Abstract: The present invention relates to a platinum-based sputtering target containing platinum or a platinum alloy. The platinum-based sputtering target of the present invention is characterized by a material structure in a thickness-direction cross section thereof. Specifically, when a thickness-direction cross section is equally divided into n sections (n=5 to 20) along a thickness direction, a region including (n?2) sections excluding both end sections is set as a determination region, and when an average grain size in each of the sections is measured in the determination region, as well as an average grain size in the entire determination region is measured, the average grain size in the entire determination region is 150 ?m or less, and a coefficient of variation calculated based on the average grain size in each of the sections of the determination region is 15% or less.

Abstract: An optical module installed within an optical transmitter apparatus is disclosed. The optical module provides an electrically insulating carrier, a semiconductor element, and a capacitor. The carrier provides a ground pattern and a bias pad. The ground pattern mounts the capacitor and the semiconductor element thereon. The bias pad is electrically isolated from the ground pattern thereby forming a parasitic capacitor against the ground pattern. The optical module further includes at least two bonding wires among a first bonding wire connecting the semiconductor element with the bias pad, a second bonding wire connecting the bias pad with the capacitor, and an additional bonding wire connecting the capacitor with the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is supplied with a bias current through the at least two bonding wires.

Abstract: A multi-lane optical apparatus is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes monitor photodiodes (mPD) whose number corresponds to a number of lanes. The mPDs are arranged in an array so as to intersect optical axes of the respective lanes. The mPD has a light-sensitive area and an electrode that are arranged on a diagonal connecting two corners. The light-sensitive area is disposed offset from the center of the mPD. The mPDs in outermost are disposed such that the respective electrodes face inward.

Abstract: The present invention provides a textured substrate for forming an epitaxial film, including a textured metal layer on at least one surface of the layer, the textured metal layer including a copper layer having a cube texture, the textured metal layer having, on a surface of the layer, palladium added in an amount of 10 to 300 ng/mm2 per unit area, the hydrogen content of the surface of the textured metal layer being 700 to 2000 ppm. This textured substrate is produced through a step of adding 10 to 300 ng/mm2 per unit area of palladium by strike plating to a surface of the copper layer having a cube texture.

Abstract: An optical module installed within an optical transmitter apparatus is disclosed. The optical module provides an electrically insulating carrier, a semiconductor element, and a capacitor. The carrier provides a ground pattern and a bias pad. The ground pattern mounts the capacitor and the semiconductor element thereon. The bias pad is electrically isolated from the ground pattern thereby forming a parasitic capacitor against the ground pattern. The optical module further includes at least two bonding wires among a first bonding wire connecting the semiconductor element with the bias pad, a second bonding wire connecting the bias pad with the capacitor, and an additional bonding wire connecting the capacitor with the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is supplied with a bias current through the at least two bonding wires.

Abstract: A multi-lane optical apparatus is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes monitor photodiodes (mPD) whose number corresponds to a number of lanes. The mPDs are arranged in an array so as to intersect optical axes of the respective lanes. The mPD has a light-sensitive area and an electrode that are arranged on a diagonal connecting two corners. The light-sensitive area is disposed offset from the center of the mPD. The mPDs in outermost are disposed such that the respective electrodes face inward.

Abstract: The present invention provides a textured substrate for forming an epitaxial film, including a textured metal layer on at least one surface of the layer, the textured metal layer including a copper layer having a cube texture, the textured metal layer having, on a surface of the layer, palladium added in an amount of 10 to 300 ng/mm2 per unit area, the hydrogen content of the surface of the textured metal layer being 700 to 2000 ppm. This textured substrate is produced through a step of adding 10 to 300 ng/mm2 per unit area of palladium by strike plating to a surface of the copper layer having a cube texture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a textured substrate for epitaxial film formation, comprising a textured metal layer at least on one side, wherein the textured metal layer includes a copper layer having a cube texture and a nickel layer having a thickness of 100 to 20000 nm formed on the copper layer; the nickel layer has a nickel oxide layer formed on a surface thereof, having a thickness of 1 to 30 nm, and including a nickel oxide; and the nickel layer further includes a palladium-containing region formed of palladium-containing nickel at an interface with the nickel oxide layer. The top layer of the textured substrate, i.e. the nickel oxide layer, has a surface roughness of preferably 10 nm or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a textured substrate for epitaxial film formation, comprising a textured metal layer at least on one side, wherein the textured metal layer includes a copper layer having a cube texture and a nickel layer having a thickness of 100 to 20000 nm formed on the copper layer; the nickel layer has a nickel oxide layer formed on a surface thereof, having a thickness of 1 to 30 nm, and including a nickel oxide; and the nickel layer further includes a palladium-containing region formed of palladium-containing nickel at an interface with the nickel oxide layer. The top layer of the textured substrate, i.e. the nickel oxide layer, has a surface roughness of preferably 10 nm or less.

Abstract: A spherical annular base member 33 is constructed such that a heat-resistant material 6 and a reinforcing member 5 are compressed and intertwined with each other so as to be provided with structural integrity. In an outer layer 34, a heat-resistant material 6, a solid lubricant constituted of a lubricating composition, and a reinforcing member 5 made from a metal wire net are compressed such that the solid lubricant and the heat-resistant material 6 are filled in meshes of the metal wire net of the reinforcing member 5, and the solid lubricant, the heat-resistant material 6, and the reinforcing member 5 are integrally formed in mixed form. An outer surface 36 of the outer layer 34 is formed into a smooth surface 39 in which a surface 37 constituted of the reinforcing member 5 and a surface 38 constituted by the solid lubricant are present in mixed form.

Abstract: A spherical annular seal member 39 includes a spherical annular base member 37 defined by a cylindrical inner surface 33, a partially convex spherical surface 34, and an annular end faces 35 and 36; and an outer layer 38 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 34 of the spherical annular base member 37. The spherical annular base member 37 includes a reinforcing member 5 made from a metal wire net and a heat-resistant material 6 filling meshes of the metal wire net of the reinforcing member 5 and formed integrally with the reinforcing member 5 in mixed form.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion type steering apparatus 1 includes a gear case 3 made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and having a hollow portion 2; a steering shaft 6 rotatably supported by the gear case 3 through rolling bearings 4 and 5; a pinion 7 which is rotatably supported in the gear case 3 through the steering shaft 6; a rack bar 9 on which rack teeth 8 meshing with the pinion 7 are formed; and a rack guide 10 which is disposed in the hollow portion 2 inside the gear case 3 and supports the rack bar 9 slidably with respect to its moving direction A.

Abstract: Orientation degree and smoothness of a substrate surface better than those of conventional ones are provided in a textured substrate for epitaxial thin film growth. The present invention is a textured substrate for epitaxial film formation, including a crystal orientation improving layer made of a metal thin film of 1 to 5000 nm in thickness on the surface of the textured substrate for epitaxial film formation having a textured metal layer at least on one surface, wherein differences between orientation degrees (?? and ??) in the textured metal layer surface and orientation degrees (?? and ??) in the crystal orientation improving layer surface are both 0.1 to 3.0°. Further, when another metal different from the metal constituting this textured substrate crystal orientation improving layer is added equivalent to a thin film which is 30 nm or less, and subsequently is subjected to heat treatment, the smoothness of that surface can be improved.

Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism for an electric power steering apparatus includes a coupling base body coupled to a rotating shaft; a coupling base body coupled to a steering shaft serving as a rotating shaft; and a rotation transmitting member which is disposed between the both coupling base bodies and transmits the rotation of the coupling base body in a direction about the axis, i.e., in an R direction, to the coupling base body as rotation in the R direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a commutator or brush material for a small electric DC motor which enables a lengthened operating life of a spindle motor for a DVD controlled using a pulse current. A commutator material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 6.0 to 10.0 wt % of Cu, 1.0 to 5.0 wt % of ZnO, and a balance of Ag and in that Cu metal particles and ZnO particles are dispersed in an AgCu matrix. A brush material for a small electric DC motor in accordance with the present invention is characterized by being composed of 0.1 to 5.0 wt % of MgO and a balance of Ag and in that MgO particles are dispersed in an Ag matrix, or is characterized by being composed of 5.0 to 15.0 wt % of Ni and a balance of Pt and in that Ni is dissolved in a Pt matrix.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat-resistant expanded graphite sheet is characterized in that after an acid-treated graphite material obtained by treating a graphite material with a strong acid is compounded with a powder of an organic phosphorus compound and is agitated and mixed uniformly to obtain a mixture, this mixture is subjected to heating treatment for 1 to 10 seconds at temperatures of 950 to 1200° C. to produce cracked gas, that gaps between graphite layers are expanded by its gas pressure to obtain expanded graphite particles having an expansion rate of 200 to 300 times, and that these expanded graphite particles are subjected to pressure molding.

Abstract: A spherical annular seal member 39 includes a spherical annular base member 37 defined by a cylindrical inner surface 33, a partially convex spherical surface 34, and an annular end faces 35 and 36; and an outer layer 38 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 34 of the spherical annular base member 37. The spherical annular base member 37 includes a reinforcing member 5 made from a metal wire net and a heat-resistant material 6 filling meshes of the metal wire net of the reinforcing member 5 and formed integrally with the reinforcing member 5 in mixed form.

Abstract: A spherical annular base member 33 is constructed such that a heat-resistant material 6 and a reinforcing member 5 are compressed and intertwined with each other so as to be provided with structural integrity. In an outer layer 34, a heat-resistant material 6, a solid lubricant constituted of a lubricating composition, and a reinforcing member 5 made from a metal wire net are compressed such that the solid lubricant and the heat-resistant material 6 are filled in meshes of the metal wire net of the reinforcing member 5, and the solid lubricant, the heat-resistant material 6, and the reinforcing member 5 are integrally formed in mixed form. An outer surface 36 of the outer layer 34 is formed into a smooth surface 39 in which a surface 37 constituted of the reinforcing member 5 and a surface 38 constituted by the solid lubricant are present in mixed form.

Abstract: A spherical annular seal member (58) includes: a spherical annular base member (56) defined by a cylindrical inner surface (52), a partially convex spherical surface (56), and end faces (54, 55); and an outer layer (57) formed integrally with the partially convex spherical surface (53) of the spherical annular base member (56). The spherical annular base member (56) includes a reinforcing member (5) made from a compressed metal wire net (4) and a heat-resistant material filling meshes of the metal wire net (4) of the reinforcing member (5), integrated with the reinforcing member (5) in mixed form, and containing expanded graphite and an organic phosphorus compound. The outer layer (56) includes a heat-resistant material constituted by a heat-resistant sheet member (6) containing expanded graphite and an organic phosphorus compound, and a reinforcing member constituted by a metal wire net (4) integrated with the heat-resistant material in mixed formed.

Abstract: A shaft coupling mechanism includes a coupling base body coupled to a rotating shaft; a coupling base body coupled to a steering shaft; rotation transmitting members which are disposed between the rotating shaft and the steering shaft through the both coupling base bodies and transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft in an R direction to the steering shaft; an intermediate interposed member disposed between the rotation transmitting members; and a coupling means for coupling the rotation transmitting members to each other.