Abstract: An image processing method of holding a plurality of texture data for applying a metal representation on an image. The method includes acquiring predetermined information concerning at least one of an observation distance as a distance between a print product on which a target region is printed and an observer observing the print product, a sheet on which the target region is printed, or an environment in which the print product is observed, selecting texture data from the plurality of texture data based on the acquired predetermined information, and applying, to the target region, the texture data selected in the selecting.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas electricity generation unit is provided between an engine unit and a discharge unit. The exhaust-gas electricity generation unit includes a connecting pipe connecting the engine unit to the discharge unit and defining an exhaust-gas flow passage in which exhaust gas expelled from the engine unit flows, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules provided on an inner surface of the connecting pipe, along flow of heat, near the engine unit and near the discharge unit, and a flow-velocity increasing mechanism for causing the exhaust gas in the connecting pipe to have an increased flow velocity near the discharge unit than near the engine unit.

Abstract: A catheter includes a shaft having a first lumen inside thereof, an expansion/contraction portion that is disposed on a distal end portion of the shaft and is expandable and contractible in a radial direction, and an actuation portion that expands and contracts the expansion/contraction portion. The expansion/contraction portion has a fixed portion fixed to the shaft, a sliding portion capable of sliding in a longitudinal direction of the shaft on an outer peripheral face of the shaft, and a suspension portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft that connects the fixed portion with the sliding portion. When the sliding portion is slid toward the fixed portion by the actuation portion, the suspension portion expands in a radial direction of the shaft.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas electricity generation unit is provided between an engine unit and a discharge unit. The exhaust-gas electricity generation unit includes a connecting pipe connecting the engine unit to the discharge unit and defining an exhaust-gas flow passage in which exhaust gas expelled from the engine unit flows, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules provided on an inner surface of the connecting pipe, along flow of heat, near the engine unit and near the discharge unit, and a flow-velocity increasing mechanism for causing the exhaust gas in the connecting pipe to have an increased flow velocity near the discharge unit than near the engine unit.

Abstract: A battery negative electrode includes a hydrogen storage alloy as a negative electrode active material, wherein the hydrogen storage alloy has a mean volume diameter within a range from 4 ?m to 12 ?m, and is disposed to be capable of being in contact with hydrogen in a hydrogen containing part in which hydrogen is contained.

Abstract: A plurality of thermoelectric conversion modules each includes a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other, first electrodes joined to first ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the first ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, second electrodes joined to opposite, second ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connect the second ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, and a heat absorber provided on first surfaces of the second electrodes which are opposite to second surfaces of the second electrodes that are joined to the thermoelectric conversion elements, wherein the thermoelectric conversion modules are arranged along a flow of heat in a manner that the heat absorbers of the thermoelectric conversion modules form a staggered array.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module applied to a heating source, comprising a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other, first electrodes located away from the heating source and joined to first ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connecting the first ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, second electrodes located nearer to the heating source and joined to opposite, second ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connecting the second ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, wherein the thermoelectric conversion elements each comprise a first structural portion joined to the first electrode and a second structural portion joined to the second electrode, the second electrode being smaller in volume than the first electrode.

Abstract: The invention comprises a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements arranged adjacent to each other, first electrodes joined to first ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connecting the first ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, and second electrodes joined to opposite, second ends of the thermoelectric conversion elements to electrically connecting the second ends of adjacent thermoelectric conversion elements, wherein the thermoelectric conversion elements electrically connected by the first and second electrodes form at least one series circuit element, and third electrodes having flexibility are provided at ends of the series circuit element.

Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method of a thermoelectric conversion element, including: a holding step of holding thermoelectric conversion members (2, 3) while exposing at least one side end portions of at least one of the thermoelectric conversion members; a coating step of coating the exposed end portions of the thermoelectric conversion member with metal powder (13); and an electrode forming step of forming an electrode (4a) at the end portions of the thermoelectric conversion member by sintering the metal powder.

Abstract: The thermoelectric conversion module includes a porous insulating film having an insulation property and a thermoelectric conversion element in a thin film shape formed on a first surface of the insulating film, the first surface includes a surface inclined to a second surface positioned on an opposite side of the first surface, and a density of the insulating film increases as a distance between the first surface and the second surface decreases.

Abstract: A battery negative electrode includes a hydrogen storage alloy as a negative electrode active material, wherein the hydrogen storage alloy has a mean volume diameter within a range from 4 ?m to 12 ?m, and is disposed to be capable of being in contact with hydrogen in a hydrogen containing part in which hydrogen is contained.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air cleaner, having at least one air inlet formed therein, includes a chassis having at least one air inlet passage inner peripheral surface formed therein, an air-sending device, a filter, and a front panel having at least one air inlet passage outer peripheral surface formed therein. An air inlet passage, providing communication between the air inlet and the filter, is formed between the air inlet passage inner peripheral surface and the air inlet passage outer peripheral surface. The air inlet passage inner peripheral surface and the air inlet passage outer peripheral surface have respective curvatures in a left-right direction, and the curvature of the air inlet passage inner peripheral surface is greater than that of the air inlet passage outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a passenger compartment illumination device capable of remarkably reducing transmission of an impact applied to a vehicle body panel to an interior trim. A passenger compartment illumination device to be attached to an interior trim on a side facing a vehicle body panel includes a light source, a light-guiding member that receives incident light from the light source as extending along the interior trim, and a case that houses the light source and the light-guiding member as being attached to the interior trim. The case includes a protruding portion arranged on a side face of the case on the side facing the vehicle body panel as protruding toward the vehicle body panel.

Abstract: A controller (2a) sets a target setting temperature for an air-conditioning space 10, compares a value obtained by subtracting an outdoor temperature detected by an outdoor temperature sensor 9 from the target setting temperature, with a first threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting the outdoor temperature from an indoor temperature detected by an indoor temperature sensor 8, with a second threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting a heat load in the air-conditioning space 10 from a cooling capacity, with a third threshold related to the value, and controls operation of a heat pump type air-conditioning device 2 and a ventilating device 3 on the basis of these comparison results. The first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold are set in accordance with the number of people detected by a human detection sensor 5.

Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method of a thermoelectric conversion element, including: a holding step of holding thermoelectric conversion members (2, 3) while exposing at least one side end portions of at least one of the thermoelectric conversion members; a coating step of coating the exposed end portions of the thermoelectric conversion member with metal powder (13); and an electrode forming step of forming an electrode (4a ) at the end portions of the thermoelectric conversion member by sintering the metal powder.

Abstract: The thermoelectric conversion module includes a porous insulating film having an insulation property and a thermoelectric conversion element in a thin film shape formed on a first surface of the insulating film, the first surface includes a surface inclined to a second surface positioned on an opposite side of the first surface, and a density of the insulating film increases as a distance between the first surface and the second surface decreases.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air cleaner, having at least one air inlet formed therein, includes a chassis having at least one air inlet passage inner peripheral surface formed therein, an air-sending device, a filter, and a front panel having at least one air inlet passage outer peripheral surface formed therein. An air inlet passage, providing communication between the air inlet and the filter, is formed between the air inlet passage inner peripheral surface and the air inlet passage outer peripheral surface. The air inlet passage inner peripheral surface and the air inlet passage outer peripheral surface have respective curvatures in a left-right direction, and the curvature of the air inlet passage inner peripheral surface is greater than that of the air inlet passage outer peripheral surface.

Abstract: A controller sets a target setting temperature for an air-conditioning space, compares a value obtained by subtracting an outdoor temperature detected by an outdoor temperature sensor from the target setting temperature, with a first threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting the outdoor temperature from an indoor temperature detected by an indoor temperature sensor, with a second threshold related to the value, compares a value obtained by subtracting a heat load in the air-conditioning space from a cooling capacity, with a third threshold related to the value, and controls operation of a heat pump type air-conditioning device and a ventilating device on the basis of these comparison results. The first threshold, the second threshold, and the third threshold are set in accordance with the number of people detected by a human detection sensor.

Abstract: A method for producing a thermoelectric module comprises steps of positioning electrodes (4) on a pair of current-supplying/pressing members (2) arranged to face each other, at their surfaces facing each other; arranging a plurality of thermoelectric elements (3) to be interposed between the electrodes (4); and bonding the electrodes (4) and the thermoelectric elements (3) by supplying an electric current to pass through the electrodes (4) and the thermoelectric elements (3) while pressing the electrodes (4) and the thermoelectric elements (3) by means of the current-supplying/pressing members (2), wherein the method further comprises a step of forming an intermediate layer (5) containing an electroconductive metal powder and having elasticity, between each of the electrodes (4) and the thermoelectric element (3) to be bonded thereto.

Abstract: The invention intends to provide a hydrogen storage alloy that can absorb and release hydrogen effectively at room temperature and shows excellent hydrogen storage amount and effective hydrogen transfer amount and furthermore shows excellent endurance. A pulverized hydrogen storage alloy powder is heated at 600° C. or more and 1200° C. or less for 10 min to 30 hr to apply strain relief annealing. A particle diameter of the hydrogen storage alloy powder is desirably 10 ?m or less and the hydrogen storage alloy is desirably mainly composed of a BCC phase. Since the initial strain ahead of the hydrogenation is removed, a solid solution region of hydrogen is largely reduced and an initial hydrogen storage amount and an effective hydrogen transfer amount are increased.