Abstract: A capacitor life diagnosis apparatus includes ringing detection circuitry that detects ringing of an output voltage of a power source including a capacitor at an output end, and signal generation circuitry that generates a signal indicating a life of the capacitor based on the ringing detected by the ringing detection circuitry.

Abstract: A capacitor life diagnosis device includes: a first fluctuation detecting unit configured to detect a maximum value of fluctuation in output voltage of a first capacitor every fixed time; and an output unit configured to predict a residual life of the first capacitor on the basis of temporal transition of the maximum value of fluctuation in the output voltage detected by the first fluctuation detecting unit, and output a signal indicating the residual life of the first capacitor.

Abstract: A power supply device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to: determine a duty ratio of a control signal of a switching element in a power supply circuit so that an output voltage of the power supply circuit approaches a target voltage; compute an acceptable range of a duty ratio based on an output current of the power supply circuit detected by a current detecting circuit; output the duty ratio when the duty ratio is inside the acceptable range; and stop the power supply circuit when the duty ratio is outside the acceptable range.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a trans circuit configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage by adjusting switching of the input voltage; an output voltage detector configured to detect the output voltage; a compensator configured to generate a control value controlling a duty ratio of the switching such that a value of the detected output voltage coincides with a target value for the output voltage; an input voltage detector configured to detect the input voltage; an estimator configured to estimate an allowed range of the control value in accordance with the target value and a value of the detected input voltage; and an adjuster configured to adjust the control value so as to stop the switching when the control value falls outside the allowed range.

Abstract: An inductor apparatus includes: a substrate including an electrical insulation property and a non-magnetic material; and a plurality of inductors disposed in the substrate so as to extend from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of inductors including: an inductor conductive part that has an electrical conductivity and extends in a thickness direction of the substrate; and a magnetic layer that covers a side of the inductor conductive part and include a relative permeability and a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a DC-DC converter configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage in accordance with a duty cycle which is decided by a difference of a third signal, a first photo coupler configured to output a first signal corresponding to the output voltage, a converter configured to convert the output voltage into a digital signal, and a second photo coupler configured to output a second signal corresponding to the digital signal, a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to calculate a third signal on the basis of the difference between the first signal and the second signal, and control the DC-DC converter so that the third signal is to be zero.

Abstract: An inductor apparatus includes: a substrate including an electrical insulation property and a non-magnetic material; and a plurality of inductors disposed in the substrate so as to extend from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of inductors including: an inductor conductive part that has an electrical conductivity and extends in a thickness direction of the substrate; and a magnetic layer that covers a side of the inductor conductive part and include a relative permeability and a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A capacitor life diagnosis apparatus includes ringing detection circuitry that detects ringing of an output voltage of a power source including a capacitor at an output end, and signal generation circuitry that generates a signal indicating a life of the capacitor based on the ringing detected by the ringing detection circuitry.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes a trans circuit configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage by adjusting switching of the input voltage; an output voltage detector configured to detect the output voltage; a compensator configured to generate a control value controlling a duty ratio of the switching such that a value of the detected output voltage coincides with a target value for the output voltage; an input voltage detector configured to detect the input voltage; an estimator configured to estimate an allowed range of the control value in accordance with the target value and a value of the detected input voltage; and an adjuster configured to adjust the control value so as to stop the switching when the control value falls outside the allowed range.

Abstract: A power supply device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to: determine a duty ratio of a control signal of a switching element in a power supply circuit so that an output voltage of the power supply circuit approaches a target voltage; compute an acceptable range of a duty ratio based on an output current of the power supply circuit detected by a current detecting circuit; output the duty ratio when the duty ratio is inside the acceptable range; and stop the power supply circuit when the duty ratio is outside the acceptable range.

Abstract: A capacitor life diagnosis device includes: a first fluctuation detecting unit configured to detect a maximum value of fluctuation in output voltage of a first capacitor every fixed time; and an output unit configured to predict a residual life of the first capacitor on the basis of temporal transition of the maximum value of fluctuation in the output voltage detected by the first fluctuation detecting unit, and output a signal indicating the residual life of the first capacitor.

Abstract: An inductor apparatus includes: a substrate including an electrical insulation property and a non-magnetic material; and a plurality of inductors disposed in the substrate so as to extend from a first surface of the substrate to a second surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of inductors including: an inductor conductive part that has an electrical conductivity and extends in a thickness direction of the substrate; and a magnetic layer that covers a side of the inductor conductive part and include a relative permeability and a soft magnetic material.

Abstract: A transformer includes a core, a coil wound around the core, and a heat sink coupled to the coil. An electronic apparatus includes: a transformer that includes a core, a coil wound around the core, and a heat sink coupled to the coil; a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of the heat sink; and a controller that controls power to be supplied to the coil based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: A power supply unit includes input terminals to which alternating current power is supplied, a rectifier circuit configured to rectify the alternating current power supplied from the input terminals, a capacitor configured to smooth the alternating current power rectified by the rectifier circuit, a primary transformer winding and a switching element connected in series between first and second terminals of the capacitor, a secondary transformer winding coupled to the primary transformer winding, output terminals connected to the secondary transformer winding, and a snubber circuit connected parallel to the switching element. The snubber circuit includes a parallel circuit having a first capacitor and a second capacitor connected in parallel, and a resistor connected in series with the parallel circuit.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor including a lower electrode layer, a discontinuous structure film provided on the lower electrode layer, the discontinuous structure film being composed of an insulator matrix and a plurality of metal islands dispersively arranged in the insulator matrix, a magnetoresistive film provided on the discontinuous structure film, and an upper electrode layer provided on the magnetoresistive film. The discontinuous structure film is partially etched at a central region thereof to thereby make a conduction between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer at the central region through the magnetoresistive film and the metal islands.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element that detects a change of magnetoresistance by giving a sense current in the thickness direction of a magnetoresistive effect film including at least a base layer, a free layer, a non-magnetic layer, a pinned layer, a pinning layer, and a protection layer, includes a granular structure layer that includes conductive particles and an insulating matrix material in the form of a thin film containing the conductive particles in a dispersed state and having a smaller thickness than the particle diameter of the conductive particles, the granular structure layer being interposed between at least two adjacent layers among the base layer, the free layer, the non-magnetic layer, the pinned layer, the pinning layer, and the protection layer.

Abstract: A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) structure magnetoresistive (MR) element includes a pinned magnetic layer made of a granular film. The granular film contains electrically-conductive magnetic crystal grains and an dielectric material. The dielectric material serves to thin the path of the sensing electric current in the pinned magnetic layer. Moreover, the sensing electric current concentrates at the magnetic crystal grains. A larger variation can be obtained in the voltage of the sensing electric current. The output of the CPP structure MR element can be enhanced.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor including a lower electrode layer, a discontinuous structure film provided on the lower electrode layer, the discontinuous structure film being composed of an insulator matrix and a plurality of metal islands dispersively arranged in the insulator matrix, a magnetoresistive film provided on the discontinuous structure film, and an upper electrode layer provided on the magnetoresistive film. The discontinuous structure film is partially etched at a central region thereof to thereby make a conduction between the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer at the central region through the magnetoresistive film and the metal islands.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor including a lower electrode layer, a nanotube structure film composed of an insulator matrix and a plurality of nanotubes dispersively arranged in the insulator matrix, a magnetoresistive film provided on the nanotube structure film, and an upper electrode layer provided on the magnetoresistive film. Each nanotube is composed of a circular tubular nonmetal and a circular cylindrical metal surrounded by the circular tubular nonmetal. The nanotube structure film is partially etched at its central region to make conduction of the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer through the magnetoresistive film and the circular cylindrical metal of each nanotube present at the central region.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium with a high recording density has a first ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer successively deposited as the recording layer on a non-magnetic substrate. The recording layer is heated in concentric circular shapes to divide it into regions in which the magnetic interactions between the ferromagnetic layers exhibit ferromagnetism and regions that exhibit anti-ferromagnetism. The ferromagnetic regions are used for recording tracks, and the anti-ferromagnetic regions function as guard bands. In this manner track density is increased without roughening the surface of the recording medium.