Sony Corporation

Ritsuko Inoue

Hiroyuki Mori

Kazuki Satake

Haruo Watanabe

Tsutomu Noguchi

Koichiro Hinokuma

Yuko Fujihira

Tomikazu Watanabe

Miyuki Kamei

Masayoshi Kanno

Hiroshi Miyazawa

Rikio Ikeda

Naoko Takeda

Miho Kamiyama

Yasushi Kusano

Harunobu Hirano

An information processing apparatus capable of easily executing calculation of an environmental load volume (LCA result). Inventory data, that is data of individual materials and components, is used as the basic data of aggregate data when calculating the environmental load volume. The aggregate data is made up of a plurality of inventory data. When information per product is inputted, aggregate data is calculated based on the inputted information and the aggregate data is used for calculation of LCA result. The LCA result is calculated also using other LCA results already calculated. The apparatus can be applied to a computer for calculating the environmental load volume.

Information processing system

An appliance comprising a housing-case, a main unit of such appliance and an optional structural member, wherein at least portions of the housing-case and the structural member are made of biodegradable material containing polylactic acid as a major component is provided. Such appliance can achieve durability sufficient for the practical use without causing environmental impact if the housing-case and structural member thereof are disposed as they are.

Electronic appliance having housing-case made of biodegradable material, and container made of biodegradable material

An appliance includes a housing-case, a main unit of such appliance and an optional structural member, wherein at least portions of the housing-case and the structural member are made of biodegradable material containing polylactic acid as a major component is provided. Such appliance can achieve durability sufficient for the practical use without causing environmental impact if the housing-case and structural member thereof are disposed as they are.

A photovoltaic-charged secondary battery device has a cylindrical core, a flexible photoelectric transducer sheet extractably rolled on the core, a chargeable/dischargeable storage battery, and a control circuit for controlling the charging and discharging operations of the storage battery. The photovoltaic-charged secondary battery device with the photoelectric transducer sheet fully rolled on the core generally exhibiting a substantially cylindrical form. The photovoltaic-charged secondary battery device further has a polymeric cover film formed on the light-receiving surface of the photoelectric transducer sheet. The polymeric cover film improves the durability of the photoelectric transducer sheet against repeated bending and sliding actions caused on the photoelectric transducer sheet. The photoelectric transducer sheet may be so arranged that, when the photoelectric transducer sheet is rolled on the core, the light-receiving surface faces outward of the roll. The photovoltaic-charged secondary battery device may have a cylindrical peripheral wall coaxial with the core and defining therebetween an annular space for accommodating the photoelectric transducer sheet rolled on the core. The photoelectric transducer sheet is retractable into and extractable from the annular space through a slit formed in the cylindrical peripheral wall member. The cylindrical peripheral wall member is rotatable relative to the core, so that the photoelectric transducer sheet can be retracted into the annular space and rolled on the core as the cylindrical peripheral wall member is rotated. The cylindrical peripheral wall member may have a plurality of projections formed on the inner surface thereof. The photovoltaic-charged secondary battery device may have a temperature-responsive mechanism operable to disconnect the storage battery from the electrical connection or to move the storage battery from a predetermined position.

Photovoltaic-charged secondary battery device

Light energy is to be utilized as the power source for a customary electrical equipment. A flexible photo-electric transducer,is arranged so as to be wound about a cylindrically-shaped winding core,. When charging the storage battery,, housed on the winding core,, the photo-electric transducer,wound about the winding core,is pulled out to receive the light.

Light charging type secondary battery unit having a photo-electric transducer being wound on a winding core and electrical equipment

A developing apparatus used for developing a resist applied on a substrate, comprises: developer storage means for storing a developer; a developer supply tube for supplying the developer from the developer storage means through one end thereof onto a substrate supported in a position; and degas means located immediately upstream of the one end of the developer supply tube to deaerate the developer. A resist developing method comprises the steps of: supplying a substance; applying a resist onto the substrate; making a latest image in the resist; and supplying a developer onto the resist having the latest image to develop the resist, wherein the step of supplying the developer provides the developer in several times. Another resist developing method comprises the steps of: supplying a substrate; applying a resist onto the substrate; forming a latest image in the resist; providing a developer onto the resist having the latest image therein; after providing the developer, rotating the substrate and then stopping same; maintaining the substrate still; and rotating the substrate and then stopping same.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Ritsuko Inoue