Abstract: Provided is a vehicle charging device (170) that uses a power source (101) outside of a vehicle (160) to charge a battery (115) installed in the vehicle (160). A charger (114) charges the battery (115). A voltage measurement unit (111) measures the input voltage corresponding to the input current in the charger (114). A current measurement unit (112) measures the input current (Ic) in the charger (114). A control unit (113) changes the input currents (Ic) of the charger (114) into a plurality of values, and controls the input current (Ic) when the input voltage (Vc) has changed, according to the corresponding relationship between the input currents (Ic), when each has been changed, and the measured input voltages (Vc).

Abstract: The present invention is an in-vehicle charger for detecting ground faults originating in sections in which alternating current is flowing. This device is an in-vehicle charger (100) for charging a vehicle-mounted battery, wherein the device is provided with: a bridge rectifier (14) for converting alternating current supplied from a power source to direct current; a ground fault detecting circuit (21) for outputting a test voltage when a test current flows in a circuit in the in-vehicle charger (100) and, based on changes in the test current in response to the presence or absence of a ground fault resistor, for detecting a ground fault in the circuit of the in-vehicle charger (100); and a controller (23) for controlling the ground fault sensing circuit (21) so as to output a test voltage exceeding the forward voltage of a diode provided by the bridge rectifier (14).

Abstract: In the power supply apparatus (100), on an upper surface (202a), which is the surface opposing the power-receiving unit (153) of a cabinet (103b), in the portion where a power supply coil (103a) is projected when the power supply coil (103a) is projected on the cabinet (103b) toward the direction of the power-receiving unit (153), a first inclined part (203) gradually approaching the power supply coil (103a) from the top section (205) toward the inner edge section (211) of the power supply coil (103a) is formed in the radial direction of the power supply coil (103a), and in the portion where the power supply coil (103a) is projected, a second inclined part (204) gradually approaching the power supply coil (103a) from the top section (205) toward the outer periphery (212) of the power supply coil (103a) is formed in the radial direction of the power supply coil (103a).

Abstract: In the present invention, an electricity supply unit (103) contactlessly supplies electricity using electromagnetic induction to an electricity reception unit (153) provided to a vehicle. An electricity supply coil (103a) has a ring shape, and supplies electricity to the electricity reception unit (153) while facing the electricity reception unit (153). A casing (103b) houses the electricity supply coil (103a). The casing (103b) has an inclined section (202) that is inclined in a manner so as to approach the electricity supply coil (103a) gradually in the direction towards the outer periphery (212) of the electricity supply coil (103a) in the radial direction of the electricity supply coil (103a) at the portion at which the electricity supply coil (103a) is projected when the electricity supply coil (103a) is projected at the casing (103b) in the direction towards the electricity reception unit (153).

Abstract: A power supply apparatus capable of appropriately supplying electrical power to a power transmission coil even if a foreign object is heated during power supply. The power supply apparatus (100) is provided with a power supply coil (103a) opposing a power-receiving unit (153) provided to a vehicle and supplying power to the power-receiving unit (153), and a casing (103b) accommodating the power supply coil (103a). In the casing (103b), a first cover (202) is formed on a surface of the casing (103b) opposing the power-receiving unit (153), and a second cover (203) opposing the first cover (202) is arranged between the first cover (202) and the power supply coil (103a).

Abstract: Provided are a power supply device, a power receiving device, a charging system, and an obstacle detection method that obtain a sufficient obstacle detection sensitivity even when an obstacle is small. A modulation unit (202) performs amplitude modulation or phase modulation on a test data sequence output from a test data sequence storage unit (201). A power control unit (203) generates, according to an instruction from a determination unit (204), a power control signal for increasing the power level of the test data sequence every time when the test data sequence is transmitted. The determination unit (204) determines whether there is an obstacle between the power receiving device and the power supply device based on whether the test data sequence output from the test data sequence storage unit (201) coincides with the test data sequence output from a power-transmitting-side receiving circuit (124).

Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle guidance apparatus that can easily guide a vehicle in the vicinity of a power supply section to the power supply unit by guiding the vehicle along a path of travel to the power supply unit without employing image data. In this device, a power supply efficiency calculation unit calculates the power supply efficiency, which is the efficiency with which power is received from the power supply unit by the charging unit. An amount of change calculation unit calculates the amount of change of efficiency of power supply, which is the amount of change of efficiency of power supply calculated by the power supply efficiency calculation unit. A vehicle-side control unit displays on a display guidance to enable the vehicle to reach the power supply unit, based on the amount of change of efficiency of power supply calculated by the amount of change calculation unit.

Abstract: In order to prevent elements from being damaged by electrical energy when a regenerative braking force is generated, an electric motor (108) in a vehicle power supply device (100) converts the kinetic energy of a vehicle (10) into electrical energy to generate a regenerative braking force, and an inverter (103) converts AC electrical energy outputted by the electric motor (108) into DC electrical energy. The converted DC electrical energy accumulates in a battery (106) via first switches (105a, 105b) and second switches (107a, 107b). A control unit (109) switches the second switches (107a, 107b) on when electrical energy resulting from a regenerative braking force generated by the electric motor (108) is capable of accumulating in the battery.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle charging device vehicle charging device (170) that charges a battery (115) installed in a vehicle (160) from a power source (101) which is outside the vehicle (160). The charger (114) is connected to the external power source (101), and uses a variable input current for charging the battery (115). A control unit (113): changes the input currents of the charger (114) into a plurality of values, and determines lower thresholds for the appropriate ranges of the input current and the input voltage, according to the corresponding relationship between the input currents, when each has been changed, and the input voltages measured by a voltage measurement unit (111); and controls the input current when the input voltage has changed, according to the corresponding relationship and the lower thresholds, after charging has started.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle charging device (170) that uses a power source (101) outside of a vehicle (160) to charge a battery (115) installed in the vehicle (160). A charger (114) charges the battery (115). A voltage measurement unit (111) measures the input voltage corresponding to the input current in the charger (114). A current measurement unit (112) measures the input current (Ic) in the charger (114). A control unit (113) changes the input currents (Ic) of the charger (114) into a plurality of values, and controls the input current (Ic) when the input voltage (Vc) has changed, according to the corresponding relationship between the input currents (Ic), when each has been changed, and the measured input voltages (Vc).

Abstract: An electric power source device is used in a vehicle equipped with a generator and a battery. The device includes a current detector for detecting a first current flowing in the battery, a DC-DC converter, a capacitor connected to the generator via the DC-DC converter, and a controller. The controller determines the state of charge of the battery based on a first input current detected by the current detector, and detects the running condition of the vehicle. When the vehicle decelerates, the controller controls, based on the determined state of charge of the battery, a second input current input to the capacitor via the DC-DC converter. Thereby, a regenerative electric power generated by the generator is used during the deceleration of the vehicle according to the SOC, thus utilizing the energy that is not conventionally.

Abstract: A plasma display panel can reduce a discharge delay in address discharge, thereby performing high-speed addressing in a stable manner. A front substrate (1) and a back substrate (2) are disposed to face each other, and a discharge space (3) is formed and partitioned by barrier ribs (10) so as to form priming discharge cells (17) and main discharge cells (11). A clearance (19) is provided between the barrier ribs (10) of the priming discharge cells (17) and the front substrate (1), and priming particles generated in the priming discharge cells (17) are supplied to the main discharge cells (11) through the clearance (19), whereby a PDP performing high-speed addressing is obtained.

Abstract: A plasma display panel to stabilize address properties. A front substrate (1) and a back substrate (2) face each other, to form a discharge space (3) which is partitioned by barrier ribs (11) to form priming discharge cells (16) and main discharge cells (12). A dielectric layer (17) is formed on the back substrate (2) on which the priming discharge cell (16) is present. Insulation is ensured between a data electrode (10) and the priming electrode (15) because the latter is formed on the dielectric layer (17). One is able to generate a priming discharge before a main discharge.

Abstract: A plasma display panel can stabilize address properties. A front substrate (1) and a back substrate (2) are disposed to face each other, and a discharge space (3) is formed and partitioned by barrier ribs (11) so as to form priming discharge cells (16) and main discharge cells (12). Forming priming electrodes (15) onto a dielectric layer (17) in the priming discharge cells (16) can secure the isolation voltage between data electrodes (10) and the priming electrodes (15), and can also secure the generation of a priming discharge prior to a main discharge.

Abstract: A storage system constructed by combining a plurality of types of storage media differing in physical properties is managed as a single virtual storage. Consequently, a single file is divided into actual data and the identification information for accessing the actual data and then the identification information for access is associated with a file system for management purposes. Further, files are managed in a layered manner, in accordance with use frequency categories to manage the move of files between the categories. When the actual data in a file is to be moved to a storage medium in a lower level category, the actual data is backed up on another storage medium in a still lower level category.

Abstract: A plasma display panel can reduce a discharge delay in address discharge, thereby performing high-speed addressing in a stable manner. A front substrate (1) and a back substrate (2) are disposed to face each other, and a discharge space (3) is formed and partitioned by barrier ribs (10) so as to form priming discharge cells (17) and main discharge cells (11). A clearance (19) is provided between the barrier ribs (10) of the priming discharge cells (17) and the front substrate (1), and priming particles generated in the priming discharge cells (17) are supplied to the main discharge cells (11) through the clearance (19), whereby a PDP performing high-speed addressing is obtained.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to the invention involves unloading a magnetic tape after the tape is positioned to one of its unloading regions which is located approximately in the middle of a lengthwise tape area where user data have been recorded. Such unloading regions are located at predetermined intervals along the magnetic tape. Through designation of an operation mode, the apparatus of the invention also permits selecting one of two unloading regions to which the magnetic tape is positioned before being unloaded. One of the two regions is located approximately in the middle of the user data-packed tape area, the other region designated by a host device. This manner of unloading allows the inventive apparatus to access desired locations on the magnetic tape at a significantly higher speed than conventional devices.

Abstract: In a transfer using the SCSI, data transfer apparatus is disclosed which blocks of different sizes can be collectively transferred while preserving block information. Data of an amount corresponding to a length of the first block from the head is stored and the first block data is subsequently stored. When a data size is smaller than a specified size, the zero-padding is performed. Further, the data corresponding to a length of the second block is subsequently stored and the second block data is stored. When N blocks are transferred, the above processes are similarly repeated until the Nth block data is stored. The total number (N) of blocks which are transferred once is stored after the Nth block data. A plurality of blocks of variable sizes are continuously transferred while preserving block information.

Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to the invention involves unloading a magnetic tape after the tape is positioned to one of its unloading regions which is located approximately in the middle of a lengthwise tape area where user data have been recorded. Such unloading regions are located at predetermined intervals along the magnetic tape. Through designation of an operation mode, the apparatus of the invention also permits selecting one of two unloading regions to which the magnetic tape is positioned before being unloaded. One of the two regions is located approximately in the middle of the user data-packed tape area, the other region designated by a host device. This manner of unloading allows the inventive apparatus to access desired locations on the magnetic tape at a significantly higher speed than conventional devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a compound semiconductor thin film by the thermal decomposition of a metal organic compound and a solar cell using the above thin film. An organic solvent solution of the metal organic compound containing at least one metal-sulfur bond is pulverized into fine particles by an ultrasonic vibration method or by a spray injection method and the obtained fine particles or gaseous metal organic compound are thermally decomposed by contacting them on the heated surface of a thin film forming substrate and thus a compound semiconductor metal sulfide thin film is formed on the thin film forming substrate. With this method, a compound semiconductor thin film of large surface area with uniform quality can be manufactured at low manufacturing cost with good reproducibility. These metal sulfide thin films are of high purity, high density and high quality and thus can be used for various photo-electronic devices.