Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous pigment-material solution which has excellent thermal stability and less fading particularly even under an acidic condition, a method for producing the same, and a blue-colored beverage. Provided are an aqueous pigment-material solution including a pigment material containing 20 mmol to 200 mmol of polycarboxylic acid having one or more hydroxy groups, in terms of carboxylic acid equivalent, per 1 g of phycocyanin, in which when both the phycocyanin and the polycarboxylic acid are added such that a color value represented by absorbance at 620 nm is 2.5 to 5, an optical density per 1 cm of an optical path length at 800 nm is 0.05 or lower at a hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of 3 or lower, a method for producing the aqueous pigment-material solution, and a blue-colored beverage.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aqueous pigment-material solution which has excellent thermal stability and less fading particularly even under an acidic condition, a method for producing the same, and a blue-colored beverage. Provided are an aqueous pigment-material solution including a pigment material containing 20 mmol to 200 mmol of polycarboxylic acid having one or more hydroxy groups, in terms of carboxylic acid equivalent, per 1 g of phycocyanin, in which when both the phycocyanin and the polycarboxylic acid are added such that a color value represented by absorbance at 620 nm is 2.5 to 5, an optical density per 1 cm of an optical path length at 800 nm is 0.05 or lower at a hydrogen ion concentration (pH) of 3 or lower, a method for producing the aqueous pigment-material solution, and a blue-colored beverage.

Abstract: A three-phase inverter includes three series circuits that are connected in parallel to a capacitor connected in parallel to a DC voltage source. Each of the three series circuits includes two semiconductor switching elements connected in series. A connection point between the two semiconductor switching elements is used as an AC output terminal for each phase. The three-phase inverter generates PWM pulses of three phases including a PWM pulse of one phase, whose pulse width of a positive side pulse in one switching cycle is the largest, and including PWM pulses of the other two phases such that a positional relationship between positive side pulses of the other two phases is a positional relationship in which an overlapping range on a time axis is smaller as compared with a state in which a positive side pulse of one phase encompasses a positive side pulse of the other pulse.

Abstract: There is provided a holding apparatus which is capable of rotatably holding, while cooling to a cryogenic temperature, a to-be-processed object in a vacuum chamber. A holding apparatus for rotatably holding, while cooling, a to-be-processed object in a vacuum chamber Vc, has a stage on which the to-be-processed object is placed, a rotary drive device for rotatably supporting the stage, and a cooling device for cooling the stage. Provided that a stage surface side on which the to-be-processed object is placed is defined as an upside, the rotary drive device has: a tubular rotary shaft body which is mounted on a wall surface of the vacuum chamber, in a penetrating manner, through a first vacuum seal; a connection member for connecting an upper end part of the rotary shaft body and a lower surface of the stage in a manner to define a space below the stage; and a driving motor for driving to rotate the rotary shaft body.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a first full-bridge circuit and a second full-bridge circuit isolated by a transformer. The first full-bridge circuit includes switching elements, a first floating capacitor, and a second floating capacitor. The first full-bridge circuit operates in at least one of a full-bridge operation mode and a half-bridge operation mode. In switching of the operation mode, switching phases of the first full-bridge circuit are shifted in two portions in one cycle of a drive frequency, and shift amounts of the phases are determined such that positive and negative output voltages of the first full bridge circuit are balanced before and after the operation mode is switched.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a first full-bridge circuit and a second full-bridge circuit isolated by a transformer. The first full-bridge circuit includes switching elements, a first floating capacitor, and a second floating capacitor. The first full-bridge circuit operates in at least one of a full-bridge operation mode and a half-bridge operation mode. In switching of the operation mode, switching phases of the first full-bridge circuit are shifted in two portions in one cycle of a drive frequency, and shift amounts of the phases are determined such that positive and negative output voltages of the first full bridge circuit are balanced before and after the operation mode is switched.

Abstract: A three-phase inverter includes three series circuits that are connected in parallel to a capacitor connected in parallel to a DC voltage source. Each of the three series circuits includes two semiconductor switching elements connected in series. A connection point between the two semiconductor switching elements is used as an AC output terminal for each phase. The three-phase inverter generates PWM pulses of three phases including a PWM pulse of one phase, whose pulse width of a positive side pulse in one switching cycle is the largest, and including PWM pulses of the other two phases such that a positional relationship between positive side pulses of the other two phases is a positional relationship in which an overlapping range on a time axis is smaller as compared with a state in which a positive side pulse of one phase encompasses a positive side pulse of the other pulse.

Abstract: A switching element with a small current capacity is provided to be able to be used in a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter includes a switching circuit in which a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, and a fourth switching element are connected in series, a flying capacitor that is connected between a connection portion between the first switching element and the second switching element and a connection portion between the third switching element and the fourth switching element, a reactor that is connected between a connection portion between the second switching element and the third switching element and a positive electrode of an input unit, and a control circuit that turns on/off the switching element, in which the control circuit turns on/off the switching elements so that a peak value in a reactor current becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A switching element with a small current capacity is provided to be able to be used in a DC-DC converter. The DC-DC converter includes a switching circuit in which a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, and a fourth switching element are connected in series, a flying capacitor that is connected between a connection portion between the first switching element and the second switching element and a connection portion between the third switching element and the fourth switching element, a reactor that is connected between a connection portion between the second switching element and the third switching element and a positive electrode of an input unit, and a control circuit that turns on/off the switching element, in which the control circuit turns on/off the switching elements so that a peak value in a reactor current becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

Abstract: There is provided a holding apparatus which is capable of rotatably holding, while cooling to a cryogenic temperature, a to-be-processed object in a vacuum chamber. A holding apparatus for rotatably holding, while cooling, a to-be-processed object in a vacuum chamber Vc, has a stage on which the to-be-processed object is placed, a rotary drive device for rotatably supporting the stage, and a cooling device for cooling the stage. Provided that a stage surface side on which the to-be-processed object is placed is defined as an upside, the rotary drive device has: a tubular rotary shaft body which is mounted on a wall surface of the vacuum chamber, in a penetrating manner, through a first vacuum seal; a connection member for connecting an upper end part of the rotary shaft body and a lower surface of the stage in a manner to define a space below the stage; and a driving motor for driving to rotate the rotary shaft body.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a full-bridge circuit connected to a primary winding of a transformer and a full-bridge circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The full-bridge circuit includes a first series circuit including a first set of switching elements, a second series circuit including a second set of switching elements, a first charge-discharge capacitor connected to a node between a first pair of the first switching elements and a node between a second pair of first switching elements, and a second charge-discharge capacitor connected to a node between the a first pair of the second switching elements and a node between a second pair of the second switching elements. The full-bridge circuit can operate in one of a full-bridge operation mode and a half-bridge operation mode. The disclosed DC-DC converter can constantly operate with high efficiency even when the variation range of a load is wide.

Abstract: In a method of forming a carbon film of this invention, a target made of carbon is used, and in a state in which leakage magnetic field Mf is being functioned on a front surface side of the target, electric power is applied to the target to sputter, thereby forming a carbon film on a surface of a to-be-processed object. At this time, a region for the leakage magnetic field to function on the target surface is made local, and the region for the leakage magnetic field to function is periodically changed by relatively moving the region relative to the target from an origin on the target surface back to the origin. Also, a product of an average magnetic field strength of the leakage magnetic field at a predetermined position on the target surface and applied electric power is kept below 125 G·kW.

Abstract: There is disclosed a power conversion apparatus 3 for converting polyphase ac power directly to ac power. A conversion circuit includes first switching devices 311, 313, 315 and second switching devices 312, 314, 316 connected, respectively, with the phases R, S, T of the polyphase ac power, and configured to enable electrical switching operation in both directions. There are provided input lines R, S, T connected with input terminals of the switching devices and output lines P, N connected with output terminals of the switching devices. The output terminals of the first switching devices and the output terminals of the second switching devices are, respectively, arranged in a row. The first switching devices and second switching devices are arranged side by side with respect to a direction of the rows. The output lines are disposed below the input lines in an up and down direction.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter includes a full-bridge circuit connected to a primary winding of a transformer and a full-bridge circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. The full-bridge circuit includes a first series circuit including a first set of switching elements, a second series circuit including a second set of switching elements, a first charge-discharge capacitor connected to a node between a first pair of the first switching elements and a node between a second pair of first switching elements, and a second charge-discharge capacitor connected to a node between the a first pair of the second switching elements and a node between a second pair of the second switching elements. The full-bridge circuit can operate in one of a full-bridge operation mode and a half-bridge operation mode. The disclosed DC-DC converter can constantly operate with high efficiency even when the variation range of a load is wide.

Abstract: A power conversion apparatus is for converting polyphase ac power directly to ac power. A conversion circuit includes a plurality of first switching devices 311, 313, 315 and a plurality of second switching devices 312, 314, 316 connected, respectively, with the phases R, S, T of the polyphase ac power, and configured to enable electrical switching operation in both directions. There are provided a plurality of condensers 821˜826 connected with the conversion circuit. At least one of the condensers is provided, for each of the first switching devices and the second switching devices, between two of the phases of the polyphase ac power. It is possible to reduce a wiring distance between the condenser and the switching devices.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of first switching elements 311, 313 and 315 that are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally, and a plurality of second switching elements 312, 314 and 316 that are connected to each phase to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. The converter circuit comprises input lines R, S and T connected to each input terminal, and output lines P and N connected to each output terminal. Parts of wiring 347 and 348 of protection circuits 32 are located between output lines P and N. The wiring distance between each protection circuit 32 and the corresponding switching element can be shortened.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of switching elements 311, 313, 315, 312, 314 and 316 which are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. At least three condensers 821 to 826 are provided between phases of the converter circuit. The three condensers are respectively placed at apexes of a triangle on a plane that is in parallel with a part-mounting surface on which the switching elements are actually mounted. The wiring distance between the condensers and the switching elements can be shortened.

Abstract: Provided is a power converter 3 that directly converts polyphase AC power to AC power. A converter circuit has a plurality of first switching elements 311, 313 and 315 and a plurality of second switching elements 312, 314 and 316, both of which are connected to each phase R, S or T of the polyphase AC power to enable switching for turning on current-carrying bidirectionally. Condensers 821 to 826 are provided between phases. Input terminals of the first switching elements and those of the second switching elements are arranged to form respective lines. Some of the plurality of condensers 821 and 822 are arranged to be angled relative to the arrangement direction of the terminals. The wiring distance between the condensers and the switching elements can be shortened.

Abstract: There is disclosed a power conversion apparatus 3 for converting polyphase ac power directly to ac power. A conversion circuit includes a plurality of first switching devices 311, 313, 315 and a plurality of second switching devices 312, 314, 316 connected, respectively, with the phases R, S, T of the polyphase ac power, and configured to enable electrical switching operation in both directions. Output lines 331, 332 formed by a pair of busbars are connected with the conversion circuit. The first switching devices and the second switching devices are so arranged that output terminals are arranged in a row. The output lines 331, 332 are connected with the output terminals and drawn out rectilinearly in one direction.

Abstract: A power converter is provided for direct conversion of multi-phase AC power to AC power. The power converter includes a conversion circuit and a plurality of output lines. The conversion circuit has first and second switching elements that are configured to be connected to phases of the multi-phase AC power for bidirectional switching of energizing current. The output lines are connected to the conversion circuit. The first and second switching elements have output terminals. The output terminals of the first and second switching elements are arranged in first and second rows. The output terminals of the first and second switching elements face each other. The first output lines include two first output lines including first and second widely shaped bus bars connected to the output terminals of the first and second switching elements, respectively. The first output lines extending out in one direction, and line up in an upright direction.