Abstract: A sport running estimated value LEVELSP obtained by searching a value on a map prepared in advance based on an average values AGYAVE of lateral accelerations GY of a vehicle and on average values of vehicle speed changes is calculated, and a vehicle speed on a shift map is searched based on the sport running estimated value LEVELSP and an estimated value DA of a vehicle gradient, whereby a downshift vehicle speed VA at which a downshift is implemented is calculated. Then, the downshift is implemented in a case where actuation of a brake is detected, deceleration of the vehicle is a predetermined value or more, and a current vehicle speed is a downshift vehicle speed VA or more. In such a way, running on a meandering road, for which the downshift and a subsequent shift hold should be implemented, is sensed appropriately.

Abstract: This invention provides an information search system including a management table which stores a name of a memory area and memory area information indicating the memory area in association with each other. When received source information search destination information indicates that source information to be searched is stored in a memory, the information search system searches the management table for a name of a memory area which matches a received source information name of the source information to be searched. When the name of the memory area which matches the received source information name of the source information to be searched is retrieved, the system acquires information which matches the received search target condition information from memory area information associated with the retrieved name of the memory area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a switching circuit includes a high-side switch, a rectifier, and a driver. The high-side switch is connected between a high potential terminal and an output terminal. The rectifier is connected between the output terminal and a low potential terminal, forward direction of the rectifier is a direction from the low potential terminal to the output terminal. The driver is connected between the high potential terminal and the output terminal. The driver switches a high-side switch ON based on a high-side control signal. The driver switches the high-side switch OFF when a first short detector detects shorts of the output terminal with the low potential terminal after a first period longer than a backward recovery time of the rectifier until the high-side control signal changing.

Abstract: To provide a piezoelectric ceramic containing BiFeO3 having a {110} plane orientation in a pseudo-cubic form, which is suited for the domain engineering, the piezoelectric ceramic includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1), and has a {110} plane orientation in a pseudo-cubic form: xBiFeO3-(1?x)ABO3??General Formula (1) where A and B each represent one kind or more of metal ions; A represents a metal ion having a valence of 1, 2 or 3; and B represents a metal ion having a valence of 3, 4, or 5, provided that x is within a range of 0.3?x?1.

Abstract: The regulator has a differential circuit that generates a comparison signal corresponding to the difference between an input voltage and a voltage related to the output voltage, a first transistor that adjusts the output voltage in accordance with the comparison signal, a first current mirror circuit connected to a pair of differential output lines of the differential circuit, a second transistor that amplifies the high frequency signal superposed on the output voltage and sends the amplified signal to one of the differential output lines, a second current source that feeds current for amplifying the high frequency signal to the second transistor, a first capacitor, which accumulates charge therein as a result of the high frequency signal and controls the current flowing to one the pair of differential output lines via the second transistor in accordance with the charge quantity, and a second capacitor connected to the output voltage line.

Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a device main body, a semiconductor substrate. The device main body includes a semiconductor substrate mounting part and a first conductor provided around the semiconductor substrate mounting part. The semiconductor substrate includes a DC-to-DC converter control circuit having a detector to detect at least one of a current flowing through the first conductor and a voltage supplied to the first conductor. The semiconductor substrate is disposed on the semiconductor substrate mounting part so that the detector comes close to the first conductor.

Abstract: A terminal identification method is provided which enables two-way communications between terminals and a network while identifying terminal IDs and protecting privacy. Also, authentication method and system are provided which require no complicated calculating process, less steps and smaller amount for wireless communications, and less power consumption. A server and terminal share a hash function and an initial value determined for each terminal, calculate the same temporary ID by hashing the initial value the same number of times with the hash function, and identify the terminal using the calculated temporary ID. The server and the terminal also hold a common hash function and authentication information, acquire an authenticating communication parameter from communication parameters temporarily common during communication, and generate an authentication key using the authentication information, the authenticating communication parameter, and the hash function.

Abstract: An operation controller has a reference voltage generator, a starter circuit, and a switch element. The reference voltage generator is connected to an enable terminal to which an enable signal is supplied. After the enable signal is supplied and a start signal is generated, the reference voltage generator generates a reference voltage up to a stable value. After the reference voltage rises to the stable value, it generates a stop signal. When the enable signal is supplied, the starter circuit generates the start signal, and supplies it to the reference voltage generator. When the enable signal is no longer supplied or the stop signal is generated, the start signal is terminated. The switch element has one end connected to the enable terminal and the other end supplied with a prescribed voltage; it turns on when the start signal is generated, and turns off when the start signal is terminated.

Abstract: In a friction stir welding apparatus, workpiece fixing surface plates (3a, 3b) are installed on a framework (1). In addition, a welding apparatus main body (8) including a bobbin tool (5) having a probe (5a) protruding upward from a gap (4), a spindle (6) configured to attach the bobbin tool (5) to an upper end section thereof, and a spindle driving apparatus (7) configured to pivot the spindle (6) is movably installed at the framework (1) in a longitudinal direction of the gap (4) via linear guide mechanisms (9) installed at both sides of the welding apparatus main body (8). Further, a moving apparatus (10) is installed to move the welding apparatus main body (8) in the longitudinal direction of the gap (4). According to the friction stir welding apparatus, since the welding apparatus main body (8) is supported by the framework (1) via both of the linear guide mechanisms (9), a large welding reaction force can be sufficiently received.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material having good piezoelectric properties and a Curie temperature (Tc) of 150° C. or higher, and a piezoelectric device using the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material includes a sintered body made of a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1): xBi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3-(1-x)BaTiO3 (1), where x satisfies 0.17?x?0.8, in which an average grain size of grains contained in the sintered body is 0.5 ?m or larger to 10 ?m or smaller, and the sintered body is polycrystalline. In addition, the piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric material and a pair of electrodes disposed in contact with the piezoelectric material, in which the piezoelectric material is the above-mentioned piezoelectric material.

Abstract: Provided is a piezoelectric material which includes a compound free of lead and alkali metal and has a good piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric material where tungsten bronze structure oxides being free of lead and alkali metal and represented by AxB10O30 and A?x?B?10O30 are combined to form a morphotropic phase boundary has good piezoelectric property. The AxB10O30 is b(Ba5?5?Bi10?/3Nb10O30)+(1?b)(Ba4Ag2Nb10O30) (0?b?1 and 0<??0.4), and the A?x?B?10O30 is c(Sr5Nb10O30)+d(Ca5Nb10O30)+e(Ba5Nb10O30) (0?c?0.8, 0?d?0.4, 0.1?e?0.9, and c+d+e=1).

Abstract: A 3D image special effects apparatus for creating special effects on a 3D image including a first image and a second image having disparity.

Abstract: To provide a novel vitamin D3 derivative useful as a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis. Provided is a vitamin D3 derivative represented by the following formula (1) or a medicinally acceptable solvate thereof: wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkylcarbonyloxyalkyl group with each alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an arylcarbonyloxyalkyl group with the aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms and the alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or, together with the other R2 and the carbon atom to which they are bound to, may form a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or, together with the other R3 and the carbon atom to which they are bound to, may form a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; X represents an oxygen atom or a methylene group; and n represents an integer of 1 or 2.

Abstract: A metadata recording device that inserts an invalid byte for anti-emulation without scanning the contents of metadata and allows a data length after the anti-emulation is performed to be a fixed length is a metadata recording device that records main data and metadata, which are binary data, and includes: a generation unit configured to generate pieces of invalid data, each of which is data of a value not included in a specific byte sequence that is a byte sequence having a specific meaning; an insertion unit configured to insert each piece of the invalid data into the metadata at intervals shorter than a length of the specific byte sequence; and a recording unit configured to record the metadata into which the pieces of the invalid data are inserted.

Abstract: In a multiple redundant control system each of the control systems detects whether failures occur in the system itself and the other systems, and outputs a control signal corresponding to an amount of control of a controlled object by the control system on the basis of the result of failure detection. In the multiple redundant control system at least one controlled object is driven or controlled by a controller having a plurality of control systems that are connected to each other and each output information regarding the system itself and received input of information regarding other systems. Based on control signals, a main control signal for driving or controlling the controlled object is generated by a main control signal generator.

Abstract: In general, according to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a device main body, a semiconductor substrate. The device main body includes a semiconductor substrate mounting part and a first conductor provided around the semiconductor substrate mounting part. The semiconductor substrate includes a DC-to-DC converter control circuit having a detector to detect at least one of a current flowing through the first conductor and a voltage supplied to the first conductor. The semiconductor substrate is disposed on the semiconductor substrate mounting part so that the detector comes close to the first conductor.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that can reliably correct for skew of a sheet being conveyed. The amount of skew of the sheet is detected, and the amount of toner used for an image formed on a first surface of the sheet is determined. When the sheet with the image formed on the first surface thereof is conveyed so as to form an image on a second surface of the sheet, a skew correction roller unit is controlled so as to correct for the skew of the sheet based on the detected amount of skew and the determined amount of toner used.

Abstract: Provided is a thin slide unit which allows, in a case where two ball plates each formed with a track-like ball groove are combined to thereby construct an endless circulation path for balls, by merely directly connecting the two ball plates without using a guide plate, balls to smoothly circulate, and a slider to smoothly reciprocate with respect to a guide rail. An endless circulation path for the balls of the slider is formed such that the two ball plates each formed with the track-like ball groove are caused to face each other, and that the ball plates are directly connected. Peripheral sides of the two ball plates oppose to each other, to thereby form a load opening portion for causing the balls in the endless circulation path to contact a rolling groove of the guide rail, and form a scooping-up portion for raising the balls from the rolling groove to guide the balls into the endless circulation path.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a plurality of DC-DC converting units, a plurality of inductor elements, a plurality of duty detection circuits, and a duty adjustment circuit configured to compare output signals from two detection circuits as each group, and to adjust the duty ratio of the DC-DC converting unit connected to one of the two duty detection circuits based on a result of comparing the output signals so that the duty ratio of the square wave voltage of each group becomes equal.

Abstract: Provided are a cell balance device for protecting a switch circuit from an overcurrent flow. The cell balance device includes: a plurality of electric accumulator connection terminals each connected to one of a node and two terminals of electric accumulators connected in series; a voltage hold device connection terminal connected to a voltage hold device; a plurality of first switch circuits provided between the plurality of electric accumulator connection terminals and the voltage hold device; a control circuit for controlling ON/OFF of the plurality of first switch circuits based on a synchronization signal; and an overcurrent detection circuit for detecting an overcurrent flowing through each of the plurality of first switch circuits.