Abstract: A short-circuit fault detection device detects a short-circuit fault in a step-up and step-down DC-DC converter that takes generated power of a solar cell as an input and outputs a predetermined voltage to a power storage. The DC-DC converter includes a step-up upper arm, a step-up lower arm, a step-down upper arm, and a step-down lower arm. The short-circuit fault detection device includes a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage output to the DC-DC converter from the solar cell, a current detection unit detecting a current output to the power storage from the DC-DC converter, and a controller controlling switching elements constituting the DC-DC converter to determine whether each arm of the DC-DC converter has a short-circuit fault based on a detected voltage value that is a detected value of the voltage detection unit, and a detected current value that is a detected value of the current detection unit.

Abstract: A transformer includes: a first coil section formed by coiling a conductor pattern in a planar state around an insertion hole provided on a circuit board; a second coil section that includes a first ring composed of a coil formed by coiling a conductor plate, the coil being covered with an electric-insulating resin, a second ring composed of a coil formed by coiling a conductor plate, the coil covered with the electric-insulating resin, and a coupled part formed by covering a coupled position between the first ring and the second ring with the electric-insulating resin; and core sections forming a closed magnetic circuit that magnetically couples the first coil section and the second coil section.

Abstract: A short-circuit fault detection device detects a short-circuit fault in a step-up and step-down DC-DC converter that takes generated power of a solar cell as an input and outputs a predetermined voltage to a power storage. The DC-DC converter includes a step-up upper arm, a step-up lower arm, a step-down upper arm, and a step-down lower arm. The short-circuit fault detection device includes a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage output to the DC-DC converter from the solar cell, a current detection unit detecting a current output to the power storage from the DC-DC converter, and a controller controlling switching elements constituting the DC-DC converter to determine whether each arm of the DC-DC converter has a short-circuit fault based on a detected voltage value that is a detected value of the voltage detection unit, and a detected current value that is a detected value of the current detection unit.

Abstract: A transformer includes: a first coil section formed by coiling a conductor pattern in a planar state around an insertion hole provided on a circuit board; a second coil section that includes a first ring composed of a coil formed by coiling a conductor plate, the coil being covered with an electric-insulating resin, a second ring composed of a coil formed by coiling a conductor plate, the coil covered with the electric-insulating resin, and a coupled part formed by covering a coupled position between the first ring and the second ring with the electric-insulating resin; and core sections forming a closed magnetic circuit that magnetically couples the first coil section and the second coil section.

Abstract: A highly wear-resistant aluminum-based composite alloy has improved wear resistant itself and the wear amount of the opposed Fe-based material is decreased as compared with the conventional wear-resistant aluminum alloys. The inventive composite alloy has a structure that at least either a dispersing phase selected from the group consisting of hard fine particles or a solid-lubricant particles having average diameter of 10 um or less is dispersed in an aluminum-alloy matrix which contains quasi-crystals.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength, heat resistant aluminum-based alloys having a composition represented by the general formula: Al.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.cwherein:M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, W, Ca, Li, Mg and Si;X is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Hf, Nb, and Ta; anda, b and c are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:50.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.35 and 0.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.25, the aluminum-based alloy being in an amorphous state, microcrystalline state or a composite state thereof. The aluminum-based alloys possess an advantageous combination of properties of high strength, heat resistance, superior ductility and good processability which make then suitable for various applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength, heat resistant aluminum-based alloys having a composition represented by the general formula:Al.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.cwherein:M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, W, Ca, Li, Mg and Si;X is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm, Nd, Hf, Nb, Ta and Mm (misch metal); anda, b and c are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:50.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.35 and 0.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.25,the aluminum-based alloy being in an amorphous state, microcrystalline state or a composite state thereof. The aluminum-based alloys possess an advantageous combination of properties of high strength, heat resistance, superior ductility and good processability which make then suitable for various applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength, heat resistant aluminum-based alloys having a composition represented by the general formula: Al.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.c wherein:M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, W, Ca, Li, Mg and Si;X is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm, Nd, Hf, Nb, Ta and Mm (misch metal); anda, b and c are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:50.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.35 and 0.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.25,the aluminum-based alloy being in an amorphous state, microcrystalline state or a composite state thereof. The aluminum-based alloys possess an advantageous combination of properties of high strength, heat resistance, superior ductility and good processability which make then suitable for various applications.

Abstract: An aluminum alloy powder for coating materials and a coating material containing the aluminum alloy powder. The aluminum alloy powder comprises an amorphous aluminum alloy consisting essentially of from 83 to 91% of Al, from 0.5 to 5% of Ca and from 8 to 12% of Ni, all in atom %, and comprising a leaf-shaped particle having a thickness of 0.3 to 3 .mu.m, a minor axis of from 10 to 150 .mu.m, a ratio of the minor axis to a major axis of from 1 to 3, and an aspect ratio which is the ratio of the minor axis to the thickness of from 3 to 100, wherein the aluminum alloy powder is contained in an amount of from 5 to 25 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the total weight of (i) the coating material resin component and (ii) aluminum alloy powder, and the coating material resin component is selected from the group consisting of a water-based synthetic latex and a water-soluble resin. The aluminum alloy powder has a superior dispersibility in a resin in a coating material.

Abstract: The present invention provides high strength, heat resistant aluminum-based alloys having a composition represented by the general formula, Al.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.cwherein:M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Ti, Mo, W, Ca, Li, Mg, and Si;X is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Sm, Nd, Hf, Nb, Ta and Mm (misch metal); anda, b and c are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:50.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.95, 0.5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.35 and 0.5.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.25,the aluminum-based alloy being in an amorphous state, microcrystalline state or a composite state thereof. The aluminum-based alloys possess an advantageous combination of properties of high strength, heat resistance, superior ductility and good processability which make them suitable for various applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides high-strength, heat resistant aluminum alloys having a composition represented by the general formula:Al.sub.a M.sub.b X.sub.d or Al.sub.a M.sub.b Q.sub.c X.sub.e(wherein M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Ni, Co and Fe; Q is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting Mn, Cr, Mo, W, V, Ti and Zr; X is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Hf and Y; and a, b, c, d and e are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges: 45.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.90, 5.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.40, 0<c.ltoreq.12, 0.5.ltoreq.d.ltoreq.15 and 0.5.ltoreq.e.ltoreq.10, the aluminum alloy containing at least 50% by volume of amorphous phase.

Abstract: The present invention provides an additive powder for coating materials or plastics, comprising a particle of a metal or glass, comprised of a particle having a thickness of 0.5 to 5 .mu.m, a minor axis/major axis of from 5 to 500 .mu.m, an aspect ratio (ratio of the major axis to the thickness) of not less than 5, and a ratio of the minor axis to the major axis, of from 1 to 10, and having the shape of a leaf as a whole. This powder can be prepared by melting a metal or glass, bringing the resulting melt to flow out from a nozzle and jetting a gas to the melt to form droplets of the melt, and bringing said droplets, before they solidify, to collied against the surface of a rotating cooling member having the shape of an cone or horn and provided in the directio of the flow of said droplets, followed by cooling to effect solidification.

Abstract: The present invention provides high-strength and heat resistant aluminum alloys having a composition represented by the general formula Al.sub.a M.sub.b La.sub.c (wherein M is at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Mn and Mo; and a, b and c are atomic percentages falling within the following ranges:65.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.93, 4.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.25 and 3.ltoreq.c.ltoreq.15),the aluminum alloys containing at least 50% by volume of amorphous phase. The aluminum alloys are especially useful as high strength and high heat resistant materials in various applications and, since the aluminum alloys specified above exhibit a superplasticity in the vicinity of their crystallization temperature, they can be readily worked into bulk forms by extrusion, press working or hot forging in the vicinity of the crystallization temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides an additive powder for coating materials or plastics, comprising a particle of a metal or glass, comprised of a particle having a thickness of 0.5 to 5 .mu.m, a minor axis/major axis of from 5 to 500 .mu.m, an aspect ratio (ratio of the major axis to the thickness) of not less than 5, and a ratio of the minor axis to the major axis, of from 1 to 10, and having the shape of a leaf as a whole. This powder can be prepared by melting a metal or glass, bringing the resulting melt to flow out from a nozzle and jetting a gas to the melt to form droplets of the melt, and bringing said droplets, before they solidify, to collide against the surface of a rotating cooling member having the shape of an cone or horn and provided in the direction of the flow of said droplets, followed by cooling to effect solidification.