Abstract: A high-withstand-voltage normally-on transistor and a low-withstand-voltage normally-off transistor are connected in series, and diodes are provided in reverse parallel to the transistor. A gate terminal of the transistor is connected to a source terminal of the transistor, and a gate driving circuit that outputs a control signal to a gate terminal of the transistor is provided. Forward voltage of the diode is made lower than forward voltage of the diode, and an inductance component of a path connecting nodes via the diode is made greater than an inductance component of a path connecting the nodes via the diode. Accordingly, a switching circuit which includes transistors connected in series and in which transient current at a time of turning off is reduced is provided.

Abstract: A power factor correction circuit includes: a coil and MOSFETs that boost an input voltage to generate a boosted voltage; a first capacitor having one end connected to a first output terminal, and the other end connected to an intermediate node; and a second capacitor having one end connected to the intermediate node, and the other end connected to a second output terminal. In a first operation mode, the boosted vol tage is applied to the two ends of the first capacitor when a positive voltage is input, and applied to the two ends of the second capacitor when a negative voltage is input. In a second operation mode, the boosted voltage is applied to two ends of the first and second capacitors connected in series. Thus, there is provided a power factor correction circuit which has a high efficiency and is compatible with an input voltage in a broad range.

Abstract: A solar energy utilization system includes a solar panel, a motor driven by an inverter circuit functioning as a motor drive circuit with power output by the solar panel, a solar output voltage monitor functioning as a monitor that monitors an input or an output of the solar panel and also functioning as a monitor that monitors an input or an output of the inverter circuit, and a controller. The controller has a control mode in which the inverter circuit is controlled such that an output voltage of the solar panel is maintained at a voltage higher than a maximum power point voltage. In this control mode, the controller performs the control such that a rotation speed of the motor is changed repeatedly at predetermined timings.

Abstract: A control circuit is driven by a driving voltage (VOC) generated by a generator circuit, and outputs a control signal. A drive circuit is driven by a driving voltage (VOD) generated by another generator circuit, and turns a switching element inside a switching circuit on or off by supplying, to the switching circuit, a drive signal based on the control signal. During activation of a switching device, a voltage generation controller detects a voltage value of the output voltage (VOC) of the generator circuit, and allows activation of the other generator circuit after verifying that the detected voltage value is at or above a designated threshold.

Abstract: A highly efficient and low-cost switching power supply device includes a high withstand voltage transistor and a low withstand voltage transistor. When current flows from a second node to a first node, the high withstand voltage transistor turns on and the low withstand voltage transistor turns off, causing current to flow through a built-in diode of the low withstand voltage transistor. Since current does not flow through the parasitic diode of the high withstand voltage transistor, the recovery current is reduced. Furthermore, since a first delay circuit including resistors and a diode is connected to the gate electrode of the high withstand voltage transistor, and a second delay circuit including resistors and a diode is connected to the gate electrode of the low withstand voltage transistor, precise adjustment of the switching speed during switching operation is possible, and losses are reduced.

Abstract: A high-withstand-voltage normally-on transistor and a low-withstand-voltage normally-off transistor are connected in series, and diodes are provided in reverse parallel to the transistor. A gate terminal of the transistor is connected to a source terminal of the transistor, and a gate driving circuit that outputs a control signal to a gate terminal of the transistor is provided. Forward voltage of the diode is made lower than forward voltage of the diode, and an inductance component of a path connecting nodes via the diode is made greater than an inductance component of a path connecting the nodes via the diode. Accordingly, a switching circuit which includes transistors connected in series and in which transient current at a time of turning off is reduced is provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a high breakdown voltage, high Gm first transistor and a low breakdown voltage, low Gm second transistor connected in series between first and second nodes, and a low breakdown voltage, high Gm third transistor connected to the second transistor in parallel. When the second transistor is turned on, the first transistor turns on, and furthermore, when the third transistor is turned on, an electrically conducting state is established between the first and second nodes. The second, low breakdown voltage transistor is turned on to turn on the first, high breakdown voltage transistor, and a turn-on time with only limited variation can be achieved.

Abstract: A power factor correction circuit includes: a coil and MOSFETs that boost an input voltage to generate a boosted voltage; a first capacitor having one end connected to a first output terminal, and the other end connected to an intermediate node; and a second capacitor having one end connected to the intermediate node, and the other end connected to a second output terminal. In a first operation mode, the boosted vol tage is applied to the two ends of the first capacitor when a positive voltage is input, and applied to the two ends of the second capacitor when a negative voltage is input. In a second operation mode, the boosted voltage is applied to two ends of the first and second capacitors connected in series. Thus, there is provided a power factor correction circuit which has a high efficiency and is compatible with an input voltage in a broad range.

Abstract: An in-vehicle solar system that supplies electric energy from a solar battery module to an electric device such as a secondary battery, a load, and the like includes a capacitor that accumulates electric energy from the solar battery module and supplies the accumulated electric energy to the electric device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photovoltaic device 1 including a plurality of cluster power generation sections G (G11, G12, G21, and G22). Each cluster power generation section G includes unitary power generation sections D (D1, D2) connected in series via connection points CP12. The cluster power generation sections G each have at least a predetermined one of the connection points CP12 designated as a specific connection point SP12. The specific connection points SP12 are connected together to link the cluster power generation sections G.

Abstract: A switching circuit (10) is used as a high-side rectifying unit of a boost chopper. The switching circuit (10) includes a low-breakdown voltage transistor (11), a high-breakdown voltage transistor (13) having a drain connected to a drain of the low-breakdown voltage transistor (11), and a diode (high-speed flyback diode) (15) having a cathode connected to a source of the low-breakdown voltage transistor (11) and an anode connected to a source of the high-breakdown voltage transistor (13). Before the generation of a flyback current by the turning off of a low-side transistor (22), the low-breakdown voltage transistor (11) is turned on while the high-breakdown voltage transistor (13) is kept off. After that, the low-side transistor (22) is turned off.

Abstract: A control circuit is driven by a driving voltage (VOC) generated by a generator circuit, and outputs a control signal. A drive circuit is driven by a driving voltage (VOD) generated by another generator circuit, and turns a switching element inside a switching circuit on or off by supplying, to the switching circuit, a drive signal based on the control signal. During activation of a switching device, a voltage generation controller detects a voltage value of the output voltage (VOC) of the generator circuit, and allows activation of the other generator circuit after verifying that the detected voltage value is at or above a designated threshold.

Abstract: A solar energy utilization system includes a solar panel, a motor driven by an inverter circuit functioning as a motor drive circuit with power output by the solar panel, a solar output voltage monitor functioning as a monitor that monitors an input or an output of the solar panel and also functioning as a monitor that monitors an input or an output of the inverter circuit, and a controller. The controller has a control mode in which the inverter circuit is controlled such that an output voltage of the solar panel is maintained at a voltage higher than a maximum power point voltage. In this control mode, the controller performs the control such that a rotation speed of the motor is changed repeatedly at predetermined timings.

Abstract: A highly efficient and low-cost switching power supply device includes a high withstand voltage transistor and a low withstand voltage transistor. When current flows from a second node to a first node, the high withstand voltage transistor turns on and the low withstand voltage transistor turns off, causing current to flow through a built-in diode of the low withstand voltage transistor. Since current does not flow through the parasitic diode of the high withstand voltage transistor, the recovery current is reduced. Furthermore, since a first delay circuit including resistors and a diode is connected to the gate electrode of the high withstand voltage transistor, and a second delay circuit including resistors and a diode is connected to the gate electrode of the low withstand voltage transistor, precise adjustment of the switching speed during switching operation is possible, and losses are reduced.

Abstract: A light emitting device which includes at least one of a laser light source (1), wiring (9), a lens for excitation (2), a luminous body (4), a laser cut filter (6), a half parabolic mirror (5P), and a base (5h), in which a part of the wiring (9) is installed at a portion in which a breakage easily occurs due to at least one deformation of the laser light source (1), the lens for excitation (2), the luminous body (4), the laser cut filter (6), the half parabolic mirror (5P), and the base (5h), or a change in an installation position thereof.

Abstract: A solar energy utilization system includes a solar panel, a motor that is driven by solar output power, and a motor stall prevention device that prevents the motor during drive from stalling, and as the motor stall prevention device, any of following devices is selected: (a) a motor stall prevention device that limits solar output voltage to voltage higher than voltage at which the solar panel outputs maximum power at the point in time; (b) a motor stall prevention device that limits solar output voltage to voltage at which, when the output voltage is changed on a P-V curve, a change rate becomes negative; and (c) a motor stall prevention device that is configured by a capacitor which is connected in parallel to the solar panel and stores power generated by the solar panel.

Abstract: An in-vehicle solar system that supplies electric energy from a solar battery module to an electric device such as a secondary battery, a load, and the like includes a capacitor that accumulates electric energy from the solar battery module and supplies the accumulated electric energy to the electric device.

Abstract: A power storage system includes an electric power conversion apparatus, an electric power generation source, and a power storage unit. The power storage unit is configured to have a stored power voltage equal to or higher than a first control voltage to be given to a control unit, the first control voltage being necessary for electric power conversion operation by a DC-DC converter in the electric power conversion apparatus. The control unit in the electric power conversion apparatus is configured to start operating and control an operation of a first switch, when a generated power voltage of the electric power generation source reaches a second control voltage lower than the first control voltage.

Abstract: A photovoltaic apparatus according to the present invention includes a photovoltaic module and a tracking control device. The photovoltaic module includes a plurality of series portions coupled in parallel. The series portion includes a plurality of photovoltaic elements coupled in series. The photovoltaic elements coupled in a same straight row of the plurality of series portions are coupled parallel to one another. The tracking control device is configured to perform a maximum power point tracking control on an output of the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes a temperature sensor that detects a real panel temperature that is a panel temperature when the photovoltaic module is operating.

Abstract: A power storage system includes an electric power conversion apparatus, an electric power generation source, and a power storage unit. The power storage unit is configured to have a stored power voltage equal to or higher than a first control voltage to be given to a control unit, the first control voltage being necessary for electric power conversion operation by a DC-DC converter in the electric power conversion apparatus. The control unit in the electric power conversion apparatus is configured to start operating and control an operation of a first switch, when a generated power voltage of the electric power generation source reaches a second control voltage lower than the first control voltage.