Abstract: To enable early detection of abnormal states including accumulation on a pressure sensor, a characteristic measuring portion obtains a change in an output of a pressure sensor in a state in which the temperature of a sensor chip is changed by operation of a temperature controlling portion and thereby obtains a sensor characteristic indicating the change in the output. A state determination portion determines an abnormal state of a diaphragm by comparing the sensor characteristic obtained by the characteristic measuring portion with a reference characteristic, used as a reference, stored in a reference value storing portion.

Abstract: By interposing a batter containing trehalose between a microwave-absorbing heat generator which generates heat with microwave energy and a noodle-strip food, a crisp texture and a freshly pan-fried flavor and aroma can be exhibited by the batter upon microwave cooking.

Abstract: A body-wall-contact-type water tank (12) is equipped with: a water-tank body for storing a fluid to be supplied into a body cavity, and positioned so as to contact a body wall (120); a through-hole which conveys the fluid stored in the water-tank body into the body cavity via an incision formed in the body wall (120), and which is formed in the bottom section of the water-tank body; and a connecting means for connecting, in a fluid-tight manner, the water-tank body to the body wall (120) and/or to a retractor (110) attached to the incision.

Abstract: An electrostatic capacitive pressure sensor includes: a housing having an inlet portion for a fluid; a sensor chip that detects, as a change in electrostatic capacitance, a change in a diaphragm that flexes upon receipt of a pressure of the fluid, which has entered through the inlet portion; and a baffle that prevents deposition, onto the diaphragm, of a contaminating substance included in the fluid, provided within a flow path of the fluid that is subject to measurement between the inlet portion and the diaphragm. The baffle has a cylindrical structure that is closed on one end, disposed with the direction that is perpendicular to a pressure-bearing surface of the diaphragm as the axial direction. A plurality of flow paths, in which the fluid passes between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical structure, is provided in multiple layers in the axial direction.

Abstract: A pressure sensor device has a sensor detecting pressure of a gas that is introduced from the outside, a heater for heating the sensor, a package containing the sensor and the heater, a circuit portion producing an output signal that represents the pressure of the gas based on the detection output detected by the sensor, and a circuit containing portion containing the circuit portion. The package and the circuit containing portion are structured from separate cases and are disposed separately with a connecting structural member interposed therebetween. The connecting structural member 90 includes electrode lead pins connecting between the sensor within the package and the circuit portion within the circuit containing portion, insulated pipes for covering the outer peripheries of the electrode lead pins, and coil springs covering the outer peripheries of the insulated pipes.

Abstract: A pressure sensor device has a sensor detecting pressure of a gas that is introduced from the outside, a heater for heating the sensor, a package containing the sensor and the heater, a circuit portion producing an output signal that represents the pressure of the gas based on the detection output detected by the sensor, and a circuit containing portion containing the circuit portion. The package and the circuit containing portion are structured from separate cases and are disposed separately with a connecting structural member interposed therebetween. The connecting structural member 90 includes electrode lead pins connecting between the sensor within the package and the circuit portion within the circuit containing portion, insulated pipes for covering the outer peripheries of the electrode lead pins, and coil springs covering the outer peripheries of the insulated pipes.

Abstract: Frozen rolled foods, such as a sushi roll, that can be frozen in a favorable state and taste good after thawing may be prepared by: cooking and seasoning one or more food items such as rolled egg, freeze-dried bean curd, shiitake mushroom, minced and steamed fish meat, and dried gourd shavings; aligning the food, to form a core; freezing the core using a cryogen, to form a frozen core; spreading a thin sheet of sushimeshi over a support such as a bamboo mat or a wrapping film; overlaying a dried laver sheet on the sushimeshi; placing the frozen core on the dried laver sheet while in the frozen state; wrapping the sushimeshi and the dried laver sheet around the core held at the center to form a sushi roll; and rapidly freezing the sushi roll at ?50° C. or less to obtain a frozen sushi roll.

Abstract: A power factor correction integrated circuit housed in an integrated circuit package for controlling a boost converter circuit having an input inductor coupled in series with a boost rectifier between a rectified AC line input voltage and a DC bus voltage, on a DC bus, the rectified AC line input voltage provided by a rectifier coupled to an AC line input voltage to be power factor corrected.

Abstract: There is provided a pressure sensor having: a sensor chip (30) which detects a pressure; a base plate (20 (21, 22)) which supports the sensor chip (30); and a support diaphragm (50) which is bonded to the base plate (20 (21, 22)) and supports the base plate (20 (21, 22)), wherein the pressure sensor (1) has a structure in which the support diaphragm (50) is joined to a package (10), and the sensor chip (30) and the base plate (20 (21, 22)) are supported in the package through the support diaphragm (50) alone, thereby constantly and accurately detecting a pressure without being affected by a heat stress caused due to heat from the outside.

Abstract: There is provided a pressure sensor having: a sensor chip (30) which detects a pressure; a base plate (20 (21, 22)) which supports the sensor chip (30); and a support diaphragm (50) which is bonded to the base plate (20 (21, 22)) and supports the base plate (20 (21, 22)), wherein the pressure sensor (1) has a structure in which the support diaphragm (50) is joined to a package (10), and the sensor chip (30) and the base plate (20 (21, 22)) are supported in the package through the support diaphragm (50) alone, thereby constantly and accurately detecting a pressure without being affected by a heat stress caused due to heat from the outside.

Abstract: A lamp ballast circuit for driving, e.g. four flourescent lamps with a ballast control IC such as the IR2167 Ballast Control IC. The circuit includes a lamp replacement detection circuit for detecting insertion of a lamp, and in response, controlling the ballast control IC to initiate automatic restart for of the control IC for proper firing of the lamps, including the newly inserted lamp.

Abstract: A power factor correction integrated circuit housed in an integrated circuit package for controlling a boost converter circuit having an input inductor coupled in series with a boost rectifier between a rectified AC line input voltage and a DC bus voltage, on a DC bus, the rectified AC line input voltage provided by a rectifier coupled to an AC line input voltage to be power factor corrected.

Abstract: An integrated circuit controls a power converter that includes single stage buck-boost converter and a switching full bridge that may be used to drive an HID lamp. The single stage buck-boost converter reduces the complexity and parts count of the power converter, or electronic ballast, while permitting PFC and DC bus voltage regulation under control of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit also provides all the drive signals to operate the switching full bridge circuit to maintain constant power on the HID lamp. A wait timer provides an interval of time between restart attempts for the HID lamp to permit the lamp to cool so that high hot restart voltages are avoided. The integrated circuit simplifies the design of power converters and electronic ballasts in particular, while contributing to reducing part count, complexity and cost in conjunction with the single stage buck-boost converter.

Abstract: A lamp ballast circuit for driving, e.g. four flourescent lamps with a ballast control IC such as the IR2167 Ballast Control IC. The circuit includes a lamp replacement detection circuit for detecting insertion of a lamp, and in response, controlling the ballast control IC to initiate automatic restart for of the control IC for proper firing of the lamps, including the newly inserted lamp.

Abstract: An integrated circuit controls a power converter that includes single stage buck-boost converter and a switching full bridge that may be used to drive an HID lamp. The single stage buck-boost converter reduces the complexity and parts count of the power converter, or electronic ballast, while permitting PFC and DC bus voltage regulation under control of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit also provides all the drive signals to operate the switching full bridge circuit to maintain constant power on the HID lamp. A wait timer provides an interval of time between restart attempts for the HID lamp to permit the lamp to cool so that high hot restart voltages are avoided. The integrated circuit simplifies the design of power converters and electronic ballasts in particular, while contributing to reducing part count, complexity and cost in conjunction with the single stage buck-boost converter.