Abstract: The optical distance measurement device is configured to include an optical interference unit for separating the reflected light into a reflected light of a first polarized wave and a reflected light of a second polarized wave, extracting first and second components orthogonal to each other from an interference light of the reflected light of the first polarized wave and the reference light, and extracting third and fourth components orthogonal to each other from an interference light of the reflected light of the second polarized wave and the reference light, and a polarization rotation unit for acquiring one or more components of horizontal and vertical components of a polarized wave by rotating a polarization angle of a first complex signal having the first and second components and a polarization angle of a second complex signal having the third and fourth components, so that a distance calculation unit calculates, on the basis of the components acquired by the polarization rotation unit, a difference bet

Abstract: A medium transport device includes a first transporter configured to transport a medium by nipping the medium along with rotation, a second transporter configured to transport the medium and disposed on an upstream side of the first transporter in a transport direction of the medium, a first adjuster configured to adjust a position of the medium in a width direction by moving the first transporter and the second transporter in the width direction of the medium with the medium nipped by the first transporter and the second transporter, and a second adjuster configured to adjust a contact pressure of the first transporter for the medium and a contact pressure of the second transporter for the medium based on resistance caused when the medium is moved in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet transporting device includes first and second position correcting components provided at respective positions in a direction of sheet transport and each being configured to correct a position of a sheet in a direction intersecting the direction of sheet transport by being shifted in the direction intersecting the direction of sheet transport while holding the sheet, and a changing component capable of changing an amount of correction of the position of the sheet individually for the first and second position correcting components.

Abstract: A sheet transporting device includes: a skew correcting component configured to correct any skew of a sheet by executing speed-gap driving in which first and second transporting components that are arranged at respective positions in a direction intersecting a direction of sheet transport are driven for a predetermined time period with a speed gap between the first and second transporting components; and a changing component configured to change, with reference to a characteristic relevant to sheet transport, a state of the speed-gap driving of the skew correcting component.

Abstract: A control unit controls a bidirectional switch so as to turn the switch from ON to OFF when an amount of time, varying according to a lighting level, passes since a starting point of a half cycle of an AC voltage. When a voltage between both terminals of a capacitive element, connected to a control terminal of the bidirectional switch, becomes equal to or greater than a threshold voltage, the bidirectional switch turns from OFF to ON A first charging/discharging regulator circuit and a second charging/discharging regulator circuit each make a rate of fall of the voltage between both of the terminals of the capacitive element when the bidirectional switch turns from ON to OFF lower than a rate of rise of the voltage between both of the terminals of the capacitive element when the bidirectional switch turns from OFF to ON.

Abstract: Protective circuit is provided for wiring accessory including switch circuit and switch controller. Switch circuit possesses control terminal, and is electrically connected between input terminals that allow electrical connection to both ends of series circuit of AC power grid and load, and is switched between conductive and non-conductive between both ends of series circuit according to control signal to control terminal. Protective circuit includes current sensor that detects electric current flowing through switch circuit, and protective switch that is electrically connected between control terminal and potential reference point, and turns on when current value of electric current detected through current sensor exceeds threshold value.

Abstract: A control unit controls a bidirectional switch so as to turn the switch from ON to OFF when an amount of time, varying according to a lighting level, passes since a starting point of a half cycle of an AC voltage. When a voltage between both terminals of a capacitive element, connected to a control terminal of the bidirectional switch, becomes equal to or greater than a threshold voltage, the bidirectional switch turns from OFF to ON A first charging/discharging regulator circuit and a second charging/discharging regulator circuit each make a rate of fall of the voltage between both of the terminals of the capacitive element when the bidirectional switch turns from ON to OFF lower than a rate of rise of the voltage between both of the terminals of the capacitive element when the bidirectional switch turns from OFF to ON.

Abstract: Light-dimming device includes: first and second terminals; switch including switching device connected between terminals; adjuster for varying conduction angle of switch; controller for controlling switch and power supply module for supplying power to controller. Controller includes zero-cross detection circuit for detecting zero-cross of AC voltage, control circuit for generating PWM signal of on-duty ratio corresponding to conduction angle from adjuster, and driver circuit for turning device on and off by PWM signal. Controller allows device to conduct and then turn off within variable period of time, from start of half cycle of AC voltage, shorter than half cycle. Circuit starts generation of pulse in PWM signal when prescribed period of time, shorter than variable period of time, from zero-cross of voltage elapses.

Abstract: A light-dimming device includes a switch including a switching device, a controller, and a power supply module. The power supply module includes a capacitor to be charged by a constant voltage circuit. The controller includes a driver circuit, a zero-cross detection circuit, a detecting circuit, and a control circuit, and receive electric power from the capacitor. The driver circuit drives the switching device in accordance with a PWM signal. The control circuit starts generation of a pulse, to be contained in the PWM signal, for turning on the switching device after the zero-cross detection circuit detects zero-cross and also a voltage across the capacitor is threshold or more.

Abstract: Light-dimming device includes: first and second terminals; switch including switching device connected between terminals; adjuster for varying conduction angle of switch; controller for controlling switch and power supply module for supplying power to controller. Controller includes zero-cross detection circuit for detecting zero-cross of AC voltage, control circuit for generating PWM signal of on-duty ratio corresponding to conduction angle from adjuster, and driver circuit for turning device on and off by PWM signal. Controller allows device to conduct and then turn off within variable period of time, from start of half cycle of AC voltage, shorter than half cycle. Circuit starts generation of pulse in PWM signal when prescribed period of time, shorter than variable period of time, from zero-cross of voltage elapses.

Abstract: A light-dimming device includes a switch including a switching device, a controller, and a power supply module. The power supply module includes a capacitor to be charged by a constant voltage circuit. The controller includes a driver circuit, a zero-cross detection circuit, a detecting circuit, and a control circuit, and receive electric power from the capacitor. The driver circuit drives the switching device in accordance with a PWM signal. The control circuit starts generation of a pulse, to be contained in the PWM signal, for turning on the switching device after the zero-cross detection circuit detects zero-cross and also a voltage across the capacitor is threshold or more.

Abstract: A determiner determines whether an illumination load is an LED illumination device or an incandescent lamp, based on a voltage of a rectifier within a time period from start of supply of the AC voltage to the rectifier to a time a predetermined time elapses. A control circuit controls a driver under a condition where values of a conduction angle of a switch corresponding to magnitudes of the first DC voltages except a maximum and a minimum thereof in a case where the determiner determines that the illumination load is the LED illumination device are smaller than values of the conduction angles of the switch of a case where the determiner determines that the illumination load is the incandescent lamp.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is, in refining a metal or a semiconductor melt, without impairing refining efficiency, to alleviate wear and tear commensurate with unevenness in a crucible caused by instability in melt flow, and to allow safe operation over long periods of time such that leakages from the crucible do not occur. Provided is a metal or semiconductor melt refining method, in which, by using an AC resistance heating heater as a crucible heating method, the melt is heat retained and mixed by a rotating magnetic field which is generated by the resistance heating heater.

Abstract: A load control device includes: a main switching unit which has a main switch element connected in series to an AC power source and a load and controls the supply of power to the load; a manipulation switch that outputs a start-up signal for starting at least the load; a control unit which controls the opening and closing of the main switching unit; a first power source unit supplying a stable voltage to the control unit; and a second and a third power source unit each supplying power to the first power source unit. The load control device is characterized in that upon receiving the start-up signal, the control unit outputs an initial drive signal, for closing the main switch element, to the main switching unit before a power source supplying power to the first power source unit is switched from the second to the third power source unit.

Abstract: A charging cable for an electric vehicle includes a power plug adapted to be detachably connected to a power socket of a commercial power source; a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the power plug; a cable connector adapted to be detachably connected to an electric vehicle for supplying a charging current to a battery of the electric vehicle; and a switching unit for opening and closing a current path between the power plug and the cable connector. The charging cable further includes a leakage detecting unit for detecting an electric leakage based on a current flowing through the current path; and a power cutoff unit for opening the switching unit when the detected temperature of the temperature detection means exceeds a threshold value or when the leakage detection means detects the electric leakage.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging cord set includes a housing containing an interrupting device therein and a first cord provided at one end with a plug connectable to an outlet installed on a wall surface of a building and at the other end connected to one of the terminal units of the interrupting device. An electric vehicle charging cord set further includes a second cord provided at one end with a connector connectable to an inlet of an electric vehicle and at the other end connected to the other of the terminal units of the interrupting device. The housing includes a storage unit for extendibly storing the second cord, a stand for placing the housing on a ground surface and a transportation handle. The storage unit includes a drum rotatably attached to the housing. The second cord is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the drum.

Abstract: A wiring device includes a leakage control unit for detecting a leakage current flowing through an electrical path connecting a commercial power supply and a load to perform a leakage determination and a switching unit for interrupting the electrical path in accordance with the leakage determination of the leakage control unit The leakage control unit has a filter for filtering the detected leakage, a square operation unit for calculating the square operation value of a signal which relates to the leakage current passing through the filter, and a threshold determination unit for performing the leakage determination in accordance with the square operation value obtained by the square operation unit. Consequently, the leakage determination is performed in accordance with the square operation value, so that the leakage can be detected with high accuracy even when the leakage current has a distorted waveform, and the electrical leakage can be reliably interrupted.

Abstract: A load control device includes: a main switching unit which has a main switch element connected in series to an AC power source and a load and controls the supply of power to the load; a manipulation switch that outputs a start-up signal for starting at least the load; a control unit which controls the opening and closing of the main switching unit; a first power source unit supplying a stable voltage to the control unit; and a second and a third power source unit each supplying power to the first power source unit. The load control device is characterized in that upon receiving the start-up signal, the control unit outputs an initial drive signal, for closing the main switch element, to the main switching unit before a power source supplying power to the first power source unit is switched from the second to the third power source unit.

Abstract: A charging cable for an electric vehicle includes a power plug adapted to be detachably connected to a power socket of a commercial power source; a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of the power plug; a cable connector adapted to be detachably connected to an electric vehicle for supplying a charging current to a battery of the electric vehicle; and a switching unit for opening and closing a current path between the power plug and the cable connector. The charging cable further includes a leakage detecting unit for detecting an electric leakage based on a current flowing through the current path; and a power cutoff unit for opening the switching unit when the detected temperature of the temperature detection means exceeds a threshold value or when the leakage detection means detects the electric leakage.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charging cord set includes a housing containing an interrupting device therein and a first cord provided at one end with a plug connectable to an outlet installed on a wall surface of a building and at the other end connected to one of the terminal units of the interrupting device. An electric vehicle charging cord set further includes a second cord provided at one end with a connector connectable to an inlet of an electric vehicle and at the other end connected to the other of the terminal units of the interrupting device. The housing includes a storage unit for extendibly storing the second cord, a stand for placing the housing on a ground surface and a transportation handle. The storage unit includes a drum rotatably attached to the housing. The second cord is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the drum.