Abstract: A laser welding device for manufacturing a prismatic battery 10 of the invention has a pair of jigs 12A, 12B for securing a prismatic battery outer can B1, a gas supply section for supplying inert gas to welding points of a sealing cover B2 fitted to the prismatic battery outer can B1, and a laser unit 11 for irradiating laser beam. Each of the jigs 12A, 12B is provided with a slit-shaped blower outlet and the blower outlet is positioned below the welding points. The inert gas is supplied to the blower outlet from the gas supply section and is blown from the blower outlet to the welding points from below. The laser welding device for manufacturing a prismatic battery 10 can obtain a laser welding device that welds the sealing cover B2 fitted to the prismatic battery outer can B1 fast, preventing weld droops and allowing uniform welding.

Abstract: Generated water is quickly and surely removed from a generated water discharge face of equipment which discharges generated water. There are provided equipment 12 having a discharge face 11 for discharging generated water, and a diaphragm 14 disposed so as to be face the discharge face 11 of the equipment 12 through a predetermined gap 13. The diaphragm 14 has plural projections 15 projecting into the gap 13, and by vibrating the diaphragm 14, generated water is atomized or vaporized and removed to the outside of the gap 13.

Abstract: Generated water is quickly and surely removed from a fuel cell, and leakage of generated water is prevented. A diaphragm 13 atomizes or vaporizes generated water WL generated from a fuel cell 11 as electrical equipment through holes and removes generated water WF, WG to the outside of a gap when the diaphragm is operated. The holes 15 of the diaphragm 13 are formed of minute pores and thus can store generated water WL in the gap 14 when the diaphragm 13 is not operated.

Abstract: Generated water generated from electrical equipment such as a fuel cell or the like is surely and quickly removed. A generated water removing device 10 has a diaphragm 14 that is disposed so as to face a generated water discharge face 11A of a fuel cell 11 through a predetermined first gap L1, has plural holes 13 for atomizing or vaporizing generated water and feeds generated water to the outside of the first gap L1 through the holes 13, and a heat pipe 17 that has a heat absorber 15 for absorbing heat generated in the fuel cell 11 and a heat radiator 16 disposed so as to face the diaphragm 14 through a predetermined second gap L2, and transfers heat absorbed by the heat absorber 15 to the heat radiator 16 to warm the generated water fed to the outside of the first gap through the holes 13.

Abstract: Fuel cell of this invention generates electricity by supplying fuel fluid to one of a pair of electrodes forming an MEA 1, supplying oxidation fluid to the other electrode, at least one of the fuel and oxidation fluids being gas, comprising a gas supply device transferring the gas along a flow path 10 defined on a surface of the MEA 1 and a drive circuit driving the gas supply device comprising a vibrating plate 4 and a reflection wall on both sides of the flow path 10, and the drive circuit performs a normal operation control generating gas flow from inlet to outlet of the flow path 10 due to sound pressure gradient generated in the flow path 10 by vibrating the vibrating plate 4 and a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating foreign material in the flow path 10 by changing a vibration mode of the vibrating plate 4.

Abstract: A condition monitoring device for monitoring conditions related to a user. A monitor main unit includes a connection structure for detachably attachment to a first sensor unit. The first sensor unit includes a first connector mated with the connection structure of the monitor main unit and a second connector detachably attachable to a second sensor unit. Data associated with the monitored condition detected by the first sensor unit is provided to the monitor main unit via the first connector and the connection structure. Data associated with a monitored condition detected by the second sensor unit is provided to the monitor main unit via the second connector, the first sensor unit, the first connector, and the connection structure.

Abstract: In a self-traveling cleaner of the present invention, a cleaning mechanism includes a brush mechanism rotatable along a floor surface and a driving mechanism for rotatingly driving the brush mechanism. The brush mechanism includes a rotation axis extending perpendicular to the floor surface, one arm projecting laterally from a lower end of the rotation axis, and a brush planted on the arm. The rotation axis is provided within a reverse side of the main body, and the arm has a rotation angle range in which the arm projects outwardly from an outer periphery of the main body and a rotation angle range in which the arm is contained within the outer periphery of the main body.

Abstract: A comfortable environment providing apparatus for controlling at least one comfortable environment creation devices that creates a comfortable environment to provide a user with a comfortable environment. The comfortable environment providing apparatus includes a sensor unit for monitoring a condition related to the user and outputting data representing the monitored condition when carried by the user. A control circuit executes control of the at least one comfortable environment creation devices so that the monitored data approaches comfortable environment reference data quantitatively or numerically indicating a comfortable environment.

Abstract: Provided are a fluid transfer device having higher efficiency than conventional devices and a fuel cell comprising the fluid transfer device. The fluid transfer device according to the present invention comprises a loop-like elastic body 1, at least two piezoelectric elements 3, 3 arranged on the elastic body 1 along a loop direction, and at least one flow path 6 formed along a flat plate part 11 of the elastic body 1. Voltages having phases different from each other are applied to both the piezoelectric elements 3, 3 to generate in the elastic body 1 a flexural wave advancing in the direction of the loop, and this transfers fluid in the flow path 6. The fuel cell according to the present invention comprises an MEA placed in the loop-like elastic body, and a liquid flow path and a gas flow path are formed along the MEA.

Abstract: A laser welding device for manufacturing a prismatic battery 10 of the invention has a pair of jigs 12A, 12B for securing a prismatic battery outer can B1, a gas supply section for supplying inert gas to welding points of a sealing cover B2 fitted to the prismatic battery outer can B1, and a laser unit 11 for irradiating laser beam. Each of the jigs 12A, 12B is provided with a slit-shaped blower outlet and the blower outlet is positioned below the welding points. The inert gas is supplied to the blower outlet from the gas supply section and is blown from the blower outlet to the welding points from below. The laser welding device for manufacturing a prismatic battery 10 can obtain a laser welding device that welds the sealing cover B2 fitted to the prismatic battery outer can B1 fast, preventing weld droops and allowing uniform welding.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device having a simple structure and smaller size than conventional ones is provided. In the fluid transfer device according to the present invention, a vibrating plate 2 is placed facing a predetermined flow path, a flow path forming plate 4 is interposed in the flow path, at least one flow path hole 41 opens on the flow path forming plate 4, a gap is provided between the vibrating plate 2 and the flow path forming plate 4 so that static pressure is generated between the vibrating plate 2 and the flow path forming plate 4 when the vibrating plate 2 is vibrated in an ultrasonic range, and fluid is transferred by the static pressure.

Abstract: Fuel cell of this invention generates electricity by supplying fuel fluid to one of a pair of electrodes forming an MEA 1, supplying oxidation fluid to the other electrode, at least one of the fuel and oxidation fluids being gas, comprising a gas supply device transferring the gas along a flow path 10 defined on a surface of the MEA 1 and a drive circuit driving the gas supply device comprising a vibrating plate 4 and a reflection wall on both sides of the flow path 10, and the drive circuit performs a normal operation control generating gas flow from inlet to outlet of the flow path 10 due to sound pressure gradient generated in the flow path 10 by vibrating the vibrating plate 4 and a foreign material elimination operation control eliminating foreign material in the flow path 10 by changing a vibration mode of the vibrating plate 4.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly 1 in which an oxidant electrode and a fuel electrode are disposed on the respective sides of an electrolyte layer. The fuel cell includes a vibrating plate 32 which generates an acoustic wave, and which is disposed so as to face the oxidant electrode with a flow path 30 for a gas formed between the vibrating plate and the oxidant electrode. The vibrating plate 32 is formed to have at least one hole 34. Moreover, the gas is transferred by acoustic streaming that occurs in the flow path for the gas 30 due to vibration of the vibrating plate 32 and reflection on a surface of the oxidant electrode facing the vibrating plate 32.

Abstract: A modified polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) protected with a protecting group of the present invention is one wherein an amount of high-molecular weight body components of the modified polyvinyl alcohol having a weight-average molecular weight of 250,000 or more as determined by polyethylene glycol standards according to a gel permeation chromatography is 1000 ppm or less in the modified polyvinyl alcohol. The modified PVA is prepared by removing a metal ion and an acid from the modified PVA such as acetalized PVA with ion exchange treatment and then heat-treating at 80° C. or higher. An auxiliary for fine pattern formation of the present invention comprises the aforementioned modified PVA, a water-soluble crosslinking agent, and water or a mixed solvent of water and a water-soluble organic solvent. The auxiliary for fine pattern formation is applied over a resist pattern 3 and a coated layer 4 is formed thereon.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device according to the present invention is intended to cause a fluid to travel along a channel (1). A vibrating plate (3a) for generating an acoustic wave and a reflector (2) for reflecting the acoustic wave face each other at opposite sides of the channel (1) with the channel held therebetween. The fluid is caused to travel by a sound pressure gradient formed in the channel (1) by the vibration of said vibrating plate (3a). A fuel cell according to the present invention includes a membrane electrode assembly (14) with an electrolytic membrane (14a), and an anode (14c) and a cathode (14b) arranged on opposite sides of the electrolytic membrane. The fluid transfer device according to the present invention is used to supply a fluid to the anode (14c) and/or cathode (14b) constituting the membrane electrode assembly (14).

Abstract: A condition monitoring device for monitoring conditions related to a user. A monitor main unit includes a connection structure for detachably attachment to a first sensor unit. The first sensor unit includes a first connector mated with the connection structure of the monitor main unit and a second connector detachably attachable to a second sensor unit. Data associated with the monitored condition detected by the first sensor unit is provided to the monitor main unit via the first connector and the connection structure. Data associated with a monitored condition detected by the second sensor unit is provided to the monitor main unit via the second connector, the first sensor unit, the first connector, and the connection structure.

Abstract: A condition improvement advisor for monitoring a condition related to the user and improving the monitored condition. The condition improvement advisor includes a sensor unit for detecting the monitored condition and outputting data representing the user's present state when carried by the user. A present state determination circuit determines from the data representing the user's present state whether or not the user's present state should be improved. When determining that the user's present state should be improved, the present state determination circuit generates advice indicating an item that would improve the present state. An output device outputs the advice generated by the present state determination circuit in a form understandable to a human.

Abstract: A comfortable environment providing apparatus for controlling at least one comfortable environment creation devices that creates a comfortable environment to provide a user with a comfortable environment. The comfortable environment providing apparatus includes a sensor unit for monitoring a condition related to the user and outputting data representing the monitored condition when carried by the user. A control circuit executes control of the at least one comfortable environment creation devices so that the monitored data approaches comfortable environment reference data quantitatively or numerically indicating a comfortable environment.

Abstract: A chemically amplified radiation sensitive resin composition comprising at least (1) a base resin that is an alkali-soluble resin or an alkali-insoluble or slightly alkali-soluble resin protected by an acid dissociable protecting group wherein the amount of an ultrahigh molecular weight component whose weight average molecular weight determined by polystyrene standards as measured by gel permeation chromatography with multi angle laser light scattering method is one million or more is 1 ppm or less, (2) a photo-acid generator capable of generating an acid by irradiation of radiation, and (3) a solvent. This radiation sensitive resin composition is applied onto an object to be processed 2 to form a photoresist film 3. The photoresist film is exposed and then developed to form a fine resist pattern 4 with 0.2 ?m or less in pattern width. Thereafter, dry etching is conducted to form a gate electrode, hole shape patterning or grooved shape patterning of a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A touch-operation guide shape is formed on an input pad for inputting a touch operation by variably deforming the surface of the input pad, forming grooves or the like to enable a user to recognize the operation position on the input pad through finger touch. In addition, an image representing the touch-operation guide shape is displayed on a menu frame of a display together with selection items, whereby the corresponding position on the input pad can be recognized on the screen of the display.