Abstract: A motor control unit includes a sensing unit and a driver unit. The sensing unit includes a sensor magnet to rotate in synchronization with a rotation of a rotor included in a motor, and a first sensor element and a second sensor element to convert a signal caused by a rotation of the sensor magnet into a digital signal. The driver unit controls the motor based on output signals of the elements. The sensor magnet includes a first magnetization belt and a second magnetization belt where a plurality of magnetic poles is arranged in a peripheral direction of the rotor. The belts are concentrically disposed to cause arrangements of the magnetic poles to be shifted by a predetermined angle in a peripheral direction. The elements are arranged in a radial direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A blockage diagnosis device includes a diagnosis unit that performs blockage diagnosis on a vent passage based on a change over time in an internal pressure of the vent passage in association with the operation of a negative pressure pump. A primary determination unit of the diagnosis unit makes a primary determination that the vent passage is blocked, if a first estimation volume V1 is less than a preset threshold volume Vth. A secondary determination unit of the diagnosis unit makes a secondary determination that the vent passage is blocked, if the second estimation volume V2 is less than the threshold volume Vth. If the primary determination indicating that the vent passage is blocked is made in the primary determination unit, and the secondary determination indicating that the vent passage is blocked is made in the secondary determination unit, the diagnosis unit determines that the vent passage is blocked.

Abstract: A blockage determination portion 174 of a blockage detection system 30 determines that no blockage has occurred in a purge line 90, if a flow rate V of an inner fluid Fi exceeds a flow rate threshold THv while an internal pressure Pi of the purge line 90 is reduced from a first pressure value P1 to a second pressure value P2, for example. The blockage determination portion 174 determines that a blockage has occurred in the purge line 90, if the flow rate V of the inner fluid Fi falls below the flow rate threshold THv after the internal pressure Pi is reduced from the first pressure value P1 to the second pressure value P2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel level estimation device including: an information acquiring unit acquiring information about a closed system internal pressure of a closed fuel vapor system including the fuel tank, a vent passage, and a canister; a flow rate controlling unit controlling, by actuating a negative pressure pump, a flow rate of fuel vapor-containing gas in the closed fuel vapor system; a fuel level estimating unit estimating a fuel level based on a total volume of the closed fuel vapor system and an occupied volume of the gas. The fuel level estimating unit estimates the occupied volume of the gas by using a change in a closed system internal pressure before and after the closed fuel vapor system is subjected to pressure-reducing treatment for a predetermined interval and a reference discharging rate when the gas is subject to the pressure-reducing treatment. An abnormality diagnostic apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fuel level estimation device including: an information acquiring unit acquiring information about a closed system internal pressure of a closed fuel vapor system including the fuel tank, a vent passage, and a canister; a flow rate controlling unit controlling, by actuating a negative pressure pump, a flow rate of fuel vapor-containing gas in the closed fuel vapor system; a fuel level estimating unit estimating a fuel level based on a total volume of the closed fuel vapor system and an occupied volume of the gas. The fuel level estimating unit estimates the occupied volume of the gas by using a change in a closed system internal pressure before and after the closed fuel vapor system is subjected to pressure-reducing treatment for a predetermined interval and a reference discharging rate when the gas is subject to the pressure-reducing treatment. An abnormality diagnostic apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blockage diagnosis device includes a diagnosis unit that performs blockage diagnosis on a vent passage based on a change over time in an internal pressure of the vent passage in association with the operation of a negative pressure pump. A primary determination unit of the diagnosis unit makes a primary determination that the vent passage is blocked, if a first estimation volume V1 is less than a preset threshold volume Vth. A secondary determination unit of the diagnosis unit makes a secondary determination that the vent passage is blocked, if the second estimation volume V2 is less than the threshold volume Vth. If the primary determination indicating that the vent passage is blocked is made in the primary determination unit, and the secondary determination indicating that the vent passage is blocked is made in the secondary determination unit, the diagnosis unit determines that the vent passage is blocked.

Abstract: A motor control unit includes a sensing unit and a driver unit. The sensing unit includes a sensor magnet to rotate in synchronization with a rotation of a rotor included in a motor, and a first sensor element and a second sensor element to convert a signal caused by a rotation of the sensor magnet into a digital signal. The driver unit controls the motor based on output signals of the elements. The sensor magnet includes a first magnetization belt and a second magnetization belt where a plurality of magnetic poles is arranged in a peripheral direction of the rotor. The belts are concentrically disposed to cause arrangements of the magnetic poles to be shifted by a predetermined angle in a peripheral direction. The elements are arranged in a radial direction of the rotor.

Abstract: A blockage determination portion 114 of a blockage detection system 30 determines that no blockage has occurred in a purge line 90, if a flow rate V of an inner fluid Fi exceeds a flow rate threshold THv while an internal pressure Pi of the purge line 90 is reduced from a first pressure value P1 to a second pressure value P2, for example. The blockage determination portion 174 determines that a blockage has occurred in the purge line 90, if the flow rate V of the inner fluid Fi falls below the flow rate threshold THv after the internal pressure Pi is reduced from the first pressure value P1 to the second pressure value P2.

Abstract: A surge absorbing circuit capable of absorbing surge stably without affecting a signal on a signal line even in the case of a high frequency signal, and an electronic device using the surge absorbing circuit. The surge absorbing circuit includes at least one surge suppression circuit, the at least one surge suppression circuit including, with respect to the same signal line at least: a power supply; a diode connected between the signal line and the power supply; and a power supply line for connecting the diode and the power supply to each other. In each of the at least one surge suppression circuit, a direction of the diode and a voltage of the power supply with respect to the signal line are determined so that the diode is reversely biased.

Abstract: A surge absorbing circuit capable of absorbing surge stably without affecting a signal on a signal line even in the case of a high frequency signal, and an electronic device using the surge absorbing circuit. The surge absorbing circuit includes at least one surge suppression circuit, the at least one surge suppression circuit including, with respect to the same signal line at least: a power supply; a diode connected between the signal line and the power supply; and a power supply line for connecting the diode and the power supply to each other. In each of the at least one surge suppression circuit, a direction of the diode and a voltage of the power supply with respect to the signal line are determined so that the diode is reversely biased.

Abstract: In power line communications using carrier waves of high frequencies in the MHz range such as 2 to 30 MHz, when a coaxial cable for performing transmission of signals and a power line are signal-coupled using a capacitive signal coupling unit, even if an impedance matching circuit is installed in the capacitive signal coupling unit, we have found that leakage current of levels that cannot be neglected from leakage noise considerations flows through the outer sheath of the coaxial cable that transmits the signals, and, accordingly, leaking electromagnetic waves induced by the leakage current flowing through the coaxial cable due to impedance mismatch between the power line and the capacitive signal coupling unit are reduced by an impedance member showing high impedances at high frequencies in the MHz range.

Abstract: To provide a structure capable of securing satisfactory induction coupling efficiency and high reliability in manufacturing an induction coupling apparatus used in power line carrier communication, the induction coupling apparatus having a magnetic core formed from a first core element part and a second core element part so that a gap would be formed between the core element parts, includes: a core parallel moving mechanism for carrying out relative and parallel movement of the first core element part and the second core element part in a direction that the length of the gap varies; and a predetermined gap length regulating member for limiting parallel movement in a direction that the first core element part and the second core element part approach each other to regulate the gap length to the predetermined gap length in the case that the core parallel moving mechanism is used for the parallel movement.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor for detecting an object includes: a detection portion including one half bridge, which has two spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices disposed on a substrate; and a magnet near the detection portion having a magnetic field changeable in accordance with influence of the object. The spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices are arranged with respect to the magnet in such a manner that a direction of a magnetic field to be applied to one of the spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices is opposite to a direction of a magnetic field to be applied to the other one of the spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices.

Abstract: In power line communications using carrier waves of high frequencies in the MHz range such as 2 to 30 MHz, when a coaxial cable for performing transmission of signals and a power line are signal-coupled using a capacitive signal coupling unit, even if an impedance matching circuit is installed in the capacitive signal coupling unit, we have found that leakage current of levels that cannot be neglected from leakage noise considerations flows through the outer sheath of the coaxial cable that transmits the signals, and, accordingly, leaking electromagnetic waves induced by the leakage current flowing through the coaxial cable due to impedance mismatch between the power line and the capacitive signal coupling unit are reduced by an impedance member showing high impedances at high frequencies in the MHz range.

Abstract: To provide a structure capable of securing satisfactory induction coupling efficiency and high reliability in manufacturing an induction coupling apparatus used in power line carrier communication, the induction coupling apparatus having a magnetic core formed from a first core element part and a second core element part so that a gap would be formed between the core element parts, includes: a core parallel moving mechanism for carrying out relative and parallel movement of the first core element part and the second core element part in a direction that the length of the gap varies; and a predetermined gap length regulating member for limiting parallel movement in a direction that the first core element part and the second core element part approach each other to regulate the gap length to the predetermined gap length in the case that the core parallel moving mechanism is used for the parallel movement.

Abstract: On the surface of a back board outermost-layer signal lines have different lengths. A difference in lengths of connector lines connected to the outermost-layer signal lines makes the total signal line lengths substantially equal. A digital signal generated in the circuit of a daughter board reaches a through hole through an internal-layer signal line traced within the internal layer of the daughter board, and is further transmitted to an internal-layer signal line of the back board through the a connector line, the an outermost-layer signal line, and a through hole. The digital signal is further transmitted to another internal-layer signal line via another through hole, another connector line, and another through hole.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor for detecting an object includes: a detection portion including one half bridge, which has two spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices disposed on a substrate; and a magnet near the detection portion having a magnetic field changeable in accordance with influence of the object. The spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices are arranged with respect to the magnet in such a manner that a direction of a magnetic field to be applied to one of the spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices is opposite to a direction of a magnetic field to be applied to the other one of the spin valve type electro-magnetic transformation devices.

Abstract: A multi-pin connector for connecting a signal line on a backboard side and a signal line on a daughter board side has open pins where the signal lines are not connected. In order to prevent transmission loss on the signal lines caused by these open pins, terminating resistances are connected to both ends of the open pins, and ends of the terminating resistances opposite to the open pins are connected to ground or to a power supply.

Abstract: Magnetoresistive devices are formed on the insulating surface of a substrate made of silicon. The devices are connected in series through an insulating film using a wiring layer formed on the surface of the substrate. An insulating film for passivation is formed to cover the devices and the wiring layer. A magnetic shield layer of Ni—Fe alloy is formed on the passivation insulating film through an organic film for relieving thermal stress to cover one of the devices. After removal of the sensor chip containing the magnetoresistive devices and other components from the wafer, the chip is bonded to a lead frame through an Ag paste layer by heat treatment. Preferably, the magnetic shield layer is made of a Ni—Fe alloy having a Ni content of 69% or less.

Abstract: A multi-pin connector for connecting a signal line on a backboard side and a signal line on a daughter board side has open pins where the signal lines are not connected. In order to prevent transmission loss on the signal lines caused by these open pins, terminating resistances are connected to both ends of the open pins, and ends of the terminating resistances opposite to the open pins are connected to ground or to a power supply.