Abstract: A vacuum cleaner capable of smoothly traveling along an obstacle. A control unit has modes of travel control and directional change control. In the travel control, while a distance between a main casing and a sideward obstacle detected by a distance measuring sensor is kept within a specified distance range, a motor is driven so as to make the main casing travel along the obstacle. In the directional change control, when an obstacle forward of the main casing is detected by a contact sensor during the travel control, the motor is driven so as to make the main casing change in advancing direction along the detected forward obstacle. The directional change control includes at least swing control for driving the motor so as to make the main casing swing to a specified swing angle while disregarding a distance detected by the distance measuring sensor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image capturing system is configured so that a device for capturing images is communicable with an external device through a communication unit. The image capturing system is provided with an operating unit configured to make settings pertaining to image capturing, an image capturing device serving as the device for capturing images and being configured to produce image data by periodically capturing images based on the settings made to the operating unit and a display unit configured to produce a display output based on the image data.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner capable of more efficiently cleaning narrow spots while effectively avoiding an object. An object sensor provided in a main casing detects the presence or absence of an object within a specified distance in a plurality of directions on a forward side of the main casing. A control unit controls operation of driving wheels, based on detection of an object by the object sensor to thereby make the main casing autonomously travel. When an object is detected by the object sensor, the control unit controls the operation of the driving wheels, so that the main casing is swung to an angle corresponding to a direction of the detected object to thereby make a side portion of the main casing face the object.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner that can perform cleaning after grasping a shape of a cleaning area, and perform cleaning more efficiently. The vacuum cleaner includes a main casing, a driving wheel, a travel control part, a cleaning unit, a periphery detection sensor, and a map generation part. The driving wheel enables the main casing to travel. The travel control part controls driving of the driving wheel to make the main casing travel autonomously. The cleaning unit performs cleaning. The periphery detection sensor detects a shape of a periphery area of the main casing. The travel control part controls the driving of the driving wheel to make the main casing perform a specified initial operation in a specified range, whereby the periphery detection sensor performs scanning. The map generation part generates a primary map of the cleaning area on the basis of the shape of the scanned periphery area.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated panel according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with: a core material comprising resin fibers; and a monomer-adsorbing material that is added to the core material and that adsorbs monomers derived from the resin fibers.

Abstract: One embodiment of a camera system is provided with a camera device serving as an image capturing unit; a communication unit configured to transmit image information captured by the camera device to an external device; and a display terminal configured to display image information captured by the camera device, the display terminal being configured to display at least either of image information captured by the camera device according to prescribed conditions and image information captured according to user instructions.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a pose estimation apparatus includes first and second imagers and an estimator. The first imager generates first and second standard images respectively captured at first and second times. The second imager generates first and second reference images respectively associated with the first and second times. The estimator estimates, based on the first and second standard images and the first and second reference images, (a) a pose of the first imager at the first time, with a pose of the first imager at the second time being regarded as a standard and (b) a positional shift of the second imager capturing the first reference image from an estimated position of the second imager at the first time.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes an outside environment information obtaining unit including at least one of a sound obtaining unit configured to obtain outside environment information and an imaging unit configured to image an outside environment, the outside environment information obtaining unit being configured to obtain outside environment information which is capable of grasping an outside situation and a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device connected thereto via a network, thereby rendering the outside environment information obtained by the outside environment information obtaining unit referable at the external device side.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a biological information obtaining unit for obtaining biological information of a person upon detection of the person in the vicinity of the refrigerator. The refrigerator further includes an advice generating portion for generating advice about health care based on analysis of the biological information and a display configured to display the advice in response to a user request.

Abstract: A self-propelled vacuum cleaner 11 has a main casing 20, driving wheels 21, a travel control part 61, cameras 51, a suction port 31, and an electric cleaning unit 23. The driving wheels 21 are used to make the main casing 20 travel. The travel control part 61 controls the operation of the driving wheels 21. The cameras 51 capture the images of the forward area of the main casing 20. The suction port 31 is disposed in the lower part of the main casing 20. The electric cleaning unit 23 collects dust and dirt through the suction port 31. The suction port 31 is disposed in the main casing 20 at a position adjacent to image ranges CA of the cameras 51.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image capturing system is configured so that a device for capturing images is communicable with an external device through a communication unit. The image capturing system is provided with an operating unit configured to make settings pertaining to image capturing, an image capturing device serving as the device for capturing images and being configured to produce image data by periodically capturing images based on the settings made to the operating unit and a display unit configured to produce a display output based on the image data.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner main body capable of picking up images over a wide range by a camera securely without being interrupted by any obstacles. The vacuum cleaner main body includes a main casing, a camera capable of picking up images and provided in the main casing, driving wheels for enabling the main casing to travel, a sensor part provided in the main casing to detect a distance to an obstacle around the main casing, and a control unit. The control unit has at least a traveling mode and an image pickup mode. In the image pickup mode, the control unit makes the main casing autonomously travel to an image pickup position where no obstacles within a certain distance around the main casing are detected by the sensor part and where still images in a plurality of directions are picked up.

Abstract: An electric blower that can more accurately set the positions of the tip sides of teeth relative to a rotor, while improving the efficiency thereof. A cylindrical-shaped back yoke includes first yoke parts and second yoke parts. The first yoke parts are each positioned between one pair of teeth and between one pair of teeth, so as to face to each other, and respectively form magnetic passages having substantially equal sizes. The second yoke parts are respectively positioned between the one pair of teeth and the other pair of teeth, so as to face to each other, and respectively form magnetic passages having substantially equal sizes. The magnetic passages formed at the first yoke parts are respectively larger than the magnetic passages formed at the second yoke parts.

Abstract: An electric blower capable of more accurately setting the positions of the tip sides of teeth relative to a rotor, while improving the efficiency thereof. A cylindrical-shaped back yoke includes first yoke parts and second yoke parts. The first yoke parts are each positioned between one pair of teeth and between one pair of teeth, to face to each other, and respectively have substantially equal lengths in a circumferential direction. The second yoke parts are respectively positioned between the one pair of teeth and the other pair of teeth, to face to each other, and respectively have substantially equal lengths in the circumferential direction. The first yoke parts respectively have shorter lengths in the circumferential direction compared to the second yoke parts, and further the magnetic passages formed at the first yoke parts are respectively larger than the magnetic passages formed at the second yoke parts.

Abstract: A refrigerator includes a biological information obtaining unit for obtaining biological information of a person upon detection of the person in the vicinity of the refrigerator. The refrigerator further includes an advice generating portion for generating advice about health care based on analysis of the biological information and a display configured to display the advice in response to a user request.

Abstract: A washing machine includes: a washing tub in which clothes are stored; and a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the washing tub through a water supply path, the water being supplied from a water supply source. The water supply mechanism includes a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, a water filling case for filling water into the washing tub, and a fine bubble generation device provided between the water supply valve and the water filling case and for generating fine bubbles.

Abstract: Provided is a vacuum cleaner capable of efficiently utilizing exhaust of an electric blower when the vacuum cleaner is used as a blower. An exhaust air path (37) is arranged in a body portion (21) so as to communicate between an exhaust side of the electric blower and an exhaust port. A connecting port (34) is arranged on the body portion (21). A blower air path (38) is arranged in the body portion (21) so as to communicate between the exhaust side of the electric blower and the connecting port (34). A switching valve (39) is arranged capable of opening and closing the connecting port (34), so as to switch between the exhaust air path (37) and the blower air path (38) according to the opening and closing. An attachment (17), when being attached to the connecting port (34), communicates with the blower air path (38) upon switching by the switching valve (39).

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a main casing, driving wheels, a control unit, a cleaning unit, cameras, and a depth calculation part. The driving wheels enable the main casing to travel. The control unit controls drive of the driving wheels to make the main casing autonomously travel. The cleaning unit cleans a floor surface. The cameras are disposed apart from each other in the main casing to pick up images on a traveling-direction side of the main casing with their fields of view overlapping with each other. The depth calculation part calculates a depth of an object distanced from the cameras based on images picked up by the cameras. The vacuum cleaner has improved obstacle detection precision.

Abstract: A washing machine (10) including a wash tub configured by a water tub (13) and a rotary tub (14); a connecting port (21) connected to a water source; a water feeding case (40) connected to the connecting port (21) to receive water from the water source and containing a detergent storing part (42) in which a detergent is stored; a first water feeding port (41) configured to feed water flown into the water feeding case (40) into the wash tub; a minute bubble generator (22) configured to generate minute bubbles in water passing therethrough; a minute bubble water path (B) extending from the connecting port (21) and reaching into the wash tub from the first water feeding port (41) after passing through the minute bubble generator (22) and the detergent storing part (42) inside the water feeding case (40); a tap water path (A) extending from the connecting port (21) to the wash tub without passing through the minute bubble generator (22); a water supplying valve for tap water (31) provided midway of the tap water

Abstract: A camera device for use in a storage unit according to an embodiment includes a case installable to an opening end side of a door of the storage unit; an image capturing element stored inside the case and configured to capture an image inside the storage unit; and a battery stored inside the case. The battery is disposed in a lower portion of the case. A center of gravity of the camera device is different from the center.