Abstract: A photovoltaic device capable of improving an output characteristic is provided. The photovoltaic device includes an n-type single-crystal silicon substrate, a p-type amorphous silicon substrate, and a substantially intrinsic i-type amorphous silicon layer disposed between the n-type single-crystal silicon substrate and the p-type amorphous silicon layer. The i-type amorphous silicon layer includes: a first section which is located on the n-type single-crystal silicon substrate side, and which has an oxygen concentration equal to or below 1020 cm?3; and a second section which is located on the p-type amorphous silicon layer side, and which has an oxygen concentration equal to or above 1020 cm?3.

Abstract: A power unit includes: a frequency divider to divide a clock signal in a second frequency-division ratio based on a first frequency-division ratio and to output a driving pulse; a switching device driven by the driving pulse; a piezoelectric transformer to output an alternating-current high voltage when receiving an intermittent voltage from the switching device; a comparison device to compare a digital signal corresponding to the piezoelectric transformer output voltage with a target voltage and to output a comparison result; a controller to control the first frequency-division ratio based on the comparison result; a first holding device to hold the controlled first frequency-division ratio; a first computing device to determine the second frequency-division ratio by performing computation using a first correction value and the first frequency-division ratio held by the first holding device; and a second holding device to hold the second frequency-division ratio determined by the first computing device.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes multiple liquid crystal panels, a polarization-state adjusting element, and a cross dichroic prism. A green component light includes a central-wavelength component light, a short-wavelength component light, and a long-wavelength component light. The polarization-state adjusting element separately adjusts a polarization state of the central-wavelength component light and each of polarization states of the long-wavelength component light and the short-wavelength component light.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a developer image carrier movably disposed; a developer image forming device configured to form a developer image; a detector configured to detect a density of the developer image formed on the developer image carrier; a controller configured to control an operation of forming of the developer image by the developer image forming device; an image forming unit configured to control the developer image forming device to form a density detection pattern including the same developer images at at least a first point and a second point with a predetermined distance therebetween; a density detector configured to obtain the density of the first point and the density of the second point of the density detection pattern via the detector; and a calculator configured to calculate a density difference between the first point and the second point based on the densities obtained by the density detector.

Abstract: A disc identifying device has sliders moving relatively in a direction such that a gap therebetween widens, one sensing switch switching-operated when a large diameter disc or a small diameter disc is inserted, the other sensing switch switching-operated only when the large diameter disc is inserted, and an actuating plate permitting the slider to move from an the initial position via a first position corresponding to the sensing switch to a second position corresponding to the sensing switch only when the large diameter disc is inserted. One end portion of the actuating plate has a stopper portion for preventing the slider from moving to the second position. The other end portion thereof is engaged with the slider.

Abstract: A base station includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not a total of an initial transmission rate and assigned transmission rates exceeds a maximum receiving transmission rate when the base station receives a communication start request from a radio terminal; a selecting unit that selects a decrease target terminal when the total of the initial transmission rate and the assigned transmission rates exceeds the maximum receiving transmission rate; and a transmitting unit that transmits transmission rate decrease data to the decrease target terminal, and the base station causes the total of the initial transmission rate and the assigned transmission rates to be equal to or less than the maximum receiving transmission rate by transmitting the transmission rate decrease data.

Abstract: A transmission rate control method according to the present invention includes: transmitting, at a radio base station, an absolute grant channel including a mobile station identifier; judging, at a mobile station, in accordance with the mobile station identifier included in the received absolute grant channel, whether or not the received absolute grant channel is addressed to the mobile station; and controlling, at the mobile station, a transmission rate in an uplink in accordance with the absolute grant channel when the judgment result is affirmative. The mobile station identifier differs based on each of priority levels.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to perform a soft handover control in which an error rate is low in the Enhanced Uplink. A mobile communication control method according to the present invention includes the steps of: performing a change control for a transmission rate of uplink data to be transmitted from a mobile station UE to a first base station Node-B #1, while the first base station Node-B #1 and the mobile station UE are communicating with each other; determining that the mobile station UE is to perform soft handover between the first base station Node-B #1 and a second base station Node-B #2; instructing the first base station Node-B #1 and the mobile station UE to stop the change control for the transmission rate of the uplink data; and instructing the mobile station UE and the second base station Node-B #2 to start the soft handover.

Abstract: A disc transfer guide apparatus includes a guide plate for transferring a disc by clamping the disc in cooperation with a feed roller and a mount base to which the guide plate is mounted. The guide plate has a pair of plate portions coupled by a coupling portion that can be expandable and shrinkable in an axial direction of the feed roller. Each plate portion has a protruding piece at the outer end and the mount base has a slit engaged with the protruding piece for restraining the guide plate from moving in the axial direction of the feed roller. Each plate portion has inclined protruding threads having a protruding amount from the obverse face gradually increasing from the inner end toward the outer end.

Abstract: A simplified disc-clamping mechanism is provided to decrease the number of parts and processes of the assembly of a disc-clamping mechanism. The disc-clamping mechanism has a clamping plate sandwiching a disc by cooperating with a turntable, and a clamp base rotatably holding the clamping plate. The clamping plate has a surface plate pressing a disc toward the turntable, a small-radius body portion having an outer diameter smaller than that of the surface plate portion, and a flange portion protruding more than an end portion in an axial direction of the small-radius body portion and being parallel to the surface plate portion. The clamp base is integrally formed while including a thin-plate shaped holding portion, a stopper piece, and a bent portion which extends from the holding portion.

Abstract: A power supply device includes: an oscillator configured to output a clock signal; a pulse output unit configured to output a pulse by dividing the frequency of the clock signal; a switching element driven by the pulse; a piezoelectric transformer configured to intermittently receive a voltage from the switching element and to output a high alternating current voltage; a rectifier configured to convert the high alternating current voltage to a high direct current voltage; an output voltage conversion unit configured to convert the high direct current voltage to a low direct current voltage; a target setter configured to output a target value; and a comparison unit configured to compare the low direct current voltage with the target value and to output a comparison result. A frequency division ratio of the pulse is controlled according to the comparison result, and thereby is changed so as to obtain the target value.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes: two solar cells that photogenerate carriers, each having a first electrode on a first main face of a photoelectric conversion body, and a second electrode of opposite polarity on a main face; and a wiring member to electrically connect the two solar cells via the respective cell's first and second electrodes. A bus-bar electrode collects photogenerated carriers from the finger electrodes. The wiring member connects to the bus-bar electrode of one solar cell through a conductive resin connection layer. The connection layer also contacts the first main face of the photoelectric conversion body.

Abstract: With the method for manufacturing the solar cell module 100 according to the present embodiment, the width W1 of the connection region C in which the wiring member 11 and the connecting electrode 40 are electrically connected is set to be larger than the substantially half of the width W2 of the wiring member 11 in the thermocompression bonding process of the wiring member 11 using the resin adhesive 12 including the particles 13 onto the principal surface of the solar cell 10.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a solar module according the embodiment includes a step A of disposing one of the wiring members 11 on the light receiving surface of one solar cell of n solar cells, with a thermosetting resin adhesive 12 interposed therebetween, the wiring member being to be connected to a solar cell adjacently located on one side of the one solar cell, and disposing another one of the wiring members 11 on the back surface of the one solar cell with the resin adhesive 12 interposed therebetween, the wiring member 11 being to be connected to a solar cell 10 adjacently located on the other side of the one solar cell; a step B of bonding the wiring members 11 to the one solar cell by heating the resin adhesive 12 at a temperature higher than a softening temperature of the resin adhesive 12 but lower than a hardening temperature of the resin adhesive 12; a step C of bonding the wiring members 11 to all the n solar cells by repeating the step A and the step B alternately; and a step D of hardening the r

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a developer carrier configured to supply developer to the image carrier; a power supply unit configured to apply a voltage to the developer carrier; a drive unit configured to rotationally drive the image carrier and developer carrier; a rotation amount determiner configured to determine the amount of rotation of the image carrier or the developer carrier in a predetermined time period; and a drive control unit configured to instruct the drive unit to rotate the image carrier and the developer carrier in a non-printing state, when it is determined that the rotation amount in a printing operation in the predetermined time period was equal to or greater than a threshold.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a heat transfer member having a width extending along a direction orthogonal to a medium conveying direction along which a medium is conveyed, the heat transfer member transferring heat from a heater to the medium; the heater provided along substantially the entire width of the heat transfer member and configured to heat the heat transfer member so as to heat the medium via the heat transfer member; a temperature detector configured to detect the temperature of the widthwise center of the heat transfer member; a temperature setting unit configured to set a target temperature by correcting a default target temperature, depending on the difference between the default target temperature and the temperature that is detected by the temperature detector when the heater starts to heat; a heat controller configured to control the heater to make the temperature detected by the temperature detector the target temperature.