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: A method for judging unauthorized use of point information and a promotion system, which realize effective use of a point issue number added to the point information. Of the used point numbers, only the numbers contained in a predetermined range are stored. If the point issue number of the point information sent from the user lies in the predetermined range, whether or not it has been used is confirmed by comparing it with the used point issue number stored.

Abstract: In a method for arranging cells, a plurality of cells each configured in an substantially elliptic cylindrical shape having a major axis and a minor axis in its sectional shape, and the sectional surface including the major axis of each of the lid wall and the bottom wall of each of the cells, is arranged to be inclined with respect to a vertical line perpendicular to an arrangement reference surface.

Abstract: An electrolyte injecting metallic plug laser-welded to an outer edge of an electrolyte injecting port on a periphery of a battery case. At least a part of the electrolyte injecting metallic plug is inserted into the electrolyte injecting port.

Abstract: A cell is provided in which a flat plate portion of a collector portion is prevented from making contact with a positive or negative electrode in a power generating element to cause a short circuit, the application area of a material can be widened, and edge portions of an electrode plate can be surely connected and fixed to a collector. In a collector portion of a negative or positive collector, press holds of a gap (groove) which opens on the side of a basal portion are formed by bending back a substantially vertical metal plate at an apex. The portion between adjacent press holds of the collector portion is formed into a flat plate-like shape. A window is formed in each of the press holds, or a reduced thick portion is formed in a part of each of the press holds.

Abstract: A cell has a winding type power generating element, a cell case for housing the winding type power generating element therein and a safety valve formed at the lower end of the side wall of the cell.

Abstract: A liquid silicone rubber composition for fixing rolls comprising: (A) a diorganopolysiloxane which has at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl groups in each molecule and is liquid at room temperature, (B) an inorganic filler, (C) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in each molecule, (D) a platinum catalyst, and (E) a particulate hydroxide or oxide of an alkali metal or a particulate hydroxide or oxide of an alkaline earth metal; and a fluorocarbon resin-covered fixing roll produced by providing a fluorocarbon resin layer on the peripheral surface of a roll shaft across a silicone rubber layer, wherein said silicone rubber layer is produced by curing the above-mentioned liquid silicone rubber composition.

Abstract: A braking force controlling apparatus changes a magnitude of a braking force produced by a braking operation based on a speed of the braking operation. The braking force controlling apparatus is directed to maintaining a brake-assisting control even when a beginner unintentionally releases a braking operation force on a brake pedal. A hydraulic pressure sensor (40) detects a master cylinder pressure, and a maximum master cylinder pressure during the braking operation of the brake pedal (30) is stored in an ECU (10). When the master cylinder pressure is found to be below a release-judgment level of the master cylinder pressure, which is determined based on the maximum master cylinder pressure, the brake-assisting control is terminated. When the master cylinder pressure is found to be above the release-judgment level, the brake-assisting control is maintained.

Abstract: A promotion system which can manage a promotion system depending on various conditions and independently configure a plurality of promotion systems for individual distributors. A sub-code comprised of a distributor, date information, price information, an area code, etc. is added to point information.

Abstract: A cell is provided in which a flat plate portion of a collector portion is prevented from making contact with a positive or negative electrode in a power generating element to cause a short circuit, the application area of a material can be widened, and edge portions of an electrode plate can be surely connected and fixed to a collector.

Abstract: To send point information indicated by an automatic vending machine to a center unit by a packet communication function of a portable telephone of a user of the automatic vending machine, a free space in a single packet of the point information to be sent from the automatic vending machine to the center unit is used to send management information such as sales information, stock information, failure information and the like of the automatic vending machine to the center unit.

Abstract: A promotion method and a system which can realize thoughtful promotion by facilitating changing settings such as the number of points issued for each commodity, a promotion period and the like without the necessity for changing settings of target automatic vending machines all at once. A commodity code peculiar to each commodity is added to point information, and a data center selectively adds the number of points of the point information of the specific commodity on the basis of the commodity code.

Abstract: A braking force control device is provided in which wheel speeds of respective wheels of a vehicle are detected. On the basis of detected wheel speeds, a road surface &mgr; slope, which is a slope of a coefficient of friction &mgr; between a wheel and a road surface, is estimated for each wheel. On the basis of the road surface &mgr; slope estimated for each wheel, a braking force of each wheel is controlled such that the braking force of each wheel is adjusted.

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: Point information is sold from a vending machine. A user sends purchased point information to a data center via the Internet using a portable telephone set or a personal computer. Points corresponding to this point information are accumulated and the user can download digital contents in accordance with the accumulated points.

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: A cell has a winding type power generating element, a cell case for housing the winding type power generating element therein and a safety valve formed at the lower end of the side wall of the cell.

Abstract: A braking force control device is provided in which wheel speeds of respective wheels of a vehicle are detected. On the basis of detected wheel speeds, a road surface &mgr; slope, which is a slope of a coefficient of friction &mgr; between a wheel and a road surface, is estimated for each wheel. On the basis of the road surface &mgr; slope estimated for each wheel, a braking force of each wheel is controlled such that the braking force of each wheel is adjusted.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing device that performs fixation after transfer, and which prevents the occurrence of no transfer even when feeding the paper backward starting printing from the next page after the final page. This printing device comprises image-formation units (3, 4) that transfer a toner image, a fixation unit (5), and a control unit (10). The control unit (10) control adjustment of the moisture content on either the final page or leading page. In order to do that, it lowers the fixation energy of the fixation unit (5) for the final page. There is a moisture-adjustment mechanism (16) that reduces the moisture content of the leading page. Heat energy is applied to the leading page by the fixation unit (5). This reduces the difference in the amount of shrinkage between the final page and the leading page, and prevents wrinkling of the leading page.

Abstract: An electrolyte injecting metallic plug laser-welded to an outer edge of an electrolyte injecting port on a periphery of a battery case. At least a part of the electrolyte injecting metallic plug is inserted into the electrolyte injecting port.