Abstract: A driving controlling apparatus for a linear compressor, comprises a controlling unit for detecting a TDC by a phase difference inflection point between a stoke and a current with increasing the stroke by controlling the current applied to a linear motor, and for varying the current applied to the linear motor based on the detected TDC.

Abstract: A driving controlling apparatus for a linear compressor, comprises: a storing unit for storing a reference phase difference to judge an overload state; and a controlling unit for judging an overload state based on a comparison result between the reference phase difference and a phase difference between a current and a stroke, and controlling a voltage or a current applied to a linear motor based on the judgement result.

Abstract: In a motor-generator control system for controlling a motor-generator, first and second sets of multiphase windings of a motor-generator are arranged to be spatially shifted in phase from each other. An allocating unit is configured to, upon input of workload request for the motor-generator, determine a first torque to be allocated to the first set of multiphase windings and a second torque to be allocated to the second set of multiphase windings. A resultant torque of the first torque and second torque meets the input workload request for the motor-generator. An energizing unit is configured to energize the first set of multiphase windings to create the first torque and energize the second set of multiphase windings to create the second torque.

Abstract: A solid state soft start controller system has a power supply, an electric motor, a thyristor electrically interconnected between the power supply and the electric motor so as to selectively allow current to pass from the power supply to the phases of the electric motor, a laser diode optically connected to the thyristor, and a controller connected to the laser diode for triggering the laser diode. Separate thyristors are connected to each phase of the polyphase electric motor. Separate laser diodes and associated light pipes connect the laser diode to the separate thyristors.

Abstract: A motor drive circuit comprises a first power line; a second power line; an H-bridge circuit that includes a first source transistor and a first sink transistor connected serially, a second source transistor and a second sink transistor connected serially, a motor coil connected at a connection point between the first source transistor and the first sink transistor, and first to fourth regenerative diodes disposed respectively on the first and second source transistors and the first and second sink transistors, the H-bridge circuit being connected between the first power line and the ground, the first source transistor and the second sink transistor being switched complementarily to the second source transistor and the first sink transistor; and a voltage constraint circuit connected between the second power line and control electrodes of the first and second source transistors, the voltage constraint circuit constraining increase in the voltage of the control electrodes of the first and second source transis

Abstract: A load drive apparatus includes a noise filter, which includes a coil connected in series between a power source and a load, and a switching transistor connected in parallel across the coil, and a control circuit which is operated based on a drive signal. The control circuit turns on the switching transistor of the noise filter in case of subjecting the load to a full-on drive, thereby to short-circuit the coil and to form a power supply path including the switching transistor without the coil. The control circuit turns off the switching transistor of the noise filter in case of subjecting the load to a PWM drive, thereby to form a power supply path including the coil.

Abstract: A control system controls, based on a comparison between a waved real current to be supplied to a multiphase rotary electric machine and a hysteresis region established by a waved command signal, a switching timing of a switching element of an inverter to which a direct current voltage is applied to thereby match the waved real current with a waved request current. A determining unit determines whether a workload associated with rotation of the portion of the multiphase rotary electric machine is equal to or greater than a corresponding predetermined value. When it is determined that the workload is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, a changing unit changes the waved command signal from being set to the waved request current so as to determine the switching timing of the switching element based on a positional relation between the waved request current and the changed waved command signal.

Abstract: A motor controller for fully closing and opening a window glass for a vehicle door. The motor controller controls a motor that drives the window glass and includes a relay circuit connected to the motor and switching contact states in accordance with movement of the window glass. An FET is connected to the relay circuit. A sensor detects rotation speed of the motor and generates a detection signal. A CPU, which is connected to the FET and sensor, generates a duty signal having a duty ratio that is in accordance with a waveform of the detection signal generated by the sensor, provides the FET with the duty signal, and drives the motor in accordance with the waveform of the detection signal.

Abstract: An improved electric motor has a rotor (124), a stator (125) having at least one phase winding strand (126), an output stage (122) for influencing the current flow in said phase winding strand, a DC link circuit (170) for supplying the output stage (122) with current, including a link circuit capacitor (178), and a control unit (132) having an arrangement (152) for sensing a value characterizing the current recharge into the link circuit capacitor (178), which control unit (132) is configured to specify commutation instants as a function of the sensed value, and to perform commutation operations in the power stage (122) at the commutation instants thus specified. Avoiding a need for prolonged “currentless intervals” permits achieving higher efficiency and power output, particularly in a motor having less than three winding phases.

Abstract: Provided is a motor having a combination of a plurality of coil pairs and a permanent magnet, wherein these coil pairs are supplied with an excitation signal from a drive circuit so as to be excited at alternate opposite poles, and the permanent magnet is constituted such that the plurality of polar elements is disposed to become alternating opposite poles; the drive circuit is constituted to supply an excitation signal having a prescribed frequency to the coil pairs, and relatively move the coil pairs and permanent magnet with the magnetic attraction—repulsion between the coils and permanent magnet; and the drive circuit is constituted to supply to the coil pairs a waveform signal corresponding to the pattern of the back electromotive voltage to be generated in accordance with the relative movement between the coil pairs and permanent magnet.

Abstract: A system for controlling a displacement drive of a motor vehicle includes a manually operable actuator movable over a fixed stroke between a first end position and a second end position. The actuator is biased to a neutral position centrally located between the first and second end positions and provides a signal representative of position of the actuator. A controller receives the signal from the actuator and produces commands for a reversible DC electric motor of the displacement drive device. The commands vary speed of the drive motor based on the position of the actuator such that the speed of the drive motor is zero at the neutral position, increases in one direction as the actuator moves toward the first end position, and increases in the other direction as the actuator moves toward the second end position.

Abstract: A voltage for driving a cooling fan is usually output from a fan voltage control circuit. Whether to cause the fan voltage control circuit to output the drive voltage or not is controlled by a system management utility (software) and a bridge controller (hardware) on the basis of temperature data from a temperature sensor. To provide for the occurrence of a failure in the system management utility or the bridge controller, a temperature comparator monitors the temperature data from the temperature sensor and instructs a fan voltage control circuit to output a drive voltage for the cooling fan in the case where the temperature rises above a given value.

Abstract: The hatch cover manager product monitors hatch cover conditions and can move the cover to a closed position when the cover is left open and the hatch opening is not in use. The product minimizes the probability that the person using the walking surface will accidentally step into the uncovered hatch opening and fall to the surface below.

Abstract: At the time of two-dimensionally moving a mobile body of a machine tool, to a predetermined position, a speed of the mobile body is gently increased/decreased at an acceleration/deceleration equal to or less than the maximum acceleration/deceleration, from the time when the mobile body reaches a direction change point. Therefore, the moving time is shortened and a rapid acceleration/deceleration may be avoided.

Abstract: Methods of tuning a notch filter to remove resonant frequency components from an output signal of a vibration sensor. Some methods according to the invention include exciting the vibration sensor with an excitation signal including energy in a frequency band that may include a resonant frequency of the vibration sensor, measuring the output signal of the vibration sensor in response to the excitation signal, detecting a frequency component of the output signal that corresponds to the resonant frequency of the vibration sensor, and configuring the notch filter to attenuate the detected frequency component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the control of electric motors comprised of: (1) a digital circuit for receiving the desired value of position, velocity, acceleration, or rate of change of acceleration for the motor; (2) a digital circuit to determine the actual position, velocity, acceleration, or rate of change of acceleration for the motor; (3) a digital circuit to determine the difference between the desired and the actual position, velocity, acceleration, and rate of change of acceleration for the motor; (4) a digital circuit that generates an error correction value based upon PID control methods; and (5) a digital circuit for generating drive signals for the motor that correct for any difference between the specified value and the measured value of position, velocity, acceleration and rate of change of acceleration for the motor.

Abstract: A legged robot and a legged robot walking control method are disclosed, which enable stable walking without force sensors on leg tips. A legged robot of the present invention comprises a torso, a leg link, which is swingably connected to the torso, storing means 210 for storing leg tip gait data describing a time-series change in a target leg tip motion, storing means 210 for storing torso gait data describing a time-series change in a target torso motion, which realizes a target ZMP following the change in the target leg tip motion, torso motion detection means 218, 220 for detecting an actual torso motion, deviation calculation means 312 for calculating a deviation of the actual torso motion from the target torso motion, correction quantity calculation means 308 for determining a correction quantity from the calculated deviation based on a prescribed transfer function, and correction means 306 for correcting the target torso gait data based on the determined correction quantity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a robot for use inside an open abdominal cavity during minimally-invasive surgery. The robot may include various sensors, imaging devices or manipulators.

Abstract: An electric drive control apparatus and method calculates a current command value based on an electric machine target torque that represents a target value of a torque of an electric machine; calculates a current deviation between the current command value and a current applied to the electric machine; calculates a first inductance and a second inductance that each have a different amount of change caused by a change in the current; calculates an interference term based on the first inductance; calculates a proportional term and an integral term based on the current deviation and the second inductance; and calculates a voltage command value based on the interference term, the proportional term and the integral term.

Abstract: An optical disk drive capable of detecting occurrence of step-out or tooth jump in a mechanism for transferring an optical pickup. The optical pickup is transferred in a radial direction of the optical disk by means of a stepping motor. Upon receipt of a seeking operation command from a host machine, a control section drives the stepping motor by way of a controller, to thus cause the optical pickup to perform seek up to a target address. When logical contradiction has arisen in a stepper pointer showing the amount of rotation of the stepping motor, the control section determines that step-out or tooth jump has arisen. Moreover, even when a difference exists between an address indicated by the value of the stepper pointer and an actual address, step-out or tooth jump is determined to have arisen. When the step-out or tooth jump has arisen in the transfer mechanism, the rotational speed of a spindle motor or the rotational speed of the stepping motor is decreased.

Abstract: A method of controlling a stepping motor including a stator having a driving coil wound therearound, and a rotor, the method comprising: performing a driving control of driving the rotor at a predetermined step angle and a stop control of stopping the rotor at a predetermined stop position; and if a predetermined rotation range of the rotor including a range having a maximum position holding torque that is a maximum holding torque of the rotor when the rotor stops with the driving coil thereof being supplied with a current, is referred to as a first rotation range, and a predetermined rotation range of the rotor other than the first rotation range is referred to as a second rotation range, in the stop control, setting the sum of currents supplied to the driving coils to stop the rotor at a target stop position within the second rotation range to be larger than the sum of currents supplied to the driving coils to stop the rotor at a target stop position within the first rotation range.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control device for an electric motor. The electric motor comprises at least an inductive winding, it is voltage driven and generates a back electromotive force. The device comprises first means suitable for setting periods of time each centred on the instant of time in which the zero crossing of the current in the winding is expected and second means suitable for generating a signal representative of the polarity in said winding in said periods of time is expected.

Abstract: An electric power system comprises an AC 100, a first DC voltage unit 20, an inverter 10 as a power converter, being connected between the AC motor 100 and first DC voltage unit 20, for exchanging power between these two components; and a controlled DC power supply 60 which is connected between an arbitrary spot of a coil of the AC motor 100 and a positive or negative electrode of the first DC voltage unit 20 and which connects at least one semiconductor switching element 62 and a battery 61 as a second DC voltage unit in series.

Abstract: When finding a current on an AC side of an inverter by observing that on a DC side, a current that is not affected by pulsating components contained in the AC current must be detected. Timing of change of a gate signal for driving a switch element of a phase having an intermediate magnitude among three-phase voltage command signals to ON/OFF is used as a reference time point for DC bus current detection. DC bus currents sampled T1 before and T2 after the reference time point are designated as IDC1 and IDC2, respectively. A detected current value of a maximum voltage phase is computed by using IDC2 and IDC1 respectively in an increase period and a decrease period of a carrier signal alternately. A detected current value of a minimum voltage phase is computed by using IDC1 and IDC2 respectively in an increase period and a decrease period alternately.

Abstract: A portable electrochemical power supply for handheld electronic devices is disclosed. The power supply includes a housing with an electrical connector, a circuit board, and a removable electrochemical cell disposed therein. The circuit board carries power supply circuitry which receives electrical energy from the electrochemical cell and provides a power supply output for powering an external device.

Abstract: Provided is a distributed-power-generation system capable of maintaining an operation point and a method of controlling the same. The distributed-power-generation system comprises: a fuel cell producing current and high-temperature gas through an electric chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen; a turbine obtaining rotation power using heat produced by the fuel cell; a compressor supplying air to the fuel cell using the rotation power of the turbine; a motor/generator unit acting as a motor using a current supplied from a battery in a starting mode, and as a generator rotating by rotation power of a turbine and generating a current in a generating mode; and an inverter unit supplying a DC power produced by the fuel cell and an AC power produced by the motor/generator unit for a three-phase power system.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for monitoring a motor vehicle alternator capable of determining the regulating voltage (Vreg) of said alternator based on the vehicle life situation, said device comprising means (10) for acquiring a plurality of variables (P %, Vel, Acc, I, R, C, O/S) representing the current situation of the vehicle, assessing means (20) for determining whether the vehicle is in a plurality of predetermined life situations, and regulating means (30) for determining the alternator regulating voltage (Vreg) based on the predetermined life situation in which the vehicle is.

Abstract: A vehicle generator control device includes a transistor chopper type exciting circuit for supplying an excitation current to a vehicle-mounted electric generator drivable by an engine of the motor vehicle. The exciting circuit comprises a bridge circuit having a first pair of opposing arms formed of respective power transistors and a second pair of opposing arms formed of respective diodes. One of the power transistors is connected to a ground potential of the vehicle-mounted electric generator and the other power transistor is connected to an output terminal of the vehicle-mounted electric generator. When the engine is in a non-operating state, the one transistor is set in an on state and the other power transistor is set in an off state.

Abstract: The step-down converter includes: a switch to which an input voltage is supplied via an input terminal; an inductor which is connected to the switch; rectifier means which allows a current to flow through the inductor in the OFF state of the switch; smoothing means which smoothes the current of the inductor to produce an output voltage to an output terminal; and a current bypass circuit, wherein when the current flowing toward the inductor exceeds a predetermined value, the current bypass circuit forms a path through which the current flows from the input terminal to the output terminal while bypassing the inductor.

Abstract: A power regulation device and method for a model railway system is provided. The device comprises inputs that connect to a supply of a digital command control (DCC) waveform and to a track section to be powered by the DCC waveform. The device comprises a current measuring circuit that measures current flow associated with the DCC waveform supplied at the inputs. A switch is connected between the inputs and outputs that are in turn connected to respective rails of the track section. A controller is provided that analyzes a current measurement signal produced by the current measuring circuit and controls the switch to disconnect supply of the DCC waveform to the outputs when a true over-current condition is detected. The device may also comprise an auto-reversing function to accommodate reverse loop track sections.

Abstract: A resister network having a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) may be utilized to create a temperature compensated equivalent resistance “R” for a current sensing RC network used in measuring inductor current of a DC-to-DC converter or a general switching regulator that needs to use inductor current as a control signal. The NTC resistor of the RC network effectively compensates for the positive temperature coefficient of the switching regulator inductor's inherent DC resistance (DCR). Keeping the time constants of the RC network and the switching regulator inductor substantially matched improves operation of cycle by cycle based control modes such as peak current sensing by the switching regulator controller in performing peak current control for the DC-to-DC converter.

Abstract: A low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator for generating an output voltage is disclosed. The voltage regulator includes a startup circuit, a curvature corrected bandgap circuit, an error amplifier, a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) pass device and a voltage slew rate efficient transient response boost circuit. The MOS pass device has a gate node which is coupled to the output of the error amplifier, and a drain node for generating the output voltage. The voltage slew rate efficient transient response boost circuit applies a voltage to the gate node of the MOS pass device to accelerate the response time of the error amplifier in enabling the LDO voltage regulator to reach its final regulated output voltage when an output voltage drop occurs in the LDO voltage regulator.

Abstract: Provided is a power supply apparatus including: a connection resistance that supplies a power supply current of an electronic device to the electronic device; a low pass filter that allows passage of an output voltage of a power current output section; a parallel load section that consumes a partial power current being a part of the output power current when receiving a power current decrease signal and stops receiving the partial power current when receiving a power current increase signal; an offset adder section that outputs a voltage obtained by adding an offset voltage to the output voltage of the low pass filter; and a difference detection section that supplies the power current increase signal to the parallel load section while a potential of a device side end of the connection resistance is smaller than a reference voltage obtained by subtracting a reference potential difference from the output voltage of the offset adder section, and supplies the power current decrease signal to the parallel load sec

Abstract: In one embodiment, a linear regulator is formed with a variable miller compensation circuit that varies a zero of the linear regulator proportionally to a load current supplied by the regulator.

Abstract: A low-dropout voltage (LDO) regulator that creates a zero in the open loop gain using a relatively small-sized current control element to divert part of the supplied load current through a “zero” resistor before adding it to the output load. The main part of the output load is passed through a relatively large second current control element. A control signal generated by an error amplifier (e.g., an op-amp) is used to control the small current control element, but is passed through a boost zero compensating resistor before being applied to the large current control element. The voltage signal developed across the “zero” resistor mimics the magnitude and phase of a zero in the loop. This voltage signal is added to the loop gain by, for instance, using a bypass capacitor, and the resulting feedback signal is supplied to the error amplifier.

Abstract: A power management device for enabling multiply power sources to supply power to a load. The power management device includes a plurality of switches and a control logic. The plurality of switches are coupled to a plurality of power sources respectively and each switch coupled to each power source. The control logic is capable of selecting a set of switches among the plurality of switches to cooperate in a time-divided fashion to allow the power sources to provide power to the load. The set of switches is selected based on an electrical requirement of the load and an electrical condition of each switch.

Abstract: A control circuit and method are provided to generate a modulation signal to operate a power stage in a DC/DC PWM converter such that the DC/DC PWM converter is controlled to operate with high switching frequency in light load stead state, once load transient happens, it still operates with high switching frequency for good transient response, and in heavy load stead state, it is controlled to operate with low switching frequency for good efficiency.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for filtering in a cordless electrical device. The method may include coupling a filter network, a microcontroller and a plurality of battery cells having a cell voltage and a current. The method may further include operatively connecting at least one switched capacitor low-pass filter to the plurality of battery cells, the at least one switched capacitor low-pass filter configured to receive a signal from the filter network. The method may also include filtering the signal from the filter network, delivering a filtered signal input to an ADC and generating an output from the ADC.

Abstract: A power efficient startup circuit for activating a bandgap reference circuit is disclosed. The startup circuit uses a voltage supply having a voltage level to initiate the flow of a startup current used to activate the bandgap reference circuit. When the bandgap reference circuit starts, the startup circuit slowly charges a capacitor using the voltage supply when the startup current is flowing. The startup circuit disables quiescent current when the bandgap reference circuit is activated and a voltage of the capacitor exceeds a value equal to the difference between the voltage of the voltage supply when powered on and a voltage threshold of a switching device which disables the quiescent current. The capacitor is discharged when the voltage supply is turned off.

Abstract: A reference voltage generator circuit comprises a first current path and a second current path. The first current path is formed between an input terminal supplied with a first reference voltage and an output terminal and including a first diode and a first resistor serially connected from the input terminal. The second current path is formed between the input terminal and the output terminal and including a second diode, a second resistor and a third resistor serially connected from the input terminal. A comparator is supplied with a voltage on a node between the first diode and the first resistor and a voltage on a node between the second resistor and the third resistor for comparative amplification. A transistor is connected between the output terminal and a second reference voltage and having a control terminal to receive an output from the first comparator.

Abstract: A current source apparatus for reducing interference with noise is provided. The current source apparatus includes a controllable current source and a feedback controller. The controllable current source provides an output current according to a control signal and produces a feedback signal according to the output of the controllable current source. The feedback controller is coupled to the controllable current source for receiving the feedback signal, and the feedback controller adjusts the control signal based on the feedback signal and outputs the control signal for controlling the controllable current source to output a stable output current.

Abstract: A start-up circuit for electronic circuits is provided. In one embodiment, the circuit uses a smaller capacitor and a current amplification means to force a larger capacitor to reach a charged state in a reduced time. The present invention is useful in any type of electronic circuit where fast start-up times are desirable. The present invention is especially useful in portable electronics, such as wireless communication devices, where minimal power consumption is desired. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A single-phase, 3-wire watthour meter which can measure power consumption, alter a contract capacity, control the stop/start of power supply/distribution, and easily update programs from a higher-level control apparatus by providing a central processing unit, a storing means, a communicating means and various interfaces, can measure, for example, every 0.2 sec, a currents (ia and ib) running through 100V T-phase and R-phase, voltages (v1 and v2) between T-N and between R-N and a current (i3) and a voltage (v3) under a 200V load, determine a 100V power consumption by W100=(ia?i3)·v1+(ib?i3)·v2 and a 200V power consumption by W200=i3·v3, and measure the detailed behavior of a power consumption by totaling a power consumption every 30 min, interlocks with a gas leakage detector and a fire alarm, can control the opening/closing of rain doors and shutters and the operation/stop of Internet home electric appliances, and enables low-cost communication by means of dynamic IP Address-based communication.

Abstract: A handheld probe comprises means for sensing a physical property such as current, voltage, temperature and pressure by locating the probe in contact with an article or in close proximity to an article, a battery for alimenting the probe, and means for wirelessly transmitting sensed data from the probe to a display unit spaced from the probe.

Abstract: A method estimates variations of position of the rotor of a motor having a plurality of uniformly spaced sensors that generate a position pulse at every rotation by a pre-established angle of the rotor. The method may include generating a first clock signal at a first frequency, generating a second clock signal at a second frequency multiple than the first frequency by a first factor, in each interval between two consecutive position pulses, counting the number of pulses of the first clock signal comprised in the interval, counting the number of pulses of the second clock signal comprised in the interval. The method may also include that each time the number of counted pulses of the second clock reaches the number of pulses of the first clock counted in an interval that precedes the currently considered interval, signaling that the position of the rotor has varied of an angle equal to the ratio between the pre-established angle and the factor.

Abstract: A rotation angle detection apparatus including a main rotatable body, a pair of sub rotatable bodies, and a control circuit. The sub rotatable bodies are rotated in a linked motion with the rotation of the main rotatable body and are overlapped with each other. The control circuit detects a rotation angle from a rotation of one of the sub rotatable bodies, and detects a rotation phase difference between the rotation of one sub rotatable body and the rotation of the other sub rotatable body of the pair of the sub rotatable bodies. From the two detected signals, the control circuit calculates a rotation angle of the main rotatable body.

Abstract: A thickness detecting apparatus comprises a printed board in a part of which a coil is patterned, a detection roller which is disposed near the coil, which detects thickness of a sheet P of paper as a displacement amount, and a thickness detection circuit mounted on the surface of the printed board, which supplies a high frequency signal to the coil via a wiring pattern formed on the surface of the printed board and detects the amplitude of the high frequency signal which changes according to the displacement amount of the detection roller as a thickness of the sheet P of paper.

Abstract: A measured physical quantity calculating part 41 calculates a measurement result-corrected value obtained by correcting a measurement result of a sensor unit 25 by the use of corrected values for the sensor unit 25. Subsequently, a measurement environment estimating part 42 estimates a terrestrial magnetism measurement environment on the basis of at least one measurement result-corrected value. The estimation result is displayed on a display unit 13 by an estimation result display part 43. In this way, the terrestrial magnetism measurement environment is first estimated and then the terrestrial magnetism is measured by the use of the sensor unit 25. That is, it is possible to measure the terrestrial magnetism by the use of a magnetic sensor mounted on a mobile information device after estimating the terrestrial magnetism measurement environment.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the claimed invention is a device to for optical presentation of magnetic flux. A ferromagnetic colloidal mixture is substantially evenly dispersed and sealed between two optically transmissive lenses. At least one magnetic source is juxtaposed about the viewer. A light source is positioned to project through the mixture, the light interacting with the mixture to create the presentation of magnetic flux. The viewer is optionally positioned within a housing. In another embodiment, the invention is a method of using the viewer to view a presentation of magnetic flux when light interacts with the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling the characteristics of a double relaxation oscillation SQUID having a reference junction. In the method of controlling characteristics of a reference junction-type double relaxation oscillation SQUID (RJ-DROS) having a signal SQUID and a reference junction, a reference DC current flows through the reference junction in order to control the characteristics of the DROS. A modulation width of an averaged relaxation voltage, which reacts to a magnetic flux, may be controlled at the reference junction. An amount (modulation depth) of an averaged relaxation voltage, which reacts to a magnetic flux, may be controlled at the reference junction. An amount of an operation application current may be controlled at the reference junction. Accordingly, the reference current of the reference junction can be changed by causing the current to flow through the reference junction.