Abstract: A detection mechanism includes a light source disposed on a substrate, a condensing lens disposed between the substrate and light emitted from the light source, and a photodetector disposed on the substrate and under the condensing lens.

Abstract: An ion generating apparatus, comprising: an ion generating circuit including a positive ion generating electrode pair and a negative ion generating electrode pair; and a controller configured to control the ion generating circuit, wherein the controller causes the ion generating circuit to apply a positive voltage to the positive ion generating electrode pair and a negative voltage to the negative ion generating electrode pair in different periods, the positive voltage having a waveform that is a first ringing voltage waveform a negative peak of which is removed, and the negative voltage having a waveform that is a second ringing voltage waveform a positive peak of which is removed.

Abstract: A detection mechanism includes a light source disposed on a substrate, a condensing lens disposed between the substrate and light emitted from the light source, and a photodetector disposed on the substrate and under the condensing lens.

Abstract: A detection mechanism includes a light source disposed on a substrate, a condensing lens disposed between the substrate and light emitted from the light source, and a photodetector disposed on the substrate and under the condensing lens.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a sensor surface on which a metal-oxide film grows; a detection unit configured to detect a change in a resistance value of the metal-oxide film; and a computation unit configured to compute a quantity of reducing gas in measurement-target air based on a result of the detection by the detection unit, wherein the gas sensor operates in a first mode in which the gas sensor stands by with standby air, which differs from the measurement-target air, being in contact with the sensor surface immediately after the gas sensor is activated and in a second mode that follows the first mode and in which, the detection unit detects a change in the resistance value, and the computation unit computes the quantity of the reducing gas based on the result of the detection, with the measurement-target air being in contact with the sensor surface.

Abstract: A detection device according to an aspect of the invention, includes: a housing including an air intake port and an air discharge port; a platelike member having a first air ventilation port and a second air ventilation port, the platelike member being provided inside the housing; a first sensor provided on an air intake port side of the first air ventilation port on a front face of the platelike member; and a second sensor provided between the first air ventilation port and the second air ventilation port on a rear face of the platelike member.

Abstract: A detection mechanism includes a light source disposed on a substrate, a condensing lens disposed between the substrate and light emitted from the light source, and a photodetector disposed on the substrate and under the condensing lens.

Abstract: The amount of power generated by a solar cell is used for charging more efficiently. An activation determination means 4 activates a charging control circuit 3 by allowing a maximum output current from a solar cell 1 to a GND potential to flow and detecting that the output current is equal to or greater than current consumption of the charging control circuit 3 instead of monitoring an unstable output voltage from the solar cell 1. Thus, the charging control circuit 3 can be activated more precisely in comparison to a case where an output voltage is monitored under the condition that the charging control circuit 3 is operated only by the amount of power generated by the solar cell. Thereby, a power instrument 2 is charged more efficiently with the amount of power generated by the solar cell.

Abstract: A flyback-type switching power supply circuit provided with a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil, and a switching element connected to the primary coil, comprising: a multiplying circuit for multiplying a first value obtained by multiplying the on-duty ratio of a secondary current flowing to the secondary coil by a predetermined first constant, and a second value obtained by multiplying the peak value of a primary current flowing to the primary coil by a predetermined second constant; and a switching control circuit for controlling switching of the switching element so that the result of multiplication by the multiplying circuit and a third value obtained by multiplying a reference voltage by a predetermined third constant match; and the flyback-type switching power supply circuit is configured so that at least one of the first constant, the second constant, and the third constant is variable by an external signal.

Abstract: A flyback-type switching power supply circuit provided with a transformer including a primary coil and a secondary coil, and a switching element connected to the primary coil, comprising: a multiplying circuit for multiplying a first value obtained by multiplying the on-duty ratio of a secondary current flowing to the secondary coil by a predetermined first constant, and a second value obtained by multiplying the peak value of a primary current flowing to the primary coil by a predetermined second constant; and a switching control circuit for controlling switching of the switching element so that the result of multiplication by the multiplying circuit and a third value obtained by multiplying a reference voltage by a predetermined third constant match; and the flyback-type switching power supply circuit is configured so that at least one of the first constant, the second constant, and the third constant is variable by an external signal.

Abstract: The amount of power generated by a solar cell is used for charging more efficiently. An activation determination means 4 activates a charging control circuit 3 by allowing a maximum output current from a solar cell 1 to a GND potential to flow and detecting that the output current is equal to or greater than current consumption of the charging control circuit 3 instead of monitoring an unstable output voltage from the solar cell 1. Thus, the charging control circuit 3 can be activated more precisely in comparison to a case where an output voltage is monitored under the condition that the charging control circuit 3 is operated only by the amount of power generated by the solar cell. Thereby, a power instrument 2 is charged more efficiently with the amount of power generated by the solar cell.

Abstract: There is provided a power-supply platform IC for realizing a parameter-deciding power-supply circuit, which, in order to decide a parameter of a power-supply circuit that supplies power to an electronic circuit IC (load), is connected to the electronic circuit IC (load) in place of the power-supply circuit. The power-supply platform IC includes: one or more transistor arrays that include a plurality of transistors operable as switching transistors; and a selecting circuit for selecting a transistor to be operated as a switching transistor from among the plurality of transistors, so as to control a size of the transistor that operates as a switching transistor, wherein the selecting circuit varies the size of the transistor as a parameter of the power-supply circuit, according to an external command.

Abstract: An LED terminal monitoring circuit detects an LED at the lowest potential among a plurality of parallel-connected LEDs. An analog signal selecting circuit gives a signal indicating the voltage of the detected LED to a boosting circuit. The boosting circuit performs a boosting operation on the basis of the condition of the detected LED at the lowest voltage and, consequently, a voltage sufficient for driving the LEDs in a current-control mode can be applied to all the LEDs. Signal lines not connected to LEDs are excluded from objects of a LED-switching control operation.

Abstract: There is provided a power-supply platform IC for realizing a parameter-deciding power-supply circuit, which, in order to decide a parameter of a power-supply circuit that supplies power to an electronic circuit IC (load), is connected to the electronic circuit IC (load) in place of the power-supply circuit. The power-supply platform IC includes: one or more transistor arrays that include a plurality of transistors operable as switching transistors; and a selecting circuit for selecting a transistor to be operated as a switching transistor from among the plurality of transistors, so as to control a size of the transistor that operates as a switching transistor, wherein the selecting circuit varies the size of the transistor as a parameter of the power-supply circuit, according to an external command.

Abstract: An LED terminal monitoring circuit detects an LED at the lowest potential among a plurality of parallel-connected LEDs. An analog signal selecting circuit gives a signal indicating the voltage of the detected LED to a boosting circuit. The boosting circuit performs a boosting operation on the basis of the condition of the detected LED at the lowest voltage and, consequently, a voltage sufficient for driving the LEDs in a current-control mode can be applied to all the LEDs. Signal lines not connected to LEDs are excluded from objects of a LED-switching control operation.

Abstract: In a negative voltage output charge pump circuit, first a capacitor C1 is charged with a positive voltage Vin relative to a reference voltage, and then the high-potential terminal A of the capacitor C1 is made to conduct to the reference voltage and simultaneously the low-potential terminal B of the capacitor C1 is made to conduct to an output terminal OUT so that the voltage with which the capacitor C1 is charged is output as a negative voltage −Vin. Here, at least one of the switching device DP1 that is kept on while the capacitor C1 is being charged so as to apply the reference voltage to the point B and the switching device DP2 that is kept on while the negative voltage is being output so as to make the point B conduct to the output terminal OUT is a depletion-type transistor. This configuration makes it possible to realize a negative voltage output charge pump circuit that is free from malfunctioning caused by a parasitic device, that operates with low loss, and that can be produced at low costs.

Abstract: In a negative voltage output charge pump circuit, first a capacitor C1 is charged with a positive voltage Vin relative to a reference voltage, and then the high-potential terminal A of the capacitor C1 is made to conduct to the reference voltage and simultaneously the low-potential terminal B of the capacitor C1 is made to conduct to an output terminal OUT so that the voltage with which the capacitor C1 is charged is output as a negative voltage −Vin. Here, at least one of the switching device DP1 that is kept on while the capacitor C1 is being charged so as to apply the reference voltage to the point B and the switching device DP2 that is kept on while the negative voltage is being output so as to make the point B conduct to the output terminal OUT is a depletion-type transistor. This configuration makes it possible to realize a negative voltage output charge pump circuit that is free from malfunctioning caused by a parasitic device, that operates with low loss, and that can be produced at low costs.

Abstract: A phase control circuit which can stabilize voltage control when used in a switching regulator, and a switching regulator using such a phase control circuit are provided. A switching circuit for generating a first and a second output signals having opposite polarities based on a clock signal, is provided. A PWM latch circuit, reset by a reset signal, for generating a third and a fourth output signals which have phases controlled with respect to the first and the second output signals respectively by a set signal produced based on a control signal and come to have opposite polarities, is provided. A delay circuit for delaying the rising of each of the first through the fourth output signals before outputting each of the first through the fourth output signals is provided for each output signal.

Abstract: A delay circuit in accordance with the present invention includes: a first I2L inverter and a second I2L inverter connected in cascade with each other; and a capacitor interposed between a ground and a connecting point of the first and second inverters, wherein: the delay circuit further includes a current adjusting circuit having at least one third I2L inverter with a plurality of output terminals at least one of which is connected to an input terminal of the third I2L inverter; and the current adjusting circuit is connected to adjust a charge current of the capacitor. The configuration provides a delay circuit of simple circuit structure that accounts for a small area in an integrated circuit and that is capable of introducing any given delay and also provides a ring oscillator incorporating the delay circuit.

Abstract: A delay circuit in accordance with the present invention includes: a first I2L inverter and a second I2L inverter connected in cascade with each other; and a capacitor interposed between a ground and a connecting point of the first and second inverters, wherein: the delay circuit further includes a current adjusting circuit having at least one third I2L inverter with a plurality of output terminals at least one of which is connected to an input terminal of the third I2L inverter; and the current adjusting circuit is connected to adjust a charge current of the capacitor. The configuration provides a delay circuit of simple circuit structure that accounts for a small area in an integrated circuit and that is capable of introducing any given delay and also provides a ring oscillator incorporating the delay circuit.