Abstract: Without necessitating complicated operations, an image of a low to medium magnification and an image of a high magnification are efficiently observed by an optical microscope and by an atomic force microscope, respectively. In the atomic force microscope, an atomic force microscope probe, whose size has been reduced since a device for detecting interatomic force is provided by a piezoelectric film, piezoresistance, or the like, is disposed between an objective lens of the optical microscope and a sample to be observed or at a position of the objective lens when the objective lens and the probe are constructed so as to be interchangeable, thereby enabling the optical microscope to confirm a scanning position of the atomic force microscope.

Abstract: A method for extracting electrodes, comprises the steps of forming an electrode of a dielectric thin film on a first substrate member, forming a small projection on a second substrate member, forming a wiring pattern of an electrode extracting member communicating with the projection on the second substrate member, whereby the electrode extracting member on the projection constitutes a projection portion and the electrode of the first substrate member is brought into contact with the projection portion to the electrode extracting member on the second substrate member, whereby the electrode can be electrically connected to an external unit via the electrode extracting member.

Abstract: A method for producing a lead niobate-based complex oxide with an elevated proportion of pervoskite phase and lead niobate-based complex oxide produced by such method enables manufacture of small actuator or capacitor with an elevated dielectric constant k. Treatment of a raw material represented by a general formula Pb(A.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.#)x(ZN.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3) yO.sub.3 or Pb(Fe.sub.1/2 Nb.sub.1/2)x(Zn.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3) yO.sub.3 (wherein A is Mg or Ni; x is an atomic ratio in a range of 0-1; and y is an atomic ratio in a range of 1-0, with a relation x+y=1) and containing pyrochlore phase, under a high temperature of 500.degree.-1300.degree. C. and a high pressure of 1000-4000 kg/cm.sup.2, causes transition of pyrochlore phase into perovskite phase, thereby increasing the proportion of perovskite phase. Also treatment of a raw material represented by a general formula uPb(.sub.1/3 Nb.sub.2/3)O.sub.3 -vPbTiO.sub.3 (wherein u is an atomic ratio in a range of 0.5-1; and v is an atomic ratio in a range of 0.

Abstract: An absolute position detection encoder includes a coder having a track provided with first graduations of an absolute pattern and second graduations of an incremental pattern, plural sensors movable relative to the coder along the longitudinal direction of the track, and a signal processing circuit for processing detection pulse trains, obtained upon reading the first graduations by the sensors, in synchronism with the time point corresponding to approximately the mid position of the minimum reading unit of the first graduation. The encoder outputs the relative position between the coder and the sensors in the form of parallel code signals as the absolute position read out from the absolute pattern graduations on the coder.

Abstract: A suspension of a vehicle includes a subframe coupled with a car body through four elastic insulators. Four insulators are disposed in the front leftward and rightward portion and the rear leftward and rightward portion of the subframe. A suspension arm is coupled vertically pivotably on an inner end thereof with the subframe. A wheel carrier is coupled vertically pivotably with an outer end of the suspension arm. A strut bar disposed longitudinally of the car body is coupled vertically pivotably with the wheel carrier on one end thereof and with the car body on the other end.

Abstract: A rotational mechanism to be disposed midway in a fluid passage may be utilized in a silencer, rotary pump, or the like. The mechanism is essentially provided with a casing defining a spherical chamber, a pair of shafts respectively having axes passing through the center of the interior space of the casing and crossing each other in a plane substantially perpendicular to the flow direction of the fluid, and a pair of impellers having at least two flat plate vanes and at least two bent vanes alternately positioned to the flat plate vanes. The impellers are related to each other such that one flat plate vane is abutted on one bent vane of the other impeller so that every two vanes can constantly partition the spherical space to be able to diminish the noise of the flow or to transport the fluid as a rotary pump with one impeller being driven and the other impeller being idly rotated, by making isolated spaces of different volume for creating the force of pushing away the fluid.