Abstract: A switching power source device includes: a direct power source; and a chopper circuit including a pair of input terminals connected to the direct power source and a pair of output terminals connected to a load, the chopper circuit including a first inductor, a second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor, a third inductor connected to the first inductor, a switching element causing an augmented current to flow from the direct power source to the first and third inductors while turned on, a constant current element connected to the switching element in series, a rectifier element causing a reduced current to flow through the first and third inductors while the switching element is turned off, and a drive circuit controlling and turning off a gate voltage of the switching element after the switching element is turned on and the augmented current reaches a constant current element saturated state.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a lighting circuit includes a first power supply circuit, a first detecting circuit, a first control circuit, and a first protecting circuit. The first power supply circuit is supplied with power from a first power supply and outputs a direct current flowing in a first direction. The first detecting circuit detects a first detection value of an electric current flowing between the first power supply circuit and an output terminal. The first control circuit compares a first detection value detected by the first detecting circuit with a reference value and controls the first power supply circuit. The first protecting circuit is connected to the first detecting circuit and reduces an absolute value of the first detection value if an electric current flows in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a luminaire includes a light-emitting module, a first lighting circuit and a back-flow preventing circuit. The light-emitting module includes a light-emitting element and a capacitive element. The first lighting circuit is supplied with power from the first power supply and is configured to activate the light-emitting element. The back-flow preventing circuit interrupts current flowing in a direction from the capacitive element to the first lighting circuit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power supply for lighting includes an output element. The output element is connected between a power supply and a lighting load, and configured to be capable of being switched to a switching operation repeating an ON state and an OFF state and an ON continuation operation continuing the ON state.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a luminaire includes a dim lighting circuit, an emergency unit, a dimming-signal input section, and a dimming control circuit. The dim lighting circuit dimly lights a light source at a dimming ratio corresponding to a dimming signal. The emergency unit includes a charging circuit for charging a battery with an external power supply in a normal time and supplies a power supply of the battery to the dim lighting circuit in an emergency. The dimming-signal input section receives the input of the dimming signal from the outside. The dimming control circuit gives the dimming signal input from the dimming-signal input section to the dim lighting circuit in a normal time and gives a dimming signal having a dimming ratio for an emergency to the dim lighting circuit in an emergency.

Abstract: In a bioinstrument system S of the present invention, a processor unit 121 in a bioinstrument device 108 obtains information indicative of displacement of two fingers in deformed state from distance between the two fingers; and calculates a finger-tapping force by using the obtained information and a predetermined fingertips' stiffness function retrieved from a storage unit 122. This provides a method for inspecting for neurological disorders in consideration of the finger-tapping force.

Abstract: A vessel wall monitoring apparatus includes: a first detecting unit which detects vessel diameter information based on first biological information obtained from a subject; a first producing unit which differentiates the vessel diameter information detected by the first detecting unit, to produce a vessel diameter function; a second detecting unit which detects blood pressure based on second biological information obtained from the subject; a second producing unit which performs a logarithmic operation on the blood pressure detected by the second detecting unit, to produce a logarithmic blood pressure function; and an outputting unit which produces an impedance model expression by using the vessel diameter function, the logarithmic blood pressure function, and mechanical characteristic values including a stiffness, viscosity, and inertia, and which calculates and outputs at least one of the stiffness, the viscosity, and the inertia based on the impedance model expression.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating a vascular endothelial function, includes: a first cuff, to be wound around a first body part of a subject; a second cuff, to be wound around a second body part of the subject; a cuff pressure controller, configured to control a cuff pressure of each of the first and second cuffs, and configured to perform continuous pressure stimulation on the first body part of the subject for a time period by using the first cuff; a cuff pressure detector, configured to detect the cuff pressure of the second cuff from an output of a pressure sensor connected to the second cuff; a pulse wave detector, configured to detect, from the output of the pressure sensor, pulse waves before and after the continuous pressure stimulation is performed; and an analyzer, configured to evaluate the vascular endothelial function by comparing the pulse waves detected before and after the continuous pressure stimulation is performed.

Abstract: The motor function estimating system 1000 has a memory unit 1260, a data processing unit 1220 (analyzing section), and a display unit 1400. The memory unit 1260 memorizes waveform data about the time change of fingers tapping motion that is obtained by a motion sensor attached to a subject person who does the fingers tapping motion that is repetition of the opening and closing motion of two fingers of one hand. The data processing unit 1220 analyzes the waveform data in the memory unit 1260. The display unit 1400 displays an analysis result. The data processing unit 1220 creates motion waveform based on waveform data, and plural characteristics based on the motion waveform. The data processing unit 1220 creates a motion disorder synthesis value that represents degree of motion disorder of the subject person by revising each of the plural characteristics based on characteristics of every age and synthesizing them.

Abstract: A method for forming a film comprising a first process and a second process, the first process comprising the steps of: supplying a discharge gas to a first discharge space where high frequency electric field A is generated at or near atmospheric pressure, whereby the discharge gas is excite; transferring energy of the excited discharge gas to a film forming gas, whereby the film forming gas is excited; and exposing a substrate to the film forming gas to form a film on the substrate, and the second process comprising the steps of: supplying a gas containing an oxidizing gas to a second discharge space where high frequency electric field B is generated at or near atmospheric pressure, whereby the gas containing the oxidizing gas is excite; and the film formed in the first process is exposed to the excited gas containing the oxidizing gas.

Abstract: In a bioinstrument system S of the present invention, a processor unit 121 in a bioinstrument device 108 obtains information indicative of displacement of two fingers in deformed state from distance between the two fingers; and calculates a finger-tapping force by using the obtained information and a predetermined fingertips' stiffness function retrieved from a storage unit 122. This provides a method for inspecting for neurological disorders in consideration of the finger-tapping force.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide a transparent conductive film exhibiting excellent adhesion to a substrate and excellent crack resistance, together with high transparency and conductivity. Also disclosed is a transparent conductive film comprising a substrate having thereon: a low density metal oxide layer made of metal oxide, and a high density metal oxide layer made of metal oxide that are alternately laminated layer by layer, wherein the transparent conductive film satisfies a condition specified by the following inequality (1); 1.01?M2/M1?1.400??(1), provided that a density of the low density metal oxide layer and a density of the high density metal oxide layer are represented by M1 and M2, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating a vascular endothelial function includes: a cuff, to be wound around a part of a body of a subject; a cuff pressure controller, configured to control a pressure of the cuff, and configured to apply continuous pressure stimulation; a cuff pressure detector, configured to detect the pressure of the cuff from output of a pressure sensor connected to the cuff; a pulse wave detector, configured to detect, from the output of the pressure sensor, pulse waves before and after the continuous pressure stimulation is applied; and an analyzer, configured to evaluate the vascular endothelial function by comparing the pulse waves detected before and after the continuous pressure stimulation is applied.

Abstract: A gas barrier laminate comprising a substrate having thereon at least a gas barrier layer and a polymer layer, wherein at least one polymer layer is provided adjacent to at least one gas barrier layer; and an average carbon content of the polymer layer at a contact interface between the gas barrier layer is lower than an average carbon content in the polymer layer.

Abstract: A layer forming method is disclosed which comprises the steps of supplying power of not less than 1 W/cm2 at a high frequency voltage exceeding 100 kHz across a gap between a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to each other at atmospheric pressure or at approximately atmospheric pressure to induce a discharge, generating a reactive gas in a plasma state by the charge, and exposing a substrate to the reactive gas in a plasma state to form a layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A layer forming method is disclosed which relies on reactive gas in a plasma state. The method includes steps of supplying power of not less than 1 W/cm2 at a high frequency voltage exceeding 100 kHz across a gap between a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to each other at atmospheric pressure or at approximately atmospheric pressure to induce a discharge, generating a reactive gas in a plasma state by the charge, and exposing a substrate to the reactive gas in a plasma state to form a layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A transparent conductive layer forming method is disclosed which comprises the steps of introducing a reactive gas to a discharge space, exciting the reactive gas in a plasma state by discharge at atmospheric pressure or at approximately atmospheric pressure, and exposing a substrate to the reactive gas in a plasma state to form a transparent conductive layer on the substrate, wherein the reactive gas comprises a reducing gas.

Abstract: A layer forming method is disclosed which comprises the steps of supplying power of not less than 1 W/cm2 at a high frequency voltage exceeding 100 kHz across a gap between a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to each other at atmospheric pressure or at approximately atmospheric pressure to induce a discharge, generating a reactive gas in a plasma state by the charge, and exposing a substrate to the reactive gas in a plasma state to form a layer on the substrate.

Abstract: A transparent gas barrier film comprising a substrate having thereon a gas barrier layer comprising at least a low density layer and a high density layer, wherein one or more intermediate density layers are sandwiched between the low density layer and the high density layer.

Abstract: A transparent conductive layer forming method is disclosed which comprises the steps of introducing a reactive gas to a discharge space, exciting the reactive gas in a plasma state by discharge at atmospheric pressure or at approximately atmospheric pressure, and exposing a substrate to the reactive gas in a plasma state to form a transparent conductive layer on the substrate, wherein the reactive gas comprises a reducing gas.