Abstract: A movement detection unit includes a movable body, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a signal processor. The movable body performs a movement in a first direction. The first sensor detects a first magnetic field change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputs a first signal. The second sensor is provided in the first direction at a location different from a location of the first sensor. The second sensor detects a second magnetic field change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputting a second signal. The signal processor includes a signal generating circuit that generates a third signal and a fourth signal on a basis of the first signal. The third signal and the fourth signal have waveforms different from each other.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic detection element circuit that includes first and second magnetic detection elements, which are connected in series, and an output terminal, which is positioned between the first and second magnetic detection elements; an impedance matching device, which has a prescribed input voltage range and is connected to an output terminal of the magnetic detection element circuit; a first current supply source, which supplies an electric current to the magnetic detection element circuit; and a second current supply source, which supplies an electric current to the impedance matching device. A resistor is provided between the output terminal of the magnetic detection element circuit and the first current supply source and/or a reference electric potential point.

Abstract: A movement detection unit includes a movable body, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a signal processor. The movable body performs a movement in a first direction. The first sensor detects a first magnetic field change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputs a first signal. The second sensor is provided in the first direction at a location different from a location of the first sensor. The second sensor detects a second magnetic field change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputting a second signal. The signal processor includes a signal generating circuit that generates a third signal and a fourth signal on a basis of the first signal. The third signal and the fourth signal have waveforms different from each other.

Abstract: A movement detection unit includes a movable body, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a signal processor. The movable body performs a movement in a first direction. The first sensor detects a first magnetic field change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputs a first signal. The second sensor is provided in the first direction at a location different from a location of the first sensor. The second sensor detects a second magnetic fled change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputting a second signal. The signal processor includes a signal generating circuit that generates a third signal and a fourth signal on a basis of the first signal. The third signal and the fourth signal have waveforms different from each other.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic detection element circuit that includes first and second magnetic detection elements, which are connected in series, and an output terminal, which is positioned between the first and second magnetic detection elements; an impedance matching device, which has a prescribed input voltage range and is connected to an output terminal of the magnetic detection element circuit; a first current supply source, which supplies an electric current to the magnetic detection element circuit; and a second current supply source, which supplies an electric current to the impedance matching device. A resistor is provided between the output terminal of the magnetic detection element circuit and the first current supply source and/or a reference electric potential point.

Abstract: A movement detection unit includes a movable body, a first sensor, a second sensor, and a signal processor. The movable body performs a movement in a first direction. The first sensor detects a first magnetic field change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputs a first signal. The second sensor is provided in the first direction at a location different from a location of the first sensor. The second sensor detects a second magnetic fled change which is caused by the movement of the movable body and outputting a second signal. The signal processor includes a signal generating circuit that generates a third signal and a fourth signal on a basis of the first signal. The third signal and the fourth signal have waveforms different from each other.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic field detection device and a current sensor capable of increasing the degree of freedom in selecting the type of the magnetic field detection element. A magnetic field detection device 1 includes a conductor 3 that generates a magnetic field; a C core 2 provided so as to surround the conductor 3; and a magnetic field detection element 4 that detects a magnetic field. The C core 2 has a gap G1, and the magnetic field detection element 4 is disposed at a position where the magnetic field generated from the conductor 3 can be detected, the position being outside the gap G1. Since the direction of the magnetic flux varies outside of the gap G1 from place to place, the direction of the magnetic flux that passes through the magnetic field detection element 4 can be arbitrarily selected by arbitrarily selecting the installation location of the magnetic field detection element 4. Therefore, the degree of freedom in selecting the type of the magnetic field detection element 4 is increased.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling-type isolator includes a primary coil configured to generate a first magnetic field in accordance with an input signal, a bias coil configured to generate a second magnetic field in accordance with a bias signal, a first magneto-resistive element having a magnetic resistance increased by the first magnetic field and decreased by the second magnetic field, a second magneto-resistive element having a magnetic resistance decreased by the first magnetic field and increased by the second magnetic field, and a comparator configured to output an output signal in accordance with a difference between the magnetic resistance of the first magneto-resistive element and the magnetic resistance of the second magneto-resistive element.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic field detection device and a current sensor capable of increasing the degree of freedom in selecting the type of the magnetic field detection element. A magnetic field detection device 1 includes a conductor 3 that generates a magnetic field; a C core 2 provided so as to surround the conductor 3; and a magnetic field detection element 4 that detects a magnetic field. The C core 2 has a gap G1, and the magnetic field detection element 4 is disposed at a position where the magnetic field generated from the conductor 3 can be detected, the position being outside the gap G1. Since the direction of the magnetic flux varies outside of the gap G1 from place to place, the direction of the magnetic flux that passes through the magnetic field detection element 4 can be arbitrarily selected by arbitrarily selecting the installation location of the magnetic field detection element 4. Therefore, the degree of freedom in selecting the type of the magnetic field detection element 4 is increased.

Abstract: The magnetic field measurement method has: a step of preparing a magnetic sensor which includes: a magneto-resistive effect element having a magnetization-free layer and a magnetization fixed layer, and having a longitudinal direction; and magnetic field application means, wherein the magnetization direction of the magnetization fixed layer is fixed in a direction which forms an angle equal to or less than 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction, and a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field application means forms an angle equal to or less than 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction; a step of saturating the magnetization of the magnetization-free layer by the magnetic field application means and magnetizing the magnetization-free layer in one direction in the longitudinal direction; and a step of measuring the strength of an external magnetic field by applying the external magnetic field to the magnetization-free layer in the other direction in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The magnetic sensor according to the present invention includes: a magneto-resistive effect element which has a stacked body in which a magnetization-free layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a magnetization fixed layer are stacked in this order, and the longitudinal direction of which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction; and a current path layer which is provided on the magneto-resistive effect element via an insulation layer so as to be spaced apart from the magneto-resistive effect element in the stacking direction, and which generates a magnetic field by being supplied with a current. The current path layer extends in a direction which forms an angle between 0 and 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the magneto-resistive effect element when viewed from the stacking direction.

Abstract: A digital signal transmitting apparatus includes an encoder which converts parallel input signals of multiple channels into serial data in a manner synchronized with a first clock signal, and a decoder which converts the serial data into parallel output signals of the multiple channels in a manner synchronized with a second clock signal operating in a manner asynchronous with the first clock signal. The serial data has a different period and a different duty factor corresponding to each combination of the logical values of the parallel input signals of the multiple channels.

Abstract: A magnetic coupling-type isolator includes a primary coil configured to generate a first magnetic field in accordance with an input signal, a bias coil configured to generate a second magnetic field in accordance with a bias signal, a first magneto-resistive element having a magnetic resistance increased by the first magnetic field and decreased by the second magnetic field, a second magneto-resistive element having a magnetic resistance decreased by the first magnetic field and increased by the second magnetic field, and a comparator configured to output an output signal in accordance with a difference between the magnetic resistance of the first magneto-resistive element and the magnetic resistance of the second magneto-resistive element.

Abstract: A digital signal transmitting apparatus includes an encoder which converts parallel input signals of multiple channels into serial data in a manner synchronized with a first clock signal, and a decoder which converts the serial data into parallel output signals of the multiple channels in a manner synchronized with a second clock signal operating in a manner asynchronous with the first clock signal. The serial data has a different period and a different duty factor corresponding to each combination of the logical values of the parallel input signals of the multiple channels.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a switching circuit including switching elements at the high-side and at the low-side, an inductor connected to the output end of the switching circuit, a smoothing capacitor connected to the inductor, a switching control circuit for supplying a switching pulse to the switching elements, and a circuit. The circuit detects that a state that the switching element at the high side is switched off and the switching element at the low side is switched on is maintained for a predetermined period or longer. In this case, the circuit forcibly switches off the switching element at the low side.

Abstract: The magnetic field measurement method has: a step of preparing a magnetic sensor which includes: a magneto-resistive effect element having a magnetization-free layer and a magnetization fixed layer, and having a longitudinal direction; and magnetic field application means, wherein the magnetization direction of the magnetization fixed layer is fixed in a direction which forms an angle equal to or less than 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction, and a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field application means forms an angle equal to or less than 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction; a step of saturating the magnetization of the magnetization-free layer by the magnetic field application means and magnetizing the magnetization-free layer in one direction in the longitudinal direction; and a step of measuring the strength of an external magnetic field by applying the external magnetic field to the magnetization-free layer in the other direction in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The magnetic sensor according to the present invention includes: a magneto-resistive effect element which has a stacked body in which a magnetization-free layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a magnetization fixed layer are stacked in this order, and the longitudinal direction of which is a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction; and a current path layer which is provided on the magneto-resistive effect element via an insulation layer so as to be spaced apart from the magneto-resistive effect element in the stacking direction, and which generates a magnetic field by being supplied with a current. The current path layer extends in a direction which forms an angle between 0 and 45 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the magneto-resistive effect element when viewed from the stacking direction.

Abstract: A current flowing through a measuring target coil increases when a pulse signal is high. A voltage corresponding to instantaneous value of the current through the coil is input to input terminal. A blanking signal generator circuit generates signal which has predetermined pulse width and rises in synchronization with rise of the pulse signal. During period in which this signal is high, first switch becomes ON and first capacitor holds the voltage at the input terminal. A second switch becomes ON when first switch becomes OFF to connect second capacitor to connection node between resistors, and disconnects second capacitor from connection node when the pulse signal becomes low. Second capacitor is charged with voltage corresponding to average value of an amount of increase in the current through the coil. A voltage obtained by adding the voltage charged in first capacitor to this charged voltage is supplied to third capacitor.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter has a switching circuit including switching elements at the high-side and at the low-side, an inductor connected to the output end of the switching circuit, a smoothing capacitor connected to the inductor, a switching control circuit for supplying a switching pulse to the switching elements, and a circuit. The circuit detects that a state that the switching element at the high side is switched off and the switching element at the low side is switched on is maintained for a predetermined period or longer. In this case, the circuit forcibly switches off the switching element at the low side.

Abstract: A current flowing through a measuring target coil increases when a pulse signal is high. A voltage corresponding to instantaneous value of the current through the coil is input to input terminal. A blanking signal generator circuit generates signal which has predetermined pulse width and rises in synchronization with rise of the pulse signal. During period in which this signal is high, first switch becomes ON and first capacitor holds the voltage at the input terminal. A second switch becomes ON when first switch becomes OFF to connect second capacitor to connection node between resistors, and disconnects second capacitor from connection node when the pulse signal becomes low. Second capacitor is charged with voltage corresponding to average value of an amount of increase in the current through the coil. A voltage obtained by adding the voltage charged in first capacitor to this charged voltage is supplied to third capacitor.