Abstract: A backup power system according to the present disclosure includes a battery, a charging circuit, power storage, a first load, a second load, and a controller that controls the charging circuit. The controller causes an input current at the charging circuit to increase at a first rate of change in response to a start signal. When the controller detects an increase in a charging voltage at the power storage up to a first voltage at which driving of the first load is possible, the controller controls the charging circuit to cause the input current at the charging circuit to increase at a second rate of change lower than the first rate of change. The charging circuit is controlled by the controller to cause the input current to increase at the second rate of change, and the charging voltage at the power storage increases up to a second voltage at which driving of both the first load and the second load is possible.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor includes: preparing a stem which has a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a diaphragm; mounting a sensor chip on the diaphragm; preparing a conductive member, in which an internal connection region is integrated with an external connection region electrically connected to an external circuit by an outer frame; forming a first resin mold to couple the internal connection region to the external connection region; separating the outer frame from the internal connection region and the external connection region; arranging the internal connection region in the stem; and electrically connecting the sensor chip and the internal connection region through the first connection member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pressure sensor includes: preparing a stem which has a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a diaphragm; mounting a sensor chip on the diaphragm; preparing a conductive member, in which an internal connection region is integrated with an external connection region electrically connected to an external circuit by an outer frame; forming a first resin mold to couple the internal connection region to the external connection region; separating the outer frame from the internal connection region and the external connection region; arranging the internal connection region in the stem; and electrically connecting the sensor chip and the internal connection region through the first connection member.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a chip packaged with a resin mold. The apparatus includes a first mold, a second mold, and a buffer sheet. The first mold has a first cavity for forming the resin mold on a first side of the semiconductor device, and a convex part for forming an exposed area of the chip. The second mold has a second cavity for forming the resin mold on a second side of the semiconductor device. The buffer sheet is disposed between the convex part and the chip for covering the exposed area.

Abstract: A camera module is advantageously used in a vision system mounted on an automotive vehicle. The camera module includes a first optical system focused on distant objects such as a preceding vehicle and scenery in front of a vehicle and a second optical system focused on close objects such as raindrops on a windshield. The first optical system includes a first convex lens, a mirror or a half mirror and an imager, and the second optical system includes a second convex lens and a mirror. The distant image formed by the first optical system and the close image formed by the second optical system are combined into a combined image made on the imager in a single frame. The distant and close images are taken at the same time without adjusting the focuses in the camera module.

Abstract: An in-vehicle image module for imaging a light image of an outside of an automotive vehicle includes: an imager having multiple image elements, which are disposed to be a square lattice pattern; an optical system for focusing the light image on the imager. The imager includes an upper imager and a lower imager in a direction of gravitational force. The imager has a convex shape. The upper imager is disposed on an upper side of the convex shape of the imager in the direction of gravitational force. The lower imager is disposed on a lower side of the convex shape of the imager in the direction of gravitational force. The upper imager has a number of the image elements per unit area, which is larger than a number of the image elements per unit area in the lower imager.

Abstract: A capacitive humidity sensor includes a printed circuit board having an insulating substrate on which a circuit section is formed, a pair of electrodes formed on a surface of the insulating substrate to be opposite from each other with a space, and a humidity sensitive layer formed on the insulating substrate to cover the electrodes and the surface of the insulating substrate between the pair of electrodes. The relative permittivity of the humidity sensitive layer changes in response to humidity, and the circuit section performs a signal processing of a capacitance change between the electrodes. Furthermore, the electrodes and the circuit section are electrically connected through a wiring section formed in the insulating substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a chip packaged with a resin mold. The apparatus includes a first mold, a second mold, and a buffer sheet. The first mold has a first cavity for forming the resin mold on a first side of the semiconductor device, and a convex part for forming an exposed area of the chip. The second mold has a second cavity for forming the resin mold on a second side of the semiconductor device. The buffer sheet is disposed between the convex part and the chip for covering the exposed area.

Abstract: A camera module is advantageously used in a vision system mounted on an automotive vehicle. The camera module includes a first optical system focused on distant objects such as a preceding vehicle and scenery in front of a vehicle and a second optical system focused on close objects such as raindrops on a windshield. The first optical system includes a first convex lens, a mirror or a half mirror and an imager, and the second optical system includes a second convex lens and a mirror. The distant image formed by the first optical system and the close image formed by the second optical system are combined into a combined image made on the imager in a single frame. The distant and close images are taken at the same time without adjusting the focuses in the camera module.

Abstract: An imaging module having an imager comprised of a group of imaging elements arrayed in a square lattice and an optical system for forming two kinds of light images, a light image of a careful looking region and a light image of a surrounding region, on the imager in a lens-barrel. The optical system of the imaging module includes a plurality of lenses arranged in a cylinder direction of the lens-barrel, and one of the lenses is formed as an aspherical lens such that a sectional radius of curvature of a center part of the lens is smaller than the sectional radius of curvature of a peripheral part of the lens.

Abstract: An in-vehicle image module for imaging a light image of an outside of an automotive vehicle includes: an imager having multiple image elements, which are disposed to be a square lattice pattern; an optical system for focusing the light image on the imager. The imager includes an upper imager and a lower imager in a direction of gravitational force. The imager has a convex shape. The upper imager is disposed on an upper side of the convex shape of the imager in the direction of gravitational force. The lower imager is disposed on a lower side of the convex shape of the imager in the direction of gravitational force. The upper imager has a number of the image elements per unit area, which is larger than a number of the image elements per unit area in the lower imager.

Abstract: A capacitive humidity sensor includes a printed circuit board having an insulating substrate on which a circuit section is formed, a pair of electrodes formed on a surface of the insulating substrate to be opposite from each other with a space, and a humidity sensitive layer formed on the insulating substrate to cover the electrodes and the surface of the insulating substrate between the pair of electrodes. The relative permittivity of the humidity sensitive layer changes in response to humidity, and the circuit section performs a signal processing of a capacitance change between the electrodes. Furthermore, the electrodes and the circuit section are electrically connected through a wiring section formed in the insulating substrate.

Abstract: The wiper control apparatus comprises a precipitation detector, a surrounding state detector and a wiper controller. The precipitation detector detects a precipitation condition at a position where the vehicle is. The surrounding state detector detects an exit of the vehicle out of a roofed space. The wiper controller controls the wiper to be in an automatic operation mode according to the precipitation condition detected by the precipitation detector, and controlling the precipitation detector to detect the precipitation condition following the exit detected by the surrounding state detector in a response time shorter than the normal response time for the precipitation detector to detect the precipitation not following the exit.

Abstract: The wiper control apparatus comprises a precipitation detector, a surrounding state detector and a wiper controller. The precipitation detector detects a precipitation condition at a position where the vehicle is. The surrounding state detector detects an exit of the vehicle out of a roofed space. The wiper controller controls the wiper to be in an automatic operation mode according to the precipitation condition detected by the precipitation detector, and controlling the precipitation detector to detect the precipitation condition following the exit detected by the surrounding state detector in a response time shorter than the normal response time for the precipitation detector to detect the precipitation not following the exit.