Abstract: A lighting device includes a power converter and a controller. The power converter includes a transformer having primary, secondary and tertiary windings, and a switching device electrically connected in series with the primary winding. The controller is configured to measure a signal simulating a primary current flowing through the primary winding based on a voltage occurring across the tertiary winding and detect timing for turning the switching device off based on the signal simulating the primary current.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a power converter, a second switching element and a microcomputer. The power converter is configured to convert DC power that is received from a power supply, and supply an output obtained by the conversion to a load. The second switching element is configured to short-circuit at least one LED of a plurality of LEDs, as part of the load. The microcomputer is configured to control the power converter, and control switching on/off of the second switching element. The microcomputer is configured to reduce an output current of the power converter, in a case where a power supply voltage of the battery is a reference voltage or less. A reduction amount of the output current in an on-state of the second switching element is lower than the reduction amount of the output current in an off-state of the second switching element.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes: a metal cylindrical outer tube; a rod inserted into the outer tube, the rod being capable of moving in the axial direction; a bump cushion attached to an outer periphery of the rod that protrudes from the outer tube; a synthetic resin bump stopper formed in a cap shape and fitted to one end in the axial direction of the outer tube, the bump stopper being configured to be abutted by the bump cushion during maximum compression; and a sacrificial corrosion part disposed between the outer tube and the bump stopper, the sacrificial corrosion part being configured to contact a metal surface of the outer tube. The sacrificial corrosion part is made of a metal having a higher ionization tendency than the outer tube, and thereby corrosion of members is suppressed.

Abstract: The lighting device includes a control circuit performing dimming control of dimming a light source device according to a desired dimming level. In the dimming control, the control circuit sets a desired current value of amplitude control to a value corresponding to the desired dimming level, and set a desired duty cycle of pulse width modulation control to a predetermined value associated with a dimming subrange containing the desired dimming level, of multiple different dimming subranges of a total dimming range of the light source device. The predetermined value is a duty cycle allowing luminance of the light source device to be equal to upper limit luminance of the associated dimming subrange under a condition where the current value of the current of the light source device is a maximum value.

Abstract: The lighting device includes a control circuit performing dimming control of dimming a light source device according to a desired dimming level. In the dimming control, the control circuit sets a desired current value of amplitude control to a value corresponding to the desired dimming level, and set a desired duty cycle of pulse width modulation control to a predetermined value associated with a dimming subrange containing the desired dimming level, of multiple different dimming subranges of a total dimming range of the light source device. The predetermined value is a duty cycle allowing luminance of the light source device to be equal to upper limit luminance of the associated dimming subrange under a condition where the current value of the current of the light source device is a maximum value.

Abstract: A lighting device includes first to third output terminals, a power converter, a bypass switch, and a controller. A first light source is connected between the first and third output terminals. A second light source is connected between the second and third output terminals. The bypass switch is connected between the second and third output terminals. The controller switches the bypass switch between ON-state and OFF-state. The controller controls the power converter to adjust an output current. The controller includes a voltage meter for measuring a voltage corresponding to an output voltage of the power converter. The controller compares a measured voltage of the voltage meter with a first threshold voltage while keeping the bypass switch in OFF-state. The controller compares the measured voltage with a second threshold voltage while keeping the bypass switch in ON-state. The second threshold voltage is smaller than the first threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lighting device includes first to third output terminals, a power converter, a bypass switch, and a controller. A first light source is connected between the first and third output terminals. A second light source is connected between the second and third output terminals. The bypass switch is connected between the second and third output terminals. The controller switches the bypass switch between ON-state and OFF-state. The controller controls the power converter to adjust an output current. The controller includes a voltage meter for measuring a voltage corresponding to an output voltage of the power converter. The controller compares a measured voltage of the voltage meter with a first threshold voltage while keeping the bypass switch in OFF-state. The controller compares the measured voltage with a second threshold voltage while keeping the bypass switch in ON-state. The second threshold voltage is smaller than the first threshold voltage.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes: a metal cylindrical outer tube; a rod inserted into the outer tube, the rod being capable of moving in the axial direction; a bump cushion attached to an outer periphery of the rod that protrudes from the outer tube; a synthetic resin bump stopper formed in a cap shape and fitted to one end in the axial direction of the outer tube, the bump stopper being configured to be abutted by the bump cushion during maximum compression; and a sacrificial corrosion part disposed between the outer tube and the bump stopper, the sacrificial corrosion part being configured to contact a metal surface of the outer tube. The sacrificial corrosion part is made of a metal having a higher ionization tendency than the outer tube, and thereby corrosion of members is suppressed.

Abstract: A control circuit is configured to compare an input voltage measured through an input voltage detection circuit with a first threshold which is lower than a rated voltage of an external DC power supply and with a second threshold which is lower than the first threshold. The control circuit is configured, when detecting that a duration time in which the input voltage is kept lower than the first threshold reaches a predetermined holding period, to stop operating a switching device. The control circuit is configured, after detecting that the input voltage is lower than the second threshold, to more shorten a maximum ON time than that during a normal operation or lengthen an OFF time of the switching device than a maximum OFF time during the normal operation.

Abstract: A damping valve includes an annular valve disc, the valve disc having an annular outer peripheral sheet that projects toward an axial direction of the valve disc, an inner peripheral sheet that is provided on an inside of the outer peripheral sheet and projects toward the axial direction, an annular window formed between the outer peripheral sheet and the inner peripheral sheet, and a port that communicates with the annular window. The damping valve comprises an annular leaf valve that is laminated on the valve disc and is seated/unseated on the outer peripheral sheet, an annular spacer that is interposed between the leaf valve and the inner peripheral sheet and sets an initial deflection amount of the leaf valve, and a positioning part that restricts positional deviation of the spacer in a radial direction relative to the valve disc.

Abstract: A control circuit is configured to compare an input voltage measured through an input voltage detection circuit with a first threshold which is lower than a rated voltage of an external DC power supply and with a second threshold which is lower than the first threshold. The control circuit is configured, when detecting that a duration time in which the input voltage is kept lower than the first threshold reaches a predetermined holding period, to stop operating a switching device. The control circuit is configured, after detecting that the input voltage is lower than the second threshold, to more shorten a maximum ON time than that during a normal operation or lengthen an OFF time of the switching device than a maximum OFF time during the normal operation.

Abstract: A microcomputer is configured to perform a first control and a second control. The first control is of: starting operation of a power converter, when a first power supply voltage exceeds a starting voltage; and stopping the operation of the power converter, when the first power supply voltage is below a maintaining voltage. The second control is of: switching off a second switching element, when a second power supply voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage; maintaining an off-state of the second switching element until the second power supply voltage is below a second threshold voltage; and switching on the second switching element, when the second power supply voltage is below the second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a power converter and a controller. The power converter includes a transformer having primary, secondary and tertiary windings, and a switching device electrically connected in series with the primary winding. The controller is configured to measure a signal simulating a primary current flowing through the primary winding based on a voltage occurring across the tertiary winding and detect timing for turning the switching device off based on the signal simulating the primary current.

Abstract: A microcomputer is configured to perform a first control and a second control. The first control is of: starting operation of a power converter, when a first power supply voltage exceeds a starting voltage; and stopping the operation of the power converter, when the first power supply voltage is below a maintaining voltage. The second control is of: switching off a second switching element, when a second power supply voltage exceeds a first threshold voltage; maintaining an off-state of the second switching element until the second power supply voltage is below a second threshold voltage; and switching on the second switching element, when the second power supply voltage is below the second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lighting device includes a power converter, a second switching element and a microcomputer. The power converter is configured to convert DC power that is received from a power supply, and supply an output obtained by the conversion to a load. The second switching element is configured to short-circuit at least one LED of a plurality of LEDs, as part of the load. The microcomputer is configured to control the power converter, and control switching on/off of the second switching element. The microcomputer is configured to reduce an output current of the power converter, in a case where a power supply voltage of the battery is a reference voltage or less. A reduction amount of the output current in an on-state of the second switching element is lower than the reduction amount of the output current in an off-state of the second switching element.

Abstract: In a rotary valve comprising a tubular housing (3) having, at the side part, a port (6) for communicating the inside and the outside thereof, and a tubular valve body (10) which is contained within the housing rotatably and has, at the side part, an orifice hole (11) capable of opposing to the port (6), the rotary valve of which the flow channel area formed by communicating the port (6) and the orifice hole (11) is changed by rotating the tubular valve body, at least one rotation stopping position with which the angle between the rotation stopping position at which the flow channel area is minimized and the rotation stopping position at which the flow channel area is maximized is equally divided, and the pressure loss differences between the adjacent rotation stopping positions are the same on condition that the passing flowing rate remains constant is provided.

Abstract: In a rotary valve comprising a tubular housing (3) having, at the side part, a port (6) for communicating the inside and the outside thereof, and a tubular valve body (10) which is contained within the housing rotatably and has, at the side part, an orifice hole (11) capable of opposing to the port (6), the rotary valve of which the flow channel area formed by communicating the port (6) and the orifice hole (11) is changed by rotating the tubular valve body, at least one rotation stopping position with which the angle between the rotation stopping position at which the flow channel area is minimized and the rotation stopping position at which the flow channel area is maximized is equally divided, and the pressure loss differences between the adjacent rotation stopping positions are the same on condition that the passing flowing rate remains constant is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5) is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the, quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5)is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating an organic waste water which are capable of utilizing compact equipment by reducing the quantity of a sludge to be treated. Organic waste water (A) is subjected to an aerobic biological treatment in a biological treatment tank (3). Then, solution (B) obtained by the treatment in the biological treatment tank (3) is solid-liquid separated into treated water (C) and sludge (D) in precipitation tank (5). A portion of the sludge (D) separated in the precipitation tank (5) is returned to the biological treatment tank (3) through a route (6). A portion (E) of the sludge separated in the precipitation tank (5)is concentrated by a concentration device (8). Thereafter, the concentrated sludge (E) is solubilized by thermophilic bacteria in a solubilizing tank (10).