Abstract: A process fiber including a core extending along a central axis and a clad covering a circumference of the core includes an outer edge portion constituting an outer edge of a core cross section obtained by vertically cutting the core. The outer edge portion includes seven sides and seven corner portions respectively connecting the sides adjacent to each other. Each of the corner portions has an R shape along a circumscribed circle circumscribed to the outer edge portion. When a diameter of the circumscribed circle is O, a diameter of an inscribed circle inscribed to the outer edge portion is I, and the number of the corner portions is n (n is an odd number), a diameter ratio ?, which is a ratio between the diameter O of the circumscribed circle and the diameter I of the inscribed circle, fulfills a predetermined condition.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which includes placing an electrode assembly in a hermetically sealable battery case, injecting a nonaqueous electrolyte into the battery case after the battery case has been set in a pressure-reduced state, and sealing the battery case under atmospheric pressure conditions. Sealing of the battery case is carried out before a given amount of the injected electrolyte completely impregnates the interior of the electrode assembly. As a result, the remaining nonaqueous electrolyte impregnates the interior of the electrode assembly after sealing, thereby making the pressure of voids within the battery case lower than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery includes a binder coating step (18), a mixture supplying step (20), a magnetic field applying step (22), and a convection generating step (24). The binder coating step (18) is a step of coating a slurry-form binder (18a) on a metal foil (12a) (collector). The mixture supplying step (20) is a step of supplying a negative electrode mixture containing graphite so as to be superposed on the slurry-form binder (18a) coated on the metal foil (12a) in the binder coating step (18). The magnetic field applying step (22) is a step of applying a magnetic field having magnetic lines of force pointing in the direction orthogonal to the metal foil (12a), to the negative electrode mixture (20a) coated on the metal foil (12a) in the mixture supplying step (20).

Abstract: This invention provides a method of manufacturing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which includes placing an electrode assembly in a hermetically sealable battery case, injecting a nonaqueous electrolyte into the battery case after the battery case has been set in a pressure-reduced state, and sealing the battery case under atmospheric pressure conditions. Sealing of the battery case is carried out before a given amount of the injected electrolyte completely impregnates the interior of the electrode assembly. As a result, the remaining nonaqueous electrolyte impregnates the interior of the electrode assembly after sealing, thereby making the pressure of voids within the battery case lower than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a negative electrode plate for a non-aqueous secondary battery is disclosed, in which it is possible to assess whether or not a binder is localized in an electrode surface without lowering the productivity of the negative electrode plate. The method includes coating an electrode mixture containing at least a negative electrode active material and a binder to a current collector and drying the coated electrode mixture. The method includes an inspection step of measuring a reflectance of a coating surface of the negative electrode plate to thereby determine the quality of the negative electrode plate. If the reflectance of the coating surface of the negative electrode plate falls within a range of 15 to 35% when an incident angle and a light receiving angle each fall within the range of 80° to 90°, the negative electrode plate is determined to be excellent.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery includes a binder coating step (18), a mixture supplying step (20), a magnetic field applying step (22), and a convection generating step (24). The binder coating step (18) is a step of coating a slurry-form binder (18a) on a metal foil (12a) (collector). The mixture supplying step (20) is a step of supplying a negative electrode mixture containing graphite so as to be superposed on the slurry-form binder (18a) coated on the metal foil (12a) in the binder coating step (18). The magnetic field applying step (22) is a step of applying a magnetic field having magnetic lines of force pointing in the direction orthogonal to the metal foil (12a), to the negative electrode mixture (20a) coated on the metal foil (12a) in the mixture supplying step (20).

Abstract: The method for manufacturing a lithium ion secondary battery includes a binder coating step (18), a mixture supplying step (20), a magnetic field applying step (22), and a convection generating step (24). The binder coating step (18) is a step of coating a slurry-form binder (18a) on a metal foil (12a) (collector). The mixture supplying step (20) is a step of supplying a negative electrode mixture containing graphite so as to be superposed on the slurry-form binder (18a) coated on the metal foil (12a) in the binder coating step (18). The magnetic field applying step (22) is a step of applying a magnetic field having magnetic lines of force pointing in the direction orthogonal to the metal foil (12a), to the negative electrode mixture (20a) coated on the metal foil (12a) in the mixture supplying step (20).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a negative electrode plate for a non-aqueous secondary battery in which it is possible to assess whether or not a binder is localized in an electrode surface without lowering the productivity of the negative electrode plate for a non-aqueous secondary battery.

Abstract: There are provided a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected from an optical recording medium, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the element. In particular, the light-receiving element can be manufactured at low cost and in a simple manner and is configured to receive light from a short-wavelength laser source (having a wavelength of 402 nm to 413 nm). The light-receiving element includes a silicon substrate in which a light-receiving portion is formed; a circuit board for mounting the silicon substrate; at least one or more wires for electrically connecting the silicon substrate and the circuit board; a cover layer for covering the wires; and an exposed portion for exposing the light-receiving portion outside.

Abstract: A photodetector used in, for example, an optical pickup device includes: a photodetection unit including a plurality of photodetection elements and provided on a semiconductor chip; a light transmitting unit formed on the upper surface of the photodetection unit; and a light shielding layer having an optical aperture and disposed on the upper surface of the light transmitting unit, with these components being formed integrally. The light transmitting unit is configured such that the distance between the optical aperture and the photodetection unit is maintained constant, and the optical aperture is formed such that the inner portion of an incident light beam passes therethrough. The positioning of the photodetector and the positioning of the optical aperture such as a pinhole or a slit for adjusting the light beam entering the photodetection elements of the photodetector can be made at the same time.

Abstract: A light receiving apparatus includes a holder made of metal and a light receiving element that is attached to the holder, receives laser light reflected by an information medium, and outputs an electric signal. The light receiving element is constructed of a bare chip, is attached to the holder, and parts of the light receiving element aside from a part on which the laser light is incident are sealed using resin.

Abstract: There are provided a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected from an optical recording medium, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the element. In particular, the light-receiving element can be manufactured at low cost and in a simple manner and is configured to receive light from a short-wavelength laser source (having a wavelength of 402 nm to 413 nm). The light-receiving element includes a silicon substrate in which a light-receiving portion is formed; a circuit board for mounting the silicon substrate; at least one or more wires for electrically connecting the silicon substrate and the circuit board; a cover layer for covering the wires; and an exposed portion for exposing the light-receiving portion outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected at an optical recording medium, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproduction apparatus using the element. The invention provides a light-receiving element capable of preventing deterioration of an electrical signal obtained through photoelectric conversion of received light, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproduction apparatus using the element. The light-receiving element includes a light-receiving portion formed on a silicon substrate and a cover layer formed with a thickness that is greater in a non-light-entrance region around the light-receiving portion than in a light entrance region above the light-receiving portion when viewed in a normal direction of a substrate surface of the silicon substrate. Two outer surfaces on a light entering side of the non-light-entrance region are inclined such that their height decreases toward the light entrance region.

Abstract: Expandable ethylenically unsaturated polymer particles are produced by using in the process a suspension stabilizer comprising calcium carbonate particles having the surfaces thereof treated with resin acid. The method for the production of such expandable ethylenically unsaturated polymer particles from ethylenically unsaturated polymer particles includes suspending such particles in water and impregnating the particles with an organic expanding agent having a boiling point lower than the softening point of the polymer particles.

Abstract: A process for preparing expandable styrene polymer particles by using calcium hydroxide as a suspending agent to prevent agglomeration of styrene polymer particles during impregnation with an expanding agent. The process comprises preparing expandable styrene polymer particles from styrene polymer particles in water, wherein the expanding agent (which does not dissolve styrene polymer particles or slightly swells the particles and has a boiling point lower than the softening point of the particles) is added in the presence of the suspending agent and the particles being impregnated thereby.

Abstract: A process for preparing expandable styrene polymer particles by using magnesium oxide as a suspending agent to prevent agglomeration of styrene polymer particles during impregnation with an expanding agent. The process comprises preparing expandable styrene polymer particles from styrene polymer particles in water, wherein the expanding agent (which does not dissolve styrene polymer particles or slightly swells the particles, and has a boiling point lower than the softening point of the particles) is added in the presence of the suspending agent and the particles being impregnated thereby.

Abstract: Expandable styrene polymer particle compositions containing an expanding agent which is volatilizable and does not dissolve or may slightly swell the styrene polymer particles and a small amount of sulfur containing compound having the general formula: ##EQU1## wherein, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different lower alkyl, aralkyl or aryl groups, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be joined together to form an alkylene group, andR.sub.3 is a metal ion, ammonium or organic amine each of which form soluble salts in an organic solvent, or a group ##EQU2## wherein n is an integer of from 0 to 5 and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same as the above.