Abstract: A resin composition that has high mechanical strength properties, has superior chemical characteristics such as chemical resistance and heat resistance, has high degree of freedom of product design, and has a structure considering the impact on environment is provided at low cost. The resin composition composed of a polyamide resin contains a cotton fiber as a natural fiber. The additive amount of the cotton fiber is preferably 1 wt % to 25 wt % both inclusive. The polyamide resin is polyamide 11 using castor oil as a raw material of plant origin. The average fiber diameter of the cotton fiber is 100 ?m or less. The polyamide resin and the cotton fiber are melted and kneaded, and then hot-formed, and thereby a shaped article containing a plant fiber can be fabricated. In addition to the cotton fiber, a plant fiber such as a hemp fiber, a bamboo fiber, and wood powder and a biofiber such as a silk fiber may be applied.

Abstract: A switching power supply circuit for generating an output voltage at an output node based on an input voltage at an input node includes a reference voltage generating circuit configured to generate a reference voltage such that during an initial start-up period of the reference voltage a voltage rise rate of the reference voltage within a first predetermined period from a start point of the initial start-up period and a voltage rise rate thereof within a second predetermined period immediately preceding an end point of the initial start-up period are smaller than a voltage rise rate thereof in a period between the first predetermined period and the second predetermined period, a coil disposed between the input output nodes, and a switch circuit configured to switch on and off to control current through the coil in response to comparison between the reference voltage and a voltage proportional to the output voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable resin composition containing at least one biodegradable organic high molecular compound, a flame retardant additive containing a phosphorus-containing compound, and a hydrolysis suppressing agent suppressing the hydrolysis of the at least one biodegradable organic high molecular compound. An aliphatic polyester resin is polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxy lactic acid, polyhydroxy valeric acid, polyethylene succinate, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate, polymalic acid, polyesters synthesized by fermentation, or a copolymer containing at least one of them. A polysaccharide is cellulose, starch, chitin, chitosan, dextrane, a derivative of at least one of them, or a copolymer containing at least one of them.

Abstract: By molding a biodegradable plastic material which is treated with a compound reactive to the active hydrogen in the biodegradable plastic material, a biodegradable plastic material and molding having long-term reliability are obtained.

Abstract: A charging circuit includes a generator, a step-down circuit for reducing an output voltage of the generator to a predetermined voltage, a current controller for controlling a charging current that is supplied from the step-down circuit to a secondary battery, based on an amount of power generated by the generator, a mode selector for selecting charging modes, and a monitor for monitoring an amount of stored electricity. The step-down circuit receives an output of the generator, in charging, at a high voltage and a small current and is used to charge the battery at a low voltage and a large current.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes an error amplifying circuit to output an error signal by amplifying differences between a reference voltage and a feedback voltage for an output voltage generated by switching an output transistor between on and off, a triangular wave generation circuit to generate a triangular wave, a PWM comparison circuit to compares the triangular wave with the error signal and output a duty control signal having a duty ratio based on the comparison, a pulse width control circuit to control a pulse width of the duty control signal output from the PWM comparison circuit, and a drive circuit to drive the output transistor according to a signal output from the pulse width control circuit.

Abstract: A material for acoustic apparatus housing, which is advantageous not only in that it prevents the resin from suffering corrosion and is unlikely to impose a burden on the environment, but also in that it has excellent performance as an acoustic apparatus housing. A material for acoustic apparatus housing, characterized in that it comprises a biodegradable polymer compound, an inorganic material, and a hydrolysis inhibitor.

Abstract: A switching regulator switches according to an input signal and performs PWM control with a PWM pulse signal. The switching regulator includes a pulse width limiting circuit that includes a reference current source, a constant current source, a capacitor, an inverting block including a first switch circuit to supply a constant current to the capacitor and a second switch circuit to discharge a voltage across the capacitor to a ground, a determination circuit to determine whether the voltage across the capacitor becomes a given value or greater, and a limiting circuit to limit a pulse width of the PWM pulse signal. The inverting block further includes either a third switch circuit configured to pass the given constant current or a switching control circuit configured to cause the first and second switch circuits to pass the given constant current regardless of the PWM pulse signal.

Abstract: In order to provide a resin composition containing a lactic acid resin, and a molded article obtained from this resin composition which impart flame retardance to the resin composition and suppress a reduction in the molecular weight, use is made of a flame-retardant resin composition which contains a resin composition of which the major component is a lactic acid resin, and a surface-treated metallic hydroxide, wherein the surface-treated metallic hydroxide is added by 50-150 parts by mass per 100 parts by mass of the lactic acid resin.

Abstract: By molding a biodegradable plastic material which is treated with a compound reactive to the active hydrogen in the biodegradable plastic material, a biodegradable plastic material and molding having long-term reliability are obtained.

Abstract: To provide a flame retardant injection molded article that not only has flame-retardant properties but also combines impact resistance and heat resistance, either a flame retardant injection molded article is formed from a resin composition comprising a lactic acid resin (A), a metal hydroxide (B) whose surface has been treated with a silane coupling agent, and a copolymer (C) of lactic acid resin and diol/dicarboxylic acid, respectively at prescribed proportions, or a flame retardant injection molded article is formed from a resin composition comprising, in addition to the component (A) and component (B), either or both of an aliphatic polyester other than lactic acid resin and an aromatic aliphatic polyester (D), and an ester compound (E) of molecular weight in the range of 200 to 2,000, respectively at prescribed proportions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable resin composition containing at least one biodegradable organic high molecular compound, a flame retardant additive containing a phosphorus-containing compound, and a hydrolysis suppressing agent suppressing the hydrolysis of the at least one biodegradable organic high molecular compound. An aliphatic polyester resin is polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxy lactic acid, polyhydroxy valeric acid, polyethylene succinate, polybutylene succinate, polybutylene adipate, polymalic acid, polyesters synthesized by fermentation, or a copolymer containing at least one of them. A polysaccharide is cellulose, starch, chitin, chitosan, dextrane, a derivative of at least one of them, or a copolymer containing at least one of them.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biodegradable resin composition containing at least one biodegradable polysaccharide, a flame retardant additive containing a hydroxide, and a hydrolysis suppressing agent suppressing the hydrolysis of the at least one biodegradable polysaccharide. The hydroxide contains at least a metal hydroxide, which metal hydroxide is at least one of aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide. The flame retardant additive preferably further contains a nitrogen compound.

Abstract: By molding a biodegradable plastic material which is treated with a compound reactive to the active hydrogen in the biodegradable plastic material, a biodegradable plastic material and molding having long-term reliability are obtained.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising 100 parts by mass of lactic acid resin (A), 50 to 100 parts by mass of metal hydroxide (B) and 0.1 to 30 parts by mass of fiber (C), wherein the fiber (C) is a natural fiber or/and a fiber derived from natural material. Moldings thereof satisfy the V-0 standard or VTM-0 standard according to UL94 vertical flame test (UL94V, UL94VTM).

Abstract: An electrolyte with high ion conductivity, a process for producing the same and a battery using the same, and a compound for the electrolyte. The electrolyte is set between a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The electrolyte includes a first polymer compound, a second polymer compound and light metal salt. The first polymer compound has a three-dimensional network structure formed by bridging bridgeable compounds with the bridge groups, which contributes to the high mechanical intensity of the electrolyte. The second polymer compound has no bridge groups and dissolves light metal salt. Each of the first and the second polymer compounds has an ether bond. The first and the second polymer compounds form a semi-interpenetrating polymer network, and achieve higher ion conductivity than that of each polymer compound.

Abstract: To provide a flame retardant injection molded article that not only has flame-retardant properties but also combines impact resistance and heat resistance, either a flame retardant injection molded article is formed from a resin composition comprising a lactic acid resin (A), a metal hydroxide (B) whose surface has been treated with a silane coupling agent, and a copolymer (C) of lactic acid resin and diol/dicarboxylic acid, respectively at prescribed proportions, or a flame retardant injection molded article is formed from a resin composition comprising, in addition to the component (A) and component (B), either or both of an aliphatic polyester other than lactic acid resin and an aromatic aliphatic polyester (D), and an ester compound (E) of molecular weight in the range of 200 to 2,000, respectively at prescribed proportions.

Abstract: A negative electrode material and a battery which have an excellent cycle characteristic as well as a high capacity are provided. A positive electrode housed in an exterior can and a negative electrode housed in an exterior cup are laminated with a separator therebetween. An electrolytic solution of lithium salt dissolved in a solvent is poured into the inside of both the exterior can and the exterior cup. The negative electrode contains Mg2?xMIIxMI. MI expresses a first element such as Si, Sn, Ge, Pb, or the like. MII expresses a second element which is a metallic element, preferably Mn, Cu, Zn, or the like except both Mg and the first element. X is preferably in the range of 0.1?x?1.9. Substituting part of Mg by the second element MII can produce the distortion of the crystal structure, ease distortion accompanying the occluding/releasing lithium, and improve the charge and discharge efficiency and the cycle characteristic.

Abstract: Gateway service provider 20 acquires and stores personal data of user 10 and device data of devices owned by user 10 when home gateway 11 is registered. Then, gateway service provider 20 sends such information or services based on the information to customer company 40A and in return receives payment from customer company 40A. As a result, customer company 40A can provide articles, contents and services to user 10.

Abstract: A material for acoustic apparatus housing, which is advantageous not only in that it prevents the resin from suffering corrosion and is unlikely to impose a burden on the environment, but also in that it has excellent performance as an acoustic apparatus housing. A material for acoustic apparatus housing, characterized in that it comprises a biodegradable polymer compound, an inorganic material, and a hydrolysis inhibitor.