Abstract: A component-embedded substrate includes a chip capacitor. The chip capacitor includes a ceramic laminate body and a plurality of terminal electrodes. The component-embedded substrate has a first principal surface and a second principal surface. At least two of the plurality of terminal electrodes are connected to the first principal surface and define a first terminal electrode group, and at least two of the plurality of terminal electrodes are connected to the second principal surface and define a second terminal electrode group. One terminal electrode in the first terminal electrode group is electrically connected to one terminal electrode in the second terminal electrode group via the internal electrodes, and capacitance is provided by a pair of the terminal electrodes in the first terminal electrode group via the dielectric layer, and capacitance is provided by a pair of the terminal electrodes in the second terminal electrode group via the dielectric layer.

Abstract: An electronic component module includes a module body including a substrate having components mounted thereon. A metal case is attached to the substrate to cover the components of the module body. The metal case includes a top-plate portion arranged substantially parallel to the main surface of the substrate and claw portions arranged at both edges thereof. The claw portions each include a claw body defined by a rectangular portion that is bent at an edge of the top-plate portion and extends in the direction of the substrate and a holding claw. In addition, contacting portions are bent at both ends of the rectangular portion to extend towards the inner portion of the main surface of the substrate. The contacting portions come into contact with the main surface of the substrate, and the holding claws are soldered to the side surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: The light unit includes a lens, shadow-forming surface, and a shadow casting surface. Outside light entering the light unit is at least partially blocked by the shadow casting surface so as to cast a shadow on the shadow-forming surface. The shadow casting surface may be embedded within or on a surface of the lens or otherwise supported above the shadow forming surface. The shadow casting design is preferably spaced from the shadow-forming surface.

Abstract: A current direction detection circuit includes a monitoring transistor having a control terminal and an output terminal respectively connected with a control terminal and an output terminal of a ground side output transistor; an impedance element having one terminal connected with an input terminal of the monitoring transistor and the other terminal grounded; first and second constant-current sources; a diode-connected reference transistor interposed between the first constant-current source and ground potential; and a sensing transistor interposed between the second constant-current source and the impedance element and having a control terminal connected with the control terminal of the reference transistor. The current direction detection circuit is small yet capable of minimizing power loss of a switching regulator.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an SiC single crystal wafer according to the present invention includes the steps of: (a) preparing an SiC single crystal wafer 10 with a mirror-polished surface; (b) oxidizing the surface of the SiC single crystal wafer 10 with plasma, thereby forming an oxide layer 12 on the surface of the SiC single crystal wafer; and (c) removing at least a portion of the oxide layer 12 by a reactive ion etching process. Preferably, the surface of the wafer is planarized by repeatedly performing the steps (b) and (c) a number of times.

Abstract: An overturn prevention control device includes a bicycle robot capable of freely laterally inclining, an angular velocity sensor mounted on the bicycle robot such that a detection axis thereof extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the bicycle robot, a motor mounted on the body such that a rotating shaft thereof extends in a substantially longitudinal direction of the body, a rotation sensor that detects a rotational position or a rotational speed of the motor, and an inertial rotor coupled to the rotating shaft of the motor. The overturn prevention control device corrects inclination of the bicycle robot by rotating the inertial rotor using the motor and by utilizing a reaction torque occurring when the inertial rotor is rotated. The overturn prevention control device further includes an inclination angle estimating portion arranged to estimate an inclination angle relative to a balanced state.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a piezoelectric resonator including a pair of electrodes sandwiching a piezoelectric body and provided with the backing layer in contact with one of the electrodes of the piezoelectric resonator and having the same acoustic characteristic impedance as the piezoelectric body. A method includes the step of driving the ultrasonic transducer so as to satisfy a condition: 2Th?Td?6Th where Th is a propagation time of an ultrasonic wave in the piezoelectric body sandwiched by the pair of electrodes, and Td is a pulse width of a drive pulse driving the piezoelectric resonator.

Abstract: A voltage detecting circuit included in a battery device includes an input voltage comparing circuit that compares a first threshold value voltage or a second threshold value voltage lower than the first threshold value voltage with an input voltage to control the opening and closing of an output switching element, and a threshold value voltage setting circuit that compares a third threshold value voltage lower than the second threshold value voltage with the input voltage and, when the input voltage changes from a low voltage to a high voltage and intersects the third threshold value voltage, outputs a pulse for a predetermined period thereafter so that the second threshold value is selected in the input voltage comparing circuit. As a result, when the input voltage increases from the ground potential, the second threshold value is compared with the input voltage in the input voltage comparing circuit.

Abstract: A color pigment containing, based upon the total weight of the pigment, at least 70.0 weight % of a first compound COP according to Formula (I): wherein one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen and the other one of R1 and R2 represents —COOR4; R4 and R5 represent methyl; R3 is selected from the group consisting of: with C* representing the point of attachment of R3 to the nitrogen in Formula (I); and having a pigment surface including between 2.0 and 30.0 weight %, based upon the total weight of the pigment of a second compound according to Formula (I), wherein —R1, R2?, R3, R4 and R5 have the same meaning as above with the exception that at least one of R4 and R5 represents hydrogen. Also, methods of preparation of the pigment and non-aqueous pigment dispersions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for wet-on-wet ink-jet printing. This invention provides a progressive dot printing ink-jet process comprising the steps of applying a first ink drop to a substrate and subsequently applying a second ink drop on to the first ink drop without intermediate solidification of the first ink drop. The first and second ink drops have a different viscosity, surface tension or curing speed. Further ink drops may be applied sequentially to the combined first and second ink drops without intermediate solidification of the first and subsequent ink drops.

Abstract: An ESD protection device includes a ceramic multilayer board, a cavity disposed in the ceramic multilayer board, at least one pair of discharge electrodes having ends, edges of the ends being opposed to each other at a predetermined distance in the cavity, and external electrodes disposed on outer surfaces the ceramic multilayer board and connected to the discharge electrodes. The ceramic multilayer board includes a composite portion, which is disposed in the vicinity of the surface on which the discharge electrodes are disposed and is at least disposed adjacent to the opposed ends of the discharge electrodes and to a space between the opposed ends. The composite portion includes a metal material and a ceramic material.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a base having an XY-substrate surface which is parallel to an XY plane, a beam portion having a frame shape which is arranged in a floating state above the XY-substrate surface of the base, a beam-supporting fixed portion which supports the beam on the base via supporting units like a beam supported by its both ends, weight portions 7 which are arranged so as to float above the XY-substrate surface of the base, and connecting portions which support the weight portions 7 to the beam portion in a cantilever manner. The weight portions are displaceable in the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction by the bending deformation of the frame-shaped beam portion. The beam portion is provided with an X-axis direction acceleration detecting portion, a Y-axis direction acceleration detecting portion, and a Z-axis direction acceleration detecting portion.

Abstract: A coil load driving circuit in which generation of radiation noise when a motor is stationary is minimized, includes output buffers that output a PWM pulse to both terminals of a motor; a transfer voltage generating circuit that outputs transfer voltages VTR1, VTR2 proportional to the difference between an input control voltage VIN and input reference voltage VREF; PWM comparators that output PWM signals PW1, PW2 corresponding to the transfer voltages VTR1, VTR2; and an output PWM pulse synthesis circuit that controls the output buffer in accordance with an AND signal of the PWM signal PW1 and an exclusive OR signal EX of the PWM signals PW1 and PW2, and controls the output buffer in accordance with an AND signal of the PWM signal PW2 and the exclusive OR signal EX.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a construction in which the area of an exhaust passage can be secured easily and exhaust noise is less likely to escape into the air, allowing the exhaust noise to be lowered. The outboard motor includes a lower case, a propeller shaft rotatably supported in the lower case, a propeller fixed to the propeller shaft, an engine, and a power transmission mechanism through which a driving force from the engine is transmitted to the propeller shaft to rotate the propeller. An exhaust case is provided in the lower case. The exhaust case includes an upper exhaust passage above the propeller shaft, the upper exhaust passage directing therethrough an exhaust gas from the engine, an exhaust outlet which is open in a rearward direction of the propeller shaft, and a communication exhaust passage arranged to communicate the upper exhaust passage with the exhaust outlet.

Abstract: A watercraft propulsion system can be a hybrid type watercraft propulsion system including an engine and an electric motor both working as drive power sources for a propeller. When an operating lever instructs a speed reduction assist mode as a stopping mode, a controller can stop the engine and reverse the rotational direction of the electric motor to reversely rotate the propeller. The controller can determine whether the speed reduction assist mode is instructed or not based upon a mean movement speed of the operating lever and can control the electric motor based upon a speed of the watercraft. Alternatively, the controller can control the electric motor based upon instructions by the speed reduction assist lever.

Abstract: A multiobjective evolutionary algorithm unit feeds a set of parameters of an individual to a search history storage device in a fitness estimating unit and to an optimization target. The optimization target outputs a set of sampled values of fitnesses on the basis of the set of parameters of the individual. The search history storage device stores the set of parameters of the individual and a set of sampled values as a search history. The fitness estimating module computes a set of estimated values of true fitnesses on the basis of the search history stored in the search history storage device for output to the multiobjective evolutionary algorithm unit. The multiobjective evolutionary algorithm unit determines a Pareto-optimal population in accordance with a genetic algorithm on the basis of a plurality of sets of estimated values.

Abstract: An attitude angle control apparatus, an attitude angle control method, and an attitude angle control apparatus control program select an optimum attitude angle in a short period of time without being affected by disturbances at sea by measuring attitude angles and specific fuel consumption during navigation for any combination of a hull and propeller, create a statistical model based on the measured data, and select an optimum attitude angle on the statistical model. A marine vessel navigation control apparatus includes a constant-speed navigation controller and a trim angle controller.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a leg shield arranged to cover the front sides of the legs of a driver riding the vehicle and a heat exchanger arranged on the front surface side of the leg shield. The leg shield includes a wind guide space formed by a wall member of the leg shield, a first opening formed in a portion of the wall member of the leg shield located at least behind the heat exchanger for guiding air passing through the heat exchanger to the wind guide space and a second opening formed in another portion of the wall member of the leg shield separated from the first opening by a predetermined distance for discharging the air passing through the heat exchanger, guided to the first opening from the wind guide space.

Abstract: A laminated inductor includes ceramic sheets provided with spiral coil conductor patterns of one turn, ceramic sheets provided with spiral coil conductor patterns of two turns, and ceramic sheets provided with lead-out conductor patterns, which are laminated together. The coil conductor patterns are successively electrically connected in series in regular order through via holes. The via holes are disposed at fixed locations in the ceramic sheets.