Abstract: An active vibration insulator includes an electromagnetic actuator, a control-signals generating device, a driver, a calculator, and a judging device. The electromagnetic actuator generates vibrating forces depending on electric-current supplies. The control-signals generating device generates cyclic control signals based on cyclic pulsating signals output from a vibration generating source of a vehicle. The cyclic control signals actively inhibit vibrations generated by the vibration generating source from transmitting to a specific part of the vehicle. The driver drives the electromagnetic actuator by making the electric-current supplies variable based on the cyclic control signals. The calculator calculates an estimated transfer function composed of estimated values of a transfer function for a transfer system including the electromagnetic actuator and the driver. The judging device judges an inoperative malfunction of the electromagnetic actuator based the estimated transfer function.

Abstract: A vibration controller includes a data map storage, a detector, a determiner, a signal generator, and an actuator. The data map storage stores amplitude and/or phase data with respect to torque values of a vehicle engine as a data map in advance. The detector detects actual torque values of the vehicle engine. The determiner determines one of the amplitude and/or phase data with respect to one of the actual torque values based on the data map. The signal generator generates a control signal based on cyclic pulsating signals emitted from the vehicle engine, and updates the amplitude and/or phase of the control signal based on the one of the determined amplitude and/or phase data. The actuator actuates an electromagnetic actuator of an active vibration insulator based on the updated control signal, whereby inhibiting vibrations of the vehicle engine from transmitting by means of vibrating forces exerted by the electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: A method for actuating active vibration insulators includes the steps of generating an idling control signal in an idling range of a vehicle, generating a running control signal in a running range of the vehicle, and actuating an electromagnetic actuator of an active vibration insulator based on the idling control signal or the running control signal, thereby inhibiting vibrations of a vehicle engine from transmitting by the electromagnetic actuator. The idling control signal is produced by adding a higher order harmonic signal component with respect to a control frequency, based on a cyclic pulsating signal emitted from the vehicle engine, to a fundamental-wave signal component of the control frequency. The running control signal is composed of the fundamental-wave signal component of the control signal. The method can inhibit noises from generating by actuating simple electromagnetic actuators, and can damp vibrations of vehicle engines simply and less expensively.

Abstract: A vibration controller includes a data map storage, a detector, a determiner, a signal generator, and an actuator. The data map storage stores amplitude and/or phase data with respect to torque values of a vehicle engine as a data map in advance. The detector detects actual torque values of the vehicle engine. The determiner determines one of the amplitude and/or phase data with respect to one of the actual torque values based on the data map. The signal generator generates a control signal based on cyclic pulsating signals emitted from the vehicle engine, and updates the amplitude and/or phase of the control signal based on the one of the determined amplitude and/or phase data. The actuator actuates an electromagnetic actuator of an active vibration insulator based on the updated control signal, whereby inhibiting vibrations of the vehicle engine from transmitting by means of vibrating forces exerted by the electromagnetic actuator.

Abstract: A vibration controller includes a map controller, an adaptive controller, a set-up frequency judge/switcher, and an actuator. The map controller includes a data map storage for storing data on control signals determined in advance for a vibration insulator, and a signal generator for selecting one of the data, depending on a frequency of a cyclically pulsating signal emitted from a vibration generating source of a vehicle, from the data map storage and generating a control signal. The adaptive controller generates the control signal with respect to the cyclically pulsating signal using an adaptive control method. The set-up frequency judge/switcher switches from the map controller to the adaptive controller or vice versa based on the frequency of the cyclically pulsating signal. The actuator actuates an actuator of the vibration insulator based on the control signal generated by the map controller or the adaptive controller, whereby inhibiting the vehicle from vibrating.

Abstract: A plurality of solar cell groups having a plurality of solar cells connected to each other electrically in serial. A plurality of diodes are connected to each of the solar cell groups electrically in parallel. The plurality of diodes are sealed between transmissive front surface members and transmissive rear surface members together with the plurality of solar cell groups.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control rod installed in a boiling water reactor (BWR), and particularly to a control rod using metal. An object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a control rod for a boiling water reactor, having excellent corrosion resistance in high temperature water and excellent wear resistance at the time of fabrication, and in which the influence of the manufacturing process is slight. In order to achieve the above described object, the present invention provides a manufacturing method of a control rod for a boiling water reactor constructed with sheaths having a U-shaped cross section attached to each end of a tie rod having a cruciform cross section, and rod, plate or oval tube cross section metal hafnium type neutron absorber material contained inside the sheaths, in which an anodized film is provided on a surface of the neutron absorber material as a pre-process of assembly of the neutron absorber material in the structure of the control rod.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor element, an output terminal coupled to the semiconductor element and a thin metal member or foil secured to an output terminal. A protective layer covers the semiconductor element including the periphery of the metal foil to define an opening located at the metal foil. By covering the periphery of the metal foil, the protective layer secures the metal foil to the semiconductor element. A lead element is affixed to the metal foil by soldering through the opening. The resulting structure increases the adhesion of the lead element. Furthermore, because the protective film covers and seals the periphery of the metal foil, the advance of moisture into the inside of the semiconductor device is retarded. Accordingly the moisture resistance of the semiconductor device is improved.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor element, an output terminal coupled to the semiconductor element and a thin metal member or foil secured to an output terminal. A protective layer covers the semiconductor element including the periphery of the metal foil to define an opening located at the metal foil. By covering the periphery of the metal foil, the protective layer secures the metal foil to the semiconductor element. A lead element is affixed to the metal foil by soldering through the opening. The resulting structure increases the adhesion of the lead element. Furthermore, because the protective film covers and seals the periphery of the metal foil, the advance of moisture into the inside of the semiconductor device is retarded. Accordingly the moisture resistance of the semiconductor device is improved.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprises a photovoltaic panel having a top edge and a bottom edge. An exterior frame structure attached to edges of the photovoltaic panel defines an upwardly open groove extending along at least the top and bottom edges of the panel to direct rain water away from underside of the panel.