Abstract: In a vehicle control apparatus, a preceding vehicle ahead of an own vehicle is detected. A movement trajectory of a target preceding vehicle is acquired. Based on the movement trajectory of the target preceding vehicle, a target route on which the own vehicle is to travel is set. Travelling control of the own vehicle is performed so as to follow the target preceding vehicle on the target route. An obstacle ahead of the own vehicle is detected. The target route is changed so as to extend a separation distance between the detected obstacle and a parallel portion of the target route that is parallel to the obstacle, based on a separation distance between the obstacle and a parallel portion of the movement trajectory of the target preceding vehicle that is parallel to the obstacle.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a branched lane determination section for determining whether an own vehicle lane in which an own vehicle is travelling is a branched lane, a reference line selection section for selecting as a reference line a lane marking on a side opposite to a side on which a branch lane branches from the own vehicle lane, a vehicle control unit for controlling the own vehicle to travel following an object preceding vehicle as a following control object, and a propriety determination section for excluding the object preceding vehicle from being the following control object if the own vehicle lane is determined to be a branched lane and a state quantity based on an offset distance between a movement track of the object preceding vehicle and the reference line exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A transformer is formed into a substantially U shape. The length of the transformer may thus be secured, and also the length of pattern wiring between an input terminal and an output terminal of a secondary coil of the transformer and the control terminals of a semiconductor device may be reduced. Moreover, the primary coil and the secondary coil of the transformer are arranged in parallel. The coupling coefficient between the primary coil and the secondary coil is thereby increased. An LC resonant circuit, not including the induction coil, and a switching circuit and the transformer are accommodated inside a housing. A water-cooling radiator is provided inside the housing, and also air inside the housing is circulated by a cooling fan while being guided to the radiator.

Abstract: A traveling control apparatus includes a generation section generating traveling paths from a history of positions of vehicles present ahead of an own vehicle, a first control section defining one vehicle, which runs in a driving lane of the own vehicle, as a target, and making a lateral position of the own vehicle follow a lateral position which is a position of the target in a width direction of the own vehicle, a determination section determining, when follow-up control is performed, whether or not, in the driving lane, one of the vehicles cuts in a space between the own vehicle and the target, and a first selection section selecting, when cutting in is determined to occur, the current target or the cut-in vehicle as the target, based on a result of comparison between the lateral positions on the traveling paths respectively generated for the current target and the cut-in vehicle.

Abstract: A lane merging determination apparatus is provided which includes a first generation section that generates a first path, which is a prospective traveling path of an own vehicle, a second generation section that generates a second path corresponding to a traveling path of an adjacent vehicle, which is one of vehicles present ahead of the own vehicle and runs in a lane adjacent to a driving lane of the own vehicle, based on a history of positions of the vehicles, an intersection determination section that determines whether or not the first path and the second path intersect with each other; and a merging determination section that determines that the lanes merge with each other in front of the own vehicle, if the intersection determination section determines that the first path and the second path intersect with each other.

Abstract: A high-frequency input voltage and a high-frequency input current to a series resonant circuit are detected by a voltage detection unit and a current detection unit, respectively, and plasma input power is detected by a plasma input power detection unit based on the detected high-frequency input voltage and high-frequency input current. By directly detecting the plasma input power in this manner, the plasma input power may be accurately controlled regardless of the state of a plasma-generating gas or an analysis sample. Also, use of a switching circuit including a semiconductor device allows an inexpensive configuration compared with a configuration where a vacuum tube or the like is used.

Abstract: A transformer is formed into a substantially U shape. The length of the transformer may thus be secured, and also the length of pattern wiring between an input terminal and an output terminal of a secondary coil of the transformer and the control terminals of a semiconductor device may be reduced. Moreover, the primary coil and the secondary coil of the transformer are arranged in parallel. The coupling coefficient between the primary coil and the secondary coil is thereby increased. An LC resonant circuit, not including the induction coil, and a switching circuit and the transformer are accommodated inside a housing. A water-cooling radiator is provided inside the housing, and also air inside the housing is circulated by a cooling fan while being guided to the radiator.

Abstract: A starter is provided for a self-oscillating radio frequency oscillation circuit for high-power applications used for plasma generation in an ICP emission spectrometer or for other purposes. A secondary winding of a starting transformer is arranged in an LC resonance circuit including an induction coil, capacitor and other elements. A starter, e.g. a Clapp oscillator circuit, is connected to a primary winding magnetically coupled with the secondary winding. A radio-frequency current is induced in the LC resonance circuit by energizing the starter for a certain period of time in a starting phase. As a result, electric current flows through the secondary windings in a full-bridge drive circuit which are magnetically coupled with primary windings, whereby voltage is developed between the gate and source of MOSFETs, causing these MOSFETs to begin an ON/OFF operation, whereby the self-oscillation is started.

Abstract: PROBLEM: To improve the stability of the process of the plasma ignition, by allowing a high current to pass through an induction coil without increasing the power-supply voltage in the process of the plasma ignition. SOLUTION: An impedance conversion circuit 16 including an inductor 17 and a capacitor 18 is arranged between a full-bridge drive circuit 13 for switching DC voltage and an LC resonance circuit 19 including an induction coil 21 for plasma generation. The capacitance of the capacitor 18 can be varied between two levels, with a switching driver 23 serving as a switcher. When the plasma is to be ignited, the capacitance of the capacitor 18 is set at the higher level to allow a high current to be supplied to the LC resonance circuit 19. After the plasma is brought into a steady state of lighting, the capacitance of the capacitor 18 is changed to the lower level at which an impedance matching is achieved so as to maximize the power efficiency.

Abstract: PROBLEM: To generate a self-oscillation in a stable manner and at a low cost in a self-oscillating radio frequency oscillation circuit for high-power applications used for plasma generation in an ICP emission spectrometer or for other purposes. SOLUTION: A secondary winding 38 of a starting transformer is arranged in an LC resonance circuit 30 including an induction coil 9, capacitor 36 and other elements. A starter 6, e.g. a Clapp oscillator circuit, is connected to a primary winding 5 magnetically coupled with the winding 38. A radio-frequency current is induced in the LC resonance circuit 30 through the primary and secondary windings 5 and 38 by energizing the starter 6 for a certain period of time in a starting phase.

Abstract: An emission spectrophotometer capable of inhibiting non-uniformity of spectral intensities of component elements is provided. The emission spectrophotometer generates pulse light emission by supplying an energy accumulated in an electricity accumulating and discharging unit to a gap between an electrode and a test material, and the emission spectrophotometer includes a detection unit, for detecting an energy charged to the electricity accumulating and discharging unit before the pulse light emission; and a detection unit, for detecting an energy remaining in the electricity accumulating and discharging unit after the pulse light emission. It is determined whether the detected light is emitted by fully using the energy accumulated in the electricity accumulating and discharging unit.

Abstract: An emission spectrophotometer capable of inhibiting non-uniformity of spectral intensities of component elements is provided. The emission spectrophotometer generates pulse light emission by supplying an energy accumulated in an electricity accumulating and discharging unit to a gap between an electrode and a test material, and the emission spectrophotometer includes a detection unit, for detecting an energy charged to the electricity accumulating and discharging unit before the pulse light emission; and a detection unit, for detecting an energy remaining in the electricity accumulating and discharging unit after the pulse light emission. It is determined whether the detected light is emitted by fully using the energy accumulated in the electricity accumulating and discharging unit.