Abstract: A wavelength-tunable laser a circling waveguide having a circling structure; a first coupled waveguide coupled to the circling waveguide in one region; and a second coupled waveguide coupled to the circling waveguide in another region, wherein a first reflection region is connected in the light guiding direction of the first coupled waveguide, an active region and a second reflection region are sequentially connected in the light guiding direction of the second coupled waveguide, and the refractive index of at least part of the circling waveguide is modulated.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of optical waveguides that are formed on a substrate and have the same waveguide direction, and a plurality of waveguide-type photoelectric conversion elements that are connected to the respective optical waveguides. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is arranged in the waveguide direction of the plurality of optical waveguides. In a planar view, the line segment connecting the photoelectric conversion elements adjacent to one another in the waveguide direction of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is inclined with respect to the waveguide direction.

Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes a first annealing step of annealing the reaction tube; a first cleaning step of cleaning an inner surface of the reaction tube, after the first annealing step, with a liquid including a fluorine compound having a first concentration; a first rinsing step of washing away the fluorine compound used in the first cleaning step with pure water; a second annealing step of annealing the reaction tube; a second cleaning step of cleaning the inner surface of the reaction tube, after the second annealing step, with a liquid including a fluorine compound having a second concentration higher than the first concentration; and a second rinsing step of washing away the fluorine compound used in the second cleaning step with pure water.

Abstract: A torque transmission joint to suppress occurrence of noise when reversing the direction of rotation of a drive shaft. A first transmission member fixed to an output shaft (the drive shaft) is engaged with a first elastic member such that a first gap in a circumferential direction is interposed, as well as with an intermediate transmission member such that a larger gap in the circumferential direction is interposed. A second transmission member fixed to an end portion of a worm is engaged with a second elastic member such that a second gap in the circumferential direction is interposed, as well as with the intermediate transmission member such that a larger gap in the circumferential direction is interposed. First and second annular convex portions are fitted to, respectively, first and second concave portions to prevent separation of the first and second elastic members with respect to the intermediate transmission member.

Abstract: A torque transmission joint includes a first elastic body having a plurality of first elastic pieces pinched in a circumferential direction between respective first convex portions and a coupling, and a second elastic body having a plurality of second elastic pieces pinched in the circumferential direction between respective second convex portions and the coupling.

Abstract: The torque transmission joint includes an intermediate transmission member, and a first transmission member and a second transmission member that are arranged with one each on both side sections in the axial direction of the intermediate transmission member, with the outer side sections in the radial direction of each engaging with the inside section in the radial direction of the intermediate transmission member. The first transmission member and the second transmission member have a first preliminary engagement section and a second preliminary engagement section at the end sections in the axial direction on sides close to each other. The first preliminary engagement section and the second preliminary engagement section engage with each other with a circumferential gap interposed therebetween that does not disappear when torque transmission is performed between the first transmission member and the second transmission member via the intermediate transmission member.

Abstract: Provided is a heat reflective member, which is prevented from braking even in a high-temperature environment. It generates no dust in use, and can be washed with a chemical liquid. The heat reflective member has a laminated structure in which quartz glass layers are formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of a siliceous sintered powder layer. The heat reflective member includes: an impermeable layer which is formed at a portion of the siliceous sintered powder layer at an end portion of the heat reflective member, which has a thickness at least larger than half of a thickness of the siliceous sintered powder layer, and through which a gas or a liquid is prevented from penetrating; and a buffer layer which is formed between the impermeable layer and the siliceous sintered powder layer, and which changes in density from the impermeable layer toward the sintered powder layer.

Abstract: One aspect is a reflective member, which has a laminated structure in which transparent quartz glass members are formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of an opaque siliceous sintered powder layer. The opaque siliceous sintered powder layer has a thickness of 0.1 mm or more and a thickness distribution of ±0.05 mm or less. When a load is applied to each of the transparent quartz glass members on an upper surface and a lower surface of the laminated structure in a direction parallel to the laminated structure, the reflective member is fractured at a load of 5 N or more per square centimeter. The laminated structure includes a semi-transparent portion having a width of 0.01 mm or less, which has an intermediate opacity between an opacity of the opaque siliceous sintered powder layer and an opacity of each of the transparent quartz glass members.

Abstract: A worm reducer includes: a housing including a wheel accommodating portion, and a worm accommodating portion; a worm wheel including wheel teeth disposed on an outer circumferential surface and rotatably supported inside the wheel accommodating portion; and a worm including worm teeth disposed on an outer circumferential surface to mesh with the wheel teeth and rotatably supported inside the worm accommodating portion, wherein a proximal end portion of the worm is connected to a drive shaft such that torque can be transmitted. An inner circumferential surface of the worm accommodating portion includes a housing side step surface which faces a proximal end side in an axial direction of the worm. An outer circumferential surface of the worm includes a worm side step surface which closely faces the housing side step surface in the axial direction at a portion axially deviated from a portion where the worm teeth are disposed.

Abstract: A worm reduction gear, including: an inner diameter side holder in which a bearing is internally fitted and held; an outer diameter side holder which includes a holder holding part in which the inner diameter side holder is internally fitted and held so as to be able to be relatively rotated and moved and to be displaced in a direction orthogonal to a center axis of a worm wheel and a center axis of a worm, and which is internally fitted and held in a holding recessed part of a housing; and an elastic urging member in a circumferential direction which elastically urges the inner diameter side holder against the outer diameter side holder in a direction of rotating in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes a first annealing step of annealing the reaction tube; a first cleaning step of cleaning an inner surface of the reaction tube, after the first annealing step, with a liquid including a fluorine compound having a first concentration; a first rinsing step of washing away the fluorine compound used in the first cleaning step with pure water; a second annealing step of annealing the reaction tube; a second cleaning step of cleaning the inner surface of the reaction tube, after the second annealing step, with a liquid including a fluorine compound having a second concentration higher than the first concentration; and a second rinsing step of washing away the fluorine compound used in the second cleaning step with pure water.

Abstract: A driving-side concave-convex portion of a driving-side transmission member is engaged with an elastic member. The driving-side concave-convex portion is engaged with an intermediate concave-convex portion of an intermediate transmission member with a circumferential gap being interposed therebetween. A driven-side concave-convex portion of a driven-side transmission member is engaged with the elastic member. The driven-side concave-convex portion is engaged with the intermediate concave-convex portion with a circumferential gap being interposed therebetween. Both axial side surfaces and a periphery of the intermediate transmission member are covered by a side surface covering portion and a periphery covering portion of the elastic member.

Abstract: Provided is a torque transmission joint that is able to suppress occurrence of noise when reversing the direction of rotation of the drive shaft. The first transmission member 17 fixed to the output shaft 12a which is a drive shaft is engaged with the first elastic member 20 in a state where the first gap in the circumferential direction is interposed, as well as with the intermediate transmission member 19 in a state where a gap in the circumferential direction which is larger than the first gap is interposed. The second transmission member 18 fixed to an end portion of the worm 8 is engaged with the second elastic member 21 in a state where the second gap in the circumferential direction is interposed, as well as with the intermediate transmission member 19 in a state where a gap in the circumferential direction which is larger than the second gap.

Abstract: Provided is a torque transmission joint that makes it possible to transmitting torque continuously between a pair of end section transmission members even when the torque transmission function of an intermediate transmission member is deteriorated. The torque transmission joint includes an intermediate transmission member 19, and a first transmission member 17 and a second transmission member 18 that are arranged with one each on both side sections in the axial direction of the intermediate transmission member 19, with the outer side sections in the radial direction of each engaging with the inside section in the radial direction of the intermediate transmission member 19. The first transmission member 17 and the second transmission member 18 have a first preliminary engagement section 63 and a second preliminary engagement section 66 at the end sections in the axial direction on sides close to each other.

Abstract: A first concave-convex portion of a first transmission member is engaged with an intermediate concave-convex portion of an intermediate transmission member with a circumferential gap being therebetween. A second concave-convex portion of a second transmission member is engaged with the intermediate concave-convex portion with a circumferential gap being therebetween. A first elastic member and a second elastic member are engaged with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion of the intermediate transmission member such that separation between the intermediate transmission member and the first elastic member and the second elastic member can be prevented.

Abstract: A holder member includes a holder-side holding surface for internally fitting and holding a rolling bearing on a tip end side and a holder-side held surface eccentric to a center axis of the holder-side holding surface. A guide member is internally fitted and held into a guide holding portion of a housing and includes a guide-side holding surface for internally fitting and holding the holder member to be capable of swinging about a center axis of the holder-side held surface. A first elastic urging member elastically urges a tip end portion of a worm toward a worm wheel side by elastically urging the holder member in a direction to rotate with respect to the guide member. Therefore, a structure which can more effectively suppress generation of gear rattle noise at a meshing portion between a wheel tooth and a worm tooth can be realized.

Abstract: There is provided a method of assembling a worm reducer, which includes causing a worm wheel to be rotatably supported in a wheel accommodation part, externally fitting a pair of bearings at tip-side and base-side positions of a worm, inserting the worm into a worm accommodation part from an opening side thereof at a state where the worm is offset outward in a radial direction of the worm wheel with respect to a center axis of the worm accommodation part, causing the bearing which is externally fitted to a leading side in an insertion direction of the worm to pass an outer diameter-side of a part of an outer peripheral edge of the worm wheel, which protrudes most into the worm accommodation part, causing the worm teeth to mesh with the worm wheel, and further inserting the worm to a predetermined position in the worm accommodation part.

Abstract: A pair of wedge-shaped pieces are provided in an annular space that is defined between an inner circumferential surface of a holding recess portion and an outer circumferential surface of a bearing holder in two position that are symmetrical with each other with respect to a meshing portion between a worm wheel and worm teeth and an imaginary plane ? that contains a center axis of a worm in such a way as to fill the annular space. Then, an elastic force is imparted to both the wedge-shaped pieces in a direction in which the pair of wedge-shaped pieces move away from the meshing portion in relation to a circumferential direction.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a worm reduction gear, including: an inner diameter side holder in which a bearing is internally fitted and held; an outer diameter side holder which includes a holder holding part in which the inner diameter side holder is internally fitted and held so as to be able to be relatively rotated and moved and to be displaced in a direction orthogonal to a center axis of a worm wheel and a center axis of a worm, and which is internally fitted and held in a holding recessed part of a housing; and an elastic urging member in a circumferential direction which elastically urges the inner diameter side holder against the outer diameter side holder in a direction of rotating in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A first concave-convex portion of a first transmission member is engaged with an intermediate concave-convex portion of an intermediate transmission member with a circumferential gap being therebetween. A second concave-convex portion of a second transmission member is engaged with the intermediate concave-convex portion with a circumferential gap being therebetween. A first elastic member and a second elastic member are engaged with a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion of the intermediate transmission member such that separation between the intermediate transmission member and the first elastic member and the second elastic member can be prevented.