Abstract: A discharge lamp, in which diamond high in secondary electron emission efficiency and low in sputtering ratio is used as a cold cathode, includes an outer envelope filled with a discharge gas, a fluorescent film provided on an inner surface of the outer envelope, and a pair of electrodes which cause discharge to occur within the outer envelope. A diamond member is provided on a surface of each electrode, and oxygen is contained in the discharge gas at a ratio not less than 0.002% and not more than 12.5%.

Abstract: In a shape measuring device comprising a measuring head for measuring the shape of an object to be measured at a plurality of measuring positions on a guide rail while moving along the guide rail, the guide rail is in a U shape, and the measuring head makes measurement for measuring the shape of the object to be measured which is arranged inside the U-shaped guide rail at the plurality of measuring positions on the guide rail while moving along the guide rail.

Abstract: A cashless automatic vendor system comprises a portable communication terminal which enables a user to dispense with troublesome operations and to execute the cashless operation of even an existing automatic vendor. An automatic vendor (1) issues a settlement request code for requesting the settlement of a selected commodity on the basis of user's operation. A center apparatus (3) processes settlement on the basis of the settlement request code received from the automatic vendor (1) via a cellular phone terminal (2), processes the settlement request code as predetermined to generated a sale permission code, and transmits it to the cellular phone terminal (2). The automatic vendor (1) reads the sale permission code displayed on the display section of the cellular phone terminal (2) and controls commodity sale on the basis of the sale permission code.

Abstract: A highly corrosion-resistant material and a corrosion-resistant member which are improved in corrosion resistance, adhesion, contact electrical resistance, electrical conductivity, airtightness, etc. and are suitable for use as, e.g., a metallic separator for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC); and a process for producing them. A thin noble-metal layer is formed on the desired part of the surface of a metallic base and then subjected to compression working. The coated base may further be subjected to anticorrosive treatment with a liquid phase containing a peroxide or ozone or with an active gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An insulating sleeve 6 made of ceramic hermetically fixed into an opening in a terminal supporting plate 7 in a battery sheath made of metal, a positive terminal 4 made of an aluminum alloy or negative terminal 5 made of a copper alloy is inserted in the insulating sleeve, and a metallic ring is fitted over the positive terminal 4 or negative terminal 5. The inner edge of the metallic ring 11 and the positive terminal 4 or negative terminal 5 are hermetically fixed to each other by an aluminum-based brazing metal 8 or copper-based brazing metal 9, and the outer edge of the metallic ring 11 and the insulating sleeve 6 are hermetically fixed to each other by an aluminum-based brazing metal 8 or copper-based brazing metal 9.

Abstract: In a battery having a aluminum or aluminum alloy casing welded to and aluminum or aluminum alloy cover, a film of a synthetic resin and a corrosion preventing agent is formed on the outer surface of the battery raising and an electrolyte comprising hydrofluoric acid is placed in the casing. The film is capable of absorbing hydrofluoric acid. In an alternative embodiment, the exterior film may be a ceramic material capable of absorbing hydrofluoric acid.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to make an exact judgment on suitability of a replaceable component such as a toner supplying container with use of an existing mechanism of an image forming apparatus, without additionally providing a data storage component designed for a consumable product which is detachably attached to the apparatus, or a data reading component to be placed in the image forming apparatus main body. In an incorporated control section, a specific part of a replaceable component, which is placed on an original platform prior to being loaded into the apparatus, is optically scanned to read image information, and, based on the reading result, whether or not the replaceable component is suitable for the image forming apparatus is judged.

Abstract: For charging a secondary battery, at least two operation modes including first and second operation modes, in which the secondary battery is charged to predetermined charge end voltages different from each other, are established. Both life and capacity of the battery can be maximized by a user selecting either of the two operation modes, or switching between the two operation modes automatically with a timer device, or according to a temperature of the battery, state of health thereof, or internal pressure thereof.

Abstract: An information transmission method and a system capable of transmitting information without requiring a troublesome operation and at a low cost is provided. A portable communication terminal such as a cellular phone, a PHS or the like capable of making a telephone call and performing communications over a telephone line changes an image to be displayed on a display portion with time to transmit information to an information-receiving device. The information-receiving device receives a change in display of the image on the portable communication terminal by a receiver portion and recognizes the information from the received change in display (e.g., a display interval, etc.).

Abstract: There is provided a battery control apparatus that, when the battery temperature is low, repeats the charge and discharge of a battery on a short cycle such that the state of charge (SOC) of the battery lies in the range of 30 to 40% if the present SOC is less than 50%, and repeats the charge and discharge of the battery on a short cycle such that the SOC lies in the range of 50 to 60% if the present SOC is equal to or greater than 50%, thus increasing the temperature of the battery. Therefore, it is possible to increase the battery temperature in an efficient manner, and to prevent the available input-output power of the battery from being reduced due to a decrease in the battery temperature.

Abstract: A battery has a battery case body made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a battery cover fitted into the battery case body made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The battery case body and said battery cover have bonding areas, respectively, which are connected by laser welding. In the battery, the thickness of each of bonding areas of a battery case body and a battery cover is smaller than that of the remaining areas.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for capturing images three-dimensionally which comprises a rail 2 extending around a three-dimensional object images of which are to be captured, an image pickup head 3 movable along the rail 2, a signal cable 8 interconnecting a head terminal 81 on the head 3 and a signal relay terminal 82 on the rail 2, an auxiliary cable 83 interconnecting a head-side connecting point 85 on the head 3 and a rail-side connecting point 84 on the rail 2, and a connecting member 9 having the signal cable 8 and the auxiliary cable 83 slidably reeved therearound for turning back the cables in directions opposite to each other. The signal cable 8 extends from the head terminal 81 in one direction, is turned back on the connecting member 9 and extends to the signal relay terminal 82, while the auxiliary cable 83 extends from the head-side connecting point 85 in the opposite direction, is turned back on the connecting member 9 and extends to the rail-side connecting point 84.

Abstract: A battery has a battery case body made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, and a battery cover fitted into the battery case body made of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The battery case body and said battery cover have bonding areas, respectively, which are connected by laser welding. In the battery, the thickness of each of bonding areas of a battery case body and a battery cover is smaller than that of the remaining areas.

Abstract: An insulating sleeve 6 made of ceramic hermetically fixed into an opening in a terminal supporting plate 7 in a battery sheath made of metal, a positive terminal 4 made of an aluminum alloy or negative terminal 5 made of a copper alloy is inserted in the insulating sleeve, and a metallic ring is fitted over the positive terminal 4 or negative terminal 5. The inner edge of the metallic ring 11 and the positive terminal 4 or negative terminal 5 are hermetically fixed to each other by an aluminum-based brazing metal 8 or copper-based brazing metal 9, and the outer edge of the metallic ring 11 and the insulating sleeve 6 are hermetically fixed to each other by an aluminum-based brazing metal 8 or copper-based brazing metal 9.

Abstract: In a battery having a battery casing, a film of synthetic resin, ceramic or aluminum oxide is formed on an outer surface of the battery casing.

Abstract: A thermoconductive liquid silicone rubber composition is provided for fixing rolls. The composition is capable of producing silicone rubber of superior thermal conductivity and small compression set after curing. The thermoconductive liquid silicone rubber composition contains (A) a diorganopolysiloxane with at least two silicon bonded alkenyl groups per molecule, (B) an alumina powder with an average particle size not more than 10 &mgr;m and an ignition loss of not more than 0.15 weight percent, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having at least two silicon bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, and (D) a platinum catalyst. Fluororesin coated fixing rolls can be fabricated by providing a fluororesin layer on the peripheral surface of a roll shaft, with the silicone rubber layer interposed between it and the surface.

Abstract: An electrically conducting organic compound comprising a condensed polycyclic aromatic compound containing from 8 to 14 condensed rings and being solubilized in a solvent by the introduction of a functional group into any condensed ring of the compound. The electrically conducting organic compound is used as a constituent element in the production of electronic devices.

Abstract: In an electrically conductive organic compound, a side chain portion simultaneously exhibiting refractive index anisotropy and a conjugated system electrical conductivity is bonded to a main chain portion exhibiting &pgr; conjugated system electrical conductivity. The electrically conductive organic compound is used in the production of a constituent element for electronic devices.

Abstract: A highly corrosion-resistant material and a corrosion-resistant member which are improved in corrosion resistance, adhesion, contact electrical resistance, electrical conductivity, airtightness, etc. and are suitable for use as, e.g., a metallic separator for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC); and a process for producing them. A thin noble-metal layer is formed on the desired part of the surface of a metallic base and then subjected to compression working. The coated base may further be subjected to anticorrosive treatment with a liquid phase containing a peroxide or ozone or with an active gas atmosphere.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to make an exact judgment on suitability of a replaceable component such as a toner supplying container with use of an existing mechanism of an image forming apparatus, without additionally providing a data storage component designed for a consumable product which is detachably attached to the apparatus, or a data reading component to be placed in the image forming apparatus main body. In an incorporated control section, a specific part of a replaceable component, which is placed on an original platform prior to being loaded into the apparatus, is optically scanned to read image information, and, based on the reading result, whether or not the replaceable component is suitable for the image forming apparatus is judged.