Abstract: Disclosed is a gas-diffusion layer used for fuel cells, including: a porous material that includes as main ingredients conductive particles and a polymer resin, wherein said gas-diffusion layer internally possesses pores with a size from 0.01 ?m to 0.05 ?m, and hollows with a size from 1 ?m to 200 ?m. Further disclosed is a process for producing a gas-diffusion layer used for fuel cells, including: (i) kneading conductive particles, a polymer resin, a pore-forming agent, a surfactant, and a dispersion solvent; (ii) rolling the mixture obtained in Step (i) to shape said mixture into a sheet; (iii) baking the sheet-shaped mixture to sublime the pore-forming agent, thereby forming hollows therein, and to remove the surfactant and the dispersion solvent; and (iv) further rolling the baked mixture to adjust a thickness of the baked mixture.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a comparator circuit, a solid-state imaging apparatus, and an electronic device which enable to improve a frame rate. A comparator compares an analog signal with a reference signal, an amplification stage amplifies output of a comparing unit and has different output change speeds in normal rotation and in reverse rotation, and a switch circuit fixes an input node or an output node of the amplification stage to a predetermined voltage in a predetermined period before a comparing operation by the comparator so that the amplification stage operates in a change direction having a higher output change speed. The present technology can be applied to a comparator circuit provided to an A/D converter of a CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: Region guidance systems and programs obtain a spot with which guidance information is associated. When there are a plurality of the spots in a region whose boundary is defined, the systems an programs provide guidance on the guidance information associated with one of the spots selected based on a position of an entry spot to the region.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a comparator circuit, a solid-state imaging apparatus, and an electronic device which enable to improve a frame rate. A comparator compares an analog signal with a reference signal, an amplification stage amplifies output of a comparing unit and has different output change speeds in normal rotation and in reverse rotation, and a switch circuit fixes an input node or an output node of the amplification stage to a predetermined voltage in a predetermined period before a comparing operation by the comparator so that the amplification stage operates in a change direction having a higher output change speed. The present technology can be applied to a comparator circuit provided to an A/D converter of a CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: There is provided an in-vehicle device, which is mounted in a vehicle, that receives, from a center device, a traveling route of the vehicle searched for by the center device in response to a request from the in-vehicle device and guides regarding the received traveling route of the vehicle, the in-vehicle device including a calculation unit that calculates a response waiting time during which the in-vehicle device is able to wait from the request until the guidance regarding the traveling route of the vehicle, a determination unit that determines whether to update the traveling route of the vehicle based on the response waiting time calculated by the calculation unit and an update unit that updates the traveling route of the vehicle based on a determination result of the determination unit.

Abstract: A mobile communication system of an overlay configuration includes small cells that are arranged in a macro cell, in which a base station of each small cell executes shifting to a standby state in which transmission power is turned off when a mobile terminal is not in the small cell, and measuring a quality of radio waves received from the mobile terminal that is present in the macro cell, and reporting a measurement result to a base station control device, and the base station control device executes selecting one of the small cells in which the mobile terminal is to be contained, based on the measurement results reported from the base stations of the small cells, and instructing the base station of the selected small cell to shift to a communication state in which the transmission power is turned on.

Abstract: A network element serves as a first network element, monitors communication with a monitor apparatus to monitor the state of the monitor apparatus, and controls the setting of monitor connection with one or more second network elements which are communicably connected to the first network element and the setting of monitor connection between the second network elements and the monitor apparatus, according to the monitor result.

Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a front side member, a crush box, a bumper reinforcement, a spacer and a stepped portion. The spacer has an engaging portion and protrudes rearward in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle from an extending portion formed outside in a width direction of the vehicle relative to a connected portion of the bumper reinforcement, the connected portion being connected to the crush box. The stepped portion is formed on a part of a side wall portion of the front side member. The stepped portion is provided behind the engaging portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle apart from the engaging portion. The stepped portion is configured to engage with the engaging portion when the crush box is deformed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a comparator circuit, a solid-state imaging apparatus, and an electronic device which enable to improve a frame rate. A comparator compares an analog signal with a reference signal, an amplification stage amplifies output of a comparing unit and has different output change speeds in normal rotation and in reverse rotation, and a switch circuit fixes an input node or an output node of the amplification stage to a predetermined voltage in a predetermined period before a comparing operation by the comparator so that the amplification stage operates in a change direction having a higher output change speed. The present technology can be applied to a comparator circuit provided to an A/D converter of a CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: The invention provides a crystalline polyester resin obtained by condensation polymerization of a mixture comprising a polycarboxylic acid component and a polyol component, present in a range such that the ratio of the number of carboxyl groups from the polycarboxylic acid component and the number of hydroxyl groups from the polyol component is in the range of 100:108 to 100:120, and having an acid value of 5 to 20 mgKOH/g, wherein the polycarboxylic acid component includes a C8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, the content ratio of carboxyl groups from the C8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is at least 90 mol % of the total amount of carboxyl groups from the polycarboxylic acid component, the polyol component includes a C8-12 aliphatic diol, and the content ratio of hydroxyl groups from the C8-12 aliphatic diol is at least 90 mol % of the total amount of hydroxyl groups from the polyol component.

Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes a front side member, a crush box, a bumper reinforcement, a spacer and a stepped portion. The spacer has an engaging portion and protrudes rearward in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle from an extending portion formed outside in a width direction of the vehicle relative to a connected portion of the bumper reinforcement, the connected portion being connected to the crush box. The stepped portion is formed on a part of a side wall portion of the front side member. The stepped portion is provided behind the engaging portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle apart from the engaging portion. The stepped portion is configured to engage with the engaging portion when the crush box is deformed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: An amorphous polyester resin of the invention is obtained by reaction between a polyester resin (A), obtained by reaction between a polyhydric alcohol component and a first poly-carboxylic acid component, either or both including a 3 or higher valent component, and having a weight-average molecular weight of 6,000 to 40,000 and a hydroxyl value of 15 to 70 mgKOH/g, and a second poly-carboxylic acid component (a), under conditions satisfying the following equations (1), (2) and (3), and the amorphous polyester resin satisfying the following equation (4). (AVB?AVA)/AVa=0.5-0.7??(1) MwB/MwA=1.1-2.0??(2) OHVB/AVB=1.0-6.0??(3) MwB/MnB=3.0-15.

Abstract: There is provided a charging device including: a discharge electrode extending in a first direction; and a cleaning member configured to move in the first direction to clean the discharge electrode. The cleaning member includes a rigid member in contact with the discharge electrode, and a cushion member supporting the rigid member. The cushion member is positioned opposite to the discharge electrode with respect to the rigid member.

Abstract: The invention provides a crystalline polyester resin obtained by condensation polymerization of a mixture comprising a polycarboxylic acid component and a polyol component, present in a range such that the ratio of the number of carboxyl groups from the polycarboxylic acid component and the number of hydroxyl groups from the polyol component is in the range of 100:108 to 100:120, and having an acid value of 5 to 20 mgKOH/g, wherein the polycarboxylic acid component includes a C8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid, the content ratio of carboxyl groups from the C8-12 aliphatic dicarboxylic acid is at least 90 mol % of the total amount of carboxyl groups from the polycarboxylic acid component, the polyol component includes a C8-12 aliphatic diol, and the content ratio of hydroxyl groups from the C8-12 aliphatic diol is at least 90 mol % of the total amount of hydroxyl groups from the polyol component.

Abstract: A network element serves as a first network element, monitors communication with a monitor apparatus to monitor the state of the monitor apparatus, and controls the setting of monitor connection with one or more second network elements which are communicably connected to the first network element and the setting of monitor connection between the second network elements and the monitor apparatus, according to the monitor result.

Abstract: A braking apparatus main body has: a movable body; and an electromagnetic actuator that displaces the movable body in a direction of contact with and separation from a rotating body that is rotated relative to a hoisting machine main body. An adjusting collar is screwed into an adjusting threaded aperture disposed on the electromagnetic actuator. The adjusting collar is disposed between the hoisting machine main body and the electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator is mounted to the hoisting machine main body by a mounting device in a state in which the hoisting machine main body bears the adjusting collar. A position of the braking apparatus main body relative to the hoisting machine main body is adjusted in a direction in which a distance between the electromagnetic actuator and the rotating body changes by adjusting an amount of thread engagement of the adjusting collar in the adjusting threaded aperture.

Abstract: A mobile communication system of an overlay configuration includes small cells that are arranged in a macro cell, in which a base station of each small cell executes shifting to a standby state in which transmission power is turned off when a mobile terminal is not in the small cell, and measuring a quality of radio waves received from the mobile terminal that is present in the macro cell, and reporting a measurement result to a base station control device, and the base station control device executes selecting one of the small cells in which the mobile terminal is to be contained, based on the measurement results reported from the base stations of the small cells, and instructing the base station of the selected small cell to shift to a communication state in which the transmission power is turned on.

Abstract: There is provided a mobile communication system, a base station, and a method of controlling cell coverage that is capable of operating a mobile communication system such that the cell coverage is maintained approximately and timely at a target level without requiring much labor. In this mobile communication system, a mobile station reports to the base station the position information of the mobile station and the value of reception power of reference signal from the base station. The base station obtains the measured cell coverage as a result of measurement of cell coverage based on the position information and the value of reception power from the mobile stations, and controls at least one of plural parameters including transmission power to the mobile stations, tilt angle of antenna, etc., so as to minimize deviation of the measured cell coverage from the target cell coverage.

Abstract: There is provided a charging device including: a discharge electrode extending in a first direction; and a cleaning member configured to move in the first direction to clean the discharge electrode. The cleaning member includes a rigid member in contact with the discharge electrode, and a cushion member supporting the rigid member. The cushion member is positioned opposite to the discharge electrode with respect to the rigid member.

Abstract: An amorphous polyester resin of the invention is obtained by reaction between a polyester resin (A), obtained by reaction between a polyhydric alcohol component and a first poly-carboxylic acid component, either or both including a 3 or higher valent component, and having a weight-average molecular weight of 6,000 to 40,000 and a hydroxyl value of 15 to 70 mgKOH/g, and a second poly-carboxylic acid component (a), under conditions satisfying the following equations (1), (2) and (3), and the amorphous polyester resin satisfying the following equation (4). (AVB?AVA)/AVa=0.5-0.7??(1) MwB/MwA=1.1-2.0??(2) OHVB/AVB=1.0-6.0??(3) MwB/MnB=3.0-15.