Abstract: A controller of an air-fuel-ratio sensor according to an embodiment includes a current supplying unit, a sweep processing unit, and an abnormality detecting unit. The current supplying unit supplies a current to the pump cell through a first terminal connected with the pump cell so as to control the pump cell. The sweep processing unit executes a sweeping process in which a predetermined voltage or a predetermined current is applied to the detection cell through a second terminal connected with the detection cell so as to change a voltage and a current of the detection cell. The abnormality detecting unit detects a short-circuited state between the first terminal and the second terminal on the basis of a fluctuation in a voltage or a current, generated by the sweeping process, of the first terminal.

Abstract: A driving circuit according to an embodiment includes a driving unit, a first temperature detecting unit, an overheat protecting unit, a second temperature detecting unit, and a failure diagnosing unit. The driving unit supplies a driving current to a load based on a control signal input from a controller. The overheat protecting unit blocks supply of the driving current to the load when the level of the signal output from the first temperature detecting unit exceeds a temperature threshold. The failure diagnosing unit blocks supply of the driving current to the load and outputs a signal of a level corresponding to a temperature out of a temperature range detectable by the second temperature detecting unit to the controller when it is determined that the first temperature detecting unit breaks down.

Abstract: A controller of an air-fuel-ratio sensor includes a control unit, a voltage-abnormality detecting unit, and a short-circuit-abnormality detecting unit. The control unit controls a current and a voltage of a gas sensor element through a plurality of terminals connected with the gas sensor element. The voltage-abnormality detecting unit changes, when at least one of voltages of the plurality of terminals is out of a predetermined range, a voltage level of an output voltage. The short-circuit-abnormality detecting unit causes, when the voltage level of the output voltage changes from a first voltage into a second voltage, a control unit to perform for a predetermined time a protective operation that suppresses currents from the control unit to the plurality of terminals, and detects, when the voltage level of the output voltage is the second voltage after the protective operation is released, a short-circuit abnormality.

Abstract: A driving circuit according to an embodiment includes a driving unit, a first temperature detecting unit, an overheat protecting unit, a second temperature detecting unit, and a failure diagnosing unit. The driving unit supplies a driving current to a load based on a control signal input from a controller. The overheat protecting unit blocks supply of the driving current to the load when the level of the signal output from the first temperature detecting unit exceeds a temperature threshold. The failure diagnosing unit blocks supply of the driving current to the load and outputs a signal of a level corresponding to a temperature out of a temperature range detectable by the second temperature detecting unit to the controller when it is determined that the first temperature detecting unit breaks down.

Abstract: A controller of an air-fuel-ratio sensor includes a control unit, a voltage-abnormality detecting unit, and a short-circuit-abnormality detecting unit. The control unit controls a current and a voltage of a gas sensor element through a plurality of terminals connected with the gas sensor element. The voltage-abnormality detecting unit changes, when at least one of voltages of the plurality of terminals is out of a predetermined range, a voltage level of an output voltage. The short-circuit-abnormality detecting unit causes, when the voltage level of the output voltage changes from a first voltage into a second voltage, a control unit to perform for a predetermined time a protective operation that suppresses currents from the control unit to the plurality of terminals, and detects, when the voltage level of the output voltage is the second voltage after the protective operation is released, a short-circuit abnormality.

Abstract: A controller of an air-fuel-ratio sensor according to an embodiment includes a current supplying unit, a sweep processing unit, and an abnormality detecting unit. The current supplying unit supplies a current to the pump cell through a first terminal connected with the pump cell so as to control the pump cell. The sweep processing unit executes a sweeping process in which a predetermined voltage or a predetermined current is applied to the detection cell through a second terminal connected with the detection cell so as to change a voltage and a current of the detection cell. The abnormality detecting unit detects a short-circuited state between the first terminal and the second terminal on the basis of a fluctuation in a voltage or a current, generated by the sweeping process, of the first terminal.

Abstract: An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping an engine of the vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimal operation voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage decrease information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimal operation voltage. A power control unit stops supply of power to some of electrical loads to which power is supplied from the battery when the engine is started, if the voltage decrease information is stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An idling stop device installed in a vehicle includes a microcomputer, a detector, a storage, and a controller. The microcomputer automatically stops an engine of the vehicle when a prescribed stopping condition is satisfied, and automatically activates a starter motor of the engine when a prescribed activating condition is satisfied. The detector detects whether a drive voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is less than a threshold value. The storage stores, irrespective of a state of the microcomputer, information indicating that the detector has detected that the drive voltage is less than the threshold value. The controller drops an increasing speed of a current for driving the starter motor when the microcomputer activates the stator motor under the condition that the information is stored in the storage.

Abstract: An idling stop apparatus is provided which can prevent a voltage of a battery from being lowered even when a microcomputer is reset. In an idling stop apparatus when a reset condition is established, reset information indicating that the reset condition is established is stored in a latch circuit and a microcomputer disables an idling stop function when the reset information is stored. The reset information is stored in the latch circuit even when the microcomputer is being reset or even after the microcomputer is reset. Accordingly, the microcomputer after the reset can disable the idling stop function. As a result, it is possible to prevent the voltage of the battery from being lowered due to the idling stop function.

Abstract: Engine control device includes a delay unit which delays or cuts off a flow of current from a first current system, which directs current to a coil, to a second current system, which directs current to a starter motor. When a starter switch, which turns the flow of current from the power source to the first current system on or off, is turned on and electricity flows to the first current system, the delay unit delays the current flowing from the first current system to the second current system. When electricity flows to the first current system as a result of a controller having turned a first switch on, the delay unit cuts off the flow of electricity from the first current system to the second current system.

Abstract: An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle and automatically stops and starts an engine of the vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping the engine when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage reduction information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimum operating voltage. A power control unit causes a capacitor which stores electric charges corresponding to power for driving a starter motor of the engine to supply power to the starter motor when the engine is started, if the voltage reduction information is stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An idling stop device installed in a vehicle includes a microcomputer, a detector, a storage, and a controller. The microcomputer automatically stops an engine of the vehicle when a prescribed stopping condition is satisfied, and automatically activates a starter motor of the engine when a prescribed activating condition is satisfied. The detector detects whether a drive voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is less than a threshold value. The storage stores, irrespective of a state of the microcomputer, information indicating that the detector has detected that the drive voltage is less than the threshold value. The controller drops an increasing speed of a current for driving the starter motor when the microcomputer activates the stator motor under the condition that the information is stored in the storage.

Abstract: An idling stop apparatus is provided which can prevent a voltage of a battery from being lowered even when a microcomputer is reset. In an idling stop apparatus when a reset condition is established, reset information indicating that the reset condition is established is stored in a latch circuit and a microcomputer disables an idling stop function when the reset information is stored. The reset information is stored in the latch circuit even when the microcomputer is being reset or even after the microcomputer is reset. Accordingly, the microcomputer after the reset can disable the idling stop function. As a result, it is possible to prevent the voltage of the battery from being lowered due to the idling stop function.

Abstract: Engine control device includes a delay unit which delays or cuts off a flow of current from a first current system, which directs current to a coil, to a second current system, which directs current to a starter motor. When a starter switch, which turns the flow of current from the power source to the first current system on or off, is turned on and electricity flows to the first current system, the delay unit delays the current flowing from the first current system to the second current system. When electricity flows to the first current system as a result of a controller having turned a first switch on, the delay unit cuts off the flow of electricity from the first current system to the second current system.

Abstract: An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle and automatically stops and starts an engine of the vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping the engine when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage reduction information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimum operating voltage. A power control unit causes a capacitor which stores electric charges corresponding to power for driving a starter motor of the engine to supply power to the starter motor when the engine is started, if the voltage reduction information is stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping an engine of the vehicle when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimal operation voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage decrease information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimal operation voltage. A power control unit stops supply of power to some of electrical loads to which power is supplied from the battery when the engine is started, if the voltage decrease information is stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: A power supply device has a first node to which an input voltage is input, a second node, a third node from which an output voltage is output, a first switching circuit electrically connecting the first node and the second node and a resonance circuit electrically connecting the second node and the third node. The power supply device converts the input voltage into the output voltage through an intermediate voltage of the second node. A first timing circuit is operable to turn on and turn off the first switching circuit. When the intermediate voltage becomes equal to or larger than a first predetermined voltage, the first timing circuit turns on the first switching circuit after a first predetermined time period.

Abstract: A switching regulator for inputting a power source, supplying output power to an external circuit, and adjusting the output voltage to a target voltage, the switching regulator has a switching regulator circuit having first and second transistors, a feedback circuit that receives the output voltage, and outputs a control pulse signal at a frequency in accordance with the received output voltage; a PLL circuit unit having a PLL circuit, and a first control signal generating circuit that outputs the first control signal for controlling the first transistor; and a drive circuit that outputs a second control signal that controls the second transistor; and a control circuit that monitors the period of the PLL output pulse and the control pulse signal, and controls the ON and OFF timing of the second transistor when a difference of monitored periods.

Abstract: A half bridge step-up switching regulator is configured including an output voltage adjusting switch element Q1 for adjusting an output voltage; a synchronous switch element Q2, connected in series with the output voltage adjusting switch element Q1, that is complementary ON operated when the output voltage adjusting switch element Q1 is turned OFF; a voltage detecting section 10 for detecting the voltage at a connecting node of the switch elements in time of turn-OFF of the synchronous switch element; and a soft switch control section 20 for adjusting the timing of turn-OFF of the synchronous switch element Q2 based on the voltage fluctuation detected by the voltage detecting section 10 to perform zero current switching control.

Abstract: The switching regulator has a first switching regulator circuit for outputting a variable power according to a pulse width modulation pulse to be supplied; a second switching regulator circuit for outputting or stopping a constant power according to a control signal to be supplied; and a control circuit for controlling the first switching regulator circuit and the second switching regulator circuits. The control circuit increases the variable power of the first switching regulator circuit by an amount greater than a regular amount if a detected voltage changes from a status higher than the target voltage to a status lower than the target voltage, and decreases the variable power of the first switching regulator circuit by an amount greater than the regular amount if the detected voltage changes from a status lower than the target voltage to a status higher than the target voltage.