Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium by discharging liquid droplets onto the medium; and a media heater to heat the medium by contacting a rear surface of the medium opposite a surface of the medium on which the image is formed, in which the media heater includes a contact member with a contact surface having a predetermined curvature that the medium contacts, the contact member is a roller member, and the medium closely contacts the contact surface of the contact member across an entire width of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the media conveyance direction.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor.

Abstract: Provided are: an optical waveguide that relatively easily expands a spot size and that can suppress an increase in optical coupling loss with another optical waveguide element; and an optical component and variable-wavelength laser that use the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is provided with: a cladding member; and a core layer that is disposed within the cladding member and that is formed as an elongated body having a rectangular cross-sectional shape from a material having a higher refractive index than the material configuring the cladding member. Here, the cross-sectional shape of the core layer is characterized in having a rectangular shape in which the length in the lateral direction is at least 10 times the length in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A combustor (10) according to the invention includes: a combustor basket (14) in which compressed air and fuel are mixed with each other and the mixture is combusted; a transition piece (17) in which a tip portion of the combustor basket (14) is inserted with a gap (C) therebetween; a spring clip (19) that seals the gap between the combustor basket (14) and the transition piece (17); a throttle section (21) that is provided in an opening portion (Ck) of the gap (C) that is opened to the transition piece (17) on the tip side of the combustor basket (14), and narrows an opening area of the opening portion (Ck), compared to the base end side; and cooling device (22) for cooling the throttle section (21).

Abstract: A sealing part has an outer peripheral point of the sealing part within a range from 0 degree to 90 degrees around a center point of the sealing part relative to a stacking direction, and that is located at a distance of a first length L1 from the center point. Each point on the outer peripheral line within a first range satisfies L2?L1, where L2 is a second length that is a distance from the center point to that point. Each point on the outer peripheral line within a second range satisfies L3<L1, where L3 is a distance from the center point to that point, and is located on the opposite side of the outer peripheral point from the center point or at the same position as the outer peripheral point in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction.

Abstract: A method for managing a lithium-ion battery including stacked cells each of which is provided with an electrolyte solution, includes: measuring first voltages of the stacked cells, respectively, in a highly charged state; calculating first deviation in the first voltages; measuring second voltages of the stacked cells, respectively, in a less charged state after the highly charged state; calculating second deviation in the second voltages; and comparing the first deviation and the second deviation to determine whether a micro short circuit due to a dendrite occurs.

Abstract: A method for decreasing a dendrite generated in a lithium-ion battery includes: charging the lithium-ion battery so that the dendrite is generated due to precipitation of a foreign metal other than a cathode active material mixture and an anode active material mixture in an electrolyte solution filling the lithium-ion battery; and charging the lithium-ion battery to maintain an SOC of the lithium-ion battery at a predetermined value for more than a predetermined time to decrease the dendrite.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a vibration element that performs drive vibration, an acceleration detection chip that detects an acceleration, a semiconductor element which is electrically connected to at least one of the vibration element and the acceleration detection chip, and a package that has a storage space for storing the vibration element, the acceleration detection chip and the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element is fixed to the package, the acceleration detection chip is fixed to the package with the semiconductor element interposed therebetween, and at least a portion of the acceleration detection chip overlaps the vibration element when the package is seen in a plan view.

Abstract: Dynamic range of a second amplifier which is provided in a subsequent stage of a synchronous detection circuit is set greater than dynamic range of a first amplifier which is provided in a preceding stage of the synchronous detection circuit, and thus, an output is prevented from being saturated.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a heater, an electron reflection plate, a filament arranged between the heater and the electron reflection plate, a heating power supply configured to supply an AC voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the filament to emit thermoelectrons from the filament, an acceleration power supply configured to supply an acceleration voltage between the filament and the heater, and a resistor arranged so as to form a path which connects the electron reflection plate and the heating power supply.

Abstract: Provided is an electromagnetic shielding material having improved electromagnetic shielding properties, light weight properties and formability. The present invention relates to an electromagnetic shielding material having a structure in which at least three metal foils are laminated via insulating layers, wherein all of combinations of the metal foils and the insulating layers making up the electromagnetic shielding material satisfy the equation: ?M×dM×dR?3×10?3, in which: the symbol ?M represents conductivity of each metal foil at 20° C. (S/m); the symbol dM represents the thickness of each metal foil (m); and the symbol dR represents the thickness of each insulating layer (m).

Abstract: A separator for fuel cell is used for a fuel cell and is placed to face a membrane electrode assembly. The separator includes a separator center area placed to face a power generation area of the membrane electrode assembly; a peripheral region extended from the separator center area toward an outer edge; a cooling medium supply manifold and a cooling medium discharge manifold provided in the peripheral region; a fluid flow path area extended from the cooling medium supply manifold through the separator center area to the cooling medium discharge manifold; a sealing gasket provided in the peripheral region and placed to surround the fluid flow path area; and a gasket for peel test provided outside of the fluid flow path area and configured to receive an external force applied as a test for evaluation of an adhesive state of the gasket. Evaluating the adhesive state of the gasket for peel test improves the yield of products in manufacture of the separators for fuel cell.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a recording medium by discharging liquid droplets onto the medium; and a media heater to heat the medium by contacting a rear surface of the medium opposite a surface of the medium on which the image is formed, in which the media heater includes a contact member with a contact surface having a predetermined curvature that the medium contacts, the contact member is a roller member, and the medium closely contacts the contact surface of the contact member across an entire width of the medium in a direction perpendicular to the media conveyance direction.

Abstract: Provided are: an optical waveguide that relatively easily expands a spot size and that can suppress an increase in optical coupling loss with another optical waveguide element; and an optical component and variable-wavelength laser that use the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is provided with: a cladding member; and a core layer that is disposed within the cladding member and that is formed as an elongated body having a rectangular cross-sectional shape from a material having a higher refractive index than the material configuring the cladding member. Here, the cross-sectional shape of the core layer is characterized in having a rectangular shape in which the length in the lateral direction is at least 10 times the length in the vertical direction.

Abstract: A power conversion system includes a transformer, a power conversion device for travel, a power conversion device for auxiliary power sources, and an electrical storage device. The power conversion device for auxiliary power sources includes a first AC to DC conversion unit, a power conversion unit for AC loads, and a power conversion unit for DC loads. The power conversion unit for AC loads converts DC power into AC power and supplies it to an AC load. The power conversion unit for DC loads converts DC power produced through conversion by the first AC to DC conversion unit into DC power and supplies it to a DC load. The electrical storage device is connected to power lines connecting DC power output terminals of the first AC to DC conversion unit and DC power input terminals of both the power conversion units for AC and DC loads.

Abstract: A separator that is used for a fuel cell includes: a separator center area that is arranged to face a power generation area of the membrane electrode assembly; an outer peripheral portion that is extended from the separator center area to outer periphery; a first manifold hole and a second manifold hole that are provided in the outer peripheral portion; a fluid flow path that is arranged to extend from the first manifold hole through the separator center area to the second manifold hole; and a gasket that is provided on the outer peripheral portion to surround an area of the fluid flow path and outer circumferences of the first and second manifold holes. The gasket is divided into first gasket portions that are provided adjacent to ends of the separator center area and are extended along respective side edges at the ends, and second gasket portions that are provided to surround the outer circumferences of the first manifold hole and the second manifold hole, respectively.

Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor.

Abstract: A positional deviation correction pattern includes a first and second pattern image portions adjacent in a sub-scanning direction at the same position in a main-scanning direction, with the same width in the main-scanning direction. Each image portion includes a first side extending in the sub-scanning direction, a second side continuing from one end of the first side and extending in a direction intersecting the sub-scanning direction, and a third side continuing from the other end and extending in a direction intersecting both the sub-scanning direction and the second side. The second sides have the same inclination angle to a virtual line parallel to the main-scanning direction. The third sides have the same inclination angle to the virtual line. A length of one image portion in the sub-scanning direction gradually increases from one end to the other end in the main-scanning direction, a length of the other image portion gradually decreases.

Abstract: In a hydraulically-operated vane rotor equipped variable valve timing control device for an internal combustion engine, a fluid-communication control mechanism is configured to switch, after having started the engine, a communication hole from a communicated state to a fluid-communication restricted state prior to switching operation of a lock mechanism from a lock state in which rotary motion of a vane rotor relative to a housing is restricted to an unlock state in which rotary motion of the vane rotor relative to the housing is enabled. As a result of this configuration, it becomes possible to apply, after having started the engine, an appropriately controlled hydraulic pressure to all of vanes, with hydraulic pressure supplied to either all phase-retard chambers or all phase-advance chambers, thereby ensuring a good control responsiveness of the vane rotor.

Abstract: A seal member (7) is provided between a combustor disposed around a rotor axis and a vane disposed on the downstream side in an axial direction and defining a part of a combustion gas flow passage (Pg) through which combustion gas (G) flows, and seals a gap between the combustor and the vane. The seal member (7) has: an end face (71a) that faces the downstream side in the axial direction so as to face a lateral end face (461) of the vane facing the upstream side in the axial direction; cooling channels (80) through which cooling air is discharged from a plurality of openings (80a) provided in the end face (71a) in an array in a circumferential direction based on the rotor axis; and a clearance forming portion (71b) that protrudes further toward the downstream side in the axial direction than the end face (71a) in which the openings are formed.