Abstract: A vibration energy harvester includes: a pair of electrodes provided so as to face opposite each other, with at least one of the pair of electrodes allowed to move; and an ion gel provided between the pair of electrodes, which is formed by using an ionic liquid, wherein: as an external vibration causes the electrode to move along a direction in which a distance between the pair of electrodes changes, power is generated through a change in an area of an electric double layer formed on two sides of an interface of each electrode and the ion gel.

Abstract: A position determination apparatus includes: an image capturing unit that captures an image of a loudspeaker from a listening position while facing in an image capturing direction, to acquire image data; a direction detection unit that detects the image capturing direction; a recognition unit that recognizes an image of the loudspeaker from the image data; a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance from the listening position to the loudspeaker by using the image of the loudspeaker; and a location determination unit that determines a location of the loudspeaker based on the image capturing direction detected by the direction detection unit and the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit.

Abstract: A device member including a cavity, includes a base member, an interlayer, an upper layer, an opening portion, and a gas-permeable sealing layer. The base member includes a first semiconductor. The interlayer is formed on the base member and is non-conductive. The upper layer is formed on the interlayer and includes a second semiconductor. The opening portion is formed at the upper layer. The gas-permeable sealing layer is formed to seal the opening portion formed at the upper layer. The cavity is formed by removing the interlayer with an etching gas that penetrates through the sealing layer.

Abstract: A disclosed tool is configured to be attached to a human body to enable carrying a biological sensor for measurement related to the human body. The tool includes a body part that includes a pocket part capable of accommodating the biological sensor, the body part being configured to be opposed to a chest region of the human body in an attached state of the tool; a shoulder part coupled to the body part, the shoulder part being configured to rest on a shoulder region of the human body in the attached state of the tool; and a torso part coupled to the body part, the torso part being configured to extend around a torso region of the human body in the attached state of the tool.

Abstract: A position determination apparatus includes: an image capturing unit that captures an image of a loudspeaker from a listening position while facing in an image capturing direction, to acquire image data; a direction detection unit that detects the image capturing direction; a recognition unit that recognizes an image of the loudspeaker from the image data; a distance calculation unit that calculates a distance from the listening position to the loudspeaker by using the image of the loudspeaker; and a location determination unit that determines a location of the loudspeaker based on the image capturing direction detected by the direction detection unit and the distance calculated by the distance calculation unit.

Abstract: A communication device includes: a communication control section; a variable resistor; a voltage detecting section; and a resistance value adjusting section. The communication control section performs control necessary for facsimile communication. The variable resistor is arranged between two line-connecting terminals, each of the line-connecting terminals is for connecting a telephone line. The voltage detecting section detects a line voltage of the telephone line to which the variable resistor is connected under closed state of the telephone line. The resistance value adjusting section changes a resistance value of the variable resistor. When the changed resistance value of the variable resistor becomes a standard resistance value to be a voltage value where the line voltage detected by the voltage detecting section is capable of the facsimile communication, the resistance value adjusting section sets the resistance value of the variable resistor to a resistance value for the facsimile communication.

Abstract: The interior of a fractionating tool for fractionating dioxins is packed with a purification layer and an adsorption layer. The adsorption layer includes a first adsorption layer including an activated carbon-containing silica gel layer and a graphite-containing silica gel layer, and a second adsorption layer including an alumina layer. When a solution of dioxins is injected into the purification layer and is supplied with an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, the solvent dissolves dioxins in the solution of dioxins and passes through the purification layer and the adsorption layer. In this process, non-ortho PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs among dioxins are adsorbed to the first adsorption layer, and mono-ortho PCBs among dioxins are adsorbed to the second adsorption layer. As a result, dioxins are fractionated into a group including non-ortho PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs, and mono-ortho PCBs.

Abstract: An object is to make a bridge of DNA expanding between a pair of electrodes, and to characterize the bridge of DNA, to thereby detect DNA easily and surely without employing any marker or labeling substances, such as fluorescent reagents. A method of detecting DNA using a detection device with at least a couple of electrodes, the method comprising immobilizing a primer on the electrodes; making a bridge of the DNA expanded between the electrodes, by immersing the electrodes in a solution including circular templates of single stranded DNA, annealing the circular templates, and generating single stranded DNA product utilizing RCA (Rolling Circle Amplification), with impressing a designated voltage between the electrodes; and characterizing the bridge of DNA which includes multiple single stranded DNA molecules between the electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor mounting bracket includes: a first plate portion, a second plate portion, and a coupling element coupling the first and second plate portions. When X, Y, and Z axes perpendicular to each other are assumed, a second normal vector normal to a second mounting surface of the second plate portion has Y and Z components greater than 0 in a first state in which the first reference part is aligned with X direction and a first mounting surface of the first plate portion is in XZ plane, and a first normal vector normal to the first mounting surface has Y and Z components greater than 0 in a second state in which the second reference part is aligned with X direction and the second mounting surface is in XZ plane, the first normal vector being oriented differently from the second normal vector.

Abstract: A stage unit may include a frame, a first guide device, a stage, a second guide device and a pad. The first guide device may be arranged over an upper surface of the frame and configured to guide the stage in a first direction. The stage may be movably connected to the first guide device. The second guide device may be arranged over an upper surface of the stage and configured to guide the pad in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The pad may be movably connected to the second guide device and configured to support a substrate. Therefore, the substrate may be supported by and uniformly floated by the frame, the stage and the pad.

Abstract: A communication device includes: a communication control section; a variable resistor; a voltage detecting section; and a resistance value adjusting section. The communication control section performs control necessary for facsimile communication. The variable resistor is arranged between two line-connecting terminals, each of the line-connecting terminals is for connecting a telephone line. The voltage detecting section detects a line voltage of the telephone line to which the variable resistor is connected under closed state of the telephone line. The resistance value adjusting section changes a resistance value of the variable resistor. When the changed resistance value of the variable resistor becomes a standard resistance value to be a voltage value where the line voltage detected by the voltage detecting section is capable of the facsimile communication, the resistance value adjusting section sets the resistance value of the variable resistor to a resistance value for the facsimile communication.

Abstract: A vibration-driven energy harvester includes: a fixed electrode; a movable electrode that is disposed so as to face opposite the fixed electrode and is allowed to move relative to the fixed electrode; and an ionic liquid disposed between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode which face opposite each other, wherein: power is generated as an external vibration moves the movable electrode, causing a change in at least one of an area of an electrical double layer formed on two sides of an interface of the fixed electrode and the ionic liquid and an area of an electrical double layer formed on two sides of an interface of the movable electrode and the ionic liquid.

Abstract: Example minimalist magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coils that are connected to off coil circuitry by capacitive coupling plates are described. A min-imalist MRI RF coil may have some elements that form a traditional coil located off the coil in off coil circuitry. An MR procedure may involve a number of minimalist MRI RF coils that are moved through an excitation zone as a patient is moved through the excitation zone. Example minimalist MRI RF coils may be selectively connected to off coil circuitry while the coils are in the excitation zone. The coupling may be made by capacitive coupling plates. Unlike conventional systems, example systems have capacitive coupling plates with properties that facilitate maintaining a constant capacitance between a coupling plate associated with the coil and coupling plates associated with the off coil circuitry as the coupling plates move relative to each other.

Abstract: A switch has a normally-closed fixed contact unit, a common contact unit, a pressing member, and a movable contact that is attached to the pressing member, and that slides on the normally-closed fixed contact unit and the common contact unit. A conductive region and an insulating region are formed on a sliding surface of the movable contact in the normally-closed fixed contact unit in order toward a pressing direction of the pressing member. A conductive region and an insulating region are formed on a sliding surface of the movable contact in the common contact unit in order toward the pressing direction. The movable contact slides from the conductive regions to the insulating regions to switch from a closed state to an opened state.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus case including: a circuit board provided on a lower case, the circuit board having a plurality of signal lines in parallel, each specified area of the circuit board between each adjacent pair of the plurality of signal lines having a plurality of first through holes and a plurality of second through holes, the plurality of first and second through holes respectively being arranged in a first and a second lines at substantially equal interval of 1/8 or less of a wavelength of signals propagating in the plurality of signal lines, the first line and the second line being arranged in parallel, each center of each of the plurality of first through holes and each center of each of the plurality of second through holes being shifted with a gap in a direction of the first line and the second line.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes: a fixed part; a ring-like oscillator that is supported on the fixed part by a plurality of support beams; a plurality of electrodes that are provided on the fixed part and arranged in an oscillating direction of the ring-like oscillator with a gap; electret films that are formed on either one of opposite surfaces of the ring-like oscillator and the electrodes.

Abstract: A main power source portion generates a primary DC power from an input AC power, and a first sub power source portion generates a power source control secondary DC power from the primary DC power. Each of a plurality of second sub power source portions, upon input of an activation signal, generates an equipment secondary DC power from the primary DC power. A sub-power-source control portion starts to operate upon receiving the power source control secondary DC power. The sub-power-source control portion outputs the activation signal to a display-related second sub power source portion with higher priority when the detection result of a power state detection portion satisfies a predetermined unfavorable condition, than when the detection result does not satisfy the unfavorable condition, and outputs an alarm signal to cause display-related equipment to output an alarm.

Abstract: An information processing device includes a first case, a second case over which the first case is placeable, and a connector including a first rotation part and a second rotation part and configured to couple the first case on the second case, the first rotation part allowing the first case to be rotated about a first axis, the second rotation part allowing the first case to be rotated about a second axis, the second axis being displaced from a central position of the first case in an axial direction of the first axis, wherein when front and back surfaces of the first case are reversed and the first case is placed over the second case, at least part of the first case projects from the second case toward an outer side.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including a package having a hollow portion, which can meet the need of reduction in size and thickness. The semiconductor device includes: a resin molded member (1) including a hollow portion (10) having an inner bottom surface on which a semiconductor chip (6) is mounted, a surrounding portion (1b) that surrounds the hollow portion (10), and a bottom surface portion (1a); an inner lead (2e, 2f); and an outer lead (2a, 2b) exposed from the resin molded member (1). The inner lead buried in the molded member (1) includes an L-shaped lead extending portion having a through hole formed therethrough.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a file management system and file management method that are able to perform a backup process efficiently by means of a configuration that uses a virtual file system metadatabase from a backup process side also. [Solution] The file management system is provided with a virtual drive controller (110) that controls a virtual drive (5), a metadatabase (210) that contains information for associating a virtual file and a physical file that is saved in a storage device (6), a backup controller (120) that manages the backup process of a file, and a backup status management database (220) used in backup process management. The virtual drive controller (110) registers updated file information in the backup status management database (220). The backup controller (120) references the backup status management database (220) and the metadatabase (210), and backs up the file.