Abstract: A spectrophotometer, for online non-destructive optical examination of fruit or vegetables or the like avoids saturation of the data level, or the data level being too small, due to changes in rate of feeding or variation in the fruit or vegetables. Light that has passed through the fruit or other article is divided into different spectral components and received at two locations, a main light reception unit and a sample-use light reception unit. A digital value obtained from the sample-use light reception unit is compared with a predetermined reference value, Based on this comparison, the gain of a variable gain amplification circuit is set to an optimum value. The signal from the main light reception unit is passed through the variable gain amplification circuit, a zero-point correction circuit, and an A/D converter, to obtain digital data to be read for obtaining suitable wavelength characteristic data.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer is provided whereby stable measurement can be performed with high processing rate and high accuracy, in online non-destructive examination of fruit or vegetables or the like using near infra-red light or the like, wherein there is no possibility of saturation of the data level or of the data level being too small and changes in rate of feeding can be dealt with by making use of for example the differences in density, in thickness of the skin, and in size of the fruit or vegetables, which are found even in the same type of fruit or vegetables. Light that has passed through the fruit or vegetables or the like is divided into different spectral components and received at two locations by a main light reception unit and a sample-use light reception unit.

Abstract: A power controlling circuit for automatic temperature regulator or the like using a zero voltage switching control. Clocks are dispersed and selected, in accordance with control factor, from among the clocks synchronized with the load power supply when zero voltage is detected from the load side to perform the zero cross control of the energization to the load through the detection of the zero voltage from the load side thereby to drive the zero cross control by the selection clock. The current limit close to the phase control can be achieved without any production of the noises. Also, the power control can be achieved without any production of the noises and does not damage the resolution and response property.