Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in battery packs. The invention intends to provide a highly flexible battery pack and an electronic device assembly using the same. The battery pack of the invention includes an elastic sheet and at least one coin battery embedded in the elastic sheet. In a preferable embodiment of the invention, the electronic device assembly includes a laminate of the battery pack and a flexible electronic device. The electronic device is driven by power supplied through positive and negative terminals of the battery pack. In another preferable embodiment of the invention, the electronic device assembly includes the battery pack and a device embedded in the elastic sheet of the battery pack, and the device is driven by power supplied by the at least one coin battery.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode and a negative electrode with an active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode active material is covered by a coating having elasticity. The fully elastic coating expands and contracts following the volume change of the negative electrode active material; thus, the coating brings out its desired functions without being damaged or broken. Regardless of the degree of the volume change of the negative electrode active material, a lasting coating without damage is formed on the negative electrode active material, to improve performances of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material that comprises a lithium-containing manganese oxide, and the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material that comprises silicon and a transition metal element. When the battery voltage is 0 V, the positive electrode and the negative electrode have a potential of 1.8 V or higher relative to lithium metal (Li/Li+). Since the deterioration of the positive and negative electrode active materials is suppressed, this non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has both high capacity and excellent deep discharge cycle life.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bipolar battery. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bipolar battery having a good productivity and a high reliability of the electrical connection with an apparatus when the battery is attached to various apparatuses. A bipolar battery 1 of the present invention includes a positive electrode 10, a negative electrode 11, a bipolar electrode 12, an electrolyte-containing separator 13, and a sealing member 14. Current collectors 20, 22, and 24 of the positive electrode 10, the negative electrode 11, and the bipolar electrode 12 are respectively provided with at least two projections 20a to 20d, 22a to 22d, and 24a to 24d, and these projections project from peripheral portions of the current collectors.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that has a high electrical capacity and exhibits excellent cycle characteristics even when the battery is rapidly charged and discharged at a large current includes: a positive electrode capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing Li; a negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode includes an alloying material that is capable of electrochemically absorbing and desorbing Li, and includes an A phase composed mainly of Si and a B phase including an intermetallic compound of at least one transition metal element and Si. The transition metal element is selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Ni, Cu, and Fe. At least one of the A phase and the B phase includes a microcrystalline or amorphous region. The weight percent of the A phase relative to the total weight of the A phase and the B phase is greater than 40% and not greater than 95%.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode and a negative electrode with an active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode active material is covered by a coating having elasticity. The fully elastic coating expands and contracts following the volume change of the negative electrode active material; thus, the coating brings out its desired functions without being damaged or broken. Regardless of the degree of the volume change of the negative electrode active material, a lasting coating without damage is formed on the negative electrode active material, to improve performances of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: An object of the present invention resides in that under the use of an active material capable of attaining a high capacity, the volume expansion of the negative electrode is alleviated, the maintenance of the structure of the negative electrode is achieved, and the degradation of the battery capacity is suppressed. The present invention relates to a negative electrode for a coin-shaped lithium secondary battery, a coin-shaped lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode, and a method for producing the negative electrode for a coin-shaped lithium secondary battery, wherein: the negative electrode includes a molded negative electrode including a negative electrode active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium; the molded negative electrode is of a coin shape having two flat faces and a side edge, and has cracks along the thickness direction thereof; at least one of the two flat faces has recessed portions; and the cracks start from the recessed portions.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode and a negative electrode with an active material capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium, a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode active material is covered by a coating having elasticity. The fully elastic coating expands and contracts following the volume change of the negative electrode active material; thus, the coating brings out its desired functions without being damaged or broken. Regardless of the degree of the volume change of the negative electrode active material, a lasting coating without damage is formed on the negative electrode active material, to improve performances of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: An all solid-state polymer battery uses: 1) a lithium based negative electrode active material including crystal grains and crystal grain boundaries, wherein at least part of the crystal grain boundaries are exposed on a surface of the lithium-based negative electrode active material, and the area of the exposed surface of the crystal grain boundaries is 0.02 to 0.5 cm2 per square centimeter of surface; 2) a dry polymer electrolyte including a specific ethylene glycol ether, a polymer containing electron-donating oxygen atoms in the skeleton, and a lithium salt; or 3) an amorphous lithium nitride layer formed between the negative electrode and the polymer electrolyte. This reduces the resistance at the interface between the negative electrode and the polymer electrolyte, thereby providing an all solid-state polymer battery with high capacity and excellent cycle characteristics.

Abstract: A method for sensitively diagnosing lower urinary tract disorders, particularly interstitial cystitis, is provided. The method can visually, simply, and clearly diagnose bladder ulcer without requirement of bladder hydrodistention under anesthesia. In the method, lower urinary tract disorders are diagnosed by observing an abnormality of a blood vessel and/or a newly formed blood vessel in a surface of bladder mucous membrane among abnormalities in blood vessels and/or newly formed blood vessels by visually comparing an image of the surface of the bladder mucous membrane and an image of a deep portion of the bladder mucous membrane obtained using a bladder endoscope system having a narrow band imaging device.

Abstract: Provided is a diagnosis catheter 101 for an interstitial cystitis wherein a catheter 101 is connected to a current perception threshold inspection apparatus 4 to diagnose the interstitial cystitis, comprising: a cylindrical catheter body 111 made of a soft flexible material and including a distal end section A to be left in the bladder 102 and a body section B disposed adjacent to the distal end section A and defined in a proximal end side; at least one electrode 114 provided on a distal end of the catheter body 111; and a lead wire 115 inserted into the catheter body 111 so that first end of the lead wire is connected to the electrode 114 and second end of the lead wire is drawn out of a proximal end of the catheter body 111 to be connected to the current perception threshold inspection apparatus 4.

Abstract: A playback device for replaying a bit stream digitally transmitted which includes detecting means for detecting only intra-picture data in the bit stream that is replayed; extracting means for extracting the detected intra-picture data from the replayed bit stream, according to the result of the detection at the detecting means; replay mode designating means for selecting and designating one of normal replay, slow replay and still replay, as a replay mode; and replay data outputting means for storing the extracted intra-picture data, and outputting the detected intra-picture data as replay picture data, according to a mode signal output by said replay mode designating means.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present invention includes a pelletized negative electrode. An active material for the negative electrode includes a first phase mainly composed of Si and a second phase containing a silicide of a transition metal. At least one of the first and second phases is amorphous or low-crystalline. The mean particle size (D50) is 0.50 to 20 ?m, and the 10% diameter (D10) and 90% diameter (D90) in a volume cumulative particle size distribution are respectively 0.10 to 5.0 ?m and 5.0 to 80 ?m. The battery is improved in density and current collecting properties of the negative electrode, has a high capacity, and has an excellent cycle life.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: Data separating means extracts intra-frame or intra-field encoded blocks from an intra-frame or intra-field encoded, and inter-frame or inter-field encoded digital video signal, and a digital audio signal contained in an input bit stream. Error correction code appending means appends error correction codes to the extracted intra-encoded blocks. Recording means records the data having the error correction code appended, in special replay data recording areas predefined on the magnetic recording tape. During fast replay or slow replay, error correction is achieved even for the replay signal with a low output level and a poor symbol rate.