Abstract: A preform is supplied between a pair of molding dies, followed by heating, softening and pressing. A smallest radius of curvature in the preform is smaller than a radius of a globular member having a volume equal to that of the preform. In this fabricating method, -an abutment portion between the molding die and the preform is located at a curved surface or the center of the molding die, thereby preventing any local abutment of the preform against the molding die.

Abstract: A manufacturing apparatus of a glass product, comprising: a plurality of lower molds; a nozzle for allowing a molten glass droplet to drop therefrom; and a shifting unit for successively shifting any one of lower molds, selected among the lower molds, to a dropping position at which the molten glass droplet drops from the nozzle in synchronized timing with dropping of the molten glass droplet, which can efficiently press-mold molten glass droplets that are allowed to drop from a nozzle of a melting tank; and a manufacturing method applied to the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.

Abstract: A substrate protective film composed of chromium metal is formed on a molding surface of a mold base material composed of cemented carbide. The substrate protective film is oxidized by heat-treatment or ion implantation, so that a surface protective film composed of chromium oxide is formed. A pair of molds having such a constitution are prepared. Softened glass is pressed between the surface protective films of the paired molds, so that optical glass elements are molded.

Abstract: A die for forming an optical element, comprising: (i) a base member having a base surface which comprises a foundation area including a die surface to form an optical surface of the optical element and a peripheral area provided around the foundation area; (ii) a first layer covering both of the foundation area and the peripheral area and removable by being dissolved in a processing solution; and (iii) a second layer covering a part of the first layer corresponding in position to the foundation area so that a remaining part of the first layer corresponding in position to the peripheral area is not covered by the second layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a microchip having a micromixer therein. The mixromixer employs a mixing or extracting structure having (1) a first flow pass provided at a first level of the microchip; (2) a second flow pass provided at a second level of the microchip, which is different from the first level; (3) a third flow pass having a plurality of sub flow passes separately layered at the first level and each having a first end and second end thereof, each sub flow pass being connected to one of the first and second flow passes at the first end thereof; and (4) a fourth flow pass, provided at the first level, connected to the second ends of the sub flow passes so that, at least connecting portions between the fourth flow pass and the sub flow passes of the third flow pass, an extending direction of the fourth flow pass is substantially identical to those of the sub flow passes.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is an extracting structure for incorporating a substance contained in a first liquid into a second liquid. The extracting structure comprises: a channel for allowing the first liquid and the second liquid to flow therein in a form of a layered flow in which first laminar flows of the first liquid and second laminar flows of the second liquid alternately come in contact with each other, wherein the substance in the first laminar flow of the first liquid moves to the second laminar flow of the second liquid through the boundaries between the first laminar flows and the second laminar flows; and a separating section, connected to a lower stream side of the channel, for separating the second liquid from the first liquid. Further, disclosed also herewith is a separating structure for separating a second liquid from the mixture of a first liquid and the second liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is a microchip having a micromixer therein. The mixromixer employs a mixing or extracting structure having (1) a first flow pass provided at a first level of the microchip; (2) a second flow pass provided at a second level of the microchip, which is different from the first level; (3) a third flow pass having a plurality of sub flow passes separately layered at the first level and each having a first end and second end thereof, each sub flow pass being connected to one of the first and second flow passes at the first end thereof; and (4) a fourth flow pass, provided at the first level, connected to the second ends of the sub flow passes so that, at least connecting portions between the fourth flow pass and the sub flow passes of the third flow pass, an extending direction of the fourth flow pass is substantially identical to those of the sub flow passes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a micro fluid transferring system that comprises a micropump having a chamber, a first fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber, and a second fluid transferring portion connected to the chamber. This system is characterized in that at least one of the first and second fluid transferring portions comprises a pressure absorbing section for absorbing or alleviating a liquid vibrational pressure therein.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith is an extracting structure for incorporating a substance contained in a first liquid into a second liquid. The extracting structure comprises: a channel for allowing the first liquid and the second liquid to flow therein in a form of a layered flow in which first laminar flows of the first liquid and second laminar flows of the second liquid alternately come in contact with each other, wherein the substance in the first laminar flow of the first liquid moves to the second laminar flow of the second liquid through the boundaries between the first laminar flows and the second laminar flows; and a separating section, connected to a lower stream side of the channel, for separating the second liquid from the first liquid. Further, disclosed also herewith is a separating structure for separating a second liquid from the mixture of a first liquid and the second liquid.

Abstract: A thin film waveguide and an optical deflecting device which have a substrate and a waveguide layer. An optical buffer layer which has a refractive index smaller than that of the waveguide layer is provided between the substrate and the waveguide layer, and the optical buffer layer has such a thickness as to make a zero mode guided light beam progressing in the waveguide layer have a propagation loss not more than 2 dB/cm and as to make a first mode guided light beam progressing in the waveguide layer have a propagation loss not less than 4 dB/cm. For example, the waveguide layer is a ZnO thin film, the substrate is a silicon substrate, and the optical buffer layer is a SiO.sub.2 thin film. Further, an interdigital transducer is provided on the waveguide layer to excite Sezawa waves as surface acoustic waves. For example, the waveguide layer is designed to have a thickness which meets the following condition: 1.0<hK<5.0 (K=2 .pi./.LAMBDA.), wherein, h is the thickness of the waveguide layer, and .

Abstract: A thin film having a good orientation and crystallinity. A method of producing the thin film on a substrate, wherein materials of a thin film are deposited and/or crystallized on a substrate. When a laser ablation method is adopted, the temperature of the glass substrate is set in the range between 200.degree. C. and 700.degree. C., and the pressure of O.sub.2 gas in a film forming chamber is set in the range between 7.times.10.sup.-5 Torr and 1.times.10.sup.-2 Torr. A laser beam irradiates a ZnO target. The target radiates materials of a thin film, such as neutral ions, molecules and ions, and the radiated materials are deposited and/or crystallized on the glass substrate to turn into a ZnO thin film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-layer component having a thin layer of (100)-oriented platinum or the other metals in Group VIII, which is formed on amorphous silicon dioxide, and further relates to a thin-layer producing system for producing such thin-layer components, the thin-layer producing system being a sputtering system wherein an auxiliary electrode is provided between two electrodes.