Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes: a light source that radiates a pulsed light beam onto an imaging subject; an imaging optical system; an image transmission optical system that transmits the image of the imaging subject; an optical sensor that has a light receiving surface on which a plurality of pixels are arrayed and that detects a light level of the image; and one or more processors, wherein the optical sensor obtains light levels by detecting, in a time division manner, a reflected light beam of the pulsed light beam at each of the pixels, and wherein the processors are configured to: calculate an observation distance to the imaging subject from the imaging optical system on a basis of the light levels.

Abstract: A speed reducing mechanism according to the present invention includes: a speed reducing unit for decelerating input rotation; an accelerating unit for accelerating rotation output from the speed reducing unit; and a brake unit for applying a braking force for braking the accelerating unit.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a speed reducer including a supporting block, an input gear rotatably supported on the supporting block, an intermediate gear meshing with the input gear, an output gear meshing with the intermediate gear, and a gear position changing mechanism configured to change a position of the intermediate gear relative to the input and output gears.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a speed reducer including a supporting block, an input gear rotatably supported on the supporting block, an intermediate gear meshing with the input gear, an output gear meshing with the intermediate gear, and a gear position changing mechanism configured to change a position of the intermediate gear relative to the input and output gears.

Abstract: A work positioner includes a first work retaining portion for retaining a first workpiece, a first drive portion for outputting a first rotational force about a first rotation axis and imparting a first angular movement about the first rotation axis to the first work retaining portion, a bearing portion supporting the first work retaining portion in cooperation with the first drive portion, a base arranged away from the first rotation axis, a first support column extending along a first support axis extending from the base toward the first rotation axis and supporting the first drive portion, and a second support column extending along a second support axis extending between the base and the first rotation axis so as to be parallel to the first support axis and supporting the bearing portion. The first support column includes a plurality of first support column pieces arranged along the first support axis.

Abstract: A speed reducing mechanism according to the present invention includes: a speed reducing unit for decelerating input rotation; an accelerating unit for accelerating rotation output from the speed reducing unit; and a brake unit for applying a braking force for braking the accelerating unit.

Abstract: A work positioner includes a first work retaining portion for retaining a first workpiece, a first drive portion for outputting a first rotational force about a first rotation axis and imparting a first angular movement about the first rotation axis to the first work retaining portion, a bearing portion supporting the first work retaining portion in cooperation with the first drive portion, a base arranged away from the first rotation axis, a first support column extending along a first support axis extending from the base toward the first rotation axis and supporting the first drive portion, and a second support column extending along a second support axis extending between the base and the first rotation axis so as to be parallel to the first support axis and supporting the bearing portion. The first support column includes a plurality of first support column pieces arranged along the first support axis.

Abstract: A motor (100) is used for driving a member in a container regulated to a pressure different from the atmospheric pressure. The motor (100) includes a rotor (10), a stator (18), and a case (34). The rotor (10) is located in an environment having a pressure different from the atmospheric pressure. The stator (18) is located opposedly to the rotor (10). The case (34) contains the rotor (10) and the stator (18). In the motor (100), a space in the case (34) opposed to the rotor (10) is filled with a resin.

Abstract: A wafer handling robot includes a body and an arm having a plurality of links. A wafer holder is provided on one end of the arm. A base of the arm serves as a drive link and is rotatably connected to the body. The arm is configured such that, when the drive link is rotated by a motor, the arm end is constrained to move along a straight or curved trajectory. A starting point and an end point of the trajectory are located equal distantly from a center of rotation of the drive link. Further, the direction of the arm end at the starting point is a mirror image of the direction of the arm end at the end point with respect to a straight reference line passing through the center of rotation and a middle point between the starting and the end points.

Abstract: A motor (100) is used for driving a member in a container regulated to a pressure different from the atmospheric pressure. The motor (100) includes a rotor (10), a stator (18), and a case (34). The rotor (10) is located in an environment having a pressure different from the atmospheric pressure. The stator (18) is located opposedly to the rotor (10). The case (34) contains the rotor (10) and the stator (18). In the motor (100), a space in the case (34) opposed to the rotor (10) is filled with a resin.

Abstract: A robot arm for transporting semiconductor wafers includes a hand, a lower arm link, and an upper arm link. The hand is connected to the lower arm link via a first joint, and the upper arm link is connected to the lower arm link via a second joint. The lower arm link is capable of being separated at a location between the first joint and the second joint.

Abstract: In a robot arm is provided with a closed link mechanism between a base and a hand, and a temperature of a first link member from among a plurality of link members constituting the closed link mechanism is to reach a first temperature T1, and a temperature of a second link member is to reach a second temperature T2, the first link member and the second link member formed from differing materials. An elongation ratio of the first link member, in which a length of the first link member at the first temperature T1 is divided by length of the first link member at a pre-operation temperature T0 is approximately equal to an elongation ratio of the second link member, in which a length of the second link member at the second temperature T2 is divided by a length of the second link member at the pre-operation temperature T0.

Abstract: A wafer handling robot includes a body and an arm having a plurality of links. A wafer holder is provided on one end of the arm. A base of the arm serves as a drive link and is rotatably connected to the body. The arm is configured such that, when the drive link is rotated by a motor, the arm end is constrained to move along a straight or curved trajectory. A starting point and an end point of the trajectory are located equal distantly from a center of rotation of the drive link. Further, the direction of the arm end at the starting point is a mirror image of the direction of the arm end at the end point with respect to a straight reference line passing through the center of rotation and a middle point between the starting and the end points.

Abstract: The robot arm of the present application is a robot arm that transports semiconductor wafers. The robot arm includes a hand, a lower arm link, and an upper arm link. The hand is connected to the lower arm link via a first joint. The upper arm link is connected to the lower arm link via a second joint. In the robot arm of the present application, the lower arm link is capable of being separated at a location between the first joint and the second joint.

Abstract: In a robot arm having a closed link mechanism between a base and a hand, misalignment of the hand is inhibited during when the robot arm is used to move high temperature work. In a robot arm 100 in which a temperature of first predetermined links 20 and 4 from among a plurality of links constituting the closed link mechanism reaches a first temperature T1, and a temperature of second predetermined links 18, 10, 2, and 18 reaches a second temperature T2, the first predetermined links 20 and 4 and the second predetermined links 18, 10, 2, and 18 are formed from differing materials. An elongation ratio caused by thermal expansion of the first predetermined links 20 and 4 during a temperature change from a pre-operation temperature T0 to the first temperature T1 is approximately equal to an elongation ratio caused by thermal expansion of the second predetermined links 18, 10, 2, and 18 during a temperature change from the pre-operation temperature T0 to the second temperature T2.