Abstract: A magnetic switch having a main motor switch for supplying power from a battery to a starter motor and an auxiliary relay for operating the motor switch is mounted on the starter motor. The main motor switch includes copper contacts switching a large amount of starter current, and the auxiliary relay includes contacts switching only a small amount of current sufficient to operate the main motor switch. The auxiliary relay is separated from the main motor switch by a wall to protect the auxiliary relay, especially its contacts from copper dusts generated in switching operation of main motor switch. Since the auxiliary relay is kept free from the copper dusts, the magnetic switch properly functions for a long time.

Abstract: Circuit elements of surface-mounting type such as MOSFETs etc. are mounted on a circuit board by soldering. The circuit board is retained slantingly by a base so that any one of the MOSFET falls out by its self-weight when the solder melts due to an abnormal heat generation of the MOSFET. The falling of the MOSFET is stopped by a stopper member, and then the MOSFET becomes in an electrically open state and retained at the stopped position in consequence of the subsequent cooling of the solder. Accordingly, even if one or more of the MOSFETs cause the abnormal heat generation, the continuous heat generation of the MOSFET is stopped and also the other circuit elements are prevented from being short-circuited.

Abstract: A spindle and a position-limiting ridge protrude from an inner surface of a cover to rotatably support a follower made of an electrically conductive metal plate. A cylindrical engaging portion of the follower slidably engages the spindle. A toothed washer is fitted around the spindle to clamp a contact portion of the follower between the position-limiting ridge and the toothed washer in a rotatable manner. A switching pattern is provided in the inner surface of the cover. Contact terminals that engage and disengage with the switching pattern based on rotation of the follower are integrally formed in the follower. An engaging hole penetrates through the follower. An engaging protrusion on a carrier is received within the engaging hole. The follower is rotated through engagement between the engaging protrusion and the engaging hole when the carrier rotates in a forward rotational direction.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve has a plunger as an armature of an electromagnetic actuator and a ball as a movable valve member. The plunger and the ball are separated to permit the ball to move freely in response to a pressure difference between an inlet and an outlet when the coil attracts the plunger. If the plunger undesirably moves by a pressure difference between both ends of the plunger, the ball can keep a closing condition during a suction pressure that is higher than a pressure in the inlet. Therefore, an undesired communication between a master reservoir and a pump is avoided.

Abstract: A brake control device has a master cylinder, wheel cylinder, and a solenoid valve disposed in a conduit between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder. When a brake pedal happens to be returned at sudden braking, at an idle stop or at vehicle stop on a sloping road, the solenoid valve is controlled at a duty rate based on a difference between a peak value of master cylinder and an actual value of master cylinder reducing so that wheel cylinder pressure is held to a value higher than master cylinder pressure.

Abstract: An actuator for driving a load includes a driving motor for driving and operating an output shaft, and a slipping prevention unit for preventing a slipping of the output shaft due to an external force from a load side. The slipping prevention unit includes a regulation gear which is disposed to engage or disengage with a pinion rotating with a rotation of the driving motor, and a switching motor which electrically switches operation of the regulation gear between an engagement state and a non-engagement state. In the engagement state, the regulation gear engages with the pinion so that at least one side rotation of the pinion is prevented. Thus, the actuator having the slipping prevention unit has a simple structure.

Abstract: Rotation of a rotating object such as a toothed rotor is detected based on put potentials of a bridge circuit having four magnetoresistive elements. The bridge circuit formed on an integrated circuit chip is positioned in a biasing magnetic field generated by a magnet disposed at a vicinity of the toothed rotor. A pair of magnetoresistive elements form a first circuit in the bridge while the others pairs forms a second circuit. To cancel influence of magnetostrictive effects due to an external force imposed on the integrated circuit chip, the first and second circuits in the bridge are positioned symmetrically to each other with respect to a center line of the biasing magnetic field.

Abstract: A new and improved power MOS transistor having a protective diode with an increased breakdown voltage difference and less sheet resistivity is disclosed. In an up-drain type MOSFET, an n-type well layer has its top surface in which an elongated p-type base region is provided adjacent to a deep n+-type region (drain region). The p-type base region is formed so that it partly overlaps the deep n+ region. A p+-type region (p-type base region) is connected to a source electrode. A surge bypassing diode D1 is thus formed between the source and drain of the MOSFET.

Abstract: An organic EL element has an anode made of transparent conductive material such as ITO and a cathode made of metallic material such as Al. Further, a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an electron transport layer, and an electron injection layer are disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode is composed of a thin film layer and a thick film layer partially overlapping with the thin film layer. The thin film layer can transmit light and the thick film layer can suppress an increase in wiring resistance of the cathode.

Abstract: A total-focus imaging apparatus comprises a variable-focus lens unit with a focal position thereof changeable at high speeds, a CCD element, a microcomputer and a liquid-crystal display unit. The microcomputer includes an image memory, an image processing circuit and a control circuit. The variable-focus lens unit and the CCD element allow an object of observation to be photographed to generate a number of images with the focal positions thereof slightly different from each other and the image to be stored in the image memory. Pixels each brought to a focus are selected by the image processing circuit from pixels of the images to generate an image of the observation object comprising only pixels each brought to a focus. Such an image is then displayed on the liquid-crystal display unit. Thus, an image of the observation object which is all but completely brought to a focus can be presented in a semi-real-time manner.

Abstract: A direct current motor is comprised of an armature, magnets arranged to face each other through the armature, a commutator and brushes. The armature has a core and a plurality of coils wound on the core. Each magnet has a main part and an extension extending form the main part. The main part has an angular interval which corresponds to an interval of winding each coil, so that the extension is positioned outside the coil in the circumferential direction. During the commutation period of the coil, that is, during shorting of the coil by the brush, the amount of magnetic flux passing through the coil is changed by the extension of the magnet. Thus, an induction voltage is generated in the coil to counteract to a reactance voltage of the coil.

Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided which is designed to form digital beams using beat signals each of which is produced by one of a plurality of receivers and analyze the frequency of the beat signals in units of the beams for obtaining data such as the distance to, relative speed, and azimuth of a target. The apparatus performs the complex Fourier Transform twice on beat signals in time series and space series along the array of receiving antennas to derive results of the frequency analysis in units of the beams, thereby resulting in simplified structure and decrease in operation load of the apparatus.

Abstract: In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a floating gate electrode is disposed above a silicon substrate between source and drain regions, through a tunnel film, and a control gate electrode is disposed above the floating gate electrode through an insulating film. The substrate is grounded and at least two negative voltages are respectively applied to the control gate electrode, so that a voltage is applied to the tunnel film. In these cases, charge retention properties are evaluated. The voltages applied to the control gate electrode are controlled so that the voltage applied to the tunnel film does not exceed a voltage applied to the tunnel film during a memory operation. A charge retention property when no voltage is applied across the control gate electrode and the substrate, i.e., when no voltage is externally applied to the tunnel film, is estimated by the charge retention properties when the two voltages are applied to the control gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device mount structure includes a heat dissipating member, a circuit board, a semiconductor device and a leaf spring member. The heat dissipating member has a mounting surface. The circuit board is opposed to the mounting surface of the heat dissipating member. The semiconductor device is mounted to the mounting surface of the heat dissipating member. The semiconductor device is electrically connected to the circuit board. The leaf spring member is arranged between the semiconductor device and the circuit board in such a manner that the leaf spring member biases the semiconductor device against the mounting surface of the heat dissipating member. The leaf spring member has a heat insulating material integrated on one side thereof which faces the circuit board.

Abstract: A radar apparatus is provided which is capable of discriminating between azimuth angles of two or more targets moving side by side close to each other. The radar apparatus provides antenna beams which partially overlap with each other to define a plurality of monopulse areas and processes input signals produced in each of the monopulse areas to obtain angular direction data. The radar apparatus determines a time-sequential variation in angular direction data in each of the monopulse areas and determines the angular direction data whose variation is within a preselected allowable range as being effective in determining the angular direction of each target correctly.

Abstract: In an electroluminescent (EL) display device having a plurality of organic EL elements, variations in luminance among the EL elements are equalized. EL elements to be driven for a required image display are periodically applied with drive voltages and a recovery voltage, while the other EL elements are periodically applied with a dummy voltage. The period, the repetition period, and the amplitude of the dummy voltage are set not to illuminate the other EL elements, while promoting degradation of the other EL elements to some extent. Alternatively, the drive voltage applied to drive the EL elements for the required image display may be modified in accordance with the degree of degradation thereof.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which a bipolar transistor and a MOS transistor are formed in a common element region, which can prevent a circuit layout pattern from being large due to a wiring. A semiconductor device having an element region formed by the N−-type layer, which is isolated and insulated from the other regions. A P+-type base region, an N−-type emitter region, an N+-type collector region, and a P+-type excess carrier removing region for removing excess carrier in the P+-type base region, are commonly formed in particular one N−-type layer. Thus, a bipolar transistor is defined. Furthermore, a gate oxide film is formed on the surface of the N−-type layer where between the P+-type base region and the P+-type excess carrier removing region. A polysilicon layer is formed on the gate oxide film. Thus, a P+-type MOS transistor is defined by using the P+-type base region as a source and the P+-type excess carrier removing region a drain.

Abstract: A power assist motor drive unit includes an H-bridge circuit, current detecting means, and current control means for carrying out a PI feed back control according to a difference between the absolute values of a command current value and a actual motor current, thereby controlling the H-bridge circuit. The current control means includes PI operation control means and compensation-term-operation means for resetting a integral compensation term to a suitable value when operation of the power assist motor is changed from one state to another.

Abstract: A trunk locked-in person saving apparatus without using a mechanical lever. The trunk locked-in person saving apparatus includes: a pyroelectric sensor for detecting behavior of a person who is accidentally locked in a trunk; a detection apparatus for detecting a fact that a person is locked in the trunk based on a detection signal from the pyroelectric sensor; and a trunk opener for releasing a latch condition of the trunk. When the detection apparatus detects that a person is locked in the trunk, the detection apparatus controls the trunk opener to release the latch condition of the trunk.