Abstract: Light from an LED (light-emitting diodes) has strong directional characteristics; therefore, lighting over large area, as well as control of the quality or the distribution of lighting was impossible. Placing a liquid-crystal panel in front of an LED (light-emitting diodes) enables to control light from the LED and the quality or the distribution of lighting.

Abstract: Light from an LED (light-emitting diodes) has strong directional characteristics; therefore, lighting over large area, as well as control of the quality or the distribution of lighting was impossible. Placing a liquid-crystal panel in front of an LED (light-emitting diodes) enables to control light from the LED and the quality or the distribution of lighting.

Abstract: There is provided a small and lightweight Fabry-Perot type optical tuner. By changing the distance between the reflector plates 3A and 3B with an applied voltage across said reflector plates 3A and 3B, wherein said reflector plates 3A, 3B are supported with coil springs 8A, 8B, and at the same time by changing the refractive index of the liquid crystal material 9, i.e. by utilizing both changes of distance d and refractive index n, an optical tuning can be obtained over a wide range of optical wavelength.

Abstract: There is provided a small and lightweight Fabry-Perot type optical tuner. By changing the distance between the reflector plates 3A and 3B with an applied voltage across said reflector plates 3A and 3B, wherein said reflector plates 3A, 3B are supported with coil springs 8A, 8B, and at the same time by changing the refractive index of the liquid crystal material 9, i.e. by utilizing both changes of distance d and refractive index n, an optical tuning can be obtained over a wide range of optical wavelength.

Abstract: A superconducting apparatus has a superconducting element, which is a member to be cooled and which exhibits a superconducting phenomenon; an electronic cooling element composed of a cooling electrode provided to the superconducting element via an insulating layer, p-type and n-type semiconductor layers formed to be connected to the cooling electrode, heat-radiation electrodes provided to the semiconductor layers independently of each other, and a heat-radiation plate provided to the heat-radiation electrodes via the insulating layer; lead wires for electrically connecting the superconducting element and the electronic cooling element to external circuits, respectively. The superconducting element and the electronic cooling element, which are integrally packaged, are installed within the first container. Internally sealed by an inert gas atmosphere, the first container is installed within the second container. The second container is internally sealed in a vacuum state.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material is provided which consists of an oxide with a perovskite structure, wherein the oxide is of the formula (Ln.sub.1-x A.sub.x).sub.2 MO.sub.4 with 0.01.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.05, where Ln is a rare earth element, A is an alkali earth metal element, and M is a transition metal element. The thermoelectric material is particularly useful for Peltier cooling elements to produce low temperatures below room temperature.

Abstract: A logic circuit device includes a superconductive body formed of a ceramic superconductive material. The ceramic superconductive material has random grain boundaries which act as weak couplings. The ceramic superconductive material also has a magneto-resistive property. There is at least one conductor arranged near the ceramic superconductive body in order to exert a magnetic field on the ceramic superconductive body. The ceramic superconductive body changes its resistance in response to the magnetic field generated by the conductor. The ceramic superconductive body can be used as part of a logic circuit.

Abstract: A superconductinve magneto-resistive device for use in a sensor system for sensing an external magnetic field which is formed so as to have a predetermined pattern for a current path through which a supplied current flows. The pattern includes portions formed close and parallel to each other so that magnetic fields induced by respective currents flowing through the portions can be cancelled with each other.

Abstract: A superconductive apparatus including a superconductive member to be cooled, a cooling element which exhibits Peltier effect upon supply of electric power thereto such that the superconductive member is thermally coupled with a cooling portion of the cooling element and a container for accommodating the superconductive member and the cooling portion.

Abstract: A sensor device comprising a substrate and a sensor formed on thereof which is made of a metal, metallic oxide, semiconductor, dielectric or organic material, the sensor having projections or indentations formed on or in its surface with optional predetermined shape and dimensions; which is useful as a chemical sensor, biosensor or physical sensor device of improved performance and function.

Abstract: A superconductive apparatus has a superconductive device such as a superconductive magneto-resistive device. The superconductive device is mounted within an airtight package which is sealed to create an airtight state. Before sealing, the airtight package is evacuated to replace the internal air thereof with an inert gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic measurement using superconductive magneto-resistive film which is disposed in a magnetic field with the surface of the superconductive magneto-resistive film directed in parallel with the direction of the magnetic field so that the magnetic hysterisis property of the film can be avoided and the accuracy of the measurement can be much improved.

Abstract: A superconductive magneto-resistive device for use in a sensor system for sensing an external magnetic field which is formed so as to have a predetermined pattern for a current path through which a supplied current flows. The pattern includes portions formed close and parallel to each other so that magnetic fields induced by respective currents flowing through the portions can be cancelled with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for observing a superconductive phenomenon is disclosed. In the apparatus, a cooling unit cools a superconductor having a threshold temperature at which the superconductor changes from the normal conductive phase to the superconductive phase, and a magnetic field is applied thereto. A current is supplied to the superconductor, and there are clearly observed a phenomenon on which an electric resistance thereof becomes zero at a threshold temperature thereof, a phenomenon on which the superconductor changes from the normal conductive phase to the superconductive phase at a threshold current to be supplied thereto, and a phenomenon on which the super conductor changes from the normal conductive phase to the superconductive phase at a threshold magnetic field to be applied thereto.

Abstract: An apparatus for observing a superconductive phenomenon is disclosed. In the apparatus, a cooling unit cools a superconductor having a threshold temperature at which the superconductor changes from the normal conductive phase to the superconductive phase, and a magnetic field is applied thereto. A current is supplied to the superconductor, and there are clearly observed a phenomenon on which an electric resistance thereof becomes zero at a threshold temperature thereof, a phenomenon on which the superconductor changes from the normal conductive phase to the superconductive phase at a threshold current to be supplied thereto, and a phenomenon on which the superconductor changes from the normal conductive phase to the superconductive phase at a threshold magnetic field to be applied thereto.

Abstract: A ceramic superconductive magneto-resistive element which has weak grain boundaries is highly sensitive to weak magnetic fields. The magnetic field is measured by the use of an electronic circuit. A comparator is used for comparing an output and reference voltage of the element. When there is a difference between the output and reference voltage bias current is used to equalize these voltages.

Abstract: A sensor having a pair of sensor units, one of which is a detecting sensor unit and the other of which is a reference sensor unit, wherein each of the units comprises a substrate with a hollow portion, a thin insulating layer with a bridge, cantilever or diaphragm shape disposed on the substrate, a sensitive film disposed on the bridge, cantilever or diaphragm portion of the thin insulating layer, and a pair of electrodes being in contact with the sensitive film, the sensitive film section of the detecting sensor unit being exposed to an atmosphere to be measured so that the electrical resistance of the sensitive film changes with a variation in the physical quantity of the atmosphere to be detected, and the sensitive film section of the reference sensor unit being sealed within a shielding container so that the electrical resistance of the sensitive film is not influenced by a variation in the physical quantity of the atmosphere outside of the container, whereby the absolute physical quantity of the atmosphe

Abstract: A flow sensor for detecting the rate of flow and the direction of flow of a fluid, comprising a substrate, a heating element disposed on the substrate, and four or more fluid temperature sensing elements disposed with an equal space therebetween on a virtual circle around the heating element, wherein the difference in temperature between the fluid and the heating element is maintained at a fixed level by the control of current that is applied to the heating element, so that the flow rate of the fluid can be calculated from changes in the current that corresponds to the flow rate of the fluid, and at the same time, the difference in current or in potential between the fluid temperature sensing elements is calculated from changes in temperature therebetween that arise from changes in the direction of flow of the fluid, so that the direction of flow of the fluid can be detected.

Abstract: A highly reliable and economical traffic signal has only one light-emitting display section having two or more semiconductor thin-film EL plates of different colors such as green and red stacked one on top of the other. Green and red can be displayed by causing one of the EL plates to emit light and yellow can be displayed by causing both of them to emit light.

Abstract: A quasiparticle control device including a Josephson junction element formed of a pair of superconductors joined to each other, with a weak link part intervening therebetween, and a third electrode provide on the weak link part. The characteristics of the Josephson junction of the Josephson junction element is controlled by injecting quasiparticles to the third electrode.