Abstract: A method for storing solar thermal energy includes: acquiring solar thermal energy, performing a reaction to produce hydrogen from water by using a part of the acquired solar thermal energy, and performing a reaction to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen and the obtained hydrogen by using another part of the acquired solar thermal energy.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for estimating by a computer a relationship between geometric distortion of an element used for approximately representing the shape of an object to be analyzed by a finite element method, and an analysis error which occurs, due to the geometric distortion of the element, in analysis results of the object by the finite element method. The process includes: assuming at least one deformation mode occurring in the element upon deformation of the object, in the form of at least one of tension, bending, shear, and torsion; and estimating the analysis error associated with the geometric distortion, for each of the at least one assumed deformation mode.

Abstract: A method of supporting a user in mechanically analyzing a performance of an object, including the steps of: graphically displaying a generalized model which is constructed as a numerical analysis model for the object such that the generalized model has been generalized with respect to at least configuration of the object, and has been specialized with respect to a function of the object; displaying an item for letting the user enter data in order to define a specialized model which is constructed as a numerical analysis model for the object by specializing the displayed generalized model with respect to the at least configuration thereof; and mechanically analyzing the performance of the object, on the basis of the specialized model defined, a numerical analysis approach predetermined in correspondence with the function of the object, and a numerical analysis condition.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for estimating by a computer a relationship between geometric distortion of an element used for approximately representing the shape of an object to be analyzed by a finite element method, and an analysis error which occurs, due to the geometric distortion of the element, in analysis results of the object by the finite element method. The process includes: assuming at least one deformation mode occurring in the element upon deformation of the object, in the form of at least one of tension, bending, shear, and torsion; and estimating the analysis error associated with the geometric distortion, for each of the at least one assumed deformation mode.

Abstract: The design domain of an object to be designed is discretized by a plurality of nodes (10), and adjacent nodes and non-adjacent nodes are connected by beam elements (12). Optimization is performed on a design model constructed from the nodes (10) and beam elements (12), to obtain an initial design shape. When maximizing stiffness, the sensitivity of the stiffness matrix is determined, the cross sectional area of the beam elements with high sensitivity is increased, and the cross sectional area of the beam elements with low sensitivity is either reduced or set to zero so that low sensitivity beam elements are substantially removed. By constructing the design model using a plurality of beam elements, a reasonable shape satisfying the boundary condition can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of supporting a user in mechanically analyzing a performance of an object, including the steps of: graphically displaying a generalized model which is constructed as a numerical analysis model for the object such that the generalized model has been generalized with respect to at least configuration of the object, and has been specialized with respect to a function of the object; displaying an item for letting the user enter data in order to define a specialized model which is constructed as a numerical analysis model for the object by specializing the displayed generalized model with respect to the at least configuration thereof; and mechanically analyzing the performance of the object, on the basis of the specialized model defined, a numerical analysis approach predetermined in correspondence with the function of the object, and a numerical analysis condition.

Abstract: A motion converting device includes a plurality of branched elements. Each branched element includes a base beam, an intermediate beam, and a coupling beam. The base beam is elastically deformable, and one end of the base beam is fixed such that the base beam is slanted with respect to a base. The intermediate beam is also elastically deformable, and one end of the intermediate beam is fixed to the base beam at a position which is offset from a central portion of the base beam towards another end of the base beam. The coupling beam is likewise elastically deformable, and one end of the coupling beam is fixed to the same position as the intermediate beam. At each of the branched elements, the other end of the base beam is fixed to another end of an intermediate beam of another branched element, such that the plurality of branched elements is disposed in a loop-like arrangement.

Abstract: A lens drive device for an optical information recording and/or reproducing head, which has a cylindrical lens holder for the support of an objective lens assembly and a tubular guide bearing receiving the lens holder for sliding and rotary motions in a direction parallel to and about the longitudinal axis of the lens holder. The device also has magnetic yokes positioned on respective sides of the guide bearing and each having tracking and focusing coils wound therearound. The lens holder has two permanent magnets embedded therein with their respective different poles exposed radially outwardly from a peripheral surface of the lens holder. The guide bearing has two windows defined therein at respective locations corresponding to the respective positions of the permanent magnets in the lens holder.

Abstract: From the start of descending of a disk-shaped recording medium in a direction of approaching an objective lens in the optical axis direction by a loading mechanism until it is set at a specified position with respect to a spindle motor, a DC current is supplied to an optical axis direction driving coil through an evading current feeding circuit in a direction for a movable part to depart from the disk-shaped recording medium, and the movable part is located at the remotest position from the disk-shaped recording medium due to an electromagnetic force generated by the DC current flowing in the optical axis direction driving coil and a permanent magnet, so that the disk-shaped recording medium and the objective lens will not collide against each other even if an objective lens with a short working distance is used.

Abstract: A tracking control apparatus of an optical signal recording/reproduction apparatus, records and reproduces a data signal by causing a light spot focused on an optical recording medium to trace data-recording tracks and then accesses the light spot to a desired track. The tracking control apparatus varies a tracking-servo target value in a direction of performing the track-jumping operation, and then, if the tracking error signal exceeds a predetermined position level, the tracking control apparatus repeatedly varies the polarity of the tracking error signal until the light spot eventually arrives at the target track subject to the track-jumping operation. By virtue of the structure mentioned above, the tracking control apparatus can stably perform the track-jumping operation even when external disturbances, such as vibration, occur in the servo system.

Abstract: An equalizer apparatus is applied to a DBF disk recording medium in which a sampling clock is reproduced from clock pits recorded on the disk recording medium. A fixed coefficient equalizer includes an analog to digital converter, a memory and a two-dimension equalizer. The fixed coefficient equalizer suppresses interference from adjacent tracks and reduces the error rate of the reproduced data caused by crosstalk even in the case of a narrow track pitch. Further, by adding to the equalizer a sign detector, a FIR low-pass filter and a coefficient control circuit to form a variable coefficient equalizer, interference fluctuation attributed to the linear recording density, recording power irregularity, light spot shape, tracking error, etc., can be automatically compensated to suppress the equalization error caused by such fluctuation. Further, using the variable coefficient equalizer, clocking timing errors and fluctuations can be automatically and efficiently compensated.

Abstract: A magneto-optical data recording and reproducing device for storing data in a data memory medium which applies modulation to a plane of polarization, erasing data therefrom and reproducing data stored therein, comprises a light source for emitting a light beam with linear polarization, a light spot forming means for condensing the light beam emitted from the light source and forming a light spot on the data memory medium, a beam splitting means, located between the light source and the light spot forming means, to which reflected light beams from the data memory medium are applied and splitted, a beam detecting prism, to which light beams splitted by the beam splitting means are applied, providing the polarizing function that a predetermined first pencil of light beam with linear polarization is reflected while a second pencil of light beam with linear polarization crossing the first pencil at right angles is transmitted, a beam splitting prism, being located near or adhered to the beam detecting prism, for s

Abstract: An optical head equipped with a tracking error detector to obtain a tracking error signal for tracking servo. The detector includes a photodetector having a light-detecting region on which a light spot with a predetermined diameter is formed by a reflected light beam from a recording medium. The region is divided by a first division line into two which are further divided by second and third division lines so as to form first to fourth subregions, the first and second subregions being adjacent to each other with the first division line being interposed therebetween, the third subregion being adjacent to the first subregion, and the fourth subregion being adjacent to the second subregion. The separation between the second and third division lines is determined so that the sum of the light receiving quantities of the first and fourth subregions is substantially equal to the sum of the light receiving quantities of the second and third subregions when the objective lens is shifted from its neutral position.

Abstract: An optical head and supporting apparatus has an optical head for irradiating a parallel beam in a direction perpendicular to a recording surface of an optical disk, an objective lens rigidly mounted on the optical head for receiving the parallel beam from the optical head, tracking drive coils for driving the optical head over the whole recording range in a first direction transverse to the recording tracks of the optical disk, focusing drive coils for driving the optical head in a second direction perpendicular to the recording surface of the optical disk, and a support mechanism made of wire-shaped elastic bodies for supporting the optical head freely movably in the first and second directions over the whole recording range in the first direction of the optical head. The support mechanism is fixedly mounted through elastic bodies on a part of a structural body independent of movement of the optical head.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes an optical head for providing a light spot for recording, reproducing and erasing of a magneto-optical disc, a magnetic head which is disposed at a position opposing the optical head with the magneto-optical disc therebetween and which provides a magnetic field for recording and erasing while maintaining a substantially constant distance from the magneto-optical disc by effecting a lift obtained by an air flow generated by the rotation of the disc, a loadbeam which has the magnetic head on its one end and serves to provide a force caused by elastic deformation to the magnetic head to thereby be balanced with the lift thus obtained, and a moving mechanism connected to the loadbeam. Approaching or evading the magnetic head to or from the magneto-optical disc can be realized by deforming the moving mechanism.

Abstract: A signal recording/reproducing apparatus equipped with a recording head section for recording signals on a recording medium and a reproducing head section for reproducing the signals recorded on the recording medium. The recording head section is arranged to record the signal to form N recording sub-tracks on the recording medium and the reproducing head section has M reproducing sub-heads which trace the N recording sub-tracks to reproduce the recording signal. The pitch of the M sub-heads thereof is equal to a pitch of the recording sub-tracks and the number M of the sub-heads is greater than the number N of the recording sub-tracks. The reproducing head section is coupled to a reproduction signal detecting section which is turn eliminates the interference and the crosstalk between adjacent tracks from the reproduced signal due to the reproducing head section.

Abstract: A data demodulation apparatus applicable to a playback input signal from a digital recording apparatus, which executes A/D conversion of the input signal with a sampling period that is equal to the bit separation of that signal, and obtains phase data for reproducing the phase of the clock signal component of the input signal each time that a "1" state bit is detected in a sampling period. For each sampling period, or set of successive sampling periods, data values are derived which respectively represent a number of bit positions of the input signal within that period and the presence or absence of "1" state bits in the period, and these data values are converted to serial form to respectively constitute a reproduced clock signal and a detected data signal.

Abstract: An objective lens actuator is provided which is equipped with an actuating mechanism for actuating an objective lens mounted on a lens holder of an apparatus adapted to write or read information into or from a recording medium. The actuator moves the lens and its holder in two directions, one direction being substantially parallel to a surface of the recording medium such that the objective lens makes turning motion about a pivot axis oriented substantially normal to the surface of the recording medium and the other direction being vertical, with the lens and holder sliding vertically relative to the pivot axis. The actuator is equipped with at least one parallel driving coil for driving the movable section in the parallel direction and with at least one parallel driving magnetic circuit for imparting a magnetic flux to the parallel driving magnetic circuit.

Abstract: According to the invention, a milk protein product is provided. The milk protein product has water-dispersible and hydrophilic properties and contains substantially no serum. The milk protein product is obtained by coagulating milk under a flowing condition at a predertermined pH-temperature range to obtain a coagulum and then separating the coagulum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal printer which comprises a thermal head mounted on a carriage and movable relative to a platen having recording paper wound partially therearound, and a carriage guide plate carrying the carriage, and pivoted so as to separate the thermal head from the platen. A cam mechanism is provided for pivoting the carriage guide plate, and a cam operation mechanism driven by the motor is provided for operating the cam mechanism.