Abstract: A gimbal configured to stabilize a supported unit in a predetermined attitude includes an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration of the supported unit, a first calculator configured to calculate attitude information of the supported unit using the acceleration, a rotator including a rotor member rotatable relative to a stator member, an angle detecting sensor configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotator, and a second calculator configured to calculate a correction value for the angle information using the attitude information and the angle information of the rotator based on the rotation angle.

Abstract: A reflection type sensor includes a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light receiving element configured to receive reflected light from a scale having a pattern, and a transparent member configured to cover the light emitting element and the light receiving element. A predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: A stage apparatus for a microscope includes a first stage provided on a mirror base of the microscope and fixed to a stage member that moves in an optical axis direction, a second stage that relatively moves over a surface of the first stage in a first direction, a third stage that relatively moves over a surface of the second stage in a second direction, the third stage having a placement portion for placing a microscope slide, and an exterior cover for covering at least a portion of the second stage and the third stage, the exterior cover being fixed to the first stage or the stage member. The exterior cover provides a space for the second stage and the third stage to move, and exposes the placement portion of the third stage.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale, a detector, and a processor. The processor executes a second process while executing a first process, calculates a first relative position of one of the scale and the detector to the other of the scale and the detector when a calculation of a relative position between them starts, and then calculates a second relative position of the one to the other based on a relative displacement amount between them and the first relative position.

Abstract: An encoder includes a scale having a continuous part where physical characteristics varies and a discontinuous part that interrupts the continuous part, a detector that be relatively displaced with respect to the scale and that detects the physical characteristics of the scale, and a processor that detects an origin of the scale on the basis of a signal for displacement detection output from the detector. The detector includes a sensitive part having sensitivity contributing to the signal for displacement detection and an insensitive part having no sensitivity contributing to the signal for displacement detection. The processor detects the origin on the basis of signal intensity of each of signals for displacement detection that the detector outputs when the sensitive and insensitive parts detect physical characteristics of the discontinuous part.

Abstract: The motor speed detection apparatus detects rotational speed of a motor. The apparatus includes an FG coil (21) and a magnet (22) to be relatively moved with rotation of the motor, the FG coil outputting an alternating-current signal to be sampled by the apparatus, an A/D converter (1) to convert the alternating-current signal into a digital signal, an integrator (2) to perform time integration on the digital signal, a first determiner (3, 9) to determine which one of plural threshold ranges includes an integration value obtained by the integrator, a second determiner (3, 8) to determine whether change of the integration value is increase or decrease, and a logical product calculator (3, 10) to produce a binary signal showing a logical product of determination results of the first and second determiners. The apparatus calculates the rotational speed based on a production cycle of the binary signal.

Abstract: A motor drive apparatus that can be used to drive a wide range of brushless motors without any limit to a magnetic pole number of a rotor magnet. One rotational period T of the rotor magnet is obtained, and one period S of the sine wave drive signal according to a mathematical expression of S=T/(n/2). The one period S of the sine wave drive signal is updated at intervals of one period of the output signal from one magnetic pole detecting element among the three magnetic pole detecting elements.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary encoder, including: a rotary scale, which has a predetermined pattern including continuous patterns and a rotational angle original point formed thereon with reference to a pattern center, has a polygonal outer shape, and has the rotational angle original point defined with reference to at least one side of sides of the polygonal outer shape; a hub, which includes projections for abutting the sides of the polygonal outer shape of the rotary scale and positioning the rotary scale; a rotating shaft, which is press-fitted into the hub and rotates coaxially with the pattern center of the rotary scale; and detecting units for irradiating the rotary scale with light and detecting the light reflected by the rotary scale.

Abstract: The motor speed detection apparatus detects rotational speed of a motor. The apparatus includes an FG coil (21) and a magnet (22) to be relatively moved with rotation of the motor, the FG coil outputting an alternating-current signal to be sampled by the apparatus, an A/D converter (1) to convert the alternating-current signal into a digital signal, an integrator (2) to perform time integration on the digital signal, a first determiner (3, 9) to determine which one of plural threshold ranges includes an integration value obtained by the integrator, a second determiner (3, 8) to determine whether change of the integration value is increase or decrease, and a logical product calculator (3, 10) to produce a binary signal showing a logical product of determination results of the first and second determiners. The apparatus calculates the rotational speed based on a production cycle of the binary signal.

Abstract: A motor drive apparatus that can be used to drive a wide range of brushless motors without any limit to a magnetic pole number of a rotor magnet. One rotational period T of the rotor magnet is obtained, and one period S of the sine wave drive signal according to a mathematical expression of S=T/(n/2). The one period S of the sine wave drive signal is updated at intervals of one period of the output signal from one magnetic pole detecting element among the three magnetic pole detecting elements.

Abstract: A method of driving a vibration wave motor enables proper frequency control of an AC voltage applied to the motor according to the rotational speed difference between the actual and target rotational speeds of the motor, even if frequency-rotational speed characteristics are not stored in advance. A target rotational speed of a moving member is set. A ratio of an amount of increase or decrease in a rotational speed of the moving member to an amount of update of a frequency of the AC voltage and a rotational speed difference between the target rotational speed and an actual rotational speed of the moving member are calculated. The amount of update of the frequency is calculated by dividing the calculated rotational speed difference by the calculated ratio. The frequency of the AC voltage is updated by using the calculated amount of update of the frequency.

Abstract: Provided is a rotary encoder, including: a rotary scale, which has a predetermined pattern including continuous patterns and a rotational angle original point formed thereon with reference to a pattern center, has a polygonal outer shape, and has the rotational angle original point defined with reference to at least one side of sides of the polygonal outer shape; a hub, which includes projections for abutting the sides of the polygonal outer shape of the rotary scale and positioning the rotary scale; a rotating shaft, which is press-fitted into the hub and rotates coaxially with the pattern center of the rotary scale; and detecting units for irradiating the rotary scale with light and detecting the light reflected by the rotary scale.

Abstract: A coreless motor able to be downsized and easy to be assembled and to ensure the concentricity between a motor shaft, a magnet, and an outer cylinder. The coreless motor includes an outer cylinder gear unit having an output shaft and a speed-reducer mechanism incorporated into a field assembly having a magnet fitted on an inner yoke and an outer cylinder fitted on an outer periphery of the magnet, a motor shaft unit having an inner lid rotatably supporting a motor shaft via ball bearings, a rotor unit having a circular plate attached with a commutator electrically connected to a coil, an outer lid unit having an outer lid mounted with brushes. The inner lid is incorporated in the inner yoke, the coil is incorporated in between the outer cylinder and the magnet, and the outer lid unit is attached to the rotor unit and the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A method of driving a vibration wave motor, which enables proper frequency control of an AC voltage applied to the motor according to the rotational speed difference between the actual and target rotational speeds of the motor, even if frequency-rotational speed characteristics are not stored in advance. A target rotational speed of a moving member is set. A ratio of an amount of increase or decrease in a rotational speed of the moving member to an amount of update of a frequency of the AC voltage and a rotational speed difference between the target rotational speed and an actual rotational speed of the moving member are calculated. The amount of update of the frequency is calculated by dividing the calculated rotational speed difference by the calculated ratio. The frequency of the AC voltage is updated by using the calculated amount of update of the frequency.

Abstract: A coreless motor able to be downsized and easy to be assembled and to ensure the concentricity between a motor shaft, a magnet, and an outer cylinder. The coreless motor includes an outer cylinder gear unit having an output shaft and a speed-reducer mechanism incorporated into a field assembly having a magnet fitted on an inner yoke and an outer cylinder fitted on an outer periphery of the magnet, a motor shaft unit having an inner lid rotatably supporting a motor shaft via ball bearings, a rotor unit having a circular plate attached with a commutator electrically connected to a coil, an outer lid unit having an outer lid mounted with brushes. The inner lid is incorporated in the inner yoke, the coil is incorporated in between the outer cylinder and the magnet, and the outer lid unit is attached to the rotor unit and the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A positioning device according to the present invention includes a movable body; a position detection unit detecting a position of the movable body; a first and a second vibratory actuator controlled in accordance with a detection output from the position detection unit; a first transmission mechanism comprising a first gear wheel and a first rack engaging the first gear wheel, the first transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force of the first vibratory actuator to the movable body; and a second transmission mechanism comprising a second gear wheel and a second rack engaging the second gear wheel, the second transmission mechanism transmitting a driving force of the second vibratory actuator to the movable body. An engaging position of the first gear wheel with the first rack is different from an engaging position of the second gear wheel with the second rack.