Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting an end of life (EOL) condition of a lamp that exhibits a re-ignition behavior. A voltage is applied to the lamp to cause the lamp to start emitting light, and a lamp re-ignition voltage to normal lamp voltage difference after a mask-off period expires is monitored. The lamp is determined to have reached the EOL condition when a predetermined percentage of high difference half cycles occur during a set number of lamp voltage half cycles that are measured during a measurement window. The method continuously monitors the lamp re-ignition voltage to normal lamp voltage difference and records whenever the lamp re-ignition voltage to normal lamp voltage difference is higher than the re-ignition difference threshold level at any lamp voltage half cycle. An EOL lamp is detected when a predetermined number of high difference half cycles occurs in a set total number of lamp voltage half cycles measured in a rolling measurement window.

Abstract: A light-emitting device held on a fixture body includes an LED chip, a heat transfer plate made of a thermally conductive material on which the LED chip is mounted, a wiring board having, on one side, patterned conductors, for supplying an electric power to the LED chip and formed with an aperture (exposure part) through which a LED chip mount surface of the heat transfer plate is exposed, an encapsulation part in which the LED chip is encapsulated on the one side of the wiring board, and a dome-shaped color-changing member made of a fluorescent material and an optically transparent material and placed on the one side of the wiring board. The light-emitting device is bonded to the fixture body with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and the insulating layer has electrical insulating properties and is interposed between the heat transfer plate and the fixture body to thermally couple the same.

Abstract: A pressure-sensing massage machine that resolves the problems of difficult assembly and adjustment and the occurrence of operational errors common to a sensing mechanism that uses many components and devices. The massage machine of the present invention is able to monitor the pressure applied to the massage recipient by a motor-driven movably extending massaging member. A flexible member is provided in the transmission located between the massage member and the motor that drives the massage member, and a pressure sensing mechanism monitors the pressure applied to the massage recipient through the flexible displacement of the flexible member.

Abstract: An image processor is provided, which has the capability of detecting an object such as a human face from an image taken against the sun with high accuracy. An image signal provided from an image pickup unit is adjusted at an analog gain by an image adjuster. An out of the image adjuster is converted into a digital, and store in a memory. A feature of the object is extracted from this digital image data to detect an object area in the image. When the object area is not detected, an analog-gain controller sends that the image signal provided from the image pickup unit is adjusted at a different analog gain. Thus, the treatment of detecting the object area is repeated at different analog gains.

Abstract: In a virtual space, a digital human is connected to a movable portion of a virtual model of a product, and torque acting on each joint of the digital human when the digital human moves the movable portion is calculated in a load calculator. The load calculator calculates maximum voluntary contraction according to the angle of each joint based on the relation between the joint angle and maximum voluntary force and separates the workability degree at the time of moving the movable portion of the product into a plurality of levels based on the ratio thereof to the maximum voluntary contraction. The evaluation image generator calculates torque acting on each joint when the digital human moves the movable portion of the product and displays which level the calculated torque belongs to on the screen of the monitor unit. The muscular load when the digital human uses the product is then evaluated for assisting design of the product.

Abstract: In a liquid discharge control apparatus which uses a piezoelectric type diaphragm pump, an accumulator having a liquid accumulation cavity and a movable member is communicated to an outlet of the diaphragm pump. In discharge operation of the diaphragm pump, a quantity of the liquid in the liquid accumulation cavity is rapidly increased, and the movable member is elastically deformed so as to increase of the volume of the liquid accumulation cavity. Alternatively, in suction operation, when a back stream of the liquid occurs, the quantity of the liquid in a path communicated to the outlet of the diaphragm pump is decreased due to the back stream. The decrease of the liquid can be compensated by the decrease of the volume of the liquid accumulation cavity of the accumulator. Thereby, variation of the quantity of the liquid discharged from the outlet of the accumulator is reduced and the liquid can be discharged, smoothly.

Abstract: An output of a load voltage detector is read by an A/D converter, and a reference value Is and a switching frequency are decided by a microcomputer. In order that the decided switching frequency can be achieved, a SET signal is inputted from a switching frequency counting unit to a drive controller, and a switching element is turned on. When a current flowing through the switching element, which is detected by a resistor, exceeds the reference value Is of a reference arithmetic unit, a RESET signal is inputted from a current detector to the drive controller, and the switching element is turned off. Thereafter, the reference value Is and the switching frequency are set so that the switching element can be turned on at the next time at timing when a regenerative current of a diode turns to substantial zero.

Abstract: In a wiring device which detects a leakage current in an electrical path connecting a commercial power supply and a load to interrupt the electrical path, the electrical leakage can reliably be interrupted even when the leakage current has a distorted waveform. A wiring device (1) includes a leakage control unit (4) for detecting a leakage current flowing through an electrical path connecting a commercial power supply and a load (30) to perform a leakage determination and a switching unit (2) for interrupting the electrical path in accordance with the leakage determination of the leakage control unit (4).

Abstract: There is provided a stacked-layers forming device including a powder layer-forming part for forming a powder layer, an optical device for forming a solidified layer by irradiating a predetermined portion of the powder layer with a light beam and a powder replenishing means for supplying the powder material to above a base on which the powder layer and the solidified layer are stacked or onto an upper surface of a base frame which surrounds the base. The powder replenishing means includes an approximately cylindrical member in which the powder material is charged and a screw member which is installed within the approximately cylindrical member wherein a rotation of the screw member conveys the powder material in the approximately cylindrical member.

Abstract: A radio receiving apparatus of the present invention is for receiving a radio signal having pulsating signals occurring at specific periods, wherein the radio receiving apparatus corrects signal levels received during communication in individual regions into which each of the aforementioned periods is divided based on signal levels received in the individual regions under conditions where the radio signal is not received. As a result of this correction, the radio receiving apparatus of the present invention can decrease the influence of noise having periodicity and improve reliability of communication.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrostatic atomizing apparatus for a vehicle that is mounted in a vehicle and purifies a vehicle interior, having: an electrostatic atomizer comprising an electrode that generates an electric field when high voltage is applied thereto in a state where water is being supplied, to thereby turn the water into charged corpuscle water in the form of mist which is charged in either plus or minus, a water supply unit that supplies water to the electrode, and an emission outlet that emits the charged corpuscle water into the vehicle interior; and a potential holding unit that is installed in an on-vehicle component which a passenger contacts, and is used for holding a potential of the on-vehicle component at a potential at which the charged corpuscle water is continuously attracted to and absorbed by the passenger in contact with the on-vehicle component.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes: a plurality of light emitting elements configured to emit light when a direct current is supplied thereto; and a direct current power supply circuit configured to supply an electric current of a given level or more to the light emitting elements. The light emitting device further includes: a light emitting element voltage detection circuit configured to detect a voltage applied to the light emitting elements; and a forward/reverse inverting circuit configured, when the light emitting element voltage detection circuit detects an abnormality in a light emitting element, to apply a reverse voltage to the light emitting element in which the abnormality is detected.

Abstract: A plane coil which reduces an increase of an effective resistance in a high-frequency area and is made thinner is provided. The plane coil is equipped with plural conductive wires which are parallel to each other, wherein the conductive wires are arranged in a plane and spirally wound, and coil ends of the respective conductive wires are electrically connected to each other at coil lead-out portions and thus are connected in parallel. The conductive wires are arranged in plane, so that a coil thickness does not increase, and the coil is made thinner. Moreover, the plural conductive wires are connected in parallel, an increase of an effective resistance due to an influence of a skin effect in a high-frequency area is reduced.