Abstract: An AC-DC converter that converts an AC power supply voltage to a DC output voltage of a prescribed magnitude with power factor regulation includes a voltage regulation unit; an instantaneous value command calculator; a current regulation unit; an output voltage command calculator; a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal for a semiconductor switching device from the output voltage command and a carrier signal, the driving signal being provided to the semiconductor switching device so as to switch the semiconductor switching device ON and OFF; and a rectified voltage estimation unit that that derives an estimated value of a rectified voltage obtained by rectifying the AC power supply voltage from the output voltage command without actually detecting a rectified voltage, for providing to the instantaneous value command calculator and the output voltage command calculator.

Abstract: In a case where a dot forming condition is not satisfied, whether to form a dot for a target pixel is determined according to a predetermined method and dependently on a colorant-corresponding gradation value for the target pixel. The colorant-corresponding gradation value for each pixel is defined for a color component corresponding to colorant and representing density of the color component in color of the each pixel. The dot forming condition includes that the target pixel is an edge pixel and that a density index value for the target pixel, which is related to density of the color component in the color of the target pixel that is represented by the colorant-corresponding gradation value, is greater than a threshold value. In a case where a dot forming condition is satisfied, it is determined that a dot is to be formed for the target pixel, irrespective of the colorant-corresponding gradation value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of pixel values each having a plurality of component values; generating image data, the image data being one of first and second component data respectively including a plurality of first and second pixel values, each of the plurality of first and second pixel values being respectively related to maximum and minimum values among the plurality of component values of corresponding one of the plurality of pixels; calculating a plurality of edge strengths corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of pixels using the image data to generate edge strength data including the plurality of edge strengths; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels included in the target image. The specifying includes binarizing the edge strength data to generate binary image data.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter that converts a rectified voltage of an AC power supply AC to a DC output voltage by switching ON and OFF a switching device and controls the switching device by using a command value for and a detected value of the DC output voltage as well as a detected value of a reactor current includes: a current sense resistor and a low-pass filter for detecting a rectified current; a proportional controller that multiplies the detected value of the rectified current by a prescribed gain; an output voltage command calculator such as a divider that calculates an output voltage command for the switching device on the basis of an output of the proportional controller; and a circuit that compares the output voltage command to a carrier signal in order to generate a gate signal for the switching device, wherein the prescribed gain is effectively adjusted on the basis of a difference signal between a command value for and a detected value of the DC output voltage.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter that converts a rectified voltage of an AC power supply AC to a DC output voltage by switching ON and OFF a switching device and controls the switching device by using a command value for and a detected value of the DC output voltage as well as a detected value of a reactor current includes: a current sense resistor and a low-pass filter for detecting a rectified current; a proportional controller that multiplies the detected value of the rectified current by a prescribed gain; an output voltage command calculator such as a divider that calculates an output voltage command for the switching device on the basis of an output of the proportional controller; and a circuit that compares the output voltage command to a carrier signal in order to generate a gate signal for the switching device, wherein the prescribed gain is effectively adjusted on the basis of a difference signal between a command value for and a detected value of the DC output voltage.

Abstract: An AC-DC converter that converts an AC power supply voltage to a DC output voltage of a prescribed magnitude with power factor regulation includes a voltage regulation unit; an instantaneous value command calculator; a current regulation unit; an output voltage command calculator; a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal for a semiconductor switching device from the output voltage command and a carrier signal, the driving signal being provided to the semiconductor switching device so as to switch the semiconductor switching device ON and OFF; and a rectified voltage estimation unit that that derives an estimated value of a rectified voltage obtained by rectifying the AC power supply voltage from the output voltage command without actually detecting a rectified voltage, for providing to the instantaneous value command calculator and the output voltage command calculator.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a controller is configured to perform: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels; determining a plurality of first candidate character pixels from among the plurality of pixels, determination of the plurality of first candidate character pixels being made for each of the plurality of pixels; setting a plurality of object regions in the target image; determining a plurality of second candidate character pixels from among the plurality of pixels, determination of the plurality of second candidate character pixels being made for each of the plurality of object regions according to a first determination condition; and identifying a character pixel from among the plurality of pixels, the character pixel being included in both the plurality of first candidate character pixels and the plurality of second candidate character pixels.

Abstract: A power conversion device including an alternating current (AC) source, a plurality of switching units connected in series between positive and negative terminals of the AC source, each including a semiconductor switching element and having a load connected thereto, each switching unit outputting, to the load connected thereto, an input current from the AC source and a direct current (DC) output voltage that is generated through ON/OFF control of the semiconductor switching elements, a capacitor connected in parallel with the AC source and with the switching units, an inductor inserted between the capacitor and the switching units, and between the AC source and the switching units, a current measurement unit that measures a value of a current flowing from the AC source to the capacitor, and a control device that performs the ON/OFF control on the semiconductor switching elements on the basis of the measured current value.

Abstract: A power supply system, including: a plurality of power supply apparatuses; and an acquisition unit to acquire a load parameter representing load state of the plurality of power supply apparatuses as a whole, wherein each power supply apparatus has a control unit to control, depending on the load parameter, output by said power supply apparatus according to a reference condition different from at least the other one of the plurality of power supply apparatuses, will be provided.

Abstract: A power supply device including: a positive-side and negative-side capacitors sequentially connected between a positive-side and negative-side output-terminal; a positive-side and negative-side semiconductor switches sequentially connected between the positive-side and negative-side output-terminal in parallel to the positive-side and negative-side capacitors; and a plurality of rectifying circuits, each of which has an AC input-terminal and rectifies current flowing between the AC input-terminal and the positive-side and negative-side output-terminal is provided.

Abstract: In a trench-gate vertical MOSFET, an n-type drift layer and p-type base layer are epitaxially grown on an n+ silicon carbide substrate, and an n++ source region and p++ contact region are provided inside the p-type base layer. The first source electrode contacts the n++ source region, and the second source electrode contacts the p++ contact region. The first source electrode and second source electrode are separated from each other.

Abstract: A semiconductor device including: a plurality of semiconductor units each constituting a three-level inverter circuit; and a connection unit electrically connecting the plurality of semiconductor units in parallel, wherein each of the semiconductor units includes: a multi-layer substrate including an insulating plate and circuit plates disposed on a primary surface of the insulating plate; a plurality of semiconductor elements each having a back surface thereof fixed to one of the circuit plates and a front surface thereof having primary electrodes; and wiring members electrically connected to the primary electrodes of the semiconductor elements, and wherein in each of the semiconductor units, the multi-layer substrate, the plurality of semiconductor elements, and the wiring members are configured in such a way as to constitute the three-level inverter circuit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus specifies, from among target pixels in a target image, first pixels related to a first color, and determines whether a specific condition is met for each peripheral pixel of the target pixel. The specific condition includes a condition that each peripheral pixel is a candidate for a pixel representing one of colors different from the first color. The apparatus specifies, as a second pixel related to a second color, each peripheral pixel meeting the specific condition. The apparatus performs an image process on target image data by using specified first and second pixels to generate processed image data. In a processed image, first processed pixels correspond to the specified first pixels and have the first color, and second processed pixel correspond to the specified second pixels and have the second color.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of sets of component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of component images; smoothing the plurality of component images to generate respective sets of a plurality of sets of smoothed component image data representing respective ones of a plurality of smoothed component images; enhancing an edge in each of the plurality of smoothed component images to generate corresponding one set of a plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; generating single-component image data including one type of component value corresponding to each of the plurality of pixels by using the plurality of sets of enhanced component image data; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels using the single-component image data, the plurality of edge pixels constituting an edge in the target image.

Abstract: A solar power generation system includes a plurality of solar cell groups, a plurality of chopper units each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of solar cell groups and raises a DC voltage obtained from the corresponding solar cell group. Each of the plurality of chopper units includes a first operating point control unit that respectively controls an output current of the corresponding chopper unit to optimize an operating point of each of the plurality of solar cell groups so as to obtain maximum power from the respective solar cell groups, and an inverter, which receives the DC voltage obtained from the plurality of chopper units and outputs AC power. The inverter includes a second operating point control unit that controls the DC voltage obtained from the plurality of chopper units to optimize the operating point of each of the plurality of solar cell groups.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image including a plurality of pixels, the target image data including a plurality of pixel values each having a plurality of component values; generating image data, the image data being one of first and second component data respectively including a plurality of first and second pixel values, each of the plurality of first and second pixel values being respectively related to maximum and minimum values among the plurality of component values of corresponding one of the plurality of pixels; calculating a plurality of edge strengths corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of pixels using the image data to generate edge strength data including the plurality of edge strengths; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels included in the target image. The specifying includes binarizing the edge strength data to generate binary image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs: acquiring target image data representing a target image and including a plurality of pixel values each having a plurality of component values; generating first image data including a plurality of first pixel values each being related to a minimum value among the plurality of component values of corresponding one of the plurality of pixel values; specifying a plurality of first edge pixels using the first image data; generating second image data including a plurality of second pixel values each being related to a maximum value among the plurality of component values of corresponding one of the plurality of pixel values; specifying a plurality of second edge pixels using the second image data; and specifying a plurality of edge pixels using the plurality of first edge pixels and the plurality of second edge pixels, the plurality of edge pixels constituting an edge in the target image.

Abstract: There is provided a power supply that includes a primary block having an inverter circuit and a secondary block connected to the primary block, the secondary block having a transformer with a primary side connected to the inverter circuit and having a rectifier that is connected to a secondary side of the transformer and outputs DC power.

Abstract: A power converting device, in one possible configuration, includes a chopper circuit with a first semiconductor switching device, a fast recovery diode, and an inductor of which one end is connected to a connection point connecting between the first semiconductor switching device and fast recovery diode; a series circuit, connected in parallel with the fast recovery diode, including a rectifying diode with a greater reverse recovery loss and a smaller forward voltage drop than those of the fast recovery diode, and a second semiconductor switching device. The second semiconductor switching device has a lower breakdown voltage and a smaller forward voltage drop than those of the first semiconductor switching device, is configured to turn on when the first semiconductor switching device is turned off, and is configured to turn off at a timing before the first semiconductor switching device shifts from an off-state to an on-state.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) power supply, including a plurality of first printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed on a primary side of the DC power supply, a plurality of alternating current (AC)/DC converter circuits having different potentials, each formed on a different one of the plurality of first PCBs, a second PCB disposed on a secondary side of the DC power supply, and a plurality of DC/DC converter circuits having an equal potential disposed on the second PCB. The AC/DC converter circuits are electrically connected in series and connected to an AC input of the DC power supply. The DC/DC converter circuits are electrically connected in parallel and connected to a DC output of the DC power supply.