Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a driving controller controls one of or both steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle, and a mode determinator determines any of a plurality of driving modes including a first driving mode and a second driving mode as a driving mode of the vehicle, in which tasks imposed on a driver in the second driving mode are less significant than in the first driving mode and one of or both steering and acceleration/deceleration of the vehicle are controlled by the driving controller, the driving controller controls the vehicle in the second driving mode, and the driving mode is changed to the first driving mode when an abnormality occurs in a combination switch, combination switch related equipment which is connected between the driving controller and the combination switch via a communication line, or communication which is performed by the combination switch and the driving controller.

Abstract: A light source device according to the invention includes a light source configured to emit blue light having a wavelength band of 37 nm or less and a diffusion element configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source. The diffusion element includes a base material that has an uneven structure and is composed of a metal, a reflection film that is provided along the uneven structure and is composed of aluminum, and a dielectric multilayer film provided on the reflection film.

Abstract: A light source device according to the invention includes a light source configured to emit blue light having a wavelength band of 37 nm or less and a diffusion element configured to diffuse the light emitted from the light source. The diffusion element includes a base material that has an uneven structure and is composed of a metal, a reflection film that is provided along the uneven structure and is composed of aluminum, and a dielectric multilayer film provided on the reflection film.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion element includes a wavelength conversion layer which has a first face on which an excitation light is incident and a second face facing the first face, a first layer which is provided facing the second face and contains a first inorganic oxide, a second layer which is provided facing the first layer, contains either silver or aluminum, and reflects the excitation light or a light obtained by wavelength conversion of the excitation light by the wavelength conversion layer, a third layer which is provided facing the second layer and contains a first metal other than silver or aluminum, a fourth layer which is provided facing the third layer and contains the first inorganic oxide or a second inorganic oxide that is different from the first inorganic oxide, and a fifth layer which is provided facing the fourth layer and contains a metal.

Abstract: A wavelength conversion element includes a wavelength conversion layer which has a first face on which an excitation light is incident and a second face facing the first face, a first layer which is provided facing the second face and contains a first inorganic oxide, a second layer which is provided facing the first layer, contains either silver or aluminum, and reflects the excitation light or a light obtained by wavelength conversion of the excitation light by the wavelength conversion layer, a third layer which is provided facing the second layer and contains a first metal other than silver or aluminum, a fourth layer which is provided facing the third layer and contains the first inorganic oxide or a second inorganic oxide that is different from the first inorganic oxide, and a fifth layer which is provided facing the fourth layer and contains a metal.

Abstract: An input assistance device has a rotation support body having a central axis, an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface of a sensor panel so that the central axis is along a direction perpendicular to the panel surface, and a rotational part supported by the rotation support body so as to be rotatable around the central axis. At least the side surface of the rotational part is formed from a conductive material. Conductive areas electrically connected to the side surface are allocated in part of a surface of the rotational part, the surface facing the panel surface.

Abstract: An input assistance device has a rotation support body having a central axis, an attachment mechanism that removably attaches the rotation support body to the panel surface of a sensor panel so that the central axis is along a direction perpendicular to the panel surface, and a rotational part supported by the rotation support body so as to be rotatable around the central axis. At least the side surface of the rotational part is formed from a conductive material. Conductive areas electrically connected to the side surface are allocated in part of a surface of the rotational part, the surface facing the panel surface.

Abstract: There is provided an exposure control apparatus including a photometry amount acquisition unit for acquiring a measured light amount as a photometry amount; a light emission amount control unit for increasing a light emission amount of a light emission unit as the photometry amount is smaller when the photometry amount is within a certain light amount range; and a gain control unit for increasing a gain to an output signal of an image sensor as the photometry amount is smaller when the photometry amount is not within the light amount range and setting the gain to a constant value when the photometry amount is within the light amount range, an image capturing apparatus including the exposure control apparatus, and a method of controlling exposure using the apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided an exposure control apparatus including a photometry amount acquisition unit for acquiring a measured light amount as a photometry amount; a light emission amount control unit for increasing a light emission amount of a light emission unit as the photometry amount is smaller when the photometry amount is within a certain light amount range; and a gain control unit for increasing a gain to an output signal of an image sensor as the photometry amount is smaller when the photometry amount is not within the light amount range and setting the gain to a constant value when the photometry amount is within the light amount range, an image capturing apparatus including the exposure control apparatus, and a method of controlling exposure using the apparatus.

Abstract: A wavelength splitting element for splitting a multiplexed light beam into separate wavelength bands and emitting the beams from separate emission ports including a first filter for splitting the multiplexed light beam into light beams in wavelength band ?1, which passes in a first direction, and wavelength bands ?2 and ?3, which reflects; a second filter, for splitting the reflected light into light beams in wavelength band ?3, which passes in a second direction, and wavelength band ?2, which reflects in a third direction; and a third filter, for passing the light beam in the wavelength band ?2. The first filter passes the light beam in the wavelength band ?2 reflected by the second filter and incident to the first filter again based on an incident angle, and the third filter passes only the light beam in the wavelength band ?2 that the first filter passes in the third direction.

Abstract: A wavelength splitting element for splitting a multiplexed light beam in wavelength bands ?1, ?2 and ?3 into light beams in separate wavelength bands and emitting the split light beams from separate emission ports, includes: a first filter for splitting the multiplexed light beam in the wavelength bands ?1, ?2 and ?3 into a light beam in the wavelength band ?1 that the first filter passes in a first direction and into a light beam in the wavelength bands ?2 and ?3 that the first filter reflects; a second filter, which is provided in the direction of the light beam in the wavelength bands ?2 and ?3 that has been reflected by the first filter, for splitting the light beam in wavelength bands ?2 and ?3 that has been reflected by the first filter into a light beam in the wavelength band ?3 that the second filter passes in a second direction and into a light beam in the wavelength band ?2 that the second filter reflects; and a third filter, which is provided in the direction of the light beam that has been reflect

Abstract: An illuminated switch includes an operation knob that includes an operation surface, a light source that emits light beams using a predetermined direction as an optical axis, and a first light guide member that is provided in the operation knob and guides the light beams emitted from the light source to the operation surface. The first light guide member includes a light incident surface formed of inclined surface that refracts light beams entering along the optical axis in a first direction, a reflection surface that reflects light beams refracted at the light incident surface in a second direction different from the first direction, and a light exit surface that transmits light beams reflected by the reflection surface.

Abstract: An annular light guide is provided. The annular light guide is made of optically transparent material, and is provided with an annular body that is an integrated combination of a light inlet and a light outlet. A light source is disposed in a cavity formed in the light inlet. Illumination light is emitted from the front surface 16c of the light outlet.

Abstract: An illuminated switch includes an operation knob that includes an operation surface, a light source that emits light beams using a predetermined direction as an optical axis, and a first light guide member that is provided in the operation knob and guides the light beams emitted from the light source to the operation surface. The first light guide member includes a light incident surface formed of inclined surface that refracts light beams entering along the optical axis in a first direction, a reflection surface that reflects light beams refracted at the light incident surface in a second direction different from the first direction, and a light exit surface that transmits light beams reflected by the reflection surface.

Abstract: A rotatable control knob for actuating a rotary switch includes a slit serving as a pointer display element. An illuminating portion of a light guiding unit attached to the control knob is disposed in the slit. A strip light-guiding portion extends spirally from the illuminating portion is secured to the inner surface of the control knob. Thus, light emerging from a planar light-emitting unit disposed under the control knob is incident on the lower surface of the strip light-guiding portion and is guided through the strip light-guiding portion to the illuminating portion. This allows the illuminating portion illuminated with high intensity in the slit so as to function as an indicator.

Abstract: A surface emitting device is provided. The surface emitting device includes a light guide and a light source. The light guide includes a circular portion that curves light, and a light entrance portion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the circular portion. The light source emits light toward the light entrance portion. The light source is disposed in a hollow formed in the center of the light entrance portion. The outer wall surface of the light entrance portion has a reflecting portion. The reflecting portion includes first and second reflecting surfaces that adjoin at an obtuse angle. Light of the light source heading from the inner wall surface to the outer wall surface of the light entrance portion is reflected by the reflecting portion so as to head into the circular portion.

Abstract: A code disk rotates around the shaft fixed to a base in a case. A half of the upper surface of the code disk is exposed from the case. The code disk functions as an operating member on which an operator puts his or her finger to rotate it. A transparent body is layered under the code disk and fixed to the shaft. The transparent body is a circular film member including a piezoelectric element and a transparent electrode. A rotation angle of the code disk is detected by a light emitter and a light receiver. According to the rotation angle, alternating-current is applied to the transparent electrode of the transparent body to drive the piezoelectric element. External force is thus applied to the code disk from the transparent body.

Abstract: A haptic input apparatus includes: a supporting member having a spherical bearing; a lever handle having a spherical portion to be supported by the spherical bearing; an electromagnetic coil arranged opposite to a lower end surface of the lever handle; detection means for detecting an operating state of the lever handle; and control means for taking in an output signal a from the detection means to output a driving signal b of the electromagnetic coil based on the output signal a. The control means reads outs a control signal c from the electromagnetic coil corresponding to an output signal a to be inputted from the detection means from a first storage to output to a first driver circuit. The first driver circuit D/A converts the control signal c outputted from the CPU for amplifying, and outputs a driving signal b from the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: An annular light guide is provided. The annular light guide is made of optically transparent material, and is provided with an annular body that is an integrated combination of a light inlet and a light outlet. A light source is disposed in a cavity formed in the light inlet. Illumination light is emitted from the front surface 16c of the light outlet.

Abstract: When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle ? and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the controller determines whether an operating force was applied to the knob in direction A in which the turning angle of the knob is increased. If the controller determines that the operating force was not applied to the knob in direction A (if the operating force was applied in direction B), the locking of the knob is released.