Abstract: A lower back pain treatment device includes a seat for sitting a patient thereon, the seat including a bottom part that is opposed to a sacrum and a coccyx of the patient and extends from a dorsal side to a ventral side of the patient, and a pair of side parts each of which is opposed to corresponding one of a pair of hipbones of the patient. The lower back pain treatment device includes a connecting part serving as a linking mechanism for linking the movement of the bottom part and the movement of the side parts. Action of the linking mechanism makes it possible to pressedly move the sacroiliac joint of the patient from a dorsal side to a ventral side, to move the front end upward, and to pressedly move up the tip of the coccyx toward the ventral side.

Abstract: The temperature sensor module includes: a temperature sensor element and a signal processing circuit.

Abstract: A position detection system is applicable to a wireless power transfer system in which power is wirelessly transmitted from a power transmission unit disposed on a parking space to a power reception unit disposed on a vehicle. The position detection system includes one LF transmitting antenna in the power transmission unit, a plurality of LF receiving antennas in the power reception unit, and a vehicle ECU (control system). When the vehicle is moving, the vehicle ECU uses an LF mode to detect the position relation between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit. When the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle ECU uses an LPE mode to detect the position relation between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit.

Abstract: The temperature sensor module includes: a temperature sensor element and a signal processing circuit.

Abstract: An infrared camera includes a lens unit including a lens and a lens barrel, a heater that is provided at the lens unit and heats the lens, an infrared image sensor that captures an image using infrared light focused by the lens, a chassis that is fixed to an external surface side of the lens barrel while being thermally insulated from the lens unit and contains the infrared image sensor, and a light-blocking member that is located between the lens barrel and the infrared image sensor inside the chassis as viewed in a direction of an optical axis of the lens and blocks infrared light radiated toward the infrared image sensor and coming without passing through the lens, thus reducing the influence of infrared light coming without passing through the lens on capturing of an image.

Abstract: The power transmission device includes a power transmission coil configured to transmit power in a wireless manner to a power reception coil of a power reception device, a plurality of foreign object detection coils disposed along an upper surface of the power transmission coil, and a power supply ECU.

Abstract: A control unit of an electric power transmission apparatus is configured to perform alignment processing in which an electric power transmission unit and an electric power reception unit are aligned with each other and foreign matter sensing processing for sensing whether or not a foreign matter is present between the electric power transmission unit and the electric power reception unit, by using an image shot by a camera. The control unit selects an alignment prioritized mode in which alignment processing is performed in preference to foreign matter sensing processing before start of electric power transmission, and selects a foreign matter sensing prioritized mode in which foreign matter sensing processing is performed in preference to alignment processing during electric power transmission.

Abstract: A position detection system is applicable to a wireless power transfer system in which power is wirelessly transmitted from a power transmission unit disposed on a parking space to a power reception unit disposed on a vehicle. The position detection system includes one LF transmitting antenna in the power transmission unit, a plurality of LF receiving antennas in the power reception unit, and a vehicle ECU (control system). When the vehicle is moving, the vehicle ECU uses an LF mode to detect the position relation between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit. When the vehicle is stopped, the vehicle ECU uses an LPE mode to detect the position relation between the power transmission unit and the power reception unit.

Abstract: A controller for a motion assisting apparatus for a wearer includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to set switching points in a change in a turning angle of a drive mechanism driven by a drive motor and attached to an ankle joint of the wearer to assist a turning motion of the ankle joint, a ratio of the change in the turning angle being equal to zero at the switching points. The circuitry is configured to set a motion pattern such that the turning angle monotonically increases or monotonically decreases between the switching points. The circuitry is configured to control the drive motor to change the turning angle according to the motion pattern.

Abstract: The power transmission device includes a power transmission coil configured to transmit power in a wireless manner to a power reception coil of a power reception device, a plurality of foreign object detection coils disposed along an upper surface of the power transmission coil, and a power supply ECU.

Abstract: A control unit of an electric power transmission apparatus is configured to perform alignment processing in which an electric power transmission unit and an electric power reception unit are aligned with each other and foreign matter sensing processing for sensing whether or not a foreign matter is present between the electric power transmission unit and the electric power reception unit, by using an image shot by a camera. The control unit selects an alignment prioritized mode in which alignment processing is performed in preference to foreign matter sensing processing before start of electric power transmission, and selects a foreign matter sensing prioritized mode in which foreign matter sensing processing is performed in preference to alignment processing during electric power transmission.

Abstract: An infrared camera includes a lens unit including a lens and a lens barrel, a heater that is provided at the lens unit and heats the lens, an infrared image sensor that captures an image using infrared light focused by the lens, a chassis that is fixed to an external surface side of the lens barrel while being thermally insulated from the lens unit and contains the infrared image sensor, and a light-blocking member that is located between the lens barrel and the infrared image sensor inside the chassis as viewed in a direction of an optical axis of the lens and blocks infrared light radiated toward the infrared image sensor and coming without passing through the lens, thus reducing the influence of infrared light coming without passing through the lens on capturing of an image.

Abstract: A controller for a motion assisting apparatus for a wearer includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to set switching points in a change in a turning angle of a drive mechanism driven by a drive motor and attached to an ankle joint of the wearer to assist a turning motion of the ankle joint, a ratio of the change in the turning angle being equal to zero at the switching points. The circuitry is configured to set a motion pattern such that the turning angle monotonically increases or monotonically decreases between the switching points. The circuitry is configured to control the drive motor to change the turning angle according to the motion pattern.

Abstract: A composition has a gas containing agent or gas producing agent, a foam stabilizer and a food acid source. In one advantageous form, when the composition is dissolved in a liquid medium, a resulting beverage preferably has a pH between 2.5 and 5.4, and a viscosity between 1.0 and 10.0 cP when at a concentration between 1 and 150 grams per liter at a temperature between 2 and 28° C. In another advantageous form, the composition is water soluble in cold water, e.g., at a temperature between 2 and 28° C. In an alternative form, various components of the composition will be present in a premade liquid to which a gas containing agent or gas producing agent is added just prior to consumption.

Abstract: A robot system includes: a robot including a camera unit shooting an object in a container, a hand gripping the object, and a contact detector detecting that the hand contacts the container; and a robot control device, which includes a control unit causing the hand to contact the container; a contact detection unit detecting by the contact detector that the hand contacts the container, and finding a contact position thereof; a first processing unit calculating a position of the container from a stereo image of the container acquired by the camera unit; a second processing unit calculating a difference between the position of the container calculated by the first processing unit and the contact position found by the contact detection unit as a correction amount; and a third processing unit correcting information on a position in a height direction of the object in the container based on the correction amount.

Abstract: A movement assist device includes: a motor including a stator and a rotator; two arm members connected to each of the stator and the rotator and configured to be connected to a predetermined part of a body of an equipped person; a signal acceptor configured to accept a trigger signal that triggers a driving of the motor; and a driving controller configured to drive the motor so that the two arm members expand in response to a trigger that the signal acceptor accepts a first one of the trigger signal.

Abstract: A lens cleaner (10) cleans a pickup lens (38) within an optical disk device (12). The lens cleaner (10) includes a disk portion (16) and a grip (20) provided at the rear end thereof. A user inserts the lens cleaner (10) into a slot (14) of the optical disk device (12) with the grip (20) holding with a hand (18) to thereby load the lens cleaner (10) into the interior of the optical disk device 12. When the user turns the lens cleaner (10) right and left with the grip (20) holding, a lens surface is cleaned by a cleaning member upheaving on a bottom surface of the disk portion (16).

Abstract: An operating apparatus for game machine includes a depressing member. A main body of the depressing member is provided with three engaging protrusions and two depressing protrusions that downwardly protrude. For example, the two depressing protrusions are provided between the three engaging protrusions. In response to a beating operation, the right side of the depressing member is depressed, and an engaging portion of the engaging protrusion at the left side is engaged with a rear surface of an upper surface panel. Accordingly, the depressing member depressed at the right side without being upwardly actuated, and a rubber switch depressed by the depressing protrusion is brought into contact with a board. At this time, a contact provided on the board and a contact provided on the rubber switch are brought into contact with each other, and an operation signal according to the beating operation is output to the game machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a contact position where a robot makes contact with an object includes a probe, a probe-position calculating unit, a contact detecting unit, and a contact-position calculating unit. The probe is attached to the robot and is configured to make a displacement in a direction of making contact with the object in an elastic manner. The probe-position calculating unit calculates a position of the probe of the robot in operation. The contact detecting unit detects a contact state of the probe with the object. When the contact state of the probe is detected, the contact-position calculating unit derives the contact position based on a calculated position of the probe.

Abstract: A force sensor and a robot that can suppress a load applied to load sensor elements are provided. A force sensor includes: a first base member one surface of which is fixed on a fixed member; a plurality of load sensor elements that is provided on another surface of the first base member to detect a load; a second base member that is disposed facing the other surface of the first base member to generate a preload to be applied to each of the load sensor elements toward the first base member; a preload adjusting unit that adjusts the magnitude of the preload generated by the second base member; and buffer bodies that receive a part of an external load to be applied to each of the load sensor elements from the outside.