Abstract: Provided is a sliding member having a hard carbon coating that makes high wear resistance compatible with a low coefficient of friction and that has excellent peeling resistance. A sliding member (100) includes a base member (10) and a hard carbon coating (12) formed on the base member (10). The indentation hardness of the hard carbon coating (12) decreases gradually from the base member side to the surface side. The hard carbon coating (12) has an indentation hardness distribution at 0?T/Ttotal?0.6 approximated by a first line and an indentation hardness distribution at 0.9?T/Ttotal?1 approximated by a second line, and the intersection between the first line and the second line (T2/Ttotal, H2) satisfies Expression (1), (H3?H1)×T2/Ttotal+H1<H2?0.9×H1, and Expression (2), 0.6?T2/Ttotal?0.9.

Abstract: A switched-mode power supply circuit that performs a burst-mode operation to stop and restart switching is provided, including: a power supply that supplies DC voltage; a switching element that controls the switching; a first comparator that detects an output voltage of the switched-mode power supply circuit; a storage element that stores an output of the first comparator according to a timing of controlling the switching; and a determination unit that measures a time period for which at least one of an output of the first comparator or an output of the storage element continues to be higher than the predetermined voltage, and if the measurement is not reset within a predetermined elapsed time, determines that the switched-mode power supply circuit is in an overvoltage state, wherein the switched-mode power supply circuit resets the measurement at a timing corresponding to a switching stop timing in the burst-mode operation.

Abstract: A switched-mode power supply circuit that performs a burst-mode operation to stop and restart switching is provided, including: a power supply that supplies DC voltage; a switching element that controls the switching; a first comparator that detects an output voltage of the switched-mode power supply circuit; a storage element that stores an output of the first comparator according to a timing of controlling the switching; and a determination unit that measures a time period for which at least one of an output of the first comparator or an output of the storage element continues to be higher than the predetermined voltage, and if the measurement is not reset within a predetermined elapsed time, determines that the switched-mode power supply circuit is in an overvoltage state, wherein the switched-mode power supply circuit resets the measurement at a timing corresponding to a switching stop timing in the burst-mode operation.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, a DC-DC converter, and a control IC incorporating functions of controlling these components. At power up, a capacitor connected to a terminal VCC is charged with a current whose voltage has been adjusted by a starting circuit. When a voltage across the capacitor reaches a UVLO cancelation voltage, an under-voltage lockout (UVLO) circuit outputs a first enable signal, thereby driving a PFC control circuit. When the PFC control circuit outputs a PFC switching signal, a PFC switching detection circuit outputs a second enable signal, thereby driving an LLC control circuit. Since the time between the start of the PFC switching operation and the start of the operation of the LLC control circuit is shortest, there is no need to supplement the starting power and arrange an auxiliary winding for an inductor.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a power factor correction (PFC) circuit, a DC-DC converter, and a control IC incorporating functions of controlling these components. At power up, a capacitor connected to a terminal VCC is charged with a current whose voltage has been adjusted by a starting circuit. When a voltage across the capacitor reaches a UVLO cancelation voltage, an under-voltage lockout (UVLO) circuit outputs a first enable signal, thereby driving a PFC control circuit. When the PFC control circuit outputs a PFC switching signal, a PFC switching detection circuit outputs a second enable signal, thereby driving an LLC control circuit. Since the time between the start of the PFC switching operation and the start of the operation of the LLC control circuit is shortest, there is no need to supplement the starting power and arrange an auxiliary winding for an inductor.

Abstract: When a standby signal is High, a Comp_stb signal that is overlapped with an AC waveform is output from an AC-COMP combining circuit in a COMP signal changing circuit, input into a PWM.comp, and compared with an output waveform of a ramp oscillator. Here, only when a peak of the Comp_stb signal is higher than a minimum voltage of the ramp oscillator is an OUT terminal output signal output from a control IC and a burst operation is performed. When the Comp_stb signal is lower than the minimum voltage of the ramp oscillator, the OUT terminal output signal is not output from the control IC because a reset signal of an RSFF remains High. Accordingly, a switching loss is reduced by operating a switching element in a burst mode when a switching power supply apparatus is in a lightly loaded or unloaded state.

Abstract: A switching power supply circuit including a phase angle detector circuit detecting a phase angle specified in advance based on a peak hold signal, a continuous conduction control setting circuit holding a voltage value corresponding to a peak current value of an inductor current detection voltage in every switching cycle and during a one-shot pulse when the peak is held and outputting a signal at the point of detection to determine to enable or disable a second set pulse set by the continuous conduction control setting circuit. When the second set pulse is disabled, a selector circuit carries out control using critical conduction control to turn on a switching element using a ZCD comparator detecting that the inductor current has reached zero, because of which the peak current does not increase.

Abstract: When a standby signal is High, a Comp_stb signal that is overlapped with an AC waveform is output from an AC-COMP combining circuit in a COMP signal changing circuit, input into a PWM.comp, and compared with an output waveform of a ramp oscillator. Here, only when a peak of the Comp_stb signal is higher than a minimum voltage of the ramp oscillator is an OUT terminal output signal output from a control IC and a burst operation is performed. When the Comp_stb signal is lower than the minimum voltage of the ramp oscillator, the OUT terminal output signal is not output from the control IC because a reset signal of an RSFF remains High. Accordingly, a switching loss is reduced by operating a switching element in a burst mode when a switching power supply apparatus is in a lightly loaded or unloaded state.

Abstract: A rotating drum (1) has a collecting/stacking recess (2) in the outer peripheral surface thereof, and includes: a drum body (3); and an air-permeable porous member (4) that forms the bottom surface (2A) of the collecting/stacking recess (2). The porous member (4) is sandwiched between: an outer shaping member (6) arranged so as to oppose the bottom surface (2A); and an inner shaping member (7) arranged between the porous member (4) and the drum body (3). Both the shaping members (6, 7) are arranged so as to overlap the porous member (4). Each shaping member (6, 7) has a recess-bottom-surface corresponding section (6A, 7A) that overlaps the bottom surface (2A) of the collecting/stacking recess (2) in a planar view thereof, and that is constituted by: a plurality of openings (65, 75) that penetrate the recess-bottom-surface corresponding section (6A, 7A) in the thickness direction; and an opening defining section (60, 70) that partitions and forms the openings (65, 75).

Abstract: A switching power supply circuit including a phase angle detector circuit detecting a phase angle specified in advance based on a peak hold signal, a continuous conduction control setting circuit holding a voltage value corresponding to a peak current value of an inductor current detection voltage in every switching cycle and during a one-shot pulse when the peak is held and outputting a signal at the point of detection to determine to enable or disable a second set pulse set by the continuous conduction control setting circuit. When the second set pulse is disabled, a selector circuit carries out control using critical conduction control to turn on a switching element using a ZCD comparator detecting that the inductor current has reached zero, because of which the peak current does not increase.

Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a switching power supply can include a control circuit that conducts feedback control of a pulse width of a driving signal for switching the switching element according to an output voltage and settle the output voltage to a specified voltage level; a frequency reducing circuit that is disposed in the control circuit and reduces a frequency of the driving signal for switching the switching element upon detection of an overload state and limits an output current; and an initial state setting circuit that sets the control circuit to an overload detecting state for a predetermined period of time in a startup period of the control circuit. The initial state setting circuit can pull down a control voltage for a soft start signal for soft starting to the ground potential to inhibit generation of the driving signal and pulls up a feedback voltage signal.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus which reduces flicker and crosstalk, provides a viewing screen of high brightness without decreased resolution. The stereoscopic image display apparatus includes a liquid crystal display which has first and second image forming areas having horizontal rows of pixels, and an optical unit in which first and second polarizing areas associated with the first and second image forming areas are arranged. A right eye image is displayed on the first image forming areas and a left eye image is displayed on the second image forming areas, and these areas are alternately replaced or overwritten every time a frame is switched. Phase difference states are replaced between the first polarizing areas and the second polarizing areas of the optical unit, synchronized with replacement of the first and second image forming areas.

Abstract: Aspects of the provide a control circuit of a quasi-resonant switching power supply in which the switching frequency can be adequately reduced under a light load condition. Some aspects include a control circuit of a quasi-resonant switching power supply that performs switching operation of a switching element based on a bottom detection signal. The control circuit of the switching power supply can include a dummy signal generating circuit that generates a dummy signal for replacing the bottom detection signal when the bottom detection becomes unable due to damping of a resonant waveform with decrease of switching frequency, or when the number of bottoms in the resonant waveform exceeds a predetermined times. The use of the dummy signal can increase the number of skips and thus, reduces the switching frequency.

Abstract: A rotating drum (1) has a collecting/stacking recess (2) in the outer peripheral surface thereof, and includes: a drum body (3); and an air-permeable porous member (4) that forms the bottom surface (2A) of the collecting/stacking recess (2). The porous member (4) is sandwiched between: an outer shaping member (6) arranged so as to oppose the bottom surface (2A); and an inner shaping member (7) arranged between the porous member (4) and the drum body (3). Both the shaping members (6, 7) are arranged so as to overlap the porous member (4). Each shaping member (6, 7) has a recess-bottom-surface corresponding section (6A, 7A) that overlaps the bottom surface (2A) of the collecting/stacking recess (2) in a planar view thereof, and that is constituted by: a plurality of openings (65, 75) that penetrate the recess-bottom-surface corresponding section (6A, 7A) in the thickness direction; and an opening defining section (60, 70) that partitions and forms the openings (65, 75).

Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a switching power supply can include a control circuit that conducts feedback control of a pulse width of a driving signal for switching the switching element according to an output voltage and settle the output voltage to a specified voltage level; a frequency reducing circuit that is disposed in the control circuit and reduces a frequency of the driving signal for switching the switching element upon detection of an overload state and limits an output current; and an initial state setting circuit that sets the control circuit to an overload detecting state for a predetermined period of time in a startup period of the control circuit. The initial state setting circuit can pull down a control voltage for a soft start signal for soft starting to the ground potential to inhibit generation of the driving signal and pulls up a feedback voltage signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the provide a control circuit of a quasi-resonant switching power supply in which the switching frequency can be adequately reduced under a light load condition. Some aspects include a control circuit of a quasi-resonant switching power supply that performs switching operation of a switching element based on a bottom detection signal. The control circuit of the switching power supply can include a dummy signal generating circuit that generates a dummy signal for replacing the bottom detection signal when the bottom detection becomes unable due to damping of a resonant waveform with decrease of switching frequency, or when the number of bottoms in the resonant waveform exceeds a predetermined times. The use of the dummy signal can increase the number of skips and thus, reduces the switching frequency.

Abstract: To provide an information processing apparatus, a server apparatus, a method of an information processing apparatus, a method of a server apparatus, and an apparatus executable program. An information processing apparatus uses signed integrity values unique to software configuration and asserting integrity of initial codes of a networked server. The server apparatus generates keys used for certifying the server apparatus (S810, S820, S830). One of the keys are certified by a third party to generate a digital signature (S840). The digital signature is attached to the integrity values and the signed integrity values are transmitted to the information processing apparatus for allowing the information processing apparatus to have secure services through the network (S850, S860).

Abstract: A security device of this invention includes a nonvolatile storage unit 22 for storing a validity check unit including a counter updated every time signature function means 30 is called up, a volatile storage unit 24 for reading and storing a counter array out of an external nonvolatile storage unit storing the counter array, in which the counter array is obtained by coupling a hash value generated for each signature key with a signature number counter for counting the number of signatures performed by use of the signature key, and a hash function unit 28 for reading the counter array out of the volatile storage unit 24, generating the hash value, and transferring the hash value to the validity check unit for a validity check.

Abstract: A milk raw material is fermented by using Lactococcus lactis not having cell wall-enveloped proteinase and a Bifidobacterium bacterium. The Lactococcus lactis is, for example, a Lactococcus lactis having a property that, when this bacterium and the Bifidobacterium bacterium are inoculated into a medium containing 1% (W/W) of glucose and 10% (W/W) of reduced skim milk powder in amounts of 5.0×106 to 2.0×108 CFU and 1.0×107 to 3.0×109 CFU per 1 ml of the medium, respectively, and cultured, and the medium is rapidly cooled to 10° C. from culture temperature when pH of the medium becomes 4.6 to 5.5, and stored at 10° C. for 2 weeks, survival rate of the Bafidobacterium bacterium is maintained to be 30% or more.

Abstract: According to a method of producing an absorbent member (3) of the present invention including a depositing step of depositing raw material of absorbent member fed along with an air stream to a recess portion (22) which is arranged at an outer circumferential face of a rotatable drum (2) by suctioning and a pressing step of pressing and compressing a deposited aggregate (32) released from the inside of the recess portion (22), the recess portion (22) includes a suction portion (23) which is formed of a porous plate (26) to perform suctioning from a bottom face and a non-suction portion (24) having an air-impermeable bottom face not to perform suctioning from the bottom face while depth of the non-suction portion (24) from the outer circumferential face of the rotatable drum is shallower than depth of the suction portion (23) from the outer circumferential face of the rotatable drum, the raw material is deposited into the recess portion (22) in the depositing step, and the absorbent member (3) having a high den