Abstract: A load sensor that is inoperable even when applied with a large load, has a simple structure easily designed to be lightweight and compact and can detect a load with a high accuracy, and a legged robot apparatus including the load sensor in each of legs thereof. The robot apparatus includes the load sensors counting more than one and each of which detects, as an external force, a reaction applied when the leg abuts a ground surface. The load sensor includes a diaphragm, an activating member that is applied with an external force, a driving member forming along with the activating member a double structure and which presses the pressure-sensitive portion, and an elastic member.

Abstract: There are provided a load sensor that cannot be broken even when applied with a large load, has a simple structure easily designed to be lightweight and compact and can detect a load with a high accuracy, and a legged robot apparatus including the load sensor in each of legs thereof. The robot apparatus includes the load sensors counting more than one and each of which detects, as an external force, a reaction applied when the leg abuts a ground surface. The load sensor (10) includes a diaphragm (11) having a pressure-sensitive portion (11a), an activating member (14) that is applied with an external force, a driving member (17) forming along with the activating member (14) a double structure and which presses the pressure-sensitive portion (11a), and an elastic member (15) that is displaced generally proportionally to the magnitude of an external force applied to the activating member (14) to convey the external force to the driving member (17).

Abstract: A load sensor is assembled by screwing a nut on a bolt, sequentially fitting a washer and a tube spacer on the bolt, fitting a bore of a strain-generating member on the tube spacer, fitting another washer on the bolt, tightening another nut, and clamping a bobbin-shaped unit composed of the washers and the tube spacer between the nuts in the axial direction of the bolt. Since the strain-generating member having a thickness less than the height of a strain-generating member holding space formed between the washers is placed in the space with some clearance, even when the washers are fixed to the bolt by a strong pressing force, the pressing force will not directly act on the strain-generating member.

Abstract: A load sensor is provided, which prevents defective printing of strain-sensing elements caused by the deflection of a pressure-receiving portion and provides stabilized quality and fabrication yields. The load sensor is provided with the strain-sensing elements printed on the pressure-receiving portion. The tip portion of the strain generating portions having a loading point is allowed to stay in advance below the plane containing the print surface of the strain generating portions in the direction of thickness. The tip portion of the pressure-receiving portion will never stay above the print surface of the strain generating portions even when the pressure-receiving portion is deflected in the heating process during fabrication. Therefore, this makes it possible to avoid defective printing of the strain-sensing elements caused by the deflection of the pressure-receiving portion.

Abstract: A brighter and whiter reflector provides high reflection efficiency over a wide range of angles. An indenting tool is pressed against the surface of a matrix base material; the pressing operation is repeated while changing the position of the indenting tool on the surface of the base material for the matrix to successively form many pits, the inner surfaces of which are shaped like partial spheres, on the mold surface of the matrix base material so as to provide it as the matrix for forming the reflector. Then, a transfer mold having a mold surface which has a reversed pattern of the pits and projections of the mold surface of the matrix is made, and the mold surface of the transfer mold is transferred to the surface of the base material for the reflector to provide a reflector (1). Pits (4) of the reflector (1) are formed so that the depths the pits (4) range from 0.

Abstract: A brighter and whiter reflector provides high reflection efficiency over a wide range of angles. An indenting tool is pressed against the surface of a matrix base material; the pressing operation is repeated while changing the position of the indenting tool on the surface of the base material for the matrix to successively form many pits, the inner surfaces of which are shaped like partial spheres, on the mold surface of the matrix base material so as to provide it as the matrix for forming the reflector. Then, a transfer mold having a mold surface which has a reversed pattern of the pits and projections of the mold surface of the matrix is made, and the mold surface of the transfer mold is transferred to the surface of the base material for the reflector to provide a reflector (1). Pits (4) of the reflector (1) are formed so that the depths the pits (4) range from 0.

Abstract: A load sensor is provided, which prevents defective printing of strain-sensing elements caused by the deflection of a pressure-receiving portion and provides stabilized quality and fabrication yields. The load sensor is provided with the strain-sensing elements printed on the pressure-receiving portion. The tip portion of the strain generating portions having a loading point is allowed to stay in advance below the plane containing the print surface of the strain generating portions in the direction of thickness. The tip portion of the pressure-receiving portion will never stay above the print surface of the strain generating portions even when the pressure-receiving portion is deflected in the heating process during fabrication. Therefore, this makes it possible to avoid defective printing of the strain-sensing elements caused by the deflection of the pressure-receiving portion.

Abstract: A load sensor is assembled by screwing a nut on a bolt, sequentially fitting a washer and a tube spacer on the bolt, fitting a bore of a strain-generating member on the tube spacer, fitting another washer on the bolt, tightening another nut, and clamping a bobbin-shaped unit composed of the washers and the tube spacer between the nuts in the axial direction of the bolt. Since the strain-generating member having a thickness less than the height of a strain-generating member holding space formed between the washers is placed in the space with some clearance, even when the washers are fixed to the bolt by a strong pressing force, the pressing force will not directly act on the strain-generating member.

Abstract: A pin contact of a connector and a method of fabricating the pin contact which enables a substantial decrease of manufacturing cost, and smooth installation of the pin connector without a change in the pitch of arrangement at the time of press-fitting into a pin housing. A flat metal sheet undergoes blanking and pressing to form a narrow piece including a strip portion of decreased area of a fracture. Then an approximately L-shaped connecting portion is bent at right angles to raise the narrow piece sideways. Thereafter the strip portion of the narrow piece is pressed along the direction of rising, to thereby form an approximately cylindrical contact section. A raised piece at the rear of the contact section is provided with a locking section which faces approximately at right angles with the direction of arrangement.

Abstract: A pin contact of a connector and a method of fabricating the pin contact which enables a substantial decrease of manufacturing cost, and smooth installation of the pin connector without a change in the pitch of arrangement at the time of press-fitting into a pin housing. A flat metal sheet undergoes blanking and pressing to form a narrow piece including a strip portion of decreased area of a fracture. Then an approximately L-shaped connecting portion is bent at right angles to raise the narrow piece sideways. Thereafter the strip portion of the narrow piece is pressed along the direction of rising, to thereby form an approximately cylindrical contact section. A raised piece at the rear of the contact section is provided with a locking section which faces approximately at right angles with the direction of arrangement.

Abstract: A sliding contact producing method is provided wherein noble metal balls are easily positioned on a metal plate; the weld strength between the noble metal ball and the metal plate can be obtained sufficiently; and a noble metal mounting jig can be prevented from damage when the metal plate is beam-welded with the noble metal ball. While being received in the recess portions of a jig, the noble metal balls are respectively contacted with bowllike recesses formed in the base surface of the metal plate. YAG laser beam is irradiated on the metal plate to weld the metal plate with the noble metal ball. Then the metal plate is sheared in a determined shape to form resilient strips. The present invention can improve welding operation efficiency and the reliability of welded portions. Since the metal plate being wider than that of the resilient strip receives beam, the metal contact mounting jig can be prevented from damage due to beam welding.

Abstract: In a sliding contact having a base made of an elastic material and a precious metal contact connected to the base, the base extends along a sliding face, and the precious metal contact is connected to the base in the almost vertical direction with respect to the contact position of the precious metal contact and the sliding face by beam welding.