Abstract: A coil drive device energizes an operation coil to close an electromagnetic contactor. A rectifier outputs, to a power supply line, an input voltage obtained by full-wave rectification of an AC voltage supplied from a main power source. A controller controls on and off of a switching element connected to a power supply line in series with the operation coil. The controller controls a duty ratio that is an on period ratio of the switching element in each switching period in accordance with a value of a parameter calculated from a detected value of the input voltage, in at least a partial period after start of energization of the operation coil in response to a close command for the electromagnetic contactor.

Abstract: A coil drive device energizes an operation coil to close an electromagnetic contactor. A rectifier outputs, to a power supply line, an input voltage obtained by full-wave rectification of an AC voltage supplied from a main power source. A controller controls on and off of a switching element connected to a power supply line in series with the operation coil. The controller controls a duty ratio that is an on period ratio of the switching element in each switching period in accordance with a value of a parameter calculated from a detected value of the input voltage, in at least a partial period after start of energization of the operation coil in response to a close command for the electromagnetic contactor.

Abstract: A motor drive device includes a single-phase inverter which is an inverter including a plurality of switching elements. The inverter converts a direct-current voltage output from a direct-current power supply into an alternating-current voltage, by operation of the plurality of switching elements operating, and applies the alternating-current voltage to a motor. The motor drive device includes a control power supply outputting power having a voltage lower than the direct-current voltage, by using the direct-current voltage. The motor drive device includes a drive signal generation unit driven by the power. The drive signal generation unit generates drive signals driving the plurality of switching elements, and outputs the generated drive signals to the plurality of switching elements. The motor drive device includes a power supply switch operating so as to allow supply of the power from the control power supply to the drive signal generation unit when a rotation speed of the motor is higher than a threshold.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an edge extracting section which extracts an edge in a range image and a removing section which removes a distance value of a pixel of an edge part extracted by the edge extracting section in the range image.

Abstract: A light emission reference signal, the timing of which is adjusted by a first delay time control circuit, is input as a timing adjustment signal to a light emitter driver. The light emission reference signal, which is delayed by a second delay time control circuit, is output as an offset signal. The offset signal and a light emission timing signal from the light emitter driver are input to a timing correction phase comparator, and a phase comparison result is output from the timing correction phase comparator. The phase comparison result is input to a timing correction control logic circuit, and a delay adjusting signal based on the phase comparison result is output from the timing correction control logic circuit. The delay adjusting signal is input to the first delay time control circuit, whereby the timing of the light emission reference signal is adjusted.

Abstract: A unit pixel has a light receiving device containing a photoelectric conversion element for detecting a light to generate photoelectrons. The light receiving device contains a plurality of photoelectron distributors, which each have a first transfer unit for transferring the photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a photoelectron hold unit for temporarily holding the photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer unit for transferring the photoelectrons held in the photoelectron hold unit, and a floating diffusion layer for storing the transferred photoelectrons and converting the photoelectrons to a voltage. The unit pixel contains a reset transistor for resetting the potential of the floating diffusion layer to a reference potential and a photoelectron discharger for discharging the photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: A first photoelectric conversion element, which detects light and converts the light into photoelectrons has: one first MOS diode having a first electrode formed on a semiconductor base body with an insulator therebetween; and a plurality of second MOS diodes, each of which has a second electrode formed on the semiconductor base body with the insulator therebetween. The first electrode of the first MOS diode has, when viewed from the upper surface, a comb-like shape wherein a plurality of branch portions are branched from one electrode portion. Each second electrode of each of the second MOS diodes is, when viewed from the upper surface, separated from the first electrode, and is disposed to nest between the branch portions of the first electrode.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device comprises a unit pixel containing a photoelectric conversion element for detecting a light to generate photoelectrons and at least one electrode for forming an MOS diode structure, a first contact point connected to a first voltage supply for supplying a first voltage to the electrode, a second contact point connected to a second voltage supply for supplying a second voltage higher than the first voltage to the electrode, a first capacitor disposed between the first and second contact points, a change-over switch connected to one of the first and second contact points to selectively switch a voltage applied to the electrode to the first voltage or the second voltage, and pixel drive circuits for driving the change-over switch, thereby alternately applying the first voltage and the second voltage to the electrode to generate, hold, transfer, reset, or discharge the photoelectrons.

Abstract: A first photoelectric conversion element for detecting light and converting the light into photoelectrons comprises one buried photodiode formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of MOS diodes each having an electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate with an insulator interposed therebetween. The buried photodiode has a comb shape, in which a plurality of diverging portions are disposed to diverge from one portion, when viewed from the top thereof, and the respective electrodes of the MOS diodes are disposed so as to be nested between the plurality of diverging portions of the buried photodiode when viewed from the tops thereof.

Abstract: A first photoelectric conversion element, which detects light and converts the light into photoelectrons has: one MOS diode having an electrode formed on a semiconductor base body with an insulator therebetween; and a plurality of embedded photodiodes formed in the semiconductor base body. The electrode of the MOS diode has, when viewed from the upper surface, a comb-like shape wherein a plurality of branch portions are branched from one electrode portion. Each of the embedded photodiodes is disposed to nest between the branch portions of the electrode when viewed from the upper surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device capable of calculating the difference in charge obtained by photoelectric conversion, and capable of a high level of integration.

Abstract: In a distance measuring system, photoelectrons are generated depending on light energy received in a light-receiving period predetermined for the emission timing of pulsed light emitted to a target object and are cumulatively stored, and a distance to the target object is determined according to a time-of-flight process. A solid-state image sensing device cumulatively stores therein photoelectrons generated depending on the light energy received in each of the first and second light-receiving periods. The first light-receiving period is part of a rise period of the reflected light intensity received by the image sensing device, and the second light-receiving period includes a peak of the reflected light intensity and a fall period thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a distance measuring apparatus which can measure the distance to an object with high accuracy, a distance measuring method, and a program. The distance measuring apparatus is provided with: a light source which emits light; an image pickup unit, which picks up an image of light which has been emitted from the light source and reflected by means of the object; an image distance data converting unit, which converts image data obtained by the image pickup performed by the image pickup unit into image distance data which indicates the distance to the object; an image pickup condition setting unit, which sets first image pickup conditions on the basis of the image distance data; and an image pickup control unit, which controls the light source and the image pickup unit and have an image of the object picked up under the first image pickup conditions.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device has a unit pixel containing a photoelectric conversion element for detecting a light to generate photoelectrons and pixel drive circuits for driving the unit pixel. The photoelectric conversion element has a photogate structure, and the pixel drive circuits apply a voltage selected from three voltages to the photogate of the photoelectric conversion element to generate or transfer the photoelectrons. The three voltages include at least a first voltage, a second voltage higher than the first voltage, and a third voltage higher than the first voltage and lower than the second voltage.

Abstract: A light receiving device comprises a photoelectric conversion element formed on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, and further comprises a plurality of photoelectron distributors formed on the first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate. The photoelectron distributor has a first transfer unit for transferring photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a photoelectron hold unit for temporarily holding the photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer unit for transferring the photoelectrons held in the photoelectron hold unit, and a floating diffusion layer for storing the transferred photoelectrons and converting the photoelectrons to a voltage.

Abstract: A light emission reference signal, the timing of which is adjusted by a first delay time control circuit, is input as a timing adjustment signal to a light emitter driver. The light emission reference signal, which is delayed by a second delay time control circuit, is output as an offset signal. The offset signal and a light emission timing signal from the light emitter driver are input to a timing correction phase comparator, and a phase comparison result is output from the timing correction phase comparator. The phase comparison result is input to a timing correction control logic circuit, and a delay adjusting signal based on the phase comparison result is output from the timing correction control logic circuit. The delay adjusting signal is input to the first delay time control circuit, whereby the timing of the light emission reference signal is adjusted.

Abstract: A light emitting device has: a dispersion light source wherein a plurality of semiconductor laser bars are arranged; and a drive circuit which makes the dispersion light source output at least one pulsed beam by supplying at least one drive pulse to the dispersion light source. In the dispersion light source, a plurality of semiconductor laser bars are arranged on a base, and furthermore, heat dissipating plates are arranged between the semiconductor laser bars. The pulse width of the pulsed beam outputted from the dispersion light source is longer than 1 femtosecond but shorter than 0.25 second, and the energy of the single pulsed beam is less than 66.8 ?[J].

Abstract: A distance measuring system and a distance measuring method which use a time-of-flight (TOF) method. The distance measuring system obtains a reference light quantity of reflected light which is a cumulative light quantity of the reflected light during a reference period, obtains a measured light quantity of the reflected light which is a cumulative light quantity of the reflected light during a measurement period, and calculates, on the basis of a ratio of the measured light quantity of the reflected light to the reference light quantity of the reflected light and a ratio of the reflected light incident period to the reference period, a reflected light incident period that is a period which is included in the measurement period and during which the reflected light is incident upon photoelectric conversion elements of a light-receiving device. Then, the distance measuring system calculates the distance between the distance measuring system and an object on the basis of the reflected light incident period.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an infrared cutoff filter, an image capturing device having a plurality of pixels for detecting light transmitted through the infrared cutoff filter, and four optical filters disposed on a light-detecting surface of the image capturing device. The four optical filters include a first filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a first wavelength, a second filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a second wavelength, a third filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a third wavelength, and a fourth filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a fourth wavelength. The infrared cutoff filter transmits light having a wavelength shorter than a fifth wavelength. A processor calculates blue-, green-, red-, and infrared-component pixel signals from pixel signals that are produced by the pixels of the image capturing device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device capable of calculating the difference in charge obtained by photoelectric conversion, and capable of a high level of integration.