Abstract: Operation of a car navigation system in which a menu is in a hierarchical structure can be performed by simple gestures. The method includes: detecting that a switch is pressed; subsequently detecting a gesture by a sensor; obtaining, from a memory unit, an operation associated with the detected gesture; and outputting, with respect to a screen displayed on a display unit at the time of detecting the gesture, a result of performance of the obtained operation to the display unit, wherein once it is detected that the switch is released, if it is detected that the switch is subsequently pressed again within a predetermined period of time, the same process is repeated.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor light emitting module and a method of manufacturing the same, which allow achieving high luminance light emission as well as lightweight and compact features. In a semiconductor light emitting module (101), a projecting portion (202) serving as a reflecting member is formed on a metal thin plate (102) to surround a semiconductor light emitting element (104). The semiconductor light emitting element (104) is connected to a printed board (103) by using a wire (201), for example. The projecting portion (202) is formed by pressing and bending the metal thin plate (102) from a back surface, for example, to surround the element and to be higher than the semiconductor light emitting element (104).

Abstract: A motion input is appropriately identified. A display is disposed in front of an operator, and a motion, performed by the operator within ranges set in predetermined right and left positions between the operator and the display, is identified. In certain circumstances, the shape of a finger of the operator may be handled as an object of an operational determination.

Abstract: Providing a dye-sensitized solar cell having high durability and thermal resistance, and preventing elution of a platinum group catalyst from a catalytic electrode: by surface-treating the catalytic electrode with (a) a specific sulfur material having a molecular weight of 32 to 10,000 containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, (b) another specific sulfur material containing no sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, but containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of +1 to +4 [with the proviso that the sulfur material (b) is such a material that a surface of the surface-treated catalyst electrode has a photoelectron peak within a binding energy range of 161 to 165 eV in an X-ray photoelectron spectrum], or (c) a mixture of the sulfur materials (a) and (b); and/or by adding the sulfur material into the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A touch input system has an operation input device having a sensor and a CPU. The CPU is configured to display a mark as a selection object on a display based on a first touch operation. The CPU is further configured to determine an operation mode of a series of touch operations including the first touch operation and the second touch operation. In determining, the CPU is configured to classify the touch operations into any of groups of first touch operations and second touch operations based on a time difference between the touch operations detected.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor light emitting module and a method of manufacturing the same, which allow achieving high luminance light emission as well as lightweight and compact features. In a semiconductor light emitting module (101), a projecting portion (202) serving as a reflecting member is formed on a metal thin plate (102) to surround a semiconductor light emitting element (104). The semiconductor light emitting element (104) is connected to a printed board (103) by using a wire (201), for example. The projecting portion (202) is formed by pressing and bending the metal thin plate (102) from a back surface, for example, to surround the element and to be higher than the semiconductor light emitting element (104).

Abstract: Providing a dye-sensitized solar cell having high durability and thermal resistance, and preventing elution of a platinum group catalyst from a catalytic electrode: by surface-treating the catalytic electrode with (a) a specific sulfur material having a molecular weight of 32 to 10,000 containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, (b) another specific sulfur material containing no sulfur atom having an oxidation number of ?2 to 0, but containing a sulfur atom having an oxidation number of +1 to +4 [with the proviso that the sulfur material (b) is such a material that a surface of the surface-treated catalyst electrode has a photoelectron peak within a binding energy range of 161 to 165 eV in an X-ray photoelectron spectrum], or (c) a mixture of the sulfur materials (a) and (b); and/or by adding the sulfur material into the electrolyte layer.

Abstract: Two bar support portions are provided on opposite sides of a floor mat sensor and a horizontal bar is fixed between these portions to define spaces below into which feet are to be inserted. Then, using the horizontal bar as a reference, an input area, such as “A” or “B”, can be accurately stepped on. A signal receiver reads and stores a first signal, and a signal determination unit determines whether the signal that was read was generated by stepping on area A or area B. Thereafter, when a signal is received indicating a data type was received first, the signal receiver reads the next input signal and the signal determination unit determines whether a signal indicating the data type was received.

Abstract: An accurate determination of an operation is possible. Data photographed by a video camera is read by an image reading unit, and an image of an operator is extracted from the data by an image extracting unit. As a result of such preparation, a virtual operation screen and an operation region are created based upon the extracted image of the operator. In a case of an adult operator, an operation region can be created in consideration with a length (position of sight line) or a length of an arm, and in a case of a child, since a length is lower and a length of an arm is shorter, an operation region can be set to match it.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at detecting an operator's height and position of each body part with a certain range of accuracy, which is used for calculation of a BMI value or operation of a game. An exercise assist device (101) is provided with a horizontal bar (102), a bar support (103) to support the bar, and a floor mat (104) on a surface of its body. A video camera (201) is mounted on the top of a monitor (701) as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7 and captures the operator as well as the horizontal bar (102) and bar support (103) in one image. Since the horizontal bar (102) and bar support (103) together with the operator are captured in one image, they become a three-dimensional measurement reference, so that the operator's height can be calculated from the captured image.

Abstract: Methods for producing a transition-metal-coated carbon material having a transition metal coating which has a high adhesion strength between the transition metal and the carbon material, and which is neither exfoliated nor detached in subsequent processing are provided. The transition-metal-coated carbon material may be obtained by adhering a compound containing transition metal ions onto a surface of a carbon material and by reducing the transition metal ions with carbon in the carbon material by a heat treatment, thereby to form elemental transition metal. Here, the transition metal is Fe, Co, Ni, Mn, Cu or Zn. Moreover, also provided is a carbon-metal composite material exhibiting an excellent mechanical strength and thermal conductivity, by improving affinity with a metal such as aluminium by use of the transition-metal-coated carbon material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal-graphite composite material favorable to two-dimensional diffusion of heat and having a high thermal conductivity in two axial directions, and a production method therefor. The metal-graphite composite material of the present invention includes: 20 to 80% by volume of a scaly graphite powder; and a matrix selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum and alloys thereof, wherein the scaly graphite powder in which a normal vector to a scaly surface thereof is tilted at 20° or higher with respect to a normal vector to a readily heat-conducting surface of the metal-graphite composite material is 15% or less relative to a whole amount of the scaly graphite powder, and the metal-graphite composite material has a relative density of 95% or higher.

Abstract: An image for an operator is extracted, and an operation determination unit employs a relationship, relative to a marker of an operation input system, for the operator, who is standing behind the marker when viewed by a video camera. When a body part of the operator comes to the front of an operation plane, as viewed by the video camera, the operation determination unit determines that an action for an input operation has been started, and examines the shape and the movement of each individual body part (an open hand, two fingers that are being held up, etc.), and determines whether the shape or the movement is correlated with one of operations that are assumed in advance.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor light emitting module and a method of manufacturing the same, which allow achieving high luminance light emission as well as lightweight and compact features. In a semiconductor light emitting module (101), a projecting portion (202) serving as a reflecting member is formed on a metal thin plate (102) to surround a semiconductor light emitting element (104). The semiconductor light emitting element (104) is connected to a printed board (103) by using a wire (201), for example. The projecting portion (202) is formed by pressing and bending the metal thin plate (102) from a back surface, for example, to surround the element and to be higher than the semiconductor light emitting element (104).

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal-based carbon fiber composite material exhibiting an improved thermal expansion coefficient, improved thermal conductivity, and is smaller in weight, and a method for producing the same. The composite material includes a metal and a carbon fiber including a micron carbon fiber and a nanofiber; the composite material having a first surface; the micron-size carbon fiber being oriented in one direction parallel to the first surface and being continuous from end to end; at least 80% of the nanofiber being oriented at an angle within 30° with respect to the first surface; and the nano-size carbon fiber being oriented randomly in a plane parallel to the first surface. In the composite material, a surface region may include a smaller amount of micron carbon fiber than other regions, or include no micron carbon fiber; the nanofiber may have an orientation parallel to the surface of the composite material.

Abstract: A theme of the present invention is to provide a new transition metal complex, useful as a photosensitizer dye for a photoelectric conversion element having an excellent durability and a high photoelectric conversion characteristic. The present invention provides a bivalent transition metal complex constituted of (i) a bipyridyl polyacidic ligand, such as a dicarboxybipyridyl (dcbpy) ligand, as an adsorption site for adsorption onto titanium dioxide particle surfaces; (ii) a ligand, selected from the group consisting of an isothiocyanato group, an isocyanato group, and an isoselenocyanato group and enabling absorption and excitation at long wavelengths and charge transfer; and (iii) a bipyridyl (bpy) ligand, having an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, preferably a long-chain alkyl group, and a conjugately bonded thienylvinylene group, aminophenylenevinylene group, etc.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed at detecting an operator's height and position of each body part with a certain range of accuracy, which is used for calculation of a BMI value or operation of a game. An exercise assist device (101) is provided with a horizontal bar (102), a bar support (103) to support the bar, and a floor mat (104) on a surface of its body. A video camera (201) is mounted on the top of a monitor (701) as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 7 and captures the operator as well as the horizontal bar (102) and bar support (103) in one image. Since the horizontal bar (102) and bar support (103) together with the operator are captured in one image, they become a three-dimensional measurement reference, so that the operator's height can be calculated from the captured image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal-graphite composite material favorable to two-dimensional diffusion of heat and having a high thermal conductivity in two axial directions, and a production method therefor. The metal-graphite composite material of the present invention includes: 20 to 80% by volume of a scaly graphite powder; and a matrix selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminium and alloys thereof, wherein the scaly graphite powder in which a normal vector to a scaly surface thereof is tilted at 20° or higher with respect to a normal vector to a readily heat-conducting surface of the metal-graphite composite material is 15% or less relative to a whole amount of the scaly graphite powder, and the metal-graphite composite material has a relative density of 95% or higher.

Abstract: In a synthetic method for porous silica crystals through a hydrothermal reaction, a method for synthesizing porous silica crystals with a size of 0.5 mm or larger in high reproducibility and efficiency is provided using a method for manufacturing the porous silica crystals, wherein a high concentration area with silicon is formed as a partial area inside a hydrothermal synthesis vessel, and at least a part of a surface-smoothed bulk material is present in the high concentration area with silicon to perform the hydrothermal reaction, the bulk material comprising a compound containing both silicon and oxygen as a supply source for a part or a whole of the structure composition elements of the porous silica crystals.

Abstract: A veneer laminated material formed by improving a laminated material formed in a plate or column shape by stacking a plurality of sheet-like veneers overlapping with each other and adhering them to each other, and a method of manufacturing the veneer laminated material. The method comprises the steps of forming the veneers into parquet-like veneers formed by longitudinally arranging the plurality of divided small veneer pieces in a parquetry pattern continuously with each other, intersecting the fiber directions of the parquet-like veneers aslant with the longitudinal side ends of the parquet-like veneers, and laminating and forming the veneer laminated material by arranging the fiber directions of the parquet-like veneers adjacent to each other in a laminated layer cross section so as to be reversed to each other and intersected with each other.