Abstract: [Object] It is an object of the present invention to provide an aluminum alloy film having excellent bending resistance and heat resistance, and a thin film transistor including the aluminum alloy film. [Solving Means] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an aluminum alloy film according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an Al pure metal that includes at least one type of a first additive element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Mo, Y, Nb, and Ti. A content of the first additive element is 0.01 atomic % or more and 1.0 atomic % or less. Such an aluminum alloy film has excellent bending resistance and excellent heat resistance. Further, also etching can be performed on the aluminum alloy film.

Abstract: Provided are an equol determination kit that selectively determines equol with high sensitivity by surface-enhanced Raman scattering, and a method for selectively determining equol with high sensitivity by surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The equol determination kit of the present disclosure determines equol by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy. The method for determination of equol of the present disclosure is a method for determination of equol by the surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy. In the method, equol is preferably determined by analyzing a peak found in at least one wavelength region selected from the group consisting of 1530 to 1630 cm?1, 1230 to 1330 cm?1, 1140 to 1240 cm?1, and 535 to 635 cm?1.

Abstract: [Object] It is an object of the present invention to provide an aluminum alloy film having excellent bending resistance and heat resistance, and a thin film transistor including the aluminum alloy film. [Solving Means] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an aluminum alloy film according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an Al pure metal that includes at least one type of a first additive element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Mo, Y, Nb, and Ti. A content of the first additive element is 0.01 atomic % or more and 1.0 atomic % or less. Such an aluminum alloy film has excellent bending resistance and excellent heat resistance. Further, also etching can be performed on the aluminum alloy film.

Abstract: [Object] It is an object of the present invention to provide an aluminum alloy target capable of forming an aluminum alloy film having excellent bending resistance and heat resistance, and a method of producing the aluminum alloy target. [Solving Means] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an aluminum alloy target according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an Al pure metal that includes at least one type of a first additive element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Sc, Mo, Y, Nb, and Ti. A content of the first additive element is 0.01 atomic % or more and 1.0 atomic % or less. The aluminum alloy film formed using such an aluminum alloy target has excellent bending resistance and excellent heat resistance. Further, also etching can be performed on the aluminum alloy film.

Abstract: A workpiece clamp apparatus includes: a robot arm having, at a distal-end portion thereof, a holding section for holding a workpiece; a hydraulic-fluid supply coupler provided at the distal-end portion of the robot arm; a hydraulic-fluid supply device for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic-fluid supply coupler; a clamping device having a plurality of clamping members that grip the workpiece for machining with a machine tool; and a cylinder that has a hydraulic-fluid supply port to which the hydraulic-fluid supply coupler can be connected and that drives the clamping member in the workpiece-gripping direction as a result of the hydraulic fluid being supplied via the hydraulic-fluid supply port.

Abstract: A workpiece clamp apparatus includes: a robot arm having, at a distal-end portion thereof, a holding section for holding a workpiece; a hydraulic-fluid supply coupler provided at the distal-end portion of the robot arm; a hydraulic-fluid supply device for supplying a hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic-fluid supply coupler; a clamping device having a plurality of clamping members that grip the workpiece for machining with a machine tool; and a cylinder that has a hydraulic-fluid supply port to which the hydraulic-fluid supply coupler can be connected and that drives the clamping member in the workpiece-gripping direction as a result of the hydraulic fluid being supplied via the hydraulic-fluid supply port.

Abstract: An engine starter controller for a vehicle equipped with an idle-stop controller includes a user-start circuit, an auto-start circuit, a switch, and a failure detector. The user-start circuit energizes a starter when a driver starts an engine. The auto-start circuit energizes the starter when the idle-stop controller automatically restarts the engine. The switch circuit switches an energization circuit for energizing the starter from the user-start circuit to the auto-start circuit after the user-start circuit starts to energize the starter by causing the auto-start circuit to energize the starter and by putting the user-start circuit into a forced state where the user-start circuit is forced to stop energizing the starter. The failure detector determines whether the auto-start circuit energizes the starter when the energization circuit is switched to the auto-start circuit.

Abstract: An ECU for controlling a starter includes a transistor in addition to transistors, which turn on relays provided for a pinion gear and a motor of the starter, respectively. The transistor is provided in a current path, which connects a line of a battery voltage and a junction between upstream side ends of coils of the relays. The ECU operates the starter by turning on the three transistors, which turn on the relays. It further detects abnormality based on voltages of terminals.

Abstract: In an idle stop vehicle, a starter has separately an electromagnetic switch for energizing a motor and a pinion control solenoid for engaging a pinion gear with a ring gear. A coil of the solenoid is energized by a battery through a relay. For starting an engine, an ECU turns on the relay and the electromagnetic switch so that the starter cranks an engine. During engine operation, the ECU turns on only the relay while maintaining turn-off of the electromagnetic switch. If a voltage of a current supply path between the relay and the coil is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the ECU prohibits automatic idle stop by determining that the current supply path to the coil has abnormality.

Abstract: A relay is provided in a power supply line from a battery to a motor of a starter in a vehicle. The relay is selectively switched between a contact side state where contacts short-circuit and a resistor side state where the contacts open and a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in series. When an engine is started, an ECU controlling the starter energizes the motor by driving the relay to the resistor side only for a first predetermined time in order to suppress inrush current and voltage fall due to the inrush current. The ECU detects a contact side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on a battery voltage at the time when the motor is energized by driving the relay to the resistor side.

Abstract: In an ECU provided for idle-stop control, when a user start command is outputted from an ECU to start an engine in response to a manual start operation of a driver, transistors are turned on and a solenoid is operated to engage a pinion gear of a starter with a ring gear. After a delay period of a delay circuit, a transistor is turned on by an output of the delay circuit and an electromagnetic switch is turned on to energize a motor of the starter. A microcomputer measures an actual delay time from when the user start command is outputted to turn-on of the transistor and checks whether the measured time corresponds to a normal time of the delay time.

Abstract: In an ECU provided for idle-stop control, when a user start command is outputted from an ECU to start an engine in response to a manual start operation of a driver, transistors are turned on and a solenoid is operated to engage a pinion gear of a starter with a ring gear. After a delay period of a delay circuit, a transistor is turned on by an output of the delay circuit and an electromagnetic switch is turned on to energize a motor of the starter. A microcomputer measures an actual delay time from when the user start command is outputted to turn-on of the transistor and checks whether the measured time corresponds to a normal time of the delay time.

Abstract: An ECU for controlling a starter includes a transistor in addition to transistors, which turn on relays provided for a pinion gear and a motor of the starter, respectively. The transistor is provided in a current path, which connects a line of a battery voltage and a junction between upstream side ends of coils of the relays. The ECU operates the starter by turning on the three transistors, which turn on the relays. It further detects abnormality based on voltages of terminals.

Abstract: A relay is provided in a power supply line from a battery to a motor of a starter in a vehicle. The relay is selectively switched between a contact side state where contacts short-circuit and a resistor side state where the contacts open and a resistor is inserted into the power supply line in series. When an engine is started, an ECU controlling the starter energizes the motor by driving the relay to the resistor side only for a first predetermined time in order to suppress inrush current and voltage fall due to the inrush current. The ECU detects a contact side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on a battery voltage at the time when the motor is energized by driving the relay to the resistor side.

Abstract: In an idle stop vehicle, a starter has separately an electromagnetic switch for energizing a motor and a pinion control solenoid for engaging a pinion gear with a ring gear. A coil of the solenoid is energized by a battery through a relay. For starting an engine, an ECU turns on the relay and the electromagnetic switch so that the starter cranks an engine. During engine operation, the ECU turns on only the relay while maintaining turn-off of the electromagnetic switch. If a voltage of a current supply path between the relay and the coil is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the ECU prohibits automatic idle stop by determining that the current supply path to the coil has abnormality.

Abstract: An idle reduction vehicle has a relay in a power supply line from a battery to a starter motor. The relay is driven between a contact-side state, in which contacts short-circuit, and a resistor-side state, in which the contacts are opened and a resistor is serially inserted into the power supply line. At an engine restart from idle reduction, an ECU drives the relay to the resistor-side state and starts energization to the motor, thereby suppressing an inrush current. The ECU detects a contact-side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on a battery voltage at the time when the ECU drives the relay to the resistor-side state and energizes the motor. The ECU detects a resistor-side state fixation abnormality of the relay based on the battery voltage at the time when the ECU drives the relay to the contact-side state and energizes the motor.

Abstract: A casing of an ECU is formed within an air cleaner of an intake module for an internal combustion engine. The casing faces an intake air passage, and formed in a pocket, so that the casing is easily formed and the water and dust proof performances thereof are improved. A printed-circuit board to which a metal plate is fixed is inserted into the casing along slits formed on an inner wall of the casing. The slits pinch the printed-circuit board and the metal plate at the rear end area thereof. Thus, anti-stress and anti-vibration performances of the printed-circuit board are improved. The metal plate including convexes and concaved contacting portions is easily formed by pressing an aluminum or steel plate. Thus, the metal plate is formed with low cost. Further, the metal plate appropriately includes holes, thereby promoting the heat radiation and reducing the weight thereof.

Abstract: A casing of an ECU is formed within an air cleaner of an intake module for an internal combustion engine. The casing faces an intake air passage, and formed in a pocket, so that the casing is easily formed and the water and dust proof performances thereof are improved. A printed-circuit board to which a metal plate is fixed is inserted into the casing along slits formed on an inner wall of the casing. The slits pinch the printed-circuit board and the metal plate at the rear end area thereof. Thus, anti-stress and anti-vibration performances of the printed-circuit board are improved. The metal plate including convexes and concaved contacting portions is easily formed by pressing an aluminum or steel plate. Thus, the metal plate is formed with low cost. Further, the metal plate appropriately includes holes, thereby promoting the heat radiation and reducing the weight thereof.