Abstract: A communication system includes a first microphone, a first loudspeaker, a second loudspeaker, a second microphone, a speaker number determination unit, and a control unit. The first microphone acquires a surrounding voice as a voice signal. The first loudspeaker is provided near the first microphone and outputs a voice. The second loudspeaker acquires the voice signal from the first microphone and outputs the voice signal as a voice. The second microphone acquires a surrounding voice as a voice signal and outputs the voice signal to the first loudspeaker. The speaker number determination unit determines the number of speakers around the first microphone based on the voice signal acquired by the first microphone. The control unit controls a volume of the first loudspeaker based on the determination of the speaker number determination unit.

Abstract: A communication system includes a first microphone, a first loudspeaker, a second loudspeaker, a second microphone, a speaker number determination unit, and a control unit. The first microphone acquires a surrounding voice as a voice signal. The first loudspeaker is provided near the first microphone and outputs a voice. The second loudspeaker acquires the voice signal from the first microphone and outputs the voice signal as a voice. The second microphone acquires a surrounding voice as a voice signal and outputs the voice signal to the first loudspeaker. The speaker number determination unit determines the number of speakers around the first microphone based on the voice signal acquired by the first microphone. The control unit controls a volume of the first loudspeaker based on the determination of the speaker number determination unit.

Abstract: Provided is an autonomous moving body including a recording unit that records in advance position information of a fixed obstacle whose position does not change, a detection unit that detects an obstacle likely to interfere with the autonomous moving body when moving through a moving path, a check unit that checks whether the detected obstacle is the fixed obstacle, a control unit that determines whether to clear away the obstacle when the check unit concludes that the obstacle is not the fixed obstacle, and an informing unit that outputs a signal requesting to clear away the obstacle when the control unit determines to clear away the obstacle.

Abstract: A walking assist device which allays uneasiness felt by a user when a wearable device actively applies torque to a leg. A walking assist device comprises a controller, a headphone and a wearable device attached to left and right legs. The wearable device has a sensor that detects motion of the user's leg and a motor that applies torque to a joint of the user's leg. The controller controls the wearable device such that the joint angle of the user follows a target pattern which represents time-dependent changes of a target joint angle. The controller specifies a change timing at which a time-dependent change of the target joint angle in the target pattern meets a predetermined condition, and informs the user, before the specified change timing, that the change timing is arriving. The uneasiness felt by the user when an actuator actively applies torque to the leg joint is allayed by informing the user of the motion before the actuator performs that motion.

Abstract: In a method for producing a molded article having a resin part, the resin part is injection-molded to an opening of a main body part and the molded article has an excellent air-tightness between the resin part and the main body part. A foam sealant is attached to a peripheral portion around the opening of the main body part. Attached to the main body part is a retainer made of the same kind of resin as injected resin and adapted to keep the foam sealant compressed in its thickness direction. The main body part is placed within a mold so that the retainer is exposed inside a cavity of the mold. A molten resin is injected into the cavity of the mold. The injected resin and the retainer are integrated into the resin part.

Abstract: A walking assist device which allays uneasiness felt by a user when a wearable device actively applies torque to a leg. A walking assist device comprises a controller, a headphone and a wearable device attached to left and right legs. The wearable device has a sensor that detects motion of the user's leg and a motor that applies torque to a joint of the user's leg. The controller controls the wearable device such that the joint angle of the user follows a target pattern which represents time-dependent changes of a target joint angle. The controller specifies a change timing at which a time-dependent change of the target joint angle in the target pattern meets a predetermined condition, and informs the user, before the specified change timing, that the change timing is arriving. The uneasiness felt by the user when an actuator actively applies torque to the leg joint is allayed by informing the user of the motion before the actuator performs that motion.

Abstract: A case with a connector integrally formed with a resin connector, and can be manufactured with a small number of processes is provided. The connector case includes a housing, a resin connector, and a ground terminal extending along an outer periphery of the connector. A terminal-side fixing portion extending backward from the ground terminal is crimped to or pressed over a housing-side fixing portion. When molds are closed after the housing and the ground terminal are placed in the molds for injection molding of the resin connector, a pressing portion formed on the mold presses the terminal-side fixing portion against the housing-side fixing portion to crimp or press the terminal-side fixing portion to or over the housing-side fixing portion. As a result, in the process for the injection molding of the connector, the ground terminal is fixed to the housing at the same time. The connector case with the ground terminal fixed to the housing can be manufactured in a small number of processes.

Abstract: An electronic circuit formed by removing only a baseboard from an electronic module. The electronic circuit may be formed by providing a baseboard made of a water-soluble material, applying a water-soluble polymer as an insulating material to the baseboard, and forming an electronic module by mounting electronic parts to wires formed on the baseboard. The formation of the electronic circuit may also include removing the baseboard from the electronic module by dissolving the baseboard in water and deforming and resin-encapsulating the electronic module, which includes the electronic parts and wires in the state of lacking the baseboard.

Abstract: A case with a connector integrally formed with a resin connector, and can be manufactured with a small number of processes is provided. The connector case includes a housing, a resin connector, and a ground terminal extending along an outer periphery of the connector. A terminal-side fixing portion extending backward from the ground terminal is crimped to or pressed over a housing-side fixing portion. When molds are closed after the housing and the ground terminal are placed in the molds for injection molding of the resin connector, a pressing portion formed on the mold presses the terminal-side fixing portion against the housing-side fixing portion to crimp or press the terminal-side fixing portion to or over the housing-side fixing portion. As a result, in the process for the injection molding of the connector, the ground terminal is fixed to the housing at the same time. The connector case with the ground terminal fixed to the housing can be manufactured in a small number of processes.

Abstract: A contactor (20) has a joint portion (27) which is jointed to each contactor pad (32) of one wiring board (30) by using a solder at one end portion thereof and a connecting portion (24) which is dip-soldered in each through hole (35) of the other wiring board (33) at the other end portion thereof. A housing (1) is constituted by integrally molding a housing main body (1F) having a U-like shape as seen from a plane and a reinforcing bar portion (2) which connects intermediate portions of opposed parts (1A) and (1B) of the housing main body (1F) with each other. Cavities (3) are substantially linearly formed in the housing main body (1F) at predetermined intervals. The contactors (20) are inserted into cavities (3), and the contactors (20) are movably held in the housing (1) with a holding member.

Abstract: In a method for producing a molded article having a resin part, the resin part is injection-molded to an opening of a main body part and the molded article has an excellent air-tightness between the resin part and the main body part. A foam sealant is attached to a peripheral portion around the opening of the main body part. Attached to the main body part is a retainer made of the same kind of resin as injected resin and adapted to keep the foam sealant compressed in its thickness direction. The main body part is placed within a mold so that the retainer is exposed inside a cavity of the mold. A molten resin is injected into the cavity of the mold. The injected resin and the retainer are integrated into the resin part.

Abstract: A contactor (20) has a joint portion (27) which is jointed to each contactor pad (32) of one wiring board (30) by using a solder at one end portion thereof and a connecting portion (24) which is dip-soldered in each through hole (35) of the other wiring board (33) at the other end portion thereof. A housing (1) is constituted by integrally molding a housing main body (1F) having a U-like shape as seen from a plane and a reinforcing bar portion (2) which connects intermediate portions of opposed parts (1A) and (1B) of the housing main body (1F) with each other. Cavities (3) are substantially linearly formed in the housing main body (1F) at predetermined intervals. The contactors (20) are inserted into cavities (3), and the contactors (20) are movably held in the housing (1) with a holding member.

Abstract: An electronic circuit device has an electronic module that is deformed to match an installation location. The electronic module includes electronic parts and wires interconnecting the electronic parts. The electronic module is formed by mounting the electronic parts to the wires formed on a baseboard. After the baseboard is removed from the electronic module, the electronic module is deformed, and, thereafter, the configuration of the deformed electronic module is fixed.

Abstract: A road-to-vehicle communication system capable of avoiding an increase in the size of each of vehicle-mounted apparatuses and easily confirming the contents of data stored in each vehicle-mounted apparatus on the on-road apparatus side when the transfer of information therebetween by radio communications is disabled. Except when communications are made between the on-road apparatus and the vehicle-mounted apparatus, it is judged whether data about the communications between the on-road apparatus and the vehicle-mounted apparatus should be written into an IC card according to write conditions. When the present state of a vehicle coincides with one of the write conditions, data stored in the vehicle-mounted apparatus is written into the IC card together with the present time on the vehicle-mounted apparatus side.

Abstract: An on-vehicle device for road-vehicle communication includes a communication unit for exchanging information with an on-road device, and storage unit for storing necessary information. When a communication error occurs between the on-vehicle device and the on-road device, information regarding the communication error is stored in the storage unit. The vehicle device further includes a card read-write unit into which a control card is removably inserted. The control card has a storage area for storing the above-described error information and information necessary in the on-vehicle device. Via the card read-write unit, information stored in the storage unit is transferred to the storage area of the control card to be stored therein, and information stored in the storage area of the control card is transferred to the storage unit to be stored therein.

Abstract: A mobile unit communication control method is for exchanging information accurately between a plurality of responders and a questioner in a communication area without information drop-off. A ground unit constituting the questioner transmits an inquiry signal. A vehicle-mounted unit constituting the responder stores and returns the current time the vehicle-mounted unit first received the inquiry signal as a starting time. The ground unit selects a vehicle-mounted unit with the earliest starting time as an object of communication among a plurality of the vehicle-mounted units. A vehicle-mounted unit expected to pass the communication area at the earliest time is selected, and the ground unit transmits a response signal for handshaking with the particular vehicle-mounted unit, to which the vehicle-mounted unit replies. With the establishment of the handshake, data are exchanged between the ground unit and the vehicle-mounted unit.

Abstract: A road/vehicle communication method for communication between a plurality of road devices, which are provided with a plurality of road antenna devices at respective gates, and a vehicle communication device, which is mounted to a vehicle and transmits and receives information to and from the plurality of road devices by radio waves, includes the steps of: when the vehicle passes through a first gate, the vehicle communication device receiving gate information which relates to the first gate and which is transmitted from a road antenna device of the first gate, and the vehicle communication device transmitting the received gate information at a second gate; the second gate receiving gate information from a plurality of vehicle communication devices, and computing a communication probability for each antenna device of the first gate when a number of received gate information corresponding to the first gate has reached a predetermined number; and comparing, for each road antenna device, the communication probabi

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting information for a vehicle notifies a user of a range which can be reached by a vehicle with the present balance in a card. A vehicle-mounted device transmits a response signal upon receiving an inquiry signal from a road device. If it is determined on the basis of the signal from the road device that the vehicle is passing through an entrance gate, an exit gate which can be reached with the present balance is calculated on the basis of vehicle type information stored, balance information, and a toll table. As the name of the calculated exit gate is displayed on a display unit, a reachable range is notified to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle-carried unit for automatic toll-paying systems carried on a vehicle for automatically paying a toll from a plurality of IC cards through communication with an on-road unit installed on a road. The toll is calculated at an exit gate in accordance with predetermined toll information (step 432), and it is judged whether or not payment is possible in accordance with balance information of a plurality of IC cards stored in a storage circuit (step 434). In the case of being capable of payment, the toll is subtracted (step 486), and a payment signal is transmitted to the on-road unit (step 488). Because balances of a plurality of IC cards are stored as described above, it becomes unnecessary to stop at a tollbooth due to shortage in balance.