Abstract: A control circuit is configured to, when switching a state of a light source from an extinguished state to a lighting state, control a voltage conversion circuit so that a second DC voltage has a voltage value which changes according to transmission data containing an activation command. A lighting device is configured to keep the state of the light source at the extinguished state until receiving the activation command from the receiver circuit, and to change the state of the light source to the lighting state when receiving the activation command from the receiver circuit.

Abstract: A signal transmitting device includes an input unit, an output unit, and a step-down circuit. The input unit is configured to receive an input voltage. The output unit is configured to output an output voltage. The step-down circuit is configured to controllably adjust the output voltage by stepping down the input voltage. The step-down circuit includes first and second capacitors, a switch circuit, an inductor, first and second diodes, and a control circuit. The switch circuit includes a series circuit of first and second switches. The control circuit is configured to control the first and second switches to change a voltage value of the output voltage in order to transmit transmission data from the output unit.

Abstract: A power supply includes an input for receiving a first DC voltage, an output for outputting a second DC voltage, a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the first DC voltage into the second DC voltage, and a control circuit configured to control the voltage conversion circuit to vary a voltage value of the second DC voltage. The control circuit is configured to control the voltage conversion circuit so as to decrease the voltage value of the second DC voltage from a first voltage value to a second voltage value for a predetermined duration every time a predetermined period elapses. The first voltage value is equal to or greater than a voltage value necessary to keep lighting a light source. The second voltage value is smaller than the voltage value necessary to keep lighting the light source.

Abstract: A control circuit is configured to, when switching a state of a light source from an extinguished state to a lighting state, control a voltage conversion circuit so that a second DC voltage has a voltage value which changes according to transmission data containing an activation command. A lighting device is configured to keep the state of the light source at the extinguished state until receiving the activation command from the receiver circuit, and to change the state of the light source to the lighting state when receiving the activation command from the receiver circuit.

Abstract: A distributed power supply system includes a controller configured to control a power factor of a power converter device (inverter) such that the power factor has a predetermined constant value if reverse power flow from the power converter device (inverter) to a utility power grid is observed. If the controller determines, based on reverse power flow information acquired by a reverse power flow information acquirer, that reverse power flow from the power converter device (inverter) to the utility power grid is not observed, the controller controls the power factor of the power converter device (inverter) such that the power factor has a value closer to unity than the predetermined constant value is.

Abstract: The signal transmitting device includes: a transmitter-side input for receiving a first DC voltage; a transmitter-side output for outputting a second DC voltage; and a voltage conversion circuit configured to convert the first DC voltage into the second DC voltage. Further, the signal transmitting device includes a control circuit configured to control the voltage conversion circuit so that the second DC voltage has a voltage value (selected from a first voltage value and a second voltage value) which changes according to transmission data in a predetermined transmission period.

Abstract: A paper feed roller of the present invention comprises a roller body 2 integrally formed of elastic material in a cylindrical shape in which a plurality of protruding lines 6 are disposed on a peripheral surface 5 at even intervals, wherein the roller body 2 is formed so that crest portions 6a and trough portions 6b are continuously provided in a circumferential direction, an opening angle ? is equal to or more than 2° and is equal to or less than 8°, a radial height h of the protruding line is equal to or more than 0.051 mm and is equal to or less than 0.1 mm, and a curvature radius r1 at a shoulder is equal to or more than 0.55 mm.

Abstract: A light-emitting element lighting device includes: a step-down chopper circuit which outputs a current that flows to a light-emitting element; a current command circuit which selects between a rated mode for passing a rated current for turning ON the light-emitting element and a detection mode for passing an abnormality detection current, which is smaller than the rated current, for detecting an abnormality in the light-emitting element; a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage across both ends of the light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the step-down chopper circuit to stop outputting the current to the light-emitting element, when the voltage across both ends detected by the voltage detection circuit in the detection mode is lower than or equal to an abnormality detection threshold voltage which is set lower than the rated voltage at the time when the light-emitting element is turned ON.

Abstract: A light-emitting-element lighting circuit for dimming a light emitting element by a PWM dimming signal of a duty ratio corresponding to an input dimming signal is provided. The lighting circuit includes a PWM dimming signal generating unit which generates the PWM dimming signal by performing a summation of AC wave signals including a fundamental wave and harmonics of different frequencies that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency of the fundamental wave. The fundamental frequency is equal to or higher than a frequency, at which a sound pressure level is at maximum, in an audible frequency range in a correlation spectrum between the sound pressure level generated from the light emitting element and a frequency of an AC wave signal inputted to the light emitting element.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes: a light source unit that has a case storing therein a light-emitting panel and a wiring board mounted on a non-light emitting face thereof; and an attachment unit that has a housing storing therein a circuit board and configured to be detachably attached to the light source unit. The case has a wiring board storage. The housing has a circuit board storage. The case and the housing are arranged such that a whole of the wiring board storage and a whole of the circuit board storage are arranged at different positions in a direction perpendicular to an attachment direction of the light source unit and the attachment unit.

Abstract: A solar cell includes a p-type monocrystalline silicon substrate having first and second principal surfaces, an n-type diffusion layer formed on the first principal surface of the p-type monocrystalline silicon substrate, a plurality of grid electrodes formed on the n-type diffusion layer, a first collector electrode including a bus electrode that connects the grid electrodes to establish connection to the outside, and a second collector electrode formed on the second principal surface. The n-type diffusion layer has a lower impurity concentration in a first region surrounding the bus electrode than a second region away from the bus electrode.

Abstract: An organic EL module includes a flat plate-like light emitting panel configured to use an organic EL element; and a holding member configured to hold the light emitting panel. The holding member includes: a conductive member serving as at least a part of the holding member, and a capacitance component is provided between the conductive member and an electrode layer, the electrode layer being provided in the light emitting panel to supply a driving voltage thereto.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a front electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer formed of a semiconductor material, a transparent conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive oxide, a back electrode formed of a metal material, and a conductive layer formed of a semiconductor material primarily of silicon and having a refractive index higher than the transparent conductive layer contactually sandwiched between the transparent conductive layer and the back electrode. The photoelectric conversion device exhibits a high photoelectric conversion efficiency by keeping low the electrical resistance between the semiconductor layer and the back electrode and by increasing reflectance for light having passed though the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes a light-emission unit having plate shape; and a base unit configured to be detachably attached thereto the light-emission unit. The base unit has substantially rectangular shape. The base unit includes a power supply rail for supplying electricity to the light-emission unit and a support section supporting the light-emission unit. The power supply rail has rail-shape and extending in a longitudinal direction of the base unit. The light-emission unit includes a luminescent panel, a control circuit configured to control lighting of the luminescent panel and an electrically conductive connection terminal electrically connecting the control circuit to the power supply rail. The base unit is formed so as to be capable of being attached thereto a plurality of the light-emission units along the longitudinal direction of the base unit. The connection terminal is connected to an arbitrary point of the rail-shaped power supply rail.

Abstract: A solar battery includes a transparent electrode and a collector electrode in this order on the surface of a light incident surface side of a photoelectric conversion layer. The collector electrode is formed in a predetermined region on the photoelectric conversion layer and a first transparent electrode of the transparent electrode is formed only in a region right under the collector electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer and the collector electrode. A second transparent electrode of the transparent electrode is formed in a region on the photoelectric conversion layer where the collector electrode is not formed and on the collector electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer or the collector electrode. The carrier concentration of the first transparent electrode is higher than the carrier concentration of the second transparent electrode.

Abstract: A light emitting module includes a plurality of light source units having a rectangular plate shape and a base unit having an elongated rectangular plate shape. The light source units are disposed along a straight line and mounted to the base unit. The light emitting module further includes an optical cover configured to diffuse light emitted from the light source units. The optical cover has a rectangular shape when seen in a plan view and configured to cover the light source units. A length of each of sides of the optical cover and the light source units parallel to short sides of the base unit is substantially equal to a length of each of the short sides of the base unit.

Abstract: A light-emitting element lighting device includes: a step-down chopper circuit which outputs a current that flows to a light-emitting element; a current command circuit which selects between a rated mode for passing a rated current for turning ON the light-emitting element and a detection mode for passing an abnormality detection current, which is smaller than the rated current, for detecting an abnormality in the light-emitting element; a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage across both ends of the light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the step-down chopper circuit to stop outputting the current to the light-emitting element, when the voltage across both ends detected by the voltage detection circuit in the detection mode is lower than or equal to an abnormality detection threshold voltage which is set lower than the rated voltage at the time when the light-emitting element is turned ON.

Abstract: A light-emitting element lighting device includes: a step-down chopper circuit which outputs current to a light-emitting element; a current command circuit which selects between (i) light-emission mode for causing a light-emission current larger than a constant rated current, which flows to the light-emitting element when continuous light-emission is caused, to flow and (ii) detection mode for causing an abnormality detection current smaller than the rated current, to flow for detecting a light-emitting element abnormality; a voltage detection circuit which detects a both-end voltage of the light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the step-down chopper circuit to stop outputting the current to the light-emitting element, when the both-end voltage detected by the voltage detection unit in the detection mode is lower than or equal to an abnormality detection threshold voltage which is set lower than the rated voltage at a time when the light-emitting element is turned ON.

Abstract: A solar battery includes a transparent electrode and a collector electrode in this order on the surface of a light incident surface side of a photoelectric conversion layer. The collector electrode is formed in a predetermined region on the photoelectric conversion layer and a first transparent electrode of the transparent electrode is formed only in a region right under the collector electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer and the collector electrode. A second transparent electrode of the transparent electrode is formed in a region on the photoelectric conversion layer where the collector electrode is not formed and on the collector electrode in contact with the photoelectric conversion layer or the collector electrode. The carrier concentration of the first transparent electrode is higher than the carrier concentration of the second transparent electrode.

Abstract: A light-emitting-element lighting circuit for dimming a light emitting element having a diode characteristic by a PWM dimming signal is provided. The lighting circuit includes a dimming signal conversion unit configured to generate the PWM dimming signal having a duty ratio corresponding to an emission level specified by an input dimming signal. The lighting circuit further includes a minimum current generating circuit configured to flow a minimum current during an OFF period of the PWM dimming signal generated by the dimming signal conversion unit such that a voltage greater than a threshold voltage designed to allow the light emitting element to emit a light is applied to the light emitting element, and the light emitting element emits a light of a brightness equal to or less than a lowest emission level specified by the dimming signal.