Abstract: A blood pressure estimation apparatus includes: a pulse wave measurement unit measuring a user's pulse wave signal; an electrocardiogram signal measurement unit measuring a user's electrocardiogram signal; and a processing circuit estimating a user's blood pressure value by using the pulse wave and electrocardiogram signals, wherein the processing circuit (a) acquires a pulse wave signal feature by using the pulse wave signal, (b) acquires an electrocardiogram signal feature by using the electrocardiogram signal, (c) acquires a pulse wave propagation time by using the pulse wave and electrocardiogram signals, (d) selects a blood pressure group indicating a relationship between a pulse wave propagation time and blood pressure of the user by using the pulse wave signal feature, electrocardiogram signal feature, and pulse wave propagation time, and (e) estimates the blood pressure value by using the blood pressure group, pulse wave signal feature, electrocardiogram signal feature, and pulse wave propagation time

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes: a robotic arm provided with a robotic hand capable of changing its position and its orientation by using joints; a visual sensor which measures a position or an orientation of a gripped object gripped with the robotic hand at a measurement teaching point; and a control device. The control device controls the position or the orientation of the gripped object when the gripped object is attached to an attachment target object at a corrected teaching point corrected based on a measurement result by the visual sensor. In this case, the control device determines a measurement teaching point, where the measurement with the visual sensor takes place, such that a driving direction of each of the joints from the measurement teaching point to the corrected teaching point is set to a definite driving direction.

Abstract: A controller corresponding to production equipment, requiring upgrade can be selected automatically, thereby reduction in operating rate can be reduced. When software is upgraded, version upgrade software relating to a predetermined action description and version information are transferred to a controller management apparatus (S1). A version change determination unit selects a controller including the predetermined action description described in the version information (S2 and S3). The selected controller downloads the new version of software to change the software (S4 and S5) after stopping operation of the production equipment. On the other hand, a controller not selected does not download the software, and the operation of the production equipment is not stopped.

Abstract: A controller corresponding to production equipment, requiring upgrade can be selected automatically, thereby reduction in operating rate can be reduced. When software is upgraded, version upgrade software relating to a predetermined action description and version information are transferred to a controller management apparatus (S1). A version change determination unit selects a controller including the predetermined action description described in the version information (S2 and S3). The selected controller downloads the new version of software to change the software (S4 and S5) after stopping operation of the production equipment. On the other hand, a controller not selected does not download the software, and the operation of the production equipment is not stopped.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a manipulator, a teaching apparatus, and a control apparatus. The manipulator includes a hand and an arm having a plurality of joints. The teaching apparatus teaches operation of the manipulator. The control apparatus controls the manipulator based on a control signal from the teaching apparatus for causing the manipulator to operate in a predetermined operation direction. In a case where the predetermined operation direction has been checked, the control apparatus transmits, to the manipulator, a control signal for causing the manipulator to operate at a regular speed. In a case where the predetermined operation direction has not been checked, the control apparatus transmits, to the manipulator, a control signal for causing the manipulator to operate at a speed lower than or equal to a safety speed that is set based on the regular speed.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a manipulator including a hand and an arm, a teaching apparatus that teaches operation of the manipulator, and a control apparatus that controls the manipulator that operates in a regular operation status or an erroneous manipulation avoiding status based on a control signal from the teaching apparatus. After determining whether a status of the manipulator is the regular operation status or the erroneous manipulation avoiding status, the control apparatus transmits a control signal for performing operation at a set regular speed to the manipulator in a case of the regular operation status, and the control apparatus transmits a control signal for performing operation at a speed lower than or equal to a safety speed that is set based on the regular speed to the manipulator in a case of the erroneous manipulation avoiding status.

Abstract: This invention provides a polarization conversion element that is highly resistant to the heat and light that result from increased brightness levels. In said polarization conversion element, which is provided with a polarizing beam-splitter array in which polarizing beam splitters having polarization separation layers and reflecting prisms having reflective layers are bonded together in alternation, said polarizing beam splitters and reflecting prisms are bonded together by first adhesive layers each comprising a silicone adhesive.

Abstract: A wavelength plate, wherein first birefringent layer and second birefringent layer are laminated such that in-plane directions of optical axes of first birefringent layer and second birefringent layer cross each other, wherein the wavelength plate satisfies formulae (1), (2), (3), and (4), and wherein at least one of first birefringent layer and second birefringent layer is obliquely-deposited birefringent layer formed by oblique deposition, ?n1×t1=?/2??(1) 1.7?(?n1×t1)/(?n2×t2)?2.

Abstract: This invention provides a polarization conversion element that is highly resistant to the heat and light that result from increased brightness levels. In said polarization conversion element, inorganic half-wave plates provided selectively on the output surface of a polarizing beam-splitter array have obliquely deposited layers comprising a dielectric material and the side surfaces of said obliquely deposited layers are covered by protective films.

Abstract: A robot apparatus includes a manipulator including a hand and an arm, a teaching apparatus that teaches operation of the manipulator, and a control apparatus that controls the manipulator that operates in a regular operation status or an erroneous manipulation avoiding status based on a control signal from the teaching apparatus. After determining whether a status of the manipulator is the regular operation status or the erroneous manipulation avoiding status, the control apparatus transmits a control signal for performing operation at a set regular speed to the manipulator in a case of the regular operation status, and the control apparatus transmits a control signal for performing operation at a speed lower than or equal to a safety speed that is set based on the regular speed to the manipulator in a case of the erroneous manipulation avoiding status.

Abstract: A controller corresponding to production equipment, requiring upgrade can be selected automatically, thereby reduction in operating rate can be reduced. When software is upgraded, version upgrade software relating to a predetermined action description and version information are transferred to a controller management apparatus (S1). A version change determination unit selects a controller including the predetermined action description described in the version information (S2 and S3). The selected controller downloads the new version of software to change the software (S4 and S5) after stopping operation of the production equipment. On the other hand, a controller not selected does not download the software, and the operation of the production equipment is not stopped.

Abstract: A phase difference element capable of reducing reflection of incident light and a manufacturing method for the phase difference element are disclosed. The phase difference element includes a transparent substrate 11, an interface anti-reflection film group 12 and an obliquely vapor deposited film 13. The interface anti-reflection film group is composed by one or more of alternately high and low refractive index films, with the film thicknesses of the respectively films being equal to or less than the wavelength of light in use. The obliquely vapor deposited film is formed by a plurality of layers of a dielectric material. These layers are alternately obliquely vapor deposited from two directions differing by 180° from each other. The refractive index of the interface anti-reflection film group 12 is higher than the refractive index of the transparent substrate 11 and lesser than that of the obliquely vapor deposited film 13.

Abstract: To produce a wavelength plate that is superior in durability and stability and has a high moisture resistant property. A dielectric material is obliquely vapor deposited on a substrate so as to form a birefringent layer that has columnar portions in each of which fine particles of the dielectric material are stacked in a columnar shape, and interstices that are respectively formed between the columnar portions, and the birefringent layer is subjected to an annealing treatment at a temperature within the range of 100° C. or more to 300° C. or less. Then, a protective film with low moisture permeability is formed on the annealed birefringent layer by forming an inorganic compound on the birefringent layer at high density.

Abstract: A wave plate capable of increasing a birefringence quantity and being made into a thin film, and a method of manufacturing the wave plate. The wave plate includes a substrate, whereon convex portions and concave portions are formed with a period less than or equal to the wavelength of light that is used therewith, columnar portions, wherein fine grains of a dielectric material are layered by oblique vapor deposition of a dielectric material from two directions, in a columnar shape on the convex portions in the vertical direction relative to the surface of the substrate, and interstices that are located on the concave portions and disposed between the columnar portions. Using birefringence from the fine grains of the dielectric material and birefringence from the concave/convex portions of the substrate allows increasing the birefringence quantity and making a thin film.

Abstract: A phase difference element capable of reducing reflection of incident light and a manufacturing method for the phase difference element are disclosed. The phase difference element includes a transparent substrate 11, an interface anti-reflection film group 12 and an obliquely vapor deposited film 13. The interface anti-reflection film group is composed by one or more of alternately high and low refractive index films, with the film thicknesses of the respectively films being equal to or less than the wavelength of light in use. The obliquely vapor deposited film is formed by a plurality of layers of a dielectric material. These layers are alternately obliquely vapor deposited from two directions differing by 180° from each other. The refractive index of the interface anti-reflection film group 12 is higher than the refractive index of the transparent substrate 11 and lesser than that of the obliquely vapor deposited film 13 (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device includes, on an n-type GaAs substrate, an n-type GaAs contact layer, an n-type first quantum well heterobarrier layer, an n-type AlGaInP cladding layer, a strained quantum well active layer (a first guide layer, GaInP well layers, AlGaInP barrier layers, and a second guide layer), a p-type AlGaInP cladding layer, a p-type GaInP intermediate layer, and a p-type GaAs contact layer, which are formed in this stated order. The semiconductor laser device can perform high-temperature and high-power operation at a lower operating voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor light emitting device includes a first cladding layer 112, an active layer 113, a second cladding layer 114, and a contact layer 117 all of which are formed above a substrate. Between the second cladding layer 114 and the contact layer 117, there is formed a quantum well hetero barrier layer 116 including contact barrier layers 116b and contact well layers 116w. The contact well layers 116w are a first contact well layer 116w formed closer to the contact layer and a second contact well layer 116w3 formed closer to the second cladding layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device includes an n-type clad layer, an active layer, and a p-type clad layer having a ridge and wing regions. The wing regions are provided with a first trench present on one side of the ridge and a second trench provided on the other side thereof being interposed therebetween. A reflectivity Rf at a front end face of a resonator, a reflectivity Rr at a rear end face of the resonator, a minimum value W1 of a width of the first trench in a region adjacent to the front end face, a minimum value W2 of a width of the second trench in the region adjacent to the front end face, a width W3 of the first trench at the rear end face, and a width W4 of the second trench at the rear end face satisfy Rf<Rr, W1<W3, and W2<W4. A width Wf of the ridge at the front end face, and a width Wr of the ridge at the rear end face satisfy Wf>Wr. The ridge includes a region where a width decreases with distance from the front end side toward the rear end side.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser device includes an n-type clad layer, an active layer, and a p-type clad layer having a ridge and wing regions. The wing regions are provided with a first trench present on one side of the ridge and a second trench provided on the other side thereof being interposed therebetween. A reflectivity Rf at a front end face of a resonator, a reflectivity Rr at a rear end face of the resonator, a minimum value W1 of a width of the first trench in a region adjacent to the front end face, a minimum value W2 of a width of the second trench in the region adjacent to the front end face, a width W3 of the first trench at the rear end face, and a width W4 of the second trench at the rear end face satisfy Rf<Rr, W1<W3, and W2<W4. A width Wf of the ridge at the front end face, and a width Wr of the ridge at the rear end face satisfy Wf>Wr. The ridge includes a region where a width decreases with distance from the front end side toward the rear end side.

Abstract: A primary radiator used for a parabolic antenna including: a radiator body having a horn part provided at one end of a waveguide; and a waterproof cover covering an open end of the horn part of the radiator body, wherein a step is formed on an inner surface of the horn part of the radiator body, and a position of the step is set so that radio waves reflected on the waterproof cover are cancelled out by radio waves reflected on the step to prevent multiple reflection in the radiator body.