Abstract: The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus that includes a heater including a plurality of independently controllable heating blocks in a longitudinal direction thereof, each including a first conductor, a second conductor, and a heating element. At least one of electrodes corresponding to the respective heating blocks is disposed in an area where the heating element is located in the longitudinal direction on a second surface of the heater that is opposite to a first surface that comes into contact with an endless belt. An electrical contact is arranged so as to face the second surface of the heater. An overheating occurring in a no-media passage portion when an image formed on a recording material having a small size is heated is suppressed or reduced.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus, includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate, based on measured data of a voltage value and a charge amount of a rechargeable battery which is controlled for charge/discharge according to a charge/discharge command value, first information indicating a change of the voltage value with respect to the charge amount; and acquire second information indicating a reference change of a voltage value with respect to a charge amount in accordance with a range of the voltage values in the measured data and estimate a state of the rechargeable battery based on the first information and the second information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an evaluation device for an energy storage device includes first processing circuitry and second processing circuitry. The first processing circuitry acquires data items including an amount of charge and a voltage value measured in a measurement period from the energy storage device, the energy storage device being charge-discharge-controlled according to charge-discharge command values. The second processing circuitry generates a representative data item of voltage values for amounts of charge, based on the data items acquired for the measurement period; and evaluates a degradation state of the energy storage device, based on a relative change between a plurality of the representative data items corresponding to a plurality of the measurement periods.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of power conversion devices, a plurality of breakers, and a controller. The plurality of breakers are respectively connected to the plurality of power conversion devices and configured to perform switching of an electrical connection between the power conversion device and a power system, wherein the breaker switches an ON state and an OFF state. The controller is configured to control the breakers and switch connection states of the plurality of power conversion devices are switched, and the controller being configured to determine whether or not the connected breaker is in an ON state and electrically conducted to the power system and the number of the power conversion devices in a standby state reaches a predetermined number.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a device for evaluating an energy storage device includes first processing circuitry and second processing circuitry. The first processing circuitry detects a plurality of times at which an amount of charge of the energy storage device satisfies a threshold condition, based on measurement data on the energy storage device in operation, selects a plurality of time intervals, calculates a charge-discharge efficiency in each of the time intervals based on charge-discharge command values belonging to the time interval, and divides a set of the charge-discharge efficiencies into a plurality of clusters and generates characteristic information on the clusters based on at least one of the measurement data and the charge-discharge command values. The second processing circuitry generates output data for displaying: transition data indicating transition of the charge-discharge efficiency belonging to the cluster; and characteristic information on the cluster.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an evaluation device for an energy storage device includes first processing circuitry and second processing circuitry. The first processing circuitry acquires data items including an amount of charge and a voltage value measured in a measurement period from the energy storage device, the energy storage device being charge-discharge-controlled according to charge-discharge command values. The second processing circuitry generates a representative data item of voltage values for amounts of charge, based on the data items acquired for the measurement period; and evaluates a degradation state of the energy storage device, based on a relative change between a plurality of the representative data items corresponding to a plurality of the measurement periods.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a device for evaluating an energy storage device includes first processing circuitry and second processing circuitry. The first processing circuitry detects a plurality of times at which an amount of charge of the energy storage device satisfies a threshold condition, based on measurement data on the energy storage device in operation, selects a plurality of time intervals, calculates a charge-discharge efficiency in each of the time intervals based on charge-discharge command values belonging to the time interval, and divides a set of the charge-discharge efficiencies into a plurality of clusters and generates characteristic information on the clusters based on at least one of the measurement data and the charge-discharge command values. The second processing circuitry generates output data for displaying: transition data indicating transition of the charge-discharge efficiency belonging to the cluster; and characteristic information on the cluster.

Abstract: A power control apparatus has a peak cut prediction unit that predicts a period of time to impose a restriction on power supply from a power system to a consumer based on a predetermined condition, a threshold setting unit that sets a predetermined threshold such that a power supply amount from the power system to the consumer does not exceed the threshold in the period of time predicted by the peak cut prediction unit, and a charge/discharge control command unit that stops power supply from the power system to the consumer and causes a power storage device to be discharged by an amount of demand power exceeding the threshold when demand power of the consumer reaches the threshold in the period of time predicted by the peak cut prediction unit.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a plurality of power conversion devices, a plurality of breakers, and a controller. The plurality of breakers are respectively connected to the plurality of power conversion devices and configured to perform switching of an electrical connection between the power conversion device and a power system, wherein the breaker switches an ON state and an OFF state. The controller is configured to control the breakers and switch connection states of the plurality of power conversion devices are switched, and the controller being configured to determine whether or not the connected breaker is in an ON state and electrically conducted to the power system and the number of the power conversion devices in a standby state reaches a predetermined number.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a muscle force and a physical function, comprising combined use of an ingestion of a composition comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of astaxanthin and its ester and a physical exercise.

Abstract: A power control apparatus has a peak cut prediction unit that predicts a period of time to impose a restriction on power supply from a power system to a consumer based on a predetermined condition, a threshold setting unit that sets a predetermined threshold such that a power supply amount from the power system to the consumer does not exceed the threshold in the period of time predicted by the peak cut prediction unit, and a charge/discharge control command unit that stops power supply from the power system to the consumer and causes a power storage device to be discharged by an amount of demand power exceeding the threshold when demand power of the consumer reaches the threshold in the period of time predicted by the peak cut prediction unit.

Abstract: A waste liquid container is detachably mounted on a mounting unit which includes a discharge portion discharging a waste liquid and a projection to which a substrate connection portion is joined. The waste liquid container includes: a containing portion that is able to contain the waste liquid; a connection concave portion that is opened in a mounting direction; a circuit substrate that includes connection terminals electrically connected to the substrate connection portion and is joined to the connection concave portion; and a waste liquid introduction portion that is connected to the discharge portion. In the connection concave portion, one pair of guide portions guiding the projection is formed so that the connection terminals are interposed therebetween in a width direction intersecting the mounting direction. Of the pair of guide portions, one guide portion is disposed between the connection terminals and the waste liquid introduction portion in the width direction.

Abstract: A waste liquid container is detachably mounted on a mounting unit which includes a discharge portion discharging a waste liquid and a projection to which a substrate connection portion is joined. The waste liquid container includes: a containing portion that is able to contain the waste liquid; a connection concave portion that is opened in a mounting direction; a circuit substrate that includes connection terminals electrically connected to the substrate connection portion and is joined to the connection concave portion; and a waste liquid introduction portion that is connected to the discharge portion. In the connection concave portion, one pair of guide portions guiding the projection is formed so that the connection terminals are interposed therebetween in a width direction intersecting the mounting direction. Of the pair of guide portions, one guide portion is disposed between the connection terminals and the waste liquid introduction portion in the width direction.

Abstract: A waste liquid container is detachably mounted on a mounting unit which includes a discharge portion discharging a waste liquid and a projection to which a substrate connection portion is joined. The waste liquid container includes: a containing portion that is able to contain the waste liquid; a connection concave portion that is opened in a mounting direction; a circuit substrate that includes connection terminals electrically connected to the substrate connection portion and is joined to the connection concave portion; and a waste liquid introduction portion that is connected to the discharge portion. In the connection concave portion, one pair of guide portions guiding the projection is formed so that the connection terminals are interposed therebetween in a width direction intersecting the mounting direction. Of the pair of guide portions, one guide portion is disposed between the connection terminals and the waste liquid introduction portion in the width direction.

Abstract: Asynchronous operation of an external power-supply device activated in blackout with an internal power-source device placed in a house or a plant is ensured. A commercial power-source system and an external power-supply device are connected to a power-source line provided in a house, etc., through a double-throw switch. The house, etc., is provided with an internal power-source device including multiple power supplies being connected to a load through the power-source line. When a power-source monitoring unit detects the blackout of the commercial power-source system, a controller stops the respective operations of the internal power supplies, and switches over the double-throw switch from the commercial power-source system to the external power-supply device. After the external power-supply device is connected to the power-source line, the control unit starts following operation in the order of the power source having a less output capacity fluctuation and connects those to the external power-supply device.

Abstract: A method for sealing an ink cartridge is disclosed. A cover film is bonded to the ink cartridge in such a manner as to cover an ink inlet hole formed in the ink cartridge. An opening is formed in the cover film in such a manner as to communicate with the hole of the ink cartridge. The method includes preparing a seal film and bonding the seal film to the cover film with a bonding strength smaller than the bonding strength of the cover film with respect to the ink cartridge in such a manner that the seal film becomes peelable from the cover film, thereby sealing the opening of the cover film.

Abstract: A power control system includes a house power controller and a vehicle power controller connected by a power cable. The house power controller includes a control signal generator; a switch that operates responsive to a control signal instructing a charged amount, and passes/stops AC power coming from a power distribution system; a selector switch that switches whether to send AC power to the power cable, or to output DC power from the power cable; and a power converter converting DC power from the selector switch into AC power, and sending AC power to the power distribution system. The vehicle power controller includes a battery storing DC power; a vehicle-side selector switch that switches whether to send DC power from the battery to the power cable, or to output AC power from the power cable; and a charger that charges the battery with AC power from the vehicle-side selector switch.

Abstract: A piercing method for forming an opening in a cover film welded to an ink cartridge in such a manner as to cover first and second ink inlet holes is provided. The method includes: forming a cut in the cover film in such a manner as to provide a cut piece supported in a cantilever manner in a covering area of the cover film that covers the first and second ink inlet hole; and forming the opening in the cover film by causing the cut piece to hang down in the first and second ink inlet holes.

Abstract: A method for sealing an opening formed in a cover film welded to a fluid retainer at a position corresponding to a covered area of an ink inlet hole. A sealing member, which seals the opening, is a laminated film including a first film and a second film. The method includes preparing the laminated film, placing the laminated film on the fluid container with the first film facing the fluid container in such a manner that the laminated film covers the opening, and sealing the opening with the laminated film by heating the sealing member covering the opening from the side corresponding to the second film to melt the first film.

Abstract: A method for sealing a bore formed in a cover film is disclosed. An ink inlet hole formed in an ink cartridge is covered at a hole covering area of the cover film. The method includes formation of a recess outside the hole covering area by removing a portion of the cover film, mounting a seal film on the cover film in such a manner that the seal film covers the bore, and sealing the bore with the seal film by heating the seal film with the seal film mounted on the cover film and thereby melting a side of the seal film opposed to the cover film.