Abstract: A discharge device includes a discharge electrode, a counter electrode that faces the discharge electrode in a first direction, and voltage application unit that applies an application voltage between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode. The counter electrode includes a dome-shaped electrode having a recessed inner surface recessed to a side opposite to the discharge electrode in the first direction, and a protruding electrode that protrudes in a second direction intersecting the first direction from an opening edge of an opening of the dome-shaped electrode, the opening being provided at an end opposite to the discharge electrode. The discharge device forms a discharge path having at least partial dielectric breakdown between the discharge electrode and the protruding electrode, when the discharge occurs. The discharge path includes a first dielectric breakdown region generated around the discharge electrode and a second dielectric breakdown region generated around the protruding electrode.

Abstract: Heat blower system includes: hair dryer that has housing, fan, and heater; and program that controls hair dryer. Program has a step of obtaining at least one outdoor environment information among an outdoor temperature, an outdoor humidity, an outdoor wind speed, a day length, and an ultraviolet ray intensity. Program further has a step of calculating at least one operational condition of an air volume or an air temperature of hair dryer, based on the obtained outdoor environment information. According to the present aspect, outdoor environment information such as the outdoor temperature, the outdoor humidity, the outdoor wind speed, the day length, and the ultraviolet ray intensity can comprehensively be obtained to adjust operational conditions of hair dryer, appropriately.

Abstract: An electrode device includes a discharge electrode and a counter electrode, and discharges when a voltage is applied across the discharge electrode and the counter electrode. The discharge electrode is a columnar electrode having a discharge portion on its front end. The counter electrode faces the discharge portion. The counter electrode has a peripheral electrode portion and a projecting electrode portion. The peripheral electrode portion is disposed to surround an axis of the discharge electrode. The projecting electrode portion projects from a part of the peripheral electrode portion toward the axis of the discharge electrode. A distance from the peripheral electrode portion to the discharge portion is shorter than a distance from the projecting electrode portion to the discharge portion.

Abstract: Heat blower system includes: hair dryer that has housing, fan, and heater; and program that controls hair dryer. Program has a step of obtaining at least one outdoor environment information among an outdoor temperature, an outdoor humidity, an outdoor wind speed, a day length, and an ultraviolet ray intensity. Program further has a step of calculating at least one operational condition of an air volume or an air temperature of hair dryer, based on the obtained outdoor environment information. According to the present aspect, outdoor environment information such as the outdoor temperature, the outdoor humidity, the outdoor wind speed, the day length, and the ultraviolet ray intensity can comprehensively be obtained to adjust operational conditions of hair dryer, appropriately.

Abstract: An electrode device includes a discharge electrode and a counter electrode, and discharges when a voltage is applied across the discharge electrode and the counter electrode. The discharge electrode is a columnar electrode having a discharge portion on its front end. The counter electrode faces the discharge portion. The counter electrode has a peripheral electrode portion and a projecting electrode portion. The peripheral electrode portion is disposed to surround an axis of the discharge electrode. The projecting electrode portion projects from a part of the peripheral electrode portion toward the axis of the discharge electrode. A distance from the peripheral electrode portion to the discharge portion is shorter than a distance from the projecting electrode portion to the discharge portion.

Abstract: In an FM/CW type radar device (R), when object candidate information storage means (M5) stores as object candidate information a distance or a relative speed for an object that is determined based on a combination of peak signals on the rising side and the falling side in each detection area, if a difference in frequency between peak signal 1 determined in a given detection area and peak signal 2 determined in another detection area is no greater than a predetermined value and object candidate information due to peak signal 1 and object candidate information due to peak signal 2 stored in the object candidate information storage means (M5) are substantially equal to each other, grouping means (M7) carries out grouping of the two peak signals and, furthermore, object information calculation means (M8) calculates the distance or relative speed for the object based on a combination of peak signals on the rising side and the falling side after the grouping processing.

Abstract: A ghost target candidate judging device judges that one target of two targets is a candidate for a ghost target where the distances of the two targets from a subject vehicle are equal to each other and where the difference between receiving levels of the two targets is not less than a predetermined value. A running-abreast target judging device judges that one target is the target running abreast of the other target based on changes in an angle difference and in a left-right positional difference between the two targets in accordance with the change in the distances of the two targets from the subject vehicle. The ghost target judging device judges, as the ghost target, a target obtained by removing the running-abreast target data from the candidates for the ghost target. The running-abreast target is prevented from being erroneously recognized as the ghost target while judging which target is the ghost target.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing a masterbatch, comprising a step of melt-kneading an ionomer that an ethylene-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer is partially neutralized with potassium and a hydrophobic polymer comprised of a hydrocarbon compound, and a step of drying the melt-kneaded mixture at a temperature of not less than the Vicat softening point of the ionomer after the melt-kneading.

Abstract: A running control system having a radar device that detects a distance between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle. When a vehicle speed sensor detects the subject vehicle has stopped, a transmission output controller sets a transmission output of the radar device to a stopping time transmission output lower than a running time transmission output. When the radar device detects an increase in the distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle while the subject vehicle is stopped, or when the distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle detected by the radar device while the subject vehicle has stopped is longer than a predetermined value, a notifying device notifies an occupant of the subject vehicle that following running control is possible.

Abstract: In an object sensing member M1, while electromagnetic waves are transmitted from transmission members 1 and 2 to a predetermined region, based upon a result of receiving electromagnetic waves reflected from an object by reception members 3 and 4, a distance detecting member 5 detects at least a distance of the object. An abnormal condition judging member M2 judges that the object sensing member M1 is under abnormal condition, if a difference between a maximum value of reception levels of the electromagnetic waves received by the reception members 3 and 4, and a minimum value of these reception levels for a predetermined time measured by a time measuring member M3 is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. As a result, the abnormal condition judging member M2 can surely judge the abnormal condition even, if the vehicle is driven on a desert road where objects to be sensed are occasionally present.

Abstract: In an FM/CW type radar device (R), when object candidate information storage means (M5) stores as object candidate information a distance or a relative speed for an object that is determined based on a combination of peak signals on the rising side and the falling side in each detection area, if a difference in frequency between peak signal 1 determined in a given detection area and peak signal 2 determined in another detection area is no greater than a predetermined value and object candidate information due to peak signal 1 and object candidate information due to peak signal 2 stored in the object candidate information storage means (M5) are substantially equal to each other, grouping means (M7) carries out grouping of the two peak signals and, furthermore, object information calculation means (M8) calculates the distance or relative speed for the object based on a combination of peak signals on the rising side and the falling side after the grouping processing.

Abstract: A ghost target candidate judging device judges that one target of two targets is a candidate for a ghost target where the distances of the two targets from a subject vehicle are equal to each other and where the difference between receiving levels of the two targets is not less than a predetermined value. A running-abreast target judging device judges that one target is the target running abreast of the other target based on changes in an angle difference and in a left-right positional difference between the two targets in accordance with the change in the distances of the two targets from the subject vehicle. The ghost target judging device judges, as the ghost target, a target obtained by removing the running-abreast target data from the candidates for the ghost target. The running-abreast target is prevented from being erroneously recognized as the ghost target while judging which target is the ghost target.

Abstract: There is provided a system in which when a gate having a reflection level of a threshold or higher and having been recognized as a control target by last time is not recognized as the control target this time, the gate is assumed to be actually detected, and extrapolation device extrapolates the gate (see ?) up to a predetermined number of times (five times), wherein when the gate is a stationary object, and a reflection level of the gate at the next detection (Time 6) predicted from a reflection level at the previous detection (Time 4) and a reflection level at the current detection (Time 5) is lower than a detection threshold (see ?), the limit of the number of extrapolations by the extrapolation device is reduced from five to two.

Abstract: In a vehicle control system, when an inter-vehicular distance between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle detected by a radar device is less than or equal to a predetermined value, automatic braking is performed or an alarm is activated to alert a driver to prevent a collision. A stationary object detection threshold value of a reception level of a reflected wave for detecting a stationary object is set higher in a predetermined region compared to a moving object detection threshold value of a reception level of a reflected wave emitted from the radar device for detecting a moving object such as a preceding vehicle. Thus, the system prevents a gate or an article in the roadway, which are not obstacles, from being erroneously recognized as obstacles. As such, unnecessary automatic braking and alarm activation for the gate and the article in the roadway can be prevented.

Abstract: A running control system having a radar device that detects a distance between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle. When a vehicle speed sensor detects the subject vehicle has stopped, a transmission output controller sets a transmission output of the radar device to a stopping time transmission output lower than a running time transmission output. When the radar device detects an increase in the distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle while the subject vehicle is stopped, or when the distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle detected by the radar device while the subject vehicle has stopped is longer than a predetermined value, a notifying device notifies an occupant of the subject vehicle that following running control is possible.

Abstract: In a vehicle control system, when an inter-vehicular distance between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle detected by a radar device is less than or equal to a predetermined value, automatic braking is performed or an alarm is activated to alert a driver to prevent a collision. A stationary object detection threshold value of a reception level of a reflected wave for detecting a stationary object is set higher in a predetermined region compared to a moving object detection threshold value of a reception level of a reflected wave emitted from the radar device for detecting a moving object such as a preceding vehicle. Thus, the system prevents a gate or an article in the roadway, which are not obstacles, from being erroneously recognized as obstacles. As such, unnecessary automatic braking and alarm activation for the gate and the article in the roadway can be prevented.

Abstract: Whether or not a radar device detects an object is determined by a detection state determinator. Whether or not a time during which the object is not detected and which is measured by a clocking device becomes a determination threshold value or more, is determined by a non-detection determinator. Based on the determination results, an informing device informs an occupant that the object is not detected for a predetermined time or more. Therefore, a state in which the radar device does not detect an object due to absence of the object on a road in a desert or the like is prevented from being erroneously determined as a state caused by contamination of the radar device. Also, the occupant can easily determine whether the operation of the informing device is actually caused by absence of an object or contamination of the radar device, based on the environment around the road on which the own vehicle is traveling.

Abstract: A moving body transmitter and receiver axis adjusting system includes a radar system mounted on a moving body and having a scanning area of 10° and a detection area of 8° in each of the left and right directions, and carrying out auto aiming to adjust the detection area in left and right directions inside the scanning area so that an object detection axis that is the center of the detection area coincides with a reference reflecting body placed on a vehicle center line. When a deviation between the object detection axis and the reference reflecting body exceeds 2°, adjustment cannot be completed only by auto aiming. In this case, the angle at which the radar system is mounted on the vehicle body is manually adjusted in the left and right directions so that the object detection axis overlaps the vehicle center line.

Abstract: In an object sensing member M1, while electromagnetic waves are transmitted from transmission members 1 and 2 to a predetermined region, based upon a result of receiving electromagnetic waves reflected from an object by reception members 3 and 4, a distance detecting member 5 detects at least a distance of the object. An abnormal condition judging member M2 judges that the object sensing member M1 is under abnormal condition, if a difference between a maximum value of reception levels of the electromagnetic waves received by the reception members 3 and 4, and a minimum value of these reception levels for a predetermined time measured by a time measuring member M3 is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. As a result, the abnormal condition judging member M2 can surely judge the abnormal condition even, if the vehicle is driven on a desert road where objects to be sensed are occasionally present.

Abstract: Whether or not a radar device detects an object is determined by a detection state determinator. Whether or not a time during which the object is not detected and which is measured by a clocking device becomes a determination threshold value or more, is determined by a non-detection determinator. Based on the determination results, an informing device informs an occupant that the object is not detected for a predetermined time or more. Therefore, a state in which the radar device does not detect an object due to absence of the object on a road in a desert or the like is prevented from being erroneously determined as a state caused by contamination of the radar device. Also, the occupant can easily determine whether the operation of the informing device is actually caused by absence of an object or contamination of the radar device, based on the environment around the road on which the own vehicle is traveling.