22.sub.4 of a plurality of lenses in a projection optical unit are subjected to special processing (astigmatic surface processing) so that asymmetric component aberration relative to an optical axis is generated. Each of the lenses 22.sub.1 to 22.sub.4 is held by each of secondary lens frames 20 set in each of primary lens frames 14. Each of the secondary lens frames 20 is constructed so that it can be rotated from the outside of a lens barrel 12. The asymmetric component aberration relative to the optical axis of an optical system comprising all lenses for constituting the projection optical unit 10 can be easily corrected by rotating a pair of two of the lenses 22 subjected to the astigmatic surface processing. The projection optical unit is used for a projection exposure apparatus.

Abstract: A rotor for an open-end spinning machine. A spinning portion of a bottomed cylindrical body has a hollow portion where twisted yarn is formed by a continuous twisting operation while gathering short fiber groups in the maximum diameter portion of the spinning chamber. A rotary shaft is joined to the spinning portion. The spinning portion is made of a silicon nitride sintered body which includes no less than 60% silicon nitride grain having an aspect ratio not less than 3, and an average grain size of from 0.1 to 10 .mu.m. The rotor is hardly damaged at a high speed rotation of 100,000 r.p.m. or more, and the yarn strength and the yarn quality are not reduced even after an extended use of the rotor for a long time.

Abstract: A projection type exposure apparatus is provided for illuminating a mask formed with a pattern with an illumination light having a predetermined wavelength area and forming an image of the pattern on a substrate through a projection optical system. This apparatus comprises a projection optical system incorporating a plurality of lens barrel units each housing one or more optical elements. Each lens barrel unit is so mounted in the projection optical system as to be attachable thereto and detachable therefrom.

Abstract: A lens barrel holding apparatus for fixing a lens barrel having at least one optical element. The apparatus fixes a lens barrel to a lens barrel holding bed. The lens barrel has a flange portion formed along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral portion of the lens barrel. The lens barrel holding bed has a cylindrical recess of a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion. The apparatus includes a plurality of bar-like first supporting members for coupling the bottom surface of the recess and the flange portion together. Also included is a second supporting member that has at least three bar members disposed on the upper part of the flange portion along the circumferential direction of the flange portion so as to surround the lens barrel. The at least three bar members are coupled to the flange portion and to the lens barrel holding bed.