Abstract: The object is to provide a technology that can shorten a routing length of a gate wire connecting a control IC that controls driving first and second semiconductor elements that are connected in parallel with each other, to a gate pad of one of the first and second semiconductor elements disposed distant from the control IC. A first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element are disposed so that a long side of the first semiconductor element faces a side of the second semiconductor element, and a HVIC or a LVIC, the first semiconductor element, and the second semiconductor element are disposed in this order in a direction orthogonal to a first direction, the gate pad is disposed on the first semiconductor element on one side in the first direction, and the gate pad is disposed on the second semiconductor element on the other side in the first direction.

Abstract: Provided is a lead frame of a semiconductor device in which lead terminals with different terminal lengths can be formed without changing width of a frame portion. A lead frame includes: a first terminal portion in which a plurality of first terminals is arranged side by side; a second terminal portion in which a plurality of second terminals wider than the first terminals is arranged side by side; and a frame portion to which a tip end portion of each of the first terminals and the second terminals is connected, wherein first recess portions recessed along the first terminals are provided in the frame portion, and wherein the first terminal portion includes the first terminal the tip end portion of which is sandwiched between the adjacent first recess portions and the first terminal the tip end portion of which is not sandwiched between the adjacent first recess portions.

Abstract: A semiconductor module includes: a switching device including a gate pad; an output unit including an output pad connected with the gate pad of the switching device through a wire and outputting a drive signal from the output pad to the switching device; a temperature protection circuit detecting temperature and performing protection operation; and a heat conduction pattern connected with the output pad, extending from the output pad toward the temperature protection circuit, and conducting heat generated at the switching device to the temperature protection circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor module includes: a switching device including a gate pad; an output unit including an output pad connected with the gate pad of the switching device through a wire and outputting a drive signal from the output pad to the switching device; a temperature protection circuit detecting temperature and performing protection operation; and a heat conduction pattern connected with the output pad, extending from the output pad toward the temperature protection circuit, and conducting heat generated at the switching device to the temperature protection circuit.

Abstract: An optical encoder comprising a light-receiving part having photodiodes equal in number to the common multiplier of a number of slits facing the light-receiving part and a number of movement information signals. Output terminals of the photodiodes are connected so that the movement information signals are respectively obtained by adding output signals of the plurality of photodiodes out of the photodiodes equal in number to the common multiplier. The twelve photodiodes are balancedly arranged corresponding to three slits and a light-receiving area of each photodiode is made smaller by subdiving each photodiode. The optical encoder suppress difference, distortion and variance of the movement information signals or the like obtained from the light-receiving part with the result that accurate movement information is obtained.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus produces an output voltage by smoothing a pulsating voltage obtained by switching an input direct-current voltage with a switching device. The switching power supply apparatus has a current detection circuit that outputs a detection current that varies in proportion to the switch current flowing through the switching device, an overcurrent detection circuit that detects an overcurrent by comparing the detection current with a set current previously set so as to correspond to the overcurrent detection level and that, on detection of an overcurrent, feeds a reset signal to a flip-flop for controlling the switching of the switching device to turn the switching device off, and a second current compensation circuit that superimposes a compensation current on the detection current fed to the overcurrent detection circuit to produce a compensated current.

Abstract: A pulse width control circuit provided in a drive circuit instructs an OFF drive circuit to operate for a period shorter than an inactive period of a drive control signal. Thus, when the drive control signal is inactive, the OFF drive circuit begins operating, and draws a current from a base of a switching element, thereby turning OFF the switching element. Further, the OFF drive circuit stops operating before the drive control signal becomes active.

Abstract: A switching power supply apparatus produces an output voltage by smoothing a pulsating voltage obtained by switching an input direct-current voltage with a switching device. The switching power supply apparatus has a current detection circuit that outputs a detection current that varies in proportion to the switch current flowing through the switching device, an overcurrent detection circuit that detects an overcurrent by comparing the detection current with a set current previously set so as to correspond to the overcurrent detection level and that, on detection of an overcurrent, feeds a reset signal to a flip-flop for controlling the switching of the switching device to turn the switching device off, and a second current compensation circuit that superimposes a compensation current on the detection current fed to the overcurrent detection circuit to produce a compensated current.

Abstract: An optical encoder comprising a light-receiving part having photodiodes equal in number to the common multiplier of a number of slits facing the light-receiving part and a number of movement information signals. Output terminals of the photodiodes are connected so that the movement information signals are respectively obtained by adding output signals of the plurality of photodiodes out of the photodiodes equal in number to the common multiplier. The twelve photodiodes are balancedly arranged corresponding to three slits and a light-receiving area of each photodiode is made smaller by subdiving each photodiode. The optical encoder suppress difference, distortion and variance of the movement information signals or the like obtained from the light-receiving part with the result that accurate movement information is obtained.

Abstract: A pulse width control circuit provided in a drive circuit instructs an OFF drive circuit to operate for a period shorter than an inactive period of a drive control signal. Thus, when the drive control signal is inactive, the OFF drive circuit begins operating, and draws a current from a base of a switching element, thereby turning OFF the switching element. Further, the OFF drive circuit stops operating before the drive control signal becomes active. Thus, it is possible to reduce power consumption compared with a case where the OFF drive circuit continues to operate during the inactive period, thereby improving power source conversion efficiency. As a result, it is possible to realize a switching power source circuit whose power source conversion efficiency is high.