Abstract: An observation system includes an illumination unit including a light source from which emits an illumination light including light of a plurality of colors, and light receiving unit including an optical sensor which acquires a light intensity. The illumination unit emits the illumination light for a culture vessel so that the illumination light travels from a first side to a second side of the culture vessel, the first side and the second side being defined by interposing a culture medium. The light receiving unit receives, on the first side, light emitted from the illumination unit, entering the culture vessel from the first side, reflected at the second side, and transmitted through the culture medium, and acquires a light intensity for each color in the received light for calculation of a pH value of the culture medium.

Abstract: An electronic device includes electrode layers and supports. The electrode layers and supports include an electrode layer and a support on each of both sides of an electronic functional layer in a thickness direction. Taking-out electrode parts from the electrode layers are exposed in a plane region of at least one of the supports on the both sides.

Abstract: To provide an electrochromic compound, represented by the following general formula (I): where X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; R1 and R2 are each independently a monovalent substituent; A? and B? are each independently a monovalent anion; and Y is represented by the following general formula (II) or (III): where X9, X10, X11, X12, X13, X14, X15, X16, X17, and X18 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent.

Abstract: To provide an electrochromic compound, represented by the following general formula where X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent; R1 and R2 are each independently a monovalent substituent; A? and B? are each independently a monovalent anion; and Y is represented by the following general formula (II) or (III): where X9, X10, X11, X12, X13, X14, X15, X16, X17, and X18 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent.

Abstract: A quantitative evaluation apparatus of the present invention includes: a counter that counts the numbers of cells or densities of cells contained in individual images of a plurality of image-capturing regions in a culturing vessel for culturing the cells; an evaluation-value calculating portion that calculates an evaluation value related to variation in the distribution of the cells in the culturing vessel on the basis of the numbers of the cells or the densities of cells counted by means of the counter in each of the images; a determining portion that determines whether or not the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation-value calculating portion is in a range of a prescribed threshold; and a display that displays determination result determined by the determining portion.

Abstract: A medium changing device includes a lid disposed at a position where two or more regions in which a medium may be stored are covered therewith, the regions being disposed adjacent to each other and being open upward; one or more flow-path members each disposed so as to penetrate the lid, and each disposed at a position where one of the regions is bridged to another therewith when the lid is disposed at the position where the regions are covered; and a pump disposed on the other side of the lid and acting on the intermediate sections of the flow-path members, exposed on the other side, so as to cause the medium to flow from the opening at one end toward the opening at the other end of each of the flow-path members.

Abstract: An electrochromic element is provided that includes a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to oppose each other, a first transparent electrode that is formed on a surface of the first substrate facing the second substrate, a second transparent electrode that is formed on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate, and a coloration layer that is arranged between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. The coloration layer includes an electrochromic material and an electrolyte, and a pattern or a concentration gradient of the electrochromic material is formed in at least a part of the coloration layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-cost thermoelectric converter element which is not decreased in electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity even under high temperature conditions. Specifically disclosed is a thermoelectric converter element (10) which is characterized by comprising a single element composed of a sintered cell (15) and a pair of electrodes (14) respectively attached to a heating surface which is one surface of the sintered cell (15) and a cooling surface which is a surface opposite to the heating surface, a conductive member (11) for electrical connection with an electrode other than the electrodes (14), and a metal layer (12) composed of at least one of gold and platinum. The thermoelectric converter element (10) is also characterized in that an electrode (14) of the single element is electrically connected with the conductive member (11) through the metal layer (12).

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module which includes a good thermally conductive substrate that is inexpensive, and which secures the electrical insulating property between the good thermally conductive substrate and the electrode. The thermoelectric conversion element unit is constituted of a P-type semiconductor and an N-type semiconductor which are connected to form a .pi.-shape. Electrodes are connected to both end faces of the thermoelectric conversion element units. The good thermally conductive substrates are brought in contact with the electrodes. The good thermally conductive substrates consist of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and an anode oxide film is provided between the good thermally conductive substrates and the electrodes.

Abstract: A thermoelectric transducer is provided, where a decrease in conversion efficiency due to uneven characteristics of semiconductors is resolved and a decrease in adhesion strength between each element unit and an electrode due to a heat expansion coefficient between the respective thermoelectric transducers. In addition, an improvement of electro thermal conversion efficiency is intended by modifying the structure of the single device. Single element unit (13), which are made off semiconductor of the same type constructed of sintered body cells each containing oxide of a metal element, an oxide of a rare-earth element, and manganese are arranged on a board (5, 12) of a thermoelectric transducer (10). Film-shaped thin-film electrodes are arranged on cooling and heating surfaces so to be integral with the sintered body cell. On these sides, lead wires (16) are connected to each other in series.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device, an intermediate, a module, and a method for manufacturing the same are provided, wherein productivity is high, material costs are comparatively low, and there is a low environmental load. A thermoelectric device, wherein a block body has at least one P and N piece made of P-type and N-type materials, which are alternately sandwiched between insulation layers, wherein the adjacent P and N piece boundary portions are welded together, with the P and the N piece of the block body being electrically connected in a zigzag manner, and a plurality of block bodies are arranged in parallel, the block bodies adjacent to each other being bridged by an electrode to extend the electrical connection in the series; an intermediate using such a thermoelectric device; and a thermoelectric module using the intermediate are provided. In this case, as the P-type and N-type materials, any material preferably used for thermoelectric pairs can be used.

Abstract: A low-cost thermoelectric converter element which is not decreased in electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity even under high temperature conditions. The thermoelectric converter element includes a single element including a sintered cell and a pair of electrodes respectively attached to a heating surface that is one surface of the sintered cell and a cooling surface that is a surface opposite to the heating surface, a conductive member for electrical connection with an electrode other than the electrodes, and a metal layer including at least one of gold and platinum. An electrode of the single element is electrically connected with the conductive member through the metal layer.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generation apparatus, which is provided with a thermoelectric conversion element, can be used even when exposed to a high-temperature environment such as being heated on an open fire, and is inexpensive. Onto the bottom surface or the like of a container (11) which can be used even when heated by heat from an ignition source, the thermoelectric conversion element (12) made from the same material which can be used even when heated by the heat generated from the ignition source is installed fixedly. Thus, a thermoelectric conversion apparatus (10), which can be used even when exposed to the high-temperature environment such as an open fire, and is inexpensive, is provided.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module includes a tubular element unit having a plurality of ring-like thermoelectric elements coaxially arranged with air as an insulator sandwiched inbetween. The ring-like thermoelectric element is covered approximately entirely with electrodes at its outer circumference surface and inner circumference surface, respectively, and generates electricity by temperature difference between the outer circumference surface and the inner circumference surface. A lead wire electrically connects the electrode covered on the outer circumference surface of one ring-like thermoelectric element among the plurality of ring-like thermoelectric elements to the electrode covered on the inner circumference surface of another ring-like thermoelectric element adjacent to the one ring-like thermoelectric element.

Abstract: An infrared sensor includes a substrate including an insulating layer formed thereon, a thermoelectric conversion element mounted on the substrate through the insulating layer, and an infrared absorbing layer mounted on the thermoelectric conversion element. The thermoelectric conversion element includes at least one single element having a heating surface defined as one side face and a cooling surface defined as the opposite face of the heating surface, for generating an electric power from the temperature difference made between the heating surface and the cooling surface. The single element includes a sintered cell including a composite metallic oxide, a pair of electrodes formed on the heating surface and the cooling surface of the sintered cell, and lead wires connecting the electrode on the heating surface and the electrode on the cooling surface electrically in series.

Abstract: Provided is a thermoelectric conversion module which can be flexibly applied to element size difference and thermal expansion of an element and has high electrical reliability with no conduction failure. A connector for a thermoelectric conversion element is also provided. A connector (C1) in one embodiment of this invention is provided for electrically connecting an electrode of a thermoelectric conversion element (30) to other electrode, and has an elastic deformation section (200) for adjusting the length of a connecting section (44) to be freely elongated and shortened.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly functional low-cost metal complex oxide having low resistivity and excellent high-temperature stability, which places only little burden on the environment. Specifically, a metal complex oxide is produced by a method which is characterized by comprising a calcination step for obtaining a calcine containing a metal complex oxide, a cleaning step for cleaning the calcine with purified water, and a firing step for firing the cleaned calcine. Preferably, the calcine is cleaned with purified water a plurality of times for obtaining a sintered body having less structural defects. Since a perovskite oxide produced by this method has a low resistivity and a high output factor, it can be used as a thermoelectric material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low-cost metal complex oxide material which has excellent stability at high temperatures and good crystallinity, while placing only a little burden on the environment. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a metal complex oxide powder represented by the following general formula: ABO3 (wherein A represents an oxygen 12 coordinated metal element and B represents an oxygen 6 coordinated metal element). This method for producing a metal complex oxide powder is characterized in that a chloride containing the element A, a chloride containing the element B and an aqueous solution containing an alkali carbonate are reacted as represented by the reaction formula below for producing a precipitate, and then the thus-produced precipitate is fired. (1?x)CaCl2+x.MCl3+(2+0.5x)Na2Co3?(1?x)CaCO3?+0.5x.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion module including a double angular cylinder including an inner tube and an outer tube disposed on an axis common to the inner tube and at a predetermined spacing. Electrodes are individually arranged on the opposing faces of the inner tube and the outer tube. A thermoelectric conversion element is connected with the electrodes of the faces of the thermoelectric conversion element arranged in opposing directions, one face is defined as a heating face, and the other face is defined as a cooling face. One of the inside of the inner tube and the outside of the outer tube is defined as a first fluid passage for passing a high-temperature fluid therethrough, and the other is defined as a second fluid passage for passing a low-temperature fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A method for producing a highly crystalline perovskite-type complex compound is provided that exhibits stably a high Seebeck coefficient and a low electric resistivity even at higher temperatures. A method for producing a complex perovskite-type compound with less environmental load is also provided. The method comprises a step of dissolving a nitrate salt containing a rare earth element, a nitrate salt containing an alkaline earth metal element, a nitrate salt containing manganese, and an organic polymer into a solvent to form a solution, a step of mixing and stirring the solution, a step of preparing a precursor powder from the solution through heating and drying thereof, and a step of calcining the precursor powder in atmosphere.