Abstract: A PC executes a program including a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the shortest charging history when a charging request is present, inventory of exchange electric storage devices with completed charging is available, the number of inventory days is equal to or less than A days, and the sufficient number of storage locations is ensured, a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the longest charging history when the sufficient number of storage locations is not ensured, and a step of executing charging control when the selected exchange electric storage device is connected to a charger.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an ignition plug is provided. The method includes: preparing an insulator having a cavity provided at a leading end portion thereof by disposing a leading end of the center electrode more inwards than a leading end of the insulator; building the insulator in an interior of the metal shell such that the leading end of the insulator is situated closer to a rear end side than the leading end of the metal shell; removing at least part of a leading end portion of the metal shell which projects from a leading end face of the insulator; and disposing the ground electrode at the leading end portion of the metal shell and welding the ground electrode and the metal shell together after the removal step.

Abstract: A power supply circuit charging a secondary battery by a DC-DC converter using a switching element and an inductance element includes a current adjustment circuit. The current adjustment circuit adjusts a charging current of the secondary battery by turning on/off the switching element according to a voltage difference of a lower one of a reference voltage and a first control voltage corresponding to a temperature of the secondary battery from a current detection voltage corresponding to the charging current of the secondary battery.

Abstract: The optical element of the present invention has a first member and a second member which have been joined in close contact, and has nd1>nd2 and (nF1?nC1)<(nF2?nC2), where the first member is formed of a resin having both a benzene ring and a fluorine atom, or the second member is formed of a resin having an alicyclic structure. It also makes use of an optic-purpose resin precursor composition prepared by mixing a first resin precursor having nd<1.50 and (nF?nC)>0.003 in an uncured state and a second resin precursor having nd<1.62 and (nF?nC)>0.010.

Abstract: An ignition device for a plasma jet ignition plug is provided. A resistance for decreasing electric noises is not incorporated in a plasma jet ignition plug. A resistance of not less than 1K? and not more than 20K? is provided to a path from a spark discharge circuit to a center electrode, thus reducing the generation of electric noises at the time of trigger discharge. Along with the reduction of the generation of electric noises, a loss of energy at the time of plasma discharge can be reduced by setting an inner resistance provided to a line extending to the center electrode from a plasma discharge circuit to 1? or less. Accordingly, the plasma jet ignition plug can jet flame-shaped plasma sufficiently large for igniting an air-fuel mixture.

Abstract: A plasma jet spark plug comprising: a center electrode; an insulator having an axial bore extending in an axial direction, and retaining the center electrode within the axial bore; a metallic shell surrounding and retaining the insulator from outside with respect to a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction; and a ground electrode disposed frontward of the front end portion of the insulator with respect to the axial direction, wherein the ground electrode has a contact portion contacting the front end portion of the insulator in an annular contact zone, the ground electrode is not in contact with the metallic shell with respect to the axial direction and the ground electrode is in contact with the metallic shell with respect to a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction and is electrically connected with the metallic shell by means of an outer peripheral portion thereof being joined to the metallic shell.

Abstract: A plasma jet spark plug and a manufacturing method therefor are disclosed. In a state in which a noble-metal chip having a flange-like outwardly projecting portion is disposed in a communication section of a ground electrode, an electrode base metal of the ground electrode is disposed in a stepped engagement portion of a metallic shell, which retains an insulator therein. While being pressed against a front end portion of the insulator, the noble-metal chip is joined to the electrode base metal, whereby a clearance between the ground electrode (electrode base metal) and the front end portion of the insulator can be closed. Therefore, energy of plasma generated within the cavity does not leak.

Abstract: A spark plug comprising: a center electrode extending along an axis; an insulator provided about the outer peripheral surface of the center electrode; a metal shell provided about the outer peripheral surface of the insulator; a noble metal tip provided at the leading end portion of the center electrode; one end of the ground electrode fixed at the leading end of the metal shell, and the other end of the ground electrode forming a gap with the leading end of the noble metal tip; a stopper preventing the noble metal tip from moving relative to the central electrode; a molten portion formed by irradiating laser or electron beam; and a closed space formed between the basal portion of the noble metal tip and the center electrode. The molten portion welds the center electrode and a part of the basal portion of the noble metal tip.

Abstract: An X-ray generator comprises a container (1) for maintaining a high vacuum or low pressure gas atmosphere internally, a hemimorphic crystal (4), temperature raising/lowering means (3, 5-7), and a metal target (8) for generating X-rays. In this X-ray generator the metal target (8) has a pointed protrusion protruding toward the hemimorphic crystal (4). When X-rays are generated by raising/lowering the temperature of the hemimorphic crystal (4) by using the temperature raising/lowering means (3, 5-7), the intensity of an electric field formed between the hemimorphic crystal (4) and the metal target (8) increases at the pointed end of the protrusion and thus the intensity of X-rays generated through collision of electrons against the metal target (8) increases. Consequently, an X-ray generator employing a hemimorphic crystal, which is capable of generating X-rays with practically sufficient intensity can be provided.

Abstract: A field-effect transistor is composed of a substrate, an electron transport layer and an electron supply layer formed sequentially on the substrate, wherein the electron transport layer and the electron supply layer are formed of a nitride semiconductor, a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the electron supply layer; and two high impurity concentration regions located in a depth direction directly below the source electrode and the drain electrode, respectively, the two high impurity concentration regions being formed to sandwich a two-dimensional electron gas layer formed between the electron transport layer and the electron supply layer. The two high impurity concentration regions each have a higher impurity concentration than the electron transport layer and the electron supply layer located directly below the gate electrode.

Abstract: This invention provides an electronic device that can suppress the undesired influence of signals flowing on the bus as interference on devices connected to the bus. The electronic device has two ports connected to the bus with corresponding physical layer processing means. The physical layer processing means may optionally be connected together permitting separate connection to separate busses. Thus a bus reset on first bus will not interfere with processing on the second bus.

Abstract: A plasma-jet spark plug comprising an insulator and a ground electrode which are disposed apart from each other in an axial direction (O) to prevent a damage of the insulator. The spark plug is capable of reducing an energy loss of the ejected plasma by defining a dimension of a clearance between the insulator and the ground electrode whereby deterioration of the ignitability of the plasma-jet spark plug is prevented.

Abstract: Provided are a conductive contact holder and a conductive contact unit that enable a test to be performed in a precise temperature environment. For this objective, a construction includes a holder substrate that individually receives plural conductive contacts, and a floating member attached to the holder substrate such that a distance from a surface of the holder substrate is varied within a predetermined range by an external force. The floating member has plural hole sections into which a front end section of each of the conductive contacts received in the holder substrate is inserted. A gap between the holder substrate the floating member at least a part of a passage of fluid introduced from outside of the conductive contact holder.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions and methods related to human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTRT), the catalytic protein subunit of human telomerase. The polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human diseases, for changing the proliferative capacity of cells and organisms, and for identification and screening of compounds and treatments useful for treatment of diseases such as cancers.

Abstract: There can be provided a casting film for producing a ceramic green sheet which film comprises a substrarte film, an undercoat layer and a cured layer, wherein the undercoat layer is composed of a condensation polymer from a metal alkoxide and/or a partially hydrolyzed product of a metal alkoxide, and the cured layer is formed by heat treating at 40 to 120° C., an addition reaction type silicone resin composition containing a photosensitizer in a coating amount of 0.01 to 0.3 g/m2 expressed in terms of solid content, and thereafter ultraviolet irradiating the composition to cure the same.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the ignition of a plasma-jet spark plug provided in an internal combustion engine senses an operating condition of the internal combustion engine, and determines an ignition mode of the plasma-jet spark plug in accordance with the sensed operating condition. The control system performs an ignition control of breaking down the insulation across a spark discharge gap by applying a first electric power to the plasma-jet spark plug, and producing plasma in the vicinity of the spark discharge gap by applying a second electric power to the spark discharge gap in a state of dielectric breakdown. The control system performs this ignition control according to the ignition mode determined as mentioned above.

Abstract: A body motion detection section (2) for continuously detecting the frequency of a user's activity as an activity level is provided. The activity level detected by the body motion detection section (2) is outputted to a fatigue detection section (3) for estimating a user's fatigue level on the basis of the activity level.

Abstract: An X-ray generator uses a high electrical field generated when a hemimorphic crystal is heated or cooled. The crystal may be lithium niobate polarized in one direction. An X-ray target is placed inside a housing inside which a vacuum is maintained. A tungsten line containing thorium is placed between the crystal and the target. When the crystal is heated or cooled by a Pelletier element, an intense electrical field is generated around the crystal. Thermoelectrons released from the tungsten line accelerate as a result of the electrical field and collide with the X-ray target. The X-rays released at this time radiate through a beryllium window exteriorly of the housing. Intense X-rays are generated without using large scale equipment, such as a high voltage power source.

Abstract: A control circuit for a power supply device, a power supply device, and the like are provided in which the power supply device has a plurality of DC/DC converters provided for generating voltage while the mutual relationship of potential between the voltage outputs is maintained. The control circuit 20 in the power supply device 10 which outputs different direct current voltages (VCC, VBGP, and VBGN) includes a voltage setting unit 22 for determining the setting level of a second direct current voltage VBGP which has a potential relationship with the setting level of the first direct current voltage VCC which is one of a plurality of the different direct current voltages.

Abstract: The cavity of a plasma jet ignition plug is configured in a stepped shape; i.e., composed of a constricted portion and a diameter-increased portion (65). The inner diameter (B) of the constricted portion is made smaller than the inner diameter (A) of the diameter-increased portion. Further, as measured along the direction of the axis O, the length (Y) of the constricted portion is made equal to or greater than the length (X) of the diameter-increased portion. This configuration suppresses a pressure loss produced when the generated plasma expands within the cavity. As a result, the energy of the plasma at the time of jetting is increased, and the igniting performance for an air-fuel mixture can be improved.