Abstract: In a DC-to-DC converter which can convert DC power supplied to a first voltage system circuit, having first and second switching elements, to DC power at a boosted voltage, produced from a second voltage system circuit having third and fourth switching elements, with conversion performed based on control of a switching sequence of the switching elements, the sequence is designed such that switch-off of each of the first and second switching elements occurs only when the current flowing in the switching element is close to zero, thereby suppressing occurrence of voltage surges at switch-off.

Abstract: A turbofan engine of the invention is provided with a fan first-stage moving blade for taking an air therein, and a spinner rotationally driving the fan first-stage moving blade, the spinner has a spiral blade extending spirally to an outer side in a radial direction, sucking the air from a front face of the spinner and supplying the air to the fan first-stage moving blade. Further, the fan first-stage moving blade and the spinner are integrally coupled, and the spiral blade and the fan first-stage moving blade are formed such that blade surfaces are smoothly connected.

Abstract: In an electric power switching apparatus a control circuit generates a switching control signal, for controlling successive current switching operations, as a of succession of pulse period patterns with each pulse period pattern made up of one or more successive pulses each having an identical pulse period, and with successive pulse period patterns constituting the control signal having respectively different values of pulse period. The noise power of high-frequency components resulting from the current switching is thereby dispersed along the frequency spectrum, reducing resultant radio noise interference.

Abstract: A switching device and a method of operating a switching power element are disclosed for generating a train of drive pulses (D1 to D32) in a basic pattern for a repetition cycle time (T to TF) having leading time intervals (Th1 to Th3, Th1? to Th3?), associated with leading edges (a1 to a32) of the drive pulses, and trailing time intervals (Tl1 to Tl3, Tl1? to Tl3?), associated with trailing edges (b1 to b32) of the drive pulses, which are different from each other, whereby switching frequencies and associated harmonics, resulting from the leading edges and the trailing edges of the drive pulses, are diffused. A diffusion frequency, representing an inverse number of the repetition cycle time for the basic pattern is set to be higher than an audible frequency.

Abstract: In a DC-to-DC converter which can convert DC power supplied to a first voltage system circuit, having first and second switching elements, to DC power at a boosted voltage, produced from a second voltage system circuit having third and fourth switching elements, with conversion performed based on control of a switching sequence of the switching elements, the sequence is designed such that switch-off of each of the first and second switching elements occurs only when the current flowing in the switching element is close to zero, thereby suppressing occurrence of voltage surges at switch-off.

Abstract: A switching device comprises a switching element, a setting member, and a control member. The switching element turns on/off in response to a drive signal, so as to control a controlled variable of a controlled system to a desired amount. The setting member sets the drive signal on the basis of both a desired duty to control the controlled variable, wherein the drive signal is set by repeating a basic pattern consisting of a plurality of intervals which are decided to remove overlaps, in a frequency spectrum, between or among switching frequencies produced based on an interval between start timings of the on operations and an interval between start timings of the off operations. The control member variably controls the switching element based on the drive signal.

Abstract: A switching device and a method of operating a switching power element are disclosed for generating a train of drive pulses (D1 to D32) in a basic pattern for a repetition cycle time (T to TF) having leading time intervals (Th1 to Th3, Th1? to Th3?), associated with leading edges (a1 to a32) of the drive pulses, and trailing time intervals (Tl1 to Tl3, Tl1? to Tl3?), associated with trailing edges (b1 to b32) of the drive pulses, which are different from each other, whereby switching frequencies and associated harmonics, resulting from the leading edges and the trailing edges of the drive pulses, are diffused. A diffusion frequency, representing an inverse number of the repetition cycle time for the basic pattern is set to be higher than an audible frequency.

Abstract: A switching device 30 and a related operating method are disclosed for generate a train of drive pulses under a basic pattern for a repetition cycle time T. The train of drive pulses has leading edges shifted from basic time periods T1 by shift amounts ?0 to ?02, respectively, which are different from each other, whereby switching frequencies, occurring based on the leading edges of the drive pulses, are spread. A spread frequency, which is a inverse number of the cycle time T of the basic pattern, is set to be higher than an audible frequency.

Abstract: In an electric power switching apparatus a control circuit generates a switching control signal, for controlling successive current switching operations, as a of succession of pulse period patterns with each pulse period pattern made up of one or more successive pulses each having an identical pulse period, and with successive pulse period patterns constituting the control signal having respectively different values of pulse period. The noise power of high-frequency components resulting from the current switching is thereby dispersed along the frequency spectrum, reducing resultant radio noise interference.

Abstract: The dual type vehicle power-supply apparatus includes a bidirectional power transmission unit capable of performing bidirectional electric power transmission between a high voltage source of a high power-supply voltage supply system and a low voltage source of a low power-supply voltage supply system, and a power transmission controller controlling the bidirectional power transmission unit to perform the bidirectional electric power transmission. The power transmission controller has a function of detecting a surplus amount of electric power in the low power-supply voltage supply system, a function of detecting a shortage amount of electric power in the high power-supply voltage supply system, and a function of commanding the bidirectional power transmission unit to transmit electric power from the low voltage source to the high voltage source by an mount equal to the detected shortage amount when the detected surplus amount is larger than the detected shortage amount.

Abstract: A cradle for a portable terminal includes a connection unit for connecting a portable terminal, a print instruction key for a user to instruct print, and a storage unit for storing print information previously reserved. When the portable terminal is connected to the connection unit, and the print instruction key is pressed down, a predetermined image is printed based on the print information previously reserved in the portable terminal.

Abstract: There is provided a character-string information output apparatus that can avoid any confusion due to a difference between character string commands, and that can improve its expandability. An image writing apparatus analyzes commands identical in information content to character string information to which an input instruction has been issued. The analyzed support commands are all written onto a nonvolatile memory through a card drive. On the other hand, an electrophotographic image processing apparatus searches a DPOF file on the nonvolatile memory for all commands through a card read drive. From among the searched commands, a command that the electrophotographic image processing apparatus can support is extracted as a target command for the electrophotographic image processing apparatus.

Abstract: A wiper blade rubber having a coating film on both surfaces of the lip part, the coating film comprising a particulate solid lubricant and a binder and the binder having a 0.5% modulus of 1 MPa or more and an elongation to break of 1% or more.

Abstract: A wiper blade rubber having a coating film on both surfaces of the lip part, the coating film comprising a particulate solid lubricant and a binder and the binder having a 0.5% modulus of 1 MPa or more and an elongation to break of 1% or more.

Abstract: A cradle for a portable terminal includes a connection unit for connecting a portable terminal, a print instruction key for a user to instruct print, and a storage unit for storing print information previously reserved. When the portable terminal is connected to the connection unit, and the print instruction key is pressed down, a predetermined image is printed based on the print information previously reserved in the portable terminal.

Abstract: In a printer to which a printer consumable material holder for supplying a printing medium is detachably mounted or in a digital camera which integrally includes this printer, it enables to perform image processes suitable for various printing media capable of being supplied. To do so, an information memory unit for storing information of the printing media is provided in the printer consumable material holder. In association with this, a unit for receiving the information, and a unit for analyzing the received information and determining an optimum image processing method for performing printing on the printing medium are provided in the printer. In a system structured by combining these units, the optimum image process is automatically adopted on the basis of the information stored in the printer consumable material holder.

Abstract: A microorganism is utilized to fermentatively produce useful substances such as amino acids by cultivating the microorganism in a medium to allow a fermentative product to be produced and accumulated in the medium, and collecting the fermentative product, wherein the microorganism to be used is modified by introduction of at least one of a gene coding for a heat shock protein and a gene coding for a &sgr; factor which specifically functions for the heat shock protein gene to enhance expression amount of the heat shock protein in cells, whereby the microorganism is allowed to have added resistance to stress which would otherwise restrain growth of the microorganism and/or production of the fermentative product.

Abstract: A microorganism is utilized to fermentatively produce useful substances such as amino acids by cultivating the microorganism in a medium to allow a fermentative product to be produced and accumulated in the medium, and collecting the fermentative product, wherein the microorganism to be used is modified by introduction of at least one of a gene coding for a heat shock protein and a gene coding for a .sigma. factor which specifically functions for the heat shock protein gene to enhance expression amount of the heat shock protein in cells, whereby the microorganism is allowed to have added resistance to stress which would otherwise restrain growth of the microorganism and/or production of the fermentative product.

Abstract: A circuit element measuring apparatus for measuring a parameter of a device under test (DUT) includes a signal source, a voltmeter, a zero detection amplifier, and a compensation network all of which are coupled to the DUT by four shielded lines. The compensation network is also coupled to a range resistance. The compensation network provides two independent sets of correction data. One is based on the length of the shielded line and the other is based on the range resistance used. The parameter being measured can then be adjusted by the appropriate set of correction data to provide a more accurate measurement. A method of operating the circuit element measuring apparatus for measuring the parameter of the DUT by generating the two sets of correction data and adjusting the parameter accordingly.

Abstract: The circuit element being measured is connected to a signal source, a volt meter, a zero detection amplifier and a voltage controlled current source for drawing an electric current through the device to be measured in accordance with the output of the zero detection amplifier. Means are provided for changing the operating point of the zero detection amplifier in response to a measuring condition of the apparatus.