Abstract: A photodetector that makes it possible to attempt to improve optical characteristics in terms of oblique incidence of light at angle-of-view ends is provided. A photodetector includes multiple pixels arranged in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the multiple pixels includes a photoelectric converting section that photo-electrically converts incident light, and a deflecting section that is arranged on a light-incidence-surface side of the photoelectric converting section, and has multiple pillars with different thicknesses, pitches, or shapes in the pixel. The pillars guide an incident principal ray that is incident at a different angle for each image height to the photoelectric converting section at a prism angle at which light is bent relative to the principal ray differently for each pixel.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor that includes: a rotary shaft; a compressor impeller mounted on the rotary shaft and configured to rotate together with the rotary shaft to compress a fluid; a housing accommodating the rotary shaft and the compressor impeller; and a thrust bearing supporting the rotary shaft in a thrust direction such that the rotary shaft is rotatable. The housing includes: an impeller chamber in which the compressor impeller is accommodated; a thrust bearing accommodation chamber in which the thrust bearing is accommodated; and a partition wall separating the impeller chamber from the thrust bearing accommodation chamber. The partition wall has therein a cooling gas passage through which cooling gas flows to cool the thrust bearing and a cooling water passage through which cooling water flows to cool the partition wall.

Abstract: A power converter configured to be connected to three or more voltage parts, includes three or more power-conversion circuitries to be connected to respective ones of the three or more voltage parts, and a multi-port transformer connected to the three or more power-conversion circuitries at respectively different ports. The three or more voltage parts include a vehicle drive battery and a plurality of alternating-current (AC) voltage parts. Each of the plurality of AC voltage parts is configured to provide at least one of power input to a multi-port transformer side and power output from the multi-port transformer side.

Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a main DC-to-DC converter and an electric power conversion unit. The main DC-to-DC converter is configured to perform voltage conversion between a first-voltage section that operates at a first voltage and a second-voltage section that operates at a second voltage. The electric power conversion unit is connected with the first-voltage section and includes an electric power conversion section and an auxiliary DC-to-DC converter. The electric power conversion section is configured to perform electric power conversion between the first-voltage section and a third-voltage section that operates at a third voltage. The auxiliary DC-to-DC converter is connected in parallel with the main DC-to-DC converter. The auxiliary DC-to-DC converter shares a common configuration section with the electric power conversion section. The common configuration section is constituted of at least part of the electric power conversion section.

Abstract: An electric power conversion apparatus includes a main DC-to-DC converter and an electric power conversion unit. The main DC-to-DC converter is configured to perform voltage conversion between a first-voltage section that operates at a first voltage and a second-voltage section that operates at a second voltage. The electric power conversion unit is connected with the first-voltage section and includes an electric power conversion section and an auxiliary DC-to-DC converter. The electric power conversion section is configured to perform electric power conversion between the first-voltage section and a third-voltage section that operates at a third voltage. The auxiliary DC-to-DC converter is connected in parallel with the main DC-to-DC converter. The auxiliary DC-to-DC converter shares a common configuration section with the electric power conversion section. The common configuration section is constituted of at least part of the electric power conversion section.

Abstract: A three-dimensional puzzle game apparatus includes an LCD on which a three-dimensional puzzle is displayed. The three-dimensional puzzle includes a plurality of blocks arranged in each of three-dimensional directions in a virtual three-dimensional space. Furthermore, a hint numeral indicating the number of blocks to be left in a block row is displayed as information being a hint for searching a block to be left from the block row, for example. When a deleting instruction is performed on a block by utilizing a touch panel, for example, it is then determined that whether or not the block is a block to be left. When it is determined that the block is not a block to be left, the block is erased. When it is determined that all the remaining blocks are blocks to be left, it is determined that the three-dimensional puzzle is solved.

Abstract: An audio signal amplitude adjusting device and method that can always adjust the amplitude of an input audio signal to such a level as to be easy to hear with making it follow each shift in the level of the input audio signal, thus preventing the occurrence of the sense of aural discomfort and an interruption of a voice. The gain of a variable attenuator for adjusting the amplitude of the audio signal is controlled in various ways. When a momentary large noise sound is contained in the audio signal, the gain reduced state invoked to suppress the effect of the noise sound is detected, and thereafter if the amplitude of the audio signal has become smaller than the reference level due to the noise sound ending, the gain is increased each period that is shortest among the periods of control employed.

Abstract: A pulverized thermoplastic resin product such as a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a black pigment, a mixture of a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment and a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment, or a pulverized thermoplastic product containing two or more different colored pigments can be converted into colored reclaimed resin particles by a method comprising the steps of mixing the pulverized resin product with a white pigment and a black pigment, melting the resulting mixture, and converting the molten mixture into solid particles. The colored reclaimed resin products can be utilized in various field.

Abstract: An audio signal amplitude adjusting device and method that can always adjust the amplitude of an input audio signal to such a level as to be easy to hear with making it follow each shift in the level of the input audio signal, thus preventing the occurrence of the sense of aural discomfort and an interruption of a voice. The gain of a variable attenuator for adjusting the amplitude of the audio signal is controlled in various ways. When a momentary large noise sound is contained in the audio signal, the gain reduced state invoked to suppress the effect of the noise sound is detected, and thereafter if the amplitude of the audio signal has become smaller than the reference level due to the noise sound ending, the gain is increased each period that is shortest among the periods of control employed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional puzzle game apparatus includes an LCD on which a three-dimensional puzzle is displayed. The three-dimensional puzzle includes a plurality of blocks arranged in each of three-dimensional directions in a virtual three-dimensional space. Furthermore, a hint numeral indicating the number of blocks to be left in a block row is displayed as information being a hint for searching a block to be left from the block row, for example. When a deleting instruction is performed on a block by utilizing a touch panel, for example, it is then determined that whether or not the block is a block to be left. When it is determined that the block is not a block to be left, the block is erased. When it is determined that all the remaining blocks are blocks to be left, it is determined that the three-dimensional puzzle is solved.

Abstract: A biocompatible block copolymer having a hydrophobic segment composed of amino acid and hydroxycarboxylic acid and a hydrophilic segment composed of polyalkylene oxide, wherein the terminal not bonded to the hydrophilic segment of the hydrophobic segment is composed of an amino acid unit.

Abstract: An interface information outputting system that maintains consistency between control parameter data set in a control information terminal by an operator and control parameter data set in an interface output section. In an embodiment, a control instructing section causes a status information generating and sending section to send its own ID information signal and a status information signal indicating its own present operational conditions to the control information terminal via a communication line. In the event of an abnormal operational condition, the control information terminal resends the control parameter data to the control instructing section identified by the ID information signal.

Abstract: A pulverized thermoplastic resin product such as a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a black pigment, a mixture of a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment and a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment, or a pulverized thermoplastic product containing two or more different colored pigments can be converted into colored reclaimed resin particles by a method comprising the steps of mixing the pulverized resin product with a white pigment and a black pigment, melting the resulting mixture, and converting the molten mixture into solid particles. The colored reclaimed resin products can be utilized in various field.

Abstract: In a network control apparatus which can dynamically control a bandwidth corresponding to a traffic status of a user flexibly, when a whole traffic quantity of a packet passing through the network exceeds a threshold value, per-user-information is analyzed based on a database holding packet information, and a bandwidth control method in conformity with the result of the analysis is selected to perform/release the bandwidth control.

Abstract: A thermoplastic resin product having a skin film, such as a bumper of automobile can be used to produce reclaimed resin particles utilizable in various uses, without removing the skin film, by mixing a pulverized thermoplastic resin product containing a small amount of cured resin particles and a black or colored pigment with one or more of a light-shielding pigment such as a white pigment, a black pigment, and a colored pigment, converting the mixture into a molten product, and converting the molten product into solid particles.

Abstract: A pulverized thermoplastic resin product such as a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a black pigment, a mixture of a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment and a pulverized thermoplastic product containing a colored pigment, or a pulverized thermoplastic product containing two or more different colored pigments can be converted into colored reclaimed resin particles by a method comprising the steps of mixing the pulverized resin product with a white pigment and a black pigment, melting the resulting mixture, and converting the molten mixture into solid particles. The colored reclaimed resin products can be utilized in various field.

Abstract: A camshaft formed by integrating at least a bearing cylindrical member and a cam piece with a shaft of steel pipe by wax binding. The cam piece is cast iron where a chilled layer is formed. Wax material used in the wax bonding is silver solder. A predetermined portion of the cam piece is nickel-plated. Abrasion of a slide surface of the valve lifter as a counterpart in sliding of the cam piece can be prevented. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the valve lifter can be suppressed by employing a general material as the valve lifter. As the cam piece is a cast product, the productivity of the cam piece can be improved. The manufacturing cost of the valve lifter can be suppressed, and at the same time, the weight of the camshaft can be reduced and the manufacturing cost of the camshaft can be reduced.

Abstract: Internet connection method and system, in which a subscriber terminal having a correct IP address can be connected to the Internet through a bill-charging device by referring a database stored in a customer information management device under a control of a WWW server, are provided.

Abstract: A water pump includes a pump body and a pump cover. An impeller is housed in a pump chamber defined by the pump body and pump cover. The impeller is attached to one end of a hollow pump shaft. The pump shaft is engaged with a driving section at its other end. An intermediate part of the pump shaft is supported by a shaft support section, in the form of a cylindrical section, of the pump body. The shaft support section is longer than a diameter of the pump shaft. The shaft support section is lubricated via an oil groove. One end of the shaft support section is brought into contact with a flange of the pump shaft via a washer. The flange is integrally formed on the pump shaft by a beading process.

Abstract: An ultrafine particle powder for inhalation to be delivered mainly to a lower airway, containing specific cellulose lower alkyl ethers and a medicament, at least 80% of the powder having a particle size in the range of 0.5 to 10 .mu.m.