Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a generator, lead-battery, and second-battery. Open-circuit voltages and internal resistances of the batteries are determined so that: there is a point, where the open-circuit voltage of the second-battery coincides with that of the lead-battery, in a region on a smaller-residual-capacity side relative to a range of use in an entire-residual-capacity range of the second-battery; the open-circuit voltage of the second-battery is larger than that of the lead-battery in the range of use of the second-battery; the internal resistance of the second-battery is smaller than that of the lead-battery in a charging state of the generator; and a terminal voltage of the second-battery in a state where a maximum charge current is passed through the second-battery is smaller than a regulated voltage in a power-generation state of the generator. An opening/closing section is closed in at least one of a power-generation state and a load-activated state.

Abstract: To provide a urethane foam molded product having high thermal conductivity and electric insulation and a method for producing the same. A urethane foam molded product includes a base material made of a polyurethane foam and composite particles that are blended in the base material and oriented in a mutually connected state, in which each of the composite particles includes a thermally conductive particle made of a non-magnetic body, and a magnetic particle and an insulating inorganic particle that are adhered to the surface of the thermally conductive particle through a binder. A powder of the composite particles can be produced by stirring a powder raw material containing a powder of the thermally conductive particle, a powder of the magnetic particle, a powder of the insulating inorganic particle, and the binder using a stirring granulator.

Abstract: A power supply system mounted in a vehicle. A rotary machine is connected to an output shaft of an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle, and has a power generation function, an engine start-up function, and an engine output assist function. A first secondary battery and a second secondary battery are each electrically connected in parallel with the rotary machine. A connection switch is provided along a connecting line electrically connecting the first and second secondary batteries, where the connection switch is configured to electrically connect and disconnect the second secondary battery and a parallel connection of the first secondary battery and the rotary machine. A switch controller is configured to disconnect the second secondary battery and the parallel connection by controlling the connection switch to a current cut-off state during the engine start-up and during engine output assist.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a generator, lead-battery, and second-battery. Open-circuit voltages and internal resistances of the batteries are determined so that: there is a point, where the open-circuit voltage of the second-battery coincides with that of the lead-battery, in a region on a smaller-residual-capacity side relative to a range of use in an entire-residual-capacity range of the second-battery; the open-circuit voltage of the second-battery is larger than that of the lead-battery in the range of use of the second-battery; the internal resistance of the second-battery is smaller than that of the lead-battery in a charging state of the generator; and a terminal voltage of the second-battery in a state where a maximum charge current is passed through the second-battery is smaller than a regulated voltage in a power-generation state of the generator. An opening/closing section is closed in at least one of a power-generation state and a load-activated state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a urethane foam molded product that has high thermal conductivity with minimal change to its physical properties. A simple method for producing the same is also provided. The urethane foam molded product includes a base material formed of a polyurethane foam, and a thermal conductive filler mixed in the base material and oriented to form mutual connections. The thermal conductive filler is formed of composite particles that include thermal conductive particles formed of a nonmagnetic material, and magnetic particles adhered to the surfaces of the thermal conductive particles.

Abstract: A power supply system mounted in a vehicle. A rotary machine is connected to an output shaft of an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle, and has a power generation function, an engine start-up function, and an engine output assist function. A first secondary battery and a second secondary battery are each electrically connected in parallel with the rotary machine. A connection switch is provided along a connecting line electrically connecting the first and second secondary batteries, where the connection switch is configured to electrically connect and disconnect the second secondary battery and a parallel connection of the first secondary battery and the rotary machine. A switch controller is configured to disconnect the second secondary battery and the parallel connection by controlling the connection switch to a current cut-off state during the engine start-up and during engine output assist.

Abstract: A power supply system mounted in a vehicle. A rotary machine is connected to an output shaft of an internal-combustion engine of the vehicle, and has a power generation function, an engine start-up function, and an engine output assist function. A connection switch Is configured to electrically connect and disconnect a second secondary battery and a parallel connection of a first secondary battery and the rotary machine. A first battery switch, which is connected between the first secondary battery and a first connection point disposed between the first secondary battery and the connection switch, is configured to electrically connect and disconnect the first secondary battery and the first connection point. A first electrical load is electrically connected to the first connection point. A second electrical load is electrically connected to a second connection point disposed between the second secondary battery and the connection switch.

Abstract: To provide a urethane foam molded product having high thermal conductivity and electric insulation and a method for producing the same. A urethane foam molded product includes a base material made of a polyurethane foam and composite particles that are blended in the base material and oriented in a mutually connected state, in which each of the composite particles includes a thermally conductive particle made of a non-magnetic body, and a magnetic particle and an insulating inorganic particle that are adhered to the surface of the thermally conductive particle through a binder. A powder of the composite particles can be produced by stirring a powder raw material containing a powder of the thermally conductive particle, a powder of the magnetic particle, a powder of the insulating inorganic particle, and the binder using a stirring granulator.

Abstract: A battery system controller is provided which is used for a battery system including a generator, electrical loads, a lead storage battery, a high performance storage battery which has higher-power and higher-energy density, and an opening and closing switch which switches the generator and the lead storage battery, and the high performance storage battery to an electrically conducting state or an interrupted state, a terminal voltage of the high performance storage battery being controlled so as to be lower than a terminal voltage of the lead storage battery. The battery system controller includes a control unit which allows the opening and closing switch to switch from an electrically conducting state to an interrupted state on the condition that charging current flowing to the high performance storage battery is smaller than a determination value, the larger an internal resistance of the lead storage battery, the smaller the determination value is set.

Abstract: A piezoelectric layer is provided on a vibration plate which covers a plurality of pressure chambers extending in a predetermined direction. The piezoelectric layer has a first area corresponding to a central portion in a width direction of each of the pressure chambers and a second area corresponding to both sides in a longitudinal direction of an inner peripheral portion of each of the pressure chambers. A head for a liquid-droplet jetting apparatus which has the piezoelectric layer is prepared, and when the head is driven, a first driving step for applying a drive voltage to the second area, and the first area corresponding to a pressure chamber which does not jet a liquid droplet is carried out. Thereafter, a second driving step for applying a drive voltage to the first area corresponding to a pressure chamber which discharges the liquid droplet is carried out.

Abstract: A liquid discharging head includes a channel unit formed of a plurality of stacked plates having openings and a liquid channel formed of the openings of the stacked plates. A curing material is filled in a step formed due to shift of the openings provided in the adjacent plates respectively, and the curing material forms part of an inner surface of the liquid channel. Consequently, the channel inner surface becomes smooth, and a liquid discharging head with little residual bubbles and with excellent bubble discharging capability is provided. Further, the attenuation of a pressure wave due to the step can be prevented.

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: An ink cartridge has an ink tank in which the ink is stored, and a shutter mechanism which is arranged in the ink tank. The shutter mechanism includes a lever which is supported swingably and which has one end provided with a shutter and the other end provided with a float. The mass and the volume of the float are set so that the first direction, in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity generated when the entire shutter mechanism is positioned in the ink, is opposite to the second direction in which the lever moves by the buoyancy and the gravity when a part of the float protrudes from the ink liquid surface. A residual amount of an ink is indicated without being excessively affected by any disturbance such as the surface tension of the ink.

Abstract: An ink jet head is provided with a passage unit and an actuator unit. The passage unit includes a nozzle and a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle. The actuator unit includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode connected with a front surface of the piezoelectric layer, a second electrode connected with a back surface of the piezoelectric layer, a first insulating layer located between the second electrode and the passage unit, and a first conductive member. The first insulating layer includes a first through hole. At least a part of the first conductive member is located in the first through hole. The passage unit includes a concave portion located at a position facing the first through hole, and a protruding portion which protrudes from an inner surface of the concave portion. One end of the first conductive member is electrically connected with the second electrode. The other end of the first conductive member makes contact with the protruding portion.

Abstract: A head for a liquid discharging apparatus includes a cavity unit having a cavity plate in which pressure chambers are formed and a vibration plate and a base plate which are joined to upper and lower surfaces of the pressure chambers respectively. In a joining surface of the cavity plate and the vibration plate and in a joining surface of the cavity plate and the base plate, test grooves are formed corresponding to column portions which partition mutually adjacent pressure chambers among the plurality of pressure chambers, and communication grooves capable of supplying air communicate with the respective test grooves. By supplying air to the respective test grooves through the communication grooves and detecting a change in supply pressure thereof, it is possible to test a joint state of the cavity plate with the vibration plate and with the base plate at the column portions.

Abstract: A cavity unit of an ink-jet printer head includes elongated pressure chambers, a manifold, and communicating channels between pressure chambers and the manifold. Each of the communicating channels has a first straight portion and a second straight portion which are recesses extending in a longitudinal direction of the pressure chambers, and a bent portion which communicates the first straight portions and the second straight portions. In a plan view, each of the communicating channels overlaps entirely with a pressure chamber communicating with the communicating channel. Accordingly, there is provided an ink-jet printer head having a substantial throttle resistance and a long communicating channel, in which there is no effect of a cross-talk between the pressure chambers.

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a channel unit and a piezoelectric actuator. The channel unit has a plurality of plates made of metal and including a cavity plate which is made of metal and in which a plurality of pressure chambers are formed and a supply plate which is made of metal and in which holes communicating with the pressure chambers respectively are formed, and the plates are diffusion-bonded with each other. The piezoelectric actuator has a vibration plate which is diffusion-bonded with the cavity plate. A groove is formed in a partition wall defining the pressure chambers or in an area overlapping the partition wall of the vibration plate, the cavity plate, and the supply plate. There is provided a liquid jetting head in which air hardly remains in the pressure chambers, and deterioration of jetting performance by the air is suppressed.

Abstract: A recording head for use in an inkjet recording device, the recording head including a cavity unit having a plurality of nozzles each of which ejects a droplet of an ink, a plurality of communication holes which communicate with the plurality of nozzles, respectively, and a common ink chamber which communicate with each of the communication holes and which temporarily stores the ink to be supplied to the each of the nozzles via a corresponding one of the communication holes. The cavity unit has at least one inner wall surface which defines the common ink chamber and has respective open ends of the communication holes. The at least one inner wall surface further has a plurality of grooves each of which is connected, at one end thereof, to the open end of a corresponding one of the communication holes.

Abstract: An ink jet head is provided with a passage unit, an actuator unit, and a conductive adhesion layer. The passage unit comprises a nozzle and a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle. The actuator unit comprises a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode connected with a front surface of the piezoelectric layer, a second electrode connected with a back surface of the piezoelectric layer, and a first insulating layer located between the second electrode and the passage unit. The conductive adhesion layer adheres to both a front surface of the passage unit and a back surface of the actuator unit. The conductive adhesion layer is electrically connected with the second electrode.

Abstract: The ink-jet printer head includes a cavity unit which has a plurality of pressure chambers arranged in a plurality of pressure-chamber rows; an actuator unit which has individual surface electrodes corresponding to the pressure chambers respectively, and land portions conducted to the individual surface electrodes respectively; and a flexible cable which has connection terminals and signal lines. The land portions and the connection terminals are electrically connected. In each of the pressure-chamber rows, the land portions are arranged such that a certain land portion is shifted from another land portion adjacent to the certain land portion in a longitudinal direction of the pressure chambers. Accordingly, even when the pressure chambers are arranged highly densely, it is possible to electrically connect the flexible cable and the actuator unit easily.