Abstract: A pressure wave-generating device having a support and a heating element film that is disposed over the support and that is configured to generate heat by energization, and the heating element film has a porous metal structure.

Abstract: A pressure wave-generating device having a support and a heating element film that is disposed over the support and that is configured to generate heat by energization, and the heating element film has a porous metal structure.

Abstract: A golf club head with a hollow comprises a face portion whose front face defines a clubface for hitting a ball, the face portion comprising a central thicker portion provided in a center region thereof and a peripheral thinner portion provided around the central thicker portion and with a thickness smaller than that of the central thicker portion, the inner surface of the peripheral thinner portion comprising a first region and a second region, the first region being provided with a plurality of first grooves which extend straightly in a certain direction, and the second region being provided with a plurality of second grooves which extend straightly in the different direction of first grooves.

Abstract: A golf club head with a hollow comprises a face portion whose front face defines a clubface for hitting a ball, the face portion comprising a central thicker portion provided in a center region thereof and a peripheral thinner portion provided around the central thicker portion and with a thickness smaller than that of the central thicker portion, the inner surface of the peripheral thinner portion comprising a first region and a second region, the first region being provided with a plurality of first grooves which extend straightly in a certain direction, and the second region being provided with a plurality of second grooves which extend straightly in the different direction of first grooves.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BamTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3, wherein part of Ba constituting the A site is replaced with Na, Bi, Ca, and a rare-earth element having an ionic radius smaller than that of the Na; the content of the rare-earth element when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.0005 to 0.015 on a molar basis; and the content of the Ca when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.05 to 0.20 (preferably 0.125 or more and 0.175 or less) on a molar basis. A PTC thermistor includes a component body 1 formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Accordingly, high reliability is achieved even if an alkali metal element is present.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BamTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3. The molar ratio m between the A site and the B site satisfies 1.001?m?1.01. Part of Ba constituting the A site is replaced with Bi, Ca, a rare-earth element, and Na. The molar content of the Ca when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.05 to 0.20 (preferably 0.125 to 0.175). A PTC thermistor includes a component body formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Accordingly, there is provided a lead-free semiconductor ceramic that substantially does not contain lead and that has desired PTC characteristics and high reliability.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BamTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3. Part of Ba constituting an A site is replaced with at least an alkali metal element, Bi, and a rare-earth element, and the molar ratio m between the A site and a B site is 0.990?m?0.999 (preferably 0.990?m?0.995). Preferably, part of the Ba is replaced with Ca, and the content of the Ca when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.042 to 0.20 (preferably 0.125 to 0.175) on a molar basis. A PTC thermistor includes a component body formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Accordingly, there are provided satisfactory rise characteristics even if an alkali metal element is present.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BaTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3. Part of the A site Ba is replaced with an alkali metal element, Bi, Ca, Sr, and a rare-earth element. When the molar amounts of Ca and Sr are x and y, respectively, and the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole, 0.05?x?0.20, 0.02?y?0.12, and 2x+5y?0.7. A PTC thermistor includes a component body formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Even when an alkali metal element and Bi are present, there is provided a lead-free semiconductor ceramic with high reliability in which the surface discoloration is not caused and the degradation of resistance over time can be suppressed even after the application of an electric current for a long time.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BamTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3, wherein part of Ba constituting the A site is replaced with Na, Bi, Ca, and a rare-earth element having an ionic radius smaller than that of the Na; the content of the rare-earth element when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.0005 to 0.015 on a molar basis; and the content of the Ca when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.05 to 0.20 (preferably 0.125 or more and 0.175 or less) on a molar basis. A PTC thermistor includes a component body 1 formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Accordingly, high reliability is achieved even if an alkali metal element is present.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BamTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3. The molar ratio m between the A site and the B site satisfies 1.001?m?1.01. Part of Ba constituting the A site is replaced with Bi, Ca, a rare-earth element, and Na. The molar content of the Ca when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.05 to 0.20 (preferably 0.125 to 0.175). A PTC thermistor includes a component body formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Accordingly, there is provided a lead-free semiconductor ceramic that substantially does not contain lead and that has desired PTC characteristics and high reliability.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BamTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3. Part of Ba constituting an A site is replaced with at least an alkali metal element, Bi, and a rare-earth element, and the molar ratio m between the A site and a B site is 0.990?m?0.999 (preferably 0.990?m?0.995). Preferably, part of the Ba is replaced with Ca, and the content of the Ca when the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole is 0.042 to 0.20 (preferably 0.125 to 0.175) on a molar basis. A PTC thermistor includes a component body formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Accordingly, there are provided satisfactory rise characteristics even if an alkali metal element is present.

Abstract: A semiconductor ceramic includes a BaTiO3-based composition, as a main component, having a perovskite structure represented by general formula AmBO3. Part of the A site Ba is replaced with an alkali metal element, Bi, Ca, Sr, and a rare-earth element. When the molar amounts of Ca and Sr are x and y, respectively, and the total number of moles of the elements constituting the A site is 1 mole, 0.05?x?0.20, 0.02?y?0.12, and 2x+5y?0.7. A PTC thermistor includes a component body formed of the semiconductor ceramic. Even when an alkali metal element and Bi are present, there is provided a lead-free semiconductor ceramic with high reliability in which the surface discoloration is not caused and the degradation of resistance over time can be suppressed even after the application of an electric current for a long time.

Abstract: The inverter device includes an inverse conversion circuit which converts a supplied direct-current electricity into a alternating-current electricity having a predetermined frequency, and is designed to drive a motor for a rotary machine, at various speeds, in which the switching control of the inverse conversion circuit is performed by a digital processor. In this inverter device, a timer interrupt process having an independent constant processing cycle which is not directly related to the processing cycle of the system control in the digital processor is assigned. In the timer interrupt process, whether or not switching of the inverse conversion circuit is required is determined, and the switching control is carried out on the basis of the determination.

Abstract: A NOx absorbent (18) is disposed in an exhaust passage (17) of an internal combustion engine (1), and a control circuit (30) is provided for controlling the amount of fuel injection into the engine (1). The control circuit 30 works to operate the engine at a rich air-fuel ratio by increasing the amount of fuel supply to the engine so that NOx absorbed by the NOx absorbent when the engine was last stopped is released in all amounts and is purified by reduction after the start of the engine until the engine is first operated at a lean air-fuel ratio. This prevents the release of unpurified NOx from the NOx absorbent (18) at the start of the engine. The operation at a lean air-fuel ratio is assumed in a state where almost no NOx has been absorbed by the NOx absorbent (18), enabling the absorbing capacity of the NOx absorbent to be utilized to the maximum degree.

Abstract: The inverter device includes an inverse conversion circuit which converts a supplied direct-current electricity into a alternating-current electricity having a predetermined frequency, and is designed to drive a motor for a rotary machine, at various speeds, in which the switching control of the inverse conversion circuit is performed by a digital processor. In this inverter device, a timer interrupt process having an independent constant processing cycle which is not directly related to the processing cycle of the system control in the digital processor is assigned. In the timer interrupt process, whether or not switching of the inverse conversion circuit is required is determined, and the switching control is carried out on the basis of the determination.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a mixture of sulfurized alkaline earth metal salts of a salicylic acid compound and a phenol which comprises reacting either a mixture of reactants comprising a phenol, a dihydric alcohol, and an alkaline earth metal oxide and/or hydroxide or a mixture of these reactants and water, subsequently distilling off water and the dihydric alcohol, reacting the resulting bottom with carbon dioxide, and then adding a dihydric alcohol and elemental sulfur to the resulting reaction product to conduct sulfurization reaction.

Abstract: An engine comprising an exhaust passage having therein a NO.sub.x absorbent which absorbs the NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent is lean and releases the absorbed NO.sub.x when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NO.sub.x absorbent becomes the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio or rich. A sulphur trapping device for trapping SO.sub.x contained in the exhaust gas is arranged in the exhaust passage upstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process for producing an over-based sulfurized alkaline earth metal phenate which comprises reacting either a mixture of reaction materials comprising a phenol, a dihydric alcohol, an alkaline earth metal reagent which is an alkaline earth metal oxide or hydroxide or a mixture of both, and sulfur or a mixture of these reaction materials with water, distilling off an excess amount of the dihydric alcohol and at least excess amount of water, and subsequently treating the resulting distillation residue with carbon dioxide, wherein the carbon dioxide treatment is carried out (A) in the presence of 0.001 to 0.7 mol of a fatty acid or a fatty amine per 1 mol of the alkaline earth metal reagent and (B) in the presence of either (i) 0.01 to 0.9 mol of water per 1 mol of the alkaline earth metal reagent or (ii) 0.05 to 5.

Abstract: An NOx absorbent is installed in an exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine capable of fuel combustion at lean air-fuel ratios. An oxygen concentration is repeatedly or continuously decreased by, for example, switching the air-fuel from the lean air-fuel ratio to a stoichiometric or rich air fuel ratio when the exhaust gas temperature is higher than 550.degree. C. or when NOx absorbent temperature is higher than 500.degree. C. As a result, the SOx absorbed in the NOx absorbent during lean air-fuel ratio, low temperature operation is released from the NOx absorbent, and the SOx-poisoned NOx absorbent is recovered.

Abstract: A process for producing an over-based sulfurized alkaline earth metal phenate type detergent, which comprises reacting a phenol and a dihydric alcohol with an alkaline earth metal reagent to carry out a metal addition reaction, and reacting sulfur therewith to carry out a sulfurization reaction, and then reacting carbon dioxide therewith to carry out a carbon dioxide treatment, characterized in that the metal addition reaction and the sulfurization reaction are carried out under pressure and closed conditions. The sulfurization reaction may be carried out simultaneously with the metal addition reaction, or, alternatively, with the carbon dioxide treatment after the metal addition reaction. Furthermore, the sulfurization reaction may be carried out between the metal addition reaction and the carbon dioxide treatment.