Abstract: A proton-conducting polymer, a preparation method thereof, a polymer membrane manufactured from the proton-conducting polymer, and a fuel cell having the polymer membrane are provided. The proton-conducting polymer contains an acid-bearable aromatic group covalently bonded to its polyimide backbone and a proton-conducting acid group attached to the aromatic group. A polymer membrane manufactured from the proton-conducting polymer has greater mechanical strength and ionic (protonic) conductivity than existing sulfonated polyimide membranes and thus improves the performance of fuel cells. In addition, the proton-conducting polymer membrane is low cost, enabling automobile fuel cells to be commercialized. Since the proton-conducting polymer membrane is less permeable to methanol, it can be used effectively for DMFCs without causing cell performance degradation.

Abstract: To provide a resin composition, in which a liquid crystal polymer is made into fiber in a molded article to exhibit an extremely high reinforcing effect which has not been available yet, and from which a molded article having an excellent mechanical strength can be manufactured in a stable manner. That is, a thermoplastic resin composition, wherein 100 parts by weight in total consisting of 99-50 parts by weight of a thermoplastic polyester resin (A) not forming an anisotropic molten phase and 1-50 parts by weight of a liquid crystal polymer (B) capable of forming an anisotropic molten phase is blended with 0.001-2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a master cylinder wherein a seal member is given plural seal functions to reduce the number of seal members for partitioning a drain portion of the master cylinder, a constant-pressure chamber of a booster and the atmosphere from one another, so that the master cylinder is simplified in construction and reduced in manufacturing cost. When a piston is operated by an output shaft of the booster attached to a booster mounting surface of a cylinder body, the operating fluid from the fluid pressure chamber partitioned by a fluid-tight seal member is supplied to a brake system. An annular complex seal member is fit in an internal seal stepped portion which is formed by radially expanding an opening portion of the cylinder which opens to a booster mounting surface. A slide seal portion of the complex seal member partitions a drain portion behind the fluid-tight seal member from the constant-pressure chamber of the booster through sliding contact with the piston.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the condition of an electric current-carrying heating element involving installing the heating element in a location and setting the initial composition Ci of the material as a reference baseline at an initial time Ti corresponding to said installation of the heating element. Data is then collected reflecting the subsequent composition Cs of the heating element material after a subsequent time Ts at the installed location and any change in the material composition of the heating element between Ti and Ts is monitored. An alarm is sent when the change reaches a threshold value indicating a possible failure condition. According to one embodiment, an impedance monitor is provided that calculates and compares impedance at the required levels of accuracy to determine changes in material composition. The impedance monitor, or portions thereof may be embedded within a microcontroller for increased portability and functionality.

Abstract: A negative pressure type brake hydraulic pressure generating device is proposed in which the stroke on the operating side can be set independently of the stroke on the output side. A slide resistance imparting means is provided between the fixed shell and a piston having a built-in control valve introducing atmospheric air to cancel the slide resistance which is the cause of increased stroke hysteresis of the piston, i.e. the slide resistance applied to the piston at airtight seal portions between the power plate and the piston.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device arranged at a surface of a semiconductor substrate having an initial doping having an electrical connection comprising at least one plug made of a material with a high conductivity, especially a material other than the substrate, especially a metal plug, between said initially doped substrate and said surface of the substrate. The device has at least one ground connection arranged to be connected to a ground pin on a package. The ground connection is arranged to be connected to said ground pin using said electrical connection, where the initially doped substrate is arranged to be connected to said ground pin via a reverse side of the substrate, opposite said surface, and thereby being arranged to establish a connection between said ground connection and said ground pin.

Abstract: Provided are a navy blue water based ink composition for a ballpoint pen comprising a colorant, water and a dispersant, wherein at least cobalt phthalocyanine blue is used as the colorant, and a pH of the ink falls in a range of 7 to 10, and a ballpoint pen occulding the water based ink composition. Cobalt phthalocyanine blue has preferably a diameter of 500 nm or more and a content of 0.05 to 30% by weight based on the total amount of the ink composition.

Abstract: A method and system are described for monitoring a deliverable radio frequency (RF) power of an amplifier operable on a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC). According to an exemplary embodiment, circuitry is configured to capture, on the MMIC, a first portion of an RF signal transmitted from the amplifier to a load, and a second portion of the RF signal reflected from the load back to the amplifier. Circuitry is also configured to generate, on the MMIC, a first signal proportional to an RF power of the first portion of the RF signal, and a second signal proportional to an RF power of the second portion of the RF signal. Additional circuitry is configured to subtract a first reference signal from the first signal to produce a third signal, and a second reference signal from the second signal to produce a fourth signal. Finally, circuitry is configured to subtract the fourth signal from the third signal to produce an output signal proportional to the deliverable RF power of the amplifier to the load.

Abstract: An eddy-current probe according to the present invention comprises: a substrate having a first surface facing to a subject to be tested and a second surface opposite to said first surface; an exciting coil formed on the second surface, having a pair of current lines in parallel with each other through which exciting currents flow in opposite directions to each other during testing, for generating an alternate magnetic field applied to the subject by the exciting currents; and at least one eddy-current sensor positioned on a central axis between the pair of current lines on the second surface of the substrate, for detecting a magnetic field generated newly from the subject by an eddy-current induced by the alternate magnetic field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for providing a consistent visual appearance of pixels of a display screen with respect to a viewing position. Variations between perceived pixel level values associated with the pixels and corresponding pixel level values may be compensated for. Variations are associated with a viewing angle between pixel location and the viewing position and compensated for by applying a respective different correction factor to each of the corresponding pixel level values based on a respective viewing angle. Accordingly different non-linear correction curves corresponding to locations may be established relating a range of pixel level values to a corresponding range of corrected pixel level values associated with the viewing position. A calibration pattern may be further be displayed and user inputs associated with locations received responsive to calibration pattern.

Abstract: A seat slide device which includes a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor, an upper rail fitted into the lower rail to be slidable relative to the lower rail for supporting a seat, a lock device for fixing the upper rail at an arbitrary position of the lower rail, a lock lever provided in the lock device and rotatably supported on the upper rail, a lock bore formed on the lower rail, a pawl provided on the lock lever for being able to be inserted into the lock bore, and an energy absorbing bore provided on the lower rail and arranged in series with the lock bore and separated from the lock bore by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a variable region to be subjected to a layout modification in conjunction with a change of a circuit component within the variable region; and a fixed region that is free from the layout modification, and includes a circuit such as a CPU core and peripheral functional section whose signal transfer characteristics are known when the circuit is considered as a closed circuit. It can reduce the manpower required for the layout modification and characteristic verification and evaluation of the circuit involved in the layout modification.

Abstract: A photonic crystal fiber comprising a bulk material having an arrangement of longitudinal holes (130, 140) and a guiding core (135), wherein the fiber has at-most-two-fold rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis and as a result of that lack of symmetry, the fiber is birefringent.

Abstract: An emitter for an electron-beam projection lithography (EPL) system and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The electron-beam emitter includes a substrate, an insulating layer overlying the substrate, and a gate electrode including a base layer formed on top of the insulating layer to a uniform thickness and an electron-beam blocking layer formed on the base layer in a predetermined pattern. The manufacturing method includes steps of: preparing a substrate; forming an insulating layer on the substrate; forming a base layer of a gate electrode by depositing a conductive metal on the insulating layer to a predetermined thickness; forming an electron-beam blocking layer of the gate electrode by depositing a metal capable of anodizing on the base layer to a predetermined thickness; and patterning the electron-beam blocking layer in a predetermined pattern by anodizing. The emitter provides a uniform electric field within the insulating layer and simplify the manufacturing method therefor.

Abstract: A device for the automatic opening of a parachute, comprising a casing (1) closed with a lid (2), in which are located the means (3, 14) for electronically sensing the altitude of the parachute during the jump and the time and falling speed, and their controlling elements with a display unit and joint power supply, further comprising an activating unit consisting of an electrically controlled cutting explosive cartridge (12) with a through opening through which a ripcord (3) passes to release the securing string of the parachute, this explosive cartridge (12) being joined to said means by a connecting cable. The cutting explosive cartridge (12) is positioned in the interior space of the casing (1) formed by its partitions (4) and its connecting cable is led through the partition, while the casing (1), which together with the lid (2) consists of a body made of shock resistant material, is arranged for securing in the back part of the parachute harness.

Abstract: A vehicle movement stabilizing device is provided which in effectively functioning braking, acceleration and turning movement during travel of the vehicle by activating the frictional force adding device, reliably controls the start and end of the operation of the frictional force adding device and prevents repetition of unnecessary operations. The vehicle movement stabilizing device is provided with frictional force adding device for increasing the frictional force of the wheels to the road surface by scattering particles and a controller. The controller is structured to start the operation of the frictional force adding device when it detects the operation start conditions based on signals from wheel speed sensors, a hydraulic pressure sensor and a step-in force sensor during braking, and to stop its operation if signals indicating disappearance of the state are detected, thereby preventing repetition of unnecessary operations.

Abstract: An electronic component chip feeder enabling to feed electronic component chips in which electrodes on the outer surfaces thereof can be cleanly maintained and the reliability of electrical connections is excellent even when miniaturizing thereof is promoted, and a method for manufacturing electronic devices by using electronic component chips being excellent in the reliability of electrical connections are provided. The electronic component chip feeder for feeding electronic component chips includes a cleaning device disposed in an intermediate portion of a supplying system for supplying plural electronic component chips in an aligned relationship for cleaning outer surfaces of the electronic component chips.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a computer component exchange in a network for executing buy orders for purchasing computer components is disclosed. A plurality of owner-processors are electrically connected to the network. At least a first owner-processor is adapted to transmit electronic buy orders through the network for purchasing computer components. At least a second owner-processor is adapted to receive buy orders from the network. The system comprises an exchange server complex that is electrically connected to the network having plurality of investment instruments comprising shares of ownership interests in the exchange server complex that are stored as data records in an accounting database. At least some of the owner-processors are capable of being associated with at least one of the shares, thereby defining an ownership interest in the exchange server complex for a proprietor of the respective owner-processor.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of ground cover rose plant (i.e., garden rose plant) is provided which forms in abundance attractive semi-double blossoms that are pink in coloration. The vegetation is vigorous and the growth habit is creeping. Attractive decorative medium green glossy foliage is formed. Excellent disease resistance particularly with respect to Blackspot and Powdery Mildew is exhibited. The new variety grows very well on its own roots following asexual reproduction by cuttings. Attractive ornamentation in the landscape is provided.