Abstract: An earthquake prediction device comprises a predicted value calculation unit 16 that calculates, from a prediction formula below, a predicted value (MMIap) indicating a predicted intensity of a ground motion on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, using a maximum acceleration value (Aumax), which is a maximum absolute value among absolute values of vertical acceleration component of the ground motion, after a sensor starts detecting the ground motion caused by an earthquake. The prediction formula is: MMIap=?a log10(Aumax)+?a.

Abstract: A multi-layer film having excellent surface hardness and transparency, a small heat shrinkage factor and such high brittleness that it is easily trimmed after decorative molding. The multi-layer film comprises a layer (layer A) which contains a polycarbonate resin having a viscosity average molecular weight of 13,000 or more to less than 20,000 and layers (layer B-1 and layer B-2) which contain an acrylic resin and are formed on both sides of the layer A, respectively, wherein the total thickness of the multi-layer film is 50 to 200 ?m, and the thickness of the layer A accounts for 5 to 30 $ of the total thickness.

Abstract: An earthquake prediction device comprises a predicted value calculation unit that calculates, from a prediction formula, a predicted value (MMIvp) indicating a predicted intensity of a ground motion on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, using a maximum velocity value (Vumax), which is the largest among absolute values of velocity component calculated by a vertical velocity calculation unit, after a sensor starts detecting the ground motion caused by an earthquake. The prediction formula is: MMIvp=?vlog10(Vumax)+?v.

Abstract: An earthquake prediction device comprises a predicted value calculation unit 16 that calculates, from a prediction formula below, a predicted value (MMIap) indicating a predicted intensity of a ground motion on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, using a maximum acceleration value (Aumax), which is a maximum absolute value among absolute values of vertical acceleration component of the ground motion, after a sensor starts detecting the ground motion caused by an earthquake. The prediction formula is: MMIap=?alog10(Aumax)+?a.

Abstract: A multi-layer film having excellent surface hardness and transparency, a small heat shrinkage factor and such high brittleness that it is easily trimmed after decorative molding. The multi-layer film comprises a layer (layer A) which contains a polycarbonate resin having a viscosity average molecular weight of 13,000 or more to less than 20,000 and layers (layer B-1 and layer B-2) which contain an acrylic resin and are formed on both sides of the layer A, respectively, wherein the total thickness of the multi-layer film is 50 to 200 ?m, and the thickness of the layer A accounts for 5 to 30% of the total thickness.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising a light source which emits excitation light and a fluorescent substance which absorbs the excitation light to emit light in combination, wherein a fluorescent substance comprising an ? type SiAlON represented by the general formula: (Ca?,Eu?)(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (1.5<?+?<2.2, 0<?<0.2, O/N?0.04) as a main component and having a specific surface area of 0.1 to 0.35 m2/g is used as the fluorescent substance. This light-emitting device shows little color change due to temperature change and efficiently emits light, even when it is used in a high temperature environment, and it is especially suitable for lighting apparatuses for vehicles such as headlamps.

Abstract: A phosphor made of phosphor particles coated with inorganic substance lamination, wherein an outermost layer is a transparent layer made of one or more of SiO2, Al2O3 and SiON, having a thickness of about 10 nm to about 500 nm, and formed by fluidized bed CVD, and a transparent inner coating layer is formed inside the outermost layer by a method different from the fluidized bed CVD. The inner coating may be formed by nonaqueous method not using a water content, for example sintering super-fine particles distributed on phosphor particles.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprising a light source which emits excitation light and a fluorescent substance which absorbs the excitation light to emit light in combination, wherein a fluorescent substance comprising an ? type SiAlON represented by the general formula: (Ca?,Eu?)(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (1.5<?+?<2.2, 0<?<0.2, O/N?0.04) as a main component and having a specific surface area of 0.1 to 0.35 m2/g is used as the fluorescent substance. This light-emitting device shows little color change due to temperature change and efficiently emits light, even when it is used in a high temperature environment, and it is especially suitable for lighting apparatuses for vehicles such as headlamps.

Abstract: A light-emitting device can be configured to have little variation in light emission characteristics even at increased temperatures. A light-emitting device can include a light-emitting section for emitting light with a predetermined wavelength, and a fluorescent material for absorbing a part of light emitted from the light-emitting section and emitting light with a longer wavelength. The light-emitting device can mix the light with the predetermined wavelength from the light-emitting section and the light with the longer wavelength from the fluorescent material, and thereby emit a mixed light. The fluorescent material can include single crystal grains in which primary grains have a diameter of 1 ?m or less. Crystal defects, such as a grain boundary, do not often and sometimes never occur in the single crystal grain having a diameter of 1 ?m or less.

Abstract: A reflector film can have a high heat resistance and can maintain a high reflectance (or effectively prevent the decrease in the reflectance) when overlaid with a particular protective film. A lighting apparatus can also be configured for use with such a reflector film. The reflector film can include a silver or silver alloy film deposited on a substrate, and a titanium or titanium alloy film deposited on the silver or silver alloy film to serve as a protective film.

Abstract: A wavelength-converting LED can include a light-emitting section in which an exciting element emits a blue or ultraviolet light. A fluorescent material that has a mean particle diameter D50 ranging from 5 ?m to 20 ?m and that can convert at least part of the light emitted from the exciting element into light having a wavelength longer than an exciting wavelength, can be incorporated into the LED. A dispersing agent with a mean particle diameter D50 not less than 1/10 of the mean particle diameter D50 of the fluorescent material is preferably incorporated in the LED. A binder base material can be arranged to contain the fluorescent material, the dispersing agent and a binder therein. The sum of the weights of the fluorescent material and the dispersing agent is preferably in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of said binder base material to prevent the fluorescent material from precipitating in the binder base material upon curing.

Abstract: A phosphor made of phosphor particles coated with inorganic substance lamination, wherein an outermost layer is a transparent layer made of one or more of SiO2, Al2O3 and SiON, having a thickness of about 10 nm to about 500 nm, and formed by fluidized bed CVD, and a transparent inner coating layer is formed inside the outermost layer by a method different from the fluidized bed CVD. The inner coating may be formed by nonaqueous method not using a water content, for example sintering super-fine particles distributed on phosphor particles.

Abstract: A light-emitting device can be configured to have little variation in light emission characteristics even at increased temperatures. A light-emitting device can include a light-emitting section for emitting light with a predetermined wavelength, and a fluorescent material for absorbing a part of light emitted from the light-emitting section and emitting light with a longer wavelength. The light-emitting device can mix the light with the predetermined wavelength from the light-emitting section and the light with the longer wavelength from the fluorescent material, and thereby emit a mixed light. The fluorescent material can include single crystal grains in which primary grains have a diameter of 1 ?m or less. Crystal defects, such as a grain boundary, do not often and sometimes never occur in the single crystal grain having a diameter of 1 ?m or less.

Abstract: A wavelength-converting LED can include a light-emitting section in which an exciting element emits a blue or ultraviolet light. A fluorescent material that has a mean particle diameter D50 ranging from 5 ?m to 20 ?m and that can convert at least part of the light emitted from the exciting element into light having a wavelength longer than an exciting wavelength, can be incorporated into the LED. A dispersing agent with a mean particle diameter D50 not less than {fraction (1/10)} of the mean particle diameter D50 of the fluorescent material is preferably incorporated in the LED. A binder base material can be arranged to contain the fluorescent material, the dispersing agent and a binder therein. The sum of the weights of the fluorescent material and the dispersing agent is preferably in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of said binder base material to prevent the fluorescent material from precipitating in the binder base material upon curing.

Abstract: A phosphor for use in an electroluminescent panel is produced by firing a material primarily composed of powder of zinc sulfide, preferably with high-frequency induction heating, under a predetermined pressure in an atmosphere of a halogen gas as a coactivator. The phosphor thus produced is of good emission characteristics having minimum particle size and impurity concentration irregularities.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a phosphor for use in an electroluminescent panel includes a storage body that is permeable to a fluid, and an open boat for containing a phosphor material. The open boat is stored in, and has a shape corresponding to, the storage body. The open boat and the storage body are housed in a reactor. A gas supply section introduces a nitrogen gas and a halogen gas into the reactor, and a heating device heats the reactor. A pressure control device selectively evacuates the reactor and introduces a gas pressure into the reactor to control the pressure in the reactor to be in a range from 10.sup.-3 to 1140 Torr.

Abstract: An EL lamp having a higher luminescence efficiency and a process for manufacturing the same are provided. The EL element includes an aluminum foil having at least one specularly polished surface, an anodized oxide film formed on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, a light emitting EL layer formed directly on the film, and a transparent electrode formed on the light emitting EL layer. The process for manufacturing an EL lamp includes the steps of polishing specularly at least one of the surfaces of an aluminum foil, forming an anodized oxide film on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, and forming directly on the aluminum oxide film a light emitting EL layer and a transparent electrode.

Abstract: An EL lamp having a higher luminescence efficiency and a process for manufacturing the same are provided. The EL element includes an aluminum foil having at least one specularly polished surface, an anodized oxide film formed on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, a light emitting EL layer formed directly on the film, and a transparent electrode formed on the light emitting EL layer. The process for manufacturing an EL lamp includes the steps of polishing specularly at least one of the surfaces of an aluminum foil, forming an anodized oxide film on the specularly polished surface of the aluminum foil, and forming directly on the aluminum oxide film a light emitting EL layer and a transparent electrode.