Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensing device includes a resistor, an A/D converter, a parallel circuit unit, a second switch, a controlling unit, an air-fuel ratio sensing unit, and a deterioration sensing unit. The controlling unit controls to turn off the first switch and controls to turn on the second switch in a first interval, and the controlling unit controls to turn on the first switch and controls to turn off the second switch in a second interval. The air-fuel ratio sensing unit senses an air-fuel ratio based on a converting result of the A/D converter in the first interval. The deterioration sensing unit compares a reference value with a value obtained based on the converting result and senses a deterioration generated in the current sensing circuit unit in the second interval.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensing device includes a resistor, an A/D converter, a parallel circuit unit, a second switch, a controlling unit, an air-fuel ratio sensing unit, and a deterioration sensing unit. The controlling unit controls to turn off the first switch and controls to turn on the second switch in a first interval, and the controlling unit controls to turn on the first switch and controls to turn off the second switch in a second interval. The air-fuel ratio sensing unit senses an air-fuel ratio based on a converting result of the A/D converter in the first interval. The deterioration sensing unit compares a reference value with a value obtained based on the converting result and senses a deterioration generated in the current sensing circuit unit in the second interval.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit includes multiple switching elements, an inductor, and a capacitor. The control circuit compares an input voltage of the switching circuit with a predetermined threshold voltage set for an operation switch, and controls the switching circuit to perform the operation switch between at least two power control operations based on a comparison result. The at least two power control operations includes at least two of a buck operation, a buck-boost operation, or a boost operation. The control circuit further performs an inrush current restriction operation in response to the operation switch in order to restrict a flowing of an inrush current to one of the switching elements, which turns on and outputs the input voltage through the inductor in response to the operation switch.

Abstract: A switching power supply converts an input voltage to a predetermined output voltage by controlling a switching device. The switching power supply includes a controller and a current detector. The controller controls the switching device. The current detector detects electric current flowing through the switching device. The controller starts a forced-OFF action to forcedly turn OFF the switching device when the current detected by the current detector exceeds a predetermined threshold and then ends the forced-OFF action at a start of a predetermined switching period.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes a switching circuit and a control circuit. The switching circuit includes multiple switching elements, an inductor, and a capacitor. The control circuit compares an input voltage of the switching circuit with a predetermined threshold voltage set for an operation switch, and controls the switching circuit to perform the operation switch between at least two power control operations based on a comparison result. The at least two power control operations includes at least two of a buck operation, a buck -boost operation, or a boost operation. The control circuit further performs an inrush current restriction operation in response to the operation switch in order to restrict a flowing of an inrush current to one of the switching elements, which turns on and outputs the input voltage through the inductor in response to the operation switch.

Abstract: A switching power supply converts an input voltage to a predetermined output voltage by controlling a switching device. The switching power supply includes a controller and a current detector. The controller controls the switching device. The current detector detects electric current flowing through the switching device. The controller starts a forced-OFF action to forcedly turn OFF the switching device when the current detected by the current detector exceeds a predetermined threshold and then ends the forced-OFF action at a start of a predetermined switching period.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colorimetric method that can perform a simple and reliable analysis in a short time. The method includes transferring an electron from an analyte to a coloring reagent that produces color by reduction via a mediator by using an oxidoreductase; and performing qualitative or quantitative analysis of the analyte by measuring color produced in the coloring reagent. The enzyme reaction of this method is a single stage reaction, and the color production reaction occurs via the mediator. Therefore, the measurement can be performed in a short time. Since this reaction requires neither hydrogen peroxide nor oxygen, the measured values are highly reliable.

Abstract: A switching power supply has first and second switching units and a control unit. Each switching unit has a switching element performing a switching operation to intermittently receive electric current from a battery while accumulating electric power in a coil and discharging this power to an output terminal. A resistor earthed is serially connected with each switching element. The resistance of the first resistor receiving the first current from the first switching element is lower than that of the second resistor receiving the second current from the second switching element. A maximum value of the first current is higher than that of the second current due to the difference between the resistors. The control unit controls the switching operations of the elements to boost the voltage of the battery and stops the switching operations in response to the first current exceeding an upper value.

Abstract: In an ECU, a level adjusting unit communicable to first and second control circuits and a bus transceiver installed in the ECU receives first data and second data respectively transmitted from the first and second control circuits. The bus transceiver is communicable to a communication bus. When the first data and the second data are simultaneously received, the level adjusting unit merges the first data and the second data such that a first electric level of the first data wins with a second electric level of the second data. The level adjusting unit outputs the merged data to the bus transceiver.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus that supplies an operating voltage to a microcomputer reliably resets the microcomputer before operation becomes unstable when an external power supply voltage decreases due to interruption. A switching regulator and series regulators are included. An externally supplied power supply voltage is stepped down to generate an intermediate voltage. The intermediate voltage is stepped down to generate an operating voltage for a microcomputer core. The intermediate voltage is stepped down to generate an operating voltage for an I/O port. When the intermediate voltage becomes lower than a reset determining voltage, the power supply apparatus outputs a reset signal to the microcomputer. When the power supply voltage decreases, the microcomputer can be reliably reset and the core can be prevented from operating erratically before the voltage becomes lower than a minimum core operating voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colorimetric method that can perform a simple and reliable analysis in a short time. The method includes transferring an electron from an analyte to a coloring reagent that produces color by reduction via a mediator by using an oxidoreductase; and performing qualitative or quantitative analysis of the analyte by measuring color produced in the coloring reagent. The enzyme reaction of this method is a single stage reaction, and the color production reaction occurs via the mediator. Therefore, the measurement can be performed in a short time. Since this reaction requires neither hydrogen peroxide nor oxygen, the measured values are highly reliable.

Abstract: In a computer circuit, a power supply circuit, a power supply circuit supplies a power supply voltage to a microcomputer. The power supply circuit interrupts supply of the power supply voltage to the microcomputer when receiving a suspend signal output from the microcomputer. The power supply circuit restarts the supply of the power supply voltage to the microcomputer when at least one of the first and second activate request signals is turned to a corresponding active state during interruption of the supply of the power supply voltage.

Abstract: A switching power supply has first and second switching units and a control unit. Each switching unit has a switching element performing a switching operation to intermittently receive electric current from a battery while accumulating electric power in a coil and discharging this power to an output terminal. A resistor earthed is serially connected with each switching element. The resistance of the first resistor receiving the first current from the first switching element is lower than that of the second resistor receiving the second current from the second switching element. A maximum value of the first current is higher than that of the second current due to the difference between the resistors. The control unit controls the switching operations of the elements to boost the voltage of the battery and stops the switching operations in response to the first current exceeding an upper value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a calorimetric method that can perform a simple and reliable analysis in a short time. The method includes transferring an electron from an analyte to a coloring reagent that produces color by reduction via a mediator by using an oxidoreductase; and performing qualitative or quantitative analysis of the analyte by measuring color produced in the coloring reagent. The enzyme reaction of this method is a single stage reaction, and the color production reaction occurs via the mediator. Therefore, the measurement can be performed in a short time. Since this reaction requires neither hydrogen peroxide nor oxygen, the measured values are highly reliable.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus that supplies an operating voltage to a microcomputer reliably resets the microcomputer before operation becomes unstable when an external power supply voltage decreases due to interruption. A switching regulator and series regulators are included. An externally supplied power supply voltage is stepped down to generate an intermediate voltage. The intermediate voltage is stepped down to generate an operating voltage for a microcomputer core. The intermediate voltage is stepped down to generate an operating voltage for an I/O port. When the intermediate voltage becomes lower than a reset determining voltage, the power supply apparatus outputs a reset signal to the microcomputer. When the power supply voltage decreases, the microcomputer can be reliably reset and the core can be prevented from operating erratically before the voltage becomes lower than a minimum core operating voltage.

Abstract: In an ECU, a level adjusting unit communicable to first and second control circuits and a bus transceiver installed in the ECU receives first data and second data respectively transmitted from the first and second control circuits. The bus transceiver is communicable to a communication bus. When the first data and the second data are simultaneously received, the level adjusting unit merges the first data and the second data such that a first electric level of the first data wins with a second electric level of the second data. The level adjusting unit outputs the merged data to the bus transceiver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analyzing tool (X1) including a reaction space (4) for allowing a particular component contained in a sample and a reagent to react with each other, and a reagent portion (51, 52) which is arranged in the reaction space (4) and which dissolves when the sample is supplied to the reaction space (4). The reagent portion (51, 52) includes a first part (51) and a second part (52) facing each other at a defining surface defining the reaction space (4).

Abstract: In a computer circuit, a power supply circuit, a power supply circuit supplies a power supply voltage to a microcomputer. The power supply circuit interrupts supply of the power supply voltage to the microcomputer when receiving a suspend signal output from the microcomputer. The power supply circuit restarts the supply of the power supply voltage to the microcomputer when at least one of the first and second activate request signals is turned to a corresponding active state during interruption of the supply of the power supply voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colorimetric method that can perform a simple and reliable analysis in a short time. An aqueous solution including a bipyridyl copper complex and glucose dehydrogenase is prepared. A filter paper is impregnated with the aqueous solution and dried. When a sample such as blood is applied to the filter paper, the bipyridyl copper complex produces reddish brown color in accordance with the glucose concentration, and the color produced in the complex is measured. This reaction is a single reaction and thus occurs in a short time (e.g., 5 seconds or less). Since this reaction requires neither hydrogen peroxide nor oxygen, the measured values are highly reliable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a calorimetric method that can perform a simple and reliable analysis in a short time. The method includes transferring an electron from an analyte to a coloring reagent that produces color by reduction via a mediator by using an oxidoreductase; and performing qualitative or quantitative analysis of the analyte by measuring color produced in the coloring reagent. The enzyme reaction of this method is a single stage reaction, and the color production reaction occurs via the mediator. Therefore, the measurement can be performed in a short time. Since this reaction requires neither hydrogen peroxide nor oxygen, the measured values are highly reliable.