Abstract: A radiological image-capturing device includes: a first read control section that executes a first read mode in which electric signals stored in a plurality of pixels are read out simultaneously in units of a plurality of rows; and an emission-start determining section that determines that the emission of radiation from a radiation source onto an image-capturing panel has started when the values of the electric signals read by the first read control section have become greater than an arbitrarily settable threshold. If it is determined by the emission-start determining section that the emission of said radiation has started, the first read control section terminates the reading of the electric signals, and thereby brings the image-capturing panel into an exposure state.

Abstract: A radiological image-capturing device includes: a first read control section that executes a first read mode in which electric signals stored in a plurality of pixels are read out simultaneously in units of a plurality of rows; and an emission-start determining section that determines that the emission of radiation from a radiation source onto an image-capturing panel has started when the values of the electric signals read by the first read control section have become greater than an arbitrarily settable threshold. If it is determined by the emission-start determining section that the emission of the radiation has started, the first read control section terminates the reading of the electric signals, and thereby brings the image-capturing panel into an exposure state.

Abstract: A measurement area selection circuit has an irradiation field determination unit, an object area determination unit, and a measurement area determination unit. The irradiation field determination unit determines an irradiation field of an imaging surface of an FPD. The object area determination unit determines an object area from a comparison result between a first expected received dose of a directly exposed area and dose detection signals of detection pixels situated in the irradiation field. The measurement area determination unit determines a measurement area, which corresponds to a region of interest, from a comparison result between a second expected received dose of the measurement area and the dose detection signals of the detection pixels situated in the irradiation area and the object area. The dose detection signals of the detection pixels situated in the measurement area are used for AEC.

Abstract: A radiological image-capturing device includes: a first read control section that executes a first read mode in which electric signals stored in a plurality of pixels are read out simultaneously in units of a plurality of rows; and an emission-start determining section that determines that the emission of radiation from a radiation source onto an image-capturing panel has started when the values of the electric signals read by the first read control section have become greater than an arbitrarily settable threshold. If it is determined by the emission-start determining section that the emission of said radiation has started, the first read control section terminates the reading of the electric signals, and thereby brings the image-capturing panel into an exposure state.

Abstract: A flat panel detector has an imaging area, in which pixels are arrayed in a matrix and signal lines for reading out electric signals from the pixels are provided, to detect an image of a subject from x-rays which are incident on the imaging area after penetrating the subject. Detective elements are arranged in the imaging area, to output electric signals corresponding to incident x-rays. Based on previously stored sensitivity data on the detective elements, high-sensitivity elements are selected from among the detective elements. The start of radiation and the end of radiation of x-rays toward the imaging area are detected by monitoring the electric signals from the selected high-sensitivity elements, to control operation of the imaging device on the basis of the detected start and end of radiation.

Abstract: An FPD has plural pixels arranged in two dimensions. The pixels include a short pixel directly connected to a signal line, and a comparative pixel connected to another signal line through a TFT. In irradiation detecting operation, a control section monitors a voltage signal from the short pixel. When the voltage signal is a predetermined threshold value or more, the control section detects the start of X-ray irradiation, and provisionally starts charge accumulation operation. Then, the control section calculates the difference in the voltage signal between the short pixel and the comparative pixel. When this difference is another threshold value or more, the detection of the start of X-ray irradiation is judged to be valid. When the difference is less than the threshold value, the detection is judged to be misdetection caused by shock noise. The charge accumulation operation is aborted, and the irradiation detecting operation is restarted.

Abstract: This metal substrate for a dye-sensitized solar cell includes a clad material including a nonporous first metal layer, arranged on an anode side of a dye-sensitized solar cell element, made of a metal having corrosion resistance against an electrolyte of the dye-sensitized solar cell element and a second metal layer made of a metal having lower electrical resistance than the first metal layer and bonded to a side of the first metal layer opposite to the dye-sensitized solar cell element.

Abstract: A flat panel detector has an imaging area, in which pixels are arrayed in a matrix and signal lines for reading out electric signals from the pixels are provided, to detect an image of a subject from x-rays which are incident on the imaging area after penetrating the subject. Detective elements are arranged in the imaging area, to output electric signals corresponding to incident x-rays. Based on previously stored sensitivity data on the detective elements, high-sensitivity elements are selected from among the detective elements. The start of radiation and the end of radiation of x-rays toward the imaging area are detected by monitoring the electric signals from the selected high-sensitivity elements, to control operation of the imaging device on the basis of the detected start and end of radiation.

Abstract: An x-ray image detector monitors the intensity of incident x-rays to detect an end of radiation from an x-ray source when the x-ray intensity decreases to a threshold level or less. The x-ray intensity gets down to zero with a variable time lag from the start of decreasing, called radiation wave tail. Depending on the gradient of declivity in time curve of the decreasing x-ray intensity, calculated at the time when the end of radiation is detected, the x-ray image detector decides a delay time from the end-of-radiation detection time to a reading start time to start reading signal charges from the image detector. Thus, the reading start time may be adjusted to the point when the x-ray intensity gets down to zero, which will improve S/N ratio and prevent shading artifacts.

Abstract: An FPD has plural pixels arranged in two dimensions. The pixels include a short pixel directly connected to a signal line, and a comparative pixel connected to another signal line through a TFT. In irradiation detecting operation, a control section monitors a voltage signal from the short pixel. When the voltage signal is a predetermined threshold value or more, the control section detects the start of X-ray irradiation, and provisionally starts charge accumulation operation. Then, the control section calculates the difference in the voltage signal between the short pixel and the comparative pixel. When this difference is another threshold value or more, the detection of the start of X-ray irradiation is judged to be valid. When the difference is less than the threshold value, the detection is judged to be misdetection caused by shock noise. The charge accumulation operation is aborted, and the irradiation detecting operation is restarted.

Abstract: An FPD, being offline from an X-ray source, detects X-ray irradiation from the X-ray source to detect an X-ray image. The FPD includes pixels arranged in two dimensions, scan lines corresponding to respective rows of the pixels, signal lines corresponding to respective columns of the pixels, and switching elements provided to the respective pixels to allow performing accumulation operation or readout operation. At least one of the pixels is used as a detection pixel to detect a start of the X-ray irradiation. First and second voltage signals are obtained successively through the signal line to which the detection pixel is connected. The start of the X-ray irradiation is judged based on a difference between the first and second voltage signals.

Abstract: A metal substrate for a solar battery capable of inhibiting power generation efficiency of a unit solar cell from decrease due to a defect of the unit solar cell is provided. This metal substrate (1) for a solar battery includes a cladding material having a first metal layer (11) with a first surface (11a) formed with a unit solar cell (2) and a second metal layer (12) bonded to the first metal layer on a second surface (11b) opposite to the first surface, while a kurtosis (Rku) serving as an index indicating surface roughness of the first surface is not more than 7.

Abstract: A flat panel detector (FPD) includes an imaging panel having pixels arranged in a matrix, a gate driver for turning thin film transistors (TFTs) of the pixels ON and OFF, a radiation detecting section for detecting the start of x-ray radiation from the x-ray source, and a controller. The controller controls the gate driver to turn the TFTs ON periodically to reset dark charges of the pixels. Before starting a charge accumulating operation for accumulating signal charges for imaging, the controller controls the gate driver to turn the TFTs OFF so that the radiation detecting section may detect the start of x-ray radiation on the basis of charge leaks from the pixels. When the start of x-ray radiation is detected, the controller starts the charge accumulating operation while keeping the TFTs in the OFF condition. Thereafter, the TFTs are turned ON to read out the accumulated signal charges.

Abstract: A radiation image capturing system includes: a radiation image capturing device that includes an irradiation detecting/image capturing mode in which a start of irradiation of radiation is detected and a radiation image is captured; a detection unit that detects whether a radiographer has completed positioning of a subject with respect to the radiation image capturing device or has completed image capturing preparation; and a control unit that controls the radiation image capturing device to transit to the irradiation detecting/image capturing mode, in a case in which it is detected by the detection unit that the radiographer has completed the positioning of the subject or has completed the image capturing preparation.

Abstract: A flat speaker includes a casing with a display window, a vibratory sound panel mounted to the display window and having a display region and an exciter mount region, a display screen disposed internally of the display region, and an exciter mounted to the inner surface of the exciter mount region. A dust barrier is disposed to isolate a first space defined between the display region and the display screen from a second space surrounding the first space. The dust barrier has a dust barrier member disposed between the display region and the exciter mount region and extending across the vibratory sound panel to inhibit dust particles from moving from said exciter mount region to said display region within said casing. The dust barrier member is yieldingly deformable in response to vibration of said vibratory sound panel.

Abstract: An actuator, comprising at least one beam capable of generating flexural oscillations, at least one pair of electric supply terminals (23, 24) which supply oscillation-inducing electric power to the beam(s), and a holding mechanism which holds the beam(s), the holding mechanism including at least one holding member (12) to hold one portion of the beam(s) and a case (13) jointed to the holding member and configured to contain the beam(s) therein.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer includes a yoke (1) having an annular intermediate yoke portion (1a), an inner yoke portion (1b) and an outer yoke portion (1c), a permanent magnet (3) provided on the outer yoke portion so as to surround the inner yoke portion and forming a magnetic gap (G) between itself and the inner yoke portion (1b), a voice coil (6) inserted into the magnetic gap, and a diaphragm (4) supporting the voice coil. The diaphragm has an outer annular portion (4a) secured to the inner peripheral surface of the outer yoke portion (1c) and extending toward the inner yoke portion, an inner portion (4b) disposed to face the distal end opening (1e) of the inner yoke portion (1b), and a cylindrical portion (4c) connected between the inner portion and the outer annular portion. The inner portion (4b) of the diaphragm has a dome portion that is convex toward the distal end opening.

Abstract: A sound generating device is mounted in a recess formed in a case, and a battery is mounted on the case. A pair of terminals are provided on the underside of the case. A pair of leads connect a pair of electrodes of the battery with the terminals.

Abstract: An actuator, comprising a beam (2) including a laminated structure which has piezoelectric layers (30, 31, 32) and electrode layers (20, 21, 22, 23), a holding mechanism to hold the beam, a feeding terminal (10) to supply an exciting power to the electrode layers of the beam, and a contact mechanism provided in the holding mechanism, the holding mechanism comprising a case (1) including a space (5) to house the beam (2) and a holding part to hold at least one of an end and a central portion of the beam (2), the contact mechanism being configured to contact with a part of the beam (2) and prevent the beam from excessively deflecting when a great impact is added to the beam.

Abstract: A flat speaker includes a casing with a display window, a vibratory sound panel mounted to the display window and having a display region and an exciter mount region, a display screen disposed internally of the display region, and an exciter mounted to the inner surface of the exciter mount region. A dust barrier is disposed to isolate a first space defined between the display region and the display screen from a second space surrounding the first space. The dust barrier has a dust barrier member disposed between the display region and the exciter mount region and extending across the vibratory sound panel to inhibit dust particles from moving from said exciter mount region to said display region within said casing. The dust barrier member is yieldingly deformable in response to vibration of said vibratory sound panel.