Abstract: A heat exchanger includes: a first heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between air and refrigerant; and a second heat exchanger provided in series with the first heat exchanger in a first direction that is a flow direction of the air, and configured to transfer heat between the air and the refrigerant. The first heat exchanger includes first heat transfer tubes through which the refrigerant flows, which are spaced apart from each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and each of which has a tube axis extending in a third direction intersecting the first and second directions. The second heat exchanger includes: second heat transfer tubes though which the refrigerant flows, which are spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and each of which has a tube axis extending in the third direction; and a corrugated fin provided between the second heat transfer tubes.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a feed or food product in which an inner layer is encrusted with a gelled outer layer composition, the method including the steps of: preparing an outer layer composition feedstock by adding a secondary feedstock to a protein feedstock and/or a starch feedstock that forms a gel upon heating and then mixing by stirring, and preparing an inner layer composition that is encrusted with the outer layer composition; extrusion molding with an extruder provided with a double nozzle so as to cover a surface of the inner layer composition while simultaneously gelling the outer layer composition feedstock by heat treatment; and cutting a continuously extruded cylindrically shaped product to a fixed length with a shutter mechanism while simultaneously encrusting a cut surface with the gelled outer layer composition.

Abstract: An outdoor heat exchanger includes: a group of windward flat tubes, a group of leeward flat tubes and a distributor. When the outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, the refrigerant flows through the plurality of second flat tubes, the plurality of fourth flat tubes, the plurality of third flat tubes, and the plurality of first flat tubes in this order, and when the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser, the refrigerant flows through the plurality of first flat tubes, the plurality of third flat tubes, the plurality of fourth flat tubes, and the plurality of second flat tubes in this order.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for appropriately distributing information to be protected. A distribution management apparatus (1) includes: an acquisition means (22) that acquires distribution consent data (110) indicating that a user consents to an information holding apparatus (2) transmitting, in a case where a distribution condition, which is predetermined, is fulfilled, protection target information (210) to an information using apparatus (3) that uses the protection target information, the information holding apparatus holding the protection target information, which pertains to the user and is to be protected; and a distribution activation means (24) that, in a case where the distribution condition which is indicated by the acquired distribution consent data is fulfilled, permits the information holding apparatus to transmit the protection target information to the information using apparatus.

Abstract: Provided are a method of polishing a silicon wafer and a method of producing a silicon wafer which can reduce the formation of step-forming microdefects on a silicon wafer. The method includes: a double-side polishing step of performing polishing on front and back surfaces of a silicon wafer; a notch portion polishing step of performing polishing on a beveled portion of a notch portion of the silicon wafer after the double-side polishing step; a peripheral beveled portion polishing step of performing polishing on the beveled portion on the periphery of the silicon wafer other than the beveled portion of the notch portion after the notch portion polishing step; and a finish polishing step of performing finish polishing on the front surface of the silicon wafer after the peripheral beveled portion polishing step. The notch portion polishing step is performed in a state where the front surface is wet with water.

Abstract: Provided is a wafer polishing method capable of improving nanotopography characteristics within a site on the surface of a wafer having a 2 mm square area or a small area equivalent thereto and a silicon wafer polished by the wafer polishing method, and further provided is a method of chemical-mechanical polishing the surface of a wafer through a polishing step in two or more polishing steps with different polishing rates, in which the in-plane thickness variation (standard deviation) of a polishing pad 150 used in a polishing step with a machining allowance of 0.3 ?m or more is 2.0 ?m or less.

Abstract: Provided are a method of polishing a silicon wafer and a method of producing a silicon wafer which can reduce the formation of step-forming microdefects on a silicon wafer. The method includes: a double-side polishing step of performing polishing on front and back surfaces of a silicon wafer; a notch portion polishing step of performing polishing on a beveled portion of a notch portion of the silicon wafer after the double-side polishing step; a peripheral beveled portion polishing step of performing polishing on the beveled portion on the periphery of the silicon wafer other than the beveled portion of the notch portion after the notch portion polishing step; and a finish polishing step of performing finish polishing on the front surface of the silicon wafer after the peripheral beveled portion polishing step. The notch portion polishing step is performed in a state where the front surface is wet with water.

Abstract: Provided are metal nanoparticle composite body whose multiple properties, such as a good metal nanoparticle control property, high dispersion stability, a good low-temperature firing property, and ease of purifying and separating metal nanoparticles, are intentionally added and controlled so that practical electrical conductivity can be exhibited, a metal colloidal solution in which the metal nanoparticle composite body is dispersed, and methods for producing these. A metal nanoparticle composite body includes a nitrogen-containing compound (A) and a metal nanoparticle (B), in which the nitrogen-containing compound (A) contains an oxidized nitrogen atom. A metal colloidal solution is obtained by dispersing the metal nanoparticle composite body in a medium. A method for producing a metal colloidal solution is characterized in that metal ions are reduced in a medium in the presence of a nitrogen-containing compound (A) containing an oxidized nitrogen atom so as to form metal nanoparticles (B).

Abstract: A battery power supply device includes an alternating-current power source, a secondary cell connected to the alternating-current power source, a first switch for selectively connecting or cutting off a cell and the alternating-current power source, the first switch being disposed between the battery and the alternating-current power source, and a ground fault sensing device for sensing a ground fault in the battery, the ground fault sensing device being connected closer to the battery than the first switch; the ground fault sensing device sensing a ground fault in the battery when the first switch is off.

Abstract: Provided are metal nanoparticle composite body whose multiple properties, such as a good metal nanoparticle control property, high dispersion stability, a good low-temperature firing property, and ease of purifying and separating metal nanoparticles, are intentionally added and controlled so that practical electrical conductivity can be exhibited, a metal colloidal solution in which the metal nanoparticle composite body is dispersed, and methods for producing these. A metal nanoparticle composite body includes a nitrogen-containing compound (A) and a metal nanoparticle (B), in which the nitrogen-containing compound (A) contains an oxidized nitrogen atom. A metal colloidal solution is obtained by dispersing the metal nanoparticle composite body in a medium. A method for producing a metal colloidal solution is characterized in that metal ions are reduced in a medium in the presence of a nitrogen-containing compound (A) containing an oxidized nitrogen atom so as to form metal nanoparticles (B).

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus includes a rotor hub including an outer surface with a hub screw groove and a hub information mark indicative of a start position of the hub screw groove. A method of manufacturing the disk drive apparatus includes the steps of preparing a spindle motor including the rotor hub, preparing a clamper including a clamper screw groove, and fitting a recording disk to the spindle motor. The method further includes the steps of detecting a position of the hub information mark and, based on the detected position of the hub information mark, positioning each of the clamper and the spindle motor in a circumferential direction, and screwing the clamper to the spindle motor.

Abstract: A battery power supply device includes an alternating-current power source, a secondary cell connected to the alternating-current power source, a first switch for selectively connecting or cutting off a cell and the alternating-current power source, the first switch being disposed between the battery and the alternating-current power source, and a ground fault sensing device for sensing a ground fault in the battery, the ground fault sensing device being connected closer to the battery than the first switch; the ground fault sensing device sensing a ground fault in the battery when the first switch is off.

Abstract: In a fluid dynamic bearing apparatus, an oil buffer is defined between a thrust gap and a pumping gap. The oil buffer has an axial dimension greater than that of the thrust gap, and/or has a radial dimension greater than that of the pumping gap. An air bubble generated in the thrust gap due to cavitation, for example, when a fluid dynamic bearing apparatus experiences a vibration can be dissolved in lubricating oil provided within the oil buffer. This prevents leakage of the lubricating oil due to the air bubble residing in the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus.

Abstract: A battery charger 2 equipped with an AC/DC converter charges a secondary battery module 1 constituted with a plurality of unit cells 10. The unit cells 10 are each connected in parallel with a constant voltage circuit 33 constituted with a Zener diode 332 and a resistor 331 connected in series, and the unit cell 10 achieving a state of full charge is detected based upon the difference between the potentials at the two sides of the resistor 331. As a battery controller 32 lowers the charging power used by the battery charger 2 in response to the full charge state being achieved, it is ensured that the secondary battery module 1 is charged thoroughly while preventing individual unit cells 10 from becoming overcharged.

Abstract: A connection diagnostic apparatus for a ground fault detector including an oscillator connected via a coupling capacitor to an electric circuit with a first connection line and a second connection line, and a voltage detector for detecting a voltage value between the oscillator and the coupling capacitor is provided with a first relay and a second relay provided in the first connection line and the second connection line, and a programmable controller. The programmable controller determines a connected state of the ground fault detector based on a change amount of a voltage value detected by the voltage detector when the first relay is turned on or off and determines the connected state of the ground fault detector based on a change amount of a voltage value detected by the voltage detector when the second relay is turned on or off.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus including a stationary portion having a thrust cup; a rotating portion having a sleeve configured to be rotatable with respect to the stationary portion; a first axially extending space defined by the thrust cup and the sleeve, wherein the first axially extending space includes a second portion positioned above a first portion of the first axially extending space; a capillary seal in the first portion of the first axially extending space; and a labyrinth seal, in the second portion of the first axially extending space.

Abstract: Disclosed are abnormality detecting apparatus and method for a high-voltage circuit (A), in which: a square wave pulse is outputted to a measuring point (p1) with a switch (SW1) set off, the switch (SW1) provided between an inverter circuit (2) and the ground, a difference voltage (Vp-p) between a voltage (Vh) detected at a phase of T/2 and a voltage (V1) detected at a phase of T is obtained, the occurrence of a ground fault is detected based on the size of the difference voltage (Vp-p); and the square wave pulse is outputted to the measuring point (p1) with the switch (SW1) set on, and it is judged that a loosening of a fastening section (p2) occurs when the difference voltage (Vp-p) exceeds a reference voltage (Vref2).

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing apparatus includes a first minute gap, a second minute gap, a third minute gap, a fourth minute gap, and a fifth minute gap. A flow of a lubricating oil from the fifth minute gap to the fourth minute gap is caused by a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves arranged within the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus. This flow causes air bubbles mixed in the lubricating oil within the fifth minute gap to flow toward the third minute gap and be discharged to an outside of the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus through the third minute gap. The fluid dynamic bearing apparatus further includes a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves and an annular groove.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus includes a rotor hub including an outer surface with a hub screw groove and a hub information mark indicative of a start position of the hub screw groove. A method of manufacturing the disk drive apparatus includes the steps of preparing a spindle motor including the rotor hub, preparing a clamper including a clamper screw groove, and fitting a recording disk to the spindle motor. The method further includes the steps of detecting a position of the hub information mark and, based on the detected position of the hub information mark, positioning each of the clamper and the spindle motor in a circumferential direction, and screwing the clamper to the spindle motor.

Abstract: A battery cell includes a power generating element, an electrode connected to the power generating element and configured to electrically connect the power generating element to outside, and an exterior member configured to cover the power generating element. The exterior member includes an insulating layer and a conductive layer, and the conductive layer includes a connection section electrically connected to the outs.