Abstract: A power transmission device includes an AC power generator for generating an AC voltage and applying it to first and second power transmission electrodes. A controller controls the AC voltage applied to the first and second power transmission electrodes. To this end, the controller monitors the voltage on the first electrode and determines how that voltage changes at the beginning and end of each of a plurality of predetermined time intervals, monitors the voltage on the second electrode and determines how that voltage changes at the beginning and end of each of the plurality of predetermined time intervals, and determines when to cut off the application of the AC voltage to the first and second power transmission electrodes as a function of the manner in which the voltage on those electrodes changes at the beginning and end of at least one of the predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A plasma processing method can suppress both surface roughness of a wiring and surface roughness of a metal mask. The method includes generating plasma of a first processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and/or a hydrofluorocarbon gas to etch a diffusion barrier film until a copper wiring is exposed and generating plasma of a second processing gas containing a carbon-containing gas to form an organic film on a surface of a target object in which the diffusion barrier film is etched.

Abstract: The lighting device includes a control circuit performing dimming control of dimming a light source device according to a desired dimming level. In the dimming control, the control circuit sets a desired current value of amplitude control to a value corresponding to the desired dimming level, and set a desired duty cycle of pulse width modulation control to a predetermined value associated with a dimming subrange containing the desired dimming level, of multiple different dimming subranges of a total dimming range of the light source device. The predetermined value is a duty cycle allowing luminance of the light source device to be equal to upper limit luminance of the associated dimming subrange under a condition where the current value of the current of the light source device is a maximum value.

Abstract: A plasma processing method can suppress both surface roughness of a wiring and surface roughness of a metal mask. The method includes generating plasma of a first processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas and/or a hydrofluorocarbon gas to etch a diffusion barrier film until a copper wiring is exposed and generating plasma of a second processing gas containing a carbon-containing gas to form an organic film on a surface of a target object in which the diffusion barrier film is etched.

Abstract: The lighting control device includes a controller, a diagnosis circuit, a latch circuit, and a logic circuit. The controller outputs a control signal. The diagnosis circuit outputs an irregular signal. The latch circuit decides a state of a forcibly lighting signal. The logic circuit controls a light source in accordance with an ignition signal, the control signal, and the forcibly lighting signal. The logic circuit turns on the light source in accordance with the ignition signal while receiving the forcibly lighting signal, and turns on the light source in accordance with the control signal while not receiving the forcibly lighting signal.

Abstract: The lighting device of one aspect according to the present disclosure calculates, based on a voltage value of an AC voltage applied to a discharge lamp and a current value of AC current flowing through the discharge lamp, a first power value defined as a value of power supplied to the discharge lamp in a first half period of the AC voltage and a second power value defined as a value of power supplied to the discharge lamp in a second half period of the AC voltage. The lighting device determines that a ground fault has occurred, when an imbalance state in which a difference between the first power value and the second power value is equal to or greater than a threshold value continues for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: The lighting device includes a control circuit performing dimming control of dimming a light source device according to a desired dimming level. In the dimming control, the control circuit sets a desired current value of amplitude control to a value corresponding to the desired dimming level, and set a desired duty cycle of pulse width modulation control to a predetermined value associated with a dimming subrange containing the desired dimming level, of multiple different dimming subranges of a total dimming range of the light source device. The predetermined value is a duty cycle allowing luminance of the light source device to be equal to upper limit luminance of the associated dimming subrange under a condition where the current value of the current of the light source device is a maximum value.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle running control apparatus that is mounted in a hybrid vehicle that has a high-voltage battery and a low-voltage battery, and is selectively controlled to drive in a first running mode in which an electric motor to which power is supplied from the high-voltage battery is used as a drive source, and a second running mode in which an engine is used as the drive source, includes a transport state determining portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in transport; and a battery running inhibiting portion that inhibits the hybrid vehicle from running in the first running mode when it is determined by the transport state determining portion that the hybrid vehicle is in transport.

Abstract: In a power transmitter device, a power transmitter side active electrode and a power transmitter side passive electrode are formed. In a power receiver device, a power receiver side active electrode and a power receiver side passive electrode are formed. The power transmitter side active electrode is rectangle that is shorter in a first direction and longer in a second direction. The power receiver side active electrode is rectangle that is longer in the first direction and shorter in the second direction. The power transmitter side active electrode and the power receiver side active electrode are formed so as that lengths of overlapping area in the first and second directions do not change in a placement receivable area on the power transmitter device, within which the power receiver device is allowed to be displaced.

Abstract: The lighting device of one aspect according to the present disclosure calculates, based on a voltage value of an AC voltage applied to a discharge lamp and a current value of AC current flowing through the discharge lamp, a first power value defined as a value of power supplied to the discharge lamp in a first half period of the AC voltage and a second power value defined as a value of power supplied to the discharge lamp in a second half period of the AC voltage. The lighting device determines that a ground fault has occurred, when an imbalance state in which a difference between the first power value and the second power value is equal to or greater than a threshold value continues for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A power supply device includes a DC power supply circuit configured to output DC power, and a ground-fault determining circuit configured to determine presence or absence of a ground fault at a post-stage of the DC power supply circuit. The ground-fault determining circuit includes a capacitor having an end that is connected with ground, and a diode including an anode and a cathode. The anode is connected with another end of the capacitor, and the cathode is connected with an output end on a high voltage side of the DC power supply circuit. The ground-fault determining circuit further includes a constant voltage source configured to charge the capacitor with a prescribed charging voltage, and a comparator as a determining portion configured to determine presence of the ground fault when a voltage across the capacitor falls below a prescribed determination reference voltage lower than the prescribed charging voltage.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a circuit board placed on a base; and a transformer provided in the circuit board. The transformer includes: a winding pattern formed on the circuit board; and a core having an outer leg portion. The circuit board has an outer leg insertion portion through which the outer leg portion of the core is inserted, and the circuit board and the base have therebetween a gap which is air space. The base and at least a lateral face of the outer leg portion are bonded together by a first resin that is insertable from the outer leg insertion portion.

Abstract: A casing of a power transmitting device is provided with a power transmitting device side passive electrode, a power transmitting device side active electrode, and a power transmitting module. A jacket mounted on a terminal is provided with a power receiving device side passive electrode, a power receiving device side active electrode, a power receiving module, and a DC-DC converter. A heat sink portion with fins is formed on a portion of the power transmitting device side passive electrode. When the terminal is mounted on the power transmitting device, the power receiving device side passive electrode is electrically connected to the power transmitting device side passive electrode, and the power receiving device side active electrode faces the power transmitting device side active electrode. In this state, the heat of the power receiving module and the DC-DC converter is dissipated from the power transmitting device side passive electrode.

Abstract: An electrically powered gardening tool of the type which includes a speed-reduction gear mounted in place to be driven by operation of an electric motor, a crank-cam in the form of overlapped eccentric disk plates fixed to a bottom surface of the speed-reduction gear by means of connecting pins for rotation therewith, and a pair of relatively reciprocating shear blades assembled with the eccentric disk plates. In the gardening tool, an elastic bushing is disposed in a mounting hole formed in the speed-reduction gear or each eccentric disk plate of the crank-cam for engagement with the connecting pins fixed to the eccentric disk plate or the speed-reduction gear, and a stopper is provided to restrict deformation of the elastic bushing caused by load applied to the crank-cam.

Abstract: A wireless power transmission system that includes a power transmission apparatus including a passive electrode and an active electrode and a power reception apparatus including passive electrodes and active electrode. When the power reception apparatus is longitudinally placed on the power transmission apparatus, the active electrodes are opposed to each other to cause electric power to be transmitted from the power transmission apparatus to the power reception apparatus. A facing area between the active electrodes in lateral placement of the power reception apparatus on the power transmission apparatus is made substantially equal to a facing area between the active electrodes in the longitudinal placement of the power reception apparatus on the power transmission apparatus.

Abstract: A power tool has a tool unit and a base device. The tool unit has a housing having a drive device disposed therein. The base device has a clamp surface that can clamp a contact surface of the housing for supporting the tool unit. The housing may include an internal housing portion and an external housing portion positioned on an outer side of the internal housing portion. The external housing portion may define the contact surface of the housing. The internal housing portion may be made of a first material. The external housing portion may be made of a second material that is different from the first material.

Abstract: A power transmission device includes an AC power generator for generating an AC voltage and applying it to first and second power transmission electrodes. A controller controls the AC voltage applied to the first and second power transmission electrodes. To this end, the controller monitors the voltage on the first electrode and determines how that voltage changes at the beginning and end of each of a plurality of predetermined time intervals, monitors the voltage on the second electrode and determines how that voltage changes at the beginning and end of each of the plurality of predetermined time intervals, and determines when to cut off the application of the AC voltage to the first and second power transmission electrodes as a function of the manner in which the voltage on those electrodes changes at the beginning and end of at least one of the predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A power transmission device applies a alternating-current voltage to an active electrode OPPOSING an active electrode of a power reception device with a gap therebetween, and to a passive electrode OPPOSING a passive electrode of the power reception device with a gap therebetween and transmits power via electric field coupling. The power transmission device includes a controller that monitors a voltage applied to the passive electrode. If a change in the voltage per unit time exceeds a threshold, the controller determines that a metal foreign object has become interposed between the active electrodes and a user has touched the metal foreign object, and stops the transmission of power to the power reception device. Thus, a power transmission device and a wireless power transmission system are provided that are capable of preventing with certainty a malfunction due to a foreign object when a foreign object has become interposed between electrodes.

Abstract: An inspecting apparatus is for a noncontact power transfer system that transfers electric power from a transmitting unit to a receiving device in a noncontact manner. The inspecting apparatus includes a coupling capacitance varying unit configured to vary at least one of a first coupling capacitance formed between a transmitting-side passive electrode and a receiving-side passive electrode and a second coupling capacitance formed between a transmitting-side active electrode and a receiving-side active electrode when the receiving device is placed on the transmitting unit, and a control unit configured to monitor an alternating-current voltage generated between the receiving-side passive electrode and the receiving-side active electrode of the receiving device or a direct-current voltage obtained through conversion by a rectifying circuit.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle running control apparatus that is mounted in a hybrid vehicle that has a high-voltage battery and a low-voltage battery, and is selectively controlled to drive in a first running mode in which an electric motor to which power is supplied from the high-voltage battery is used as a drive source, and a second running mode in which an engine is used as the drive source, includes a transport state determining portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in transport; and a battery running inhibiting portion that inhibits the hybrid vehicle from running in the first running mode when it is determined by the transport state determining portion that the hybrid vehicle is in transport.