Abstract: Herein disclosed are a piezoelectric device, an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, a nondestructive testing device, and a method of producing one or more piezoelectric devices respectively having predetermined thickness distributions equal in shape to one another with high precision to realize an ultrasound diagnosis with high reliability.

Abstract: A boot is installed to a shaft portion of a ball pin and slidably engages a joint case to seal between the ball pin and the joint case. The boot includes a slidably engaging portion, a connecting portion and a flexible portion. The slidably engaging portion slidably engages the joint case. The connecting portion is attached to the shaft portion of the ball pin. The flexible portion flexibly connects between the slidably engaging portion and the connecting portion. The slidably engaging portion includes an arcuate section and a flange section. The arcuate section has an arcuate cross section on an inner peripheral side of the slidably engaging portion. The flange section projects on an outer peripheral side of the slidably engaging portion.

Abstract: An ink jet printing head comprises a plurality of ink liquid chambers (pressure chambers) 13 connected to an ink supply source and arranged in a predetermined direction and a plurality of nozzles 11a individually connected to the ink liquid chambers 13 and arranged in the predetermined direction. Plate-shaped members 14, 15, 17 and 18 lying between the ink liquid chambers 13 and having a piezoelectric plate member capable of discharging ink in the ink liquid chambers are arranged by being laminated in the arrangement direction of the nozzles 11a. By this configuration, a multi-nozzle ink jet printing head with high-density nozzle arrangement can be realized.

Abstract: A shock sensor including a magnetic reed switch extending in a direction in which shocks are to be detected, a member movable along the magnetic reed switch due to the shocks and including a magnet for imparting a magnetic force to the magnetic reed switch to turn on the magnetic reed switch, a coil spring for biasing the moving member toward one side of the magnetic reed switch, and an adjuster for adjusting the time duration in which the magnetic reed switch is on. The adjuster also reduces the moving speed of the moving member of adjusts the turn-on time when the magnetic reed switch is turned on.

Abstract: A position signal producing apparatus, for an apparatus for project-printing a pattern on a reticle onto a wafer through a project lens system with exposure light, for producing a position signal indicative of the position of the wafer is disclosed, wherein two different frequency components of alignment light whose frequencies are different from that of the exposure light are interfered with each other at a position alignment blank to form interference fringes having a given pitch. The interference fringes are projected onto a diffraction grating through an achromatizing optical system and the project lens system. Diffracted light returning from the diffraction grating is received by a photodetector which provides a light beat signal. A position deviation signal obtained by phase comparison of the light beat signal provides position alignment by controlling relative positions between the position alignment blank and the diffraction grating.

Abstract: A reticle/wafer alignment system provided with a laser beam source for emitting laser beams, a first optical system portion for a reticle/wafer alignment which consists of a first optical sub-system for receiving laser beams from the laser beam source and projecting the received laser beams onto alignment marks formed on a substrate and made up of diffraction gratings and a second optical sub-system for gathering laser beams diffracted by the alignment marks to form an image thereof, a photoelectric detection portion for performing a photoelectric conversion of the gathered laser beams, a position detecting portion for measuring the position of the substrate based on a signal outputted from the photoelectric detection portion, a second optical system portion for an image processing which consists of a third optical sub-system for illuminating the alignment marks and a fourth optical sub-system having a television camera for observing the image of the alignment marks, and an image processing portion for perfor

Abstract: A first reticle is located at an object position of a lens to be evaluated. The first reticle is formed with a first diffraction grating. A stage supports the first reticle. A coherent light source illuminates a whole region of the first diffraction grating. A spatial filter blocks a 0-order component of diffraction light from the first diffraction grating. A second reticle is located at an image position of the lens and is formed with a second diffraction grating. A stage moves the second reticle within a projection range of the lens. Interference fringes are formed on the second reticle by re-diffraction by the lens. Moire fringes are caused by the second diffraction grating and the interference fringes. The moire fringes are observed.

Abstract: A position signal producing apparatus, for an apparatus for project-printing a pattern on reticle onto a wafer through a project lens with ultraviolet light, for producing a position signal indicative of position of the wafer, comprises: a laser emitting two different frequency components polarized orthogonally with each other which are splitted by a polarizing beam splitter. The first and second components are reflected by first and second mirrors respectively to produce interference fringes at a given place being on an annular region within a circle defined by field angle of the project lens on the reticle through wave plates for circularly-polarizing. Another interference fringes is formed on a diffraction grating of the wafer in correspondence with the interference fringes through the project lens and a lens for achromatizing the project lens at wavelengths of the components. Another interference fringes reflected by the diffraction grating is detected by a photodetector for producing the position signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe which scans an ultrasonic beam in a sector area by a mechanical drive is disclosed. The ultrasonic probe essentially has a driving motor, a rotary shaft rotatably supported in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the driving shaft of the driving motor, a rotor shaft rotatably supported in a direction parallel to the direction of the rotary shaft, a rotor mounted on the rotor shaft for carrying ultrasonic transducers, screw gears for transmitting rotation of the motor to the rotary shaft, and a transmitting device for transmitting rotation of the rotary shaft to the rotor.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for wrapping paper on a cylindrical drum for use in a recording or reading system. The apparatus includes a roller for pressing the paper wrapped on the cylindrical drum. The roller is disposed in the vicinity of the cylindrical drum and in parallel to the axis of the cylindrical drum and is supported by a pair of roller-supporting plates disposed facing each other. Also included is a connecting rod disposed in parallel to the roller. The connecting rod penetrates a through-hole made in a substantial center portion of each of the roller-supporting plates and is supported by a pair of rod-supporting plates disposed outwardly with respect to the pair of roller-supporting plates. A lever is mounted on an end of at least one of the roller-supporting plates, which end is opposite to the other end where the roller is supported, so that the roller is rotatable about the axis of the connecting rod with the operation of the lever.

Abstract: In a mechanically scanned ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transducer is swingably mounted on a drive shaft which is given a swinging transversal movement and a reciprocating longitudinal movement. The transducer emits an acoustic beam which is steered in a raster format in response to the swing and reciprocating motions. Echos returning from objects contain diagnostic data of a three-dimensional space. All the components are encased in a toothbrush-like housing having a head portion, an intermediate portion and a hand-grip portion. The dual motions are provided by a drive mechanism accommodated in the hand-grip portion and the transducer is accommodated in the head portion. The drive shaft extends through the intermediate portion.