Abstract: A merchandise registration apparatus includes: a first reading unit to form a first reading area in which a code symbol attached to merchandise can be read; a second reading unit provided at a location different from that of the first reading unit, and to form a second reading area overlapping with at least a part of the first reading area, in which the code symbol can be read; a first acquisition unit to acquire first code information; a second acquisition unit to acquire second code information; and a registration unit to register the merchandise based on the first code information and the second code information, if the first code information and the second code information match each other.

Abstract: A settlement device according to an embodiment includes a reading unit configured to read a purchase target commodity, a settling unit configured to perform settlement processing for the commodity for one transaction read by the reading unit, a placing region where an article can be placed, an imaging unit configured to image the placing region, and an informing unit configured to compare, among images acquired by the imaging unit, a first image before the reading of the commodity for the one transaction and a second image at a completion time of the settlement processing and inform if both the images are different.

Abstract: A self-service commodity sales data processing device that includes a take-out determination unit for determining whether commodities were taken out simultaneously based on an image of a commodity taken out, a first identical termination unit for determining whether taken-out commodities are different commodities or identical commodities if the take-out determination unit determines that the commodities are taken out simultaneously, a reading unit for reading information of the taken-out commodities, a second identical determination unit for determining whether the commodities read by the reading unit are the identical commodity if the first identical determination unit determines that the taken-out commodities are different commodities, and a suspension unit for suspending the transaction if the second identical determination unit determines that the commodities are the identical commodity.

Abstract: A self-checkout system includes a commodity registration apparatus and a management server. The commodity registration apparatus includes a first storage device and a first processor. The first processor acquires an image of a customer at commodity registration apparatus and information related to commodity registration. The first processor detects possible fraud event based on the image and the registration information. Fraud points corresponding to the possible fraud are output to the management server in conjunction with customer identification information. The management server includes a second storage device and a second processor. The second processor accumulates the received fraud points in association with the customer identification information and stores accumulated total points for each customer in the second storage device.

Abstract: A merchandise registration device includes a lamp, a reading device reading a symbol on an item and providing identification information for the item, a weight sensor in a table on which a scanned item can be placed, and a processor. The processor performing a registration operation including acquiring identification information for the item and comparing an expected weight of the item to a measured weight from the weight sensor. The processor controlling the lamp to indicate progress states in the registration operation and whether the reading device is ready for reading a symbol for a next item in a sales transaction.

Abstract: A self-service point-of-sale (POS) terminal for a customer to register a commodity to be purchased in a store, includes an input device, a reading device configured to read a symbol on a commodity, a network interface configured to receive, from an external device operated by a store clerk or the like, instruction information that instructs output of caution information, and a processor. The processor is configured to acquire commodity information about a commodity based on the symbol read by the reading device and register the commodity using the commodity information. Upon receipt of an input of completion of registration via the input device, the processor determines whether to proceed to payment processing for the registered commodity based on whether the instruction information has been received from the external device.

Abstract: An optical fiber has a structure uniform in a longitudinal direction. This optical fiber includes a core and a cladding that surrounds the core in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A refractive index of the cladding is lower than a refractive index of the core. The cladding has, in the cross-section, an inner cladding layer including an inner circumferential surface of the cladding, and an outer cladding layer including an outer circumferential surface of the cladding. The inner cladding layer contains fluorine. The inner and outer cladding layers have refractive indexes different from each other. The outer cladding layer includes a local maximum portion where a residual stress, which is a tensile stress, becomes local maximum. A radial distance between the local maximum portion and an inner circumferential surface of the outer cladding layer is 10 ?m or less.

Abstract: An optical fiber according to an embodiment includes a core and a cladding. The average value n1_ave of the refractive index of the core, the minimum value nc_min of the refractive index of the cladding, and the refractive index n0 of pure silica glass satisfy relationships of n1_ave>nc_min and nc_min<n0. The cladding contains fluorine. The fluorine concentration in the cladding is adjusted to be minimum in the outermost portion of the cladding including the outer peripheral surface of the cladding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an optical fiber preform for obtaining an optical fiber with low transmission loss. A core preform included in the optical fiber preform comprises three or more core portions, which are each produced by a rod-in-collapse method, and in which both their alkali metal element concentration and chlorine concentration are independently controlled. In two or more manufacturing steps of the manufacturing steps for each of the three or more core portions, an alkali metal element is added. As a result, the mean alkali metal element concentration in the whole core preform is controlled to 7 atomic ppm or more and 70 atomic ppm or less.

Abstract: A power conversion device comprising: a three-phase conversion circuit in which each of upper arm elements which are switching elements in an upper arm and each of lower arm elements which are switching elements in a lower arm are provided for each of three phases; and a switching control unit which alternately switches between an upper arm period of holding one of the upper arm elements ON and a lower arm period of holding one of the lower arm elements ON, wherein the switching control unit switches between the upper arm period and the lower arm period, based on an integrated value of power which is calculated by integrating a power pattern which is set beforehand.

Abstract: A vehicle driving apparatus including: a rotating electrical machine that acts as a source of driving force for a first wheel and a second wheel; a speed reduction device that reduces a speed of rotation of the rotating electrical machine; a differential gear device that distributes, to the first wheel and the second wheel, the driving force transmitted from the rotating electrical machine via the speed reduction device; a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the speed reduction device, and the differential gear device; and an oil circulator.

Abstract: An optical fiber having an effective area that can be easily increased and bending loss characteristics that can be easily improved is provided. The optical fiber includes a glass fiber including a core and a cladding; a first resin coating layer that is in contact with the glass fiber and surrounds the glass fiber; and a second resin coating layer that surrounds the first resin coating layer and has a Young's modulus greater than a Young's modulus of the first resin coating layer. An effective area is greater than or equal to 110 ?m2 and less than or equal to 180 ?m2 at a wavelength of 1550 nm. A cable cut-off wavelength is less than or equal to 1530 nm. A uniformity of thickness of the first resin coating layer is greater than or equal to 60% and less than or equal to 80%.

Abstract: A settlement device includes a packing unit located near a reading unit to pack a commodity, a symbol of which is read by a reading unit, a measuring unit to measure the packed commodity, a light emitting unit, determining means for determining, using data of weight measured, whether the commodity, the symbol of which is read, is packed, and light-emission controller for, if determining that the commodity, the symbol of which is read, is packed, causing the light emitting unit to emit light in a first form and, if determining that the commodity, the symbol of which is read, is not packed, causing the light emitting unit to emit light in a second form.

Abstract: A settlement apparatus includes a bagging unit located near a reading unit for bagging merchandise from which the symbol is read, a measuring unit that measures the bagged merchandise, a light emitting unit provided within a field of view of the bagging operator in the bagging unit, determining means for determining whether or not the merchandise read is bagged using data of a weight measured, and light emission control means for controlling the light emitting unit to emit alight in a first form when the merchandise read is determined as being bagged and controlling the light emitting unit to emit a light in a second form when the merchandise read is determined as being not bagged.

Abstract: A reading device according to an embodiment includes a scanner configured to read code information indicated by a code symbol, a holder configured to detachably hold the scanner, a detecting unit configured to detect a first state in which the scanner is held by the holder and a second state in which the scanner is detached from the holder, and a setting-condition changing unit configured to, if the detecting unit detects the second state, set setting conditions relating to the reading by the scanner such that a reading distance of the scanner is shorter than the reading distance in the first state.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is directed to a vibration damping material for use in a mount part for supporting a motor, the vibration damping material including: a gel of a dehydration condensation reaction product of silicone oil and boric acid, wherein the boric acid is in an amount of 25 to 75 moles based on 100 moles of the total amount of the silicone oil and the boric acid.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical fiber includes: heating an optical fiber preform to draw glass fiber; measuring an outer diameter of the glass fiber to obtain a function of time; transforming the function of time into a function of frequency; identifying a first peak caused by a first drawing condition and a second peak caused by a second drawing condition in the function of frequency; and adjusting the second drawing condition so as to satisfy fn<fm?wm/2 or fn>fm+wm/2, where fm is a frequency of the first peak, wm is a full width at half maximum of the first peak, and fn is a frequency of the second peak.

Abstract: In order to provide a transformer and an electric power converter which are less likely to become deteriorated with time and which have stable insulation performance, the transformer according to the present invention is provided with: a core; a bobbin in which a low-voltage-side primary winding and a high-voltage-side secondary winding are disposed along the central magnetic leg of the core; and a bobbin support part that supports the bobbin at an end of the bobbin on the primary winding side, such that an air gap is provided between the central magnetic leg of the core and a surface of the bobbin corresponding to the secondary winding.

Abstract: The power conversion device includes multiple converter cells. Each converter cell includes a pair of primary-side terminals and a pair of secondary-side terminals. The converter cell transmits power between the pair of primary-side terminals and the pair of secondary-side terminals. The primary-side terminals of the multiple converter cells are connected in series to a primary-side power supply system. The secondary-side terminals of the multiple converter cells are connected in series to a secondary-side power supply system. Among the multiple converter cells, the converter cell in which an absolute value of a ground voltage appearing in the pair of primary-side terminals is the highest is different from the converter cell in which an absolute value of a ground voltage appearing in the pair of secondary-side terminals is the highest.

Abstract: A mode-dependent loss measurement device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure measures a mode-dependent loss of a measurement target optical fiber including a coupled MCF. The device includes a light source, a light receiver, mode coupled state change means, and an analysis unit. The light source inputs light to an input end of an excitation optical fiber including another coupled MCF. The light receiver detects a sum of powers of outputted light beams from a plurality of core end faces positioned on an output end of the measurement target optical fiber. The mode coupled state change means changes a mode coupled state of the excitation optical fiber. The analysis unit obtains a mode-dependent loss of the measurement target optical fiber from variations in optical powers detected by the light receiver.