Abstract: A label production system producing labels for affixation to one or more types of products successively produced in an industrial production line. The label production system includes a printer for printing on and cutting a medium, wherein the medium includes a first sheet and a second sheet laminated onto the first sheet, and wherein the printer includes an ink head for printing on the second sheet of the medium and a cutter for cutting at least the second sheet of the medium. A computer controls the printer to produce at least one label for each of one or more products produced in the production line by controlling the printer to print on and cut a contour on the second sheet of the medium.

Abstract: A waveguide optical switch has a waveguide whose refractive index changes can be controlled by an electro-optic effect and an UV guide waveguide for coupling an ultraviolet radiation to the waveguide. A portion of the waveguide and a portion of the UV guide waveguide make up a directional coupler.

Abstract: A waveguide optical switch has a waveguide whose refractive index changes can be controlled by an electro-optic effect and an UV guide waveguide for coupling an ultraviolet radiation to the waveguide. A portion of the waveguide and a portion of the UV guide waveguide make up a directional coupler.

Abstract: A phase difference measuring device includes a first light source, an optical branching device, an optical path length adjusting device, a combining device, a measuring unit, and a second light source. Ultraviolet light emitted by the first light source is branched into a first portion of luminous flux that passes along a sample optical path in which the object to be measured is provided and a second portion of luminous flux that passes along a reference optical path. The optical path length adjusting device is provided in the reference optical path and adjusts the difference in optical path length between the sample optical path and reference optical path. The first portion of luminous flux that has passed along the sample optical path and the second portion of luminous flux that has passed along the reference optical path are recombined by the combining device.

Abstract: A laser processing method for ablating a transparent material is disclosed. A laser beam absorption layer is formed in a desired ablation portion beforehand by the implantation of an impurity or the increase of a defect density. The absorption layer obviates damage ascribable to thermal strain and, when use is made of a VUV (Vacuum Ultra Violet) beam, damage to portions other than an irradiated portion. This allows a simple apparatus to implement the ablation of a transparent film.