Abstract: A movement plan producing system that produces a movement plan for a hydrogen filling vehicle includes: a residual hydrogen amount information acquisition portion that communicates with a plurality of vehicles using hydrogen gas as fuel to acquire residual hydrogen amount information indicating a residual hydrogen amount in a hydrogen tank of each of the vehicles; a positional information acquisition portion that acquires positional information indicating the position of each of the plurality of vehicles; and a plan producing portion that produces the movement plan for making the hydrogen filling vehicle fill at least some of the plurality of vehicles with hydrogen using the acquired residual hydrogen amount information and the acquired positional information.

Abstract: A vehicle rental system includes an input acceptance unit that accepts input of usage information on use of a vehicle by a user, a selection unit that selects a type of the vehicle, from among an electric vehicle and a fuel cell vehicle, which is recommended for the user according to the usage information accepted by the input acceptance unit, and a notification unit that notifies the user of the type of the vehicle selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: A battery electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt, diethyl carbonate and at least one of 4-fluoroethylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate. This battery electrolyte is highly stable even when used in batteries in which the cathode material has a high operating potential (such as 4.5V or more) relative to Li/Li+. Batteries containing this electrolyte solution therefore have excellent cycling stability.

Abstract: Lithium transition metal cathode materials are functionalized with a stable free radical such as a nitroxide free radical. The stable free radical may be bonded directly to the cathode material or to a coating, such as a polymeric coating, on the surface of particles of the lithium transition metal cathode material. The functionalized cathode materials perform very well as lithium battery cathodes.

Abstract: A method of doping elements (particularly those that do not have stable divalent oxidation states) into lithium rich metal oxides useful in lithium ion batteries is comprised of the following steps. A dopant metal is dissolved in a liquid, which includes being present as a colloid, to form a solution. The solution is added to a particulate lithium rich metal oxide precursor while agitating said precursor to form a mixture. The solution is added in an amount that is at most that amount which would make the mixture a paste. The liquid is removed to form a doped lithium rich metal oxide precursor. A source of lithium is added. The doped lithium rich metal oxide precursor is heated to form the lithium rich metal oxide.

Abstract: The back kneading device mounted in the chair-type massage apparatus comprises: the massage mechanism including paired right-hand and left-hand massage members having the treatment element for massage and the driving section for transmitting massage action to the massage member; the base member for supporting the massage mechanism, with the massage member pointing forward; the vertical movement mechanism for moving the base member in the vertical direction in the backrest; and the protruding-amount varying mechanism for moving the massage member so that protrusion amount of the treatment element in the front-rear direction can be varied.

Abstract: Cathodes for lithium batteries contain a lithium-manganese cathodic material and from 0.5 to 20% by weight of lithium oxalate. Batteries containing the electrodes tend to exhibit high cycling capacities.

Abstract: A method for activating lithium ion batteries related to the initial formation cycle (initial battery break in prior to use) is used to improve battery performance. The method involves charging the battery for the first time after being fabricated, to an initial voltage Vi that is above 4.25 Volts vs Li/Li+, but less than 5 Volts. The battery is discharged to a base voltage Vb that is from 4.15 to 4.25 Volts and held at Vb for a period of time that is at least one minute to at most several weeks. The battery is then charged to a final voltage Vf that is greater than Vb. The batteries activated by the method may have one or more improved properties such as longer cycle life, greater capacity at higher charge/discharge rates or consistent performance from battery to battery.

Abstract: An objective is to perform a leg massage under appropriate temperature conditions. The lower leg massage apparatus 1 comprises: a pair of right and left insertion recesses 4,4 in a vertically-extending continuous form, into which are inserted feet F and calves C of a user; a first massage mechanism 5 disposed within an upper part of the insertion recess 4, for massaging the inserted calves C, and a second massage mechanism 7 disposed within a lower part of the insertion recess 4, for massaging the inserted feet F. Further provided are a cover body 12 of a two-layer structure which is disposed in the insertion recess 4 so as to cover the first massage mechanism 5 and the second massage mechanism 7, and a warm air/cool air supply section 15 for supplying a warm or cool current of air to a region between the two layers constituting the cover body 12.

Abstract: The chair-type massage apparatus is characterized in that, when placed with its back facing a room wall, it can be located near the wall and, when its seat is made movable back-and-forth, the leg kneading device mounted at the front of the seat can be used without being obstructed by the back-and-forth movement. The chair-type massage apparatus 1 comprises the seat 2, the base frame 6, and the backrest 3 reclinably mounted at the rear of the seat. During reclining, the upper end of the backrest moves vertically along one vertical line. The leg kneading device is mounted at the front of the seat. The base frame has the seat moving mechanism 15 for moving the seat at least in the front-rear direction, and the seat has the position changing mechanism 16 for effecting positional change of the leg kneading device relative to the seat while maintaining the relative distance.

Abstract: A back kneading device capable of causing a massage mechanism to protrude forward and return to an original normal position is provided with no increase in size and complexity in construction. The back kneading device mounted in a chair massage apparatus includes the massage mechanism having a pair of right-hand and left-hand massage members, a base member for pivotally supporting the mechanism at its lower end, a vertical movement mechanism for imparting a vertical motion to the base member, an advancing and retracting mechanism for rockably driving the massage mechanism, and a rock restricting mechanism for an adjusting an angle of rotation of the massage mechanism so that, when the device is in an upper position, an upper end of the massage member protrudes forward, whereas, in a lower position, a lower end thereof protrudes forward.

Abstract: The back kneading device mounted in the chair-type massage apparatus comprises: the massage mechanism including paired right-hand and left-hand massage members having the treatment element for massage and the driving section for transmitting massage action to the massage member; the base member for supporting the massage mechanism, with the massage member pointing forward; the vertical movement mechanism for moving the base member in the vertical direction in the backrest; and the protruding-amount varying mechanism for moving the massage member so that protrusion amount of the treatment element in the front-rear direction can be varied.

Abstract: A massage chair with a foot massaging device, which includes a seat unit, a backrest unit, and the foot massaging device located at a front portion of the seat unit, can make the structure simpler, the weight lighter, and the cost lower all at once. The massage chair is provided under the seat unit 2 with a back-and-forth motion mechanism 15 joined to the foot massaging device 5, and when the back-and-forth motion mechanism 15 protrudes forward, the foot massaging device 5 advances to a using position U which is located in front of the seat unit 2 and at which a lower leg of a user can be massaged, while when the back-and-forth motion mechanism 15 retracts backward, the foot massaging device 5 is housed in a housing position P formed under the seat unit 2.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cradle apparatus including: a cradle housing; a tray provided on the cradle housing and configured to receive an electronic apparatus placed thereon; a connector supporting portion provided for tilting motion on the tray; a connector supported on the connector supporting portion and configured to be electrically connected to the electronic apparatus; and a lever adapted to contact with a bottom face of the electronic apparatus connected to the connector and operate in response to the tilting motion of the connector supporting portion to push up the electronic apparatus.

Abstract: An audio output device includes: a housing; a speaker provided in the housing; and a support part which is provided in a floating state in the housing and supports an electronic apparatus.

Abstract: In a chair-type massaging machine, when using a leg massaging device or when used as merely a chair or a sofa, it is made possible for a user to take a relaxed posture such as stretching legs forward. The leg massaging device provided in the chair-type massaging machine of the present invention is provided with an advancing and retreating mechanism. The advancing and retreating mechanism allows the leg massaging device to advance and retreat between a zero position in which the treating surface of the leg massaging device hangs down at the front end of the seat section and a second massaging position in which the treating surface is kept substantially horizontal in a massaging mode time.

Abstract: The chair-type massage apparatus is characterized in that, when placed with its back facing a room wall, it can be located near the wall and, when its seat is made movable back-and-forth, the leg kneading device mounted at the front of the seat can be used without being obstructed by the back-and-forth movement. The chair-type massage apparatus 1 comprises the seat 2, the base frame 6, and the backrest 3 reclinably mounted at the rear of the seat. During reclining, the upper end of the backrest moves vertically along one vertical line. The leg kneading device is mounted at the front of the seat. The base frame has the seat moving mechanism 15 for moving the seat at least in the front-rear direction, and the seat has the position changing mechanism 16 for effecting positional change of the leg kneading device relative to the seat while maintaining the relative distance.

Abstract: A thermal dye sublimation printer to which an ink ribbon cassette having a function of transmitting and receiving data via wireless communication with a printer main body is attached, is disclosed. The thermal dye sublimation printer includes: communication means that transmits and receives data via wireless communication with an ink ribbon cassette; and control means that acquires management information of the ink ribbon cassette stored in the ink ribbon cassette side via the communication means and controls printing processing based on the acquired management information.

Abstract: Fuel cells 100 of the invention are operable at a temperature of about 500° C. The unit cell has a solid oxide electrolyte layer formed on a hydrogen separable metal layer. An anode has a catalyst supported thereon to accelerate a reforming reaction of methane. A fuel gas is produced by reforming a hydrocarbon-containing material in a reformer 20. Setting a lower reaction temperature enables production of the fuel gas containing both methane and hydrogen. In the fuel cells 100 receiving a supply of the fuel gas, the reforming reaction of methane contained in the fuel gas proceeds simultaneously with consumption of hydrogen contained in the fuel gas. This methane reforming reaction is endothermic to absorb heat produced in the process of power generation and thereby equalizes the operation temperature of the fuel cells 100.

Abstract: In a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, a groove (cathode-side gas flow path) in a cathode-side separator, and a groove (anode-side gas flow path) in an anode-side separator are formed such that air and hydrogen flow in a direction opposite to the direction of gravity. A surface treatment may applied to the surface of the grooves such that the hydrophilicity is higher on the downstream side than on the upstream side in the grooves.