Abstract: According to one embodiment, a platooning operation system organizes a platoon by making a plurality of vehicles cooperate. The platooning operation system includes an application acceptance processor and a platoon organization processor. The application acceptance processor accepts an application of a vehicle for admission to the platoon. The platoon organization processor which selects a platoon to which the vehicle is to be admitted or determines possibility of admission of the vehicle to the platoon, based on at least one of information on a driver driving the vehicle and information on the vehicle.

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a second insulating film (22) covering at least a drain electrode (19) and a thermal stress reducer that reduces thermal stress in a place where thermal stress that is generated between the drain electrode (19) and the second insulating film (22) reaches its maximum at the time of a load short. The thermal stress reducer (19bf) is a drain field plate portion (19bf) formed by an extension of an upper part of the drain electrode (19) toward a source electrode (18).

Abstract: A nitride semiconductor device includes a second insulating film (22) covering at least a drain electrode (19) and a thermal stress reducer that reduces thermal stress in a place where thermal stress that is generated between the drain electrode (19) and the second insulating film (22) reaches its maximum at the time of a load short. The thermal stress reducer (19bf) is a drain field plate portion (19bf) formed by an extension of an upper part of the drain electrode (19) toward a source electrode (18).

Abstract: A field-effect transistor (a GaN-based HFET) includes a gate electrode, a gate electrode pad, a first wiring line connecting one end of the gate electrode and the gate electrode pad, a second wiring line connecting the other end of the gate electrode and the gate electrode pad, and a resistance element that is connected to the first wiring line and is capable of adjusting the impedance of the first wiring line.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a wall-like first guard ring structure that is formed to surround a periphery of an element formation region on a semiconductor substrate and that extends in a thickness direction of the substrate through an insulating film; and a wall-like second guard ring structure that is formed to surround the periphery of the element formation region between the element formation region on the semiconductor substrate and the first guard ring structure and that extends in the thickness direction of the substrate through the insulating films. The first and second guard ring structures are formed of a conductive material, and the first guard ring structure is provided in a state of being insulated from the semiconductor substrate, the element formation region and the second guard ring structure.

Abstract: A field-effect transistor (a GaN-based HFET) includes a gate electrode, a gate electrode pad, a first wiring line connecting one end of the gate electrode and the gate electrode pad, a second wiring line connecting the other end of the gate electrode and the gate electrode pad, and a resistance element that is connected to the first wiring line and is capable of adjusting the impedance of the first wiring line.

Abstract: A heterojunction field effect transistor includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. A length of the first contact portion in a longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of source electrodes in the longitudinal direction, and a length of the second contact portion in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of drain electrodes in the longitudinal direction. For each drain electrode, a distance from ends of the second contact portion to ends of the drain electrode, the ends being outside of the second contact portion, is greater than a distance from ends of the first contact portion to ends of the source electrode, the ends being outside of the first contact portion.

Abstract: A heterojunction field effect transistor includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. A length of the first contact portion in a longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of source electrodes in the longitudinal direction, and a length of the second contact portion in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a length of drain electrodes in the longitudinal direction. For each drain electrode, a distance from ends of the second contact portion to ends of the drain electrode, the ends being outside of the second contact portion, is greater than a distance from ends of the first contact portion to ends of the source electrode, the ends being outside of the first contact portion.

Abstract: A lens frame, made from metal, retaining a light-emitting lens and a light-receiving lens is retained between a second mold and a third mold both of which are made from light-shielding resins. Anchors are formed by filling light-shielding resin for forming the third mold into fixing slots formed in an upper surface of the second mold and through holes formed in the lens frame. Since the lens frame is made from metal, thermal expansion of the lens frame is hardly caused by ambient temperature changes and self-heating. This causes little difference in the amount of change in difference between the lenses. Further, the lens frame is fixed with anchors between the second mold and the third mold. This suppresses the occurrence of sliding caused by difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the lens frame and the second and third molds.

Abstract: A lens frame, made from metal, retaining a light-emitting lens and a light-receiving lens is retained between a second mold and a third mold both of which are made from light-shielding resins. The lens frame has an asperity structure on its front and back surfaces. This greatly enhances adhesiveness between the light-emitting lens and the lens frame and adhesiveness between the light-receiving lens and the lens frame, thus preventing sliding of the light-emitting lens and the light-receiving lens over the lens frame.

Abstract: An optical ranging sensor includes a light emitting unit for projecting a light beam on an object to be measured, a light receiving unit on which a light spot of reflected light of the light beam from the object is formed, and a processing circuit unit for processing output signals from the light receiving unit and detecting a distance to the object. The light receiving unit includes an effective light receiving part having light receiving cells arranged in matrix form in a first direction in which a position of the light spot moves as the object moves along a direction of an optical axis of the light emitting unit, and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A size of the effective light receiving part in the second direction is not smaller than a radius of the light spot but not larger than a diameter thereof.

Abstract: An optical detection device includes a light emitting element, which is an area sensor, a light emitting lens part for irradiating an object to be measured with a bundle of emission rays emitted from the light emitting element, a light receiving lens part for condensing reflected light from the object, a light receiving element for detecting reflected light from the object condensed by the light receiving lens part, and a signal processing section for processing a light-reception signal from the light receiving element. Based on the light-reception signal from the light receiving element, the signal processing section detects at least one of an x-coordinate or a y-coordinate of the object on an x-y coordinate plane from at least one of a light-spot position or a light-spot shape on the light receiving element.

Abstract: An optical ranging sensor includes an infrared LED encapsulated in a first light-permeable resin section, a light receiving device encapsulated in a second light-permeable resin section, a light-shielding resin member in contact with the first and second resin sections, a drive circuit section for driving the LED, a light receiving device control section for controlling the light receiving device, and a control section for the drive circuit section and light receiving device control section. Under control of the control section, a driving time of the LED coincides with an exposure time of the light receiving device. Further, while the LED is not driven, the light receiving device is also exposed for a time identical to the exposure time. An output difference between outputs at the exposure with driving the LED and at the exposure without driving the LED is calculated, and ranging is performed based on the output difference.

Abstract: A lens frame, made from metal, retaining a light-emitting lens and a light-receiving lens is retained between a second mold and a third mold both of which are made from light-shielding resins. Anchors are formed by filling light-shielding resin for forming the third mold into fixing slots formed in an upper surface of the second mold and through holes formed in the lens frame. Since the lens frame is made from metal, thermal expansion of the lens frame is hardly caused by ambient temperature changes and self-heating. This causes little difference in the amount of change in difference between the lenses. Further, the lens frame is fixed with anchors between the second mold and the third mold. This suppresses the occurrence of sliding caused by difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the lens frame and the second and third molds.

Abstract: A lens frame, made from metal, retaining a light-emitting lens and a light-receiving lens is retained between a second mold and a third mold both of which are made from light-shielding resins. The lens frame has an asperity structure on its front and back surfaces. This greatly enhances adhesiveness between the light-emitting lens and the lens frame and adhesiveness between the light-receiving lens and the lens frame, thus preventing sliding of the light-emitting lens and the light-receiving lens over the lens frame.

Abstract: An optical ranging sensor includes a light emitting unit for projecting a light beam on an object to be measured, a light receiving unit on which a light spot of reflected light of the light beam from the object is formed, and a processing circuit unit for processing output signals from the light receiving unit and detecting a distance to the object. The light receiving unit includes an effective light receiving part having light receiving cells arranged in matrix form in a first direction in which a position of the light spot moves as the object moves along a direction of an optical axis of the light emitting unit, and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. A size of the effective light receiving part in the second direction is not smaller than a radius of the light spot but not larger than a diameter thereof.

Abstract: An optical distance measuring sensor includes a light receiving element arranged on the same plane as a light emitting element. The light receiving element includes a light receiving unit having a plurality of cells and collecting the light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by a target object, a flash memory unit storing a predetermined position on the light receiving unit, and a signal processing circuit unit sensing the collection position of the light on the light receiving unit, and measuring the distance to the target object based on a relative positional relationship between the predetermined position stored in the flash memory unit and the collection position of the light on light receiving unit.

Abstract: An LED drive circuit for driving an LED by input of an alternating voltage, the LED drive circuit being capable of connecting to a phase control dimmer. The LED drive circuit is provided with a current extractor for continuing to allow current to flow into the phase control dimmer so that a phase control element inside the phase control dimmer does not switch off before the alternating voltage reaches 0 V after the phase control element inside the phase control dimmer switches on and the LED emits light.

Abstract: An optical detection device includes a light emitting element, which is an area sensor, a light emitting lens part for irradiating an object to be measured with a bundle of emission rays emitted from the light emitting element, a light receiving lens part for condensing reflected light from the object, a light receiving element for detecting reflected light from the object condensed by the light receiving lens part, and a signal processing section for processing a light-reception signal from the light receiving element. Based on the light-reception signal from the light receiving element, the signal processing section detects at least one of an x-coordinate or a y-coordinate of the object on an x-y coordinate plane from at least one of a light-spot position or a light-spot shape on the light receiving element.

Abstract: An optical ranging sensor includes an infrared LED encapsulated in a first light-permeable resin section, a light receiving device encapsulated in a second light-permeable resin section, a light-shielding resin member in contact with the first and second resin sections, a drive circuit section for driving the LED, a light receiving device control section for controlling the light receiving device, and a control section for the drive circuit section and light receiving device control section. Under control of the control section, a driving time of the LED coincides with an exposure time of the light receiving device. Further, while the LED is not driven, the light receiving device is also exposed for a time identical to the exposure time. An output difference between outputs at the exposure with driving the LED and at the exposure without driving the LED is calculated, and ranging is performed based on the output difference.