Abstract: A material usable for the electrodes and the dielectric layer plasma display panels and capable of reducing the occurrence of yellowing and a high-image-quality plasma display panel using the material are provided. Using glass powder containing 25 to 50 wt % of Bi2O3, 5 to 35 wt % of B2O3, 10 to 20 wt % of ZnO, 5 to 20 wt % of BaO, 0 to 15 wt % of SiO2 and 0 to 10 wt % of Al2O3, the electrodes and the dielectric layer of a plasma display panel are formed.

Abstract: An improved air ionizer apparatus includes an air inlet, a high voltage source, an electrode electrically connected to the high voltage source for generating ions and an air outlet. An air mover is provided for causing air to flow into the air ionizer through the air inlet and out of the air ionizer through the air outlet. A foraminous filter comprising an electrically conductive material is electrically coupled to at least one of a voltage source and ground. The filter is positioned over at least one of the air inlet, the air outlet and the electrode, such that air flowing into the air inlet, air flowing out of the air outlet or air flowing past the electrode flows through the filter. In a preferred embodiment, the filter comprises a metal grid or screen.

Abstract: The invention relates to microscale cell handling apparatus which exhibit bulk fluid flow properties superior to prior art microscale cell handling devices. The microscale cell handling apparatus described herein comprises at least two flow paths, each of which extend between an inlet region and an outlet region of a void that can be filled with fluid. The apparatus includes a microscale flow path (i.e., a flow path having a cross-sectional area of about 1 to 1000 square micrometers at its narrowest point) and a non-microscale flow path (i.e., a flow path having a cross-sectional area greater than 1000 square micrometers at its narrowest point). The apparatus can have multiple microscale and non-microscale flow paths. The void can be enclosed within a cover.

Abstract: The disk apparatus and the audiovisual data processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention are apparatuses having a stream data processing function and virtually provided with each command processing function for digital VCRs so as to be capable of meeting various processing requests from external apparatuses; and they are configured so that the audiovisual frame boundaries of audiovisual data are detected, so that audiovisual data received externally and continuously is divided in audiovisual frame units in accordance with the detected audiovisual frame boundaries, and so that the data divided in audiovisual frame units is controlled so as to be stored on a disk medium.

Abstract: In order to provide a positive electrode active material capable of producing an alkaline storage battery having a high discharge voltage and an excellent discharge characteristic and also provide a positive electrode and alkaline storage battery containing thereof, a positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery comprising a nickel hydroxide powder is used, in which the nickel hydroxide is a solid solution containing magnesium, the magnesium content in the nickel hydroxide is 2 to 7 mol % of all metallic elements contained in the nickel hydroxide, the tap density of the nickel hydroxide is 1.9 g/cm3 or more, the half-width of a peak attributed to (101) face near 2&thgr;=37 to 40° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the nickel hydroxide by CuK&agr; radiation is 0.7 to 1.2° and the sulfate ion content in the nickel hydroxide is 0.5 wt % or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission apparatus for video information that allows wireless transmission of video information at a low rate regardless of differences in OSs.

Abstract: A toy vehicle combination includes a master toy vehicle and a slave toy vehicle. The master toy vehicle includes a transmitter configured to broadcast an IR tracking signal. The slave toy vehicle includes at least first and second directional IR receivers configured to receive the tracking signal from different directions around the slave toy vehicle and is configured to follow or evade the master toy vehicle, which is conventionally remotely controlled.

Abstract: A toy vehicle ramp has a resiliently flexible sheet panel and a pair of stiffer support members. Each support member has a plurality of support points formed thereon arranged to define a channel in which a lateral edge portion of the sheet panel is slidingly received for height adjustment of the panel in the supports and thus of the ramp. One or more elastic members extend between the support members and beneath the sheet panel to hold the ramp together. The flexible sheet panel collapses and the band(s) stretch when a load heavier than an ordinary remote control toy vehicle is applied so that a child cannot jump from or ride over the ramp and so that the ramp can collapse without damage to its components for reassembly and reuse.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor that enables highly-accurate measurement of a sample solution including a solid component like hemocytes and has a little variation in response. The biosensor includes: an insulating base plate, an electrode system having at least a working electrode and a counter electrode provided on the base plate, a cover member that is combined with the base plate to define a sample solution supply pathway for leading a sample solution from a sample supply unit to the electrode system, a reaction reagent system including at least an oxidation-reduction enzyme and an electron mediator, and a filter disposed between the electrode system and the sample supply unit in the sample solution supply pathway. The biosensor has a space that encircles surface of the filter in an area from one end of the filter close to the sample supply unit to the other end of the filter close to the electrode system.

Abstract: A diffuser includes a base portion and a lid portion. The diffuser is adapted to allow emanation of vapor from a burning block of combustible material and contains a block receiving portion elevated from a surface of the base portion. The block receiving portion has one or more grooves formed in a top surface of the block receiving portion and extending below the top surface of the block receiving portion. The base portion further includes apertures forming channels extending from within the base portion to an outer surface of the base portion. The lid portion is preferably substantially pyramidal in shape and has an apex at an end remote from the base portion. The lid portion further includes apertures positioned towards the apex. In use, a burning block of combustible material, impregnated with fragrance, is placed on the block receiving portion, and the lid portion is placed over the block.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal fuse and a fuse element of the low-melting fusible alloy type in which the fuse element has an alloy composition of 48 to 60% In, 10 to 25% Sn, and the balance Bi, and a total of 0.01 to 7 weight parts of at least one selected from the group consisting of Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, and Pd is added to 100 weight parts of the composition. As a result, the operating temperature is in the range of 57 to 67° C., requests for environment conservation can be satisfied, the diameter of the fuse element can be made very thin or reduced to about 300 &mgr;m&phgr;, self-heating can be suppressed, and the thermal stability can be satisfactorily guaranteed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device (40) comprising a combination of at least two contactless integrated circuits (45), each integrated circuit being connected to an individual antenna coil (46) to send and/or receive data by inductive coupling. According to the present invention, the device comprises a collective antenna coil (42) that is larger in size than the individual antenna coils of the integrated circuits, and means (41) for arranging the individual antenna coil of an integrated circuit proximate to the collective antenna coil, at least when data are to be read and/or written in the integrated circuit, so that the individual antenna coil of the integrated circuit is inductively coupled to the collective antenna coil. Application to smart cards, electronic badges or electronic labels.

Abstract: In a disk control apparatus according to the present invention, after overwriting processing or block erasure processing is performed, index information on the fragmented recorded area is newly generated for managing the recording area, and recording start and end information is written to the video and audio data recorded on a disk apparatus, and edit processing can be easily performed by the disk control apparatus even after video and audio data recorded on the disk apparatus is overwritten with externally input video and audio data and after a part of the video and audio data is erased.

Abstract: There is provided an electrohydraulic motor that has a spool valve 110 for switching from each of drive positions (111, 112), in each of which a corresponding one of a main oil passage 230 and a return oil passage 240 is connected to a hydraulic actuator 130, to a neutral position, in which the hydraulic actuator 130 and each of the main oil passage 230 and the return oil passage 240 are disconnected, and vice versa. There is also provided a connection switch valve 140, which is connected to the main oil passage 230 and the return oil passage 240, for changing the connection between the main oil passage 230 and the return oil passage 240 in the neutral position 113. In response to an operation of the spool valve 110, the connection switch valve 140 connects the main oil passage 230 to the return oil passage 240 in the neutral position 113 and also disconnects the main oil passage 230 from the return oil passage 240 in the drive positions (111, 112).

Abstract: A method is provided for the quantitative analysis by ion mobility spectrometry of the concentration of carbon monoxide, methane and higher hydrocarbon species in an oxygen stream. The method includes converting these species present in the oxygen stream into carbon dioxide, measuring the concentration of the carbon dioxide, and deducing from this measurement the initial concentration of the oxidizable species.

Abstract: A lithium-containing composite nitride with an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal added thereto is used as the negative electrode active material, or used as surface layers of core particles of a lithium-containing composite nitride, to provide a negative electrode material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery with large capacity and high reliability improved in oxidation and decomposition resistance property and thus capacity recovery property after overdischarge.

Abstract: An incinerator includes a peripheral wall having a top end and formed with an inlet at the top end and an outlet below the inlet, a bowl-shaped grate disposed between the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of laterally extending baffles extending from a bottom end of the grate to the peripheral wall, and a plurality of vertically extending baffles disposed between the peripheral wall and the grate.

Abstract: A composition comprising an amphoteric or pseudo-amphoteric agent and a polyhydroxy alpha hydroxyacid existing as a free acid, lactone, or salt, and isomeric or non-isomeric forms thereof is provided. The amphoteric or pseudo-amphoteric agent can be selected from amino acids, dipeptides, aminoaldonic acid, aminouronic acid, lauryl aminoproplyglycine, aminoaldaric acid, neuraminic acid desulfated heparin, deacetylated hyaluronic acid, hyalobiuronic acid, chondrosine, deacetylated chondroitin, creatine, creatinine, hydroxyproline, homocysteine, homocystine, homoserine, ornithine, citrulline, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin. The composition may contain other additives, including cosmetic or pharmaceutical agents for topical treatment of dermatological disorders.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for an elevator includes rotary elements disposed in such a manner as to be in contact with a circumferential surface of an input shaft adapted to be rotationally driven by an electric motor device so as to rotate as the input shaft rotates, a cylindrical element disposed in such a manner as to be in contact with the rotary elements on an inner circumferential surface thereof so as to rotate as the rotary elements rotate, and a sheave provided on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical element and configured so as to be wound therearound with ropes for lifting up and/or down a moving cage of the elevator. A brake device is disposed in a radial direction of the sheave for braking a brake disc constructed so as to extend in the radial directions and secured to the sheave.