Abstract: A cleaning device for an imaging unit includes a housing that holds an imaging section, a protection cover provided in the visual field of the imaging section, a vibrator section that vibrates the protection cover, and a cleaning nozzle that discharges a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid discharged by the discharge section reaches a surface of side of the protection cover that is opposite to the side thereof adjacent to or in a vicinity of the imaging section. According to the vibrator section vibrating the protection cover, a portion of surface of the protection cover exhibits an amount of displacement larger than that of a portion of surface of the protection cover that the discharged cleaning liquid has reached.

Abstract: A vibration device includes a light-transmitting body that is located on a subject side of an imaging element, a cylindrical body that includes a first end portion, a second end portion on the opposite side from the first end portion, and an outer surface and an inner surface that connect the first end portion and the second end portion to each other, the cylindrical body being connected to the light-transmitting body and holding the light-transmitting body on the first end portion side thereof, and a piezoelectric element provided along a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body and that torsionally vibrates the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a casing holding an image capturing device, a protective cover disposed in a visual field of the image capturing device, a vibrator to vibrate the protective cover, a controller to control the vibrator, a monitor to detect an electrical characteristic value associated with a vibration of the vibrator, and a storage to store determination criteria based on which the controller evaluates the electrical characteristic value detected by the monitor. The controller is configured to evaluate the electrical characteristic value based on the plurality of determination criteria stored in the storage and clean a surface of the translucent body by controlling the vibrator according to the determination.

Abstract: A vibration device includes a top plate elastic body, a cylindrical body that includes a first end portion and a second end portion and is coupled with the top plate elastic body to retain the top plate elastic body on a side of the first end portion. The cylindrical body includes on a side of the second end portion, a ring-shaped flange portion extended outward in a radial direction of the cylindrical body, and a piezoelectric element fixed to the ring-shaped flange portion to cause the cylindrical body to vibrate.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a tubular body including a first end, a second end, and a plurality of side surfaces that connect the first and second ends, piezoelectric vibrators that are fixed to the tubular body and vibrate the tubular body, and a light transmitting body unit that is directly or indirectly connected to the second end of the tubular body.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a tubular body including first and second end surfaces, and a side wall portion that connects the first and second end surfaces, a piezoelectric vibrator provided on the first end surface of the tubular body, and a light transmitting body that is directly or indirectly connected to the second end surface and covers an opening in the second end surface of the tubular body. A connecting portion is connected to the first end surface of the tubular body inside or outside an opening in the first end surface. A tubular bent portion is connected to a surface of the connecting portion that faces toward the second end surface of the tubular body. The tubular bent portion extends in a direction from the first end surface toward the second end surface of the tubular body.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a casing holding an image capturing device, a protective cover disposed in a visual field of the image capturing device, a vibrator to vibrate the protective cover, a controller to control the vibrator, a monitor to detect an electrical characteristic value associated with a vibration of the vibrator, and a storage to store determination criteria based on which the controller evaluates the electrical characteristic value detected by the monitor. The controller is configured to evaluate the electrical characteristic value based on the plurality of determination criteria stored in the storage and clean a surface of the translucent body by controlling the vibrator according to the determination.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a casing holding an image capturing device, a protective cover disposed in a visual field of the image capturing device, a vibrator to vibrate the protective cover, a controller to control the vibrator, a monitor to detect an electrical characteristic value associated with a vibration of the vibrator, and a storage to store determination criteria based on which the controller evaluates the electrical characteristic value detected by the monitor. The controller is configured to evaluate the electrical characteristic value based on the plurality of determination criteria stored in the storage and clean a surface of the translucent body by controlling the vibrator according to the determination.

Abstract: A method of driving a vibration device including a light-transmitting body and a piezoelectric element connected to the light-transmitting body is provided to vibrate the light-transmitting body. The method atomizes and removes liquid drops sticking to the light-transmitting body. A driving voltage to vibrate the piezoelectric element is swept at a sweep speed in a range of about 1 Hz to about 50 Hz so as to sweep a vibration frequency of the piezoelectric element to cover a frequency range including both of a resonant frequency of the light-transmitting body without liquid drops sticking to the light-transmitting body and a resonant frequency of the light-transmitting body with the liquid drops sticking to the light-transmitting body.

Abstract: A method of driving a vibration device including a light-transmitting body and a piezoelectric element connected to the light-transmitting body is provided to vibrate the light-transmitting body. The method atomizes and removes liquid drops sticking to the light-transmitting body. A driving voltage to vibrate the piezoelectric element is swept at a sweep speed in a range of about 1 Hz to about 50 Hz so as to sweep a vibration frequency of the piezoelectric element to cover a frequency range including both of a resonant frequency of the light-transmitting body without liquid drops sticking to the light-transmitting body and a resonant frequency of the light-transmitting body with the liquid drops sticking to the light-transmitting body.

Abstract: A cleaning device includes a casing holding an image capturing device, a protective cover disposed in a visual field of the image capturing device, a vibrator to vibrate the protective cover, a controller to control the vibrator, a monitor to detect an electrical characteristic value associated with a vibration of the vibrator, and a storage to store determination criteria based on which the controller evaluates the electrical characteristic value detected by the monitor. The controller is configured to evaluate the electrical characteristic value based on the plurality of determination criteria stored in the storage and clean a surface of the translucent body by controlling the vibrator according to the determination.

Abstract: A vibration device includes a top plate elastic body, a cylindrical body that includes a first end portion and a second end portion and is coupled with the top plate elastic body to retain the top plate elastic body on a side of the first end portion. The cylindrical body includes on a side of the second end portion, a ring-shaped flange portion extended outward in a radial direction of the cylindrical body, and a piezoelectric element fixed to the ring-shaped flange portion to cause the cylindrical body to vibrate.

Abstract: A vibration device includes a light-transmitting body that is located on a subject side of an imaging element, a cylindrical body that includes a first end portion, a second end portion on the opposite side from the first end portion, and an outer surface and an inner surface that connect the first end portion and the second end portion to each other, the cylindrical body being connected to the light-transmitting body and holding the light-transmitting body on the first end portion side thereof, and a piezoelectric element provided along a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body and that torsionally vibrates the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cleaning device for an imaging unit includes a housing that holds an imaging section, a protection cover provided in the visual field of the imaging section, a vibrator section that vibrates the protection cover, and a cleaning nozzle that discharges a cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid discharged by the discharge section reaches a surface of side of the protection cover that is opposite to the side thereof adjacent to or in a vicinity of the imaging section. According to the vibrator section vibrating the protection cover, a portion of surface of the protection cover exhibits an amount of displacement larger than that of a portion of surface of the protection cover that the discharged cleaning liquid has reached.

Abstract: A power generating apparatus includes a power generating element, a lever mechanism including a force point, a support point, and an action point, a first magnetic body disposed on the lever mechanism, and a second magnetic body having magnetic characteristics of being attracted to the first magnetic body. Upon the lever mechanism being pressed, the action point applies a load to the power generating portion and the first magnetic body approaches the second magnetic body while being attracted to the second magnetic body.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a tubular body including a first end, a second end, and a plurality of side surfaces that connect the first and second ends, piezoelectric vibrators that are fixed to the tubular body and vibrate the tubular body, and a light transmitting body unit that is directly or indirectly connected to the second end of the tubular body.

Abstract: A vibrating device includes a tubular body including first and second end surfaces, and a side wall portion that connects the first and second end surfaces, a piezoelectric vibrator provided on the first end surface of the tubular body, and a light transmitting body that is directly or indirectly connected to the second end surface and covers an opening in the second end surface of the tubular body. A connecting portion is connected to the first end surface of the tubular body inside or outside an opening in the first end surface. A tubular bent portion is connected to a surface of the connecting portion that faces toward the second end surface of the tubular body. The tubular bent portion extends in a direction from the first end surface toward the second end surface of the tubular body.

Abstract: A rectifier circuit rectifies power generation voltage of a piezoelectric element to generate DC voltage and supplies the power generation voltage to a load. Upon termination of a process started upon reception of the DC voltage supplied from the rectifier circuit, the load sets a discharge switch to a conduction state using an output port signal. The electric charge remaining in the piezoelectric element is reset to zero by the discharge switch.

Abstract: A power generating device is disclosed that includes a power generating unit, an inductor, a switch connected to the inductor in series, and a control circuit. The power generating unit includes a piezoelectric element, and upper and lower electrodes disposed on surfaces of the piezoelectric element. The inductor is electrically connected to the electrodes in parallel, with the inductor and a capacitance component constituting a resonance circuit. The control circuit has a driving mode in which it controls the switch to an ON state in synchronism with the voltage generated in the piezoelectric element becoming a peak value. Further, in a rest mode, the control circuit controls the switch to be in an OFF state when the voltage generated in the piezoelectric element has the peak value.

Abstract: A piezoelectric power generation apparatus that includes a first vibrating portion having a fixed end and a free end, a first weight portion bonded to the free end of the first vibrating portion, a second vibrating portion having a fixed end bonded to the first weight portion and a free end, and including a vibrating plate and a piezoelectric element provided on the vibrating plate. A second weight portion is bonded to the free end of the second weight portion. In a state where the piezoelectric power generation apparatus is arranged on a vibration surface and is still, a position of the free end of the first vibrating portion and a position of the fixed end of the second vibrating portion in an axial direction perpendicular to the vibration surface are different from each other.