Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber branch structure for spatial optical communication for transmitting information by emitting communication light. The fiber branch structure is provided with: a light emitter configured to emit communication light; a light emission controller configured to control the light emitter; an optical fiber configured to transmit the light emitted from the light emitter; a distributor configured to distribute the light, the distributer being optically coupled to an output terminal of the optical fiber; and an optical fiber group optically coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the distributor. According to the present invention, a communication area can be established without blind spots. That is, the fiber branch structure for spatial optical communication according to the present invention includes an optical fiber group optically coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the distributor.

Abstract: This optical communication device (1) is provided with: a plurality of light-receiving elements (11) configured to receive communication light, the plurality of light-receiving elements being provided so as to correspond to a plurality of channels; and a controller (15) configured to perform control to invalidate output from a light-receiving element that has received high-intensity light higher in light intensity than a predetermined value among the plurality of light-receiving elements.

Abstract: This underwater optical wireless communication system (100) is provided with a plurality of moving bodies (1) capable of moving underwater. The plurality of moving bodies each includes a plurality of optical wireless communication units (2) each configured to perform bidirectional communication between the plurality of moving bodies using communication light beams (30) having wavelengths different from each other in a plurality of directions which are mutually opposite directions. The plurality of optical wireless communication units is configured to perform bidirectional communication between the plurality of moving bodies using communication light beams, the communication beams having the same wavelength with respect to each of the plurality of directions.

Abstract: This underwater optical wireless communication system (100) is provided with a plurality of moving bodies (1) capable of moving underwater. The plurality of moving bodies each includes a plurality of optical wireless communication units (2) each configured to perform bidirectional communication between the plurality of moving bodies using communication light beams (30) having wavelengths different from each other in a plurality of directions which are mutually opposite directions. The plurality of optical wireless communication units is configured to perform bidirectional communication between the plurality of moving bodies using communication light beams, the communication beams having the same wavelength with respect to each of the plurality of directions.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy suitable for a negative electrode of an alkaline storage battery is provided. The hydrogen storage alloy provided is a hydrogen storage alloy used for an alkaline storage battery that has, as a main phase, one or two crystal structures selected from an A2B7-type structure and an AB3-type structure, and that is represented by a general formula: (La1-a-bCeaSmb)1-cMgcNidAleCrf (where suffixes a, b, c, d, e, and f in this formula (1) meet the following conditions: 0<a?0.15; 0?b?0.15; 0.17?c?0.32; 0.02?e?0.10; 0?f?0.05; and 2.95?d+e+f?3.50.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber branch structure for spatial optical communication for transmitting information by emitting communication light. The fiber branch structure is provided with: a light emitter configured to emit communication light; a light emission controller configured to control the light emitter; an optical fiber configured to transmit the light emitted from the light emitter; a distributor configured to distribute the light, the distributer being optically coupled to an output terminal of the optical fiber; and an optical fiber group optically coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the distributor. According to the present invention, a communication area can be established without blind spots. That is, the fiber branch structure for spatial optical communication according to the present invention includes an optical fiber group optically coupled to a plurality of output terminals of the distributor.

Abstract: This optical communication device (1) is provided with a plurality of light-receiving elements (11) and a plurality of optical fibers (12). The plurality of optical fibers each includes a light-incident end portion (12a) for communication light and a light-emission end portion (12b) for communication light. The plurality of light-emission end portions is each arranged near each of the plurality of light-receiving elements. The plurality of light-incident end portions is each configured to be capable of being arranged in a predetermined position in a predetermined direction.

Abstract: This optical communication device (1) is provided with: a plurality of light-receiving elements (11) configured to receive communication light, the plurality of light-receiving elements being provided so as to correspond to a plurality of channels; and a controller (15) configured to perform control to invalidate output from a light-receiving element that has received high-intensity light higher in light intensity than a predetermined value among the plurality of light-receiving elements.

Abstract: A magnetic sheet 1 of an embodiment includes a stack of a plurality of magnetic thin strips and resin film parts. The stack includes from 5 to 25 pieces of the magnetic thin strips. The magnetic thin strips are provided with cutout portions each having a width of 1 mm or less (including 0 (zero)). A ratio (B/A) of a total length B of the cutout portions provided to the magnetic thin strip to a total outer peripheral length A of an outer peripheral area of the magnetic thin strip arranged on one of the resin film parts is in a range of from 2 to 25.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy suitable for a negative electrode of an on-board alkaline storage battery, an alkaline storage battery using this hydrogen storage alloy, and a vehicle; wherein a fine-grained hydrogen storage alloy is used for an alkaline storage battery that has a crystal structure of an A2B7-type structure as a main phase and is represented by a general formula: (La1-aSma)1-bMgbNicAldCre (where suffixes a, b, c, d, and e meet the following conditions: 0?a?0.35, 0.15?b?0.30, 0.02?d?0.10, 0?e?0.10, 3.20?c+d+e?3.50, and 0<a+e), and an alkaline storage battery using this hydrogen storage alloy for a negative electrode. A vehicle also includes this alkaline storage battery as an electricity supply source for a motor.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy suitable for a negative electrode of an on-board alkaline storage battery, and an alkaline storage battery using the alloy, which has an AB3-type crystal structure as a main phase, represented by: (SmxLayRz)1?a?bMgaTbNicCodMe. (R is selected from Pr, Nd; T is selected from Ti, Zr, Hf; M is selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Cu, Al, Si, P, B; the following conditions are met: 0<x<1.0, 0<y<1.0, 0.8?x+y?1.0, x+y+z=1.0; 0.93?(x?y)·(1?a?b)+4.5(a+b)?1.62, 0<a?0.45, 0?b?0.05, 0?d?0.7, 0?e?0.15, 2.85?c+d+e?3.15 and 0.01?d+e).

Abstract: A permanent magnet of the embodiment includes: a composition represented by a composition formula: R(FepMqCurCtCo1-p-q-r-t)z (R is at least one element selected from rare-earth elements, M is at least one element selected from Ti, Zr and Hf, 0.27?p?0.45, 0.01?q?0.05, 0.01?r?0.1, 0.002?t?0.03, and 6?z?9); and a metallic structure including a main phase containing a Th2Zn17 crystal phase, and a sub phase of the element M having an element M concentration of 30 atomic % or more. The sub phase of the element M precipitates in the metallic structure. A ratio of a circumferential length to a precipitated area of the sub phase of the element M is 1 or more and 10 or less.

Abstract: A work apparatus that can collect core samples of a seabed ground at a desired angle in a stable manner includes a body 10, four flippers 30 rotatably disposed at left and right of a front section of the body 10 and at left and right of a rear section of the body 10 and a coring mechanism 20 disposed on the body 10 as basic features. An inclination sensor 17 that detects inclinations in a front-rear direction and in a left-right direction is disposed on the body 10. A load sensor 49 is attached to a support structure 40 rotatably supporting the flippers 30. A controller 16 controls rotations of the four flippers 30 based on information on inclination from the inclination sensor 17 and information on landing of the flippers 30 from the load sensor 49 to make the body 10 assume a desired attitude, which is a horizontal attitude, for example, and to land at least three flippers 30. After the attitude control, the controller 16 activates the coring mechanism 20 to collect the core samples from the seabed.

Abstract: A magnetic sheet 1 of an embodiment includes a stack of a plurality of magnetic thin strips and resin film parts. The stack includes from 5 to 25 pieces of the magnetic thin strips. The magnetic thin strips are provided with cutout portions each having a width of 1 mm or less (including 0 (zero)). A ratio (B/A) of a total length B of the cutout portions provided to the magnetic thin strip to a total outer peripheral length A of an outer peripheral area of the magnetic thin strip arranged on one of the resin film parts is in a range of from 2 to 25.

Abstract: A magnetic sheet 1 of an embodiment includes a stack of a plurality of magnetic thin strips and resin film parts. The stack includes from 5 to 25 pieces of the magnetic thin strips. The magnetic thin strips are provided with cutout portions each having a width of 1 mm or less (including 0 (zero)). A ratio (B/A) of a total length B of the cutout portions provided to the magnetic thin strip to a total outer peripheral length A of an outer peripheral area of the magnetic thin strip arranged on one of the resin film parts is in a range of from 2 to 25.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material made of a polycrystalline material represented by a composition formula (1) shown below and having an MgAgAs type crystal structure is provided. An insulating coat is provided on at least one surface of the polycrystalline material. Composition formula (1): (Aa1Tib1)xDyX100-x-y, wherein 0.2?a1?0.7, 0.3?b1?0.8, a1+b1=1, 30?x?35, 30?y?35 hold, wherein A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn and Sb.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a thermoelectric conversion material is made of a polycrystalline material which is represented by a composition formula (1) shown below and has a MgAgAs type crystal structure. The polycrystalline material includes a MgAgAs type crystal grain having regions of different Ti concentrations. (AaTib)cDdXe??Composition formula (1) wherein 0.2?a?0.7, 0.3?b?0.8, a+b=1, 0.93?c?1.08, and 0.93?e?1.08 hold when d=1; A is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Zr and Hf, D is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Fe, and X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sn and Sb.

Abstract: A permanent magnet of the embodiment includes: a composition represented by a composition formula: R(FepMqCurCtCo1-p-q-r-t)z (R is at least one element selected from rare-earth elements, M is at least one element selected from Ti, Zr and Hf, 0.27?p?0.45, 0.01?q?0.05, 0.01?r?0.1, 0.002?t?0.03, and 6?z?9); and a metallic structure including a main phase containing a Th2Zn17 crystal phase, and a sub phase of the element M having an element M concentration of 30 atomic % or more. The sub phase of the element M precipitates in the metallic structure. A ratio of a circumferential length to a precipitated area of the sub phase of the element M is 1 or more and 10 or less.

Abstract: A magnetic sheet of an embodiment includes a laminate of a plurality of magnetic thin plates. The laminate constituting the magnetic sheet includes a first magnetic thin plate and a second magnetic thin plate different in kind from the first magnetic thin plate. The first magnetic thin plate has a magnetostriction constant exceeding 5 ppm in an absolute value, and the second magnetic thin plate has a magnetostriction constant of 5 ppm or less in an absolute value. Alternatively, the first magnetic thin plate has a thickness of from 50 to 300 ?m, and the second magnetic thin plate has a thickness of from 10 to 30 ?m.

Abstract: A solid scintillator in an embodiment includes a polycrystal body of an oxide having a garnet structure. In the solid scintillator, a linear transmittance at a wavelength of 680 nm is 10% or more. The oxide constituting the solid scintillator has a composition represented by, for Example, General formula: (Gd1??????Tb?Lu?Ce?)3(Al1?xGax)aOb, wherein 0<??0.55, 0<??0.55, 0.0001???0.1, ?+?+?<1, 0<x<1, 4.8?a?5.2, 11.6?b?12.4.