Abstract: A direct oxidation fuel cell system includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), a high concentration fuel and an oxidant source. Embodiments include a controller for adjusting the oxidant stoichiometric ratio or air flow to maximize the liquid water phase in the cathode exhaust and minimize the water vapor in the exhaust thereby eliminating the need for a water condenser for condensing water vapor produced and exhausted from the cathode of the MEA.

Abstract: An LED device comprises a white LED device and a red LED device. The white LED device has a substrate, a blue LED mounted on the substrate for emitting blue light, a transparent resin covering the blue LED and including phosphor particles. The phosphor particle has a quality to convert blue light to white light, if the particle contacts with the blue light. The red LED device has a substrate, a red LED mounted on the substrate for emitting red light, and a transparent resin covering the red LED device is disposed so that emitted red light mixes with the white light emitted from the white LED device.

Abstract: In A confocal microscope, a mirror reflects illumination light to focus on a focal point face of a sample through an object lens. The mirror is rotated to scan a focal point of the illumination light. A confocal image provided based on returned light from the sample. The confocal microscope has a first multipinhole array which has a plurality of pinholes, and to which light emitted from a light source is illuminated, and a second multipinhole array which has a plurality of pinholes, and intercepts light from other than the focal point face out of the returned light from the sample. The first multipinhole array functions as a plurality of point light sources, and the illumination light is light which passes through the pinholes of the first multipinhole array.

Abstract: This invention realizes a three-dimensional confocal microscope in which mechanical vibrations do not occur in the scanning unit for scanning in the direction of optical axis, and in which scanning in the direction of optical axis can be carried out at a high speed. This invention has the following features. In the confocal microscope having a confocal scanner attached to an optical microscope and constructed to enable acquisition of an image of a sample as a confocal image by the confocal scanner, a variable-focus lens of surface tension control type having no moving part is uses as the field lens.

Abstract: This invention realizes a three-dimensional confocal microscope in which mechanical vibrations do not occur in the scanning unit for scanning in the direction of optical axis, and in which scanning in the direction of optical axis can be carried out at a high speed. This invention has the following features. In the confocal microscope having a confocal scanner attached to an optical microscope and constructed to enable acquisition of an image of a sample as a confocal image by the confocal scanner, a variable-focus lens of surface tension control type having no moving part is uses as the field lens.

Abstract: A method for activating a direct oxidation fuel cell including an anode, a cathode, and a proton-conductive electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode is provided. The anode and the cathode each have a catalyst layer on a face in contact with the proton-conductive electrolyte membrane. This method activates the fuel cell by passing a current through the fuel cell from an external power source, with the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the external power source connected to the anode and the cathode of the fuel cell, respectively, while supplying an organic fuel and an inert gas to the anode and the cathode, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a screening method and device able to obtain the entire image of a cell as a detailed and accurate (with a good SN ratio) image at high speed by observing the cell image while a Nipkow system confocal scanner is used and the focal position of an objective lens is changed in the optical axis direction. In the present invention, a reagent and a fluorescent marked cell are injected into a well. The focal position is changed in the optical axis direction by using the Nipkow system confocal scanner. Excitation light is irradiated to the well in each focal position, and fluorescent light generated from the cell is received and the degree of activity, and so on, of the cell is measured and displayed on the basis of a slice image of the cell.

Abstract: When data is updated in response to execution of an application by a host, an operation center apparatus records update history data into an update history file and updates a database. A remote copy apparatus consisting of network storages transfers and records the update history data via a network into a backup update history file at a transfer destination every time the update history data is recorded into the update history file by the operation center apparatus. When the operation center apparatus goes down, a backup center apparatus restores a management file for managing usage situation of the backup update history file from the backup update history file and, by reference to the management file, sequentially reads out the backup update history file until discontinuity of update history data is identified to update a database for backup.

Abstract: The electrolyte membrane of the present invention is an electrolyte membrane (1) having ionic conductivity that includes a base material (2) and organic molecules having ion exchange groups, wherein the organic molecules are chemically bonded to the surface of the base material (2) to form an organic layer (3), and ions are conducted via the ion exchange groups in the organic layer (3). By providing this type of electrolyte membrane, it is possible to obtain an electrolyte membrane having ionic conductivity whose configuration is different to that of a conventional electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: To prevent the flooding phenomenon at the cathode in a unit cell where the temperature is relatively low or the supply of air is small, a fuel cell stack includes at least three flat unit cells stacked with separators interposed therebetween, the unit cells comprising an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween, and having an oxidant channel formed on the surface of the separator adjacent to the cathode, and the anode and the cathode comprising a catalyst layer attached to the electrolyte membrane and a diffusion layer, wherein the cross-sectional area of the inlet side of the oxidant channel, the area of the cathode catalyst layer, the thickness of the electrolyte membrane or the amount of a water repellent contained in the combination of the cathode and the oxidant channel is the largest in at least one of the unit cells at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: A watch unit having a time-displaying section, including a reflection-type polarizing film 14 disposed on an upper portion or a lower portion of the time-displaying section or a portion comprising a part of the time-displaying section, an optical modulation section which varies the ratio of a transmission axis to a reflection axis of the reflection-type polarizing film 14, and a shutter function to shield a portion of or all of the watch unit having the time-display section by varying the reflection intensity and the transmission intensity in relation to the light incident direction using the reflection-type polarinzing film 14 and the optical modulation section, to enhance the appearance and to improve the versatility of the watch unit.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is made by disposing an STN cell (16) in which nematic liquid crystal (6) having a twist angle in the range from 180° to 270° is filled and sandwiched between a first substrate (1) having a first electrode (3) and a second substrate (2) having a second electrode (4) at the center, providing a retardation film (13) and an absorption-type polarizing film (8) outside the second substrate (2) in order, and providing a reflection-type polarizing film (10) and a light absorbing film (11) outside the first substrate (1) in order. This enables a metallic silver background due to the reflected light by the reflection-type polarizing film (10) and display in black or in color by light passing through the reflection-type polarizing film (10) being absorbed in the light absorbing film (11) or only light of specific color being reflected.

Abstract: In order to prevent the crossover of an organic fuel such as methanol in a fuel cell and to exhibit excellent electricity generation characteristics without impairing the utilization efficiency of the fuel, at least either of (1) a discontinuous catalyst layer being formed on a surface of an anode catalyst layer and having a higher density (existence probability) of platinum type catalyst than the anode catalyst layer and (2) an electrolyte polymer layer is formed at the interface between the anode catalyst layer and a polymer electrolyte membrane.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a screening method and device able to obtain the entire image of a cell as a detailed and accurate (with a good SN ratio) image at high speed by observing the cell image while a Nipkow system confocal scanner is used and the focal position of an objective lens is changed in the optical axis direction. In the present invention, a reagent and a fluorescent marked cell are injected into a well. The focal position is changed in the optical axis direction by using the Nipkow system confocal scanner. Excitation light is irradiated to the well in each focal position, and fluorescent light generated from the cell is received and the degree of activity, and so on, of the cell is measured and displayed on the basis of a slice image of the cell.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device has first and second liquid crystal panels (101, 102) mainly comprising liquid crystal cells (107, 108), respectively, disposed back to back to enable the visual recognition of the liquid crystal panels (101, 102). A light guide plate (112) is disposed between the first liquid crystal panel (101) and the second liquid crystal panel (102) with a light source (114) located adjacent to its one end face (112c), and a polarization separator (110) located between the first liquid crystal panel (101) and the light guide plate (112). Light emitted from the light guide plate (112) is split into two beams of polarized light: one is emitted to the first liquid crystal panel (101), and the other to the second liquid crystal panel (102) through the light guide plate (112). This constitution thins down a both-sided display liquid crystal display device and reduces power consumption.

Abstract: A liquid crystal is sealed with a sealing member between first and second transparent substrates, whereby a liquid crystal cell capable of transmitting ultraviolet light is produced. The liquid crystal cell is inserted into a mould into which an ultraviolet-setting resin is dropped and which is used to produce a light control member. The ultraviolet-setting resin is pressed to be bonded to the liquid crystal cell. In this state, ultraviolet light is irradiated to the liquid crystal cell in the mould from outside the mould. Thus, the ultraviolet-setting resin is set while bonding to the liquid crystal cell. Thereafter, the liquid crystal cell is removed from the mould. Consequently, the light control member is directly formed on the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: A display device includes a light source that emits a plurality of color lights, and a liquid crystal panel that controls transmission or reflection of the color light from the light source. One field is divided into a plurality of subfields: fr, fg and fb. A specific color light is emitted for at least a partial time of each subfield. An image corresponding to the specific color light is displayed on the liquid crystal panel. Durations of the subfields fr, fg and fb are set to be different from any other subfield in same field. A reflection-type gradation displaying is executed based on a combination of the durations of the subfields.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes: an image pickup unit that converts an image projected by an optical system into image data and outputs the image data; a storage unit that stores the image data output from the image pickup unit; a detection unit that detects an emission position of a light beam emitted from an external device from the image data stored in the storage unit; and a focus control unit that sets a focus detection area based on the emission position of the light beam and makes a focus adjustment mechanism adjust a focus of the optical system so as to maximize a high frequency component in the focus detection area.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes: a dilute tank that stores an aqueous solution of liquid fuel and supplies the solution to the anode of a fuel cell; a fuel tank connected to the dilute tank via a first controlling section; a water tank connected to the dilute tank via a second controlling section; and controlling means including a current detector which measures the amount of the fuel consumed by the fuel cell from the amount of power generation. The controlling means controls the first controlling section based on the measured amount of fuel consumption and further includes correcting means for measuring a component of a gas discharged from the cathode, calculating the amount of the fuel which has crossed over from the anode to the cathode based on the measured component, and correcting the measured amount of fuel consumption based on the calculated amount of fuel crossover.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus (1) is generally composed of a principal part (5), a supplementary part (6) and a burner port assembly (3). Four metal plates (7,8,10,11) constituting the principal and supplementary parts (5,6) are pressed to have in them several protuberances and recesses. These metal plates are laid one on another to form in them some hollow spaces and sealed regions. These hollow spaces communicate with each other to form a thin gas passage (22) together with a thick gas passage (73) in this combustion apparatus (1) in such a manner that its condition of thick and thin fuel combustion is rendered more stable.