Abstract: A lens barrel 100 includes a fifth lens group unit 25, a focus ring 31, an internal gear 31b, a pinion gear 41, a detection magnet 43, and a GMR sensor 44. The internal gear 31b rotates integrally with the focus ring 31 and has a plurality of gear portions 31c. The pinion gear 41 is provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the focus ring 31 and has a gear portion 41a that mates with the gear portion 31c of the internal gear 31b, and a guide shaft 42 that is inserted through the center of the gear portion 41a. The guide shaft 42 is inserted through the detection magnet 43, and the detection magnet 43 rotates integrally with the gear portion 41a and has a magnetized surface 43b on which different magnetic poles are alternately magnetized. The GMR sensor 44 is fixed to a member separate from the detection magnet 43, is provided at a position adjacent to the detection magnet 43, and detects the rotation of the detection magnet 43 that rotates along with the pinion gear 41.

Abstract: A lens barrel (10) comprises a fixed frame (30), a main shaft guide (40) that is fixed to the fixed frame, a movable frame (33) that moves along the main shaft guide (40), a driver (magnet (32), drive coil (33c)) that moves the movable frame (33) relatively with respect to the fixed frame (30) along the main shaft guide (40), and a vibration imparting unit (36) that imparts vibration to the main shaft guide (40).

Abstract: An optical device actuator comprises a movable frame (33) including a focus lens (L11); a main shaft guide (40); a piezoelectric element (36a); a weight (36b); a fixed frame (30); a guide holding frame (35); and a spring (36c). The piezoelectric element (36a) imparts vibration to a first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40). The fixed frame (30) supports the piezoelectric element (36a) and the weight (36b) disposed on the first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40). The guide holding frame (35) supports, in a fixed state, the main shaft guide (40) on a second end (40b) side on the opposite side from the first end (40a) side. The spring (36c) is provided on the first end (40a) side of the main shaft guide (40), and presses the piezoelectric element (36a) along the axial direction with respect to the first end (40a) of the main shaft guide (40) via the weight (36b).

Abstract: A lens barrel (10) comprises a fixed frame (30), a main shaft guide (40) that is fixed to the fixed frame, a movable frame (33) that moves along the main shaft guide (40), a driver (magnet (32), drive coil (33c)) that moves the movable frame (33) relatively with respect to the fixed frame (30) along the main shaft guide (40), and a vibration imparting unit (36) that imparts vibration to the main shaft guide (40).

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first lens frame that holds a first lens; a second lens frame that holds a second lens, and holds the first lens frame movably along an optical axis; and a pair of linear units that drive the movement of the first lens frame along the optical axis. When seen in an optical axis direction, the pair of linear units are disposed along the outer circumference of the first lens frame, at mutually non-opposing positions across the optical axis.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a first lens frame that holds a first lens; a second lens frame that holds a second lens, and holds the first lens frame movably along an optical axis; and a pair of linear units that drive the movement of the first lens frame along the optical axis. When seen in an optical axis direction, the pair of linear units are disposed along the outer circumference of the first lens frame, at mutually non-opposing positions across the optical axis.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing fatty acid alkyl esters at high reaction efficiency, wherein the impurities inhibiting the reaction such as water are removed sufficiently. The fatty acid alkyl esters are produced efficiently, by a method of producing fatty acid alkyl esters, at least comprising (A) a step of removing at least water from an oil/fat raw material, (B) a step of converting the fatty acid glycerides contained in the oil/fat raw material into fatty acid alkyl esters and reducing the triglyceride content in the fatty acid alkyl esters obtained to 0.1 wt % or less by fine-particle dispersion and agitation, and (C) a step of separating at least glycerol from the mixture containing fatty acid alkyl esters.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing fatty acid alkyl esters at high reaction efficiency, wherein the impurities inhibiting the reaction such as water are removed sufficiently. The fatty acid alkyl esters are produced efficiently, by a method of producing fatty acid alkyl esters, at least comprising (A) a step of removing at least water from an oil/fat raw material, (B) a step of converting the fatty acid glycerides contained in the oil/fat raw material into fatty acid alkyl esters and reducing the triglyceride content in the fatty acid alkyl esters obtained to 0.1 wt % or less by fine-particle dispersion and agitation, and (C) a step of separating at least glycerol from the mixture containing fatty acid alkyl esters.

Abstract: An inorganic coating material maintains the properties of high heat resistance and high electrical insulating characteristics of inorganic materials, while enhancing the degree of adhesion with respect to an object to be coated. A water-based suspension with a specific gravity in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 is obtained by using as major raw materials at least two types of metal oxide particles having heat-resistant characteristics at temperatures above 1000° C., distributing diameters of these particles in the range of 0.1 &mgr;m to 30 &mgr;m, adjusting the average value of their particle diameters to 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.

Abstract: An inorganic coating material maintains the properties of high heat resistance and high electrical insulating characteristics of inorganic materials, while enhancing the degree of adhesion with respect to an object to be coated. A water-based suspension with a specific gravity in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 is obtained by using as major raw materials at least two types of metal oxide particles having heat-resistant characteristics at temperatures above 1000° C., distributing diameters of these particles in the range of 0.1 &mgr;m to 30 &mgr;m, adjusting the average value of their particle diameters to 0.2 &mgr;m to 0.

Abstract: A relay device includes a first rotor having an inner cylinder, a second rotor having an outer cylinder, a flexible flat cable wound spirally in an annular space defined between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and a C-shaped moving member arranged so as to move along the annular space. The C-shaped moving member consists of an inner horizontal rib, an outer horizontal rib, an upper vertical rib and a lower vertical rib. When the flexible flat cable is rewound from the inner cylinder by the relative rotation between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, the contact area of the moving member with the cable can be reduced because the inner horizontal rib is in the form of a plate material projecting from the inner peripheral face of the moving member horizontally. Thus, it is possible to reduce the frictional force of the moving member on the cable and to prevent the cable from buckling.

Abstract: A relay apparatus for relatively rotating members includes a first member (rotating member) having an internal cylindrical portion, a second member (fixed member) having an external cylindrical portion which surrounds the internal cylindrical portion with a predetermined gap and is relatively rotated with respect to the internal cylindrical portion, a flexible flat cable which is stored along an annular space between the internal cylindrical portion and the external cylindrical portion to be spirally wound and which has an inner peripheral portion held by the internal cylindrical portion and an outer peripheral portion held by the external cylindrical portion, and a C-shaped moving member, movably arranged along the space, for inverting the flexible flat cable 13 in an opening portion 21c. One member of the first member 11 and the second member as rotatably driven and, has a flange formed on the cylindrical portion, and the moving member is arranged on the flange.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for electrically interconnecting parts on the steering wheel and column, respectively, of a motor vehicle by interconnecting an under cover, which is fixed to the column, and a rotator, which is fixed to the wheel so as to rotate relatively to the under cover as the wheel rotates, through a long flexible flat cable with its intermediate portion housed between the under cover and the rotator. The under cover has a junction. Fixed to the under cover is an internal gear having a positioner integral with it. The positioner is inserted into the junction so as to position the internal gear relatively to the under cover.