Abstract: A light-emitting element 1 has a rod-shaped light-emitting element 3, an LED lamp 10, and a lens 20 for converging light from the LED lamp to an end face of the rod-shaped light-emitting element. The lens 20 has a scattering area around the centerline of an extremity thereof, and the scattering area scatters light in proximity to the centerline, thereby irradiating an inner peripheral surface of the rod-shaped light-emitting element 3 with the light.

Abstract: An LED lamp system includes a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, a printed circuit board on which the LED lamp is mounted, a connection terminal including a soldering part inserted and soldered to the printed circuit board, a body part extending parallel to the printed circuit board, and a branch part extending from the body part in a predetermined direction, a case to which the printed circuit board is fixed, the case including a holding portion for holding the branch part of the connection terminal, and a cover for enclosing the LED lamp and the printed circuit board in association with the case.

Abstract: An overcurrent detection circuit comprises: a switch provided between a power supply and a load for switching connection on/off between the power supply and the load; a current detector for detecting a load current flowing in the load; a reference value generator which outputs a reference value of a predetermined first level at the ON-time of the switch means and reduces the level of the reference value with passage of time from the ON-time so as to converge the level of the reference value to a predetermined second level; and an overcurrent signal generator which compares the detected load current with the reference value and outputs an overcurrent signal when the load current reaches or exceeds the reference value.

Abstract: A method of detecting an abnormal electric current in a vehicle to detect passage of an abnormal electric current through an electric wire for establishing the connection between a load to which electric power is supplied and a power source, the method of detecting an abnormal electric current in a vehicle comprising the steps of: (a) detecting values of electric currents which pass through the electric wire at predetermined sampling intervals; (b) counting the number of times in a unit detection period that a sampled electric current having a value larger than a predetermined value is detected and determining passage of an abnormal electric current through the electric wire when the number of counts is larger than a first number of times; and (c) counting the number of times that a sampled electric current having a value larger than the predetermined value is detected in a unit detection period after the unit detection period in terms of time in a case where the number of counts is smaller than the first num

Abstract: A mounting bolt 30 has a disclike flange portion 30b formed on an end of a tightening portion 30a. A switch bracket 28 is fixed to a screw hole 12 by tightening the bolt 30 with the bolt 30 inserted into a mounting hole 29 formed so as to have the same diameter as the screw hole 12. A rubber cover 21 covers the switch bracket 28, and has an annular seal portion 21a formed thereon. The seal portion 21a is larger in diameter than the mounting hole 29 and smaller in diameter than the flange portion 30b. A stepped portion 30c is formed on the bolt 30 in such a manner that a surface of contact thereof with the bracket 28 extends in parallel to the bracket 28, that the diameter thereof is larger than the mounting hole 29 and smaller than the seal portion 21a, and that the length thereof in an axial direction is such that the flange portion 30b biases the seal portion 21a at the time of tightening the bolt 30.