Abstract: The present specification provides a NOx responsive element suitable for directly sensing NOx. The NOx responsive element an oxygen ion conductive layer has a first electrode layer having a nitrogen oxide decomposition catalyst phase composed of perovskite-type oxide, being in contact with the oxygen ion conductive layer, and being exposed to NOx, and a second electrode layer opposing the first electrode layer across the oxygen ion conductive layer. The nitrogen oxide decomposition catalyst phase has a nitrogen oxide adsorption stabilizing surface on its surface exposed to nitrogen oxide.

Abstract: The present teaching rekates to providing a NOx decomposition agent having an excellent NOx decomposition rate. The NOx decomposition agent containing a perovskite oxide represented by ABx-1MxO3, wherein A represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of La, Sr, Mg, Ca and Ba, B represents Mn, M represents a combination of one or more first metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W and Ce, and one or two second metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ca and Mg, and x represents a number greater than or equal to 0 and less than 1.

Abstract: An active pixel sensor (APS) with a vertical transfer gate and a pixel transistor (e.g., a transfer transistor, a source follower transistor, a reset transistor, or a row select transistor) electrically isolated by an implant isolation region is provided. A semiconductor substrate has a photodetector buried therein. The vertical transfer gate extends into the semiconductor substrate with a channel region in electrical communication with the photodetector. The pixel transistor is arranged over the photodetector and configured to facilitate the pixel operation (e.g., reset, signal readout, etc.). The implant isolation region is arranged in the semiconductor substrate and surrounds and electrically isolates the pixel transistor. A method for manufacturing the APS is also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling a communication apparatus, includes specifying, before joining a wireless network, an external device that will be a data transmitting source, receiving related information relating to data to be transmitted from the specified external device, determining whether to receive the data to be transmitted based on the received related information, joining a wireless network when it is determined to receive the data to be transmitted, and receiving the data to be transmitted from the specified external device after joining the wireless network.

Abstract: A power supply controller includes a switch circuit to be provided between the power source and the power supply path, the switch circuit switches the power supply from the power source to the load between on and off, and a power-supply-path protection circuit. The power-supply-path protection circuit controls switching operation of the switch circuit according to a power-supply command signal that commands to start or terminate the power supply to the load, to calculate a temperature of the power-supply path, and if the calculated temperature reaches a predetermined upper limit, to inhibit the switch circuit from the power supply, thereby protecting the power-supply path. In a case where the power supply by the switch circuit is inhibited, if the temperature of the power supply path decreases to a predetermined threshold temperature, the power-supply-path protection circuit removes inhibition of the power supply by the switch circuit.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a communication unit configured to connect with an external apparatus via communication, and a control unit configured to control the communication, wherein the control unit controls, if the communication unit receives a search request including information indicating that an external apparatus satisfying a predetermined condition is a transmission source via communication, the communication unit so as to transmit a search request designating the communication apparatus as the transmission source to another apparatus via communication, wherein the control unit controls the communication unit so as to receive a search response replying to the search request designating the communication apparatus as the transmission source via communication, and wherein the control unit controls the communication unit so as to transmit information corresponding to the search response received by the communication unit to the external apparatus via communication.

Abstract: An imaging control unit includes: a calculating unit that obtains block brightness-values of a plurality of blocks from each pixel of an image data of a frame, the image data of a frame being divided into the plurality of blocks; a limiting unit that limits to a first limit brightness-value a block brightness-value which is larger than the first limit brightness-value among the plurality of block brightness-values; and a controlling unit that controls an exposure amount of an imaging unit so that a representing brightness-value of the plurality of the block brightness-values correspond to a target brightness-value which is less than first limit brightness-value.

Abstract: To provide a series of techniques for obtaining ?-phellandrene with high purity and in a large quantity. Provided is a recombinant cell capable of producing ?-phellandrene, prepared by introducing at least one nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid encoding geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) synthase and a nucleic acid encoding neryl pyrophosphate (NPP) synthase, and a nucleic acid encoding ?-phellandrene synthase into a host cell in such a manner that these nucleic acids are expressed in the host cell. Also provided is a method for producing ?-phellandrene by culturing the recombinant cell to produce ?-phellandrene in the recombinant cell.

Abstract: The power supply controller performs the power-supply-path protection operation to restrict power supply through the switch element if a value of temperature increase of the power supply path W with respect to the reference temperature To exceeds the temperature threshold value and remove the restriction if the temperature decreases to the temperature threshold value or lower. And the controller performs the switch protection operation to restrict the power supply through the switch element if the value of the flowing current exceeds the current threshold value and remove the restriction after the reference time H elapses. And also the controller adds the additional value F to the value of temperature increase on condition that the value of the flowing current exceeds the current threshold value in the power supply protection operation and compares a post-addition temperature to the temperature threshold value.

Abstract: An image device connected to an external device via a first communication interface and a second communication interface different from the first communication interface, the image device including an image capturing unit that captures an image in response to a shooting instruction, a sharing unit that shares a communication parameter used for connecting the image device to the external device via the first communication interface with the external device via the second communication interface with the external device, a connection unit that connects the image device to the external device via the first communication interface using the communication parameter shared using the sharing unit, and a control unit that controls the sharing unit to start a process for sharing the communication parameter with the external device using the second communication interface according to the shooting instruction.

Abstract: An imaging control unit includes: a calculating unit that obtains block brightness-values of a plurality of blocks from each pixel of an image data of a frame, the image data of a frame being divided into the plurality of blocks; a limiting unit that limits to a first limit brightness-value a block brightness-value which is larger than the first limit brightness-value among the plurality of block brightness-values; and a controlling unit that controls an exposure amount of an imaging unit so that a representing brightness-value of the plurality of the block brightness-values correspond to a target brightness-value which is less than first limit brightness-value.

Abstract: A power supply controller is connected between a power source and a power-supply path, and includes a switch circuit, a power-supply path protection circuit, and a sleep mode setting circuit. The switch circuit is configured to permit and inhibit power supply from the power source to the load. The protection circuit controls switching operation of the switch circuit according to a power-supply command signal commanding start or stop of the power supply to the load, calculates a temperature of the power-supply path regardless of whether power is supplied to the load, do not calculate the temperature of the power-supply path in a sleep mode, and inhibits power supply to the switch circuit according to the calculated temperature reaching an upper limit. The sleep mode setting circuit sets the power supply controller to the sleep mode according to the power-supply path satisfying a temperature condition.

Abstract: An imaging control unit includes: a calculating unit that obtains block brightness-values of a plurality of blocks from each pixel of an image data of a frame, the image data of a frame being divided into the plurality of blocks; a limiting unit that limits to a first limit brightness-value a block brightness-value which is larger than the first limit brightness-value among the plurality of block brightness-values; and a controlling unit that controls an exposure amount of an imaging unit so that a representing brightness-value of the plurality of the block brightness-values correspond to a target brightness-value which is less than first limit brightness-value.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a CZTS-based compound semiconductor whose band gap is different from that of a conventional CZTS-based compound semiconductor and a photoelectric conversion device prepared with the CZTS-based compound semiconductor. The present invention is a CZTS-based compound semiconductor in which a ratio of the number of moles of Cu to the total number of moles of Cu, Zn and Sn is larger than a ratio of the number of moles of Cu to the total number of moles of Cu, Zn and Sn configuring Cu2ZnSnS4, and a photoelectric conversion device prepared with the CZTS-based compound semiconductor.

Abstract: A spray button which is capable of spraying a content widely and decreasing the diameter of a sprayed particle. In the spray button comprising a spray button body and a nozzle body and having a rotation chamber, a spray orifice, and a plurality of spray grooves, assuming a diameter of the rotation chamber to be (D), a diameter of the spray orifice to be (Da), a width of a connection portion with the spray grooves and the rotation chamber to be (Dd), and a length from a stem-side sidewall of the nozzle body to a tip of the spray orifice to be (L), the relationships of D/Da>1, D/Dd?5, D/L?3 are satisfied.

Abstract: With a wire protection method in accordance with the present invention, the method being used for supplying electric power from a power source to a load, an applied-current to the load is detected every predetermined time, A wire rise temperature is calculated using the detected applied-current I(n) and by a relational expression concerning heat radiation and heat generation of the wire. The calculated rise in temperature is added to a reference temperature so that a wire temperature is estimated. When the estimated wire temperature is lower than a predetermined upper limit temperature, the calculation of the rise in temperature is repeated. When the estimated wire temperature has become equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature, the electric power supply from the power source to the load is stopped so that the wire is protected.

Abstract: A power supply controller includes: a controlling section that, upon determination that no anomaly has occurred, causes a semiconductor switch to execute turning on and, upon determination that the anomaly has occurred, causes the semiconductor switch to maintain an off state; a monitoring section that monitors which condition the controlling section is in, the condition being normal or anormal; and a switching section that, upon monitoring result by the monitoring section indicating the normal condition, causes turning on and off of the semiconductor switch by the controlling section and, upon the monitoring result indicating the anormal condition, causes turning on and off of the semiconductor switch with an external on-off command signals.

Abstract: An electric power supply control circuit includes a bypass circuit connected in parallel with a semiconductor switch. Upon a control circuit being in an inactive state while a load being in a non-electrifying state or in a standby state, the bypass circuit connects a power source to the load. The bypass circuit includes a electrifying decision circuit that generates an activation signal for activating the control circuit in accordance with the load being put in an operation state. The electrifying decision circuit supplies the activation signal to the control circuit so as to turn on the semiconductor switch and allow electric power supply to the load through an electrifying line.

Abstract: If a power supply path is in an abnormal state, a power-supply-path protection circuit of a power supply controller inhibits a switching circuit that switches on/off power supply from a power source to a load from power supply, using data related to a protection-current temperature characteristic line set by a characteristic setting circuit. The protection-current temperature characteristic line has a characteristic in which a protection current value is constant corresponding to increase in an ambient temperature or a negative characteristic in which the protection current value reduces corresponding to increase in the ambient temperature. Within a temperature range equal to or lower than an supposed maximum ambient temperature around the power-supply-path, the protection-current temperature characteristic line and a power-supply-path temperature characteristic line have a relation that the protection-current value is equal to or lower than an allowable current value at an identical ambient temperature.

Abstract: If a power supply path is in an abnormal state, a power-supply-path protection circuit of a power supply controller inhibits a switching circuit that switches on/off power supply from a power source to a load from power supply, using data related to a protection-current temperature characteristic line set by a characteristic setting circuit. The protection-current temperature characteristic line has a characteristic in which a protection current value is constant corresponding to increase in an ambient temperature or a negative characteristic in which the protection current value reduces corresponding to increase in the ambient temperature. Within a temperature range equal to or lower than an supposed maximum ambient temperature around the power-supply-path, the protection-current temperature characteristic line and a power-supply-path temperature characteristic line have a relation that the protection-current value is equal to or lower than an allowable current value at an identical ambient temperature.