Abstract: Magnetic layers of the multilayer coil component are constituted by: soft magnetic alloy grains 21 containing Fe, Si, and at least one of Cr and Al, as constituent elements; and an oxide layer 22 formed around the soft magnetic alloy grains to bond the soft magnetic alloy grains together, and also containing Si as well as at least one of Cr and Al as constituent elements, where the content of Si based on mass is higher than the total content of Cr and Al. The multilayer coil component can have a small thickness and offer excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: Positive and negative electrode plates of a battery include positive electrode units aligned and connected to one another and negative electrode units aligned and connected to one another, respectively. The electrode plates are folded, in a zigzag pattern, alternately in opposite directions at fold portions each being a boundary between corresponding adjacent two positive electrode units and at fold portions each being a boundary between corresponding adjacent two negative electrode units. The electrode plates and a separator are arranged such that an active material layer on the positive electrode units faces an active material layer on the negative electrode units across the separator, and the fold portions face the fold portions across the separator. The length of each positive electrode unit is greater than the length of each negative electrode units in a direction in which the electrode units are aligned, respectively.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a battery case; and an electrode assembly and a nonaqueous electrolyte, housed in the battery case. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. At least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes a material mixture layer including an active material and a binder, and a current collector holding the material mixture layer. The binder contains a first resin and a second resin. The first resin is a fluorocarbon resin. The second resin is a copolymer of a styrene monomer unit and a (meth)acrylic acid monomer unit.

Abstract: Magnetic layers of the multilayer coil component are constituted by: soft magnetic alloy grains 21 containing Fe, Si, and at least one of Cr and Al, as constituent elements; and an oxide layer 22 formed around the soft magnetic alloy grains to bond the soft magnetic alloy grains together, and also containing Si as well as at least one of Cr and Al as constituent elements, where the content of Si based on mass is higher than the total content of Cr and Al. The multilayer coil component can have a small thickness and offer excellent magnetic properties.

Abstract: A discharge lamp ballast and method of operation are provided for generating a DC component in an output voltage during a lamp starting operation having a predetermined duration. The ballast includes an inverter having four switches arranged in a full-bridge configuration, a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, and a control circuit. The method includes a step of sweeping an inverter operating frequency within a predetermined frequency range including the resonant frequency, wherein a high voltage is generated for igniting the lamp. The method further includes periodically and alternately repeating a first state of turning on a first set of diagonally positioned switching elements and turning off a second set of diagonally positioned switching elements, and a second state of turning on only one of the second set of switching elements and turning off the remaining three switching elements, respectively.

Abstract: A device includes a direct current power circuit configured to convert an alternating current voltage from an alternating current power source into a direct current voltage, an output unit configured to convert a direct current from the direct current power circuit into a square wave alternating current whose polarity is inverted at a prescribed frequency and to supply the square wave alternating current to a high-pressure discharge lamp, a controller, and an anomaly detector configured to detect an instantaneous voltage drop of the alternating current power source.

Abstract: In an event of switching a DC output voltage of a boost chopper circuit from a first DC output voltage to a second DC output voltage, a boost chopper control circuit operates a boost chopper circuit intermittently. Therefore, a stop period of the boost chopper circuit is shortened as compared with a case where the boost chopper control circuit does not operate the boost chopper circuit intermittently. As a result, it becomes possible to supply a control power also when the DC output voltage of the boost chopper circuit is switched at a starting time of a high pressure discharge lamp while avoiding size and cost increases of a power supply circuit that supplies the control power.

Abstract: A discharge lamp ballast is provided with a feedback control operation to provide optimal lamp current flow during an electrode heating operation. A startup circuit coupled together with a discharge lamp between output terminals of a DC-AC power converter having a plurality of switches. The startup circuit generates a high voltage to ignite the lamp. A lamp current sensor detects an amplitude of an output current to the lamp. A control circuit controls the switches in accordance with each of a plurality of control operations including a startup operation to ignite the lamp using the high voltage generated by the startup circuit, an electrode heating operation wherein an operating frequency of the switches is controlled to set the amplitude of the detected output current to a predetermined target current amplitude, and a normal operation wherein the operating frequency is reduced to maintain stable lighting of the lamp.

Abstract: A high-pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes: a power converter circuit which includes a plurality of switching elements and an inductance element, converts an input from a DC power supply, and supplies a rectangular wave AC output to a high-pressure discharge lamp; and a control circuit which controls the switching elements of the power converter circuit. The control circuit performs first lighting control in which the switching elements of the power converter circuit are controlled in order to supply a current to a peak value for each switching cycle, and performs second lighting control in which desired power is supplied during steadily lighting state of the high-pressure discharge lamp; and the first lighting control and the second lighting control are switched over in response to a lighting state of the high-pressure discharge lamp.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fused ring compound which can show sufficient charge transport properties and also has excellent solubility in a solvent.

Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided for powering a discharge lamp and suppressing lamp flicker during startup transition. A power converter receives DC input power and converts it into an AC power output. A resonant circuit is coupled with the lamp and also between output terminals of the power converter. A controller controls the power converter with respect to particular modes of operation. The controller in a starting operation sets the output frequency of the power converter to a predetermined start frequency upon lamp startup to make the lamp begin discharging. The controller shifts from the starting operation to steady-state operation by setting the output frequency of the power converter at a predetermined steady-state frequency lower than the start frequency.

Abstract: An electronic ballast is provided for powering a high-pressure discharge lamp. A power supply circuit receives an AC input and provides a DC output in response to the AC input. An inverter circuit having a plurality of switching elements converts the DC output into an AC signal for the lamp. An LC resonant circuit is coupled between the inverter circuit and the lamp. A control circuit controls the switching operation of the switching elements, with the switching control associated with various operating modes. In an electrical breakdown mode the switching elements are controlled at a first switching frequency effective to provide a first resonant voltage and produce electrical breakdown of the lamp from an unlit state. In a high frequency preheat mode the switching elements after startup of the lamp are controlled at a second switching frequency lower than the first switching frequency to provide a current for preheating lamp electrodes.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device in this invention comprises a converter, an inverter, an igniter, a controller, and a pulse voltage detection circuit. The converter outputs the direct current voltage. The inverter converts the direct current voltage into the lighting voltage which is alternating current voltage, and applies the lighting voltage to the high pressure discharge lamp through an output terminal. The igniter is configured to output the pulse voltage superimposed on the lighting voltage, whereby the starting voltage is applied to the high pressure discharge lamp. The controller is configured to control the igniter to allow the igniter to superimpose the pulse voltage on the lighting voltage. The pulse voltage detection circuit detects the starting voltage to output the detection signal. The starting voltage regulation circuit regulates the starting voltage to the desired voltage value of the voltage on the basis of the detection signal.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device comprising an inverter, an igniter, a controller, a pulse voltage detection circuit, and the starting pulse voltage regulation circuit. The inverter applies a lighting voltage to a high pressure discharge lamp. The controller applies the starting pulse voltage generated by the igniter to the high pressure discharge lamp. The pulse voltage detection circuit is configured to detect a voltage indicative of the starting pulse voltage to output a detection signal. The starting pulse voltage regulation circuit is configured to regulate the starting pulse voltage to a desired value of the starting pulse voltage on the basis of the detection signal. The pulse voltage detection circuit is configured to detect either one of the voltage developed in the specified circuit component of the igniter and the starting pulse voltage as the voltage indicative of the voltage indicative of the starting pulse voltage.

Abstract: A discharge lamp lighting device includes: a direct current power supply circuit that outputs direct current power; an inverter circuit that converts the direct current power, which is outputted by the direct current power supply circuit, into alternating current power, and supplies the alternating current power to a discharge lamp; a control circuit that controls a frequency of an output of the inverter circuit (operation frequency); and a starting detection circuit that detects beginning (starting) of a discharge in the discharge lamp. The control circuit operates in a starting improvement mode, in which the operation frequency is lowered than an operation frequency in a lighting mode, during a predetermined time from when the starting of the discharge lamp is detected by the starting detection circuit 4 during a no-load mode. Thereafter, the control circuit shifts to the lighting mode in which lighting of the discharge lamp is maintained.

Abstract: A high pressure discharge lamp lighting device includes a DC power source circuit; a power supply circuit for converting an output from the DC power source circuit into a square wave AC output to be supplied to a high pressure discharge lamp; a starting circuit for applying a high voltage output for lamp startup to the high pressure discharge lamp; a control circuit; and a half-wave discharge detection circuit for detecting a half-wave discharge. The detection circuit detects the half-wave discharge at an initial stage of the lamp startup and the control circuit controls the magnitude of a voltage of a square wave half period of one polarity having a load voltage of a larger magnitude and that of a square wave half period of the other polarity having a load voltage of a smaller magnitude to approximate to each other.

Abstract: A high-voltage discharge lamp lighting device provides a starting pulse voltage sufficient to turn on a high-voltage discharge lamp having terminal wire connections of variable length. A power conversion circuit is coupled to a commercial AC power source input and rectifies the AC input into a predetermined DC voltage output. A charging capacitor is coupled to the power conversion circuit. A full bridge circuit is coupled to the power conversion circuit and the charging capacitor and provides a rectangular wave AC output signal to a transformer primary winding circuit of at least a capacitor, a single switching element and a primary winding of a transformer. A low pulse voltage is induced in the primary winding and a transformer secondary winding is connected on one end to the high-voltage discharge lamp, wherein the low pulse voltage is stepped up to a high pulse voltage and applied to the high-voltage discharge lamp.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fused ring compound which can show sufficient charge transport properties and also has excellent solubility in a solvent.

Abstract: A printed wiring board connection assembly includes a first printed wiring board and a plurality of connecting pieces having a first connecting pattern made of an electrically conductive material formed on first and second opposing surfaces. A second printed wiring board has a plurality of connecting holes shaped to receive respective connecting pieces and having second connecting patterns arranged to correspond with the first connecting patterns of the respective connecting pieces. Each of the connecting pieces has one or more through-holes extending between the opposing surfaces of the respective connecting pieces and positioned such that upon receiving of the connecting pieces by the respective connecting holes a portion of at least one through-hole is exposed proximate the first surface of the second printed wiring board and a portion of at least one through-hole is exposed proximate the second surface of the second printed wiring board.

Abstract: A device includes a direct current power circuit configured to convert an alternating current voltage from an alternating current power source into a direct current voltage, an output unit configured to convert a direct current from the direct current power circuit into a square wave alternating current whose polarity is inverted at a prescribed frequency and to supply the square wave alternating current to a high-pressure discharge lamp, a controller, and an anomaly detector configured to detect an instantaneous voltage drop of the alternating current power source.