Abstract: A voltage difference is developed between the negative input side 2c and the negative output side 2d of the voltage boost circuit 2, the negative input side 2c is connected to the negative side of the power source 5, and the negative output side 2d is connected to the negative side of the rechargeable batteries 1. Further, the load FET 3 is connected between the negative input side 2c and the negative output side 2d of the voltage boost circuit 2, and an n-channel FET is used as the load FET 3. The control circuit 4 maintains the load FET 3 in the OFF state to cut-off conduction when there is no power outage, and switches the load FET 3 ON to supply power to the load 12 from the rechargeable batteries 1 during a power outage.

Abstract: In an A/D converting apparatus, a converting unit has an input terminal and an input-output characteristic. The input-output characteristic has temperature dependence, and the converting unit carries out a process of converting an input voltage signal to digital data. A temperature determining unit has information representing a relationship between a variable of an output of the converting unit and a variable of a temperature around the converting unit according to the temperature dependence of the input-output characteristic of the converting unit. When the specified voltage is applied to the input terminal of the converting unit, the temperature determining unit determines a value of the temperature around the converting unit based on the information and the specified voltage. A reducing unit reduces temperature dependence of the process of converting an input voltage signal to digital data based on the determined value of the temperature around the converting unit.

Abstract: The ink of the present invention comprises at least a three-dimensional film-forming component and water, comprises an adhesive synthetic resin emulsion as said three-dimensional film-forming component, and comprises at least 30% by weight of said adhesive synthetic resin emulsion on the basis of the solid content with respect to the total amount of the ink, and minimum film-forming temperature (MFT) of said adhesive synthetic resin emulsion is not greater than 25° C. and further, said ink comprises 1 to 3% by weight of a film-forming assistant with respect to the total amount of the ink.

Abstract: A battery pack including a discharge current interruption FET which cuts off the discharge current, and a minimum voltage detecting portion which switches the discharge current interruption FET from ON to OFF state when the voltage of any battery becomes lower than a minimum voltage. The charge circuit includes a charge current switching portion which switches the charge current so as to charge the battery pack in a main charge mode when the output voltage is higher than a prescribed voltage, and in a preliminary charge mode with a small current when the output voltage is lower than the prescribed voltage. A charge current switching portion charges the battery pack in the preliminary charge mode in the state where the OFF signal of the discharge current interruption FET is provided, even in the state where the output voltage of the battery pack is higher than the prescribed voltage.

Abstract: An electric power generation control apparatus mounted to a motor vehicle predicts an operational point of an internal combustion engine in the future based on driving path information supplied from a navigation system mounted to the motor vehicle. The apparatus further predicts an increased amount of fuel consumption which is caused by electric power generation of an alternator based on the predicted operational point of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus sets a reference value of an electric power economy index which is an amount of fuel consumption per electric power generation. On driving the motor vehicle on a path, the apparatus sequentially predicts the operational point of the internal combustion engine, and controls the alternator so that the actual electric power economy index becomes equal to the reference value based on the operational point of the internal combustion engine predicted.

Abstract: A battery pack that detects the voltage of a plurality of batteries (1) connected in series with a plurality of voltage detection circuits (2). When a voltage detection circuit output is HIGH, batteries (1) discharge through an output resistor (6). In addition, discharge circuits (7), which are series connections of balance resistors (8) and switching devices (9), are connected in parallel with batteries (1) left “un-discharged” by the output resistors (6). When a voltage detection circuit output is HIGH, some batteries (1) are discharged by the output resistor (6) and the “un-discharged” batteries (1) are discharged by the discharge circuit (7). When a voltage detection circuit output is LOW, no batteries (1) are discharged by the output resistor (6) and the “un-discharged” batteries (1) are also left un-discharged by the discharge circuit (7) to balance the discharge currents of all the batteries (1).

Abstract: To measure surface information and physical information of a sample with high accuracy by promoting linearity in Z direction by nullifying cross talk in XY directions as less as possible, there is provided a surface information measuring apparatus including a probe having a stylus, a Z actuator fixed with the probe for being elongated and contracted in Z direction orthogonal to a sample surface B when applied with a voltage, an applicator for applying the voltage to the Z actuator, and a controller for controlling to operate the applicator, in which the Z actuator includes a piezoelectric member capable of being elongated and contracted in Z direction and a plurality of divided electrodes provided to be respectively electrically independent from each other in a state of being divided by at least 3 or more in a peripheral direction at an inner peripheral face or an outer peripheral face of the piezoelectric member for applying voltages to elongate and contract the piezoelectric member within ranges of contact

Abstract: A battery charging method that detects the voltage of each series-connected battery, discharges batteries with voltage exceeding a prescribed voltage, and charges a plurality of batteries while maintaining cell balance. This charging method detects the voltage of each battery being charged and if any battery voltage exceeds the prescribed voltage, only the battery that exceeds the prescribed voltage is discharged, after a specified charging time, until its voltage drops to the prescribed voltage. Batteries that do not exceed the prescribed voltage are not discharged, and thereby all batteries are charged while balancing their voltages.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber product suitable for fabricating an optical cable that requires a complicated length adjustment. The optical fiber product includes an effective use portion used as the optical cable, surplus portions connected to both ends of the effective use portion, and a distinguishing structure clearly indicating boundary portions between the effective use portion and the surplus portions. With the above structure, the surplus portions that become finally unnecessary are surely cut off in a fabrication step of the optical cable, thus enabling collect use of only effective use portion as the optical cable.

Abstract: A battery pack that determines battery temperature via a protection circuit which detects electrical resistance change in a temperature sensor thermally joined with the rechargeable batteries. The protection circuit is provided with a timing circuit that sets timing for battery temperature detection, or it is provided with a current detection section that detects current flowing in the batteries and detects battery temperature when battery current is greater than a set current. A protection circuit, provided with a timing circuit, measures battery temperature with a fixed period. A protection circuit with a current detection section, detects battery temperature when battery current is larger than the set current.

Abstract: A power supply device includes battery equipment and voltage detecting circuitry. The battery equipment includes positive-side and negative-side battery blocks that are connected to each other at a reference midpoint. The voltage detecting circuitry detects the respective voltage values of serially-connected battery modules of the battery equipment. The voltage detecting circuitry includes positive-side and negative side voltage management ICs with respect to the reference midpoint. The positive-side and negative side voltage management ICs manage the voltage conditions of the battery modules in the positive-side and negative-side battery blocks, respectively. Positive-side and negative-side voltage power lines of each of the positive-side and negative side voltage management ICs are connected to positive-side and negative-side output terminals of the battery equipment so that all the battery modules supply electric power to each of the voltage management ICs.

Abstract: There is provided an optical displacement detection mechanism in which, even if a measurement object changes, a detection sensitivity and a ratio of a noise are adjustable without depending on optical characteristics such as reflectivity, or a shape and mechanical characteristics of a measurement object, an influence of a thermal deformation of the measurement object by an irradiated light to the measurement object can be made small, and a measurement accuracy can be ensured under optimum conditions.

Abstract: The optical displacement-detecting mechanism has: a light source for irradiating a target for measurement with light; a light source-driving circuit for driving the light source; an optical detector made from a semiconductor for receiving light after the irradiation of the target for measurement by the light source and converting the light into an electric signal thereby to detect an intensity of light; and an amplifier including a current-voltage conversion circuit for performing current-to-voltage conversion on a detection signal of the optical detector with a predetermined amplification factor. In the optical displacement-detecting mechanism, a light source having a spectrum half width of 10 nm or larger is used, whereby the light source can be driven with an output power of 2 mW or larger without generating mode hop noise and optical feedback noise.

Abstract: A displacement detection mechanism for a scanning probe microscope capable of performing measurement quickly with high precision even if an objective lens or an illumination system is arranged above or below a sample or a cantilever, and a scanning probe microscope comprising it.

Abstract: A voltage difference is developed between the negative input side 2c and the negative output side 2d of the voltage boost circuit 2, the negative input side 2c is connected to the negative side of the power source 5, and the negative output side 2d is connected to the negative side of the rechargeable batteries 1. Further, the load FET 3 is connected between the negative input side 2c and the negative output side 2d of the voltage boost circuit 2, and an n-channel FET is used as the load FET 3. The control circuit 4 maintains the load FET 3 in the OFF state to cut-off conduction when there is no power outage, and switches the load FET 3 ON to supply power to the load 12 from the rechargeable batteries 1 during a power outage.

Abstract: In a water-based ink composition of the present invention, 2.5 to 50 wt % of white-colored resin particles and 2.5 to 50 wt % of film-forming resin emulsions in a solid content are contained with respect to the total amount of the ink, the ratio of said white-colored resin particles to film-forming resin emulsions is 1:0.2 to 1:3, and not less than 20 wt % of said white-colored resin particles and film-forming resin emulsions in a solid content are contained in total.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a control apparatus for an electric generator includes a power generation cost determiner determining a power generation cost of the generator, a threshold determiner determining a threshold of power generation cost as a function of a state of charge of an electric energy storage device, a comparator comparing the power generation cost of the generator with the threshold, and a controller. When the power generation cost of the generator is lower than the threshold, the controller controls the generator to generate an increased amount of electric power, so as to both charge the electric energy storage device and feed an electrical load. Otherwise, when the power generation cost of the generator is higher than the threshold, the controller controls the generator to generate a decreased amount of electric power, so as to allow the electric energy storage device to discharge to feed the electrical load.

Abstract: A tip unit (1) incorporated in a liquid applicator such as a ball-point pen, the tip unit being capable of an increased rate of liquid discharge with no leaking or clogging problem. To achieve it, the tip unit (1) is accommodated in a tip body (11) having a ball housing (15), a ball (10), a capillary hole (16), and a proximal bore, the ball housing (15) being a passage for allowing liquid to flow therethrough, the ball (10) being rotatively held in the ball housing (15). The ball housing (15) is provided with at least one ink channel (47) adapted to communicate the ball housing (15) with the capillary hole (16) or the proximal bore. The ball housing (15) has a ball resting seat (45) and a side wall (41) that are connected by a connecting surface (71) having a shape of a truncated conical surface with its apex toward the distal end of the tip unit (1).

Abstract: A method for producing a tip unit (1) for a liquid applicator in a stable and easy process, the tip unit (1) being capable of increasing the rate of liquid discharge is provided. The method includes at least five processes; that is, a first process of shaping the contour of a tip body (11) in the form of a truncated conical surface; a second process of forming a ball housing (15) having an open end at its distal end in the tip body (11); a third process of placing a ball (10) into the ball housing (15); a fourth process of scraping the peripheral side of the distal end portion of the tip body (11) to form a peripherally scraped portion (55) after the first process; and a fifth process of deforming the peripherally scraped distal end portion of the tip body (11) toward the ball (10).

Abstract: The ink of the present invention comprises at least a three-dimensional film-forming component and water, comprises an adhesive synthetic resin emulsion as said three-dimensional film-forming component, and comprises at least 30% by weight of said adhesive synthetic resin emulsion on the basis of the solid content with respect to the total amount of the ink, and minimum film-forming temperature (MFT) of said adhesive synthetic resin emulsion is not greater than 25° C. and further, said ink comprises 1 to 3% by weight of a film-forming assistant with respect to the total amount of the ink.