Abstract: A driving advice provision apparatus generates an advice, based on diagnosis performed on multiple diagnosis items regarding the driving condition of the vehicle and based on the diagnosis results from those diagnosis items, and provides the generated advice to the driver. The multiple diagnosis items are classified into different categories according to the diagnosis methods. For the diagnosis items suitable to the comparative evaluation rather than the quantitative evaluation, a diagnosis result A for the previous evaluation section is compared with a diagnosis result B for the current evaluation section for yielding a comparative evaluation and for advice generation, thereby enabling an effective advice generation and provision in terms of diagnosis item category.

Abstract: An ultrasensitive room temperature magnetoelectric thin film magnetometer is fabricated on a cantilever beam and includes an active magnetoelectric multilayer structure having a plurality of thin films formed at a region defined on the cantilever beam. Upon application of a magnetic field, the active magnetoelectric structure generates a corresponding response of an electrical nature which is a measure of a value of the applied magnetic field. The material of the cantilever beam may be removed beneath the active magnetoelectric multilayer structure to form a freestanding modification of the magnetometer with superior sensitivity. The active magnetoelectric multilayer structure is either a bi-layer structure which includes a piezoactive (piezoelectric and/or piezoresistive) thin film deposited in contact with a magnetostrictive thin film or a tri-layer active structure (in the free-standing implementation) including a piezoactive thin film sandwiched between a pair of magnetostrictive thin films.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to fabricate thin-films having different physical property parameters or having physical property parameters that continuously change across functionally broadband monolithic device arrays. The fabrication method deposits the thin-film including layers on a substrate of a monolithic chip. The method defines a desired gradient profile of each layer forming the thin-film, each gradient profile including a desired thinnest profile and a desired thickest profile. The method further aligns an aperture of a mask over the substrate to form the thin-film and calculates a shutter speed for the specified gradient profile of each layer across the desired area of the substrate, and deposits each layer on the substrate, through the aperture, as the aperture of the shutter moves at the calculated shutter speed from the desired thinnest profile of each layer to the desired thickest profile of each layer.

Abstract: An ultrasensitive room temperature magnetoelectric thin film magnetometer is fabricated on a cantilever beam and includes an active magnetoelectric multilayer structure having a plurality of thin films formed at a region defined on the cantilever beam. Upon application of a magnetic field, the active magnetoelectric structure generates a corresponding response of an electrical nature which is a measure of a value of the applied magnetic field. The material of the cantilever beam may be removed beneath the active magnetoelectric multilayer structure to form a freestanding modification of the magnetometer with superior sensitivity. The active magnetoelectric multilayer structure is either a bi-layer structure which includes a piezoactive (piezoelectric and/or piezoresistive) thin film deposited in contact with a magnetostrictive thin film or a tri-layer active structure (in the free-standing implementation) including a piezoactive thin film sandwiched between a pair of magnetostrictive thin films.

Abstract: A mechanism and methodology is provided for performing high-throughput thin-film experimentation with the use and integration of a heater. A single flange assembly contains an automated two-dimensional shutter system (which provides variable masking schemes for spatially selective shadow deposition) and a rotatable (indexed) chip/wafer/substrate heater. The automated two-dimensional shutter system comprises two shutter plate mounts that move in two perpendicular (x and y) directions, so that mounted shutters overlap with each other in certain regions. The substrate heater can be used in the gradient temperature mode or uniform temperature mode. The shutter plates and the heater plate are detachable and exchangeable from experiment to experiment in order to minimize cross contamination of materials.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to fabricate thin-films having different physical property parameters or having physical property parameters that continuously change across functionally broadband monolithic device arrays. The fabrication method deposits the thin-film including layers on a substrate of a monolithic chip. The method defines a desired gradient profile of each layer forming the thin-film, each gradient profile including a desired thinnest profile and a desired thickest profile. The method further aligns an aperture of a mask over the substrate to form the thin-film and calculates a shutter speed for the specified gradient profile of each layer across the desired area of the substrate, and deposits each layer on the substrate, through the aperture, as the aperture of the shutter moves at the calculated shutter speed from the desired thinnest profile of each layer to the desired thickest profile of each layer.

Abstract: A halogen lamp of a 12V type including: a glass part, a portion of which is a light emitting portion having a space therein and the rest of which is a sealing portion, both portions being made of quartz glass; an infrared reflective coating formed to cover an outer surface of the glass part; a filament which, supported by the sealing portion, is provided in the inner space of the light emitting portion; a molybdenum foil which is embedded in the sealing portion and is electrically connected to the filament; and a power supply line, one end of which is connected to the molybdenum foil, the other end exposed to outside. The halogen lamp satisfies 450 mm2?Sb?650 mm2 and Se??0.35Sb+520, where Sb and Se designate outer surface areas of the light emitting portion and the sealing portion, respectively.

Abstract: A base for an electrode plate that has an excellent ability to retain an active material and can be manufactured at a low cost, a method for manufacturing the same, and an alkaline storage battery using the same are provided. The method includes (i) forming a slurry containing water, a powder containing nickel, and a hollow particle formed of an organic compound, (ii) applying the slurry to a support made of metal, thereby forming a sheet, and (iii) burning the sheet, thereby forming a porous layer joined to the support by a metallic bond.

Abstract: A mechanism and methodology is provided for performing high-throughput thin-film experimentation with the use and integration of a heater. A single flange assembly contains an automated two-dimensional shutter system (which provides variable masking schemes for spatially selective shadow deposition) and a rotatable (indexed) chip/wafer/substrate heater. The automated two-dimensional shutter system comprises two shutter plate mounts that move in two perpendicular (x and y) directions, so that mounted shutters overlap with each other in certain regions. The substrate heater can be used in the gradient temperature mode or uniform temperature mode. The shutter plates and the heater plate are detachable and exchangeable from experiment to experiment in order to minimize cross contamination of materials.

Abstract: A halogen lamp of a 12V type including: a glass part, a portion of which is a light emitting portion having a space therein and the rest of which is a sealing portion, both portions being made of quartz glass; an infrared reflective coating formed to cover an outer surface of the glass part; a filament which, supported by the sealing portion, is provided in the inner space of the light emitting portion; a molybdenum foil which is embedded in the sealing portion and is electrically connected to the filament; and a power supply line, one end of which is connected to the molybdenum foil, the other end exposed to outside. The halogen lamp satisfies 450 mm2≦Sb<650 mm2 and Se≧−0.35Sb+520, where Sb and Se designate outer surface areas of the light emitting portion and the sealing portion, respectively.

Abstract: A multi-piece rim includes a rim base including a first flange and a gutter band, a bead seat band including a second flange, a lock ring, and a first side ring located on a side of the first flange and a second side ring located on a side of the second flange. A circumferentially extending surface of the first flange and a tapered surface of a circumferentially extending inner surface of the first side ring and/or a circumferentially extending surface of the second flange and a tapered surface of a circumferentially extending inner surface of the second side ring are inclined radially outwardly in an axially outboard direction of the multi-piece rim, so that circumferential and radial slippage between rim members is prevented to suppress a fretting fatigue.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery uses metal foil for a substrate of at least one of positive and negative electrodes. The electrode includes a strip-like conductive portion formed of a bared edge portion of the substrate at one end along the winding direction, to which a current collector is welded. A porous metal layer is formed at least on one side of the strip-like conductive portion so as to prevent buckling or breakage of the substrate, or separation of weld joints.

Abstract: A dielectric thin film material for high frequency use, including use as a capacitor, and having a low dielectric loss factor is provided, the film comprising a composition of tungsten-doped barium strontium titanate of the general formula (BaxSr1−x)TiO3, where X is between about 0.5 and about 1.0. Also provided is a method for making a dielectric thin film of the general formula (BaxSr1−x)TiO3 and doped with W, where X is between about 0.5 and about 1.0, a substrate is provided, TiO2, the W dopant, Ba, and optionally Sr are deposited on the substrate, and the substrate containing TiO2, the W dopant, Ba, and optionally Sr is heated to form a low loss dielectric thin film.

Abstract: A multi-piece rim includes a rim base including a first flange and a gutter band, a bead seat band including a second flange, a lock ring, and a first side ring located on a side of the first flange and a second side ring located on a side of the second flange. A circumferentially extending surface of the first flange and a tapered surface of a circumferentially extending inner surface of the first side ring and/or a circumferentially extending surface of the second flange and a tapered surface of a circumferentially extending inner surface of the second side ring are inclined radially outwardly in an axially outboard direction of the multi-piece rim, so that circumferential and radial slippage between rim members is prevented to suppress a fretting fatigue.

Abstract: A base for an electrode plate that has an excellent ability to retain an active material and can be manufactured at a low cost, a method for manufacturing the same, and an alkaline storage battery using the same are provided. The method includes (i) forming a slurry containing water, a powder containing nickel, and a hollow particle formed of an organic compound, (ii) applying the slurry to a support made of metal, thereby forming a sheet, and (iii) burning the sheet, thereby forming a porous layer joined to the support by a metallic bond.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cellulose based fiber of high water-retentivity. The cellulose based fiber of high water rententivity is manufactured by mixing together a stock solution as a homogeneous mixture of a non-cellulose based material of high absorbency and a cellulose based material and a stock solution singly composed of cellulose based material by means of a nozzle. Then the mixture is formed into a complex fiber as a sheath-core type by spinning, elongation and refining the mixture.

Abstract: A method of producing electrodes for a battery, characterized by comprising the steps of:

Abstract: A multi-piece rim type disk wheel includes a multi-piece rim and a disk. The multi-piece rim includes a rim base, a bead seat band, a lock ring and a flange. The disk includes an outside portion constituting a part of the rim base, and a hub coupling portion extending radially inwardly from the outside portion and has a substantially T-shaped cross-section. A method of producing the multi-piece rim type disk wheel includes the steps of: manufacturing a gutter band, a first center band, a disk having a substantially T-shaped cross-section, a second center band and a back flange separately from each other; and connecting them to each other by a full penetration butt weld to form into the integral rim base.

Abstract: A dielectric thin-film material for microwave applications, including use as a capacitor, the thin-film comprising a composition of barium strontium calcium and titanium of perovskite type (BaxSryCa1−x−y)TiO3. Also provided is a method for making a dielectric thin film of that formula over a wide compositional range through a single deposition process.

Abstract: A powdered super absorbent polymer (SAP) has heretofore been used as a water retentive material for sanitary products, such as sanitary napkin, disposable diaper and incontinence pad. This water retentive material is used by being held between two paper sheets but the powdered SAP comes off easily from absorbent member. Moreover, even when the SAP is in a dried powdered state or in a water-absorbed gel state, it is moved between a top sheet and a back sheet in accordance with the movement of a wearer of the sanitary product. Consequently, water absorbency decreases with poor shape stability. Moreover, since the SAP in a water-absorbed gel state is sticky, the wearer feels unpleasant. According to the present invention, therefore, a cellulose fiber, such as a viscose rayon fiber containing uniformly a non-cellulose based material of high water absorbency such as polyacrylate salt is manufactured.