Abstract: There is provided a compact filtration device capable of efficiently separate and remove suspension components adhered to membrane surfaces or to between membranes by allowing bubbling action by means of bubbles from an air diffusion tube to effectively affect the entire hollow fiber membrane, and capable of disposing inside hollow fiber membranes in high density. In a filtration device 11 for performing solid-liquid separation by allowing a liquid to be treated 12 containing suspension components to permeate a membrane module 14 for immersion type suction filtration or external pressure filtration, said membrane module 14 is formed from bundled membranes 16 in which a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes 15 with their axes being in the vertical direction are contacted closely with each other at the upper and lower ends thereof, and a diffuser tube 21 is threaded into between said multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes 15 for insertion at the lower part of the bundled membrane 16.

Abstract: A nickel metal hydride storage battery having an excellent charging efficiency at high temperatures is provided by using a positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide particles and at least one rare earth compound obtainable by treating a rare earth oxide with an aqueous alkaline solution and an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A measuring apparatus of this invention comprises: a projector; a camera; a generator that generates, from a photographed image of a fringe pattern projected by the projector at a time of calibration onto each of surfaces, first tuples, each including coordinates of a point on a light receiving plane (LRP) of the camera, light intensity of the point and the height of the surface; a converter that converts the light intensity to a phase angle of the projected fringe pattern (PFP), and generates second tuples, each including the coordinates of the point on the LRP, the phase angle and the height of the surface; a hypersurface generator that generates data representing a tensor product type composite hypersurface (TPTCH) from data of the second tuples; an extractor that extracts data of third tuples, each including coordinates of a point on the LRP and light intensity from a photographed image of a fringe pattern projected by the projector at a time of measurement onto an object to be measured; a second converte

Abstract: A CPU included in a video processor detects the type of CCD incorporated in an electronic endoscope actually connected to the video processor on the basis of identification information sent from an incorporated endoscope identification circuit. Moreover, when an optional board is loaded, an optional board detector detects an extension feature to be implemented on the optional board. For example, when the incorporated CCD offers a small number of pixels, restrictions are imposed for fear an enlargement/reduction circuit may perform enhancement based on electronic zooming. Moreover, an indication that the feature is invalid is established. Thus, a user is prevented from performing unnecessary handling. This results in improved maneuverability.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery using positive electrodes comprising an active material containing nickel hydroxide particles and a rare earth element or a compound thereof containing or mixed with 0.1-100 ppm of Fe or an Fe compound based on the rare earth element or the compound thereof is provided.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride secondary battery includes positive electrodes including nickel hydroxide, negative electrodes including a hydrogen-absorbing alloy, separators and an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a compound silicate. By employing the above construction, the compound silicate reacts with Mn or Al which dissolves out from the negative electrode to inhibit deterioration of electrochemical characteristics of the battery, and thus the life of the battery can be prolonged.

Abstract: The present invention provides alkaline storage batteries high in energy density and excellent in overdischarge resistance, and, besides, less in decrease of capacity even if charging and discharging cycle is repeated at high temperatures. There is used a positive electrode comprising a foamed nickel substrate having the number of pores of 80-160 pores/inch (PPI2D) and a thickness of skeleton of 30-60 &mgr;m in which spherical nickel hydroxide solid solution particles having an average particle size of 5-20 &mgr;m and a cobalt oxide conductive agent having an average particle size of 1 &mgr;m or less and mainly composed of &ggr;-cobalt oxyhydroxide having a cobalt valence of higher than 3.0 are held and the total occupying ratio of the spherical nickel hydroxide solid solution particles and the cobalt oxide conductive agent based on the whole electrode plate is in the range of 75-85 vol %.

Abstract: A nickel metal hydride storage battery having an excellent charging efficiency at high temperatures is provided by using a positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide particles and at least one rare earth compound obtainable by treating a rare earth oxide with an aqueous alkaline solution and an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: A alkaline storage battery using positive electrodes comprising an active material containing nickel hydroxide particles and a rare earth element or a compound thereof containing or mixed with 0.1-100 ppm of Fe or an Fe compound based on the rare earth element or the compound thereof is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode material for alkaline storage batteries which has high energy density and causes little capacity reduction even when a charge/discharge cycle is repeated at high temperatures. The positive electrode material for alkaline storage batteries of the present invention comprises nickel hydroxide particles and a layers of cobalt oxide coating the nickel hydroxide particles. A valence of cobalt of the cobalt oxide is greater than 3.0, and the cobalt oxide contains sodium ions or potassium ions inside the crystal and further fixes lithium hydroxide or lithium ions.

Abstract: A method for managing a back-up power source capable of maintaining the discharge capacity of a nickel metal-hydride storage battery for a long-term at a low cost, and is suitable for the management of the back-up power source for the guidance lights, the emergency lights, the information telecommunication systems, and the like is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode suitable for a chargeable/dischargeable secondary battery in which a carbonaceous material capable of doping and dedoping of lithium ions is used as a negative electrode active material, wherein carbon fibers are used as the carbonaceous material in a form of an uni-directionally arranged body or in combination of electrically conductive foil or fibers, and further relates to a secondary battery using the electrode. The invention enables to provide a secondary battery having high capacitance and high outputtng property.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrode for batteries comprising carbon fibers having a crystallite thickness determined by X-ray diffraction method of not less than 1.3 nm and not more than 1.7 nm. The present invention also relates to a process for producing an electrode for batteries employing carbon fibers, comprising baking the carbon fibers at a temperature of not lower than 900.degree. C. and not higher than 1330.degree. C. The present invention enabled to provide a secondary battery which exploits the properties of carbon fibers and which has a high discharging capacity.