Abstract: There is provided an automatic measurement device that automates a contact type measuring instrument, which is inexpensive and good usability. An automatic measurement device includes a measuring instrument support base portion that supports a measuring instrument and a workpiece holding base portion that holds a workpiece in a measurement region of the measuring instrument. The measuring instrument support base portion includes a measuring instrument holder that holds a fixed element of the measuring instrument and an automatic operation unit attachable to and detachable from the measuring instrument. The automatic operation unit is configured to automate advance and retreat of the movable element of the measuring instrument by a power from a motor.

Abstract: There is provided an automatic measurement device that automates a contact type measuring instrument, which is inexpensive and good usability. An automatic measurement device includes a measuring instrument support base portion that supports a measuring instrument and a workpiece holding base portion that holds a workpiece in a measurement region of the measuring instrument. The measuring instrument support base portion includes a measuring instrument holder that holds a fixed element of the measuring instrument and an automatic operation unit attachable to and detachable from the measuring instrument. The automatic operation unit is configured to automate advance and retreat of the movable element of the measuring instrument by a power from a motor.

Abstract: Provided is a negative-electrode active material, which is capable of constituting a lithium ion secondary cell exhibiting excellent cell characteristics. The negative-electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary cell of the invention includes a mixed material of silicon oxide particles composed of silicon oxide and rod-shaped iron oxide particles composed of iron oxide. It is preferable to use iron oxide particles having a plurality of pores in a surface, and an electrode reaction is effectively carried out.

Abstract: This invention provides a lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. On the negative electrode surface, there is present a cyclic siloxane and/or a reaction product thereof. The cyclic siloxane is a cyclic siloxane having at least one side chain comprising a dimethylsiloxy group (a siloxy side chain-containing cyclic siloxane).

Abstract: An active material used for an electrochemical device utilizing Li ion conduction, and capable of improving cycle stability. The object is attained by providing an active material used for an electrochemical device utilizing Li ion conduction, including an active substance capable of absorbing and releasing a Li ion, and an Na ion conductor disposed on the surface of the active substance and having a polyanionic structure.

Abstract: A rare-earth sintered magnet includes 12.0 at % to 15.0 at % of rare-earth element(s), which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nd, Pr, Gd, Tb, Dy and Ho and at least 50% of which is Nd and/or Pr; 5.5 at % to 8.5 at % of boron (B); a predetermined percentage of additive metal A; and iron (Fe) and inevitably contained impurities as the balance. The predetermined percentage of additive metal A includes at least one of 0.005 at % to 0.30 at % of silver (Ag), 0.005 at % to 0.40 at % of nickel (Ni), and 0.005 at % to 0.20 at % of gold (Au).

Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide an active material which is used for an electrochemical device utilizing Li ion conduction, and capable of improving cycle stability. The present invention attains the object by providing an active material used for an electrochemical device utilizing Li ion conduction, comprising an active substance capable of absorbing and releasing a Li ion, and an Na ion conductor disposed on the surface of the active substance and having a polyanionic structure.

Abstract: This invention provides a lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. On the negative electrode surface, there is present a cyclic siloxane and/or a reaction product thereof. The cyclic siloxane is a cyclic siloxane having at least one side chain comprising a dimethylsiloxy group (a siloxy side chain-containing cyclic siloxane).

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, in which ?-Fe2O3 that is low in cost, has little environmental impact and has high theoretical capacity is used as an active material, maintains high adhesiveness between a current collector and an electrode layer, and can simultaneously achieve both of an improvement in the cycle characteristics and high capacity. In a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, which is configured of a current collector, and an electrode layer that is formed on the current collector and contains at least a negative electrode active material, a conductive assistant and a binder component, the negative electrode active material is composed of ?-Fe2O3 particles that generate a conversion electrode reaction, the binder component is a mixture of polyamide acid and partially imidized polyamide acid. The electrode layer is configured so that a concentration of the binder component decreases as distanced from the current collector.

Abstract: In an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention, at a depth of 20 ?m under the surface of its magnet body, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound have an (RL1-xRHx)2Fe14B (where 0.2?x?0.75) layer with a thickness of 1 nm to 2 ?m in their outer periphery. In this case, the light rare-earth element RL is at least one of Nd and Pr, and the heavy rare-earth element RH is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb.

Abstract: A sintered R—Fe—B based rare-earth magnet body 1 including, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL, which is Nd and/or Pr, as a major rare-earth element R is provided. A bulk body 2 including a heavy rare-earth element RH, which is at least one of Dy, Ho and Tb is also provided. The sintered magnet body 1 and the bulk body 2 are arranged in a processing chamber 4 with a vapor control member 3 interposed between the sintered magnet body 1 and the bulk body 2. And the inside of the processing chamber 4 is heated to a temperature of 700° C. to 1000° C., thereby diffusing the heavy rare-earth element RH inside the sintered magnet body 1 while supplying the heavy rare-earth element RH from the bulk body 2 to the surface of the sintered magnet body 1 via the vapor control member 3.

Abstract: Provided is a negative-electrode active material, which is capable of constituting a lithium ion secondary cell exhibiting excellent cell characteristics. The negative-electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary cell of the invention includes a mixed material of silicon oxide particles composed of silicon oxide and rod-shaped iron oxide particles composed of iron oxide. It is preferable to use iron oxide particles having a plurality of pores in a surface, and an electrode reaction is effectively carried out.

Abstract: In a method for producing an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention, first, provided is an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet body including, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL, which is at least one of Nd and Pr, as a major rare-earth element R. Thereafter, the sintered magnet body is heated while a heavy rare-earth element RH, which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb, is supplied to the surface of the sintered magnet body, thereby diffusing the heavy rare-earth element RH into the rare-earth sintered magnet body.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, in which ?-Fe2O3 that is low in cost, has little environmental impact and has high theoretical capacity is used as an active material, maintains high adhesiveness between a current collector and an electrode layer, and can simultaneously achieve both of an improvement in the cycle characteristics and high capacity. In a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, which is configured of a current collector, and an electrode layer that is formed on the current collector and contains at least a negative electrode active material, a conductive assistant and a binder component, the negative electrode active material is composed of ?-Fe2O3 particles that generate a conversion electrode reaction, the binder component is a mixture of polyamide acid and partially imidized polyamide acid. The electrode layer is configured so that a concentration of the binder component decreases as distanced from the current collector.

Abstract: In an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention, at a depth of 20 ?m under the surface of its magnet body, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound have an (RL1?xRHx)2Fe14B (where 0.2?x?0.75) layer with a thickness of 1 nm to 2 ?m in their outer periphery. In this case, the light rare-earth element RL is at least one of Nd and Pr, and the heavy rare-earth element RH is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb.

Abstract: In a method for producing an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention, first, provided is an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet body including, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL, which is at least one of Nd and Pr, as a major rare-earth element R. Thereafter, the sintered magnet body is heated while a heavy rare-earth element RH, which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb, is supplied to the surface of the sintered magnet body, thereby diffusing the heavy rare-earth element RH into the rare-earth sintered magnet body.

Abstract: In an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention, at a depth of 20 ?m under the surface of its magnet body, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound have an (RL1-xRHx)2Fe14B (where 0.2?x?0.75) layer with a thickness of 1 nm to 2 ?m in their outer periphery. In this case, the light rare-earth element RL is at least one of Nd and Pr, and the heavy rare-earth element RH is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb.

Abstract: First, an R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet body including, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL, which is at least one of Nd and Pr, as a major rare-earth element R is provided. Next, an M layer, including a metallic element M that is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In, Sn, Pb, Bi, Zn and Ag, is deposited on the surface of the sintered magnet body and then an RH layer, including a heavy rare-earth element RH that is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy, Ho and Tb, is deposited on the M layer. Thereafter, the sintered magnet body is heated, thereby diffusing the metallic element M and the heavy rare-earth element RH from the surface of the magnet body deeper inside the magnet.

Abstract: An R—Fe—B based anisotropic sintered magnet according to the present invention has, as a main phase, an R2Fe14B type compound that includes a light rare-earth element RL (which is at least one of Nd and Pr) as a major rare-earth element R, and also has a heavy rare-earth element RH (which is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Dy and Tb). In the crystal lattice of the main phase, the c-axis is oriented in a predetermined direction. The magnet includes a portion in which at least two peaks of diffraction are observed within a 2? range of 60.5 degrees to 61.5 degrees when an X-ray diffraction measurement is carried out using a CuK ? ray on a plane that is located at a depth of 500 ?m or less under a pole face of the magnet and that is parallel to the pole face.

Abstract: An R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention includes, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes Nd, which is a light rare-earth element, as a major rare-earth element R. The magnet includes a heavy rare-earth element RH (which is at least one of Dy and Tb) that has been introduced through the surface of the sintered magnet by diffusion. The magnet has a region in which the concentration of the heavy rare-earth element RH in a grain boundary R-rich phase is lower than at the surface of the crystal grains of the R2Fe14B type compound but higher than at the core of the crystal grains of the R2Fe14B type compound.