Author: claimsbot

1. A radio communication system comprising:
a scatterer configured to reflect, refract, or transmit a radio wave radiated primarily from a transmission side apparatus to radiate the radio wave secondarily to a desired area, wherein
a metamaterial is used for the scatterer, and
a metal reflector for controlling the scatterer, a reflected wave and a transmitted wave is disposed on a back surface of the metamaterial, wherein
the system is configured so that a radio wave having passed through the metamaterial reaches the metal reflector, and the radio wave having reflected off the metal reflector is radiated secondarily without passing through the metamaterial.
2. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the scatterer has a structure which allows the radio wave to be radiated secondarily in a direction at an angle different from a reflection angle of specular reflection.
3. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the scatterer has a structure which allows only radio waves in one or a plurality of predetermined frequency bands to be radiated secondarily.
4. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the scatterer has a structure which allows the radio waves made incident to be concentrated in a direction of propagation.
5. The radio communication system according to claim 4,
wherein the metamaterial has a structure in which an evanescent wave is amplified inside the metamaterial by setting an electric constant of at least any one of a permittivity and a magnetic permeability of the metamaterial to a negative value and setting a propagation constant of the metamaterial to a negative value.
6. The radio communication system according to claim 4,
wherein the metamaterial is formed of a periodic structure in which the radio wave made incident on the scatterer is converted into a Bloch wave.
7. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the scatterer is formed of an Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structure.
8. The radio communication system according to claim 7,
wherein the EBG structure is formed of a periodic structure in which the radio wave made incident on the scatterer is converted into a Bloch wave.
9. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the transmission side apparatus is any of a radio base station and a mobile station.
10. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the system is configured so that
a radio wave having reached the metal reflector without passing through the metamaterial is reflected off the metal reflector, and thereafter passes through the metamaterial to be reflected secondarily.
11. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the metamaterial is configured to operate in a first frequency band and a second frequency band, and
the metamaterial is configured to radiate, secondarily to the mobile station, a radio wave having been radiated primarily from the radio base station in the first frequency band and to radiate, secondarily to the base station, a radio wave having been radiated primarily from the mobile station in the second frequency band.
12. The radio communication system according to claim 1,
wherein the scatterer is formed of a reflector that controls a phase of a reflected wave of a radio wave radiated primarily from the transmission side apparatus, and
a reflection characteristic of the reflector is set in a way that the radio wave radiated primarily from the transmission side apparatus is reflected as an equiphase plane wave to be directed to a different direction from a reflection angle of specular reflection.
13. The radio communication system according to claim 12,
wherein the reflector is formed of a frequency selective reflector, and
a reflection characteristic of the reflector is set in a way that only radio waves in one or a plurality of predetermined frequency bands among radio waves radiated primarily from the transmission side apparatus are reflected as equiphase plane waves to be directed to a different direction from a reflection angle of specular reflection.
14. A radio communication system comprising:
a scatterer configured to reflect, refract, or transmit a radio wave radiated primarily from a transmission side apparatus to radiate the radio wave secondarily to a desired area, wherein
a metamaterial is used for the scatterer, and
a metal reflector for controlling the scatterer, a reflected wave and a transmitted wave is disposed on a back surface of the metamaterial, wherein
the metamaterial is formed into a shape of a polyhedron,
the system being configured so that a radio wave made incident on the metamaterial at a first incident angle is refracted in a direction at a second refraction angle by a first boundary surface, and so that a second boundary surface through which the refracted radio wave is radiated from an inside of the metamaterial to air is formed non-parallel to the first incident angle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A waste treatment apparatus for performing volume reduction-annihilation treatment by decomposing waste using microorganisms while the waste is agitated, the waste treatment apparatus comprising:
a treatment tank which accommodates the microorganisms and the waste; and
an agitation device arranged to agitate the microorganisms and the waste, the agitation device including a rotation shaft provided in the treatment tank and a plurality of agitating tools arranged at predetermined intervals in an axial direction of the rotation shaft; wherein
at least one of the agitating tools defines a first agitating tool that includes a pair of paddle arms and a pair of blades, the pair of paddle arms being disposed so as to be opposed to each other in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, each of the pair of blades being disposed in an end portion of a respective one of the pair of paddle arms so as to be inclined with respect to an axis of the respective one of the pair of paddle arms and so as to be separated from an inner wall of the treatment tank by a predetermined distance;
each of the pair of blades includes a leading edge and a trailing edge arranged such that the leading edge is disposed ahead of the trailing edge in a rotation direction of the pair of paddle arms;
one of the pair of blades is inclined forward such that the leading edge is disposed closer to the rotation shaft than the trailing edge, and the other one of the pair of blades is inclined backward such that trailing edge is disposed closer to the rotation shaft than the leading edge;
at least two of the agitating tools define second agitating tools that include a pair of paddle arms, the pair of paddle arms being disposed so as to be opposed to each other in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, each of the pair of paddle arms includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped arm body including a groove portion in a principal surface thereof; and
the at least two second agitating tools are disposed at opposed ends of the rotation shaft in the axial direction of the rotation shaft and the at least one first agitating tool is disposed therebetween.
2. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the blade with respect to the paddle arm is set within a range of about 1\xb0 to about 15\xb0.
3. A waste treatment apparatus for performing volume reduction-annihilation treatment by decomposing, by aerobic microorganisms, waste including plastic waste, raw waste, and paper waste while the waste is agitated together with the aerobic microorganisms and a support material to which the aerobic microorganisms adhere and which functions as a residence of the aerobic microorganisms, the waste treatment apparatus comprising:
a treatment tank which accommodates the aerobic microorganisms and the support material together with the waste;
an agitation device arranged to agitate together the aerobic microorganisms, the support material, and the waste;
an activation device arranged to activate decomposition action of the aerobic microorganisms on the waste by supplying air into the treatment tank and heating an inside of the treatment tank to a predetermined temperature;
an exhaust device arranged to exhaust exhaust gas containing water vapor and carbon dioxide generated in the treatment tank to outside the treatment tank;
a dust removal device arranged to remove dust in the exhaust gas exhausted by the exhaust device and to evaporate moisture in the exhaust gas; and
a deodorization device arranged to remove foul odors in the exhaust gas treated by the dust removal device by heating the exhaust gas at high temperatures; wherein
the agitation device includes a rotation shaft provided in the treatment tank and a plurality of agitating tools arranged at predetermined distances apart in an axial direction of the rotation shaft;
at least one of the agitating tools defines a first agitating tool that includes a pair of paddle arms and a pair of blades, the pair of paddle arms being disposed so as to be opposed to each other in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, each of the pair of blades being disposed in an end portion of a respective one of the pair of paddle arms so as to be inclined with respect to an axis of the respective one of the pair of paddle arms and so as to be separated from an inner wall of the treatment tank by a predetermined distance;
each of the pair of blades includes a leading edge and a trailing edge arranged such that the leading edge is disposed ahead of the trailing edge in a rotation direction of the pair of paddle arms;
one of the blades being inclined forward such that the leading edge is disposed closer to the rotation shaft than the trailing edge, and the other one of the pair of blades being inclined backward such that the trailing edge is disposed closer to the rotation shaft than the leading edge;
at least two the agitating tools define second agitating tools that include a pair of paddle arms, the pair of paddle arms being disposed so as to be opposed to each other in a diameter direction of the rotation shaft, each of the pair of paddle arms includes a substantially rectangular plate-shaped arm body including a groove portion in a principal surface thereof; and
the at least two second agitating tools are disposed at opposed ends of the rotation shaft in the axial direction of the rotation shaft and the at least one first agitating tool is disposed therebetween.
4. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an assisting device arranged to assist heating of the treatment tank through heat of exhaust-heat gas deodorized by the deodorization device.
5. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the support material to which the aerobic microorganisms adhere and which functions as the residence of the aerobic microorganisms includes sharp crushed pieced of a sintered porous material.
6. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an inclination angle of the blade with respect to the paddle arm is set within a range of about 1\xb0 to about 15\xb0.
7. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the groove has a V-shaped cross-section.
8. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the groove has a V-shaped cross-section.
9. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a support material for which the microorganisms adhere, wherein the thickness of the support material which adheres to an inner wall of the treatment tank and is stacked thereon is set not to exceed 50 mm.
10. The waste treatment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the support material which adheres to an inner wall of the treatment tank and is stacked thereon is set not to exceed 50 mm.

1. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising the steps of:
sequentially forming a transparent electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, and a metal electrode layer on a main surface of a transparent substrate;
forming a resin layer on the metal electrode layer;
exposing a part of the metal electrode layer in a pinhole which is formed in the resin layer by applying a voltage across the transparent electrode layer and the metal electrode layer in a direction opposite to a direction of a photo-electromotive force to be generated in the semiconductor layer; and
removing the part of the metal electrode layer by etching the part of the metal electrode layer using the resin layer as a mask.
2. A method for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising the steps of:
sequentially forming a transparent electrode layer, a semiconductor layer, and a metal electrode layer on a main surface of a transparent substrate;
forming a first pinhole in the metal electrode layer by applying a voltage across the transparent electrode layer and the metal electrode layer in a direction opposite to a direction of a photo-electromotive force to be generated in the semiconductor layer;
forming a resin layer on the metal electrode layer and in the first pinhole;
exposing a part of the metal electrode layer in a second pinhole which is formed in the resin layer by applying the reverse voltage across the transparent electrode layer and the metal electrode layer; and
removing the part of the metal electrode layer by etching the part of the metal electrode layer using the resin layer as a mask.
3. The method for manufacturing a solar cell module according to claim 2, wherein
the semiconductor layer has a first semiconductor layer, a transparent electrically conductive layer, and a second semiconductor layer which are sequentially formed on the transparent electrode, and
in the step of forming the first pinhole, the first pinhole penetrates through at least the metal electrode layer and the second semiconductor layer.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A coupling unit for electrically coupling a performance board on which an electronic device is mounted and a tester control unit for generating a control signal for controlling a test of said electronic device, comprising:
a board containing unit for containing a test board electrically coupled to said tester control unit such that said test board is replaceable in one of a plurality of holding positions;
a coupling cable whose one end is coupled to said test board held in said one of said plurality of holding positions and another end is coupled to said performance board; and
a holding member, detachably fastened to said board containing unit on one of a plurality of fixing positions of said board containing unit and detachably fastened to said test board, configured to hold said test board in said one of said plurality of holding positions that is determined by said one of said plurality of fixing positions.
2. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control unit cable whose one end is coupled to said test board held in said one of said plurality of holding positions and the other end is coupled to said tester control unit.
3. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide member detachably disposed on an installation position of said board containing unit in response to said one of said plurality of fixing positions on which said holding member is fixed, for guiding a side of said test board when said test board is inserted into said one of said plurality of holding positions of said board containing unit.
4. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said board containing unit has a plurality of holes formed in a row in response to each of said plurality of fixing positions on a surface thereof to which said holding member is attached, and said holding member comprises a projection for engagement with one of said holes.
5. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said board containing unit contains a plurality of said test boards, and said coupling unit further comprises an inter-board cable of which both ends are coupled to said different test boards, respectively.
6. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said board containing unit contains a plurality of said test boards, and said coupling unit further comprises a coupling board coupled to said test boards.
7. A coupling unit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a control unit cable of which one end is coupled to said test board and the other end is coupled to said tester control unit, wherein said coupling board is electrically coupled to said test boards and said control unit cable.
8. The coupling unit of claim 1, wherein a first end of the test board is connected to the holding member and a second end of the test board is connected to a control unit cable.
9. The coupling unit of claim 8, wherein the first end of the test board is located near the electronic device.
10. The coupling unit of claim 1, wherein the holding member is fixed on an upper surface of the board containing unit with a fixing screw.
11. The coupling unit of claim 10, wherein the holding member is positioned on the upper surface of the board containing unit with a positioning pin.
12. The coupling unit of claim 11, wherein the positioning pin is located on an outer side of the board containing unit.
13. The coupling unit of claim 1, wherein the holding member is positioned on an upper surface of the board containing unit with a positioning pin.
14. The coupling unit of claim 1, wherein the test board is held by a guide member.
15. The coupling unit of claim 14, wherein the guide member comprises a groove.
16. A test head for detachably fixing a test board electrically coupled to a tester control unit for generating a control signal for controlling a test of an electronic device, comprising:
a board containing unit for containing said test board to be replaceable in one of a plurality of holding positions;
a holding member, detachably fastened to said board containing unit on one of a plurality of fixing positions of said board containing unit and detachably fastened to said test board, configured to hold said test board in said one of said plurality of holding positions that is determined by said one of said plurality of fixing positions; and
a control unit cable of which one end is coupled to said test board held in said one of said plurality of holding positions and another end is coupled to said tester control unit.
17. The test head of claim 16, wherein a first end of the test board is connected to the holding member and a second end of the test board is connected to the control unit cable.
18. The test head of claim 17, wherein the first end of the test board is located near the electronic device.
19. The test head of claim 16, wherein the holding member is fixed on an upper surface of the board containing unit with a fixing screw.
20. The test head of claim 19, wherein the holding member is positioned on the upper surface of the board containing unit with a positioning pin.
21. The test head of claim 20, wherein the positioning pin is located on an outer side of the board containing unit.
22. The test head of claim 16, wherein the holding member is positioned on an upper surface of the board containing unit with a positioning pin.
23. The test head of claim 16, wherein the test board is held by a guide member.
24. The test head of claim 23, wherein the guide member comprises a groove.
25. A test apparatus for testing an electronic device, comprising:
a tester control unit for generating a control signal for controlling a test of said electronic device;
a test board electrically coupled to said tester control unit;
a board containing unit for containing said test board electrically coupled to said tester control unit such that said test board is replaceable on one of a plurality of holding positions;
a holding member, detachably fastened to said board containing unit on one of a plurality of fixing positions of said board containing unit and detachably fastened to said test board, configured to hold said test board in said one of said plurality of holding positions that is determined by said one of said plurality of fixing positions; and
a coupling cable of which one end is coupled to said test board held in said one of said plurality of holding positions and another end is coupled to said performance board.
26. The test apparatus of claim 25, wherein a first end of the test board is connected to the holding member and a second end of the test board is connected to a control unit cable.
27. The test apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first end of the test board is located near the electronic device.
28. The test apparatus of claim 25, wherein the holding member is fixed on an upper surface of the board containing unit with a fixing screw.
29. The test apparatus of claim 28, wherein the holding member is positioned on the upper surface of the board containing unit with a positioning pin.
30. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein the positioning pin is located on an outer side of the board containing unit.
31. The test apparatus of claim 25, wherein the holding member is positioned on an upper surface of the board containing unit with a positioning pin.
32. The test apparatus of claim 25, wherein the test board is held by a guide member.
33. The test head of claim 32, wherein the guide member comprises a groove.