Abstract: The present invention provides: an MRI contrast agent for detecting cartilage damage, which comprises 17O-labeled water; and a method and a program for detecting cartilage damage using the contrast agent. According to the present invention, it becomes possible to detect a damage in a cartilage, particularly a minor damage in the surface layer of a cartilage which has been difficult to detect so far, by using 17O-labeled water as a contrast agent.

Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer including first and second windings, a switching circuit switching voltages applied to the first winding, a power supply circuit rectifying and smoothing a current in the second winding and generating a DC voltage, an adjustment circuit adjusting the DC voltage according to an operation mode including first and second modes in which the DC voltage is adjusted to first and second voltages, the second voltage less than the first voltage, and a protection circuit including first and second Zener diodes and a switch and stopping output of the adjusted voltage. A cathode of the first diode is connected to the supply circuit, and an anode of the first diode is connected to a cathode of the second diode and the switch, and the switch is connected in parallel to the second diode and is turned on in the second mode.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first circuit including an inductor and configured to convert an input voltage into a first voltage, a second circuit including a transformer and configured to convert the first voltage input to the insulating transformer to a second voltage, a control circuit configured to control the first circuit, a first power supply circuit including a first winding magnetically coupled to the inductor and configured to output a third voltage generated by the first winding to the first control circuit, and a second power supply circuit including a second winding magnetically coupled to the transformer and configured to output a fourth voltage generated by the second winding to the first control circuit. When the second voltage is not output the third voltage is output to the control circuit, and when the second voltage is output the fourth voltage is output to the control circuit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the power converter includes a power conversion circuit and a power outage detection circuit. The power converter includes a power conversion circuit including an isolation transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding, and an auxiliary winding, a first DC voltage source which outputs DC power with an input AC power, a switching circuit which switches connection between the first DC voltage source and the primary winding, an auxiliary power supply circuit which supplies the DC power to the switching circuit using a power generated in the auxiliary winding, a second DC voltage source which rectifies and smooths the power generated in the secondary winding and outputs DC power to a load.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first circuit including an inductor and configured to convert an input voltage into a first voltage, a second circuit including a transformer and configured to convert the first voltage input to the insulating transformer to a second voltage, a control circuit configured to control the first circuit, a first power supply circuit including a first winding magnetically coupled to the inductor and configured to output a third voltage generated by the first winding to the first control circuit, and a second power supply circuit including a second winding magnetically coupled to the transformer and configured to output a fourth voltage generated by the second winding to the first control circuit. When the second voltage is not output the third voltage is output to the control circuit, and when the second voltage is output the fourth voltage is output to the control circuit.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first circuit including an inductor and configured to convert an input voltage into a first voltage, a second circuit including a transformer and configured to convert the first voltage input to the insulating transformer to a second voltage, a control circuit configured to control the first circuit, a first power supply circuit including a first winding magnetically coupled to the inductor and configured to output a third voltage generated by the first winding to the first control circuit, and a second power supply circuit including a second winding magnetically coupled to the transformer and configured to output a fourth voltage generated by the second winding to the first control circuit. When the second voltage is not output the third voltage is output to the control circuit, and when the second voltage is output the fourth voltage is output to the control circuit.

Abstract: A power converter includes an insulating transformer including primary and secondary windings, a switching circuit configured to switch voltages applied to the primary winding, a power supply circuit connected to the secondary winding and configured to rectify and smooth a current flowing in the secondary winding and generate a DC voltage, an adjustment circuit configured to adjust the voltage and output the adjusted voltage that is a first voltage in a first mode and a second voltage that is less than the first voltage in a second mode, and a protection circuit including a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode and configured to stop output of the adjusted voltage. A cathode of the first diode is electrically connected to the power supply circuit. The second diode is connected in series to the first diode in the first mode and being short-circuited in the second mode.

Abstract: A power converter includes a transformer including first and second windings, a switching circuit switching voltages applied to the first winding, a power supply circuit rectifying and smoothing a current in the second winding and generating a DC voltage, an adjustment circuit adjusting the DC voltage according to an operation mode including first and second modes in which the DC voltage is adjusted to first and second voltages, the second voltage less than the first voltage, and a protection circuit including first and second Zener diodes and a switch and stopping output of the adjusted voltage. A cathode of the first diode is connected to the supply circuit, and an anode of the first diode is connected to a cathode of the second diode and the switch, and the switch is connected in parallel to the second diode and is turned on in the second mode.

Abstract: A power converter includes an insulating transformer including primary and secondary windings, a switching circuit configured to switch voltages applied to the primary winding, a power supply circuit connected to the secondary winding and configured to rectify and smooth a current flowing in the secondary winding and generate a DC voltage, an adjustment circuit configured to adjust the voltage and output the adjusted voltage that is a first voltage in a first mode and a second voltage that is less than the first voltage in a second mode, and a protection circuit including a first Zener diode and a second Zener diode and configured to stop output of the adjusted voltage. A cathode of the first diode is electrically connected to the power supply circuit. The second diode is connected in series to the first diode in the first mode and being short-circuited in the second mode.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the power converter includes a power conversion circuit and a power outage detection circuit. The power converter includes a power conversion circuit including an isolation transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled to the primary winding, and an auxiliary winding, a first DC voltage source which outputs DC power with an input AC power, a switching circuit which switches connection between the first DC voltage source and the primary winding, an auxiliary power supply circuit which supplies the DC power to the switching circuit using a power generated in the auxiliary winding, a second DC voltage source which rectifies and smooths the power generated in the secondary winding and outputs DC power to a load.

Abstract: A power converter includes a first circuit including an inductor and configured to convert an input voltage into a first voltage, a second circuit including a transformer and configured to convert the first voltage input to the insulating transformer to a second voltage, a control circuit configured to control the first circuit, a first power supply circuit including a first winding magnetically coupled to the inductor and configured to output a third voltage generated by the first winding to the first control circuit, and a second power supply circuit including a second winding magnetically coupled to the transformer and configured to output a fourth voltage generated by the second winding to the first control circuit. When the second voltage is not output the third voltage is output to the control circuit, and when the second voltage is output the fourth voltage is output to the control circuit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power converting device includes a rectifier bridge configured to pulsate an AC voltage to generate a pulsating voltage, a first smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the pulsating voltage to generate a DC voltage, a primary winding connected to the first smoothing capacitor, a switch circuit configured to switch the DC voltage supplied from the first smoothing capacitor to the primary winding, and a first discharge circuit. The first discharge circuit includes a first discharge resistor configured to discharge electric charges remaining on the first smoothing capacitor and a first switch element configured to release the first discharge resistor from the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is supplied and to connect the first discharge resistor to the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is not supplied and the electric charges remain on the first smoothing capacitor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a power converting device includes a rectifier bridge configured to pulsate an AC voltage to generate a pulsating voltage, a first smoothing capacitor configured to smooth the pulsating voltage to generate a DC voltage, a primary winding connected to the first smoothing capacitor, a switch circuit configured to switch the DC voltage supplied from the first smoothing capacitor to the primary winding, and a first discharge circuit. The first discharge circuit includes a first discharge resistor configured to discharge electric charges remaining on the first smoothing capacitor and a first switch element configured to release the first discharge resistor from the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is supplied and to connect the first discharge resistor to the first smoothing capacitor if the AC voltage is not supplied and the electric charges remain on the first smoothing capacitor.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a recording disk drive includes a head actuator assembly, a voice coil motor, a housing, a step, a latch lever, a latch member, and first and second contact pieces. The head actuator assembly supports a head slider. The housing houses defines a flat surface for receiving the voice coil motor. The step is connected to one end of the flat surface and defines a stepped surface expanding parallel to the flat surface. The latch lever is rotatably supported by a first shaft. The latch member is rotatably supported by a second shaft, and rotate between a first posture and a second posture. The first and second contact pieces on the latch member cause the latch member to rotate about the second shaft toward the first posture by contact with the latch lever rotating in first and second directions, respectively.

Abstract: A loading mechanism by which a disk cartridge can be loaded into a disk drive apparatus includes a mechanism for opening and closing a shutter of the disk cartridge; an elevating plate on which a spindle motor and an alignment pin for positioning the cartridge are mounted; and an oblique surface for moving the elevating plate onto the cartridge side for cartridge insertion. In one case, a front end portion of a first alignment pin is elliptically cylindrical, and only a front end portion of a second alignment pin is curved. The second alignment pin is offset onto the rear side of the apparatus. In another embodiment, a shutter sliding member includes: first and second sliding pieces which slide in a guide groove of a guide frame forming an insertion passage of the cartridge; and a torsion spring. In the first and the second sliding pieces, a shaft portion engages one end of the torsion spring, and a flange interposes the guide groove.

Abstract: An optical storage device including a light source mounted on a base, an optical head having an objective lens for focusing light from the light source onto an optical recording medium, a spindle motor, and a spindle motor assembly having the spindle motor and movable between a raised position where the spindle motor engages the optical recording medium inserted in the optical storage device and a lowered position where the spindle motor disengages the optical recording medium. The optical storage device further includes a link mechanism for moving the spindle motor assembly between the raised position and the lowered position according to insertion and ejection of the optical recording medium with respect to the optical storage device, and a stopper for engaging the link mechanism to prevent movement of the link mechanism when the optical recording medium is not inserted in the optical storage device, thereby preventing movement of the spindle motor assembly to the raised position.

Abstract: A loading mechanism by which a disk cartridge can be loaded into a disk drive apparatus includes a mechanism for opening and closing a shutter of the disk cartridge; an elevating plate on which a spindle motor and an alignment pin for positioning the cartridge are mounted; and an oblique surface for moving the elevating plate onto the cartridge side for cartridge insertion. In one case, a front end portion of the first alignment pin is elliptically cylindrical, and only a front end portion of a second alignment pin is curved. The second alignment pin is offset onto the rear side of the apparatus. In another embodiment, a shutter sliding member includes: first and second sliding pieces which slide in a guide groove of a guide frame forming an insertion passage of the cartridge; and a torsion spring. In the first and the second sliding pieces, a shaft portion engages one end of the torsion spring, and a flange interposes the guide groove.

Abstract: This is a loading mechanism by which a disk cartridge can be positively loaded into a disk drive apparatus. The loading mechanism comprises: a mechanism for opening and closing a shutter of the disk cartridge inserted into the disk drive apparatus; an elevating plate on which a spindle motor for rotating the disk and an alignment pin for positioning the cartridge are mounted; and an oblique surface for moving the elevating plate onto the cartridge side in accordance with insertion of the cartridge. In the first embodiment, a front end portion of the first alignment pin inserted into a long reference hole of the cartridge is tapered, and only a front end portion of the second alignment pin inserted into a circular reference hole on the opposite side to the first alignment pin is curved, and further the second alignment pin is offset onto the rear side of the apparatus.

Abstract: This is a loading mechanism by which a disk cartridge can be positively loaded into a disk drive apparatus. The loading mechanism comprises: a mechanism for opening and closing a shutter of the disk cartridge inserted into the disk drive apparatus; an elevating plate on which a spindle motor for rotating the disk and an alignment pin for positioning the cartridge are mounted; and an oblique surface for moving the elevating plate onto the cartridge side in accordance with insertion of the cartridge. In the first embodiment, a front end portion of the first alignment pin inserted into a long reference hole of the cartridge is tapered, and only a front end portion of the second alignment pin inserted into a circular reference hole on the opposite side to the first alignment pin is curved, and further the second alignment pin is offset onto the rear side of the apparatus.

Abstract: An optical disk drive has an inserting/ejecting mechanism for performing an insertion and ejection of either a CD mounted on a CD carrier or an MO cartridge and a recording and reproducing mechanism for reading or reproducing with either medium. The inserting/ejecting mechanism has a load mechanism which is activated when a CD and a CD carrier on which the CD has been mounted or a medium as an MO cartridge are inserted in an inserting/ejecting port and moves the medium to the position of a spindle motor for attachment to a motor rotary shaft. In addition, an ejecting mechanism, which is activated on the basis of a medium ejecting instruction, moves the medium to an ejecting position of the inserting/ejecting port after the medium was removed from a spindle motor.