Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (10) adapted to measure multiple biophysical characteristics of cells, the system (10) comprising: a microfluidic chip (12) provided with a microfluidic channel (14) which allows cells to flow through, the microfluidic channel (14) having an inlet (14a), an outlet (14b), and a lateral opening (14c) situated between the inlet (14a) and the outlet (14b); and a capacitive sensor (30) integrated in the microfluidic chip, adapted to obtain biophysical characteristics of a single cell in the microfluidic channel (14) by directly manipulating the single cell by sensor elements (31, 32) through the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), the sensor (30) comprising a stationary part and an electrostatically driven movable part which is movable relative to the stationary part, the stationary part being fixed to the microfluidic chip (12), the movable part being arranged in the lateral opening (14c) of the microfluidic channel (14), wherein a portion of the sensor elemen

Abstract: In a metal oxide film formation method of the present invention, the following steps are performed. In a solution vessel, a raw-material solution including aluminum as a metallic element is turned into a mist so that a raw-material solution mist is obtained. In a solution vessel provided independently of the solution vessel, a reaction aiding solution including a reaction aiding agent for formation of aluminum oxide is turned into a mist so that an aiding-agent mist is obtained. Then, the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist are fed to a nozzle provided in a reactor vessel via paths. Thereafter, the raw-material solution mist and the aiding-agent mist are mixed in the nozzle so that a mixed mist is obtained. Then, the mixed mist is fed onto a back surface of a heated P-type silicon substrate.

Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A random number generator according to one embodiment includes a write circuit, a read circuit, and a signal output circuit. The write circuit inverts magnetization of a magnetic layer of a magnetic tunnel junction element stochastically by supplying current to the magnetic layer. The read circuit reads the magnetization. The signal output circuit generates a random number on the basis of the magnetization read by the read circuit. The random number generator includes a sequence control circuit that controls the write circuit and the read circuit. The sequence control circuit regulates the write circuit to supply the current to the write circuit in a first period, and causes the read circuit to read the magnetization after the first period is finished and then a second period longer than the first period is elapsed.

Abstract: A connector includes: an electric wire; a terminal connected to the electric wire; a housing having a housing space to house a connection portion of the electric wire and the terminal; a seal member to seal an opening portion of the housing space to isolate the connection portion housed in the housing space from an outside; and a heat storage member located in the housing space.

Abstract: A cleaning method according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: supplying a halogen-containing gas that does not contain fluorine to an interior of a processing container that is capable of being exhausted via an exhaust pipe to perform a cleaning; and supplying a fluorine-containing gas to at least one of the interior of the processing container and an interior of the exhaust pipe to perform the cleaning after the supplying the halogen-containing gas to perform the cleaning.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for a multi-cylinder engine is provided, which includes an exhaust manifold connected to a cylinder head, a catalyst connected to a downstream end of the exhaust manifold in terms of an exhaust gas flow, an EGR gas outlet provided downstream of the catalyst, an in-head EGR passage penetrating the cylinder head, and an EGR pipe extending from the EGR gas outlet and directly connected to an inlet of the in-head EGR passage to lead EGR gas thereto. The catalyst is disposed so that the exhaust gas flows therein from a first side to a second side in an engine cylinder lined-up direction. The EGR gas outlet is located on the second side with respect to the center of the engine in the cylinder lined-up direction, and the inlet of the in-head EGR passage is located in the first side with respect to the engine center.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a film including a base layer and an oil-containing layer formed on the base layer, wherein the oil-containing layer contains an oil ingredient which bleeds out from a surface of the oil-containing layer at a given temperature or lower, the base layer is an elemental metal or a multilayer structure including a metal layer, and the elemental metal or the metal layer is in contact with the oil-containing layer.

Abstract: A switch device according to one or more embodiments is disclosed that may include a pressing member, an urging member, fixed contacts, at least one movable contact swingable in a direction intersecting with a movement direction of the pressing member and connecting and disconnecting between the fixed contacts. The pressing member includes a slider portion extending in a direction oblique to the movement direction and slidable along the movable contact. The movable contact is pressed by the slider portion in the pressing member sliding to swing and come in contact with and separate from at least one of the fixed contacts in response to the pressing member moving from a reference position to a pressed position.

Abstract: A long decorative illumination device which is long in the vertical direction and for being installed in the sides of a game machine may be provided with a plurality of light guide plates that can be individually illuminated. The plurality of light guide plates may be arranged in the vertical direction with gaps therebetween and in a slanted state so that the light emitting surfaces thereof are oriented toward a window part which is open from at least two directions of the front surface and the side surfaces of the decorative illumination device. A controller may control the light emission of the plurality of light guide plates to perform visual effect lighting having an impactful visual effect, while controlling the light emission from the plurality of light guide plates to convey predetermined information.

Abstract: A set of headphones (1) comprises a pair of speaker units (3); a pair of ear pad portions (4); a plurality of temperature change modules (24) that are provided inside the pair of ear pad portions (4), and that heat and/or cool electrically so as to convey a temperature other than normal temperature to the user; and a temperature control unit (31) that drives the plurality of temperature change modules (24) on a rotating basis while shifting the phase of operation individually or in groups.

Abstract: There are provided a method for manufacturing a light emitting device and a method for manufacturing a light guide plate, with which a light emitting device that is inexpensive and affords excellent space efficiency, despite having a plurality of light emitting surfaces with different angles, can be manufactured in a small number of steps and with stable quality. With this light emitting device, the end surface of one of the end portions that are butted together in a plurality of light guide plates is formed into an inclined surface having a reflection function for changing the angle at which the light is guided so that the light will be incident on the adjacent light guide plate.

Abstract: A right side portion, which is a light emitting device, comprises a side light guide plate and a front light guide plate as a plurality of light guide plates in which light is reflected by a prism and emitted from a light emitting surface. The side light guide plate and the front light guide plate are disposed in a row in a state in which the angles of the light emitting surfaces differ between adjacent light guide plates and the ends of adjacent light guide plates are butted against each other. An LED board is disposed at the end of the side light guide plate, and the end surface of one of the ends of the side light guide plate and the front light guide plate that are abutted against each other is formed as an inclined surface with a reflection function that changes the angle at which the light is guided and causes the light to be incident on the adjacent light guide plate.

Abstract: There is provided a film forming method including: supplying a halogen-free silicon raw material gas and a halogen-containing silicon raw material gas into a processing container while lowering a temperature of a substrate accommodated in the processing container from a first temperature to a second temperature in a temperature lowering process; and supplying the halogen-free silicon raw material gas and the halogen-containing silicon raw material gas into the processing container while maintaining the temperature of the substrate at a third temperature in a temperature stabilizing process, that occurs after the temperature lowering process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seat including: sensors which includes a first cushion sensor provided at a seat cushion in a position corresponding to buttocks of an occupant, a second cushion sensor provided at the seat cushion and located farther frontward than the first cushion sensor, a first back sensor provided at a seat back and located in a lower position thereof, and a second back sensor provided at the seat back and located above the first back sensor; and a controller connected to the sensors and thereby allowed to acquire pressure values from the respective sensors. The controller is configured to identify the motion of the occupant based on outputs of at least two sensors of the first cushion sensor, the second cushion sensor, the first back sensor, and the second back sensor.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a processing circuit. The processing circuit acquires a measurement field corresponding to a spatial distribution of a predetermined physical quantity in a subject of measurement. The processing circuit calculates an unknown quantity in the subject of measurement based on a first equation between the measurement field and the unknown quantity having spatial dependence, and on the acquired measurement field. The first equation is one that is acquired based on a second equation expressing a dual field divergence of which can be expressed using the measurement field, by using the measurement field and the unknown quantity, and on the Helmholtz decomposition of the dual field.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that transmits print data and a print quality requirement to a control system that controls a printing apparatus to output a printed product satisfying required print quality, includes a reception unit configured to receive print data, a display control unit configured to display, on a display unit, a user interface that prompts a user to select a setting of print quality of the print data from among predetermined options, a generation unit configured to generate quality requirement data suitable for an option selected via the user interface, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the control system, the print data received by the reception unit and the quality requirement data generated by the generation unit, wherein the quality requirement data includes at least information indicating an acceptable range of a color difference between a standard color value and a colorimetric value of the printed product.