Abstract: An optical switch is provided that utilizes a signal light frequency shift due to the resonance excitation non-linear optical effect in a semiconductor material so that a high extinction ratio optical switching operation can be realized with low energy controlling light pulses. The non-linear optical waveguide 1 receives a signal light pulse of a frequency of &ohgr;1 and a controlling light pulse of a frequency of &ohgr;0 and sets the pulse width of the controlling light pulse to a value smaller than that of the signal light pulse. The optical waveguide portion of the non-linear optical waveguide 1 is formed of a non-linear optical medium of which the non-linear refractive index changes due to absorption or amplification of the controlling light. The frequency &ohgr;1 of the signal light is set to the transparent region of the non-linear optical waveguide 1.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising an electrically conductive substrate, a photosensitive semiconductor layer, a charge transporting layer, and a counter electrode (preferably a counter electrode having a porous electron-conducting layer), wherein an electrically insulating spacing layer is provided between the semiconductor layer and the counter electrode, and a photo cell having the device. High conversion efficiency is obtained without causing an internal shortage.

Abstract: A phase change optical disk medium includes a disklike substrate, and a recording layer formed by a laminate of a plurality of thin layers including a phase change layer. Information marks are recorded on the phase change layer by phase changes from a crystal phase to an amorphous phase and vice versa. The recording layer has tracks for recording information marks formed by groove portions and land portions respectively taking alternate concave and convex shapes. The track has an interval in range of 0.54 to 0.64 &mgr;m and the recording layer has a ratio of the optical reflectance of 0.35 or less when the phase change layer has changed to the amorphous phase in case where the optical reflectance of the recording layer is 1 when the phase change layer is in the crystal phase.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from the recording medium, a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used for writing the information in the recording medium, in accordance with the reflection light state, a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information in accordance with the radiation power, and an optical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information into optical information in accordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head to record the light information into the recording medium. Accordingly, the apparatus records information by applying light from an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changing a state of the record area and reads the information recorded in the record area.

Abstract: A diffraction grating having more than two kinds of mediums of a different refractive index, has a refractive index difference between the mediums dependent on an incident polarized light direction. In a sectional plane perpendicular to the direction along a grating pattern, the structure has a boundary line between the mediums periodic for the direction perpendicular to the grating pattern in a grating plane or periodic while enlarging or shrinking to the direction perpendicular to the direction along with the grating pattern in the grating plane and in a limited part of a period, the boundary line does not have a symmetrical plane perpendicular to both of the grating and the sectional plane. Accordingly, a polarized light beam status of ±nth order diffracted light beams becomes different and there is provided a diffraction grating capable of obtaining a generation signal of a magneto-optical recording medium from a difference of an optical amount of a light beam received.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from the recording medium, a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used for writing the information in the recording medium, in accordance with the reflection light state, a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information in accordance with the radiation power, and an optical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information into optical information in accordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head to record the light information into the recording medium. Accordingly, the apparatus records information by applying light from an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changing a state of the record area and reads the information recorded in the record area.

Abstract: A minute optical head is provided so that a light source and one or more photo detector elements are integrated on the same substrate by a simple manufacturing process and may be applied to an apparatus for recording and reproducing recordable optical information. An apparatus for recording and reproducing optical information is arranged to have a minute optical head. A light waveguide layer composed of column semiconductor crystal is formed on a monocrystalline transparent substrate and an active layer is formed on the side of the light waveguide layer. The light beam source is a semiconductor having a vertical resonator formed of a high-reflection film before and after an emitting surface of the active layer so that a light beam is vertically radiated to the substrate. The photo detector element is integrated on the closer portion of the substrate to the light beam source of the semiconductor laser.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from the recording medium, a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used for writing the information in the recording medium, in accordance with the reflection light state, a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information in accordance with the radiation power, and an optical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information into optical information in accordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head to record the light information into the recording medium. Accordingly, the apparatus records information by applying light from an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changing a state of the record area and reads the information recorded in the record area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combined formulation for disinfecting, neutralizing and cleaning a soft contact lens and a method using the same easily, efficiently and safely. The formulation is a one-solution type of combined formulation for disinfecting, neutralizing and cleaning a soft contact lens, which includes a first formulation that contains an iodine-based disinfectant and a proteolytic enzyme and a second formulation that contains a reducing and a foaming agent treated with a delayed release coating, and which contains a nonionic surfactant in at least one of the first and second formulations. A stained soft contact lens can be disinfected, neutralized and cleaned easily by holding it in an aqueous solution colored yellow or brown by iodine molecules and removing it from the aqueous solution after the solution becomes almost colorless.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of a forming multilayer coating film characterized by that in a process of forming a multilayer coating film by successively coating with an undercoat paint (A), an intermediate paint (B) and a topcoat paint (C) on a substrate, (1) to use a liquid thermocurable paint containing 0.1-30 parts by weight of aluminium powder and 1-200 parts by weight of titanium oxide pigment per 100 parts by weight of a thermosetting resin composition and the hiding film thickness of its coating film being less than 25 &mgr;m as said intermediate paint (B), (2) to use a solid color paint, a metallic paint or an interference pattern paint as said topcoat paint (C), and (3) to coat said topcoat paint (C) after curing by heating of the coating film of said intermediate paint (B). By this process it is possible to make an intermediate coating film thinner and to form a multilayer coating film with excellent smoothness.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wavelength converter that is appropriate for long-distance large-capacity optical communication, a wavelength converter according to the present invention includes: waveguides 1 and 2 for producing nonlinear changes in refractive indices; light interaction circuits 3 and 4; and light delay circuits 9 and 10. When an input signal pulse interval is denoted by To and a speed at which signal pulse light proceeds through a delay circuit is denoted by vg, a difference &Dgr;Ld for optical paths in the light delay circuits satisfies a relation &Dgr;Ld=vgTo/2. As a result, when there is an interaction involving two sequential light beams, the phases of which are demodulated by the input signal pulse, the wavelength chirping affecting the light beams is canceled out.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium ion nonaqueous secondary battery having a high discharge capacity and excellent high rate characteristics. A novel negative electrode material for a lithium ion nonaqueous secondary battery is disclosed, comprising a composite metal oxide containing an amorphous structure synthesized by a sol-gel method.

Abstract: A quench hardening jig for a cylindrical work piece comprises a flat shaped base member(1), a plurality of taper plates(2) and an inversely tapered block(4), the plurality of the taper plates being disposed radiantly on the base member retractably relative to a center of the base member while each taper plate being formed such that it is substantially L shaped in its front view and an internal surface thereof is tapered, the inversely tapered block having an inversely tapered surface(4a) fitting to the tapered surface(2a) of the taper plate and being mounted on the tapered surface of the taper plate such that a progress of the inversely tapered block(4) in a vertical direction contracts/expands an external diameter formed by the respective taper plates(2).

Abstract: An optically controlled optical switch operating at a high speed and at a high efficiency can be realized with a simple construction. An optical signal exiting from a nonlinear optical waveguide is passed through an optical frequency filter and then guided into an optical output signal port. The optical frequency filter is a band-pass filter for passing only optical signal pulses having a center frequency of .omega.1. Where the center frequency .omega.0 of controlling light is set within the absorption region of the nonlinear optical waveguide, optical controlling pulses are absorbed, and carriers are excited. This results in a change in the refractive index. Consequently, the center frequency .omega.1 of only the optical signal pulses entered simultaneously with the optical controlling pulses is shifted to .omega.2. The optical frequency filter blocks optical signal pulses whose center frequency has been shifted to .omega.2. Thus, a gate-type optical switching action is accomplished.

Abstract: A process for forming a multilayer film, which comprises applying, onto a substrate, (A) a liquid solid-color coating which comprises a thermosetting resin composition and a metal powder coated with a coloring pigment, and (B) a clear coating in this order without substantially curing the resulting films of the coatings (A) and (B) and then heating the two films to crosslink and cure them simultaneously. The process of the present invention provides a multilayer film of smaller thickness, excellent hiding power and improved properties such as surface smoothness, chipping resistance and the like.

Abstract: A phase change optical disk medium includes a disklike substrate, and a recording layer formed by a laminate of a plurality of thin layers including a phase change layer. Information marks are recorded on the phase change layer by phase changes from a crystal phase to an amorphous phase and vice versa. The recording layer has tracks for recording information marks formed by groove portions and land portions respectively taking alternate concave and convex shapes. The track has an interval in range of 0.54 to 0.64 .mu.m and the recording layer has a ratio of the optical reflectance of 0.35 or less when the phase change layer has changed to the amorphous phase in case where the optical reflectance of the recording layer is 1 when the phase change layer is in the crystal phase.

Abstract: A dental treatment apparatus having a sterilized water producing unit placed in a water circuit of a dental chair unit. The sterilized water producing unit electrolyzes water mixed with sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid in a diaphragmless electrolytic cell to produce sterilized water having a residual free chlorine concentration adjusted in the range of from 1.0 ppm to 200 ppm and a pH adjusted in the range of from 3 to 7. The dental treatment apparatus further has a water circuit switching controller that alternately switches between raw water and feed water from the sterilized water producing unit.

Abstract: A process for forming a multilayer film having superior high white iridescent appearance which comprises applying (A) a liquid white coating which comprises a thermosetting resin composition, a metal powder coated with a white pigment, and a titanium dioxide pigment, (B) a light-iridescent coating, and (C) a clear coating onto a substrate in this order to form a multilayer film, and then heating the substantially uncured films to crosslink and cure them simultaneously.

Abstract: An electrostatic supporting type acceleration detecting gyro apparatus is formed as an active type so as to be able to positively cancel a displacement of a gyro rotor. Control DC voltages for generating electrostatic supporting forces and displacement detection AC voltages for detecting a displacement of gyro rotor are applied to electrostatic supporting electrodes, and mechanism control circuits detect displacement indicating voltage signals (P.sub.1A) through (P.sub.4B). A displacement of the gyro rotor and the control DC voltages applied to the electrostatic supporting electrodes are computed based on the displacement detection voltages (P.sub.1A) through (P.sub.4B) outputted from the mechanism control circuits.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vibration-type gyro apparatus for measuring an angular velocity using the Coriolis force exerted on a tuning fork. The tuning fork has two vibrational members symmetric about a Z axis. The two vibrational members vibrate along Z axis and are displaced along a Y axis by the Coriolis force. Each of the two vibrational members includes a cantilevered tabular member arranged along an XZ plane and has a shape symmetric about the center axis thereof. Electrode sections are formed on the two sides of the vibrational members, and electrodes are formed in the internal space of a casing at positions corresponding to the electrode sections. The electrodes are arranged by being deviated outward or inward of the center axis of the vibration members with respect to the electrode sections. Each of the electrodes is supplied with a displacement detection AC voltage and a control voltage from a detection and drive circuit.