Abstract: Provided is a grip tool that allows detecting a slip of an object. The grip tool includes a pair of grip portions that sandwiches to grip an object; an opening/closing mechanism that opens and closes the pair of grip portions; and at least one sensor unit disposed in one or both of the pair of grip portions. The sensor unit includes a plurality of force sensors disposed in a predetermined distribution. The plurality of force sensors each have a function of measuring forces in triaxial directions received from the object. The sensor unit can measure a load distribution received from the object. The slip of the object is detectable based on the load distribution.

Abstract: Provided is a tactile sensor that allows restraining a decrease in spatial resolution and sensitivity of a sensor element and has waterproof and dust-proof properties. A tactile sensor includes a sensor element and a casing that houses the sensor element. The sensor element includes: a base portion; a contact having a contact end; a support body that supports the contact in a displaceable manner with respect to the base portion; and a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the contact with respect to the base portion. The casing includes a film having flexibility that covers at least the contact end among the sensor element, and the contact end is secured to an inner surface of the film.

Abstract: A tactile sensor includes a base portion, a displacement portion, a displacement portion support body that supports the displacement portion in a displaceable manner in a first direction with respect to the base portion, a hair in a straight line arranged along a second direction, a hair fixing portion to which a base end of the hair is fixed, a hair fixing portion support body that turnably supports the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion, a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the displacement portion with respect to the base portion, and a turn detector that detects a turn of the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion. The sensations specific to the hairy skin, such as perception of a liquid surface and static electricity, can be detected from a shearing force and a moment acting on the hair.

Abstract: A tactile sensor includes a base portion, a displacement portion, a displacement portion support body that supports the displacement portion in a displaceable manner in a first direction with respect to the base portion, a hair in a straight line arranged along a second direction, a hair fixing portion to which a base end of the hair is fixed, a hair fixing portion support body that turnably supports the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion, a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the displacement portion with respect to the base portion, and a turn detector that detects a turn of the hair fixing portion with respect to the displacement portion. The sensations specific to the hairy skin, such as perception of a liquid surface and static electricity, can be detected from a shearing force and a moment acting on the hair.

Abstract: To provide a vascular sap measurement sensor in which a flow channel that receives incoming flow of vascular sap is unlikely to be blocked by tissues of a plant. A vascular sap measurement sensor 1 includes: a trapping probe 20 for trapping vascular sap; and a support 10 that supports the trapping probe 20. A trapping flow channel 21 that receives incoming flow of the vascular sap is formed in the trapping probe 20. The trapping flow channel 21 has an inlet opening 24 formed on a side surface of the trapping probe 20. This makes it unlikely that the trapping flow channel 21 will be blocked by tissues of a plant when sticking the trapping probe 20 into the plant.

Abstract: To provide a vascular sap flow speed sensor having a size allowing measurement of the flow speed of vascular sap in a part of a plant such as a stem and capable of being manufactured at low cost. A vascular sap flow speed sensor 1 includes a heater sensor HS and a reference sensor RS. The heater sensor HS includes: a first probe unit 10a including a heat transfer plate 11 and a probe 12; a heater 20; a first temperature sensor 30a; and a first housing 40a in which the heat transfer plate 11, the heater 20, and the first temperature sensor 30a are housed. The reference sensor RS includes: a second probe unit 10b including a heat transfer plate 11 and a probe 12; a second temperature sensor 30b; and a second housing 40b in which the heat transfer plate 11 and the second temperature sensor 30b are housed. Each of the first probe unit 10a and the second probe unit 10b is made of a metallic material.

Abstract: To provide a vascular sap flow speed sensor having a size allowing measurement of the flow speed of vascular sap in a part of a plant such as a stem and capable of being manufactured at low cost. A vascular sap flow speed sensor 1 includes a heater sensor HS and a reference sensor RS. The heater sensor HS includes: a first probe unit 10a including a heat transfer plate 11 and a probe 12; a heater 20; a first temperature sensor 30a; and a first housing 40a in which the heat transfer plate 11, the heater 20, and the first temperature sensor 30a are housed. The reference sensor RS includes: a second probe unit 10b including a heat transfer plate 11 and a probe 12; a second temperature sensor 30b; and a second housing 40b in which the heat transfer plate 11 and the second temperature sensor 30b are housed. Each of the first probe unit 10a and the second probe unit 10b is made of a metallic material.

Abstract: To provide a vascular sap measurement sensor in which a flow channel that receives incoming flow of vascular sap is unlikely to be blocked by tissues of a plant. A vascular sap measurement sensor 1 includes: a trapping probe 20 for trapping vascular sap; and a support 10 that supports the trapping probe 20. A trapping flow channel 21 that receives incoming flow of the vascular sap is formed in the trapping probe 20. The trapping flow channel 21 has an inlet opening 24 formed on a side surface of the trapping probe 20. This makes it unlikely that the trapping flow channel 21 will be blocked by tissues of a plant when sticking the trapping probe 20 into the plant.

Abstract: To provide a tactile sensor that allows a contact to be displaced largely and can detect fine ruggedness, flexibility, and other features of a surface of a measuring object. A sensor part S includes a frame 10 that includes a side part of a substrate B, a contact 20 that is disposed in parallel to the substrate B so that a tip of the contact 20 projects from a side face of the substrate B, a suspension 30 that supports the contact 20 to the frame 10, and displacement detectors 41 and 42 each of which detects displacement of the contact 20. The side face of the substrate B functions as a sensing surface. The contact 20 coming in contact with a measuring object O is displaced on a level parallel to the substrate B. Since the sensor part S can be configured widely in a planar manner along the substrate B, the structure has higher flexibility of design.

Abstract: A plant water dynamics sensor usable for measuring the dynamics of water flowing in a fine point of a plant such as a distal end of a new branch or a pedicel comprises a heater-equipped temperature probe including a temperature sensor and a heater; a temperature probe including a temperature sensor; an electrical resistance probe including an electrical resistance measurement electrode; and a support that supports the probes while the probes are aligned parallel to each other. The position of a xylem XY can be detected based on an electrical resistance measured at the electrical resistance probe, so that each of the temperature sensors can be arranged correctly in a position at a phloem PH or at the xylem XY. This facilitates attachment of a plant water dynamics sensor and water dynamics in a plant can be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: To provide a tactile sensor that allows a contact to be displaced largely and can detect fine ruggedness, flexibility, and other features of a surface of a measuring object. A sensor part S includes a frame 10 that includes a side part of a substrate B, a contact 20 that is disposed in parallel to the substrate B so that a tip of the contact 20 projects from a side face of the substrate B, a suspension 30 that supports the contact 20 to the frame 10, and displacement detectors 41 and 42 each of which detects displacement of the contact 20. The side face of the substrate B functions as a sensing surface. The contact 20 coming in contact with a measuring object O is displaced on a level parallel to the substrate B. Since the sensor part S can be configured widely in a planar manner along the substrate B, the structure has higher flexibility of design.

Abstract: To provide a plant water dynamics sensor usable for measuring the dynamics of water flowing in a fine point of a plant such as a distal end of a new branch or a pedicel. The plant water dynamics sensor comprises: a heater-equipped temperature probe 10 including a temperature sensor 11 and a heater 12; a temperature probe 20 including a temperature sensor 21; an electrical resistance probe 30 including an electrical resistance measurement electrode 33; and a support 80 that supports the probes 10, 20, and 30 while the probes are aligned parallel to each other. The position of a xylem XY can be detected based on an electrical resistance measured at the electrical resistance probe 30, so that each of the temperature sensors 11 and 21 can be arranged correctly in a position at a phloem PH or at the xylem XY. This facilitates attachment of a plant water dynamics sensor 1 and water dynamics in a plant can be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: Temperature compensation is performed using a computation program for temperature compensation, a computation processing, and a sensor. Deformation in a diaphragm caused by a pressure change due to the temperature of the gas in a cavity is cancelled out, and deformation of the diaphragm is minimized within the target temperature range, thereby allowing an optimum temperature compensation to be performed. The temperature compensation in a capacitance-type sensor executes calculation steps which include including a calculation step (S17) of acquiring the amount of change ?C? in capacitance. A parameter ?C? is obtained, through which it is possible to determine the degree of compensation for the deformation in the diaphragm section caused by a pressure change due to the temperature changes of the gas in the hermetically sealed space.

Abstract: A power generation circuit has one of an antenna or a coil that receives an ambient radio wave. A rectifying circuit is connected to the antenna or the coil for rectifying a signal from the antenna or the coil receiving the ambient radio wave. A booster circuit is connected to and boosts an output of the rectifying circuit. A storage circuit is connected to the booster circuit and stores an output power obtained from the rectifying circuit for driving a load without the use of a power source or a battery. A switching circuit is operable in an ON-state thereof to connect the storage circuit to the load when a voltage of the storage circuit is equal to or greater than a preselected voltage.

Abstract: A power generation circuit using an electromagnetic wave which does not require any additional energy is provided. Power generation is performed by utilizing the electromagnetic wave existing in a space for living.

Abstract: A power generation circuit generates and stores electric power utilizing electromagnetic wave energy. The power generation circuit has one of an antenna or a coil that receives an electromagnetic wave. A rectifying circuit is formed on a silicon substrate and rectifies a signal from the antenna or the coil. A storage circuit stores an output power obtained from the rectifying circuit for driving a load. A MOS transistor has a source and a drain connected to an output of the storage circuit and the load, respectively, so that the load is connected to the storage circuit in accordance with a threshold voltage of the MOS transistor.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device comprises a silicon substrate having front and rear surfaces, a semiconductor element formed on the front surface, and at least one through-hole penetrating through the front surface and the rear surface. At least one passive element is supported by the silicon substrate. At least one connecting element is disposed in the through-hole of the silicon substrate for electrically connecting the semiconductor element to the passive element.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device comprises a silicon substrate having front and rear surfaces, a semiconductor element formed on the front surface, and at least one through-hole penetrating through the front surface and the rear surface. At least one passive element is supported by the silicon substrate. At least one connecting element is disposed in the through-hole of the silicon substrate for electrically connecting the semiconductor element to the passive element.

Abstract: A power generation circuit using an electromagnetic wave which does not require any additional energy is provided. Power generation is performed by utilizing the electromagnetic wave existing in a space for living.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device having a silicon substrate is provided comprising: a silicon substrate having a semiconductor element and a recess; and at least one passive element which is formed by a process different from a silicon planar process by which the semiconductor element is formed. In the electronic circuit device, the passive element is entrenched in the recess of the silicon substrate, and the semiconductor element formed on the silicon substrate is electrically connected to the passive element.