Abstract: A power management system which carries out charge-discharge control according to lack of storage cell pack characteristic uniformity. A power storage device comprises a power storage unit, a power system switching circuit, and a power management unit. The power management unit: acquires charge information (for example, charge rate SOC) on each of a plurality of storage cell packs contained in the power storage unit; compares the size of said charge information according to the minimum and maximum values thereof respectively with an upper bound and a lower bound, and switches a charge switch and a discharge switch of the power system switching circuit; and transitions the power storage unit between a charge-discharge state, a charge state, and a discharge state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorescent substance represented by the following general formula: (A1?xBx)2Si2O7, wherein A is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Gd, Y, Lu and La, B is at least one member selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements other than A and x is a numerical value specified by the formula: 0<x?0.2 and which can emit light rays having a wavelength falling within the range of ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions in response to, for instance, optical stimuli, electron beam stimuli, electric field stimuli, stress stimuli and radiation stimuli; a fluorescent composition comprising such a fluorescent substance dispersed in a silica glass matrix; and a scintillator obtained using the foregoing substance or composition. These fluorescent substance, fluorescent composition, scintillator material and fluorescent material have high luminous outputs and are excellent in the processability.

Abstract: A reference output characteristic of a photovoltaic power system at the time of normal operation is obtained in accordance with an installation condition (topography of installation site, meteorological condition, configuration of the system itself, or the like) of the photovoltaic power system, an output characteristic in the photovoltaic power system during operation is actually measured, the obtained reference output characteristic and the measured output characteristic are compared and, based on the comparison result, the normality/abnormality of the output is diagnosed and, at the same time, the cause is diagnosed in the case of abnormality. The reference output characteristic at the time of normal operation can also be obtained based on the measured value of the past output characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorescent substance represented by the following general formula: (A1-xBx)2Si2O7, wherein A is at least one member selected from the group consisting of Gd, Y, Lu and La, B is at least one member selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements other than A and x is a numerical value specified by the formula: 0<x?0.2 and which can emit light rays having a wavelength falling within the range of ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions in response to, for instance, optical stimuli, electron beam stimuli, electric field stimuli, stress stimuli and radiation stimuli; a fluorescent composition comprising such a fluorescent substance dispersed in a silica glass matrix; and a scintillator obtained using the foregoing substance or composition. These fluorescent substance, fluorescent composition, scintillator material and fluorescent material have high luminous outputs and are excellent in the processability.

Abstract: A controller of a data communication apparatus according to the present invention stores information on each successful and unsuccessful data communication, a season, a data of the week, a time, and a data communication rate of the communication for each site in a data memory. The controller reads out a data communication rate at which a data communication succeeded from the data memory and directs a modem to conduct a communication at the data communication rate. A data communication is conducted at the directed data communication rate. These procedures ensure a secure link between sites and a secure data communication irrespective of a line distance between the sites etc.

Abstract: A reference output characteristic of a photovoltaic power system at the time of normal operation is obtained in accordance with an installation condition (topography of installation site, meteorological condition, configuration of the system itself, or the like) of the photovoltaic power system, an output characteristic in the photovoltaic power system during operation is actually measured, the obtained reference output characteristic and the measured output characteristic are compared and, based on the comparison result, the normality/abnormality of the output is diagnosed and, at the same time, the cause is diagnosed in the case of abnormality. The reference output characteristic at the time of normal operation can also be obtained based on the measured value of the past output characteristic.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impregnating a fibrous base material with a varnish liquid, wherein the so-impregnated base material is substantially air free. A base material is passed under the surface of and through a supply of low-viscosity liquid such as to impregnate the base material with the low-viscosity liquid and displace air from the base material so as to provide a substantially air-free base material. The air-free base material is passed through an entrance for and into a syphon. An inert gas is supplied to the syphon so as to maintain an inert gas atmosphere therein sufficient to maintain the air-free condition of the base material. The air-free base material is then passed through an exit of the syphon and under the surface of and through a supply of varnish liquid sufficiently to displace the low-viscosity liquid from the air-free base material and impregnate the air-free base material with the varnish liquid.