Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising an electrolyte dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent. The negative electrode uses a low crystalline carbon coated graphite in which at least part of the surface of graphite is coated with a low crystalline carbon material having lower crystallinity than that of graphite as a negative electrode active material, and the non-aqueous electrolyte comprises a lithium salt which has oxalate complex as an anion, in addition to a mixed solvent of propylene carbonate and chain carbonate as a non-aqueous solvent.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode (11), a negative electrode (12), and a non-aqueous electrolyte (14). The positive electrode contains a lithium-free metal oxide and a positive electrode active material composed of an olivine-type lithium-containing phosphate represented by the general formula LixMPO4, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Mn, and Fe, and 0<x<1.3.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material includes a lithium-nickel-manganese composite oxide having a hexagonal layered rock-salt structure that belongs to the space group R-3m, and contains lithium in 3b sites that contain transition metals. The lithium-nickel-manganese composite oxide is represented by the molecular formula Li[LixNiyMnz]O2-a where: 0<x <0.4, 0.12<y<0.5, 0.3<z<0.62, 0?a<0.5; and the variables x, y, and z satisfy the expressions x>(1?2y)/3, ¼?y/z?1.0, and x+y+z=1.0. The balance between input power and output power and power characteristics are improved, and the initial charge-discharge efficiency and discharge capacity are enhanced.

Abstract: The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention uses, as the positive electrode active material, a mixture of a lithium-containing transition metal oxide LiaNixMnyO2 (wherein a, x, and y respectively satisfy the following relations: 1<a?1.5; 0.5?x+y?1; 0<x<1; and 0<y<1) containing nickel and manganese as transition metals and having the layered rock-salt type crystal structure of a hexagonal system belonging to space group R-3 m and a lithium manganese oxide Li(1+b) Mn(2?b)O4 (wherein b satisfies 0?b?0.33) having the spinel structure.

Abstract: A speech section detection apparatus capable of reliably detecting a speech section even for a word containing a glottal stop sound or for a word containing a succession of “s” column sounds or “h” column sounds (sounds in the third column or the sixth column in the Japanese Goju-on Zu syllabary table). A speech signal detected by a microphone is amplified by a line amplifier, and converted by an analog/digital converter into a digital signal which is then stored in a memory. The stored speech signal is fetched into a pitch detector where a speech pitch is extracted by processing the speech signal in time domain. A gate signal generator controls the gate signal based on the speech pitch, and a speech section signal generator controls a speech section signal based on the gate signal. A word can be extracted by segmenting the speech signal stored in the memory in accordance with the speech section signal.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein positive electrode active material is a mixture of lithium-manganese composite oxide having spinel structure represented by a general formula Li1+zMn2O4 (wherein a relationship 0?z?0.2 is satisfied) and lithium-transition metal composite oxide represented by the general formula LiNi1?x?yCoxMnyO2 (wherein the relationships 0.5<x+y<1.0 and 0.1<y<0.6 are satisfied), and negative electrode active material is graphite coated with low crystalline carbon where whole or a part of a surface of first graphite material as a substrate is coated with second carbon material which is lower in crystallinity compared with the first graphite material.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, a positive electrode active material is a mixture of lithium-manganese composite oxide and at least one of lithium-nickel composite oxide represented by a general formula LiNiaM11?aO2 and lithium-cobalt composite oxide represented by the general formula LiCobM21?bO2, and said non-aqueous electrolyte solution contains at least a saturated cyclic carbonic acid ester and an unsaturated cyclic carbonic acid ester having double bond of carbon where content by amount of said unsaturated cyclic carbonic acid ester having double bond of carbon is in a range of 1.0×10?8 to 2.4×10?4 g per positive electrode capacity 1 mAh.

Abstract: A high battery capacity is achieved with a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employing as a positive electrode active material a lithium-containing vanadium oxide containing at least lithium and vanadium. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode employing a positive electrode active material that intercalates and deintercalates lithium, a negative electrode employing a negative electrode active material that intercalates and deintercalates lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution having lithium ion conductivity. The positive electrode active material of the positive electrode includes a first positive electrode active material composed of a lithium-containing vanadium oxide containing at least lithium and vanadium, and a second positive electrode active material containing lithium and at least one element selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and iron.

Abstract: Good cycle performance is obtained with a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode contains as positive electrode active material a mixture of a lithium-manganese composite oxide and a lithium-transition metal composite oxide containing at least Ni and Mn as transition metals. The negative electrode contains as a negative electrode active material a material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium. Charging of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is controlled so that the end-of-charge voltage becomes higher than 4.3 V.

Abstract: A digital broadcasting receiver for changing a current channel from one channel to another channel when a commercial message is broadcast on the one channel on which a program is being watched. The time after changing the current channel is measured by a timer IC. When a predetermined time has passed, the current channel is returned to the one channel in response to the operation of a switch or the voice input from a microphone by a user. The program on the one channel is recorded in an RAM so that the program can be reproduced when the user wants to watch the program retroactively. As soon as the predetermined time has passed, an audio output processing section forms a voice message and informs the user of the fact from the speaker so as to draw the attention of the user to the fact.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery uses as its positive electrode active material a mixture of a first lithium-containing transition metal oxide containing nickel and manganese as transition metals and having a crystal structure belonging to the space group R3m and a second lithium-containing transition metal oxide containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese as transition metals and having a crystal structure belonging to the space group R3m, or a mixture of the first lithium-containing transition metal oxide and a lithium cobalt oxide. The first lithium-containing transition metal oxide is LiaNixMnyO2 wherein 1?a?1.5, 0.5?x+y?1, 0<x<1, and 0<y<1. The second lithium-containing transition metal oxide is LibNipMnqCorO2 wherein 1?b?1.5, 0.5?p+q+r?1, 0<p<1, 0<q<1, and 0<r<1.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a secondary battery and a secondary battery. A mixture of at least a lithium metal oxide with a hexagonal crystal structure (belonging to the R3m space group) containing nickel (Ni) and a lithium manganese oxide with a rhombic crystal structure (belonging to the Pmmn space group) is used for the positive electrode active material. Furthermore, it is preferable for the lithium metal oxide described above to include manganese (Mn) and more preferable for cobalt (Co) to be included to improve the stability of the crystal structure. In addition, it is preferable for the proportion of the lithium manganese oxide in the mixture described above to be from 20% by weight to 80% by weight.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery employing an olivine-type lithium phosphate as a positive electrode active material, power regeneration performance is improved. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery for use as a power source for regenerative charging includes: a positive electrode including a mixture layer containing a positive electrode active material, a binder agent, and a carbon material as a conductive agent; a negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The mixture layer contains, as the positive electrode active material, an olivine-type lithium phosphate represented by the formula LiMPO4, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Mn, and Fe, and the mixture layer further contains a metal oxide such as a lithium-containing transition metal oxide containing at least Ni or Mn.

Abstract: An in-car telephone system of great convenience is provided when switching between a hands-free conversation and a conversation using a handset of a portable telephone (a handset conversation), which has a portable telephone conducting wireless telephone communication and a hands-free unit, being connected to the portable telephone, which outputs a receiving voice from the portable telephone through a speaker arranged in a car and outputs an aural signal input from a microphone arranged in the car to the portable telephone as a transmitting signal.

Abstract: Elevated-temperature durability (i.e., high-temperature storage performance) is improved in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that uses a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode containing a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The lithium-transition metal composite oxide contains boron and at least one element selected from the group IVa elements of the periodic table.

Abstract: In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material, elevated-temperature durability, that is, elevated-temperature storage performance is enhanced without degrading battery capacity. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode including, as a positive electrode active material, layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide containing lithium, nickel, and manganese; a negative electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium; and a non-aqueous electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity, and the lithium-transition metal composite oxide contains a group IVA element and a group IIA element of the periodic table.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that uses a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide as a positive electrode active material can alleviate reduction in battery capacity associated with charge-discharge cycling at high temperatures and can enhance elevated-temperature durability, that is, high-temperature cycle performance. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, and a non-aqueous electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery uses a layered lithium-transition metal composite oxide superficially coated with microparticles of Al2O3 as the positive electrode active material.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery is provided with a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte prepared by dissolving a solute in a non-aqueous solvent wherein a positive electrode active material of said positive electrode is composed of lithium-manganese composite oxide having a spinel structure and lithium-transition metal composite oxide having a layer structure containing at least nickel and lithium salt having oxalato complex as anion is admixed to said non-aqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: Good cycle performance and high discharge power characteristics are obtained with a non-aqueous secondary cell including a positive electrode containing as a positive electrode active material a mixture of a lithium-manganese composite oxide and a lithium-transition metal composite oxide containing at least Ni and Mn, and a negative electrode having as a negative electrode active material a material capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium. Discharge of the non-aqueous secondary cell is controlled so that the end-of-discharge voltage of the non-aqueous secondary cell becomes equal to or higher than 2 V and lower than 3 V.

Abstract: A speech section detection apparatus capable of reliably detecting a speech section even in the case of a speech signal with low signal-to-noise ratio. The speech signal collected by a microphone and amplified by a line amplifier is converted by an A/D converter into a digital value, which is then stored in a memory. After removing noise from the digitized speech signal, the signal-to-noise ratio is improved by taking short-time auto-correlation and, when the signal level has continued to stay above a threshold value for a predetermined period, it is determined that a speech section has been detected. Further, a prescribed period before and after the thus determined speech section is also forcefully set as a target for extraction so that the beginning and end of the speech section can be reliably detected.