Abstract: According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal optical element according to one embodiment includes a substrate, a plurality of structures aligned at a prescribed pitch in each of a plurality of first areas, and a liquid crystal layer arranged across the plurality of first areas and a second area surrounding each of the plurality of first areas. The liquid crystal layer includes first liquid crystal molecules arranged in the first areas between the adjacent structures and aligned along the structures, and second liquid crystal molecules having the long axes aligned in the same direction in the second area.

Abstract: A neural network construction device includes: an obtainer which obtains resource information related to a computational resource of an embedded device and performance constraints related to processing performance of the embedded device; a setting unit which sets scale constraints of a neural network on the basis of the resource information; a generator which generates a model of the neural network on the basis of the scale constraints; and a determination unit which determines whether or not the model generated meets the performance constraints, and outputs data based on the result of the determination.

Abstract: A composite structure mainly composed of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril and a water swellable solid body, the fibers being obtained from cellulose or derivatives thereof, and at least part of the surface of the solid body is covered with the fine fibers. The absorbent composite can be formed in various form of, for example, particle, pellet, sheet and the like, especially of a sheet type with a supporting sheet of a non-woven fabric. The present invention further provides a method of making the composite structure.

Abstract: A signal electrode (11A) and a ground electrode (11B) are disposed respectively on surfaces of a case (10). In this way, the signal electrode (11A) and the ground electrode (11B) do not come into contact with any electric component, such as a transmission circuit (21), disposed inside the case (10), and thus a reduction in an electric field (Ec) induced in an electric-field transmission medium can be prevented. In addition, a certain distance between the signal electrode (11A) and the ground electrode (11B) is kept, and thus a reduction in the electric field (Ec) induced in the electric-field transmission medium can be prevented. Furthermore, the contactability between the signal electrode (11A) and the electric-field transmission medium is improved, and thus the electric field (Ec) induced in the electric-field transmission medium can be increased.

Abstract: A composite structure mainly composed of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril and a water swellable solid body, the fine fibers being obtained from cellulose or a derivative thereof, and at least part of the surface of the solid body is covered with the fine fibers. The absorbent composite can be formed in various form of, for example, particle, pellet, sheet and the like, especially of a sheet type with a supporting sheet of a non-woven fabric. The present invention further provides a method of making the composite structure.

Abstract: The invention provides, between a discharge element substrate and a supply member, a support member containing a mixture that contains: a material having an affinity for a material forming the supply member; and another material.

Abstract: The invention provides, between a discharge element substrate and a supply member, a support member containing a mixture that contains: a material having an affinity for a material forming the supply member; and another material.

Abstract: A liquid storage container capable of ensuring a sufficient ink storage space and preventing liquid leakage without large variations in liquid pressure even when the container is deformed by an external force during shipping or in operating time. The container includes a protection member positioned outside of a flexible member, and an opening is defined on a plane member arranged in contact with the flexible member so as to face the protection member.

Abstract: A droplet-discharging apparatus for discharging a droplet onto a base through the nozzle of a head, the apparatus including: a platform retaining the base; a plurality of transportation units, each including a head group having at least one head with a nozzle line and each being moved in the sub-scanning direction on an axis or on a plurality of axes disposed parallel to each other; and a position-controlling unit for adjusting relative position of the adjacent head groups arranged in the main scanning direction or in the sub-scanning direction to adjust the nozzle pitch by independently driving the plurality of transportation units, wherein the droplet is discharged onto predetermined portions on the base from the head group while the transportation units are relatively moved for the platform in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: In an ink supply system for connecting with an ink container with a hollow communicating tube provided in the ink container, in order to prevent leakage of the ink from the communicating tube and simultaneously to prevent damage of the communicating tube projected from the ink container, the communicating tube 60 is made movable to be projected from the inside of the ink container and to be inserted into a recording head, thus establishing liquid communication between the inside of the ink container and the inside of the recording head.

Abstract: A droplet ejecting apparatus includes a stage which holds a substrate; R (red), G (green), and B (blue) head groups for ejecting droplets of the R, G, and B colors, respectively, each of the head groups including at least one head; and a carriage which holds the R, G, and B head groups. In the apparatus, droplets of the R, G, and B colors are ejected to R, G, and B colored portions on the substrate from the R, G, and B head groups, respectively, during movement of the carriage relative to the stage in a first direction.

Abstract: A signal electrode (11A) and a ground electrode (11B) are disposed respectively on surfaces of a case (10). In this way, the signal electrode (11A) and the ground electrode (11B) do not come into contact with any electric component, such as a transmission circuit (21), disposed inside the case (10), and thus a reduction in an electric field (Ec) induced in an electric-field transmission medium can be prevented. In addition, a certain distance between the signal electrode (11A) and the ground electrode (11B) is kept, and thus a reduction in the electric field (Ec) induced in the electric-field transmission medium can be prevented. Furthermore, the contactability between the signal electrode (11A) and the electric-field transmission medium is improved, and thus the electric field (Ec) induced in the electric-field transmission medium can be increased.

Abstract: A composite structure mainly composed of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril and a water swellable solid body, the fibers being obtained from cellulose or derivatives thereof, and at least part of the surface of the solid body is covered with the fine fibers. The absorbent composite can be formed in various form of, for example, particle, pellet, sheet and the like, especially of a sheet type with a supporting sheet of a non-woven fabric. The present invention further provides a method of making the composite structure.

Abstract: A composite structure mainly composed of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril and a water swellable solid body, the fibers being obtained from cellulose or derivatives thereof, and at least part of the surface of the solid body is covered with the fine fibers. The absorbent composite can be formed in various form of, for example, particle, pellet, sheet and the like, especially of a sheet type with a supporting sheet of a non-woven fabric. The present invention further provides a method of making the composite structure.

Abstract: A composite structure mainly composed of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril and a water swellable solid body, the fibers being obtained from cellulose or derivatives thereof, and at least part of the surface of the solid body is covered with the fine fibers. The absorbent composite can be formed in various form of, for example, particle, pellet, sheet and the like, especially of a sheet type with a supporting sheet of a non-woven fabric. The present invention further provides a method of making the composite structure.

Abstract: A liquid container and its manufacturing method configured to contain a spring member and crimp a flexible member in a frame, wherein positional shift between the flexible member and the fixing member (frame) caused by compression of the spring during manufacturing process is prevented and no device is necessary for spring compression. Accordingly, the liquid container includes a liquid storage portion including a deformable flexible member, a planar portion disposed in the flexible member, and the spring member which abuts on the planar portion to generate negative pressure in the liquid container. The planar portion includes an engaging portion disposed in the planar portion and engaging the elastic portion so as to facilitate holding the elastic portion in a compressed state and releasing the elastic portion from the compressed state.

Abstract: A liquid-feeding system efficiently transferring liquid from a liquid storage to a liquid chamber and efficiently transferring gas from the liquid chamber to the liquid storage. The liquid-feeding system includes a liquid-using unit, the liquid storage, the liquid chamber in communication with the liquid-using unit, a plurality of communication paths facilitating communication between the liquid chamber and the liquid storage, the liquid chamber having a substantially enclosed space except where the space communicates with the plurality of communication paths and with the liquid-using unit, a pressure regulator disposed in the liquid storage and regulating the internal pressure of the liquid storage, and means for changing an internal pressure of the liquid chamber relatively higher than an internal pressure of the liquid storage.

Abstract: In an ink supply system for connecting with an ink container with a hollow communicating tube provided in the ink container, in order to prevent leakage of the ink from the communicating tube and simultaneously to prevent damage of the communicating tube projected from the ink container, the communicating tube 60 is made movable to be projected from the inside of the ink container and to be inserted into a recording head, thus establishing liquid communication between the inside of the ink container and the inside of the recording head.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid supplying apparatus which enables a liquid housing container to be appropriately and smoothly attached to and detached from a print head. Thus, the present invention includes a liquid supplying tube projected from the print head and having a liquid introducing port which is in communication with the print head, a seal member rotatably movably held on the liquid supplying tube, the seal member being movable from a position at which the liquid introducing port is closed to a position at which the liquid introducing port is opened, a housing container main body in which the liquid is housed, the housing container main body having a liquid supplying port into and from which the liquid supplying tube can be inserted and removed, and a movable member which rotatably moves the seal member.

Abstract: An inkjet printing apparatus includes a mechanism for opening and closing an ink supply route between an ink tank and a printing head and capable of attaching and removing the ink tank by a horizontal movement. More specifically, a moving member 60 and the communication pipe 51 engaged therewith are moved upward by moving an operation member 70 upward. As a result, the communication pipe 51 moves into an ink lead chamber 16 and a communication channel 52 of the communication pipe 51 comes into communication with the ink lead chamber 16 through its opening. In this way, the ink lead chamber 16, namely, an ink storage chamber 12 comes into communication with a liquid chamber 50 of a printing head 20. An ink supply route is opened in this manner. The ink supply route is closed by the reverse operation to that mentioned above.