Abstract: In a membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes being bonded to the membrane so that the membrane can be between them, at least one catalyst layer constituting the gas diffusion electrodes characterized in that the ion-conductive binder comprises a block copolymer having a particle size of 1 ?m or less comprising a polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups and a polymer block (B) having no ion-conductive group, both polymer blocks phase separate from each other, polymer block (A) forms a continuous phase, and the contact parts of the block copolymer with catalyst particles are comprised of polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups; a membrane-electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane-electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes being bonded to the membrane so that the membrane can be between them, in which assembly each gas diffusion electrode is comprised of an electrode catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer, intermediate layer(s) being an ion conductor is/are arranged between the electrode catalyst layer(s) and the membrane, the ion conductor mainly comprises a block copolymer comprising a polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups and a polymer block (B) having no ion-conductive group, both blocks phase-separate from each other, (A) forms a continuous phase, and the contact part(s) of the intermediate layer(s) with the polymer electrolyte membrane and the contact part(s) of the intermediate layer(s) with the electrode catalyst layer(s) are comprised of polymer block (A) having ion-conductive groups; and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell wherein the assembly is used.

Abstract: A multilayer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, consisting of a laminate of at least two polymer electrolyte membranes at least one of which membranes comprises a block copolymer (I) which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on polymer block (A); and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The multilayer membrane is economical, mild to the environment, and has high ion conductivity and high methanol barrier properties, together. It is preferred, from the object, that at least two of the constitutive electrolyte membranes comprise block copolymer (I), and/or at least one of the constitutive electrolyte membranes has an ion exchange capacity of 0.7 meq/g or more and at least one of them has an ion exchange capacity of less than 0.7 meq/g.

Abstract: An image forming device includes an image holding member and a charging unit. In a case in which an AC current, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which a DC voltage value and an AC voltage value applied to the charging unit are maintained, or a case in which a DC voltage, while being increased, is supplied to the charging unit in a state in which the AC voltage value applied to the charging unit is maintained, a current detection unit detects DC current values. An inflection point derivation unit derives an inflection point of a correlation line representing an correlation between the detected DC current values and the supply amounts. An execution unit executes pre-specified processing when a characteristic value of the derived inflection point reaches a pre-specified value.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block (B) forming a flexible phase, and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), said aromatic vinyl compound unit being such that the hydrogen atom bonded to the ?-carbon atom is non-replaced or replaced with an alkyl group or an aryl group optionally having substituent(s), and at least one of hydrogen atoms directly bonded to the aromatic ring is replaced with an alkyl group; and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell both of which uses it. The polymer block (A) can have a restraining phase, and/or can be cross-linked.

Abstract: Disclosed are: a polymer electrolyte which comprises, as the main component, a block/graft copolymer comprising, as constituent components, polymer blocks (A), (B) and (C) which cause phase-separation from one another, wherein the polymer block (A) comprises a vinyl compound unit as the main repeating unit and has an ion-conductive group, the polymer block (B) comprises a vinyl compound unit capable of forming a flexible phase as the main repeating unit and forms a flexible phase, and the polymer block (C) comprises a styrene derivative unit carrying an alicyclic hydrocarbon group having a polycyclic structure as the main repeating unit and forms a restrained phase; a membrane; a membrane-electrode assembly; and a solid polymer fuel cell.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ion-conducting binder used for a membrane electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, the assembly consisting of a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes stuck to the polymer electrolyte membrane with the membrane put between the electrodes, which binder comprises a block copolymer which comprises a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit whose ?-carbon is quaternary carbon, and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), and a solution or suspension thereof, and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The ion-conducting binder, membrane electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte fuel cell of this invention are economical, mild to the environment and excellent in moldability and oxidation stability.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane comprising as a main ingredient a block copolymer (P) which comprises, as its constituents, a vinyl alcoholic polymer block (A) and a polymer block (B) having ion-conducting groups, which block copolymer (P) is cross-linking treated, and a membrane-electrode assembly and a fuel cell using the polymer electrolyte membrane, respectively. Preferred as polymer block (B) is one having a styrene or vinylnaphthalene skeleton or a 2-(meth)acrylamido-2-methylpropane skeleton. The ion-conducting group includes a sulfonic acid group, a phosphonic acid group or the like.

Abstract: A relative position detection device is designed with multiple Hall Effect sensors. In one embodiment, the multiple Hall Effect sensors comprise two different types of Hall Effect sensors. The two different types can be linear and digital. The output of the sensors is used to determine the position an accelerator control, such as a twist grip, and to control an engine or motor in accordance with the operator demand evidenced by the position of the accelerator control.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a replacement part equipped with a storage device installed therein. The apparatus has a code adding part adding an error detecting code to target data to be written in the storage device, and an encrypting part encrypting the data having the error detecting code added thereto in the code adding part, to generate encrypted data. In addition, the apparatus has a writing part writing the encrypted data to the storage device.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer electrolyte membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, comprising a block copolymer which comprises, as its constituents, a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit whose ?-carbon is quaternary carbon, and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A). The electrolyte membrane of this invention is economical, mild to the environment and excellent in moldability and chemical stability and thus durability, and, therefore, can suitably be used in membrane electrode assemblies and polymer electrolyte fuel cells.

Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a multimode portable terminal capable of variously switching over the mode of a network connection according to various needs such as high-quality and high-speed data communication or inexpensive data communication, and a mode switch-over method. [MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] A multimode portable terminal capable to any one of a plurality of radio communication networks with different standards includes a mode selecting device 51 for presetting mode selection information by input of the user, a network judging device 52 for judging which area of the radio communication networks the multimode portable terminal is present based on presence of control signals peculiar to each radio communication network, and a network selecting device 53 for selecting one of the radio communication networks in whose area the multimode portable terminal is present in the order of priority according to the mode selection information.

Abstract: If a WiMAX base station cannot receive a ranging signal from a WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal or if adjustment is not completed even after the WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal adjusts a parameter depending on adjusted value information for a pre-determined number of times, negotiation is performed via a heterogeneous network to establish a communication connection for upstream communication from the WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal to the WiMAX base station, and only downstream communication from the WiMAX base station to the WiMAX-embedded wireless terminal is performed via a WiMAX network.

Abstract: The present invention provides an RFID tag having an identification information response function that wirelessly transmits tag identification information stored in the RFID tag in response to a predetermined wireless request, wherein, the identification information response function becomes invalid after an invalidation instruction is input from outside followed by a lapse of predetermined period of time.

Abstract: In an RFID system including an RFID tag and an RFID reader for performing wireless communications with the RFID tag, an RFID relay antenna has a first loop antenna for electromagnetic induction coupling with an antenna at the RFID tag, a second loop antenna that is provided apart from the first loop antenna and for electromagnetic induction coupling with an antenna at the RFID reader, and wires for connecting the first loop antenna and the second loop antenna so as to form one closed loop and for conveying an induced current generated at the first and second loop antennas to the second and first loop antennas, respectively.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine capable of optionally adjusting output characteristic and an electric motor vehicle using the rotary electric machine are provided. A rotary electric machine is constituted with: a rotary shaft 220; a rotor 40 connected to the rotary shaft 220; a stator 31 placed opposite the rotor 40; a stepping motor 60 serving as an adjusting motor for adjusting the position of the rotor 40 relative to the stator 31 in the rotary axis direction; and a movable member 47 or the like that is engaged to the rotor 40 and converts the rotation of the adjusting motor 60 into the displacement of the movable member 47 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 220.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ion-conducting binder used for a membrane electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells, the assembly consisting of a polymer electrolyte membrane and two gas diffusion electrodes stuck to the polymer electrolyte membrane with the membrane put between the electrodes, which binder comprises a block copolymer which comprises a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit whose ?-carbon is quaternary carbon, and a flexible polymer block (B), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A), and a solution or suspension thereof, and a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The ion-conducting binder, membrane electrode assembly and polymer electrolyte fuel cell of this invention are economical, mild to the environment and excellent in moldability and oxidation stability.

Abstract: A rotary electrical machine includes a rotational shaft supported by a housing for rotation about an axis, a rotor coupled with the rotational shaft, and a stator fixed to the housing and oriented to face the rotor. A rotor position changing mechanism moves the rotor in an axial direction of the rotational shaft using a portion of a torque transmitted between the rotational shaft and the rotor as a driving force. The rotor position changing mechanism controls the strength of the magnetic field between the rotor and the stator by moving the rotor toward or away from the stator.

Abstract: A rotary electrical machine includes a rotational shaft supported by a housing for rotation about an axis, a rotor coupled with the rotational shaft, and a stator fixed to the housing and oriented to face the rotor. A rotor position changing mechanism moves the rotor in an axial direction of the rotational shaft using a portion of a torque transmitted between the rotational shaft and the rotor as a driving force. The rotor position changing mechanism controls the strength of the magnetic field between the rotor and the stator by moving the rotor toward or away from the stator.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrochemical device which comprises a molding containing as a main ingredient a copolymer (Z) and at least two mutually insulated electrodes in joint with the molding, wherein the copolymer (Z) comprises a polymer block (A) having as a main unit an aromatic vinyl compound unit and a polymer block (B) being incompatible with the polymer block (A), and has ion-conducting groups on the polymer block (A). The electrochemical device of the invention can be used particularly as an actuator device. The electrochemical device or actuator device of the invention can be actuated swiftly; is excellent in industrial economical efficiency; has only a low influence on the environment; holds self-standing properties; and is excellent in mechanical strength.