Abstract: An optical connector includes a first engaging member holding at least one first optical fiber to guide light from a light source, a second engaging member holding a second optical fiber to be optically connected to the first optical fiber, and configured to be engaged with the first engaging member, and a light shield member provided near an emission end of the first optical fiber, at such a position as to shield light from the first optical fiber at disengagement of the engaging members. The light shield member is pushed by the second engaging member at engagement of the engaging members, so as to be folded and evacuated in a gap. The light shield member includes a light absorption member to absorb light and to generate heat, a thermal diffusion member to diffuse and radiate the heat, and a base supporting the light absorption member and thermal diffusion member.

Abstract: A shape sensor comprises a shape sensor main body which comprises an optical fiber capable, a detection object section, and a light detecting section to detect the detection light and which is capable of measuring a shape of a measurement target object by utilizing a change in characteristics of the light detected through the detection object section in accordance with a change in curvature of the optical fiber when the optical fiber curves; and a curving direction regulating section which is provided on at least a part of the optical fiber along an optical axis thereof and regulates a curvable direction of the optical fiber to a desired direction; wherein the curving direction regulating section is a core member which is disposed in at least a part of the shape sensor main body along the light propagating direction of the optical fiber and whose main curving direction is regulated.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first engaging member holding at least one first optical fiber to guide light from a light source, a second engaging member holding a second optical fiber to be optically connected to the first optical fiber, and configured to be engaged with the first engaging member, and a light shield member provided near an emission end of the first optical fiber, at such a position as to shield light from the first optical fiber at disengagement of the engaging members. The light shield member is pushed by the second engaging member at engagement of the engaging members, so as to be folded and evacuated in a gap. The light shield member includes a light absorption member to absorb light and to generate heat, a thermal diffusion member to diffuse and radiate the heat, and a base supporting the light absorption member and thermal diffusion member.

Abstract: A white light-emitting organic electroluminescent element includes at least four kinds of light-emitting dopants with different emission peak wavelengths which are present between a cathode and an anode. The four kinds of light-emitting dopants include a light-emitting dopant “A”, a light-emitting dopant “B”, a light-emitting dopant “C”, and a light-emitting dopant “D” having their own peak wavelengths which are longer in this order. The white light-emitting organic electroluminescent element has an emission spectrum which satisfies relations of: (first average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/first front luminance)>(second average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/second front luminance); and (third average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/third front luminance)>(fourth average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/fourth front luminance).

Abstract: The organic electroluminescence element includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a plurality of light emitting layers interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an interlayer-provided between the plurality of light emitting layers. The interlayer includes: a first layer-containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound; an alkali metal layer containing an alkali metal; a second layer containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound; and a hole injection layer containing an electron-accepting organic material. The first layer, the alkali metal layer, the second layer, and the hole injection layer are arranged in this order from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. The second layer is thicker than the alkali metal layer.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence element has a multi-unit structure which includes a first light-emitting unit, an intermediate layer and a second light-emitting unit. A light-emitting layer of the first light-emitting unit includes a blue light-emitting material. The second light-emitting unit has a stacked structure of light-emitting layers in which a red light-emitting layer including a red light-emitting material and a green light-emitting layer including a green light-emitting material are stacked. One of the red light-emitting layer and the green light-emitting layer is closer to the positive electrode than the other of the red light-emitting layer and the green light-emitting layer, and includes a hole-transporting material as a host material. The other of the red light-emitting layer and the green light-emitting layer is closer to the negative electrode than the one of the red light-emitting layer and the green light-emitting layer, and includes an electron-transporting material as a host material.

Abstract: An optical device includes, for example, an optical fiber that guides light, a first holding member that holds the optical fiber, an optical element that functions by the light guided by the optical fiber being irradiated, and a second holding member that holds the optical element. The optical device further includes an optically coupled member elastically deformed by one end portion of the first holding member and one end portion of the second holding member being inserted to optically couple the optical fiber and the optical element by being elastically deformed.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element in accordance with the present invention includes: a transparent electrode; a blue light-emitting layer containing a blue light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength 460 nm or less; a first green light-emitting layer containing a first green light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength in the spectrum between 460 nm and 610 nm; a red light-emitting layer containing a red light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength of 610 nm or more; a second green light-emitting layer containing a second green light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength in the spectrum between 460 nm and 610 nm; and a reflecting electrode. The maximum emission wavelength of the first green light-emitting material is located on a short wavelength side of the spectrum. The maximum emission wavelength of the second green light-emitting material is located on a long wavelength side of the spectrum.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element includes electrodes and organic light-emitting layers that are between the electrodes. The organic light-emitting layers contain at least three colors of luminescent materials. A first luminescent material has a maximum light emission wavelength within a range of 430 nm to 480 nm. A second luminescent material has a maximum light emission wavelength within a range of 510 nm to 610 nm. A third luminescent material has a maximum light emission wavelength within a range of 580 nm to 630 nm. An average value of average color rendering indexes in a wide angle region of 30° to 60° with respect to a front direction of a light emission surface is higher than an average color rendering index in the front direction.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescent element in accordance with the present invention includes: a transparent electrode; a blue light-emitting layer containing a blue light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength 460 nm or less; a first green light-emitting layer containing a first green light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength in the spectrum between 460 nm and 610 nm; a red light-emitting layer containing a red light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength of 610 nm or more; a second green light-emitting layer containing a second green light-emitting material having a maximum emission wavelength in the spectrum between 460 nm and 610 nm; and a reflecting electrode. The maximum emission wavelength of the first green light-emitting material is located on a short wavelength side of the spectrum. The maximum emission wavelength of the second green light-emitting material is located on a long wavelength side of the spectrum.

Abstract: A photoelectric composite connector includes a first fitting member including a first holding member holding at least one first optical fiber, and at least one first electric connecting portion, and a second fitting member including a second holding member holding at least one second optical fiber, and at least one second electric connecting portion. The first and second fitting members are constituted as to fit into and onto each other so that the first and second optical fibers are optically connected and the first and second electric connecting portions are electrically connected. The first and second fitting members includes a protecting section to prevent foreign materials generated during fitting of the first and second fitting members from entering into at least the first and second holding members.

Abstract: A method for producing sugar and ethanol including the steps of: heating and cleaning a sugar liquid derived from a plant; fermenting the cleaned liquid which has been adjusted to suitable temperature to selectively convert sugar components other than sucrose in the cleaned liquid into ethanol; and concentrating the obtained fermented liquid.

Abstract: An optical connector includes a first engaging member holding at least one first optical fiber to guide light from a light source, a second engaging member holding a second optical fiber to be optically connected to the first optical fiber, and configured to be engaged with the first engaging member, and a light shield member provided near an emission end of the first optical fiber, at such a position as to shield light from the first optical fiber at disengagement of the engaging members. The light shield member is pushed by the second engaging member at engagement of the engaging members, so as to be folded and evacuated in a gap. The light shield member includes a light absorption member to absorb light and to generate heat, a thermal diffusion member to diffuse and radiate the heat, and a base supporting the light absorption member and thermal diffusion member.

Abstract: An optical fiber length adjuster includes an entrance and an exit 16 for an optical fiber, and a holding portion to hold the optical fiber so that the optical fiber is deformed. The holding portion is configured to decrease the length of the part of the optical fiber that is held, when tensile force applied to the optical fiber is increased, and increase the length of the part of the optical fiber that is held, when the tensile force applied to the optical fiber is decreased.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light guide member, a holding member to hold the light guide member, an optical element to function according to light applied from the light guide member, a holder to hold the optical element, and an adhesive to join the holding member to the holder. The holding member and the holder are engaged with each other so that the optical element is placed on an optical axis of the light guide member. At least one of the holding member and the holder has a joint structure extending along the light guide member. The joint structure forms a gap to allow the adhesive to be easily injected between the holding member and the holder. The holding member and the holder are joined to each other with the adhesive injected into the gap.

Abstract: An optical device includes a light guiding member that guides light an optical element that functions by being irradiated with the light guided by the light guiding member and a holding member that internally includes a first housing portion housing the light guiding member and a second housing portion housing the optical element and internally holds the light guiding member and the optical element by the first housing portion and the second housing portion so that the light guiding member and the optical element are internally coupled optically. The first housing portion and the second housing portion are communicatively connected inside the holding member and the light guiding member housed in the first housing portion and the optical element housed in the second housing portion are in contact with each other inside the holding member.

Abstract: An illumination device includes an optical fiber holder configured to hold an optical fiber, a phosphor holder configured to hold a phosphor and faces the optical fiber holder, and a bonding material configured to intervene between the optical fiber holder and the phosphor holder to bond them. The illumination device includes adjustment guide members configured to intervene between the optical fiber holder and the phosphor holder, relatively positionally adjust the optical fiber holder and the phosphor holder so as to arrange an optical axis of the optical fiber and an optical axis of the phosphor on one line, and configured to prevent the optical fiber holder and the phosphor holder from tilting when the bonding material is cured.

Abstract: An optical device includes, for example, an optical fiber that guides light, a first holding member that holds the optical fiber, an optical element that functions by the light guided by the optical fiber being irradiated, and a second holding member that holds the optical element. The optical device further includes an optically coupled member elastically deformed by one end portion of the first holding member and one end portion of the second holding member being inserted to optically couple the optical fiber and the optical element by being elastically deformed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for efficiently producing sugar and simultaneously efficiently producing ethanol. A method for producing sugar characterized by comprising a pretreatment step in which a plant-origin sugar solution is fermented by a microorganism having no sucrose-degrading enzyme and a step for producing sugar from the fermented sugar solution. A method for producing sugar characterized by comprising a pretreatment step in which a plant-origin sugar solution is fermented by a microorganism in the presence of a sucrose-degrading enzyme inhibitor and a step for producing sugar from the fermented sugar solution.

Abstract: A white light-emitting organic electroluminescent element includes at least four kinds of light-emitting dopants with different emission peak wavelengths which are present between a cathode and an anode. The four kinds of light-emitting dopants include a light-emitting dopant “A”, a light-emitting dopant “B”, a light-emitting dopant “C”, and a light-emitting dopant “D” having their own peak wavelengths which are longer in this order. The white light-emitting organic electroluminescent element has an emission spectrum which satisfies relations of: (first average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/first front luminance)>(second average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/second front luminance); and (third average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/third front luminance)>(fourth average luminance for an angle in a range of 50° to 70°/fourth front luminance).