Abstract: A radio communication device and multifunction device are provided. The radio communication device includes a radio communicating unit which receives data according to a radio communication method using one of a plurality of radio channels provided in a frequency band and changes the radio channel according to a period; a data processing unit which performs processing using the data; a communication status determining unit which determines, for each channel, whether a communication status of the radio channel is good; a ratio changing unit which changes a ratio of setting a good channel whose communication status is determined as good, and a ratio of setting a not-good channel whose communication status is determined as not-good; and a setting unit which sets either the good channel or the not-good channel as the radio channel in the radio communication method according to the ratios changed by the ratio changing unit.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a piezoelectric element that includes a piezoelectric ceramic body containing an internal electrode. The piezoelectric ceramic body is mainly made of a perovskite complex oxide containing an alkali metal niobate-based compound containing at least one element selected from among K, Li, and Na. The internal electrode is made of a base metal material, such as Ni or Cu. The piezoelectric element is produced by co-sintering the internal electrode and the piezoelectric ceramic body in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a main body and a display unit with a touch panel. The display control apparatus further includes a memory that stores a plurality of detection condition parameters for detecting a touch operation to the touch panel. The plurality of detection condition parameters are corresponding to each of a plurality of locations or a plurality of orientations of the touch panel. The display control apparatus further includes a state detector that detects a current location or a current orientation of the touch panel. The display control apparatus still further includes a condition selector that selects one of the plurality of detection condition parameters corresponding to the current location or the current orientation. Moreover, the display control apparatus includes a touch determiner that determines a touch to the touch panel by using the selected one of the plurality of detection condition parameters.

Abstract: An input device including a frame in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped body which is supported by a base and which is movable between a first angular position in which an angle of a lower surface of the frame with respect to a horizontal upper surface of the base is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and a second angular position in which the angle of the lower surface of the frame as seen in the first angular position with respect to the horizontal upper surface of the base is not smaller than the threshold value, a first input portion disposed on an upper surface of the frame as seen when the frame has a horizontal posture in the first angular position, in which a lower surface of the frame is parallel to the horizontal upper surface of the base, a second input portion disposed on a side surface of the frame as seen when the frame has the horizontal posture; and a detecting portion configured to detect an operation by an operator of the input device on at least one of the first and second

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a main component represented by general formula {(Pb1-x-yCaxSry) {Ti1-z(Ni1/3Nb2/3)z}O3}, wherein 0?x?0.2 (preferably 0?x?0.15), 0?y?0.2 (preferably 0?y?0.1), 0.05?x+y?0.2, and 0.02?z?0.1. Furthermore, a Mn component is preferably present in an amount of 1.0 part by weight or less (excluding zero) (more preferably 0.05 to 1.0 part by weight) in terms of MnCO3 with respect to 100 parts by weight of the main component. A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric ceramic body composed of this piezoelectric ceramic composition. Firing can be performed at a low temperature of about 1,100° C. The piezoelectric element has a high Curie point Tc, can withstand solder reflow treatment, and achieves satisfactory piezoelectric properties.

Abstract: A main feedback control based on an output of an upstream sensor, and a sub-feedback control based on an output of a downstream sensor are executed. A specified fuel disturbance is inputted and an output of the downstream sensor is measured to derive a characteristic value. Based on the characteristic value, it is determined whether a purifying capacity of the exhaust gas purifying system including the catalyst, the upstream sensor, and the downstream sensor is deteriorated.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition contains main components represented by a general formula of [(Pb1-x-yCaxSry){Ti1-z(Zn1/2W1/2)z}O3], and x, y, and z satisfy 0?x?0.2 (preferably 0?x?0.15), 0?y?0.2 (preferably 0?y?0.1), 0.1?x+y?0.2, and 0.04?z?0.1. It is also preferable that the piezoelectric ceramic composition contains 0.05 weight part to 1.0 weight part of a Mn component calculated in terms of MnCO3 with respect to 100 weight parts of the main component. A piezoelectric part includes a piezoelectric ceramic element that is formed by the piezoelectric ceramic composition. It is thereby possible to realize a piezoelectric ceramic composition that can be fired at low temperature, that has a high Curie point Tc resistant to a reflow heating treatment on a lead-free solder, and that exhibits satisfactory piezoelectricity, and a piezoelectric part using this piezoelectric ceramic composition.

Abstract: A computer simulates a relationship between a fuel-rate of fuel which collides with the cavity of the piston and the fuel injection timing, and/or the relationship between the fuel-rate of fuel which collide with the cylinder inner wall and the fuel injection timing. A range of the fuel injection timing in which the combustion state is stable is computed based on the simulation results. This range of fuel injection timing may be defined as the measuring range in which the measure points are arranged. Furthermore, the fuel injection timing is varied gradually around an upper and lower limit values of the measuring range and the engine torque is measured. The measuring range is corrected so that the combustion state becomes stable.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the invention is operable in a first mode in which a first unit group comprising at least one of a plurality of functional units is activated and a second mode in which a second unit group comprising at least one of the plurality of functional units is activated. In the first mode, a control unit is operable to: activate a first power source circuit; input a first voltage to a third power source circuit; and supply an operation voltage converted by the third power source circuit to the first unit group. In the second mode, the control unit is operable to: activate a second power source circuit and deactivate the first power source circuit; and supply a second voltage output from the second power source circuit to the second unit group without intervention of the third power source circuit.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic whose resonance frequency temperature characteristic can be easily adjusted is provided. It contains first and second parts (11 and 12) which can be alternately stacked layers. The first and second parts (11 and 12) are each composed of a compound having a bismuth layer structure, such as a complex oxide containing at least Sr, Bi, and Nb, and have degrees of c-axis orientation different from each other. Since the resonance frequency temperature characteristics change according to the degree of orientation, the first and second parts (11 and 12) having different degrees of orientation are appropriately combined so that the resonance frequency temperature characteristics of the piezoelectric ceramic (2) as a whole is easily adjusted.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric ceramic body containing an internal electrode. The piezoelectric ceramic body is mainly made of a perovskite complex oxide containing an alkali metal niobate-based compound containing at least one element selected from among K, Li, and Na. The internal electrode is made of a base metal material, such as Ni or Cu. The piezoelectric element is produced by co-sintering the internal electrode and the piezoelectric ceramic body. Thus, there is provided an inexpensive piezoelectric element that can be properly used in practice even though it has been fired in a reducing atmosphere.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition contains main components represented by a general formula of [(Pb1-x-yCaxSry){Ti1-z(Zn1/2W1/2)z}O3], and x, y, and z satisfy 0?x?0.2 (preferably 0?x?0.15), 0?y?0.2 (preferably 0?y?0.1), 0.1?x+y?0.2, and 0.04?z?0.1. It is also preferable that the piezoelectric ceramic composition contains 0.05 weight part to 1.0 weight part of a Mn component calculated in terms of MnCO3 with respect to 100 weight parts of the main component. A piezoelectric part includes a piezoelectric ceramic element that is formed by the piezoelectric ceramic composition. It is thereby possible to realize a piezoelectric ceramic composition that can be fired at low temperature, that has a high Curie point Tc resistant to a reflow heating treatment on a lead-free solder, and that exhibits satisfactory piezoelectricity, and a piezoelectric part using this piezoelectric ceramic composition.

Abstract: An input device including a frame in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped body which is supported by a base and which is movable between a first angular position in which an angle of a lower surface of the frame with respect to a horizontal upper surface of the base is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, and a second angular position in which the angle of the lower surface of the frame as seen in the first angular position with respect to the horizontal upper surface of the base is not smaller than the threshold value, a first input portion disposed on an upper surface of the frame as seen when the frame has a horizontal posture in the first angular position, in which a lower surface of the frame is parallel to the horizontal upper surface of the base, a second input portion disposed on a side surface of the frame as seen when the frame has the horizontal posture; and a detecting portion configured to detect an operation by an operator of the input device on at least one of the first and second

Abstract: Anisotropically shaped ceramic particles are represented by the general formula {(K1?x?yNaxLiy)4(Nb1?zTaz)6O17+aMeOb} (where Me is at least one element selected from the group consisting of antimony, copper, manganese, vanadium, silicon, titanium, and tungsten; and b is a positive number determined by the valence of Me), where x, y, z, and a satisfy 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.3, 0?z?0.3, and 0.001?a?0.1, respectively. The anisotropically shaped ceramic particles have a plate-like shape. The average particle size is 1 to 100 ?m, and the ratio D/t of the maximum diameter D of a main surface to the thickness t in a direction perpendicular to the main surface is 2 or more, preferably 5 or more. Thus, anisotropically shaped ceramic particles suitable as a reactive template for preparing a crystal-oriented alkali metal niobate-based ceramic can be produced at relatively low production costs without the need for a complicated production process.

Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a main body and a display unit with a touch panel. The display control apparatus further includes a memory that stores a plurality of detection condition parameters for detecting a touch operation to the touch panel. The plurality of detection condition parameters are corresponding to each of a plurality of locations or a plurality of orientations of the touch panel. The display control apparatus further includes a state detector that detects a current location or a current orientation of the touch panel. The display control apparatus still further includes a condition selector that selects one of the plurality of detection condition parameters corresponding to the current location or the current orientation. Moreover, the display control apparatus includes a touch determiner that determines a touch to the touch panel by using the selected one of the plurality of detection condition parameters.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a main component represented by general formula {(Pb1-x-yCaxSry) {Ti1-z(Ni1/3Nb2/3)z}O3}, wherein 0?x?0.2 (preferably 0?x?0.15), 0?y?0.2 (preferably 0?y?0.1), 0.05?x+y?0.2, and 0.02?z?0.1. Furthermore, a Mn component is preferably present in an amount of 1.0 part by weight or less (excluding zero) (more preferably 0.05 to 1.0 part by weight) in terms of MnCO3 with respect to 100 parts by weight of the main component. A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric ceramic body composed of this piezoelectric ceramic composition. Firing can be performed at a low temperature of about 1,100° C. The piezoelectric element has a high Curie point Tc, can withstand solder reflow treatment, and achieves satisfactory piezoelectric properties.

Abstract: A radio communication device and multifunction device are provided. The radio communication device includes a radio communicating unit which receives data according to a radio communication method using one of a plurality of radio channels provided in a frequency band and changes the radio channel according to a period; a data processing unit which performs processing using the data; a communication status determining unit which determines, for each channel, whether a communication status of the radio channel is good; a ratio changing unit which changes a ratio of setting a good channel whose communication status is determined as good, and a ratio of setting a not-good channel whose communication status is determined as not-good; and a setting unit which sets either the good channel or the not-good channel as the radio channel in the radio communication method according to the ratios changed by the ratio changing unit.

Abstract: A piezoelectric ceramic composition includes a bismuth layer compound containing at least Sr, Bi and Nb, e.g., (Sr0.9Nd0.1)Bi2Nb2O9, as a main component and 2 parts by weight or less (excluding 0 part by weight), preferably 0.04 part by weight to 0.5 part by weight, of Cu in terms of CuO relative to 100 parts by weight of the main component. From the viewpoint of improvement in sinterability, 0.1 part by weight to 2 parts by weight of Mn in terms of MnCO3 relative to 100 parts by weight of the main component is preferably contained. As a result, it is possible to obtain a piezoelectric ceramic composition resisting no deterioration in piezoelectricity even when a rapid temperature change occurs, and an advantageous piezoelectric component, such as a piezoelectric actuator or a piezoelectric resonator, manufactured using the piezoelectric ceramic composition.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit (LSI) in which control information for determining a voltage or a width of a pulse produced itself can easily be set in parallel with other LSIs, and set information can be corrected easily. From an external evaluation device, a voltage of an expected value is supplied in overlapping manner to a plurality of LSIs each having a CPU and a flash memory. Each LSI incorporates a comparison circuit comparing an expected voltage value and a boosted voltage generated in itself. The CPU refers to a comparison result and optimizes control data in a data register for changing a boosted voltage. The CPU controls the comparison circuit and the data register and performs trimming in a self-completion manner, thereby making, trimming on a plurality of LSIs easily in a parallel manner and a total test time reduced.

Abstract: Anisotropically shaped ceramic particles are represented by the general formula {(K1-x-yNaxLiy)4(Nb1-zTaz)6O17+aMeOb} (where Me is at least one element selected from the group consisting of antimony, copper, manganese, vanadium, silicon, titanium, and tungsten; and b is a positive number determined by the valence of Me), where x, y, z, and a satisfy 0?x?0.5, 0?y?0.3, 0?z?0.3, and 0.001?a?0.1, respectively. The anisotropically shaped ceramic particles have a plate-like shape. The average particle size is 1 to 100 ?m, and the ratio D/t of the maximum diameter D of a main surface to the thickness t in a direction perpendicular to the main surface is 2 or more, preferably 5 or more. Thus, anisotropically shaped ceramic particles suitable as a reactive template for preparing a crystal-oriented alkali metal niobate-based ceramic can be produced at relatively low production costs without the need for a complicated production process.