Abstract: A merchandise registration apparatus includes: a first reading unit to form a first reading area in which a code symbol attached to merchandise can be read; a second reading unit provided at a location different from that of the first reading unit, and to form a second reading area overlapping with at least a part of the first reading area, in which the code symbol can be read; a first acquisition unit to acquire first code information; a second acquisition unit to acquire second code information; and a registration unit to register the merchandise based on the first code information and the second code information, if the first code information and the second code information match each other.

Abstract: As audio (1) is input to an extension of a browser, the extension transmits the audio (1) to a language processing server. A speech recognition unit obtains a text (1) corresponding to the audio (1), and transmits the text (1) to a natural language understanding unit. In the natural language understanding unit, an information processing unit identifies a URL (1) corresponding to the text (1), and transmits the URL (1) to the browser. The extension passes the URL (1) to a browsing function. The browsing function uses the URL (1) to access a web server. The web server transmits a web page (1) corresponding to the URL (1) to the browser. The browsing function shows a screen corresponding to the web page (1) on a display.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type thermoelectric converter, an n-type thermoelectric converter, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. One end of the p-type converter is electrically connected to one end of the n-type converter. The other end of the p-type converter is electrically connected to the second electrode, and the other end of the n-type converter is electrically connected to the third electrode. The p-type converter includes a first phononic crystal layer having a first phononic crystal structure including regularly arranged first through holes. The n-type converter includes a second phononic crystal layer having a second phononic crystal structure including regularly arranged second through holes. The through direction of the first through holes is a direction extending between the ends of the p-type converter. The through direction of the second through holes is a direction extending between the ends of the n-type converter.

Abstract: A phosphor including a crystal phase of an aluminate compound containing a metal element M constituting a luminescent center ion and aluminum, in which the crystal phase contains crystallites, and an average size of the crystallites is 2 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: A method for producing a phosphor having a core-shell structure that includes: a core part formed of a crystal phase of an inorganic compound containing a metal element M constituting a luminescent center ion and aluminum; and a shell part containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron and silicon and formed on at least a portion of a surface of the core part, the method including: mixing a raw material of the crystal phase and a raw material of the shell part; and heating the obtained mixture at a temperature at which the raw material of the shell part is liquefied, but a host crystal of a phosphor to be obtained is maintained, in which the raw material of the crystal phase contains a raw material compound having D50 in a particle diameter distribution of 0.2 to 90 ?m and containing aluminum.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element includes a p-type thermoelectric converter, an n-type thermoelectric converter, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. One end of the p-type converter is electrically connected to one end of the n-type converter. The other end of the p-type converter is electrically connected to the second electrode, and the other end of the n-type converter is electrically connected to the third electrode. The p-type converter includes a first phononic crystal layer having a first phononic crystal structure including regularly arranged first through holes. The n-type converter includes a second phononic crystal layer having a second phononic crystal structure including regularly arranged second through holes. The through direction of the first through holes is a direction extending between the ends of the p-type converter. The through direction of the second through holes is a direction extending between the ends of the n-type converter.

Abstract: In an interaction system, a server can obtain a setting expression including a query and a condition for functioning as a virtual assistant, store the query and the condition in a memory, and deliver an inquiry expression including the query in response to occurrence of a situation specified by the condition. The setting expression can be by voice or natural language. Processes can be different for different users and can be based on domain. The inquiry expression includes a question asking the user for an affirmative response before performing the inquiry. Implementations can be adopted in or near a vehicle.

Abstract: As audio (1) is input to an extension of a browser, the extension transmits the audio (1) to a language processing server. A speech recognition unit obtains a text (1) corresponding to the audio (1), and transmits the text (1) to a natural language understanding unit. In the natural language understanding unit, an information processing unit identifies a URL (1) corresponding to the text (1), and transmits the URL (1) to the browser. The extension passes the URL (1) to a browsing function. The browsing function uses the URL (1) to access a web server. The web server transmits a web page (1) corresponding to the URL (1) to the browser. The browsing function shows a screen corresponding to the web page (1) on a display.

Abstract: A vehicle control device mounted on a first vehicle and capable of causing the first vehicle to travel by automated driving, includes a trajectory information obtaining unit configured to obtain information pertaining to a travel trajectory of a second vehicle behind the first vehicle; and a control unit configured to control a position of the first vehicle to a side opposite from the travel trajectory in a road width direction on the basis of the information obtained by the trajectory information obtaining unit.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including an imaging control unit that executes imaging control in first and second self-timer modes in which an automatic focusing process and an imaging process are executed in order after reception of an imaging start instruction. A first period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the first self-timer mode is shorter than a second period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the second self-timer mode.

Abstract: [Object] To further improve the convenience of the users. [Solution] Provided is a display control apparatus including: a display control unit configured to delay a captured video for a predetermined time, and display the delayed video. The predetermined time for which the video is delayed is determined on the basis of a timing at which recording is started according to a trigger signal.

Abstract: Performing power transfer to a plurality of power receiving devices, a power transmission device allocates one of a plurality of channels to perform wireless power transfer to a power receiving device in response to a power transmission request transmitted from the power receiving device designating one or more of the plurality of the channels having different frequencies. In a case where a power transmission request using the first channel is received from a second power receiving device, the device stops power transfer to the first power receiving device using the first channel, starts power transfer to the first power receiving device using a channel other than the first channel and starts power transfer to the second power receiving device using the first channel.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including an imaging control unit that executes imaging control in first and second self-timer modes in which an automatic focusing process and an imaging process are executed in order after reception of an imaging start instruction. A first period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the first self-timer mode is shorter than a second period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the second self-timer mode.

Abstract: A wireless power transfer system includes a power receiving device that receives transmission by wireless power transfer, a transmission device that has a transmission element that transmits transmission power to the power receiving device, the transmission device having a control mechanism that controls an oriented direction of the transmission element, and a positioning device that is connected communicably with the transmission device, the positioning device receiving with a plurality of antennas arranged adjacent to each other a positioning signal that is a wireless signal transmitted from the power receiving device, the positioning device having a positioning function that calculates a direction ? in which the power receiving device exists when seen from the positioning device itself and a position of the power receiving device, based on a phase difference between the received positioning signals.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including an imaging control unit that executes imaging control in first and second self-timer modes in which an automatic focusing process and an imaging process are executed in order after reception of an imaging start instruction. A first period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the first self-timer mode is shorter than a second period from the reception of the imaging start instruction to execution of the automatic focusing process in the second self-timer mode.

Abstract: A charge/discharge control device controls charge and discharge of a storage battery in a consumer. The consumer includes an electric power load, a distributed power supply, and the storage battery. The distributed power supply is configured to supply the load with electric power. The storage battery is coupled to the load and the distributed power supply. The charge/discharge control device includes a first determining device and a first control device. The first determining device is configured to determine whether an amount of power generation of the distributed power supply is larger than an amount of power consumption of the load. The first control device is configured to, when the first determining device determines that the amount of power generation is larger than the amount of power consumption, control charge and discharge of the storage battery so that an economic benefit arising from control of the storage battery to the consumer.

Abstract: A control device of a storage battery includes a first obtaining unit that obtains first information indicative of an electricity price set for each time slot, a second obtaining unit that obtains second information indicative of charge/discharge efficiencies of the storage battery, a first calculating unit that calculates first electric energy charged in the storage battery, a second calculating unit that calculates second electric energy of the storage battery dischargeable from the storage battery to a load, a third calculating unit that calculates a unit charging price per unit electric energy required to charge the second electric energy based on the second electric energy, the electricity price in the time slot during which the storage battery is charged, the first electric energy, and the charge/discharge efficiencies, and a control unit that compares the electricity price with the unit charging price in each of the time slots.

Abstract: A power control device including a first detection device that detects that a knob provided on a room interior side of a door has turned to a first turn position when the door is locked, and a cutoff device that cuts off power supply to an electrical device provided in the room interior when the first detection device has detected that the knob has turned to the first turn position.

Abstract: Included are a judging device configured to judge economic efficiency to be brought by charging and discharging of a storage battery based on a first sale price of electric power in a first time slot, a second sale price of the electric power in a second time slot, and charge/discharge efficiency of the storage battery, the first time slot being obtained by dividing a day into predetermined time periods, the second time slot being obtained by dividing the day into the predetermined time periods and being different from the first time slot; and a determining device configured to determine a charge/discharge plan of the storage battery in the first and the second time slots based on a judgment result of the judging device.

Abstract: A power supply device connected to a trunk line in a switchboard after a power source breaker is opened in response to the detection of power outage, a personal computer identifies from among loads a load to which power can be supplied within the range of output capacity of the power source supply device and connects the load identified to the trunk line. A user may assign priorities to some or all of the loads. Although the personal computer identifies the loads to be connected in order of the priority, when a total power consumption of the identified loads exceeds the limit of output capacity of the power supply device, the personal computer skips the load to be identified in order of the priority and attempts to identify a load with a lower priority.