Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a first liquid chamber, a second liquid chamber, a communication path through which liquid can flow from the first liquid chamber to the second liquid chamber, a blocking member configured to block communication between the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber through the communication path, and a movable member positioned in the second liquid chamber and comprising a float. The first liquid chamber stores liquid therein and the second liquid chamber does not store liquid therein.

Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a liquid cartridge and a cartridge mounting unit having a liquid extraction tube. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a valve chamber extending in a first direction away from the liquid chamber, first and second air channels, a seal member having a through-hole, a valve element having a closing part, first and second sealing parts and a liquid channel. A third sealing part is provided on the closing part or the liquid extraction tube. The liquid extraction tube entering into the valve chamber through the through-hole contacts the closing part, moving the valve element in a second direction opposite to the first direction from a first state where the closing part closes the through-hole, to a second state where the third sealing part closes the through-hole, and to a third state where the valve chamber is communicated with inside of the liquid extraction tube.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a valve chamber; a moving member; first and second sealing parts; and a second liquid channel. The valve chamber is defined by a side wall surface including central, first-end side, and second-end side regions. The central region defines a first space having a first cross-sectional area. The first-end side region defines a second space having a second cross-sectional area. The second-end side region defines a third space having a third cross-sectional area. The second and third cross-sectional areas are greater than the first cross-sectional area. The moving member moves from a first position where the first and second sealing parts are positioned within the first and third spaces, respectively, and the valve closes the second liquid channel, to a second position where the first and second sealing parts are positioned within the second and first spaces, respectively, and the valve opens the second liquid channel.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a valve chamber; a moving member; first and second sealing parts; and a second liquid channel. The valve chamber is defined by a side wall surface including central, first-end side, and second-end side regions. The central region defines a first space having a first cross-sectional area. The first-end side region defines a second space having a second cross-sectional area. The second-end side region defines a third space having a third cross-sectional area. The second and third cross-sectional areas are greater than the first cross-sectional area. The moving member moves from a first position where the first and second sealing parts are positioned within the first and third spaces, respectively, and the valve closes the second liquid channel, to a second position where the first and second sealing parts are positioned within the second and first spaces, respectively, and the valve opens the second liquid channel.

Abstract: A liquid supplying device includes a liquid cartridge and a cartridge mounting unit having a liquid extraction tube. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a valve chamber extending in a first direction away from the liquid chamber, first and second air channels, a seal member having a through-hole, a valve element having a closing part, first and second sealing parts and a liquid channel. A third sealing part is provided on the closing part or the liquid extraction tube. The liquid extraction tube entering into the valve chamber through the through-hole contacts the closing part, moving the valve element in a second direction opposite to the first direction from a first state where the closing part closes the through-hole, to a second state where the third sealing part closes the through-hole, and to a third state where the valve chamber is communicated with inside of the liquid extraction tube.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge body, an ink supply portion and an air communication portion provided at the cartridge body, a block member and a slider. The air communication portion has an inner peripheral wall defining an air passage, and a communication port for allowing communication between an ink chamber and the air passage. The block member moves from a first position to a second position by contact with the slider sliding in a sliding direction to block and open the air passage. The slider includes: a first cylindrical portion having an upstream through-hole penetrating therethrough; a second cylindrical portion having a downstream through-hole penetrating therethrough and communicating with the upstream through-hole; and a semipermeable membrane closing the upstream through-hole. The slider has a contact portion in close contact with the inner peripheral wall and positioned upstream of the block member at the first position in the sliding direction.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body defining a liquid chamber therein; a liquid supply portion provided at the cartridge body; an air flow path provided in the cartridge body; and a valve configured to open and close the air flow path. The air flow path is in communication with the liquid chamber through a communication hole and in communication with ambient air to permit communication between the liquid chamber and ambient air through the air flow path. The valve includes: a slidable valve main body disposed in an internal space defined by an inner peripheral wall of the air flow path; and a sealing member provided on the valve main body, the sealing member including a first elastic portion configured to seal the communication hole and a second elastic portion configured to be in contact with and in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall.

Abstract: An all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery containing a novel garnet-type oxide serving as a solid electrolyte. The garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide is one represented by the formula Li5+XLa3(ZrX, A2-X)O12, wherein A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Y, Nb, Hf, Ta, Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn and X satisfies the inequality 1.4?X<2, or is one obtained by substituting an element having an ionic radius different from that of Zr for Zr sites in an garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide represented by the formula Li7La3Zr2O12, wherein the normalized intensity of an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with a diffraction peak, as normalized on the basis of the intensity of a diffraction peak, is 9.2 or more.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery (10) includes a positive electrode active material of lithium transition metal oxide which contains at least a nickel element and a manganese element as transition metals and for which, with respect to a diffraction peak A located at a diffraction angle 20 of 17° to 20° and a diffraction peak B located at a diffraction angle 2? of 43° to 46° from X-ray diffraction measurements, when the integrated intensity ratio is R1=IA/IB, the peak intensity ratio is RH=HA/HB, and the ratio between the integrated intensity ratio R1 and the peak intensity ratio RH is SF=RH/R1>> the SF satisfies 1.1?SF?2.2.

Abstract: A reflective material of the present invention is made of an optical medium which transmits light, and has (i) a first plane which is a surface on which inclined planes are aligned with no gap therebetween and (ii) a second plane which is opposite to the first plane and is a flat surface, and has the first plane having a shape and a refractive index such that at any time, light having entered the first plane or the second plane enters, at an entrance angle equal to or larger than a critical angle of total internal reflection, a corresponding opposite one of the first plane and the second plane directly from an inside of the reflective material.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes: a cartridge body defining a liquid chamber therein; a liquid supply portion provided at the cartridge body; an air flow path provided in the cartridge body; and a valve configured to open and close the air flow path. The air flow path is in communication with the liquid chamber through a communication hole and in communication with ambient air to permit communication between the liquid chamber and ambient air through the air flow path. The valve includes: a slidable valve main body disposed in an internal space defined by an inner peripheral wall of the air flow path; and a sealing member provided on the valve main body, the sealing member including a first elastic portion configured to seal the communication hole and a second elastic portion configured to be in contact with and in sliding contact with the inner peripheral wall.

Abstract: An ink cartridge includes a cartridge body, an ink supply portion and an air communication portion provided at the cartridge body, a block member and a slider. The air communication portion has an inner peripheral wall defining an air passage, and a communication port for allowing communication between an ink chamber and the air passage. The block member moves from a first position to a second position by contact with the slider sliding in a sliding direction to block and open the air passage. The slider includes: a first cylindrical portion having an upstream through-hole penetrating therethrough; a second cylindrical portion having a downstream through-hole penetrating therethrough and communicating with the upstream through-hole; and a semipermeable membrane closing the upstream through-hole. The slider has a contact portion in close contact with the inner peripheral wall and positioned upstream of the block member at the first position in the sliding direction.

Abstract: A reflective material (10) of the present invention is made of an optical medium which transmits light, and has (i) a first plane which is a surface on which inclined planes are aligned with no gap therebetween (a surface on which triangular ridges or multiangular pyramids are aligned) and (ii) a second plane which is opposite to the first plane and is a flat surface or an approximately planar and gently curved surface. The reflective material (10) has the first plane having a shape and a refractive index such that at any time, light having entered the first plane or the second plane enters, at an entrance angle larger than a critical angle of total internal reflection, a corresponding opposite one of the first plane and the second plane (i) directly from an inside of the reflective material or (ii) from the inside of the reflective material after having experienced repeated internal reflection.

Abstract: By detecting an antibody which immunologically reacts with amylase ?2-A in a sample, AIP or FT1DM is examined or the possibility of developing FT1DM is determined. For instance, detection of this antibody is carried out by an immunological method using an antigen which immunologically reacts with this antibody. The antigen is preferably a partial fragment containing the amino acid sequence of amino acid numbers 299 to 511 of human amylase ?2-A (SEQ ID NO: 1).

Abstract: A transition metal silicide-Si composite powder and a method of manufacturing the composite powder are provided, the composite powder containing one or more transition metal elements (M), and having a Si/M ratio (z) of 2.0?z?20.0 and a specific surface area of 2.5 m2/g or more. In addition, CaSiy-based powder for manufacturing transition metal silicide-Si composite powder and a method of manufacturing the CaSiy-based powder are provided, the CaSiy-based powder having a Si/Ca ratio (w) of 2.0?w?20.0 and containing at least a Ca-silicide phase.

Abstract: An all-solid-state lithium ion secondary battery containing a novel garnet-type oxide serving as a solid electrolyte. The garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide is one represented by the formula Li5+XLa3(ZrX, A2-X)O12, wherein A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Y, Nb, Hf, Ta, Al, Si, Ga, Ge, and Sn and X satisfies the inequality 1.4?X<2, or is one obtained by substituting an element having an ionic radius different from that of Zr for Zr sites in an garnet-type lithium ion-conducting oxide represented by the formula Li7La3Zr2O12, wherein the normalized intensity of an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern with a diffraction peak, as normalized on the basis of the intensity of a diffraction peak, is 9.2 or more.

Abstract: A highly efficient and reliable motor control system and motor control method are provided. The motor control system includes a motor having a plurality of sets of armature windings, a plurality of inverters which drive the plurality of sets of armature windings, and a plurality of control devices which control the inverters individually.

Abstract: By detecting an antibody which immunologically reacts with amylase ?2-A in a sample, AIP or FT1DM is examined or the possibility of developing FT1DM is determined. Detection of this antibody is for instance carried out by an immunological method using an antigen which immunologically reacts with this antibody. The antigen is preferably a partial fragment containing the amino acid sequence of amino acid numbers 299 to 512 of human amylase ?2-A.

Abstract: A battery characteristic detecting method according to the invention includes a first step in which constant current discharge from a battery is performed at a predetermined current value, and a voltage during constant current discharge is measured; a second step in which overpotential for mass transfer control in the battery or resistance for the mass transfer control in the battery is calculated based on the voltage measured in the first step; and a third step in which a determination that a characteristic change has occurred in the battery is made, when the overpotential for the mass transfer control in the battery or the resistance for the mass transfer control in the battery calculated in the second step is larger than a predetermined threshold value.