Abstract: A low-level light detector includes an avalanche photodiode (APD) to which is applied a bias voltage adjusted to produce a multiplication factor of not more than 30, and a capacitor for accumulating carriers produced by light in the APD and multiplied using the APD characteristics, the capacitor being connected to the avalanche photodiode. The detector detects the intensity of light impinging on the avalanche photodiode by periodically reading the capacitor voltage and obtaining time-based differences in the voltage, or by resetting the capacitor voltage to a predetermined voltage each time the capacitor voltage is read.

Abstract: This invention provides a photodetector for weak light and a weak light detection system including the photodetector for weak light the photodetector for weak light is comprised of a substrate on which an integrating read circuit including a PIN photodiode or an APD and an FET is mounted, wherein the entire assembly is mounted while separating the substrate from a ground potential without grounding the substrate, such a photodetector for weak light can reduce noise and ensure a high enough sensitivity enough to be able to discriminate the number of photons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can release charge from the circuit without increasing capacity; the present invention being characterized by a photodetector for weak light that has a charge release means which permits the photodetector for weak light of the present invention to avoid increasing its capacity because it does not require a reset transistor integrated with the photodector, rather the charge reset means of the present invention lowers mounting capacity by removing itself from the circuit after it releases the charge.

Abstract: A knock control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. Operation of the engine is switchable between a partial-cylinder operation for operating some of the cylinders and an all-cylinder operation for operating all of the cylinders. A determination threshold for determining knocking is set according to an output signal from the knock sensor. A level of the output signal from the knock sensor is compared with the determination threshold, and occurrence of knocking is determined according to a result of the comparison. The determination threshold used during the partial-cylinder operation is set to a value less than a value of the determination threshold used during the all-cylinder operation.

Abstract: The video signal processor of the present invention comprises a CCD for storing an inputted image by converting it into an electric charge through photoelectrical conversion to be stored by each field and then outputting the stored electric charge by each field; a shutter pulse generator for supplying a shutter pulse which adjusts storage time of the electric charge in the CCD; and a variable controller for variably controlling adjusting amount of electric charge storage time by the shutter pulse by a field unit.

Abstract: This invention provides a photodetector for weak light and a weak light detection system including the photodetector for weak light the photodetector for weak light is comprised of a substrate on which an integrating read circuit including a PIN photodiode or an APD and an FET is mounted, wherein the entire assembly is mounted while separating the substrate from a ground potential without grounding the substrate, such a photodetector for weak light can reduce noise and ensure a high enough sensitivity enough to be able to discriminate the number of photons.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a cylinder halting mechanism. The cylinder halting mechanism switches between an all-cylinder operation in which all of the plurality of cylinders are operated and a partial-cylinder operation in which at least one of the plurality of cylinders is halted. Operating parameters of the engine and the atmospheric pressure are detected. The cylinder halting mechanism is controlled to perform the all-cylinder operation or the partial-cylinder operation according to the operating parameters of the engine and the detected atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for manufacturing a circuit for photon number counting without destroying a FET within the circuit by manufacturing a photodetector for weak light, the photodetector for weak light comprising a circuit on a substrate, the circuit comprising light detection means and a field effect transistor (FET), the method comprising: a light detection means connection step; an FET electrode-to-substrate electrode connection step; an external electrode connection step, a light detection means-to-gate connection step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can prevent noise from impurities, prevent electrodes from disconnecting from the substrate, and can be easily cooled; the present invention further provides a photodetector for weak light that can count the number of photons; the present invention solves the above problems by using an ultraviolet light transparent substrate on the photodetector for weak light.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector for weak light that can release charge from the circuit without increasing capacity; the present invention being characterized by a photodetector for weak light that has a charge release means which permits the photodetector for weak light of the present invention to avoid increasing its capacity because it does not require a reset transistor integrated with the photodector, rather the charge reset means of the present invention lowers mounting capacity by removing itself from the circuit after it releases the charge.

Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, wherein operation of the engine is switchable between a partial-cylinder operation, which operates some of the cylinders, and an all-cylinder operation, which operates all of the cylinders. Basic ignition timing is calculated according to an operating condition of the engine. Knocking is determined based on an output of the knock sensor. A correction amount of the ignition timing is calculated according to a result of the knocking determination to suppress knocking, and the basic ignition timing is corrected with the calculated correction amount. Learning values of the correction amount are calculated corresponding, respectively, to partial-cylinder operation and all-cylinder operation, and one of the calculated learning values is used according to the operating condition of the engine.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a cylinder halting mechanism. The cylinder halting mechanism switches between an all-cylinder operation in which all of the plurality of cylinders are operated and a partial-cylinder operation in which at least one of the plurality of cylinders is halted. Operating parameters of the engine and the atmospheric pressure are detected. The cylinder halting mechanism is controlled to perform the all-cylinder operation or the partial-cylinder operation according to the operating parameters of the engine and the detected atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An ignition timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, wherein operation of the engine is switchable between a partial-cylinder operation, which operates some of the cylinders, and an all-cylinder operation, which operates all of the cylinders. Basic ignition timing is calculated according to an operating condition of the engine. Knocking is determined based on an output of the knock sensor. A correction amount of the ignition timing is calculated according to a result of the knocking determination to suppress knocking, and the basic ignition timing is corrected with the calculated correction amount. Learning values of the correction amount are calculated corresponding, respectively, to partial-cylinder operation and all-cylinder operation, and one of the calculated learning values is used according to the operating condition of the engine.

Abstract: A knock control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders. Operation of the engine is switchable between a partial-cylinder operation for operating some of the cylinders and an all-cylinder operation for operating all of the cylinders. A determination threshold for determining knocking is set according to an output signal from the knock sensor. A level of the output signal from the knock sensor is compared with the determination threshold, and occurrence of knocking is determined according to a result of the comparison. The determination threshold used during the partial-cylinder operation is set to a value less than a value of the determination threshold used during the all-cylinder operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing low-frequency noise in a cooled circuit wherein low-frequency noise in a cryogenic semiconductor device is reduced by carrying out thermal cure. The semiconductor device is turned on at a first temperature, and the temperature of the semiconductor device is temporarily raised, while flowing current in the semiconductor device, to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, and then cooling the temperature of the semiconductor device from the second temperature to a cryogenic temperature, at which the semiconductor device can operate.

Abstract: There is provided a failure determination system for a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine which is capable of promptly and accurately carrying out failure determination of the valve-actuating system for cylinders for being made idle during a partial-cylinder operation mode. The failure determination system is capable of switching a cylinder operation mode between an all-cylinder operation mode in which all the cylinders are operated, and a partial-cylinder operation mode in which part of the cylinders are made idle. The failure determination system includes an ECU which executes a failure-determining operation mode for causing a valve-actuating mechanism to resume actuation of intake valves and exhaust valves of the part of the cylinders in a state in which fuel supply to the part of the cylinders is stopped, when the cylinder operation mode is shifted from the partial-cylinder operation mode to the all-cylinder operation mode.

Abstract: In order to provide an inexpensive binary data counting device of which the processing is done at high speed and which can be implemented with a small circuit scale, a shifter array 10 is provided for outputting binary data of N bits, which comprises N×(N+1)/2 shifters of which the control inputs are the data expressed in a binary manner comprising N bits so that binary data wherein is are filled in from the right in the same number as 1s in the data expressed in a binary manner comprising N bits are outputted by controlling the operation of each shifter in the shifter array 10 with each bit value of the data expressed in a binary manner comprising N bits. An encoder is also provided for converting said binary data into a multi-valued number in accordance with the position of 1 in said binary data on the MSB side.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing low-frequency noise in a cooled circuit wherein low-frequency noise in a cryogenic semiconductor device is reduced by carrying out thermal cure. The semiconductor device is turned on at a first temperature, and the temperature of the semiconductor device is temporarily raised, while flowing current in the semiconductor device, to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, and then cooling the temperature of the semiconductor device from the second temperature to a cryogenic temperature, at which the semiconductor device can operate.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a cylinder halting mechanism for halting operation of at least one of the plurality of cylinders. The cylinder halting mechanism is controlled to operate all of the plurality of cylinders or to halt the operation of the at least one of the plurality of cylinders. The operating state of the cylinder halting mechanism is detected based on the amount of change in the detected intake pressure of the engine.

Abstract: There is provided a failure determination system for a variable-cylinder internal combustion engine which is capable of promptly and accurately carrying out failure determination of the valve-actuating system for cylinders for being made idle during a partial-cylinder operation mode. The failure determination system is capable of switching a cylinder operation mode between an all-cylinder operation mode in which all the cylinders are operated, and a partial-cylinder operation mode in which part of the cylinders are made idle. The failure determination system includes an ECU which executes a failure-determining operation mode for causing a valve-actuating mechanism to resume actuation of intake valves and exhaust valves of the part of the cylinders in a state in which fuel supply to the part of the cylinders is stopped, when the cylinder operation mode is shifted from the partial-cylinder operation mode to the all-cylinder operation mode.