Abstract: An object is to provide a vent plug having a structure in which an air-permeable membrane is unlikely to be damaged. More specifically, a vent plug is produced, which includes: a cylindrical member 1 having a through-hole 1a; a support 2 connected to the cylindrical member 1 so as to be across the through-hole 1a; and an air-permeable membrane 3 circumferentially attached to the cylindrical member 1, wherein the air-permeable membrane 3 is held on the support 2 and a convex portion 3a that follows the shape of the support 2 is formed on the air-permeable membrane 3.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric material layers, individual electrodes corresponding to pressure chambers, a first common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to outer peripheral portions of the pressure chambers, and a second common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to central portions of the individual electrodes. A plurality of first active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the second common constant electric potential electrode, and a plurality of second active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the first common constant electric potential electrode. Since the second common constant electric potential electrode has a mesh-shaped form, it is possible to reduce an impedance thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tie coat which is formed on a surface of a base or an undercoating film prior to formation of an organopolysiloxane-based antifouling coating film and is formed from a moisture-curing organopolysiloxane-based composition comprising (b1) organopolysiloxane having condensing functional groups at both ends of a molecule and/or (b2) a curing composition formed by subjecting the component (b1) and an extender pigment to contact treatment with heating or without heating, as well as a composite coating film including the tie coat.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes first active portions corresponding to center portions in a row direction of pressure chambers and second active portions corresponding to left and right portions on outer peripheral sides which are more outside than the center portions of the pressure chambers. When applying voltage to the first active portions, the first active portions deform to project toward pressure chambers. At this time, the second active portions do not deform and the influence of deformation of the first active portions does not reach the adjacent pressure chambers. Accordingly, effect of suppressing crosstalk is exhibited.

Abstract: An object is to provide a vent plug making liquid unlikely to accumulate therein, while preventing an air-permeable membrane from breaking by means of at least one convex part. The vent plug of the present invention includes a cylindrical member 1 having a through-hole 1a, and an air-permeable membrane 2 attached around the cylindrical member 1, wherein the air-permeable membrane 2 has a circumferential attachment region which is in contact with the cylindrical member 1, and an air-permeable region facing the through-hole 1a, the cylindrical member 1 is provided with at least one convex part 1b which projects beyond the plane including the air-permeable region, and the circumferential attachment region of the air-permeable membrane 2 has a shape following a part or the entire of the convex part 1b.

Abstract: An exhaust chamber (34) for a motorcycle is disposed at a location upstream of a muffler (36) of an exhaust passage (38) leading from a combustion engine (E). The exhaust chamber (34) includes a chamber body (40) having expansion compartments (41, 42, 43) defined therein, a chamber outlet pipe (46) having an outlet passage defined therein for discharging the exhaust gases (G) from the chamber body (40), and an exhaust control valve (72) disposed in the chamber outlet pipe (46) for adjusting the sectional area of the outlet passage inside the chamber outlet pipe (46).

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a waterproof sound-permeable hood having excellent waterproofness and excellent sound permeability. The waterproof sound-permeable hood of the present invention is formed of a waterproof material, which hood includes a waterproof sound-permeable means provided on at least one of portions respectively facing to the ears of a wearer who wears the waterproof material, wherein the waterproof sound-permeable means includes a waterproof sound-permeable membrane having a sound-transmission loss of not greater than 5 db.

Abstract: When a predetermined operation state during idling is set, an ignition timing is set to a basic ignition timing at or following a compression top dead center point, and a temperature rise controlling operation is carried out for injecting fuel prior to the basic ignition timing. Then, a target value of an intake air quantity is set in accordance with an engine request torque that is set when controlling a temperature rise. Thereafter, a limit value of the intake air quantity that is set when controlling the temperature rise is set. When the target value of the intake air quantity is less than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the target value, whereas, when the target value is greater than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the limit value.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is disclosed. The oxide semiconductor layer includes a first area, a second area and a third area forming a well-type potential in the film-thickness direction. The first area forms a well of the well-type potential and has a first electron affinity. The second area is disposed nearer to the gate electrode than the first area and has a second electron affinity smaller than the first electron affinity. The third area is disposed farther from the gate electrode than the first area and has a third electron affinity smaller than the first electron affinity. At least an oxygen concentration at the third area is lower than an oxygen concentration at the first area.

Abstract: To provide a flat lighting device used for a liquid crystal display device and the like that can be made thin and lightweight and produced at low cost, the lighting device of the present invention includes a plurality of surface light emitting plates which are two-dimensionally arranged. Each of the plurality of surface light emitting plates includes a light guide portion and a light source portion provided in an end portion of the light guide portion. The light guide portion and the light source portion are integrally provided. The light source portion of a surface light emitting plate two-dimensionally overlaps with the light guide portion of another surface light emitting plate adjacent thereto, so light having a uniform intensity can be emitted above the plurality of surface light emitting plates.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.

Abstract: To provide a lighting device capable of a substantial color adjustment and unlimited control of spectral components, a lighting device of the present invention puts a first transparent plate in which a phosphor layer dispersed with a first phosphor is formed in places and a second transparent plate in which a phosphor layer dispersed with a second phosphor is formed in places in a path of light from a light source, and stacks the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate on top of each other. The second phosphor differs from the first phosphor. How much in terms of area the phosphor layers overlap with each other is made variable, and the color tone of the lighting device can thus be controlled. The lighting device uses a blue light source as its light source, a green phosphor as the first phosphor, and a red phosphor as the second phosphor.

Abstract: Provided is a lighting device that inputs a light from a light source from a side surface of a light guide body, and outputs the light from an upper surface of the light guide body, in which a recess is formed on a light input surface of a light guide plate so as to face the light source, and a paraboloid extending in a radial pattern in a light output direction from a light output part of the light source is connected to the light input surface. Prisms arranged on a light output surface of the light guide body are disposed up to an area closest to the light source wherever possible. With the above-mentioned configuration, an output of the light of components perpendicular to the light output surface of the light guide body remarkably increases, and brightness of the lighting device can be enhanced without using a prism sheet.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes piezoelectric material layers, individual electrodes corresponding to pressure chambers, a first common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to outer peripheral portions of the pressure chambers, and a second common constant electric potential electrode corresponding to central portions of the individual electrodes. A plurality of first active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the second common constant electric potential electrode, and a plurality of second active portions is formed in areas of the piezoelectric material layers sandwiched between the individual electrodes and the first common constant electric potential electrode. Since the second common constant electric potential electrode has a mesh-shaped form, it is possible to reduce an impedance thereof.

Abstract: In a liquid droplet jetting mode of jetting liquid droplets, a controller controls a piezoelectric actuator to perform a liquid droplet jetting operation in which volume of a pressure chamber is decreased to a decreased volume smaller than a predetermined volume, and then the volume of the pressure chamber is increased to an increased volume greater than the predetermined volume, and the volume of the pressure chamber is again decreased to the decreased volume. On the other hand, in a warm-up mode of heating the liquid in the pressure chamber, the controller controls the piezoelectric actuator to perform at least one of a first warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the increased volume, and a second warm-up operation in which the volume of the pressure chamber is changed repeatedly between the predetermined volume and the decreased volume.

Abstract: In an illuminating device, a plurality of light reflecting portions each including a plurality of prisms adjacent to one another are formed on one of an opposing surface and an exit surface of a light guide plate so as to be spaced apart from one another. Each of the plurality of prisms is in a shape of a triangle in section with one of the opposing surface and the exit surface being a base of the triangle, and is formed so as to protrude therefrom. Light introduced from a light source is reflected by the plurality of prisms to be illuminating light having directivity in a vertical direction. Light which has passed through a prism which is nearer to the light input portion is again taken into the light guide plate by an adjacent prism at a subsequent stage and can be reused.

Abstract: When a predetermined operation state during idling is set, an ignition timing is set to a basic ignition timing at or following a compression top dead center point, and a temperature rise controlling operation is carried out for injecting fuel prior to the basic ignition timing. Then, a target value of an intake air quantity is set in accordance with an engine request torque that is set when controlling a temperature rise. Thereafter, a limit value of the intake air quantity that is set when controlling the temperature rise is set. When the target value of the intake air quantity is less than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the target value, whereas, when the target value is greater than the limit value, the intake air quantity is adjusted so as to become the limit value.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes first active portions corresponding to center portions in a row direction of pressure chambers and second active portions corresponding to left and right portions on outer peripheral sides which are more outside than the center portions of the pressure chambers. When applying voltage to the first active portions, the first active portions deform to project toward pressure chambers. At this time, the second active portions do not deform and the influence of deformation of the first active portions does not reach the adjacent pressure chambers. Accordingly, effect of suppressing crosstalk is exhibited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tie coat which is formed on a surface of a base or an undercoating film prior to formation of an organopolysiloxane-based antifouling coating film and is formed from a moisture-curing organopolysiloxane-based composition comprising (b1) organopolysiloxane having condensing functional groups at both ends of a molecule and/or (b2) a curing composition formed by subjecting the component (b1) and an extender pigment selected from the group consisting of silica, calcium carbonate, talc, mica, clay, kaolin and barium sulfate to contact treatment with heating or without heating. Also disclosed is a composite coating film wherein on a surface of the above tie coat is formed a finish coat formed from a three-pack type organopolysiloxane-based curing composition comprising (c1) a main agent comprising the component (b1), (c2) a curing agent component comprising tetraalkoxysilicate or its condensate and (c3) a curing accelerator component comprising a metallic compound.

Abstract: There is provided an electrostatic chuck. The electrostatic chuck includes: a ceramic base containing alumina and first flux; an electrostatic electrode built in the ceramic base; and a ceramic material containing second flux and provided between the ceramic base and the electrostatic electrode, the ceramic material contacting the ceramic base and the electrostatic electrode. A content rate of the second flux is higher than that of the first flux.