Abstract: A phase control device for use with a voltage-boosting DC/DC converter includes a current sensor for detecting a current flowing through at least one of the primary and secondary windings of a transformer of the DC/DC converter, a ripple determining section for, on the basis of a current signal detected by the current sensor, determining an amount of current ripple occurring when a first switching element or second switching element switches to an ON state, and a phase regulating section for, on the basis of the amount of current ripple determined by the ripple determining section, regulating a phase related to an ON time of each of the first and second switching elements such that the amount of current ripple is reduced to zero.

Abstract: Voltage-boosting/lowering DC/DC converter includes a low-voltage-side port and high-voltage-side port, an inductor connected at one end to a positive-pole terminal of the low-voltage-side port, and a transformer of a magnetic-field cancellation type including a primary winding and secondary winding interconnected in an oppositely-wound configuration, a common terminal of the primary winding and secondary winding being connected to the end of the inductor. Switching element controls an energizing current of the primary winding flowing to a common reference terminal, another switching element controls an energizing current of the primary winding flowing to a positive-pole terminal of the high-voltage-side port, still another switching controls an energizing current of the secondary winding flowing to the common reference terminal, and still another switching element controls an energizing current of the secondary winding flowing to the positive-pole terminal of the high-voltage-side port.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter that is small, light, highly efficient, and inexpensive are provided which includes a DC power supply input section, a first and second capacitor connected in series, and an output section connected to the series connected first and second capacitors, a switching device that switches a plurality of switches which incorporate a configuration for connecting a power supply of the DC power supply input section, to the first capacitor and the second capacitor, and a switching control device that controls ON/OFF switching of the respective switches in the switching device in accordance with an operation mode.

Abstract: A small and light weight DC/DC converter is provided comprising a coil in which a first coil and a second coil are wound in opposite directions (reversed phases) on the same core is used, and at the same time as when an excitation current is flowed in the first coil with a switch ON and a switch OFF, an electric current is generated in the second coil in a direction to offset the magnetization of the core, and the electric current from the second coil is transferred to an output side capacitor. Similarly, at the same time as an excitation current is flowed in the second coil with the switch ON and the switch OFF, an electric current is generated in the first coil in a direction to offset the magnetization of the core, and the electric current from the first coil is transferred to the output side capacitor.

Abstract: Voltage-boosting/lowering DC/DC converter includes a low-voltage-side port and high-voltage-side port, an inductor connected at one end to a positive-pole terminal of the low-voltage-side port, and a transformer of a magnetic-field cancellation type including a primary winding and secondary winding interconnected in an oppositely-wound configuration, a common terminal of the primary winding and secondary winding being connected to the end of the inductor. Switching element controls an energizing current of the primary winding flowing to a common reference terminal, another switching element controls an energizing current of the primary winding flowing to a positive-pole terminal of the high-voltage-side port, still another switching controls an energizing current of the secondary winding flowing to the common reference terminal, and still another switching element controls an energizing current of the secondary winding flowing to the positive-pole terminal of the high-voltage-side port.

Abstract: A small and light weight DC/DC converter is provided comprising a coil in which a first coil and a second coil are wound in opposite directions (reversed phases) on the same core is used, and at the same time as when an excitation current is flowed in the first coil with a switch ON and a switch OFF, an electric current is generated in the second coil in a direction to offset the magnetization of the core, and the electric current from the second coil is transferred to an output side capacitor. Similarly, at the same time as an excitation current is flowed in the second coil with the switch ON and the switch OFF, an electric current is generated in the first coil in a direction to offset the magnetization of the core, and the electric current from the first coil is transferred to the output side capacitor.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter that is small, light, highly efficient, and inexpensive are provided which includes a DC power supply input section, a first and second capacitor connected in series, and an output section connected to the series connected first and second capacitors, a switching device that switches a plurality of switches which incorporate a configuration for connecting a power supply of the DC power supply input section, to the first capacitor and the second capacitor, and a switching control device that controls ON/OFF switching of the respective switches in the switching device in accordance with an operation mode.

Abstract: An engine exhaust gas purifying catalyst contains, as active substances, platinum and at least one of iridium, III-B metals and IV-B metals. In particular, the catalyst contains mainly platinum and iridium and, desirably, rhodium as an additive catalyst substance.

Abstract: A three-way catalyst is generally used in an automotive exhaust system. This catalyst has a sufficient total content of noble metal active species and is prevented from heat deterioration so that the activity of the noble metal active species can be well utilized at low temperatures to enable the catalyst to exhibit improved purification performance at the low temperatures. The catalyst comprises a first catalyst layer formed on the surface of a honeycomb-shaped carrier and containing Pd (palladium) and alumina (.gamma.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), and a second catalyst layer formed on the outer surface of the first catalyst layer and containing Pd and ceria (CeO.sub.2).

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst includes a metal-containing silicate and a noble metal active species carried by the metal-containing silicate. The metal-containing silicate has a solid acid characteristic wherein the amount of acid within a region where an acidity function Ho is equal to or smaller than -3.0 ranges from 0.04 to 0.55 mmol/gr. The noble metal active species burns an hydrocarbon component of exhaust gases to decompose an NOx component also contained in the exhaust gases. The catalyst may include a binder for carrying the noble metal active species on the metal-containing silicate. The binder has a solid acid characteristic wherein the amount of acid within a region where the acidity function Ho is equal to or smaller than -3.0 ranges from 0.04 to 0.55 mmol/gr.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying catalyst includes an active compound, including platinum (Pt) and iridium (Ir), as an essential active compound base and any combination of two or more metals of terbium (Tb), nickel (Ni), indium (In), tin (Sn), cobalt (Co) and cerium (Ce), excepting a combination of indium (In) and tin (Sn), as an additive active material. The base and additive active material are deposited on and carried by a silicate carrier.

Abstract: A catalytic convertor for treating exhaust gas includes a first catalyst layer formed on a base material and a second catalyst layer formed on the first catalyst layer. The first catalyst layer is composed of metal-containing silicate provided with transition metal by ion exchange and at least one precious metal borne on the silicate, and the second catalyst layer is composed of metal-containing silicate provided with transition metal by ion exchange and at least one metal borne on the silicate which is selected from the group consisting of Zr, Co, Cu, Cr, Mn, Y, Fe, Ni, V, Ti, Zn, Ga, Ba, Mg, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm and Tb and differs from the transition metal provided on the silicate by ion exchange.

Abstract: When a resin article having at least one thickened part is blow-molded, a parison is extruded and suspended between halves of a blow mold the inner surface of which defines the outer shape of the article to be molded. An expander panel is inserted into the space inside the parison, and is moved toward the part of the inner surface of the blow mold corresponding to the thickened part of the article to press thereagainst a part of the parison. Then the blow mold is closed and pressurized gas is blown into the parison.

Abstract: A nut runner control system includes a plurality of nut runners, a plurality of subcontrollers connected to the nut runners, respectively, for controlling the nut runners, and a master controller connected to the subcontrollers for presetting and modifying drive conditions for the nut runners and for monitoring the nut runners based on data indicating operating conditions of the nut runners and received through the subcontrollers, respectively.

Abstract: A seat frame structure for a vehicle seat having a seat frame main body integrally formed by blow molding of a synthetic resin, and a metal mounting member fixed to a surface of the seat frame main body in an exposed state. The metal mounting member includes an externally exposed mounting member main body, a first edge portion integrally formed on an outer peripheral portion of the mounting member main body, projecting from the outer peripheral portion toward the inner surface side at a predetermined angle, and embedded in the seat frame main body during blow molding of the seat frame main body, at least one hole portion formed in a portion of the mounting member main body located inwardly from its first edge portion, and a second edge portion integrally formed on a peripheral edge of the hole portion, projecting from the mounting member main body toward the inner surface side at a predetermined angle, and embedded in the seat frame main body during blow molding of the seat frame main body.

Abstract: A robot hand changer has a first joint member mounted on a robot arm, a second joint member mounted on a robot hand, and an engaging member mounted on the first joint member and angularly movable with respect to the second joint member for coupling the first and second joint members against each other. The robot hand changer also has an optical signal transmission device including sets of optical fibers disposed in confronting relation out of contact with each other for transmitting control signals across mating surfaces when the robot arm and the robot hand are coupled to each other, and photoelectric transducer circuits for converting electric signals to optical signals and vice versa. The robot hand arm further includes a detecting device for detecting dirt on the mating surfaces.

Abstract: A robot hand changer has a first joint member mounted on a robot arm, a second joint member mounted on a robot hand, and an engaging member mounted on the first joint member and angularly movable with respect to the second joint member for coupling the first and second joint members against each other. The robot hand changer also has an optical signal transmission device including sets of optical fibers disposed in confronting relation out of contact with each other for transmitting control signals across mating surfaces when the robot arm and the robot hand are coupled to each other, and photoelectric transducer circuits for converting electric signals to optical signals and vice versa. The robot hand arm further includes a detecting device for detecting dirt on the mating surface.