Abstract: With respect to a failure in voltage sensors each for detecting a high-voltage-side voltage in a DC/DC converter, it is so arranged that a circuit failure of the DC/DC converter is prevented, and that the DC/DC converter is continuingly controlled. Two voltage sensors are included therein each for detecting a high-voltage-side voltage, so that, even when a first voltage sensor for detecting a high-voltage-side voltage on one side fails to work properly, a control device turns on a second switching device, and detects a voltage by a second voltage sensor for detecting the high-voltage-side voltage on the other side, whereby a failure of the voltage sensor for detecting the high-voltage-side voltage is detected.

Abstract: A power conversion device including an intermediate capacitor that carries out a charging and discharging operation and a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of the intermediate capacitor, and including a current sensor that detects a current flowing in a reactor, and an abnormality determining unit that determines that there is an abnormality of the voltage sensor using a current value calculated based on a detected value from the current sensor, wherein a gain error, an offset error, and a sticking error of the voltage sensor can be detected.

Abstract: A power conversion device including an intermediate capacitor that carries out a charging and discharging operation and a voltage sensor that detects a voltage of the intermediate capacitor, and including a current sensor that detects a current flowing in a reactor, and an abnormality determining unit that determines that there is an abnormality of the voltage sensor using a current value calculated based on a detected value from the current sensor, wherein a gain error, an offset error, and a sticking error of the voltage sensor can be detected.

Abstract: With respect to a failure in voltage sensors each for detecting a high-voltage-side voltage in a DC/DC converter, it is so arranged that a circuit failure of the DC/DC converter is prevented, and that the DC/DC converter is continuingly controlled. Two voltage sensors are included therein each for detecting a high-voltage-side voltage, so that, even when a first voltage sensor for detecting a high-voltage-side voltage on one side fails to work properly, a control device turns on a second switching device, and detects a voltage by a second voltage sensor for detecting the high-voltage-side voltage on the other side, whereby a failure of the voltage sensor for detecting the high-voltage-side voltage is detected.

Abstract: An opaque foreign article sorting apparatus which can sort an opaque foreign article during dropping from a conveyor precisely with a high degree of accuracy. Objects including transparent bodies in which opaque foreign articles may mix are scanned, during dropping, horizontally linearly with a laser beam, and reflected light is detected by a CCD image sensor. Whether an object scanned is a transparent body or an opaque foreign article is judged at each CCD block including N CCDs, and when an opaque foreign article is judged at a CCD block, air is jetted from a corresponding nozzle block and adjacent nozzle blocks to blow off the object.

Abstract: A method of detecting an opaque foreign article from among transparent bodies which assures a distinct difference between detection signals originating from a transparent body and an opaque foreign article and a high S/N ratio in such detection signals and is improved in accuracy in detecting operation. The method comprises the steps of scanning, while an object for the detection which may be one of transparent bodies or an opaque foreign article existing in such transparent bodies is being moved, the object for the detection by a beam of linearly polarized light, and detecting reflected light from the object for the detection upon each scanning using an optical sensor such as a charge coupled device camera by way of a polarizing filter.