Abstract: This thermoelectric conversion module is formed by electrically connecting, by a conductive member, one end of an n-type thermoelectric conversion element having a negative Seebeck coefficient and having a half-Heusler structure to one end of a p-type thermoelectric conversion element containing an oxide having a positive Seebeck coefficient at a temperature of 25° C. or higher. The conductive member is connected to the n-type thermoelectric conversion element and the p-type thermoelectric conversion element through a connection layer containing a conductive metal comprising silver, and the connection layer is characterized by further containing an oxide to reduce the bond resistance between the n-type thermoelectric conversion element and/or the p-type thermoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: This thermoelectric conversion module is formed by electrically connecting, by a conductive member, one end of an n-type thermoelectric conversion element having a negative Seebeck coefficient and having a half-Heusler structure to one end of a p-type thermoelectric conversion element containing an oxide having a positive Seebeck coefficient at a temperature of 25° C. or higher. The conductive member is connected to the n-type thermoelectric conversion element and the p-type thermoelectric conversion element through a connection layer containing a conductive metal comprising silver, and the connection layer is characterized by further containing an oxide to reduce the bond resistance between the n-type thermoelectric conversion element and/or the p-type thermoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element in which one end of an n-type thermoelectric conversion material and one end of a p-type thermoelectric conversion material are each bonded to a conductive substrate using a bonding agent, the n-type thermoelectric conversion material and the p-type thermoelectric conversion material being specific silicides, the bonding agent being a conductive paste containing conductive metals consisting of silver and at least one noble metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, and palladium, as well as a thermoelectric conversion module comprising a plurality of these thermoelectric conversion elements and having a specific structure, achieve excellent thermoelectric conversion performance in an intermediate temperature range of room temperature to about 700° C., and performance degradation hardly occurs even when electric generation is repeated, making it possible to maintain the excellent performance over a long period of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal material represented by compositional formula MnxMySimAln wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu; and 2.0?x?3.5, 0?y?1.4, 2.5?x+y?3.5, 3.5?m?4.5, and 1.5?n?2.49, the metal material having a negative Seebeck coefficient and an electrical resistivity of 2 m?·cm or less at a temperature of 25° C. or more, the metal material being in a crystalline form. The present invention provides a novel material useful as an n-type thermoelectric conversion material exhibiting favorable thermoelectric conversion performance in the intermediate temperature range and excellent durability.

Abstract: A stacked thermoelectric conversion module has a structure in which the following are stacked: a module for use in a high-temperature portion which is a thermoelectric conversion module in which a metal oxide is used as each thermoelectric conversion material or a thermoelectric conversion module in which a silicon-based alloy is used as each thermoelectric conversion material; and a module for use in a low-temperature portion which is a thermoelectric conversion module in which a bismuth-tellurium-based alloy is used as each thermoelectric conversion material. The stacked thermoelectric conversion module disposes a flexible heat-transfer material and, if necessary, a metal sheet between the module for use in a high-temperature portion and the module for use in a low-temperature portion. Also, the stacked thermoelectric conversion module disposes a cooling member on the cooling surface side of the module and a flexible heat-transfer material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal material comprising an alloy that is represented by the compositional formula Mn3-xM1xSiyAlzM2a, wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, We, Co, Ni, and Cu; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of B, P, Ga, Ge, Sn, and Bi, where 0?x?3.0, 3.5?y?4.5, 2.5?z?3.5, and 0?a?1, the alloy having a negative Seebeck coefficient and an electrical resistivity of 1 m?·cm or less at a temperature of 25° C. or higher. The metal material of the present invention is a novel material that has good thermoelectric conversion capability in the intermediate temperature region and excellent durability, and that is useful as an n-type thermoelectric conversion material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive paste for connecting thermoelectric materials, the paste comprising a specific powdery oxide and at least one powdery electrically conductive metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, and alloys containing at least one of these metals. By connecting a thermoelectric material to an electrically conductive substrate with the electrically conductive paste of the invention, a suitable electroconductivity is imparted to the connecting portion of the thermoelectric element. Further, the thermal expansion coefficient of the connecting portion can be made close to that of the thermoelectric material. Therefore, even when high-temperature power generation is repeated, separation at the connecting portion is prevented and a favorable thermoelectric performance can be maintained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric element in which a thin film of p-type thermoelectric material and a thin film of n-type thermoelectric material, which are formed on an electrically insulating substrate, are electrically connected, in which the p-type thermoelectric material and the n-type thermoelectric material are selected from specific complex oxides with a positive Seebeck coefficient and specific complex oxides with a negative Seebeck coefficient, respectively. The present invention also provides a thermoelectric module using the thermoelectric element(s) and a thermoelectric conversion method. In the thermoelectric element of the present invention, since a p-type thermoelectric material and an n-type thermoelectric material are formed into a thin film on an electrically insulating substrate, the thermoelectric element of the invention can be formed on substrates having various shapes, thereby providing thermoelectric elements having various shapes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel complex oxide capable of achieving high performance as a p-type thermoelectric material. The complex oxide comprises a layer-structured oxide represented by the formula BiaPbbM1cCOdM2eOf wherein M1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Y, and lanthanoids; M2 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, W, Nb, Ta, and Ag; 1.8?a?2.5; 0?b?0.5; 1.8?c?2.5; 1.6?d?2.5; 0?e?0.5; and 8?f?10; and at least one interlayer component selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, HgF2, HgCl2, HgBr2, HgI2, TlF3, TlCl3, TlBr3, TlI3, BiF3, BiCl3, BiBr3, BiI3, PbF2, PbCl2, PbBr2, and PbI2. The interlayer component being present between layers of the layer-structured oxide.

Abstract: A ring portion of a steering wheel is disposed to be inclined relative to a vertical direction with an inclined angle between 40 and 90 degrees, when viewed from a vehicle width direction, and a bag portion has a larger configuration than the ring portion so as to cover over the ring portion when an airbag inflation is completed. Accordingly, there can be provided the steering wheel equipped with the so-called donut type of airbag portion of a airbag device that can perform its advantages fully and thereby improve the driver's protection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex oxide having a composition represented by the formula La1?xMxNiO2.7?3.3 or (La1?xMx)2NiO3.6?4.4 (wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Zn, Pb, Ba, Ca, Al, Nd, Bi and Y, and 0.01?×?0.8), the complex oxide having a negative Seebeck coefficient at 100° C. or higher. This complex oxide is a novel material which exhibits excellent properties as an n-type thermoelectric material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex oxide having a composition represented by the formula LavM1wNixM2yOz; wherein M1 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Sr, Ca, Bi and Nd; M2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Cu; and the subscripts are numbers which respectively satisfy 0.5?v?1.2; 0?w?0.5; 0.5?x?1.2; 0.01 ?y?0.5; and 2.8?z?3.2. The complex oxide of the invention has a negative Seebeck coefficient and a low electrical resistivity, i.e., an electrical resistivity of 10 m?cm or less, at 100° C. or higher and is a novel material with an excellent performance as an n-type thermoelectric material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric element in which a thin film of p-type thermoelectric material and a thin film of n-type thermoelectric material, which are formed on an electrically insulating substrate, are electrically connected, in which the p-type thermoelectric material and the n-type thermoelectric material are selected from specific complex oxides with a positive Seebeck coefficient and specific complex oxides with a negative Seebeck coefficient, respectively. The present invention also provides a thermoelectric module using the thermoelectric element(s) and a thermoelectric conversion method. In the thermoelectric element of the present invention, since a p-type thermoelectric material and an n-type thermoelectric material are formed into a thin film on an electrically insulating substrate, the thermoelectric element of the invention can be formed on substrates having various shapes, thereby providing thermoelectric elements having various shapes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically conductive paste for connecting thermoelectric materials, the paste comprising a specific powdery oxide and at least one powdery electrically conductive metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, platinum, and alloys containing at least one of these metals. By connecting a thermoelectric material to an electrically conductive substrate with the electrically conductive paste of the invention, a suitable electroconductivity is imparted to the connecting portion of the thermoelectric element. Further, the thermal expansion coefficient of the connecting portion can be made close to that of the thermoelectric material. Therefore, even when high-temperature power generation is repeated, separation at the connecting portion is prevented and a favorable thermoelectric performance can be maintained.

Abstract: A ring portion of a steering wheel is disposed to be inclined relative to a vertical direction with an inclined angle between 40 and 90 degrees, when viewed from a vehicle width direction, and a bag portion has a larger configuration than the ring portion so as to cover over the ring portion when an airbag inflation is completed. Accordingly, there can be provided the steering wheel equipped with the so-called donut type of airbag portion of a airbag device that can perform its advantages fully and thereby improve the driver's protection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a complex oxide having a composition represented by the formula Ln1-xMxNiOy; wherein Ln is a lanthanide, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Zn, Pb, Ba, Ca, Al, Bi, and rare earth elements being not the same as Ln; and 0?x?0.8; and 2.7?y?3.3, or the formula (Ln1-xMx)2NiOy; wherein Ln is a lanthanide, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Zn, Pb, Ba, Ca, Al, Bi, and rare earth elements being not the same as Ln; 0?x?0.8; and 3.6?y?4.4, the complex oxide having a negative Seebeck coefficient at 100° C. or higher. The complex oxide of the invention has a negative Seebeck coefficient and low electrical resistivity and also has excellent heat resistance, chemical durability, etc., and thus can be effectively utilized as an n-type thermoelectric material in air at high temperatures.

Abstract: A seat cushion airbag unit is provided at each seat and includes a seat cushion airbag. The seat cushion airbag is disposed in an inboard portion of a seat cushion of the seat so as to support an inboard portion of buttocks of an occupant in the seat. The seat cushion airbag is changed from its inflated state from its shrunk state when the side crash or rollover of the vehicle is predicted by a controller. Thereby, the occupant's head is moved toward the center of the vehicle. Accordingly, the occupant protection device can promptly move the occupant's head toward the center of the vehicle, preventing the head from hitting against the vehicle roof, at the vehicle side crash or rollover.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric element comprising an electrically conductive substrate, a p-type thermoelectric material, and an n-type thermoelectric material; the p-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material, and the n-type thermoelectric material being positioned on the substrate via an electrically conductive thermal buffer material; wherein each thermoelectric material comprises a specific oxide and each electrically conductive thermal buffer material comprises an electrically conductive material having a thermal expansion coefficient between that of the thermoelectric material to which the thermal buffer material is bonded and that of the substrate. The invention also provides a thermoelectric module comprising a plurality of the thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement structure for a curtain airbag, which comprises a bracket plate 20 for attaching a curtain airbag to a vehicle body inner panel 1b, and a pillar trim 30 formed with a trim engagement-plate potion 31 in the vicinity of an upper end thereof. The trim engagement-plate potion 31 has a trim engagement surface 32 oriented toward a vehicle interior space in an orthogonal direction relative thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel complex oxide capable of achieving high performance as a p-type thermoelectric material. The complex oxide comprises a layer-structured oxide represented by the formula BiaPbbM1cCOdM2eOf wherein M1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Li, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Y, and lanthanoids; M2 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mo, W, Nb, Ta, and Ag; 1.8?a?2.5; 0?b?0.5; 1.8?c?2.5; 1.6?d?2.5; 0?e?0.5; and 8?f?10; and at least one interlayer component selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, HgF2, HgCl2, HgBr2, HgI2, TlF3, TlCl3, TlBr3, TlI3, BiF3, BiCl3, BiBr3, BiI3, PbF2, PbCl2, PbBr2, and PbI2. The interlayer component being present between layers of the layer-structured oxide.