Abstract: A support system according to the present invention is provided with a whereabouts identifying unit configured to identify the position where a person needing care is present, an area identifying unit configured to identify an affected area, in which there is a possibility that the line of movement of the person needing care and the line of movement of an approaching object approaching the person needing care cross each other, and a notification unit configured to output a care request to an output unit existing in the affected area.

Abstract: An instruction fetch apparatus is disclosed which includes: a program counter configured to manage the address of an instruction targeted to be executed in a program in which instructions belonging to a plurality of instruction sequences are placed sequentially; a change designation register configured to designate a change of an increment value on the program counter; an increment value register configured to hold the changed increment value; and an addition control section configured such that if the change designation register designates the change of the increment value on the program counter, then the addition control section increments the program counter based on the changed increment value held in the increment value register, the addition control section further incrementing the program counter by an instruction word length if the change designation register does not designate any change of the increment value on the program counter.

Abstract: An instruction fetch apparatus is disclosed which includes: a program counter configured to manage the address of an instruction targeted to be executed in a program in which instructions belonging to a plurality of instruction sequences are placed sequentially; a change designation register configured to designate a change of an increment value on the program counter; an increment value register configured to hold the changed increment value; and an addition control section configured such that if the change designation register designates the change of the increment value on the program counter, then the addition control section increments the program counter based on the changed increment value held in the increment value register, the addition control section further incrementing the program counter by an instruction word length if the change designation register does not designate any change of the increment value on the program counter.

Abstract: An instruction fetch apparatus is disclosed which includes: a detection state setting section configured to set the execution state of a program of which an instruction prefetch timing is to be detected; a program execution state generation section configured to generate the current execution state of the program; an instruction prefetch timing detection section configured to detect the instruction prefetch timing in the case of a match between the current execution state of the program and the set execution state thereof upon comparison therebetween; and an instruction prefetch section configured to prefetch the next instruction upon detection of the instruction prefetch timing.

Abstract: A binder for battery comprising composite polymer particles in which two or more polymers having different chemical structures form a heterogeneous phase structure. Preferably, said two or more polymers include two polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) different from each other by 5° C. or more. When a slurry prepared by mixing the binder with a liquid material and an active material is used for the production of an electrode for a secondary battery, especially, a lithium secondary battery, the resulting battery exhibits an improved performance because the slurry imparts a well-balanced binding power and a binding durability.

Abstract: A binder for a lithium ion secondary battery characterized by comprising a polymer containing structural units derived from 1,3-butadiene, said polymer having a 1,2-vinyl structure content in the range of 2% to 25% by mole. A lithium ion secondary battery provided with an electrode made using this binder exhibits improved characteristics at repetition of charge-discharge cycle and improved storage stability.

Abstract: A binder composition used for making an electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery, which comprises polymer particles dispersed in an organic medium having a boiling point of 80-350° C. at normal pressure. The polymer (1) comprises structural units derived from a monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer, and at least one kind of structural units selected from (b) structural units derived from a monoethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer and (c) structural units derived from a conjugated diene monomer; (2) has a ratio of (a)/[(b)+(c)] of 99/1−60/40 by weight; (3) has a total content of (a), (b) plus (c) of at least 80 wt. % based on the total structural units; and (4) is substantially free from structural units of a monoethylenically aromatic hydrocarbon monomer. A lithium-ion secondary battery having an electrode made with the binder exhibits a large service capacity and enhanced charge-discharge characteristics at a high temperature.

Abstract: A polymer binder for an electrode is provided, which is comprised of a polymer comprising (a) structural units derived from a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer, (b) structural units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, and (c) structural units derived from a methacrylonitrile monomer; the ratio of [(a)+(c)]/(b) being 99.9 to 1.5 by weight; the sum of (a)+(b)+(c) being at least 70 wt. % based on the total structural units of the polymer; and the polymer being substantially free from structural units derived from an ethylenically hydrocarbon monomer and structural units derived from a diene monomer. The binder exhibits enhanced electrochemical stability and is useful for making an electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery.

Abstract: A polymer dispersion composition obtained by dispersing an electrode active material and a polymer having a gel content of 50% or more in an organic dispersion medium of which boiling point at 760 mmHg is 80° C. or above. The composition is successfully usable as, for instance, a binder composition for batteries, and the battery produced therefrom is high in initial capacity and small in the drop of capacity.

Abstract: A binder for battery comprising composite polymer particles in which two or more polymers having different chemical structures form a heterogeneous phase structure. Preferably, said two or more polymers include two polymers having a glass transition temperature (Tg) different from each other by 5° C. or more. When a slurry prepared by mixing the binder with a liquid material and an active material is used for the production of an electrode for a secondary battery, especially, a lithium secondary battery, the resulting battery exhibits an improved performance because the slurry imparts a well-balanced binding power and a binding durability.

Abstract: This invention provides a polymer dispersion composition obtained by dispersing a polymer having a gel content of 50% or more in an organic dispersion medium of which boiling point at 760 Kgf/cm3 is 80° C. or above. Said composition is successfully usable as, for instance, a binder composition for batteries, and the battery produced therefrom is high in initial capacity and small in the drop of capacity.

Abstract: A polymer binder for an electrode is provided, which is comprised of a polymer comprising (a) structural units derived from a monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid ester monomer, (b) structural units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, and (c) structural units derived from a methacrylonitrile monomer; the ratio of [(a)+(c)]/(b) being 99.9 to 1.5 by weight; the sum of (a)+(b)+(c) being at least 70 wt. % based on the total structural units of the polymer; and the polymer being substantially free from structural units derived from an ethylenically hydrocarbon monomer and structural units derived from a diene monomer. The binder exhibits enhanced electrochemical stability and is useful for making an electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery.

Abstract: An alkaline secondary battery comprising an electrolyte such as aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, at least one cathode electrode, at least one anode electrode having an anode active material layer, and a separator such as non-woven fabric between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, in which the anode active material layer containing an anode active material such as a hydridable alloy or a cadmium alloy, and an anode binder which includes a nonionic polymer produced by emulsion polymerization of a nonionic monomer in the presence of a nonionic surfactant, and in which the electrolyte essentially surrounds the cathode electrode and the anode electrode.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical unit having an optical axis, a manual operation member arranged to be manually operated to drive the optical unit, a driving motor for electrically driving the optical unit, and a driven member arranged to be driven by the driving motor, wherein the manual operation member and the driven member are kept in contact with each other through a predetermined frictional force on a ring-shaped face whose center lies at the optical axis, and wherein a driving force of the driving motor is transmitted via the driven member to the manual operation member, while a manual driving force onto the manual operation member is not transmitted to the driven member.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an optical unit, a manual operation ring for manually driving the optical unit, a driving motor for electrically driving the manual operation ring, a transmission driving force limiting member for liniting a transmission driving force between the manual operation ring and the driving motor, the transmission driving force limiting member being formed in a ring shape substantially cocentric with an optical axis of the optical unit, a speed reduction gear for transmitting a driving force from the driving motor to the transmission driving force limiting member, wherein the following condition is satisfied:TL<TF<TMwhere TL is a torque required for driving the manual operation ring, which is disposed on the side of the optical unit relative to the transmission driving force limiting member, and the optical unit, TF is a limit torque transmissible by the transmission driving force limiting member, and TM is a limit torque with which a driving system composed of the driving motor a

Abstract: A lens barrel includes an optical lens having an optical axis, an operation ring substantially cylindrical and operable about the optical axis to move the optical lens along the optical axis thereof, and a slidable contact member slidably in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the operation ring, the slidable contact member providing a specific load against the inner circumferential surface thereof. The operational torque of the operation force is changed when the slidable contact member moves in the optical axis direction by changing its contact area with the inner circumferential surface of the operation ring.

Abstract: A speed reducer having a fixed first member, a second member opposed to the first member, a pressing member and for inclining the second member and making it bear against the first member. The pressing member also presses the second member so that the bearing portion thereof may describe a circular locus. Also provided are an output shaft and a connecting member connecting the second member and the output shaft together.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reduction gear apparatus including a first member, a second member connected to the output shaft, a press member that rotates together with the input shaft to press part of the second member so as to bring the part into contact with the first member, and a control member for controlling rotation of the first member about the output shaft. A high speed reducing ratio can be obtained with respect to rotation of a motor, and a clutch function for connecting/disconnecting power transmission to/from the output shaft by controlling rotation of the first member and other functions can be imparted to the gear reduction apparatus.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has an optical lens unit, a manual operation device for manually operating the optical lens unit, and a drive device for driving the optical unit by electrical power, in which the manual operation device and the drive device are coupled by magnetic force, in which when driven by the drive device, the optical lens is driven as the two devices are coupled, and in which when the manual operation device is operated manually, the optical lens is driven as the drive device is fixed.

Abstract: A process for preparation of a rubber composition which comprises mixing a modified diene polymer wherein at least one functional group represented by the formula >C.dbd.N.sup.+ < was bound to the main chain of the polymer or the main chain and terminal of the polymer directly or through another atomic group, with carbon black in an organic solvent, and separately the mixture of the modified diene polymer with carbon black from the resultant mixture solution.