Abstract: An autonomous vibration-driven device, for motion through a lumen or along a surface, utilizing an array of flexible fibers attached to the body of the device. The outer surface of the fibers have an anisotropic coefficient of friction with the surface along which the device is to move, and the fibers extend from the device body such that at least some of the fibers are in contact with the walls along a part of their length. A transducer is used to vibrate the device, such that it moves down the lumen. The transducer can be either device borne or external. A rotary device is also described, utilizing an array of fibers disposed on the rotor's body, the fibers having an anisotropic coefficient of friction with a central stator or with an outer circular wall. A planar motion device is also described for crawling over a planar surface.

Abstract: In an ultrasonic motor, an elliptical vibration is generated by combining a longitudinal primary resonance vibration resulting from an expansion and a contraction of a vibrator in a direction of a central axis and a torsional secondary resonance vibration or a torsional tertiary resonance vibration resulting from twisting around the central axis. A dimension ratio of a rectangle of the vibrator is chosen such that a resonance frequency of the longitudinal primary resonance vibration and a resonance frequency of the torsional secondary resonance vibration or the torsional tertiary resonance vibration match. The vibrator includes a plurality of regions in a surface orthogonal to the central axis, and deformations of the regions adjacent to each other along the direction of the central axis are mutually different. The vibrator expands and contracts in a direction orthogonal to a polarization direction thereof.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component capable of preventing degradation of the self alignment property and product characteristics due to absorption of flux into pores of a ceramic element assembly during soldering in mounting and a ceramic electronic component. In the method, a ceramic element assembly is subjected to an oil-repellent treatment by using an oil-repellent agent containing a polyfluoropolyether compound as a primary component and hydrofluoroether as a solvent, so as to avoid absorption of the flux by the ceramic element assembly.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator comprises a first piezoelectric element pre-polarized towards a first direction and displaceable towards an about orthogonal direction with respect to said first direction, a second piezoelectric element pre-polarized towards a direction about parallel to the first direction and displaceable towards a direction about parallel to said first direction, a relative moving member clamped by displacement of said first piezoelectric element and relatively moves by displacement of said second piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A power supply control device turns off energization of coils from a power supply device when a rotational speed of a motor reaches 500 rpm. After elapsing of one electrical cycle from the time of starting the turning off of the energization, a comparator of a correction device outputs a comparator signal, which is obtained by comparing a voltage of a neutral point of the coils and an induced voltage of the coil. An EX-OR circuit outputs an EX-OR signal, which is an exclusive OR value of the comparator signal and an output signal of a Hall sensor. A sensing unit obtains an electrical angle of a period, during which the EX-OR signal is in a H-level. A difference between the obtained electrical angle and a standard electrical angle of 30 degrees is stored as a correction data value. Thereafter, energization of the coils is restarted.

Abstract: An object is to provide a crystal device that uses a mesa-structure crystal piece in which frequency adjustment is possible. A configuration is such that in a crystal device having: a crystal piece having a thick portion and a thin portion, with an excitation electrode formed on both main faces of the thick portion, and a lead out electrode electrically connected to the excitation electrode, formed on an end portion; a container main body having a concavity for accommodating the crystal piece; and a cover that is connected to an open end face of the container main body and hermetically seals the crystal piece, a frequency adjustment metal film which is electrically isolated from the excitation electrode and made independent, is formed on the thin portion of the crystal piece.

Abstract: A technique that provides: an ultrasonic transducer in which the accurate arrangement of piezoelectric elements and the electric conductive state between electrode layers are reserved; and an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus and an ultrasonic flaw inspection apparatus which use the ultrasonic transducer is provided. According to the technique, a plurality of piezoelectric elements 1, each being a stacked body in which predetermined numbers of piezoelectric layers 2 and electrode layers 3 are alternately stacked and although this has both sides that are substantially flat along a stacking direction, side electrodes 6 to connect the predetermined electrode layers 3 are placed outside both of the sides, are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction, wherein an interval holding member 10 having a predetermined thickness is put between the sides on which the side electrodes 6 of the piezoelectric elements 1 adjacent to each other are formed.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a transducer and a control module coupled with the transducer. The control module is configured to selectively switch the sensor assembly between a first mode of operation wherein the sensor assembly measures an amount of energy induced to the sensor assembly, and a second mode of operation wherein the sensor assembly stores an amount of energy induced to the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator has a piezoelectric element and a frictional portion. The piezoelectric element simultaneously generates first and second vibration modes in response to a voltage applied thereto. The frictional portion is arranged on an outer surface of the piezoelectric element and adapted to come into contact with a body to be driven and cause a frictional force therewith. The frictional portion has a glass-containing portion containing a glass material and being aimed such as to project from the outer surface of the piezoelectric element. Without restricting the size of the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric actuator inhibits its driving state from fluctuating.

Abstract: An acoustic wave device having an improved frequency-temperature characteristic and in which a spurious response of the higher order mode is suppressed includes a piezoelectric substrate made of LiNbO3, a SiO2 layer laminated on the piezoelectric substrate, and an IDT electrode disposed in an interface of the piezoelectric substrate and the SiO2 layer, wherein ? and ? of Euler angles expressed by (?, ?, ?) of LiNbO3 substrate satisfy ?=0° and 80°???130°, respectively. The acoustic wave device using an acoustic wave primarily having an SH wave, wherein ? is set to satisfy 5°???30°.

Abstract: A slope counter starts countdown at timing of changing an output voltage of an FET to zero. A controller executes a nonsymmetrical energization control operation to control a PWM generator such that the PWM generator generates a PWM signal based on a count value of the slope counter and outputs the generated PWM signal to the FET. The countdown of the slope counter is terminated when a predetermined time period elapses or when a time period corresponding to an electrical angle of 40 degrees elapses before the elapsing of the predetermined period. Also, at this time, the controller terminates the nonsymmetrical energization control operation.

Abstract: A detection sensor (10) includes: plural beam-like resonators (30A, 30B), a vibration characteristic of which changes according to adsorption or sticking of a substance having a mass and one end of each of which is fixed; a driving unit (40) that vibrates the resonators; and a detecting unit (40) that detects a change in the vibration in the resonators to detect the substance. The plural resonators have lengths different from one another. When the length of an arbitrary resonator is represented as L, a difference ?L between the length L and the length of the other resonators is set to satisfy the following condition: 2(?L/L)>1/Q (Q represents a Q factor of the resonators). The driving unit vibrates the respective plural resonators at frequencies corresponding to resonant frequencies of the resonators.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave sensor to measure physical, biological or chemical parameters is claimed. Using different piezoelectric substrate materials, piezoelectric substrates with different thicknesses or metallizations with different thicknesses or patterns are used to distinguish between the effects of different physical, biological or chemical parameters.

Abstract: A washing machine and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The washing machine detects a back electromotive force of a washing motor, and controls output of an alarm sound by analyzing periodicity of a waveform period of the back electromotive force. The washing machine determines whether a child or pet is in a drum washing machine on the basis of the back electromotive force generated from the washing motor, and informs a user or guardian of the determined result.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first transducer support configured to receive a first transducer in a first opening. A face of the first face of the transducer is located in a first plane. The apparatus also comprises a second transducer support configured to receive a second transducer in a second opening. A face of the second transducer is located in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ultrasonic linear drive unit comprising a driving element as an ultrasonic oscillator with two generators for ultrasonic vibrations and a driven element that forms a frictional contact with the driving element, and an electrical excitation source for the driving element. According to the invention, the ultrasonic oscillator is designed as a hollow thin-walled piezoelectric cylinder, the height H of which is identical to or smaller than the mean diameter D thereof. The generators for ultrasonic vibrations are symmetrically disposed on both sides relative to the sectional plane S that extends through the center of the height of the ultrasonic oscillator, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L thereof. The cylinder surface of the driving element is in contact with the driven element, and the electrical excitation source is connected to the ultrasonic linear drive unit in such a way that the drive unit excites only the first or the second generator for ultrasonic vibrations.

Abstract: An electrostrictive composite includes a flexible polymer matrix and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the flexible polymer matrix. The carbon nanotubes cooperatively form an electrically conductive network in the flexible polymer matrix. A plurality of bubbles are defined by the flexible polymer matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, devices, and related methods, involving electrochemical actuation. In some cases, application of a voltage or current to a system or device of the invention may generate a volumetric or dimensional change, which may produce mechanical work. For example, at least a portion of the system may be constructed and arranged to be displaced from a first orientation to a second orientation. Systems such as these may be useful in various applications, including pumps (e.g., infusion pumps) and drug delivery devices, for example.

Abstract: A wheel includes a rim and a tire. The rim includes a ring body defining a central axis, two flanges, and two piezoelectric rings. The flanges extend from the circumference of the ring body around the central axis. A first annular groove is defined in the circumference of each flange around the central axis. The piezoelectric rings are mounted in the respective first annular grooves and configured for producing electric power under pressure. The tire encloses the rim.

Abstract: A vibratory device includes an elastic plate and a piezoelectric diaphragm. The elastic plate includes a fixable portion, a vibratory portion, and a connection portion. The fixable portion is fixed to a fixation member. The vibratory portion is spaced away from a fixable surface of the fixable portion that faces the fixation member and arranged substantially in parallel with the fixable surface. The connection portion connects a first end of the fixable portion in its planar direction and a first end of the vibratory portion in its planar direction. The piezoelectric diaphragm is disposed on a surface of the vibratory portion that is adjacent to the fixable portion. In a direction N normal to the surface of the vibratory portion adjacent to the fixable portion, at least part of the second piezoelectric diaphragm does not overlap the fixable portion.