Abstract: Provided, in parallel to an electromagnetic pump in a power supply system, is an electromagnetic pump compensation power supply mechanism (10) that will perform a power-factor improving function as a synchronous machine during normal operation of a plant. The electromagnetic pump compensation power supply mechanism (10) is provided with an exciter stator permanent magnetic apparatus (45) that can switch an exciter between a non-excited state and an excited state. The exciter stator permanent magnet apparatus (45) comprises exciter stator permanent magnets (15a), springs (16) that apply force to the exciter stator permanent magnets (15a) towards positions facing an exciter rotor winding (15b), and electromagnetic solenoids (20) that make the exciter stator permanent magnets (15a) move to positions not facing the exciter rotor winding (15b) in resistance to the force applied by the springs (16).

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an optical system and an image sensor to capture images of a close object and distant object. The optical system includes a convex lens as a first optical member and a glass plate as a second optical member with a refractive index higher than that of air. The second optical member is located in between the first optical member and a first image point at which a real image of the close object is formed, to absorb a positional difference between the first image point and a second image point at which a real image of the distant object is formed. The image sensor includes multiple light reception elements to generate a single picture frame that contains simultaneously a real image of the close object and a real image of the distant object.

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter comprises: an excitation member (5) in which a plurality of magnets (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged spaced apart from one another along an outer circumferential surface of a flow channel (1) through which liquid metal flows, and in which a magnetic field is formed in a direction perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the flow channel (1); and electrodes (6a, 6b) provided between the magnets (5a, 5b, 5c) of the excitation member (5), for measuring the voltage generated when the liquid metal crosses the magnetic field. A pulse excitation electric-current supply device (7a) for supplying a pulsed excitation current to the excitation member (5) is provided, whereby a flow speed distribution can be suppressed from being generated in the circumferential direction of the channel (1) even when the flow speed of the liquid metal is low, and the flow rate can be accurately measured.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an optical system and an image sensor to capture images of a close object and distant object. The optical system includes a convex lens as a first optical member and a glass plate as a second optical member with a refractive index higher than that of air. The second optical member is located in between the first optical member and a first image point at which a real image of the close object is formed, to absorb a positional difference between the first image point and a second image point at which a real image of the distant object is formed. The image sensor includes multiple light reception elements to generate a single picture frame that contains simultaneously a real image of the close object and a real image of the distant object.

Abstract: Provided, in parallel to an electromagnetic pump in a power supply system, is an electromagnetic pump compensation power supply mechanism (10) that will perform a power-factor improving function as a synchronous machine during normal operation of a plant. The electromagnetic pump compensation power supply mechanism (10) is provided with an exciter stator permanent magnetic apparatus (45) that can switch an exciter between a non-excited state and an excited state. The exciter stator permanent magnet apparatus (45) comprises exciter stator permanent magnets (15a), springs (16) that apply force to the exciter stator permanent magnets (15a) towards positions facing an exciter rotor winding (15b), and electromagnetic solenoids (20) that make the exciter stator permanent magnets (15a) move to positions not facing the exciter rotor winding (15b) in resistance to the force applied by the springs (16).

Abstract: An electromagnetic flow meter comprises: an excitation member (5) in which a plurality of magnets (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged spaced apart from one another along an outer circumferential surface of a flow channel (1) through which liquid metal flows, and in which a magnetic field is formed in a direction perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the flow channel (1); and electrodes (6a, 6b) provided between the magnets (5a, 5b, 5c) of the excitation member (5), for measuring the voltage generated when the liquid metal crosses the magnetic field. A pulse excitation electric-current supply device (7a) for supplying a pulsed excitation current to the excitation member (5) is provided, whereby a flow speed distribution can be suppressed from being generated in the circumferential direction of the channel (1) even when the flow speed of the liquid metal is low, and the flow rate can be accurately measured.

Abstract: An electrode group is provided in a portable terminal carried by a human body for transmitting a transmission signal to the human body functioning as a transmission medium. The electrode group contains three electrodes arranged respectively at three vertices of an equilateral triangle. Three types of driving electrode pairs are defined as respectively having different combination of optional two electrodes. While changing the driving electrode pairs for use in order one pair by one pair, the transmission signal based on the same transmission data is repeatedly transmitted as many times as the number of driving electrode pairs.

Abstract: A light detecting device includes a well region, a first holding region disposed in a surface portion of the well region, a second holding region and a third holding region disposed in a surface portion of the first holding region, an insulating layer disposed on the second holding region and the third holding region, a first electrode disposed on the second holding region through the insulating layer, and the second electrode disposed on the third holding region through the insulating layer. The first holding region is configured to hold a first carrier generated in the well region. Each of the second holding region and the third holding region is configured to hold a second carrier generated in the well region. The first carrier is one of an electron and a hole, and the second carrier is the other one of the electron and the hole.

Abstract: A light detecting device includes a well region, a first holding region disposed in a surface portion of the well region, a second holding region and a third holding region disposed in a surface portion of the first holding region, an insulating layer disposed on the second holding region and the third holding region, a first electrode disposed on the second holding region through the insulating layer, and the second electrode disposed on the third holding region through the insulating layer. The first holding region is configured to hold a first carrier generated in the well region. Each of the second holding region and the third holding region is configured to hold a second carrier generated in the well region. The first carrier is one of an electron and a hole, and the second carrier is the other one of the electron and the hole.

Abstract: An electrode group is provided in a portable terminal carried by a human body for transmitting a transmission signal to the human body functioning as a transmission medium. The electrode group contains three electrodes arranged respectively at three vertices of an equilateral triangle. Three types of driving electrode pairs are defined as respectively having different combination of optional two electrodes. While changing the driving electrode pairs for use in order one pair by one pair, the transmission signal based on the same transmission data is repeatedly transmitted as many times as the number of driving electrode pairs.

Abstract: An operation control system includes a transmitter circuit, a transmitter interface, an engine start button switch, a receiver unit and an engine ECU. The transmitter circuit generates a transmission signal and the transmitter interface inputs a communication signal to an operator by converting the transmission signal. The receiver unit receives the communication signal through the operator, when the operator touches the engine start button switch. The engine start button switch detects in-blood alcohol concentration of the operator. The receiver unit generates and applies an engine start control signal in response to output signals of the receiver unit indicative of the operator's engine start operation and alcohol detection result.

Abstract: A method for producing a range data includes: irradiating a pulse light toward an object during a first time period; receiving a reflected pulse light during the first time period and a second time period; calculating a ratio between a first or second received light amount and a total received light amount, wherein the first received light amount is a light amount received during the first time period, wherein the second received light amount is a light amount received during the second time period, and wherein the total received light amount is a sum of the first and second received light amounts; and producing the range data based on the ratio.

Abstract: An information processing system for use in a vehicle includes a main body for various operations and a portable device in data communication with the main body. The portable device is installed in front of a seat, and has a speaker system for outputting an audible signal. A virtually created source of the audible signal whose location or direction relative to the driver and other occupants of the vehicle is identified by the information processing system. A sound field localization based on a data processing for the audible signal makes the sound signal heard from the identified direction. Perception of the audible signal from the virtually created source of the audible signal facilitates awareness of a surrounding environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for producing a range data includes: irradiating a pulse light toward an object during a first time period; receiving a reflected pulse light during the first time period and a second time period; calculating a ratio between a first or second received light amount and a total received light amount, wherein the first received light amount is a light amount received during the first time period, wherein the second received light amount is a light amount received during the second time period, and wherein the total received light amount is a sum of the first and second received light amounts; and producing the range data based on the ratio.

Abstract: First image data including a first pixel value according to the intensity of background light is obtained by means of only exposure. Second image data including a second pixel value according to the intensity of the light reflected or scattered by an object is obtained by so controlling light emission and exposure as to receive part of the reflected or scattered light over the whole exposure period. The part of the reflected or scattered light corresponds to the flat period of emitted pulsed light. Third image data including a third pixel value according to the distance to the object is obtained by so controlling light emission and exposure as to receive the part of the reflected or scattered light for a time according to the distance. The first pixel value is subtracted from each of the second and third pixel values so that the influence of the background light can be excluded.

Abstract: An optical detection device for vehicles such as a laser radar is provided. The device consists of frontal and lateral object detection optical systems to monitor a font and a lateral zone around the vehicle, respectively. The frontal and lateral object detection optical systems share several component parts and a signal processing circuit installed in a device body, thereby resulting in a simplified structure of the device and allowing the size of the device to be decreased.

Abstract: An information processing system for use in a vehicle includes a main body for various operations and a portable device in data communication with the main body. The portable device is installed in front of a seat, and has a speaker system for outputting an audible signal. A virtually created source of the audible signal whose location or direction relative to the driver and other occupants of the vehicle is identified by the information processing system. A sound field localization based on a data processing for the audible signal makes the sound signal heard from the identified direction. Perception of the audible signal from the virtually created source of the audible signal facilitates awareness of a surrounding environment of the vehicle.

Abstract: First image data including a first pixel value according to the intensity of background light is obtained by means of only exposure. Second image data including a second pixel value according to the intensity of the light reflected or scattered by an object is obtained by so controlling light emission and exposure as to receive part of the reflected or scattered light over the whole exposure period. The part of the reflected or scattered light corresponds to the flat period of emitted pulsed light. Third image data including a third pixel value according to the distance to the object is obtained by so controlling light emission and exposure as to receive the part of the reflected or scattered light for a time according to the distance. The first pixel value is subtracted from each of the second and third pixel values so that the influence of the background light can be excluded.

Abstract: A laser radar system is provided which is designed to emit a laser beam through a selected one of laser-emitting windows to scan a given area within a radar zone in a single scan cycle. If the object is detected as having been moved vertically, the radar system works to switch the selected laser-emitting window to another so as to acquire the target at a fixed position within the scanned area of the radar zone at all the time.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus controls a forward laser beam to scan a detection area. A photodetector array includes a plurality of photo detecting elements. At least one is selected among the photo detecting elements as an effective element, and the effective element is changed from one to another in response to the direction of the forward laser beam. Identification is given of at least one among the photo detecting elements which receives an echo laser beam corresponding to the forward laser beam in a specified direction. An actual correspondence relation between directions of the forward laser beam and the photo detecting elements receiving corresponding echo laser beams is grasped on the basis of a relation between the identified photo detecting element and the specified direction. The selection and change of the effective element are executed according to the grasped actual correspondence relation.