Abstract: A management method for a power storage device includes: when a discharging request for energy management is received, determining (S172) whether or not a degree of deterioration of a power storage device is larger than a first reference value with regard to a battery lease vehicle (vehicle including a power storage device having been lent); and based on a result of the determination, instructing (S18) the battery lease vehicle in which the degree of deterioration of the power storage device is smaller than the first reference value, to perform discharging to outside of the vehicle in accordance with the discharging request, and not instructing the battery lease vehicle in which the degree of deterioration of the power storage device is larger than the first reference value, to perform discharging in accordance with the discharging request.

Abstract: A method of leasing a power storage includes obtaining, for a vehicle including a power storage, a value of the power storage based on a capacity retention rate of the power storage, determining an insurance fee for a user of the vehicle to receive an insurance service relating to replacement of the power storage based on an accident risk of the vehicle, and determining a lease fee of the power storage based on the value of the power storage and the insurance fee.

Abstract: A server (management apparatus) includes: a communication unit (first acquisition unit) that acquires a request regarding adjustment of electric power supply-and-demand in a power grid; and a processor (controller) that performs, based on the request, control to notify, a user of an electrically powered vehicle, of a replacement cost required for battery replacement at a battery station (battery replacement apparatus). When charging with electric power of the power grid is requested and a battery (first battery) of the electrically powered vehicle has an SOC lower than the SOC of a battery (second battery) having a maximum SOC to be used for charging, among a plurality of batteries (second batteries), the processor performs control to notify the user of the replacement cost lower than a normal replacement cost.

Abstract: A server includes a communication unit (first communication unit) (second communication unit) that receives information about a request for adjustment of power supply-and-demand in a power grid. The server includes a processor (controller) that predicts a schedule of replacement of a battery (first battery) at a battery station (battery replacement apparatus). The processor specifies, based on the schedule, a battery (second battery) available for charging or discharging for the request for adjustment, and determines, based on the specified battery, whether or not it is possible to respond to the request for adjustment.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a first light source portion, a light guide that includes a light guide body with an elongated shape, guides light incident from the first light source portion in a longitudinal direction of the elongated shape, and emits a first light including the guided light to illuminate an illuminated object, and a second light source portion that emits a second light to illuminate the illuminated object. The second light source portion is provided independently of the first light source portion and the light guide.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source portion, a light guide that includes a light guide body with an elongated shape, guides light incident from the light source portion in a longitudinal direction of the elongated shape, and emits the light in an emission direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and a bezel that is provided along the light guide and includes an elongated-shaped opening through which the light emitted from the light guide passes and is emitted to the outside. The bezel includes at least one bridge portion that is formed along a lateral direction of the opening so as to partially bridge opposed walls of the opening in the lateral direction.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a light source unit that outputs light, an elongated light guide including a first end surface on which the light is incident, a second end surface located opposite to the first end surface, an emitting surface, and at least one held portion provided on at least one of the longitudinal side surfaces different from the emitting surface, the light guide guiding the light from the first end surface to the second end surface, and a housing including an attachment portion to which the light source unit is attached, a housing portion that is open at an end portion on the attachment portion side and includes a housing recess to house the light guide and an exposure opening exposing the emitting surface, and a holding portion that holds the light guide in the housing recess by sandwiching the at least one held portion.

Abstract: A joint processing method includes: a friction stir welding step for forming a joint in a plate by friction stir welding a groove in the plate; a cold working step for cold working the joint under cold working conditions such that a grain size in the joint is not more than a grain size of an aluminum alloy in the groove prior to the friction stir welding step; and a solution heat treatment step for, subsequent to the cold working step, performing solution heat treatment of the plate.

Abstract: A grease is provided which has an improved inflow property of the grease into a lubrication unit and has a long life when used for bearings even under a high temperature environment. A grease composition comprising a base oil and a thickener, characterized in that the base oil contains an ester synthetic oil, the content of the ester synthetic oil is not less than 20% by mass of the total mass of the base oil and the thickener contains a diurea compound represented by the Formula (I): R1—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R3,??(I) wherein R2 is a C6-15 divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group, R1 and R3 are the same or different, and represent cyclohexyl or C8-22 linear or branched alkyl, and the molar ratio of cyclohexyl to the total of cyclohexyl and C8-22 linear or branched alkyl is 60 to 95%.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus, including: a first and a second A/D conversion units converting signals output from a first and a second groups of columns of pixels, respectively; a first reference signal supply unit supplying, to the first A/D conversion unit, at least one of reference signals having a first and a second change rates per time; a second reference signal supply unit supplying, to the first A/D conversion unit, at least one of reference signals having a third and a fourth change rate per time; and an adjusting unit adjusting at least one of the first to fourth change rates so that at least one of a difference in change rate per time between the first and the third change rate, and a difference in change rate per time between the second and the fourth change rate is reduced.

Abstract: This joint processing method comprises: a friction stir welding step S2 for forming a joint 7 in a plate 5 by friction stir welding a groove 6 in the plate 5; a cold working step S4 for cold working the joint 7 under cold working conditions such that the grain size in the joint is not more than the grain size of an aluminum alloy in the groove 6 prior to the friction stir welding step S2; and a solution heat treatment step S5 for, subsequent to the cold working step S4, performing solution heat treatment of the plate 5. This joint processing method can suppress enlargement of the grains of the joint formed by friction stir welding.

Abstract: The invention provides a lubricant composition capable of favorably preventing the members from causing hydrogen embrittlement-induced flaking when the members are operated under the conditions where the oil film is thin (namely, the metal surfaces considerably come in contact with each other). The lubricant composition used for lubricating the steel mechanical members operated by a rolling motion or rolling-sliding motion is characterized by containing a base oil and additives, the additives including an organic sulfonate rust inhibitor and a load carrying additive.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus, including: a first and a second A/D conversion units converting signals output from a first and a second groups of columns of pixels, respectively; a first reference signal supply unit supplying, to the first A/D conversion unit, at least one of reference signals having a first and a second change rates per time; a second reference signal supply unit supplying, to the first A/D conversion unit, at least one of reference signals having a third and a fourth change rate per time; and an adjusting unit adjusting at least one of the first to fourth change rates so that at least one of a difference in change rate per time between the first and the third change rate, and a difference in change rate per time between the second and the fourth change rate is reduced.

Abstract: The lubricant composition of this invention comprises a base oil and an additive, which is at least one selected from the group consisting of an organic sulfonate, a carboxylate, a thiocarbamate and a thiophosphoric acid ester salt. The lubricant composition can effectively suppress hydrogen embrittlement-caused flaking of an element, such as a rolling bearing, a sliding bearing, a gear, a ball thread, a linear guide, a linear bearing, a cam and various joints in a high concentration hydrogen environment. The invention provides also a rolling bearing, a sliding bearing, a gear, a ball thread, a linear guide, a linear bearing, a cam and various joints using the lubricant composition.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel including a first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element, and a microlens commonly provided for the first and the second photoelectric conversion elements, a read-out circuit configured to reset the first and the second photoelectric conversion elements, read out a first focal point detection signal based on signal charges generated in the first photoelectric conversion element, and read out, after the first focal point detection signal is read out, a second focal point detection signal based on signal charges generated in at least the second photoelectric conversion element, and a correction unit configured to correct at least one of the first and the second focal point detection signals in accordance with a time difference between a timing of the read-out of the first focal point detection signal and a timing of the read-out of the second focal point detection signal.

Abstract: A grease is provided which has an improved inflow property of the grease into a lubrication unit and has a long life when used for bearings even under a high temperature environment. A grease composition comprising a base oil and a thickener, characterized in that the base oil contains an ester synthetic oil, the content of the ester synthetic oil is not less than 20% by mass of the total mass of the base oil and the thickener contains a diurea compound represented by the Formula (I): R1—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R3,??(I) wherein R2 is a C6-15 divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group, R1 and R3 are the same or different, and represent cyclohexyl or C8-22 linear or branched alkyl, and the molar ratio of cyclohexyl to the total of cyclohexyl and C8-22 linear or branched alkyl is 60 to 95%.

Abstract: A grease is provided which has an improved inflow property of the grease into a lubrication unit and has a long life when used for bearings even under a high temperature environment. A grease composition comprising a base oil and a thickener, characterized in that the base oil contains an ester synthetic oil, the content of the ester synthetic oil is not less than 20% by mass of the total mass of the base oil and the thickener contains a diurea compound represented by the Formula (I): R1—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R3,??(I) wherein R2 is a C6-15 divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group, R1 and R3 are the same or different, and represent cyclohexyl or C8-22 linear or branched alkyl, and the molar ratio of cyclohexyl to the total of cyclohexyl and C8-22 linear or branched alkyl is 60 to 95%.

Abstract: The lubricant composition of this invention comprises a base oil and an additive, which is at least one selected from the group consisting of an organic sulfonate, a carboxylate, a thiocarbamate and a thiophosphoric acid ester salt. The lubricant composition can effectively suppress hydrogen embrittlement-caused flaking of an element, such as a rolling bearing, a sliding bearing, a gear, a ball thread, a linear guide, a linear bearing, a cam and various joints in a high concentration hydrogen environment. The invention provides also a rolling bearing, a sliding bearing, a gear, a ball thread, a linear guide, a linear bearing, a cam and various joints using the lubricant composition.

Abstract: A planar lighting device includes: a light source that emits light; and a light guide plate disposed opposite the light source in which light emitted from the light source enters and is emitted therefrom as planar light. The light guide plate includes a flat light exit plane that emits the planar light, a light entrance plane that is formed opposite the light source and includes one side of the light exit plane, an end plane that includes the opposite side to the one side of the light exit plane, and a rear plane formed on the side opposite the light exit plane. The rear plane includes a first rear plane that is joined with the end plane and is smoothly inclined to said light exit plane so that the distance from the light exit plane increases as the distance from the end plane increases, and a second rear plane.

Abstract: A unitary light guide plate includes a light exit plane, a thick portion located substantially on a center portion of the light exit plane, thin end portions formed on both sides of the thick portion, a half portion of a parallel groove formed on a backside of the light exit plane to accommodate linearly arranged light sources, inclined back portions arranged so as to become thinner from the thick portion to the thin end portions, and scattering means for scattering light entering from the light sources accommodated in the parallel groove into the thin end portions and propagated through the inclined back portions toward the thick portion. A light guide plate unit has two or more of the unitary light guide plates coupled together in such a way that respective light exit planes are arranged to form a same plane.