Abstract: A metal detection device includes a metal detection coil arranged in a metal detection area, wherein the metal detection coil is excited, and an electromagnetic wave radiated from the metal detection coil detects whether metal exists in the metal detection area. An oscillation circuit generates a sinusoidal oscillating current having a single fundamental frequency and supplies the oscillating current to the metal detection coil to excite the coil. A harmonic level detection circuit detects a harmonic component of the fundamental frequency component of the oscillating current and generates a detection signal. A comparison circuit compares a signal level of the detection signal and a pre-set reference value. A processing circuit determines whether metal exists in the metal detection area based on a comparison result. When determining that metal exists in the metal detection area, the processing circuit drives a notification unit to issue a notification indicating detection of metal.

Abstract: A lighting control device includes a sensor that detects a state of a user and a gesture made by the user and a controller that controls a lighting characteristic of a lighting device. The controller changes a size of a projection region illuminated by the lighting device in response to the sensor detecting a predetermined gesture involving both hands of the user made near the periphery of a projection region.

Abstract: A contactless power supplying device includes a plurality of unit controllers that control a plurality of groups of power supplying unit circuits, which respectively excite a plurality of groups of primary coils. A clock signal generation circuit provides the plurality of unit controllers with a common clock signal. The plurality of unit controllers generates synchronization signals to excite the plurality of groups of primary coils in accordance with a common clock signal and provides the synchronization signals respectively to a plurality of power supplying unit circuit. The synchronization signals are rectangular wave pulses having the same cycle, and the plurality of groups of primary coils are excited with the same frequency.

Abstract: A contactless power supplying device is provided. A primary coil and a basic power supplying unit circuit are arranged in a power supplying area. The primary coil supplies secondary power through electromagnetic induction to a secondary coil of a power receiving device in the power supplying area. The basic power supplying unit circuit excites the primary coil in the power supplying area. The basic power supplying unit circuit transmits an oscillation signal from the power supplying area to the power receiving device, receives a modulated wave signal from the power receiving device that detects a modulation wave that is in accordance with a magnetic flux change, and detects the modulated wave signal to demodulate the modulation wave. A system control unit determines whether or not a metal foreign object is present in the power supplying area corresponding to the basic power supplying unit circuit based on the modulation wave.

Abstract: With a metal foreign object detecting method, a metal detection circuit arranged in a contactless power supply device transmits an oscillation signal to a modulation circuit of an electric appliance. The modulation circuit generates a square wave pulse signal from the oscillation signal. The cycle of the oscillation signal received by the modulation circuit changes in accordance with whether or not a metal piece is present. The modulation circuit modulates the square wave pulse signal to generate a modulated wave signal and transmits the modulated wave signal to the metal detection circuit of the power supply device. The metal detection circuit demodulates the modulated wave signal and determines whether or not a metal piece is present based on the cycle of the demodulated signal corresponding to the square wave pulse signal.

Abstract: With a non-contact power supply system, a non-contact power supply device, and power supply target device of the present invention, power is supplied from a power supply coil of the non-contact power supply device to a power receiving coil of the power supply target device by non-contact power supply utilizing magnetic interaction. During the non-contact power supply, first, a power supply coil exhibiting a first interaction stronger than a predetermined reference interaction is selected as a candidate excitation coil, and a high-frequency voltage is supplied to the power supply coil of the candidate excitation coil. Second, a power supply coil exhibiting a second interaction weaker than the reference interaction and power supply coils adjacent to this power supply coil are selected as candidate excitation coils, and the high-frequency voltage is supplied to the power supply coils of these candidate excitation coils.

Abstract: A primary coil (L1) is excited by selectively using: a first resonance frequency (AL) near a frequency determined by the primary coil (L1) and a primary-side capacitor (C), said primary coil (L1) being placed in a power-supply area (AR); and a second resonance frequency (BL) near a frequency determined by a secondary-side inductance component and a secondary-side capacitance component, said components existing when the primary coil (L1) faces a secondary coil (L2).

Abstract: Provided are a metal detection method, a metal detection device, a metal detection method for a wireless power supply device, and a wireless power supply device which are capable of accurately detecting whether an object is a metal or a nonmetal. An oscillation circuit (10) oscillates and produces a sine wave having a single fundamental frequency, and excites a metal detection coil (Ls) by the oscillation current (It) of the sine wave. An electromagnetic wave of the sine wave having the single fundamental frequency is radiated from the metal detection coil (Ls). A high-pass filter circuit (11a) receives the oscillation current (It), removes the fundamental frequency component from the oscillation current (It), and extracts a high-harmonic component of the fundamental frequency. A comparison circuit (12) determines the presence or absence of a metal.

Abstract: A contactless power supplying device is provided. A primary coil and a basic power supplying unit circuit are arranged in a power supplying area. The primary coil supplies secondary power through electromagnetic induction to a secondary coil of a power receiving device in the power supplying area. The basic power supplying unit circuit excites the primary coil in the power supplying area. The basic power supplying unit circuit transmits an oscillation signal from the power supplying area to the power receiving device, receives a modulated wave signal from the power receiving device that detects a modulation wave that is in accordance with a magnetic flux change, and detects the modulated wave signal to demodulate the modulation wave. A system control unit determines whether or not a metal foreign object is present in the power supplying area corresponding to the basic power supplying unit circuit based on the modulation wave.

Abstract: A contactless power supplying device includes a plurality of unit controllers that control a plurality of groups of power supplying unit circuits, which respectively excite a plurality of groups of primary coils. A clock signal generation circuit provides the plurality of unit controllers with a common clock signal. The plurality of unit controllers generates synchronization signals to excite the plurality of groups of primary coils in accordance with a common clock signal and provides the synchronization signals respectively to a plurality of power supplying unit circuit. The synchronization signals are rectangular wave pulses having the same cycle, and the plurality of groups of primary coils are excited with the same frequency.

Abstract: With a metal foreign object detecting method, a metal detection circuit arranged in a contactless power supply device transmits an oscillation signal to a modulation circuit of an electric appliance. The modulation circuit generates a square wave pulse signal from the oscillation signal. The cycle of the oscillation signal received by the modulation circuit changes in accordance with whether or not a metal piece is present. The modulation circuit modulates the square wave pulse signal to generate a modulated wave signal and transmits the modulated wave signal to the metal detection circuit of the power supply device. The metal detection circuit demodulates the modulated wave signal and determines whether or not a metal piece is present based on the cycle of the demodulated signal corresponding to the square wave pulse signal.

Abstract: An infrared sensor unit has a thermal infrared sensor and an associated semiconductor device commonly developed on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric top layer covers the substrate to conceal the semiconductor device formed in the top surface of the substrate. The thermal infrared sensor carried on a sensor mount which is supported above the semiconductor device by means of a thermal insulation support. The sensor mount and the support are made of a porous material which is superimposed on top of the dielectric top layer.

Abstract: An infrared sensor unit has a thermal infrared sensor and an associated semiconductor device commonly developed on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric top layer covers the substrate to conceal the semiconductor device formed in the top surface of the substrate. The thermal infrared sensor carried on a sensor mount which is supported above the semiconductor device by means of a thermal insulation support. The sensor mount and the support are made of a porous material which is superimposed on top of the dielectric top layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a gyro sensor, which comprises a primary base plate (1) and a support base plate (2) which are superimposed on one another. The primary base plate (1) is provided with a driven mass body (11) to be driven in such a manner as to be vibrated in a direction intersecting with a surface of the support base plate (2), and a detection mass body (12) coupled with the driven mass body (11) through a drive spring (13) and adapted to be displaceable in a plane along the support base plate (2). Two detection springs (15) extending in the arranging direction of the driven mass body (11) and the detection mass body (12) are connected, respectively, to opposite side of the detection mass body (12), and the other ends of the detection springs (15) are connected together through a coupling segment (16). A fixing segment (17) provided at a longitudinally intermediate portion of the coupling segment (16) is fixed to the support base plate (2).

Abstract: Disclosed is a gyro sensor, comprises a primary base plate (1) and a support base plate (2) which are superimposed on one another. The primary base plate (1) is provided with a driven mass body (11) to be driven in such a manner as to be vibrated in a direction intersecting with a surface of the support base plate (2), and a detection mass body (12) coupled with the driven mass body (11) through a drive spring (13) and adapted to be displaceable in a plane along the support base plate (2).