Abstract: A sealing member is supported by a holding surface of a vane rotor and slides on a sealing surface formed by an inner surface of a housing rotor, so as to seal an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber from each other. The sealing member has a pressure-receiving surface and a diffuser surface. The pressure-receiving surface receives pressure of working fluid from a working chamber in a direction to the sealing surface. The diffuser surface forms a sealing gap between the diffuser surface and the sealing surface, so that the sealing surface becomes larger as the sealing surface is more separated from the working chamber in a circumferential direction. The sealing member has a deformable portion forming the pressure-receiving surface and the diffuser surface. The deformable portion is elastically deformed, so that the diffuser surface is more strongly pushed to the sealing surface, when the pressure of the working fluid is increased.

Abstract: An inertial force sensor includes the following elements: a sensor element for converting an inertial force into an electrical signal; a sensor signal processor connected to the sensor element, for outputting an inertial force value; and a power controller for controlling electric power supply to the sensor signal processor, based on the inertial force value. When the inertial force value is maintained for a predetermined time period within a predetermined range in which a reference value is the middle value of the range, the power controller reduces the electric power supply to the sensor signal processor and updates the reference value to the inertial force value obtained after a lapse of the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An inertial force sensor has a first sensor element, a second sensor element, a first signal processor, a second signal processor, and a power controller. The first sensor element converts a first inertial force to an electric signal, and the second sensor element converts a second inertial force to an electric signal. The first signal processor is connected to the first sensor element, and outputs a first inertial force value. The second signal processor is connected to the second sensor element, and outputs a second inertial force value. The power controller is connected to the first signal processor and the second signal processor, and changes power supplied to the second signal processor based on the first inertial force value.

Abstract: A detecting unit outputs an object signal corresponding to an inertial force. A corrected signal is generated by correcting the object signal. A first environment value is obtained at a first time point. A second environment value is obtained at a second time point after the first time point. An environment difference value which is a difference between the first and second environment values is calculated. An environment change detection signal is output when an absolute value of the environment difference value is larger than a predetermined determination threshold. A first averaged signal is output by averaging a corrected signal in a predetermined period continuing to the first time point. A second averaging signal is output by averaging the corrected signal in a predetermined period continuing to the second time point. An offset difference value which is a difference between the first and second averaged signals is calculated.

Abstract: A resin member may include a first side wall, which is placed between a first housing and a laminated body, and a second side wall, which is placed between a second housing and the laminated body. A vane rotor may include a pressing oil passage that is configured to guide hydraulic oil to a first seal member and a second seal member to exert a pressing force, which radially outwardly and axially urge the first seal member and the second seal member.

Abstract: A sealing member is supported by a holding surface of a vane rotor and slides on a sealing surface formed by an inner surface of a housing rotor, so as to seal an advancing chamber and a retarding chamber from each other. The sealing member has a pressure-receiving surface and a diffuser surface. The pressure-receiving surface receives pressure of working fluid from a working chamber in a direction to the sealing surface. The diffuser surface forms a sealing gap between the diffuser surface and the sealing surface, so that the sealing surface becomes larger as the sealing surface is more separated from the working chamber in a circumferential direction. The sealing member has a deformable portion forming the pressure-receiving surface and the diffuser surface. The deformable portion is elastically deformed, so that the diffuser surface is more strongly pushed to the sealing surface, when the pressure of the working fluid is increased.

Abstract: A resin member may include a first side wall, which is placed between a first housing and a laminated body, and a second side wall, which is placed between a second housing and the laminated body. A vane rotor may include a pressing oil passage that is configured to guide hydraulic oil to a first seal member and a second seal member to exert a pressing force, which radially outwardly and axially urge the first seal member and the second seal member.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a mask blank enabling fabrication of a photomask having a structure where electrostatic breakdown is effectively prevented. To accomplish the object, the invention discloses a mask blank comprising a mask substrate, an electrostatic breakdown prevention film fully covering one side of the mask substrate, and a shading film formed on the electrostatic breakdown prevention film. The electrostatic breakdown prevention film is made of titanium, tantalum, titanium compound or tantalum compound. The transparent rate of the electrostatic breakdown prevention film is not less than 75%, for the wavelength of light in an exposure. The sheet resistance of the electrostatic discharge prevention film is not more than 100K?/?.

Abstract: A resin member may include a first side wall, which is placed between a first housing and a laminated body, and a second side wall, which is placed between a second housing and the laminated body. A vane rotor may include a pressing oil passage that is configured to guide hydraulic oil to a first seal member and a second seal member to exert a pressing force, which radially outwardly and axially urge the first seal member and the second seal member.

Abstract: A detecting unit outputs an object signal corresponding to an inertial force. A first environment value is obtained at a first time point. A second environment value is obtained at a second time point. An environment difference value which is a difference between the first and second environment values is calculated. An environment change detection signal is output when an absolute value of the environment difference value is larger than a predetermined determination threshold. A first averaged signal is output by averaging a corrected signal in a predetermined period continuing to the first time point. A second averaging signal is output by averaging the corrected signal in a predetermined period continuing to the second time point. An offset difference value is stored when the environment change detection signal is output. The corrected signal is generated by adding the stored offset difference value to the object signal.

Abstract: An inertial force sensor of the present invention includes a detection element, a detection circuit for detecting the amount of inertia corresponding to the inertial force applied to the detection element; a first low-pass filter connected to the output side of the detection circuit; and a correction circuit for correcting the output of the first low-pass filter. The correction circuit includes a correction amount generation unit connected to the output side of the first low-pass filter; a correction amount storage unit connected to the output side of the correction amount generation unit; and a correction unit to connected to the output side of the first low-pass filter and to the output side of the correction amount storage unit. The correction unit corrects an output value of the first low-pass filter based on a correction amount stored in the correction amount storage unit.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a driver circuit for outputting a biased alternating-current (AC) voltage having a variable bias voltage, a detector element having a capacitance provided between a fixed electrode and a movable electrode changing depending on acceleration applied to the detector element, a current-voltage (C/V) converter for converting a current output from the movable electrode of the detector element into a voltage and outputting the voltage, a first operational amplifier outputting a voltage depending on the input voltage, a synchronous demodulator for synchronously detecting the voltage output from the first operational amplifier, and a defect detector for outputting a defect detection signal when the defect detector determines that the voltage output from the first operational amplifier is out of a predetermined range while the biased AC voltage output from the driver circuit is a predetermined voltage. This acceleration sensor can have a small size.

Abstract: An acceleration sensor includes a driver circuit for outputting a biased alternating-current (AC) voltage having a variable bias voltage, a detector element having a capacitance provided between a fixed electrode and a movable electrode changing depending on acceleration applied to the detector element, a current-voltage (C/V) converter for converting a current output from the movable electrode of the detector element into a voltage and outputting the voltage, a first operational amplifier outputting a voltage depending on the input voltage, a synchronous demodulator for synchronously detecting the voltage output from the first operational amplifier, and a defect detector for outputting a defect detection signal when the defect detector determines that the voltage output from the first operational amplifier is out of a predetermined range while the biased AC voltage output from the driver circuit is a predetermined voltage. This acceleration sensor can have a small size.

Abstract: A supply control apparatus controls advancing supply, which is supply of working fluid to advancing chambers, and retarding supply, which is supply of the working fluid to retarding chambers. The supply control apparatus alternately and repeatedly executes the advancing supply and the retarding supply in such a manner that a rotational torque, which drives a camshaft, changes at a phase of cycle that is opposite from a phase of cycle of a variable torque, which changes with time and is applied to the camshaft, at time of limiting a phase of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft within a target phase range.

Abstract: A supply control apparatus controls advancing supply, which is supply of working fluid to advancing chambers, and retarding supply, which is supply of the working fluid to retarding chambers. The supply control apparatus alternately and repeatedly executes the advancing supply and the retarding supply in such a manner that a rotational torque, which drives a camshaft, changes at a phase of cycle that is opposite from a phase of cycle of a variable torque, which changes with time and is applied to the camshaft, at time of limiting a phase of the camshaft relative to a crankshaft within a target phase range.

Abstract: A control apparatus controls supply of working fluid to advancing chambers and retarding chambers. The control apparatus alternately and repeatedly implements an advancing supply period, during which the working fluid is supplied to the advancing chambers, and a retarding supply period, during which the working fluid is supplied to the retarding chambers, at time of limiting a phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft within a target phase range.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve apparatus prevents fluid leakage and contains a stationary core having a shape of a bottomed, single-piece cup constructed by combining a housing portion, an attracting portion, a thin-walled portion that joins the housing portion and the attracting portion, and a flange portion. The housing portion has a closed bottom portion, and the attracting portion is adjacent an open end of the stationary core. The housing portion reciprocally supports a movable core. The thin-walled portion is a magnetic resistance portion for preventing leakage of magnetic flux. A magnetic cylindrical attracting member is press-inserted in the inner wall of the attracting portion located on the opened side of the stationary core. The attracting member is arranged face to face with the movable core in the reciprocating path of the movable core. Upon energizing a coil, a magnetic attractive force attracts the movable core to the attracting member.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve apparatus prevents fluid leakage and contains a stationary core having a shape of a bottomed, single-piece cup constructed by combining a housing portion, an attracting portion, a thin-walled portion that joins the housing portion and the attracting portion, and a flange portion. The housing portion has a closed bottom portion, and the attracting portion is adjacent an open end of the stationary core. The housing portion reciprocally supports a movable core. The thin-walled portion is a magnetic resistance portion for preventing leakage of magnetic flux. A magnetic cylindrical attracting member is press-inserted in the inner wall of the attracting portion located on the opened side of the stationary core. The attracting member is arranged face to face with the movable core in the reciprocating path of the movable core. Upon energizing a coil, a magnetic attractive force attracts the movable core to the attracting member.

Abstract: A spool is moved by controlling the amount of electric current supplied to a linear solenoid of a changeover valve, and selects any one of valve sections. The state of communication between fluid passages connected to the changeover valve is determined by the valve section and selected. With the selection of the valve section, the hydraulic fluid is discharged from the advance oil pressure chamber while being supplied to the advance oil pressure chamber, and also is discharged from the retard oil pressure chamber. The oil pressure in the advance oil pressure chamber remains low even when the oil is filled in the advance oil pressure chamber.

Abstract: A spool is moved by controlling the amount of electric current supplied to a linear solenoid of a changeover valve, and selects any one of valve sections. The state of communication between fluid passages connected to the changeover valve is determined by the valve section and selected. With the selection of the valve section, the hydraulic fluid is discharged from the advance oil pressure chamber while being supplied to the advance oil pressure chamber, and also is discharged from the retard oil pressure chamber. The oil pressure in the advance oil pressure chamber remains low even when the oil is filled in the advance oil pressure chamber.