Abstract: A lighting device for high-pressure discharge lamp for lighting the high-pressure discharge lamp by lowering or raising a DC voltage applied to an input side by a DC/DC converter circuit, then converting the DC power into an AC power by a DC/AC inverter circuit, supplying the AC power to the high-pressure discharge lamp and lighting the high-pressure discharge lamp, wherein when the polarity of the current of the high-pressure discharge lamp lit by the substantially rectangular wave is inverted, the output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit is set to 1.5 times or more as large as the voltage at the stable lighting time of the high-pressure discharge lamp.

Abstract: A lighting device for high-pressure discharge lamp for lighting the high-pressure discharge lamp by lowering or raising a DC voltage applied to an input side by a DC/DC converter circuit, then converting the DC power into an AC power by a DC/AC inverter circuit, supplying the AC power to the high-pressure discharge lamp and lighting the high-pressure discharge lamp, wherein when the polarity of the current of the high-pressure discharge lamp lit by the substantially rectangular wave is inverted, the output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit is set to 1.5 times or more as large as the voltage at the stable lighting time of the high-pressure discharge lamp.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high-pressure metal-vapor discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprising control circuit constituted to supply a lamp power larger than a rated lamp power from lighting circuit and light a high-pressure metal-vapor discharge lamp and to subsequently control the lighting circuit in such a manner that the lamp power is successively reduced in accordance with predetermined reduction ratio characteristics to settle at the rated lamp power and to be capable of varying the reduction ratio characteristics in accordance with fluctuations of rising characteristics of a quantity of light in the high-pressure metal-vapor discharge lamp.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp starter device comprises a starter circuit OC and control element CC. The starter circuit OC is capable of starting up an essentially mercury free high-pressure discharge lamp HPL containing a rare gas and a metal halide. The control element CC controls the starter circuit OC to start up the high pressure discharge lamp HPL, supply a lamp power larger than twice a rated lamp power, reduce lamp power such that light output is not significantly larger compared to that during a stable light emission time and the light output does not rapidly increase, when a metal halide charged in the high pressure discharge lamp HPL is abruptly vaporized, thereafter, gradually reduce the lamp power so as to settle the rated lamp power.

Abstract: A method of detecting moisture or wetness which enables determination as to whether or not precision instruments or industrial products have undergone improper conditions, is described, which comprises: (i) use of a composite material which contains at least one water-soluble decoloring agent and at least one methine dye whose color disappears upon reaction with the decoloring agent in a state that the decoloring agent and the dye are spatially isolated from each other, and (ii) detection of a history of contact with moisture or water by disappearance of color from the composite material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high-pressure metal-vapor discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprising control circuit constituted to supply a lamp power larger than a rated lamp power from lighting circuit and light a high-pressure metal-vapor discharge lamp and to subsequently control the lighting circuit in such a manner that the lamp power is successively reduced in accordance with predetermined reduction ratio characteristics to settle at the rated lamp power and to be capable of varying the reduction ratio characteristics in accordance with fluctuations of rising characteristics of a quantity of light in the high-pressure metal-vapor discharge lamp.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp starter device comprises a starter circuit OC and control means CC. The starter circuit OC is capable of starting up an essentially mercury free high-pressure discharge lamp HPL containing a rare gas and a metal halide. The control means CC controls the starter circuit OC to start up the high pressure discharge lamp HPL, supply a lamp power larger than twice a rated lamp power, reduce lamp power such that light output is not significantly larger compared to that during a stable light emission time and the light output does not rapidly increase, when a metal halide charged in the high pressure discharge lamp HPL is abruptly vaporized, thereafter, gradually reduce the lamp power so as to settle the rated lamp power.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp comprises a light-transmitting discharge vessel having a discharge space portion, a sealed portion, and a pair of electrodes projecting into the discharge space. The discharge vessel is constructed and arranged to have a D/L ratio being in a range of about 0.25 to about 1.5 and a t/L ratio being in a range of about 0.16 to about 1.1, wherein L is an interspace of tips of the electrodes, D is a maximum inner diameter of the discharge vessel, and t is a maximum wall thickness of the discharge space portion. An ionizable filling contains a rare gas and a metal halide including at least sodium (Na) or scandium (Sc) and does not substantially include mercury (Hg). Each of conductive wires is connected electrically to the electrodes extending from the discharge vessel. The metal halide lamp may be used for a metal halide lamp apparatus or a vehicle lighting apparatus.

Abstract: A metal halide lamp comprises a light-transmitting discharge vessel having a discharge space portion, a sealed portion, and a pair of electrodes projecting into the discharge space. The discharge vessel is constructed and arranged to have a D/L ratio being in a range of about 0.25 to about 1.5 and a D/L ratio being in a range of about 0.16 to about 1.1, wherein L is an interspace of tips of the electrodes, D is a maximum inner diameter of the discharge vessel, and t is a maximum wall thickness of the discharge space portion. An ionizable filling contains a rare gas and a metal halide including at least sodium (Na) or scandium (Sc) and does not substantially include mercury (Hg). Each of conductive wires is connected electrically to the electrodes extending from the discharge vessel. The metal halide lamp may be used for a metal halide lamp apparatus or a vehicle lighting apparatus.

Abstract: A method of detecting moisture or wetness which enables determination as to whether or not precision instruments or industrial products have undergone improper conditions, is described, which comprises:

Abstract: A lamp voltage detecting section detects the lamp voltage of the high-pressure discharge lamp and transmits it to a current calculating section. A lamp current detecting section detects the lamp current of the high-pressure discharge lamp and transmits it to a differential amplification circuit. A target power value to be supplied to the high-pressure discharge lamp is input to the current calculating section from a target setting device. The current calculating section divides the target power value by the lamp voltage detected by the lamp voltage detecting section to calculate a target current value, and transmits the target current value to the differential amplification circuit. A control section controls the chopping operation of a semiconductor switch so as to make the target current value approximate to the lamp current value.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for controlling the power supplied to a discharge lamp by detecting the voltage and current of the lamp's electric supply line. A microcomputer monitors power consumption of the discharge lamp by multiplying the voltage and current detected in the supple line to determine the input power and produces a representative control signal. The actual input power is compared with a preset input power, based upon the signal, and the power consumption of the discharge lamp is controlled in accordance with the results of the comparison.

Abstract: To prevent obstacles to wiring caused when wiring from other nets pass through the vicinity of a terminal, and moreover, to carry out automatic wiring having shorter wiring length and increased wiring completion rate, when calculating wiring costs of a wiring route of a net, for unwired terminals belonging to other nets, wiring route cost values for the net to be wired are variably assigned depending on distance from these terminals. In other words, in the present invention, cost values are established such that the cost weighting decreases with distance from unwired terminals of other nets. Seen from a different viewpoint, in the present invention, cost values are established such that cost increases for wiring routes passing within a prescribed range of an unwired terminal of another net. Incorporation of the above-described set cost value into the calculation of wiring costs enables automatic wiring that reduces cost, shortens wiring length, and prevents occurrence of unwired nets.

Abstract: A high frequency (HF) lighting apparatus includes a rare gas discharge lamp and a power supply. The lamp has an envelope having a rare gas therein. A pair of electrodes is provided in the envelope, and an external conductor is provided near the envelope. The power supply includes a HF electric power circuit to generate a HF electric power. The HF electric power circuit has an output whose crest factor is 2.3 or more. The power supply has a ballast coupled between the HF electric power circuit and the lamp for applying stabilized HF current to the lamp. The power supply further has a DC supply circuit including a rectifier for rectifying the HF to DC and a voltage divider. The voltage divider is disposed between the lamp and the rectifier for applying a potential to the external conductor of the lamp and for adding a DC current to the stabilized HF current.

Abstract: A method for designing an interconnection route in an LSI includes steps of finding a minimum-cost path among possible paths for a current net, the possible paths overlapping with existing nets routed before the current net. A unit cost assigned to a grid for scoring possible paths includes a length cost and a rip-up and reroute cost for ripping-up and rerouting the existing nets overlapping with the current net in the grid. The rip-up and reroute cost is not scored, however, when the existing nets also overlaps with the current net in another grid so far routed. The route will be possibly selected in a path overlapping with a several wire segments of a single existing net rather than overlapping with a single segment of each of a plurality of existing nets. Number of rip-up and reroute procedure is reduced so that the speed of routing process is improved, providing a lower cost for routing an interconnection route in a computer.

Abstract: A radiographic intensifying screen comprising a support and a phosphor layer provided thereon which comprises a binder and a phosphor dispersed therein, characterized in that said binder contains a (meth)acrylic copolymer in the amount of 5-100% by weight, having repeating units represented by the formulas (I), (II) and (III): ##STR1## in which each of R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sub.2 is a group selected from those consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group and an aralkyl group; R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, provided that R.sub.4 is not identical to R.sub.2 ; and x, y and z which represent molar percents are numbers satisfying the conditions of 5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.99, 1.ltoreq.y+z.ltoreq.95 and x+y+z.gtoreq.90. The (meth)acrylic copolymer is preferably employed in combination with a linear polyester having a hydroxyl value in the range of 20-70.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprising a support and a phosphor layer provided thereon which comprises a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed therein, characterized in that said binder contains a (meth)acrylic copolymer in the amount of 5-100% by weight, which has repeating units represented by the formulas (I), (II) and (III): ##STR1## in which each of R.sub.1, R.sub.3 and R.sub.5 is independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; R.sub.2 is a group selected from those consisting of an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group and an aralkyl group; R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group and R.sub.2 .noteq.R.sub.4 ; and x, y and z representing molar percents are numbers satisfying the conditions of 5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.99, 1.ltoreq.y+z.ltoreq.95 and x+y+z.gtoreq.90. The (meth)acrylic copolymer is preferably employed in combination with a linear polyester having a hydroxyl value in the range of 20-70%.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprising a support, a phosphor layer provided on the support which comprises a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed therein, and a protective film provided on the phosphor layer, characterized in that a mixing ratio of the binder to the stimulable phosphor in said phosphor layer so varies as to show a minimum value within a region of depth of from 1/5 to 4/5 of the thickness of the phosphor layer, the depth being expressed in terms of relative distance from the protective film-side surface.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprising a support, a subbing layer and a phosphor layer which comprises a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed therein, superposed in this order, characterized in that said subbing layer contains fine particles having a size of 1-30 .mu.m in an amount of 1-200% by weight of a resin constituting the subbing layer.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprising a support, a subbing layer and a phosphor layer which comprises a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed therein, superposed in this order, characterized in that said subbing layer comprises a synthetic resin crosslinked with a crosslinking agent.