Abstract: A drive system of an electric vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine; a generating motor provided so as to be able to generate electricity by receiving motive force from the internal combustion engine; and a travel motor provided so as to be able to be driven by electric power generated by the generating motor, and the drive system is configured so as to be able to switch a series hybrid mode and an engine direct connected mode, the series hybrid mode being a mode in which, while the internal combustion engine and the drive wheel are linked via a first clutch so as to be unlinkable/linkable, the travel motor and the drive wheel are linked via a second clutch different from the first clutch so as to be unlinkable/linkable, and the travel motor is used as a drive power source such that the electric vehicle travels by transmitting motive force from the travel motor to the drive wheel, the engine direct connected mode being a mode in which at least one of the internal combustion engine and the generator

Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes: an air-conditioning device; and a distribution device to distribute an update program to the air-conditioning device, the distribution device being connected to the air-conditioning device via a first network. Preferably, the distribution device is configured to receive distribution of the update program from a network server connected to the distribution device via a second network. The distribution device is configured to perform protocol conversion between a communication method of the first network and a communication method of the second network.

Abstract: A method of producing a nitrided cut tap that includes a nitrogen diffusion layer. The method includes (a) a nitriding step for forming the nitrogen diffusion layer in which nitrogen atoms contained in an atmospheric gas are diffused from a surface of a base material of the cut tap under heat, such that the nitrogen diffusion layer has a thickness ranging from 10 ?m to 30 ?m; and (b) a honing step for rounding a cutting edge portion by colliding abrasive particles against a local part of the cutting edge portion of the base material of the cut tap that has been subjected to the nitriding step, such that a difference between a thickness of the nitrogen diffusion layer in the cutting edge portion and a thickness of the nitrogen diffusion layer in flank and rake surfaces sandwiching the cutting edge portion, is not larger than 5 ?m.

Abstract: A substrate includes first and second sides, the first side being flat, the second side including upper and lower sides, the lower side protruding from the upper side to form a step. An optical function layer is on a top of the substrate, the optical function layer including first and second end faces, the first end face being flush with the first side, the second end face being flush with the upper side of the second side. A first film continuously covers the first end face and the first side. A second film is different in reflectance from the first film, the second film continuously covering the second end face and the upper side. A first electrode is electrically connected to a top of the optical function layer. A second electrode is electrically connected to a bottom of the optical function layer.

Abstract: Provided is a battery pack capable of improving load resistance of a reinforcing part and protecting battery cells inside a case. The battery pack 100 includes a reinforcing part 30 that is in contact with a bottom wall 10e of the case 10. The reinforcing part 30 extends in one direction D1 along the bottom wall 10e, and has dimensions d1, d2 in directions orthogonal to the one direction D1 that are larger than thickness t of side walls 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d of the case 10 and of the bottom wall 10e. The reinforcing part 30 has a pair of end fixed parts 31 that are fixed to both ends of the battery module 20 in the one direction D1, and an intermediate fixed part 32 between the pair of end fixed parts 31 and fixed to the battery module 20 or the case 10.

Abstract: A multi-terraced structure includes three or more sections with different thicknesses and adjacent to each other in a direction in which an optical waveguide extends. An adjacent pair of the three or more sections includes one section smaller in thickness and closer to an end face of the semiconductor multilayers and another section larger in thickness and farther from the end face of the semiconductor multilayers. The three or more sections include: a first section with a smallest thickness, including the lowermost layer; a second section adjacent to the first section, including the lowermost layer and additionally a stress relief layer composed of a material equal to or lower than Au in Young's modulus; and a third section with a largest thickness, including all layers from the uppermost layer to the lowermost layer.

Abstract: A steering module includes a steering wheel which is provided in front of a driver seat, a column cover which is provided on a vehicle front side of the steering wheel, extends in a forward and rearward direction of a vehicle, and has a functional component mounting region in at least one of an inner inside and an upper portion thereof, and a meter member which is formed integrally with the column cover and includes a main display portion disposed at a position spaced apart from the column cover.

Abstract: A device includes: a laminate including first and second regions adjacent to respective both sides of an isolation groove; a mesa stripe structure adjacent to the first region on the laminate and extending in the first direction; a bank structure adjacent to the second region on the laminate and extending in the first direction; and an electrode pattern. The isolation groove has an inner surface including a first wall surface adjacent to the first region, a second wall surface adjacent to the second region, and a bottom surface between the first and second regions. The ridge electrode extends from the side of the mesa stripe structure, along a second direction, toward the bank structure, and not beyond the second wall surface. The connection electrode is narrower in width in the first direction than any one of the ridge electrode and the pad electrode.

Abstract: A smear system includes smear preparing apparatus that prepares a smear slide and a smear transporting apparatus that transports the smear slide to a smear-image capture apparatus. The smear preparing apparatus includes: a smear preparation part that smears a sample on a slide; and a smear arrangement part that places smear slides in a smear container. The smear transporting apparatus includes: a smear-container transport part that transports the smear container with the smear slides; an identification-information acquisition part that acquires identification information on whether image capturing by the smear-image capture apparatus is necessary, from each of the smear slides accommodated in the smear container positioned on a transport path of the smear-container transport part; and a smear transfer part that transfers the smear slide whose image is to be captured to the smear-image capture apparatus on the basis of the identification information acquired by the identification-information acquisition part.

Abstract: A battery module including a plurality of battery cells that prevents the movement of the battery cells due to impact and has excellent cooling performance of the battery cells includes a battery cell group including a laminate of a plurality of flattened rectangular battery cells stacked in a thickness direction of the battery cells, and a housing storing the battery cell group. The battery cell group includes a plurality of cell holders configured to hold the individual battery cells from both sides in the thickness direction, and a plurality of side plates disposed at both ends of the plurality of battery cells in a width direction via the plurality of cell holders. Each of the cell holders has a restriction portion configured to restrict movement of the corresponding battery cell in a direction intersecting the thickness direction, and fixing portions that engage with the side plates.

Abstract: A ridge type semiconductor optical device includes a first conductivity type semiconductor layer including at least a first stripe section; an active layer including at least an active stripe section on the first stripe section; a second conductivity type semiconductor layer including at least a second stripe section on the active stripe section; a ridge electrode on the second stripe section; an insulation film on an end face of each of the first stripe section, the active stripe section, and the second stripe section; and a film heater on the insulation film, the film heater overlapping with the end face of at least the first stripe section.

Abstract: A smear system includes smear preparing apparatus that prepares a smear slide and a smear transporting apparatus that transports the smear slide to a smear-image capture apparatus. The smear preparing apparatus includes: a smear preparation part that smeares a sample on a slide; and a smear arrangement part that places smear slides in a smear container. The smear transporting apparatus includes: a smear-container transport part that transports the smear container with the smear slides; an identification-information acquisition part that acquires identification information on whether image capturing by the smear-image capture apparatus is necessary, from each of the smear slides accommodated in the smear container positioned on a transport path of the smear-container transport part; and a smear transfer part that transfers the smear slide whose image is to be captured to the smear-image capture apparatus on the basis of the identification information acquired by the identification-information acquisition part.

Abstract: A battery pack includes battery groups, a holder, a positive electrode-connection bus bar, and a negative electrode-connection bus bar. The positive electrode-connection bus bar is connected to the positive electrode terminal having a highest potential in the first battery group and the second battery group which are electrically connected to each other in series. The negative electrode-connection bus bar is connected to the negative electrode terminal having a lowest potential in the first battery group and the second battery group which are electrically connected to each other in series. The positive electrode-connection bus bar and the negative electrode-connection bus bar are connected to the holder.

Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes an element structure layer that includes a mesa stripe extending in a first direction; an electrode film that covers at least an upper surface of the mesa stripe; an electrode pad portion that covers a part of a first region positioned in a second direction, intersecting the first direction, relative to the mesa stripe on an upper surface of the element structure layer and is electrically connected to the electrode film; a first dummy electrode that covers another part of the first region and is electrically insulated from the electrode film; and a second dummy electrode that covers at least a part of a second region positioned in a third direction, opposite to the second direction, relative to the mesa stripe on the upper surface of the element structure layer and is electrically insulated from the electrode film, wherein the first dummy electrode includes a first portion disposed in the first direction relative to the electrode pad portion and a second portion dispose

Abstract: A battery pack provided with a plurality of battery cells, the battery pack making it possible to achieve higher safety than before during handling work. The battery pack is provided with a battery group in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a housing in which the battery group is accommodated. The housing, with respect to a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to a height direction of the housing and to each other, has a dimension in the first direction which is made smaller than a dimension in the second direction. The battery group is eccentrically located on one side in the first direction in the housing.

Abstract: A battery pack provided with a plurality of battery cells, the battery pack making it possible to achieve higher safety than before during handling work. The battery pack is provided with a battery group in which the plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a housing in which the battery group is accommodated. The housing, with respect to a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to a height direction of the housing and to each other, has a dimension in the first direction which is made smaller than a dimension in the second direction. The battery group is eccentrically located on one side in the first direction in the housing.

Abstract: A modulation doped semiconductor laser includes a multiple quantum well composed of a plurality of layers including a plurality of first layers and a plurality of second layers stacked alternately and including an acceptor and a donor; a p-type semiconductor layer in contact with an uppermost layer of the plurality of layers; and an n-type semiconductor layer in contact with a lowermost layer of the plurality of layers, the plurality of first layers including the acceptor so that a p-type carrier concentration is 10% or more and 150% or less of the p-type semiconductor layer, the plurality of second layers containing the acceptor so that the p-type carrier concentration is 10% or more and 150% or less of the p-type semiconductor layer, the plurality of second layers containing the donor, and an effective carrier concentration corresponding to a difference between the p-type carrier concentration and an n-type carrier concentration is 10% or less of the p-type carrier concentration of the plurality of second l

Abstract: A ridge type semiconductor optical device includes a first conductivity type semiconductor layer including at least a first stripe section; an active layer including at least an active stripe section on the first stripe section; a second conductivity type semiconductor layer including at least a second stripe section on the active stripe section; a ridge electrode on the second stripe section; an insulation film on an end face of each of the first stripe section, the active stripe section, and the second stripe section; and a film heater on the insulation film, the film heater overlapping with the end face of at least the first stripe section.