Abstract: A communication relay apparatus includes a first connecting section for connecting to a first wire harness connected to an electronic control device, a second connecting section for connecting to a second wire harness connected to a plurality of electronic equipments, a communication address setting section which has a plurality of connection portions and sets a communication address for the electronic control device with a conducting pattern based on presence or absence of conduction at the connection portions, and a communication relay section which is electrically connected to the first connecting section and the second connecting section, and relays communication between the electronic control device and the electronic equipments on the basis of the communication address. The communication address setting section is formed so that the presence or absence of the conduction of the connection portions can be viewed from the exterior and that the conducting pattern can be set from the exterior.

Abstract: A relay connector unit for communicating an electronic control unit with a plurality of electronic devices includes: a first connecting unit connected to the electronic control unit; a second connecting unit having a plurality of circuits connected to the electronic devices respectively; and a transferring unit connected to the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit. The transferring unit transmits first information received by the first connecting unit from the electronic control unit to at least one of the electronic devices through a corresponding circuit, on the basis of circuit identifying data included in first information, the circuit identifying data indicating the corresponding circuit to be transferred to or from. The transferring unit appends the circuit identifying data to second information received from one of the electronic devices through the corresponding circuit to transmit the second information to the electronic control unit through the first connecting unit.

Abstract: A relay control apparatus includes a relay contact, a relay coil which turns on the relay contact when the relay coil is electrically conducted, and a current control unit which controls a first current and a second current. The first current is larger in a current amount per unit time than the second current. The current control unit controls to flow the first current through the relay coil until a predetermined time has elapsed from a beginning of an electrical conduction of the relay coil. The current control unit controls to start to flow the second current through the relay coil on or before the predetermined time has elapsed to maintain a turn-on state of the relay contact. The predetermined time is longer than a chattering time in which a chattering in the relay contact occurs at the beginning of the electrical conduction.

Abstract: A protection device protecting a load circuit by shutting off a power thereof depending on an estimated present temperature of a wire provided in the load circuit to connect a load. The protection device has a first temperature estimation device estimating a rising temperature of a conductor including the wire based on both a current in the conductor and thermal properties of the conductor, a second temperature estimation device estimating a falling temperature of the conductor based on the thermal properties, a third temperature estimation device estimating an arc-induced rising temperature of the conductor when arcing occurs in the conductor, and a fourth temperature estimation device estimating the present temperature of the conductor deduced from the above estimated temperatures. If the estimated temperature exceeds a predetermined allowable temperature, the protection device shut off the power of the load circuit.

Abstract: A lamp driving apparatus includes a controller, a lamp driver, a lamp voltage detector, a switch and a switching controller. The controller outputs a switch control signal and a lamp driving control signal in response to an instructing signal for instructing a lamp to be turned on and off. The lamp driver supplies an electric power to the lamp in accordance with the lamp driving control signal. The lamp voltage detector detects a voltage applied to the lamp, and outputs a detecting signal showing the applied state of the voltage to the controller. The switch is connected to the lamp driver, a lamp driving power supply line, and a preliminary power supply line, and switches between a first state and a second state selectively.

Abstract: When a voltage larger than a voltage from a 12-V power supply (11) and capable of on/off controlling an n-channel MOSFET (15) is supplied to a simple ON/OFF circuit (19), the simple ON/OFF circuit (19) outputs to the gate G a control signal that on/off controls the n-channel MOSFET (15) by the supplied voltage, thereby performing on/off control of the n-channel MOSFET (15), and enabling control of electrical power supplied to a load (13) from the 12-V power supply (11). The 36-V power supply (17) is used for on/off control of the n-channel MOSFET (15), so as to supply the output voltage from the 12-V power supply (11) to the load (13).

Abstract: A vehicle lamp lighting-driving apparatus is provided, which includes: a lighting driving means to lighting-drive a lamp; a driving signal generating means to generate a pulse driving signal having a pulse with a duty factor to make a power consumption of the lamp be a rated value of the lamp; and a driving controlling means to on/off-drive the lighting driving means according to the pulse driving signal, wherein the driving signal generating means generates an auxiliary driving signal which makes the driving controlling means control the lighting driving means so that a current to flow to the lamp through the lighting driving means is limited for a definite time, until a rush current at a time of on-driving of the lighting driving means gets equal to or smaller than an allowable value, prior to the pulse driving signal at a start of lighting the lamp.

Abstract: A control signal generated as a result of the actuation of each of control switches of a control section is multiplexed by a multiplexing section, and the thus multiplexed signal is sent to a multiplex transmission line. Load control sections receive the multiplexed control signal sent over the multiplex transmission line. The load control sections then control the electric power fed to a corresponding one of loads on the basis of the received control signal. Control data, representing the form of output control of the corresponding load which is controlled as a result of the actuation of the control switch, are stored according to the control switches. Control means control the electric power fed to the load on the basis of the control signal using the control data.