Abstract: A vehicular head lamp includes a first light source module having a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements and a second light source module connected in series to the first light source module, having semiconductor light emitting elements the number of which is smaller than that of the first light source module and generating the light of brightness higher than that of the first light source module when an electric current substantially equal to that of the first light source module is supplied.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular lamp that can inform walkers or drivers in the other vehicles of the existence of the moving vehicle even where the circumference of the vehicle is bright by emitting a light amount larger than that of normal times when the circumference is bright. The vehicular lamp that is used for a vehicle includes a semiconductor light-emitting element, and a current controlling unit operable to increase an electric current flowing into the semiconductor light-emitting element according to a signal output from a sensor depending on a brightness of the circumference of the vehicle when the circumference of the vehicle is bright.

Abstract: When an H signal of H/L binary signals is input into a control signal input terminal, a PWM signal is output from a multivibrator. When this PWM signal is input into a power supply circuit via a voltage converter circuit, such a control is repeated that a rated current flows through an LED at an ON time of the PWM signal and a supply of current to the LED is stopped at an OFF time of the PWM signal. An average current flowing through the LED is lowered and thus an emission of light is weakened, nevertheless an emitted light of the LED can be kept white because the rated current is supplied to the LED while the LED emits the light.

Abstract: In a process where the energy accumulated in the transformer while a transistor is turned ON is emitted to an output circuit and an LED is illuminated with the emitted energy, a voltage generated across a resistor is monitored by a control circuit. When the current flowing through the transistor has reached a limit current value, the ON operation of the transistor is limited. When the output voltage of the output circuit has exceeded a first set voltage, the limit current value is lowered and the ON operation of the transistor is further limited. When the output voltage of the output circuit has exceeded a second set voltage, the ON operation of the transistor is forcibly stopped.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular lamp that can be miniaturized by reducing signal lines connected to a vehicle main body.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to protecting a switching regulator by sensing immediately a change in an input voltage when the input voltage of the switching regulator is changed suddenly. When an input voltage of a switching regulator 12 is changed suddenly and an interrupt request signal IRQ is provided from an input voltage sensing circuit 16 while electromagnetic energy accumulated in the switching regulator 12 is discharged to an output block 14 by turning ON/OFF a switch SW1 in accordance with a switching signal generated by a microcomputer 18, to control a lighting of an LED1, the microcomputer 18 reduces an ON duty of the switching signal provided to the switch SW1 in response to the interrupt request signal IRQ and limits an increase of a peak value of a current flowing through a primary side of the switching regulator 12.

Abstract: In a discharge lamp lighting circuit 1, circuits 12, 13, which respectively detect a voltage applied to a discharge lamp 10 and a current flowing through the discharge lamp are provided. Light on/off state, furthermore, light on/off state detecting means 25 is provided, which detects light on state or light off state of the discharge lamp, in that the absolute value of the difference between voltage and current detection values of the discharge lamp in light off state is larger than that in light on state.

Abstract: An LED is connected to a power supply circuit, and a Zener diode is reverse-connected to the LED and then packaged in an LED package. When a load of the power supply circuit is lightened due to disconnection in the LED package, an output voltage of the power supply circuit shows a rising tendency. However, the power supply circuit limits the maximum voltage applied to the LED within a specified range between a forward voltage of the LED and a forward voltage+a Zener voltage of the Zener diode to prevent current flow through the Zener diode. As a result, no current flows through a resistor R1, then an NPN transistor is turned on, and then the LED acting as a disconnection sensing indicator lamp is turned on.

Abstract: A portable electronic device (100) has a long sideways housing (10) whose both ends are held by the hands of a user and an LCD fitted in the surface of the housing (10). Bulges (42L, 42R) projecting outward are formed on both end portions of the rear face of the housing (10), which both end portions being held by fingers of the user holding the housing. When the fingers and palms of user's hands are placed along the bulges (42L, 42R) with the fingers and palms bent naturally, the device fits the hands and operability is less likely to be impaired even the user violently moves in game play with the device.

Abstract: A lighting control apparatus and a method of lighting control for a vehicle lighting device includes a semiconductor light source including a semiconductor light emitting element; and a current supply controller coupled between a power supply and the semiconductor light source. Supply of a current from the power supply to the semiconductor light source is restricted by the current supply controller during a current restriction period to a value smaller than a prescribed current. A microcomputer compares a forward voltage generated from the semiconductor light source during the current restriction period with an abnormality determination value to determine whether or not an abnormality occurs due to a change of the forward voltage of the semiconductor light source.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp has light source units connected in parallel, an output controlling switch operable to intermittently carry an electric current by repeating on and off, an output coil operable to output electric power according to current flowing into said output controlling switch in synchronization when said output switch switches, a selection controlling unit operable to select at least one said light source unit in synchronization when said output controlling switch switches and cause said at least one selected light source to receive the power output from said output coil, and a malfunction detecting unit operable to detect malfunction of each of said light source units, wherein said selection controlling unit selects at least one said light source unit among said light source units from which malfunction is not detected when said malfunction detecting unit detects malfunction of either of said light source units.

Abstract: A vehicle head lamp is disclosed for use in a vehicle, and includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources which differ in directions of radiation; an optical system disposed for common use by the plurality of semiconductor light sources; and a luminous energy control section for changing a ratio among luminous energies emitted by the respective semiconductor light sources in accordance with a vehicle-originated signal provided by a vehicle-side. In addition, the luminous energy control section may change the ratio among the luminous energy in accordance with a rotation angle by means of receiving a signal indicating a rotation angle of a steering wheel as the vehicle-originated signal.

Abstract: A vehicular lamp has a plurality of light source modules for emitting light. Each of the light source modules has a semiconductor light-emitting element, a lighting circuit operable to control an electric current flowing into the semiconductor light-emitting element to turn the semiconductor light-emitting element on and off, a power cable operable to supply electric power from a power source located outside the vehicular lamp to the lighting circuit, a control cable operable to transmit a control signal that controls turning the semiconductor light-emitting element on and off to the lighting circuit, and a mounting substrate that mounts the semiconductor light-emitting element and the lighting circuit. One of the light source modules is connected to the power source by means of said power cable. The light source modules other than the one light source module are connected to the one light source module in parallel via the power cable.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first metal film on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second metal film on the first metal film, and a third metal film on the second metal film. The first metal film forms an alloy with a solder. The second metal film causes isothermal solidification of the solder. The third metal film improves solder wetting properties or inhibits oxidation. Further, in a method for die-bonding a semiconductor device, a specific metal is diffused into a solder, when the solder melts, to transform the solder into a high melting point alloy, thereby causing isothermal solidification of the solder. The specific metal is different from the metal of the solder.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources that are connected with each other in series, a switching regulator for supplying an electric power from a power source to each of said plurality of semiconductor light sources, forward voltage detection circuitry for detecting a forward voltage of each of said plurality of semiconductor light sources, and failure detection circuitry for detecting the failure of each of said semiconductor light sources based on the detected value of said forward voltage detection means. A semiconductor light source having a lower forward voltage is connected closer to a reference potential side of said power source among said plurality of semiconductor light sources.

Abstract: A vehicle lighting apparatus includes a plurality of semiconductor light sources that are connected with each other in series, a switching regulator for supplying an electric power from a power source to each of said plurality of semiconductor light sources, forward voltage detection circuitry for detecting a forward voltage of each group by dividing said plurality of semiconductor light sources into groups; and failure detection circuitry for detecting the failure of the semiconductor light sources belonging to said each group based on the detected output of said each forward voltage detection circuitry.

Abstract: A lighting controller for a lighting device for a vehicle includes a semiconductor light source; a power source for supplying electric power; and control circuitry for controlling a supply of a current to the semiconductor light source. The control circuitry selectively supplies the current to the semiconductor light source through a resistance element or through a bypass circuit for bypassing the resistance element based on a determination of a state of the current. A method for controlling a lighting device for a vehicle includes receiving electric power from a power source; supplying a current to a semiconductor light source; determining a state of the current supplied to the semiconductor light source; and selectively supplying the current to the semiconductor light source through a resistance element or through a bypass circuit for bypassing the resistance element based on the determination of the state of the current.

Abstract: A lighting controller for a lighting device for a vehicle includes a semiconductor light source; a power source for supplying electric power; and control circuitry for receiving the electric power from the power source and controlling a current supplied to the semiconductor light source. The control circuitry determines an amount of time the semiconductor light source is in a turned on state and an amount of time the semiconductor light source is in a turned off state. The control circuitry controls a value of the current supplied to the semiconductor light source based on both the determined amount of time the semiconductor light source is in a turned on state and the determined amount of time the semiconductor light source is in a turned off state.

Abstract: There is provided a vehicular lamp that can reduce a high-frequency noise occurring between a primary side and a secondary side of an anode voltage applying coil at low cost. The vehicular lamp includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp having a cathode, a gate, and an anode, and an anode voltage applying coil operable to apply an acceleration voltage between the cathode and the anode of the cold cathode fluorescent lamp, in which one end of a secondary side of the anode voltage applying coil is connected to a reference potential of a primary side. Moreover, the vehicular lamp further includes an anode current detecting unit operable to detect an electric current flowing between a connecting point to the reference potential in the secondary side of the anode voltage applying coil and the cold cathode fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: In a process in which a current is supplied from a switching regulator to multi-chip LEDs, the forward voltages of the LEDs are respectively detected in forward detecting circuits. The detected values are sent to a microcomputer. In the microcomputer, detected values when the multi-chip LEDs are initially turned on are stored as initial values. A first abnormality deciding value is set from the initial value. The detected values are sequentially stored as updated values. Second abnormality deciding values having conditions stricter than those of the first abnormality deciding value are sequentially set in accordance with the stored updated value. A read value is compared with the first abnormality deciding value or the read value is compared with the second abnormality deciding value to decide whether or not the abnormality of the LEDs is present. When it is decided that the LEDs are abnormal, an LED is turned on to inform a driver of the presence of the abnormality.