Abstract: An audio signal band expanding apparatus (100a) includes a harmonic generator (3) that receives an input audio signal having a predetermined band and generates, based on the input audio signal, harmonic signals, and an adder (2) that adds the harmonic signals generated by the harmonic generator (3) to the input audio signal. The harmonic generator (3) simulates the input-output characteristics of a predetermined amplifier or that of a device to generate the harmonic signals from the input audio signal.

Abstract: 2-Ethenylthio-type carbapenem derivatives of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided. The compounds according to the present invention have potent antimicrobial activity and a wide antimicrobial spectrum against pneumococci including penicillin resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP), Haemophilus influenzae including ?-lactamase-negative, ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae (BLNAR), and Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis.

Abstract: A battery pack updating method updates firmware stored in internal control circuit memory via an update signal sent from a main device that supplies power. When battery pack memory is updated, an AC adapter is connected to the main device, and power is supplied to the main device from the AC adapter. The updating method transmits a charging and discharging blocking signal from the main device to the battery pack control circuit via a communication line. The charging and discharging blocking signal stops discharge from the battery pack rechargeable battery, and stops charging of the rechargeable battery. With rechargeable battery discharging and charging to and from the main device stopped by the charging and discharging blocking signal, the updating method transmits update data from the main device to the battery pack control circuit to update memory.

Abstract: A check valve, a retainer and a washer are secured to a valve body by inserting a pin therethrough and staking a distal end portion of the pin to form a staked portion. A restraining member is interposed between the washer and the staked portion. The fit clearance between the restraining member and the shank of the pin is set smaller than the fit clearance between the check valve, the retainer and the washer on the one hand and the shank of the pin on the other. Thus, when the distal end portion of the pin is staked, the deformation of the shank of the pin is restrained by the restraining member that defines a small clearance between the same and the pin. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the enlargement in diameter of a portion of the pin where the check valve is fitted and hence possible to prevent deformation of the check valve. Thus, stable valve characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: A method of driving a variable resistance element includes: a writing step performed by applying a writing voltage pulse having a first polarity to a variable resistance layer to change a resistance state of the layer from high to low; and an erasing step performed by applying an erasing voltage pulse having a second polarity to the layer to change the state from low to high. Here, |Vw1|>|Vw2| where Vw1 represents a voltage value of the writing voltage pulse for first to N-th writing steps (N?1) and Vw2 represents a voltage value of the writing voltage pulse for (N+1)-th and subsequent writing steps, and |Ve1|>|Ve2| where Ve1 represents a voltage value of the erasing voltage pulse for first to M-th erasing steps (M?1) and Ve2 represents a voltage value of the erasing voltage pulse for (M+1)-th and subsequent erasing steps. The (N+1)-th writing step follows the M-th erasing step.

Abstract: (Object) An oral sustained-release tablet is provided, which does not cause initial rapid increases in the bloodlevels of 4-(2-methyl-1-imidazolyl)-2,2-diphenylbutylamide (KRP-197) and can maintain constant the blood levels. (Solving means) An oral sustained-release tablet comprises a pharmaceutical composition and a gel-forming material, the pharmaceutical composition containing KRP-197 as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polymer, and a mixture and a cement admixture thereof. The cement admixture has higher dispersibility compared to the previous ones. The novel polymer of the present invention has a different structure from the conventional copolymers used for cement admixtures, using an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and an unsaturated polyalkylene glycol monomer as the monomer components. The novel polymer of the present invention basically contains a polyalkylene glycol chain and a polymer segment bonded to the chain. Another type of the novel polymer of the present invention contains two polyalkylene glycol chains and a polymer segment connecting the chains. In these polymers, at least one of unsaturated monomers constituting the polymer segment is an unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer or an unsaturated polyalkylene glycol monomer. The cement admixture of the present invention comprises a polymer, made from these monomers, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A power supply control method of a production system including a first unit and a second unit includes: starting power supply for operation of the second unit in accordance with a signal acquired according to an operation status of the first unit (S41); starting the operation by the second unit after the start of the power supply (S44); acquiring stop time information indicating time from when the operation ends to when a next operation of the second unit starts (S22); determining, based on the acquired stop time information, whether or not to stop the power supply after the started operation ends (S24); and stopping the power supply when it is determined to stop the power supply (S48).

Abstract: An outer joint member (10) and an inner joint member (40) each have a shaft portion (18 and 46) having a male spline formed thereon, and shaft clamps (60) are press-fitted onto the respective shaft portions (18 and 46). Each of the shaft clamps (60) includes: a connection hole (66) that has a female spline formed therein, extends from a first axial end partway toward a second axial end, and has no quench-hardened layer; and a cylindrical portion (64) that has no female spline formed therein and extends from the second axial end partway toward the first axial end. The shaft portions (18 and 46) each have a quench-hardened layer on the outer circumference thereof. The inner diameter of the connection hole (64) at a portion having no female spline formed therein is less than the outer diameters of the shaft portions (18 and 46).

Abstract: A wireless communication system transmits information requested by a wireless communication terminal to the wireless communication terminal moving through a spot wireless area. In a wireless base station, an external information communication control section controls communication with a server. A contents memory stores at least a part of contents received from the server. A wireless communication section communicates with the communication terminal using a predetermined communication method. A control section establishes connection with the communication terminal using a first connection which does not require an authentication procedure, or using a second connection which requires the authentication procedure.

Abstract: A conductive layer mainly made of gold is formed on an upper surface of an insulating substrate. Plural electrodes facing each other via a gap is formed by forming the gap in the conductive layer. An overvoltage protective layer covering the gap and a portion of each of the plurality of electrodes is formed. This method can provide the gap with a narrow width precisely, and thereby, provide an electrostatic (ESD) protector with a low peak voltage, stable characteristics of suppressing electrostatic discharge, and a high resistance to sulfidation.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte fuel cell is provided with a fuel cell stack assembled by sandwiching a plurality of stacked single cell modules with a plurality of fastening members through a pair of end plates. The fuel cell includes a first elastic member arranged between the fastening member and the end plate and a plurality of second elastic members arranged between the end plate and the end of the fuel cell stack. Each of the second elastic members is arranged on the surface of the end plate corresponding to the electrode portion of a membrane electrode assembly in each of the single cell module, and each of the first elastic members is arranged on the surface of the end plate corresponding to a seal member arrangement region in which the seal member is arranged between the periphery of the membrane electrode assembly and a pair of separator plates in each single cell module.

Abstract: An authenticator apparatus which makes it difficult for an unauthorized user to masquerade and enhances safety includes an authenticating information holding unit (102) previously stores characteristic information indicating an input and output characteristic involving an environment change of an authentic authenticatee apparatus entitled to be authentic, an authenticating information transmitting unit (107) which transmits authenticating information to a portable medium (2), a response information receiving unit (108) which receives response information outputted from the portable medium (2) in response to an input of the authenticating information, an environment selecting unit (105) which identifies an environment of the portable medium (2), and a response information confirming unit (109) which determines whether or not the authenticating information and the response information satisfy the input and output characteristic indicated in the characteristic information stored in the authenticating information

Abstract: An electronic component packaging structure includes a circuit board, electronic components mounted on the circuit board and a moisture-proof coating layer covering the electronic components. The moisture-proof coating layer is constituted from a polymer material coating having at least two layers of a lower layer and an upper layer, and the polymer material forming the lower layer has higher swelling property and/or solubility to a repairing solvent that is selected from among hydrocarbon-based solvents than the polymer material forming the upper layer.

Abstract: A pipe coupling member for high-pressure fluid such as liquefied hydrogen includes a seal ring having a highly effective sealing function to prevent leakage of the fluid. The seal ring (72) is set in a seal ring setting space (39) defined by a second radial surface (36) and a seal ring setting surface (38) of a first tubular member (20), a forward end surface of a second tubular member (22), and the outer peripheral surface of a valve seat member (24). A forward end portion of the second tubular member (22) is provided with a communication hole (84) radially penetrating the forward end portion. The pressure of the high-pressure fluid on the downstream side of a valve seat surface (52) causes a fluid path in the second tubular member to be communicated with the sealing ring setting space (39) via the communication hole (84) and via a gap between the seal ring setting surface (38) and the outer peripheral surface of the forward end portion of the second tubular member.

Abstract: When a conventional audio video system is used, it is necessary to identify an input source of audio video information. For this reason, complicated operations and slow operation times have been a problem.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus (100) can record information on a recording memory (111) having a recording region where a smallest unit for erasing recorded information is a block, on a unit of a cluster that is a unit smaller than the block. The recording and reproducing apparatus (100) includes: an input unit (130) that receives a request for starting or ending recording a file; and a system control unit (101) that records a header section of the file and a data section following the header section, from the beginning of the block in the recording region, when the request for starting recording is received; and updates the header section and records the updated header section on another cluster different from the cluster on which the header section before update is recorded when the request for ending recording is received.

Abstract: A discharge rate control method for an ink-jet printer (1) includes forming a film (B) on a coating article (2) having a non ink-absorbent characteristic. Ink is discharged on coating article (2) from a plurality of nozzles (4) of a print head (3). The film thickness of film (B) is measured, corresponding to ink discharge positions of each nozzle (4). The discharge rate of ink is corrected for each nozzle (4) by increasing or decreasing the discharge rate based on differences between a target film thickness (Ba) and a film thickness at an ink discharge position of each nozzle (4).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a flexible semiconductor device includes (i) forming an insulating film on the upper surface of metal foil, (ii) forming an extraction electrode pattern on the upper surface of the metal foil, (iii) forming a semiconductor layer on the insulating film such that the semiconductor layer is in contact with the extraction electrode pattern, (iv) forming a sealing resin layer on the upper surface of the metal foil such that the sealing resin layer covers the semiconductor layer and the extraction electrode pattern, and (v) forming electrodes by etching the metal foil, the metal foil being used as a support for the insulating film, the extraction electrode pattern, the semiconductor layer, and the sealing resin layer formed in (i) to (iv) and used as a constituent material for the electrodes in (v). The metal foil need not be stripped, and a high-temperature process can be used.

Abstract: An image processing device that can highly precisely correct an image with a degraded image quality due to the unnecessary diffracted light generated in the optical system including the diffractive optical element is provided.