Abstract: Disclosed is a film suitable for improvement of luminance, contrast and view angle of a liquid crystal display. Specifically disclosed is a retardation film having a thickness of 30-500 ?m, a light transmittance of not less than 85%, and an Nz factor of not less than 10.

Abstract: Provided is an alkali-developable photosensitive resin composition, the dry coating film of which has a favorable dryness to touch, excellent storage stability and few substances that are harmful to humans. The alkali-developable resin composition comprising (A) a carboxyl group-containing resin, (B) a photopolymerization initiator, (C) a compound with two or more ethylenic unsaturated groups in the molecule, (D) filler and (E) an aromatic petroleum solvent, is characterized in that the naphthalene content of said composition is 300 ppm or less.

Abstract: A near-field optical head which can be manufactured using a silicon process and illuminate and detect sufficient light from a very small aperture at all times in a state of stably proximate to a media. The near-field optical head (3000) is structured by a very small aperture (3008) formed at an apex of a taper, a light introducing part (3002) for propagating light in a direction generally parallel with a media, and a light reflection layer (3001) for reflecting the light propagated through the light introducing part (3002) toward the very small aperture (3008). Furthermore, a focusing function is structurally provided for illuminating the light focused on the very small aperture (3008).

Abstract: A purging agent by which excellent cleaning effect is obtained even under severe environment of narrow flow passage and high temperature like a die portion of a melt molding machine is provided. The present invention relates to a purging agent comprising a hydrocarbon resin and at least one of the metal salts of Groups 1 and 2 metals in the short form periodic table, wherein the content of the metal salt based on the hydrocarbon resin is more than 1 wt % in terms of the metal.

Abstract: A heat sink including a base section, connection fins, and parallel fins. The base section includes: a first base plate configured to be mounted with a heat generating component on its outer surface; a second base plate disposed to face the first base plate in a parallel manner, configured to be mounted with a heat generating component on its outer surface; and a third base plate disposed perpendicular to the first base plate and the second base plate, which secures the first base plate and the second base plate along a junction line. The base section includes first and second regions arranged in the direction of the junction line. The connection fins are disposed on the first region to connect inner surfaces of the first and second base plates and to be parallel to the third base plate, and the parallel fins are disposed on the second region from an inner surface of the third base plate to be parallel to the first base plate.

Abstract: A translucent conductive film-forming coating liquid that can form a translucent conductive film having excellent translucency and conductivity together with organic solvent resistance includes conductive oxide acicular powder dispersed in a solvent containing a binder resin, the glass transition point (Tg) of the binder resin being 120° C. or more.

Abstract: A gas sensor including a gas sensor element having a first measurement chamber (16); a first pumping cell (11); a second measurement chamber (18) into which a gas to be measured having a controlled oxygen partial pressure is introduced; and a second pumping cell (13) having a second inner pump electrode (13b) and a second counterpart electrode (13c) pump electrode configured to detect a specific gas component. The second inner pump electrode is made of a material that contains, as a principal ingredient, two kinds of Pt particles having different particle sizes and whose particle size ratio measured by a sedimentation particle-size distribution ranges from 1.75 to 14.2. A mixing ratio between large Pt particles and small Pt particles has a mass ratio of 10/90 to 50/50. A 10 kHz-1 Hz resistance value across the second pumping cell at 600° C. is 150? or less.

Abstract: A separator unit inserted into a fuel cell having an electrolyte layer interposed between a fuel electrode and an oxygen electrode is provided with a plate like separator that separates fuel gas supplied to the fuel electrode from oxidizing gas supplied to the oxygen electrode, and a mesh like collector having an opening that forms one of a passage through which the fuel gas flows and a passage through which the oxidizing gas flows. The collector is provided to at least one side of the separator base in abutment against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode. The separator base has a coolant passage formed therein, through which a coolant is allowed to flow, and an electrode abutment portion of the collector, which abuts against one of the fuel electrode and the oxygen electrode, has an aperture ratio higher than those of other portions of the collector.

Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a gas sensor, which has a sensor element equipped with first and second oxygen pumping cells. The sensor control apparatus is configured to drive the first oxygen pumping cell to adjust the oxygen concentration of gas under measurement, drive the second oxygen pumping cell to produce a flow of electric current according to the amount of oxygen pumped out of the oxygen concentration adjusted gas by the second oxygen pumping cell, perform specific drive control to control the amount of oxygen pumped by the second oxygen pumping cell to a predetermined level after startup of the sensor element and before the application of the drive voltage between the electrodes of the second oxygen pumping cell.

Abstract: A near-field optical head has a planar substrate having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface, and an inverted pyramidal hole extending through the first and second surfaces. The inverted pyramidal hole has at least one fine aperture formed at an apex thereof and disposed in the first surface and having at least one curved slant surface. An optical waveguide extends into the inverted pyramidal hole of the planar substrate for propagating light along an optical path. A mirror is disposed in the optical waveguide for bending in the direction of the fine aperture the optical path of the light propagated through the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus has a medium with a linear tracking mark extending in a scanning direction and a linear data mark extending in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A light control unit irradiates the data mark with a first near-field light polarized in the scanning direction and irradiates the tracking mark with a second near-field light polarized in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. A detector detects light scattered by the data mark and the tracking mark irradiated with the first near-field light and the second near-field light, respectively. A signal processing unit processes a first output signal from the detector corresponding to the detected light scattered by the data mark and processes a second output signal from the detector corresponding to the detected light scattered by the tracking mark.

Abstract: A sensor control apparatus is disclosed, including a preliminary control for supplying a constant current to a second oxygen pump cell of a gas sensor for a constant period of time so as to control to a constant level the amount of oxygen pumped out from a second measurement chamber (S40 to S50). At the beginning of drive control (S55 to S80), oxygen is pumped back into the second measurement chamber. During the pumping back operation, an NOX concentration correspondence value has a large time course change and is not stable. The NOX concentration correspondence value is corrected using correction data common among gas sensors, wherein the timing for applying the correction data is adjusted by making use of an application time determined in accordance with individual differences of each gas sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a nitrogen oxide purifying catalyst using an NOx sensor, the method including: calculating a detection integrated value by integrating corresponding values corresponding to the NOx sensor output signal obtained until a first predetermined detection period has elapsed after the NOx sensor begins to generate an output signal and subtracting a variation integrated value. The variation integrated value is calculated by integrating corresponding values obtained until a predetermined second detection period has elapsed after the NOx sensor beings to generate an output signal when driven in a gas atmosphere having a constant nitrogen oxide concentration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for individually detecting NO and NO2 concentrations as NOX components of an object gas. An NO concentration corresponding value is obtained from a first detection element not having a reduction section. An NO concentration corresponding value is obtained from a second detection element having a reduction section, and having an NO2/NO sensitivity ratio greater than that of the first detection element. The difference ?C between the NO concentration corresponding values of the two detection elements is obtained, and divided by the difference ?S between the NO2/NO sensitivity ratios of the two detection elements, whereby an NO2 concentration corresponding value is obtained. A value obtained by multiplying the NO2 concentration corresponding value by the NO2/NO sensitivity ratio of the second detection element is subtracted from the NO concentration corresponding value of the second detection element, whereby an NO concentration corresponding value is obtained.

Abstract: A peripheral device of the invention is capable of data communication with a host device via one of a first-type interface and a second-type interface having different data communication-related specifications. The peripheral device has a single connector for making electric connection selectively with a first-type connector or a second-type connector. The peripheral device also has a controller for performing an initial connection process that makes a logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device via the first-type interface or the second-type interface. While the physical connection is maintained, the controller breaks the logical connection established by the initial connection process and subsequently makes another logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device.

Abstract: [Objective] To provide a gas sensor which can improve the sensitivity to NOX. [Means for Solution] A reduction section 18 for reducing NO2 contained in exhaust gas to NO is provided on the upstream side of a first diffusion resistor section 103 provided to limit the flow of the exhaust gas into a first measurement chamber 101. When NOX passes through the first diffusion resistor section 103, NO2 which is greater in molecular weight than NO is lower in the degree of diffusion than NO. Since NO2 is reduced to NO at the reduction section 18, the exhaust gas passing through the first diffusion resistor section 103 hardly contains NO2. Therefore, the speed of flow of NOX through the first diffusion resistor section 103 is not limited by NO2, whereby sensitivity for detection of NOX can be improved.

Abstract: In a method of detecting an angular velocity V? of an angular velocity sensor including a vibrating body, a monitoring signal Vm(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a first direction and a sensing signal Vs(t) sensing a displacement of the vibrating body in a second direction crossing the first direction are detected. A difference in time between a first feature point where the monitoring signal Vm(t) crosses a first reference level and a second feature point where the sensing signal Vs(t) crosses a second reference level is set as ?t, a sensing direct-current voltage corresponding to an amplitude of the sensing signal Vs(t) is set as Vsd, a driving frequency is set as fd, and the angular velocity V? is calculated from formula of V?=Vsd×sin(2·?·fd·?T).

Abstract: Provided is a peripheral device including: a connection portion capable of selectively connecting to multiple types of connectors corresponding to multiple types of interfaces, the connection portion including a power terminal for receiving a supply of power from a host device via a connector; a control section for initiating, upon receiving a supply of power, a connection process to form a logical connection with the host device by using any one of the multiple types interfaces; a power line connecting the control section and the terminal; and a delay process section for delaying supply of power to the control section having started by the connector being connected to the connection portion, for a predetermined time, the delay process section being disposed along the power line.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photocurable and thermosetting resin composition having excellent surface curability and deep curability, allowing pattern formation with a laser beam having a wavelength of 350 to 410 nm, and being useful as a solder resist for laser direct imaging, the composition including a carboxylic resin (A), an oxime ester-based photopolymerization initiator (B) such as 2-(acetyloxyiminomethyl)thioxanthene-9-one, and another photopolymerization initiator than (B) such as 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl-diphenyl-phosphine oxide, and a sulfur compound (E) such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.

Abstract: A peripheral device of the invention is capable of data communication with a host device via one of a first-type interface and a second-type interface having different data communication-related specifications. The peripheral device has a single connector for making electric connection selectively with a first-type connector or a second-type connector. The peripheral device also has a controller for performing an initial connection process that makes a logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device via the first-type interface or the second-type interface. While the physical connection is maintained, the controller breaks the logical connection established by the initial connection process and subsequently makes another logical connection between the peripheral device and the host device.