Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for detecting a surface plasmon resonance. The apparatus may radiate a polarized beam of light to a device, such as a surface plasmon resonance generator, and may measure variations in a temperature of the device to detect whether a surface plasmon resonance has occurred. The detection of a surface plasmon resonance may be associated with the presence of a particular material such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or materials disrupting ozone, for example.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light absorption device, a fixing unit including the same and an image forming apparatus including such fixing unit. The light absorption device includes a plurality of dielectric layers containing nano-rods. Surface plasmon resonance generated in response to certain wavelengths corresponding to the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers can result in an improvement in the light absorption efficiency. Further improvements can be realized by adjusting the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an information storage medium, the method including forming a plurality of nanorod recording layers on a substrate by sputtering using a mask having a plurality of nanorod patterns.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for detecting a surface plasmon resonance. The apparatus may radiate a polarized beam of light to a device, such as a surface plasmon resonance generator, and may measure variations in a temperature of the device to detect whether a surface plasmon resonance has occurred. The detection of a surface plasmon resonance may be associated with the presence of a particular material such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or materials disrupting ozone, for example.

Abstract: A light-absorptive device for absorbing light includes a light source configured to emit light and a light-absorptive element configured to absorb the light emitted from the source. The light-absorptive element includes a light-absorptive layer in which a nano-component comprised of one or more nano particles coated with a shape keeping agent is dispersed. The aspect ratio(s) and/or the dielectric constant of the light-absorptive layer may be selectively varied to realize a peak wavelength of absorption spectrum that corresponds to the wavelength(s) of the light emitted by the light source. The light-absorptive device may be incorporated as a heating unit, such as a fixing unit of an image forming apparatus to fix toner images on to a recording medium.

Abstract: Disclosed are a light absorption device, a fixing unit including the same and an image forming apparatus including such fixing unit. The light absorption device includes a plurality of dielectric layers containing nano-rods. Surface plasmon resonance generated in response to certain wavelengths corresponding to the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers can result in an improvement in the light absorption efficiency. Further improvements can be realized by adjusting the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus is provided. The measuring apparatus includes i) a point temperature sensor that has a tip and measures a temperature of an object, ii) a laser that heats the tip of the point temperature sensor by emitting a laser beam, iii) an optical member that is located between the laser and the point temperature sensor, iv) a measuring device that detects and measures a signal from the point temperature sensor, and v) a signal generator that supplies a reference signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a novel light absorptive member, a heating device employing such light absorptive member, a fixing device employing such heating device and an image forming apparatus that uses the fixing device. The light absorptive member includes nano-rods dispersed therein, and can increase absorption efficiency of a heating device, such as, for example, a fixing device that uses a light source as a radiant heat source, due to the surface plasmon resonance phenomenon that occurs when the wavelength(s) of the light corresponds the peak wavelength(s) of the absorptive rate for the light based on the aspect ratio(s) of the nano-rods.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus is provided. The measuring apparatus includes i) a point temperature sensor that has a tip and measures a temperature of an object, ii) a laser that heats the tip of the point temperature sensor by emitting a laser beam, iii) an optical member that is located between the laser and the point temperature sensor, iv) a measuring device that detects and measures a signal from the point temperature sensor, and v) a signal generator that supplies a reference signal.