Abstract: An image forming method includes forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image bearer, developing the electrostatic image with a toner to form a visible image, transferring the visible image onto a recording medium, and fixing the transferred visible image on the recording medium. The toner includes toner base particles each including a binder resin, a release agent, and particles of an inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent, and satisfies conditions (1) to (3) below. The image forming method satisfies a relationship of 2.0X (micrometers)?Z?2.5X (micrometers). Conditions (1) the number average particle diameter X of the particles of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent is 1.5 (micrometers)?X?2.5 (micrometers), (2) 3X (micrometers)?Y?4X (micrometers), and (3) an amount of the inorganic antibacterial antiviral agent in the toner is 2.8% by mass or greater, but 5.0% by mass or less.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the possibility that parallel connection is not allowed at the time of reactivation. A plurality of battery packs (11, 12) connected in parallel each include a chargeable-dischargeable battery string (21, 22), relays (41, 42) provided in series to the battery string (21, 22), and a detection unit that detects the state of the battery string. A master control unit (34) that controls the battery packs turns off the relays of the battery packs when a circulating current falls below a cancel-allowing current and, on the basis of a result obtained by the detection unit, makes the cancel-allowing current smaller as the SOC-equivalent value of the battery pack into which the largest amount of the circulating current flows increases.

Abstract: A power supply system that can suppress battery performance degradation due to deposition is provided. Among two battery packs (101, 102) for which it is determined whether a parallel connection is to be made, a specific battery characteristic regarding a charging battery pack (102) that is a battery pack having the lower voltage is calculated. Then, it is determined whether the battery characteristic matches an allowance condition, and it is determined whether the two battery packs (101, 102) are to be connected in parallel to each other. In addition, at least one of the battery characteristic and the allowance condition changes in accordance with a voltage of the charging battery pack (102).

Abstract: Provided is a battery system having high expandability. Each battery pack included in a battery system (1) acquires physical quantities of one or more batteries. Battery state information is calculated based on the acquired physical quantities. Then, each battery pack communicates with another battery pack. One battery pack is set as a master battery pack MP. Another battery pack other than the master battery pack (MP) is set as a slave battery pack (SP). The slave battery pack (SP) transmits the battery state information to the master battery pack (MP). The master battery pack (MP) calculates integrated battery information based on the battery state information of each battery pack.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the possibility that parallel connection is not allowed at the time of reactivation. A plurality of battery packs (11, 12) connected in parallel each include a chargeable-dischargeable battery string (21, 22), relays (41, 42) provided in series to the battery string (21, 22), and a detection unit that detects the state of the battery string. A master control unit (34) that controls the battery packs turns off the relays of the battery packs when a circulating current falls below a cancel-allowing current and, on the basis of a result obtained by the detection unit, makes the cancel-allowing current smaller as the SOC-equivalent value of the battery pack into which the largest amount of the circulating current flows increases.

Abstract: A power supply system that can suppress battery performance degradation due to deposition is provided. Among two battery packs (101, 102) for which it is determined whether a parallel connection is to be made, a specific battery characteristic regarding a charging battery pack (102) that is a battery pack having the lower voltage is calculated. Then, it is determined whether the battery characteristic matches an allowance condition, and it is determined whether the two battery packs (101, 102) are to be connected in parallel to each other. In addition, at least one of the battery characteristic and the allowance condition changes in accordance with a voltage of the charging battery pack (102).

Abstract: A battery controller 10 outputs a voltage sampling and holding command signal to an integrated circuit CCn located at an upstream end of cascade connection of integrated circuits CC1-CCn such that integrated circuits CC1-CCn sample and hold output voltages of unit cells 1 grouped into battery modules M1-Mn. The battery controller 10, after transmission of the voltage sampling and holding command signal, outputs a transmission command signal to the integrated circuit CCn at the upstream end of the cascade circuit to transmit output voltages of the unit cells 1 held in the integrated circuits CC1-CCn to the battery controller 10. As a result, a time lag in the detection timings of output voltages of the unit cells 1 of the battery modules M1-Mn can be decreased.

Abstract: In a long hot water mat, straight parts (4a) of a hot water pipe (4) are laid lengthwise in a long mat body (2) and U-shaped turning parts (4b) of the hot water pipe are placed at locations near the opposite ends (2b) of the mat body (2). Slits (7) are formed at regular intervals in the lower surface of the mat body (2) so that the slits cross the mat body (2) in directions crossing the straight parts (4a) of the hot water pipe (4). The hot water mat having a heat dissipating sheet (6) thereon can be rolled from an end of the mat body (2), with the heat dissipating sheet being placed inward, due to the slits (7) so that the mat can be easily moved using an elevator or can be easily moved into a room while avoiding a reduction in the size of the mat.

Abstract: A mat base 1a of a hot water mat 1 has a quadrilateral shape and is divided by slits 2 into base end portions 3 and 4 and base intermediate portions 5. After heat transfer tape 8 is attached to each of the base intermediate portions 5, a hot water pipe 10 is disposed on the entire mat base 1a. A heat radiation sheet 13 is then attached on the entire top surface of the mat base 1a. With this construction, the hot water matt 1 can be longitudinally rolled. Also, the thermal efficiency of the hot water mat 1 is improved since heat radiated from the hot water pipe 10, disposed in the pipe grooves, is sufficiently transferred by the heat transfer tape 8 to the heat radiation sheet 13.

Abstract: A battery pack control apparatus is provided with first, second and third monitoring devices, a battery pack control device, first and second communication devices, and a first electric power consuming device. The monitoring devices are connected to the single battery cells of a battery pack to monitor a state of the single battery cells. The battery pack control device communicates data related with the third monitoring device through the first communication device having an electric insulating quality and with the first monitoring device through a second communication device having an electric insulating quality. The second monitoring device communicates data with the first and third monitoring devices. The first electric power consuming device consumes an amount of electric power at a single battery cell connected to the second monitoring device. The amount of electric power corresponds to a communication occurring at the second communication device.

Abstract: A battery controller 10 outputs a voltage sampling and holding command signal to an integrated circuit CCn located at an upstream end of cascade connection of integrated circuits CC1-CCn such that integrated circuits CC1-CCn sample and hold output voltages of unit cells 1 grouped into battery modules M1-Mn. The battery controller 10, after confirming that the voltage sampling and holding command signal has been transmitted to an integrated circuit CC1 located at a downstream end of the cascade connection, outputs a transmission command signal to the integrated circuit CCn at the upstream end of the cascade circuit to transmit output voltages of the unit cells 1 held in the integrated circuits CC1-CCn to the battery controller 10. As a result, a time lag in the detection timings of output voltages of the unit cells 1 of the battery modules M1-Mn can be decreased.

Abstract: A battery pack control apparatus is provided with first, second and third monitoring devices, a battery pack control device, first and second communication devices, and a first electric power consuming device. The monitoring devices are connected to the single battery cells of a battery pack to monitor a state of the single battery cells. The battery pack control device communicates data related with the third monitoring device through the first communication device having an electric insulating quality and with the first monitoring device through a second communication device having an electric insulating quality. The second monitoring device communicates data with the first and third monitoring devices. The first electric power consuming device consumes an amount of electric power at a single battery cell connected to the second monitoring device. The amount of electric power corresponds to a communication occurring at the second communication device.

Abstract: An apparatus for purifying contaminated air has an air inlet exposed to a road surface, an air outlet spaced from the road surface, a soil bed for being populated with microorganisms, the soil bed being disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet and allowing air to pass therethrough, a pipe interconnecting the soil bed and the air outlet, and embedded underground, and a fan for introducing air from the air inlet, passing the air through the soil bed, delivering the air from the soil bed through the pipe to the air outlet, and discharging the air from the air outlet.