Abstract: A search apparatus includes an input unit that receives an input of search-object information indicative of facilities to be searched for; a designating unit that designates, among combinations of facilities indicated by the search-object information, a combination of the facilities that are located on the same premises; a generating unit that, using location information concerning the facilities constituting the combination designated by the designating unit, generates search result information; and an output unit that outputs the search result information generated by the generating unit.

Abstract: An input unit receives update information concerning an updating of map information. A calculating unit calculates a ratio of information to be updated in the map information based on the update information received by the update information input unit. A generating unit generates update ratio information indicating the ratio calculated by the calculating unit. An output unit outputs the update ratio information generated by the generating unit to a device that uses the map information.

Abstract: The method of heat-treating a fluoride crystal according to the present invention comprises introducing an inert gas and/or a fluorine-based gas into a heat-treating furnace in which a fluoride crystal is placed through a gas-feeding port, and heating the fluoride crystal in the atmosphere of the gas having a pressure not lower than atmospheric pressure, thereby making it possible to prevent turbidity and coloration generated in the fluoride crystal due to oxygen and metal impurities adsorbed by the surface of the fluoride crystal.

Abstract: In order to shorten the annealing time to thereby reduce the production cost of a fluoride crystal, the method of heat treating a fluoride crystal of the present invention comprises the steps of: raising the temperature of a fluoride crystal; reducing the raised temperature of the fluoride crystal at a first temperature reducing rate; and then reducing the temperature of the fluoride crystal at a second temperature reducing rate which is larger than the first temperature reducing rate.

Abstract: In order to shorten the annealing time to thereby reduce the production cost of a fluoride crystal, the method of heat treating a fluoride crystal of the present invention comprises the steps of: raising the temperature of a fluoride crystal; reducing the raised temperature of the fluoride crystal at a first temperature reducing rate; and then reducing the temperature of the fluoride crystal at a second temperature reducing rate which is larger than the first temperature reducing rate.

Abstract: The method of heat-treating a fluoride crystal according to the present invention comprises introducing an inert gas and/or a fluorine-based gas into a heat-treating furnace in which a fluoride crystal is placed through a gas-feeding port, and heating the fluoride crystal in the atmosphere of the gas having a pressure not lower than atmospheric pressure, thereby making it possible to prevent turbidity and coloration generated in the fluoride crystal due to oxygen and metal impurities adsorbed by the surface of the fluoride crystal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a cooling and heating medium for an ice-storage system, which comprises a mixture of a water-insoluble antifreezing solution and water, and an ice-storage system which comprises using a mixture of a water-insoluble antifreezing solution and water as a cooling and heating medium, cooling the cooling and heating medium to obtain a mixture of the water-insoluble antifreezing solution and ice particles and circulating the mixture to convey latent heat.

Abstract: A piezoelectric on-off value for air conditioning comprises a bendable metal plate fixed at one end thereof; a valve member mounted on the other end of the metal plate along a ceiling plate, the value member having vent holes corresponding to vent holes in the ceiling plate, and the valve member changing the relative closure of the vent holes when the metal plate is deformed by application of voltage to the piezoelectric ceramic.

Abstract: An acoustic surface wave transducer with a transmission interdigital electrode (2A) and a reception interdigital electrode (2B in FIG. 10A-D) on a piezoelectric surface (1) has been improved by reducing inband dispersion of frequency characteristics by providing an edge effect canceler (k.sub.1), which cancels an undesired surface wave (E-a, E-b) generated at the external edge of the extreme end finger of the interdigital electrodes. Said edge effect canceler is constructed so that the length of the extreme end finger (11a) of the interdigital electrode (10, 20 in FIG.5A) is half of the length of the second extreme end finger (12a) of said interdigital electrode, and the spacing between said extreme end finger and the second extreme end finger is 1/2 wavelength of the acoustic surface Wave.