Abstract: A load drive apparatus includes: a first drive element that drives a first load; a second drive element that drives a second load; a control circuit that controls the first drive element and the second drive element; a power supply circuit that supplies electric power; and a failsafe circuit that includes an abnormality detection portion detecting whether an abnormality occurs in at least one of the control circuit and the power supply circuit, the failsafe circuit controlling the first drive element and the second drive element to drive the first load and the second load when the abnormality detection portion has detected that an abnormality occurs in at least one of the control circuit and the power supply circuit and also when the load drive apparatus receives at least one of a command directing a drive of the first load and a command directing a drive of the second load.

Abstract: A load drive apparatus includes: a first drive element that drives a first load; a second drive element that drives a second load; a control circuit that controls the first drive element and the second drive element; a power supply circuit that supplies electric power; and a failsafe circuit that includes an abnormality detection portion detecting whether an abnormality occurs in at least one of the control circuit and the power supply circuit, the failsafe circuit controlling the first drive element and the second drive element to drive the first load and the second load when the abnormality detection portion has detected that an abnormality occurs in at least one of the control circuit and the power supply circuit and also when the load drive apparatus receives at least one of a command directing a drive of the first load and a command directing a drive of the second load.

Abstract: A transceiver that transmits and receives data used in a communication system, in which the data is encoded by a transmission line code and a signal level of the transmission code changes at a predetermined transition timing in a bit-duration. The transceiver includes: a clock generator that generates an internal clock used for internal circuits; a timing generator that generates, by using the internal clock generated by the clock generator, a timing signal synchronized to a reference clock supplied externally; an encoding circuit that encodes, by using the timing signal generated by the timing generator, a transmission data which is synchronized to the reference clock to be the transmission line code; and a waveform shaping unit that performs a waveform shaping of a waveform at the predetermined transition timing of the transmission data to be based on the reference clock.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a detecting unit, a process performing unit, and a range setting unit. The detecting unit detects a boundary pattern periodically appearing between codes in a binary coded signal transmitted through a transmission line. The boundary pattern is information showing a boundary appearing between codes. The process performing unit performs a process in synchronization with timing of appearance of the boundary pattern. The range setting unit sets an allowance range which is set include timing at which it is estimated that the next boundary pattern appears. The timing is counted from the timing currently detected by the detecting unit. The detecting unit includes a section which detects the timing of appearance of the boundary pattern during the allowance range.

Abstract: An electric current detection circuit for detecting an electric current flowing to a load includes a voltage generation circuit, a plurality of comparators, and a reference voltage shift circuit. The voltage generation circuit includes a plurality of resistors coupled in series and generates different voltages by dividing a reference voltage with the resistors. The comparators determine a current level of the electric current flowing to the load using the voltages generated by the voltage generation circuit as threshold values. The reference voltage shift circuit shifts the reference voltage. The electric current flowing to the load is detected based on the current level determined by the plurality of comparators before shifting the reference voltage and the current level determined by the plurality of comparators after shifting the reference voltage.

Abstract: A transceiver that transmits and receives data used in a communication system, in which the data is encoded by a transmission line code and a signal level of the transmission code changes at a predetermined transition timing in a bit-duration. The transceiver includes: a clock generator that generates an internal clock used for internal circuits; a timing generator that generates, by using the internal clock generated by the clock generator, a timing signal synchronized to a reference clock supplied externally; an encoding circuit that encodes, by using the timing signal generated by the timing generator, a transmission data which is synchronized to the reference clock to be the transmission line code; and a waveform shaping unit that performs a waveform shaping of a waveform at the predetermined is transition timing of the transmission data to be based on the reference clock.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a detecting unit, a process performing unit, and a range setting unit. The detecting unit detects a boundary pattern periodically appearing between codes in a binary coded signal transmitted through a transmission line. The boundary pattern is information showing a boundary appearing between codes. The process performing unit performs a process in synchronization with timing of appearance of the boundary pattern. The range setting unit sets an allowance range which is set include timing at which it is estimated that the next boundary pattern appears. The timing is counted from the timing currently detected by the detecting unit. The detecting unit includes a section which detects the timing of appearance of the boundary pattern during the allowance range.

Abstract: A switch device controls a voltage applied to a load element according to an electric power supply from a power source. A driver circuit controls activation and deactivation of the switch device. A circuit portion sets a duty ratio and output the duty ratio to the driver circuit for causing the driver circuit to activate the switch device according to the duty ratio to control a voltage applied to the load element. The circuit portion sets the duty ratio according to a duty ratio characteristic curve. In the duty ratio characteristic curve, the duty ratio decreases gradually with increase in a voltage of the power source, and decrease in the duty ratio with increase in the voltage of the power source becomes small gradually.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a load driver for driving a load, a controller for turning ON and OFF the load driver, a current sensor for measuring a load current flowing through the load, and an add/subtract circuit for performing both an addition operation and a subtraction operation on a previous calculation result or for performing only the subtraction operation on the previous calculation result so as to produce a present calculation result. The addition operation uses an added value depending on the presently measured current. The subtraction operation uses a subtracted value depending on the presently measured current. The controller turns OFF the load driver, when the present calculation result of the add/subtract circuit exceeds a predetermined determination value.

Abstract: An electric current detection circuit for detecting an electric current flowing to a load includes a voltage generation circuit, a plurality of comparators, and a reference voltage shift circuit. The voltage generation circuit includes a plurality of resistors coupled in series and generates different voltages by dividing a reference voltage with the resistors. The comparators determine a current level of the electric current flowing to the load using the voltages generated by the voltage generation circuit as threshold values. The reference voltage shift circuit shifts the reference voltage. The electric current flowing to the load is detected based on the current level determined by the plurality of comparators before shifting the reference voltage and the current level determined by the plurality of comparators after shifting the reference voltage.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device includes a bus bar, a base component and an electronic component. The bus bar has an external connector terminal capable of receiving electric power from an external power source. The base component has a metallic heat radiation portion and is disposed to oppose the bus bar. The electronic component is held between the bus bar and heat the radiation portion of the base component. The bus bar further includes fixing terminals extending toward the base component. The fixing terminals are fixed to the base component to constitute fixing portions. The fixing portions are configured to have elasticity and exert a restoring force such that a distance between the bus bar and the base component reduces. The electronic component is in pressure contact with the bus bar and the base component by the restoration force of the elasticity of the fixing portions.

Abstract: An overcurrent protection circuit includes a load driver for driving a load, a controller for turning ON and OFF the load driver, a current sensor for measuring a load current flowing through the load, and an add/subtract circuit for performing both an addition operation and a subtraction operation on a previous calculation result or for performing only the subtraction operation on the previous calculation result so as to produce a present calculation result. The addition operation uses an added value depending on the presently measured current. The subtraction operation uses a subtracted value depending on the presently measured current. The controller turns OFF the load driver, when the present calculation result of the add/subtract circuit exceeds a predetermined determination value.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device includes a bus bar, a base component and an electronic component. The bus bar has an external connector terminal capable of receiving electric power from an external power source. The base component has a metallic heat radiation portion and is disposed to oppose the bus bar. The electronic component is held between the bus bar and heat the radiation portion of the base component. The bus bar further includes fixing terminals extending toward the base component. The fixing terminals are fixed to the base component to constitute fixing portions. The fixing portions are configured to have elasticity and exert a restoring force such that a distance between the bus bar and the base component reduces. The electronic component is in pressure contact with the bus bar and the base component by the restoration force of the elasticity of the fixing portions.

Abstract: A vehicular power supply circuit for supplying power to loads from a battery to drive the loads includes a power line and noise protection circuits. The power line is connected to the loads and systematically separated into multiple power lines based on characteristics of the loads to be connected. Each noise protection circuit is provided to a corresponding power line on the upstream side of the loads connected to the corresponding power line to serve as a common noise protection circuit for the loads connected to the corresponding power line.

Abstract: A switch device controls a voltage applied to a load element according to an electric power supply from a power source. A driver circuit controls activation and deactivation of the switch device. A circuit portion sets a duty ratio and output the duty ratio to the driver circuit for causing the driver circuit to activate the switch device according to the duty ratio to control a voltage applied to the load element. The circuit portion sets the duty ratio according to a duty ratio characteristic curve. In the duty ratio characteristic curve, the duty ratio decreases gradually with increase in a voltage of the power source, and decrease in the duty ratio with increase in the voltage of the power source becomes small gradually.

Abstract: A power control circuit is provided in a vehicle control ECU mounted in a vehicle. The control circuit, when making a shift to a test mode by a test mode circuit, closes a relay to supply a power voltage from a battery to a power line in the similar manner as an ignition main switch is turned on. A logic circuit section of the test mode circuit is reset by an OR logic of a set level of a test terminal and a level of the power line.

Abstract: An operation guiding device for a vehicle equipped with a plurality of accessories and operation members for operating the accessories is configured by a control unit that carries out detecting a vehicle condition, determining at least one of the operation members to operate an appropriate one of the accessories based on the vehicle condition and illuminating the at least one of the operation members to guide a user to operate the appropriate accessory.

Abstract: In a condition monitor system for controlling a power supply in a vehicle, a charge/discharge circuit has a capacitor which is discharged in response to each of speed pulses of a speed sensor and periodic pulses of a microcomputer. When none of the pulses are generated due to abnormality, the capacitor is continuously charged without being discharged. When the charge voltage of the capacitor reaches a switching voltage, a relay is turned off to shut off the power supply to various parts in the vehicle. The charge/discharge circuit is commonly used to check generation of the speed pulses and the periodic pulses by setting the switching voltage in accordance with a possible maximum time interval of the speed pulses.

Abstract: An engine starting assist system includes an auxiliary ECU having a voltage booster, an engine ECU, a starter relay, and a starter that allows the engine to be started when a current flows through the starter relay. The auxiliary ECU and the engine ECU are powered by a battery and supply currents to the starter relay. When the engine ECU resets the supply of the current to the starter relay because of a voltage drop of the battery during starting of the engine, the auxiliary ECU increases the voltage supplied from the battery using the booster, thereby supplying the current to the starter relay.

Abstract: A voltage booster device includes a booster circuit for boosting a power source voltage such as a battery voltage, a voltage-suppressing circuit for suppressing operation of the booster circuit when the boosted voltage reaches a predetermined voltage such as a Zener voltage of a Zener diode included in the voltage-suppressing circuit, and a control circuit having a microcomputer for supplying a voltage-boosting signal when the power source voltage is lower than a predetermined minimum voltage. When the power source voltage is lower than the minimum voltage, the power source voltage is boosted. When the boosted voltage reaches the predetermined voltage such as the Zener voltage, the level of the boosted voltage is kept constant at the level of the predetermined voltage.