Abstract: A battery module 100 includes a plurality of cells aligned and accommodated in a case 10, wherein a positive electrode external terminal 20 and a negative electrode external terminal 21 which are connected to electrodes of the plurality of cells are disposed in parallel on a first side surface 11 of the case 10 at a predetermined interval, a pair of recessed sections 30, 31 are formed on a second side surface 12 adjacent to the first side surface 11 of the case 10 at a same interval as the predetermined interval, a first portion 51 of an L-shaped electrode piece 50 is selectively attachable to the positive electrode external terminal 20 or the negative electrode external terminal 21, and a second portion 52 of the electrode piece 50 is selectively attachable to any one of the pair of recessed sections 30, 31.

Abstract: A battery pack includes: a plurality of cells which are lithium ion secondary batteries; an exhaust passage section which is adjacent to the cells and allows a flow of gas generated from at least one of the cells; a case accommodating the plurality of cells and the exhaust passage section; and a gas release duct 42 which is attached to the case and through which the gas having flowed through the exhaust passage section is released outside, wherein the gas release duct is hermetically closed with a lid 51 which is made of a waterproof member and is arranged at an exit 44 or on a release path of the gas release duct, an opening member 61 configured to open the lid to open the gas release duct is further provided, and the opening member is operated by the gas generated from the cell.

Abstract: The case 20 housing a plurality of cells 100 is divided, by a circuit board 30 provided at the same sides of the cells 100, into a housing space 50 housing the cells 100 and an exhaust duct 60 for releasing a gas from the vents 8a of the cells 100 to outside the case 20. The vents 8a of the cells 100 communicate with the exhaust duct 60 through openings 30a formed in the flat plate 30. The exhaust duct 60 is divided into a first space 61 and a second space 62 by a partition 40 provided between the flat plate 30 and an external plate 21 of the case 20. The first space 61 communicates with the second space 62 through holes 40a formed in the partition 40.

Abstract: In an assembled battery (2), batteries (3) are arranged in such a manner that sealing plates (13) for sealing openings of battery cases (10) face the same direction. Terminal (10) of first electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a first electrode connecting pieces (33) arranged near the sealing plates (13), and terminal (13) of second electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a second electrode connecting pieces (27) arranged near the sealing plates (13). The first electrode connecting pieces (33) are connected in parallel with each other, and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are connected in parallel with each other. The first electrode connecting pieces (33) and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are stacked on the sealing plates (13) with an insulating member (32) interposed therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a sputtering target for making an optical medium whose reflective layer is mainly composed of Ag and capable of attaining an optical medium which is excellent in surface smoothness and can sufficiently suppress noise and jitter, a method of making the same, an optical medium, and a method of making the same. The present invention provides a sputtering target for making an optical medium comprising 0.1 to 2 at % of one or two elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb, 0.1 to 1 at % of Al, and the balance constituted by Ag and unavoidable impurities; and an optical medium comprising a reflective layer having this composition on a substrate.

Abstract: A battery module 100 includes a plurality of batteries aligned and accommodated in a housing 20, wherein each batteries has an opening portion 17 at an electrode portion 16 of the battery to release gas generated in the battery outside the battery, the housing 20 is partitioned by a circuit board 30 disposed in contact with battery cases 5 around the electrode portions 16 of the batteries into a storage portion 54 in which the batteries are stored, and an exhaust chamber 24 via which the gas released from the opening portion 17 of the electrode portion 16 is exhausted outside the housing 20, the electrode portions 16 of the batteries are connected to a connector 32 on the circuit board 30, and the opening portions 17 of the electrode portions 16 are in communication with the exhaust chamber 24 via through holes 36 in the circuit board 30.

Abstract: The temperature adjusting unit (5) is made of a resin-molded article in which a first flat portion (73), a second flat portion (75), and a side wall portion (77) are integrally formed. A holding portion (81) and a flow path (85) are separated by the side wall portion (77). Each cell (21) is held in close contact with the holding portion (81) separated by the side wall portion (77).

Abstract: The battery module includes: a plurality of batteries; a housing 50 in which the plurality of batteries are aligned and stored; and a cooling pipe 70 provided along the plurality of batteries in the housing 50, the cooling pipe 70 being filled with a cooling medium, wherein the cooling pipe 70 is made of a material which melts when the temperature of the battery reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A battery connection member 25 configured to connect a plurality of batteries 29 in parallel includes a main conductive path portion 25a and a plurality of connection terminals 25b each configured to connect the main conductive path portion 25a to one of electrodes of each battery 29. The connection terminals 25b include fuse portions 25c configured to be blown when a current equal to or higher than a predetermined value flows. When the plurality of batteries 29 are connected in parallel by the battery connection member 25, the fuse portions 25c are arranged in space between the main conductive path portion 25 and the batteries 29.

Abstract: In an assembled battery (2), batteries (3) are arranged in such a manner that sealing plates (13) for sealing openings of battery cases (10) face the same direction. Terminal (10) of first electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a first electrode connecting pieces (33) arranged near the sealing plates (13), and terminal (13) of second electrodes of the batteries (3) are connected to a second electrode connecting pieces (27) arranged near the sealing plates (13). The first electrode connecting pieces (33) are connected in parallel with each other, and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are connected in parallel with each other. The first electrode connecting pieces (33) and the second electrode connecting pieces (27) are stacked on the sealing plates (13) with an insulating member (32) interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A next-generation optical recording medium has two or more information layers which include a translucent information layer. The translucent information layer has a recording film and an interface layer, provided adjacent to the recording film on the side of the light incident surface. The recording film is made of a phase change material having SbxTeyGez elements and elemental ratios. Y satisfies 5?y?15 and z satisfies 5?z?15. When In having an elemental ratio of a is further added and x+y+z+a=100 holds, a satisfies 4?a?15. The interface layer comprises of ZrO2—Cr2O3 film thickness of which is in a range of from 2 nm to 10 nm. When ZrO2:Cr2O3?C:D (mol %), the compositional ratios ZrO2 and Cr2O3 in the ZrO2—Cr2O3 film, holds, the C satisfies 20?C?90, and the D satisfies 10?D?80, and the C and the D satisfy C+D=100. The ZrO2 is stabilized ZrO2 which contains Y2O3, when ZrO2:Y2O3=(100?X):X (mol %), the compositional ratios ZrO2 and Y2O3 in the stabilized ZrO2, holds, the X satisfies 2?X?10.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which includes two or more information layers in which an Sb-based eutectic material is used as the material for a recording film of a translucent information layer. There is also provided a recording film material for the optical recording medium. The translucent information layer is configured to include a recording film formed of a phase change material SbxGeyInz containing Sb, Ge, and In in an atomic ratio of x:y:z, where 5?y?15 and 4?z?15 are satisfied. The recording film further includes Te in an atomic ratio of a, provided that x+y+z+a=100 and 4?a?15 are satisfied. An interface layer formed of a ZrO2—Cr2O3 film having a thickness of 2 nm or more and 10 nm or less is provided on the laser beam incident side of the recording film. When the compositional ratio of the ZrO2—Cr2O3 film is given by ZrO2:Cr2O3=B:C (mol %), 20?B?90, 10?C?80, and B+C=100 are satisfied.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a sputtering target for making an optical medium whose reflective layer is mainly composed of Ag and capable of attaining an optical medium which is excellent in surface smoothness and can sufficiently suppress noise and jitter, a method of making the same, an optical medium, and a method of making the same. The present invention provides a sputtering target for making an optical medium comprising 0.1 to 2 at % of one or two elements selected from the group consisting of Ta and Nb, 0.1 to 1 at % of Al, and the balance constituted by Ag and unavoidable impurities; and an optical medium comprising a reflective layer having this composition on a substrate.

Abstract: A rewritable phase-change optical recording medium is provided, which includes a substrate, a first information layer, a spacer layer, a second information layer, and a cover layer. The second information layer includes a recording film containing Sb as a main component and V or V and In as second components. When an amorphous mark formed in the recording film is irradiated with a reproduction beam, crystallization of the amorphous mark occurs only in a central portion in the width direction of the amorphous mark. The width direction is orthogonal to the scanning direction of the laser beam. The recording film is formed of a material that exhibits a change in degree of modulation of 5% or less when recorded information is repeatedly reproduced. The change in degree of modulation is a change from when the number of times of reproduction is 100,000 to when it is 400,000.

Abstract: A rewritable phase-change optical recording medium is provided, which includes a substrate, a first information layer, a spacer layer, a second information layer, and a cover layer. The second information layer includes a recording film containing Sb as a main component and V or V and In as second components. When an amorphous mark formed in the recording film is irradiated with a reproduction beam, crystallization of the amorphous mark occurs only in a central portion in the width direction of the amorphous mark. The width direction is orthogonal to the scanning direction of the laser beam. The recording film is formed of a material that exhibits a change in degree of modulation of 5% or less when recorded information is repeatedly reproduced. The change in degree of modulation is a change from when the number of times of reproduction is 100,000 to when it is 400,000.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which includes two or more information layers in which an Sb-based eutectic material is used as the material for a recording film of a translucent information layer. There is also provided a recording film material for the optical recording medium. The translucent information layer is configured to include a recording film formed of a phase change material SbxGeyInz containing Sb, Ge, and In in an atomic ratio of x:y:z, where 5?y?15 and 4?z?15 are satisfied. The recording film further includes Te in an atomic ratio of a, provided that x+y+z+a=100 and 4?a?15 are satisfied. An interface layer formed of a ZrO2—Cr2O3 film having a thickness of 2 nm or more and 10 nm or less is provided on the laser beam incident side of the recording film. When the compositional ratio of the ZrO2—Cr2O3 film is given by ZrO2:Cr2O3=B:C (mol %), 20?B?90, 10?C?80, and B+C=100 are satisfied.

Abstract: A next-generation optical recording medium has two or more information layers which include a translucent information layer. The translucent information layer has a recording film and an interface layer, provided adjacent to the recording film on the side of the light incident surface. The recording film is made of a phase change material having SbxTeyGez elements and elemental ratios. Y satisfies 5?y?15 and z satisfies 5?z?15. When In having an elemental ratio of a is further added and x+y+z+a=100 holds, a satisfies 4?a?15. The interface layer comprises of ZrO2—Cr2O3 film thickness of which is in a range of from 2 nm to 10 nm. When ZrO2:Cr2O3?C:D (mol %), the compositional ratios ZrO2 and Cr2O3 in the ZrO2—Cr2O3 film, holds, the C satisfies 20?C?90, and the D satisfies 10?D?80, and the C and the D satisfy C+D=100. The ZrO2 is stabilized ZrO2 which contains Y2O3, when ZrO2:Y2O3=(100-X):X (mol %), the compositional ratios ZrO2 and Y2O3 in the stabilized ZrO2, holds, the X satisfies 2?X?10.

Abstract: A multilayer optical recording medium is provided with a totally reflective first information layer provided on a substrate and a second information layer being a translucent information layer provided via a spacer layer. The second information layer is composed of a TiO2 layer, a first dielectric layer, a reflective film, a second dielectric layer, a recording film, and a third dielectric layer, all of which are laminated together in this order. The first dielectric layer is made of ZrO2, Cr2O3, and Al2O3, and has a refractive index in the range of 1.84 to 2.20. If the recoding film is made of a material containing Sb as a main component, it is possible to strike a balance between high values of both the transmittance and the degree of modulation in recording information by laser light with a wavelength of 405 nm using an optical recording system having an optical system with a numerical aperture NA=0.85.

Abstract: A ROM type optical recording medium 1 includes a substrate 2, a light transmitting layer 4, and a reflecting layer 3 formed between the substrate 2 and the light transmitting layer 4 and containing a metal as a principal component and has such a structure that a laser beam is irradiated through the light transmitting layer 4 to reproduce data. The reflecting layer 3 is formed on the substrate 2 and includes a second reflecting film 3a having nitrogen added thereto and a first reflecting film 3b formed on the second reflecting film 3a and having no nitrogen added thereto.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a support substrate, a light transmission layer whose one surface constitutes a light incidence plane through which a laser beam is projected, an information recording layer formed between the support substrate and the light transmission layer, a reflective layer formed between the information recording layer and the support substrate, a water proof layer formed between the reflective layer and the support substrate and containing a mixture of ZnS and SiO2 as a primary component, and a corrosion resistant layer formed between the water proof layer and the reflective layer. According to the thus constituted optical recording medium, it is possible to effectively prevent a reflective layer from being corroded and has excellent storage reliability.