Abstract: A tactile and proximity sensor includes a light source, a light receiving section, and a cover. The light source emits light. The light receiving section receives light and generates a signal providing a result of the received light. The cover includes an elastic body that deforms under external force and that covers the light source and the light receiving section. The cover includes a reflective section that reflects light between the light source and the light receiving section and a transmission section that allows light to pass through in a first direction from the light source and that allows light to pass through in a second direction from the light receiving section.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric array, a resin portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric array includes piezoelectric pillars having a columnar shape and made of piezoelectric ceramic. The piezoelectric pillars are provided along a row direction and a column direction in a two-dimensional array such that the piezoelectric pillars are parallel or substantially parallel to each other in height direction thereof. The resin portion is located in and preferably fills a gap between the piezoelectric pillars. The first electrode includes first electrode wires extending in the column direction. The second electrode includes second electrode wires extending in the row direction. Both of the piezoelectric pillars and the resin portion resonantly vibrate in a thickness longitudinal vibration mode, and a resonant frequency of the resin portion is higher than a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric pillars by about 15% or greater.

Abstract: A bioacoustic sensor includes a diaphragm including a contact surface contactable with a living body and a back surface, and being displaceable in a thickness direction, and a piezoelectric plate including a first surface facing the back surface of the diaphragm with a gap therebetween and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface to convert the vibration of the diaphragm into an electric signal. The diaphragm is in contact with a center side portion of the first surface of the piezoelectric plate when viewed in the thickness direction, and a housing supports an outer side portion of the second surface of the piezoelectric plate when viewed in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a piezoelectric array, a resin portion, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric array includes piezoelectric pillars having a columnar shape and made of piezoelectric ceramic. The piezoelectric pillars are provided along a row direction and a column direction in a two-dimensional array such that the piezoelectric pillars are parallel or substantially parallel to each other in height direction thereof. The resin portion is located in and preferably fills a gap between the piezoelectric pillars. The first electrode includes first electrode wires extending in the column direction. The second electrode includes second electrode wires extending in the row direction. Both of the piezoelectric pillars and the resin portion resonantly vibrate in a thickness longitudinal vibration mode, and a resonant frequency of the resin portion is higher than a resonant frequency of the piezoelectric pillars by about 15% or greater.

Abstract: A tactile and proximity sensor includes a light source, a light receiving section, and a cover. The light source emits light. The light receiving section receives light and generates a signal providing a result of the received light. The cover includes an elastic body that deforms under external force and that covers the light source and the light receiving section. The cover includes a reflective section that reflects light between the light source and the light receiving section and a transmission section that allows light to pass through in a first direction from the light source and that allows light to pass through in a second direction from the light receiving section.

Abstract: A range sensor includes a light source, a light receiver, a controller, and a range information generator. The light source repeatedly emits illumination light onto a target. The light receiver receives light from the start of a time period during which the illumination light is emitted. The controller controls the light source and the light receiver so that each of the amounts of light received by the light receiver is cumulated in synchronization with emission of the illumination light. The range information generator generates range information indicating the range to the target based on the cumulative amounts of received light. The controller changes the cumulative number that is the number of cumulating operations in which the light receiver cumulates each of the amounts of received light, in accordance with the magnitudes of the cumulative amounts of received light.

Abstract: A range sensor includes a light source, a light receiver, a controller, and a range information generator. The light source repeatedly emits illumination light onto a target. The light receiver receives light from the start of a time period during which the illumination light is emitted. The controller controls the light source and the light receiver so that each of the amounts of light received by the light receiver is cumulated in synchronization with emission of the illumination light. The range information generator generates range information indicating the range to the target based on the cumulative amounts of received light. The controller changes the cumulative number that is the number of cumulating operations in which the light receiver cumulates each of the amounts of received light, in accordance with the magnitudes of the cumulative amounts of received light.

Abstract: An ultrasonic generator that is capable of increasing output sound pressure is provided. An ultrasonic generating element is accommodated in an accommodation space that is formed by a first case member and a second case member. The ultrasonic generating element is secured to the first case member via a plurality of first supporting members. The first supporting members are provided so that, in a first acoustic path that includes a space formed between a bottom surface of the ultrasonic generating element and a top surface of the first case member and that extends to sound-wave emission holes, a transverse section of the acoustic path has a portion that becomes smaller than another portion thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is provided that includes an ultrasonic wave generator having piezoelectric vibrators, and cases having ultrasonic wave emission holes and accommodating the ultrasonic wave generator. Acoustic paths in which air serves as a medium are formed by the ultrasonic wave generator and the and extend from the piezoelectric vibrators to the ultrasonic wave emission holes. Resonance of air is generated in the acoustic paths by ultrasonic waves generated by the piezoelectric vibrators in which the ultrasonic wave emission holes are open ends of the resonance. The piezoelectric vibrators are driven at a driving frequency at which the temperature-sound pressure characteristic for the resonance of air and the temperature-amplitude characteristic at the driving frequency of the piezoelectric vibrators have opposite tendencies.

Abstract: An ultrasonic generation device including an ultrasonic generation element having a frame, a first piezoelectric vibrator, and a second piezoelectric vibrator and configured to emit ultrasonic waves in a buckling tuning-fork vibration mode in which the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator vibrate in mutually opposite phases at the same frequency. Further, a housing receives the ultrasonic generation element and has ultrasonic emission ports, a first acoustic path extending from a vicinity of a vibration surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator to a vicinity of the ultrasonic emission ports, and a second acoustic path extending from a vicinity of a vibration surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator to the vicinity of the ultrasonic emission ports.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a frame body, first and second exciting members, detection members that detect vibration of the frame body, a first mass adding member, a second mass adding member, a first connecting member, and a second connecting member. The frame body includes first and second vibrating portions, first and second coupling portions, a first supporting portion, and a second supporting portion. The first and second coupling portions couple the first and second vibrating portions. The first supporting portion extends towards the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion. The second supporting portion extends towards the first coupling portion from the second coupling portion. The first and second exciting members and excite the first and second vibrating portions, respectively. The first and second mass adding members are provided at outer sides of the frame body, and are connected to the first and second vibrating portions, respectively.

Abstract: An ultrasonic generator that includes an ultrasonic generating element and a first acoustic path. The ultrasonic generating element includes a frame including a through hole in its central portion, a first transducer being flat-shaped and bonded to a first principal surface of the frame, and a second transducer being flat-shaped and bonded to a second principal surface of the frame and is configured to generate ultrasonic waves in a buckling tuning-fork vibration mode where the first transducer and the second transducer vibrate in mutually opposite phases. The first acoustic path is disposed so as to be adjacent to at least one of both principal surfaces of the ultrasonic generating element and configured to compress the ultrasonic waves generated from the ultrasonic generating element and to allow the ultrasonic waves to propagate therethrough in a direction along the principal surface of the ultrasonic generating element.

Abstract: An ultrasonic generator that is capable of increasing output sound pressure is provided. An ultrasonic generating element is accommodated in an accommodation space that is formed by a first case member and a second case member. The ultrasonic generating element is secured to the first case member via a plurality of first supporting members. The first supporting members are provided so that, in a first acoustic path that includes a space formed between a bottom surface of the ultrasonic generating element and a top surface of the first case member and that extends to sound-wave emission holes, a transverse section of the acoustic path has a portion that becomes smaller than another portion thereof.

Abstract: An ultrasonic generation device including an ultrasonic generation element having a frame, a first piezoelectric vibrator, and a second piezoelectric vibrator and configured to emit ultrasonic waves in a buckling tuning-fork vibration mode in which the first piezoelectric vibrator and the second piezoelectric vibrator vibrate in mutually opposite phases at the same frequency. Further, a housing receives the ultrasonic generation element and has ultrasonic emission ports, a first acoustic path extending from a vicinity of a vibration surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator to a vicinity of the ultrasonic emission ports, and a second acoustic path extending from a vicinity of a vibration surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator to the vicinity of the ultrasonic emission ports.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer is provided that includes an ultrasonic wave generator having piezoelectric vibrators, and cases having ultrasonic wave emission holes and accommodating the ultrasonic wave generator. Acoustic paths in which air serves as a medium are formed by the ultrasonic wave generator and the and extend from the piezoelectric vibrators to the ultrasonic wave emission holes. Resonance of air is generated in the acoustic paths by ultrasonic waves generated by the piezoelectric vibrators in which the ultrasonic wave emission holes are open ends of the resonance. The piezoelectric vibrators are driven at a driving frequency at which the temperature-sound pressure characteristic for the resonance of air and the temperature-amplitude characteristic at the driving frequency of the piezoelectric vibrators have opposite tendencies.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a frame body, first and second exciting members, detection members that detect vibration of the frame body, a first mass adding member, a second mass adding member, a first connecting member, and a second connecting member. The frame body includes first and second vibrating portions, first and second coupling portions, a first supporting portion, and a second supporting portion. The first and second coupling portions couple the first and second vibrating portions. The first supporting portion extends towards the second coupling portion from the first coupling portion. The second supporting portion extends towards the first coupling portion from the second coupling portion. The first and second exciting members and excite the first and second vibrating portions, respectively. The first and second mass adding members are provided at outer sides of the frame body, and are connected to the first and second vibrating portions, respectively.

Abstract: A tuning fork vibrator includes a long plate-shaped vibration unit having a first principal surface and a second principal surface, a base disposed at one end of the second principal surface of the vibration unit in the longitudinal direction, and a slit for dividing the vibration unit into two legs defining a tuning fork along the longitudinal direction symmetrically in the width direction of the vibration unit. The slit is formed so as to include a portion of the base in the vicinity to the vibration unit.

Abstract: An angular velocity sensor includes a tuning-fork resonator having prongs, a supporting substrate having the tuning-fork resonator mounted thereon, and a casing accommodating the tuning-fork resonator. The base ends of the prongs constitute a base. A principal surface of the supporting substrate and a principal surface of the tuning-fork resonator are opposed to each other. The supporting substrate supports the prongs at the base so that the prongs vibrate. The supporting substrate has a first slit. The first slit is open at one end substantially in the center of a side that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the prongs, extends in the longitudinal direction of the prongs, and divides the supporting substrate into substrate components corresponding to the prongs. The substrate components are fixed to the casing at non-vibrating portions present in two sides extending in the longitudinal direction of the prongs.

Abstract: A tuning fork vibrator includes a long plate-shaped vibration unit having a first principal surface and a second principal surface, a base disposed at one end of the second principal surface of the vibration unit in the longitudinal direction, and a slit for dividing the vibration unit into two legs defining a tuning fork along the longitudinal direction symmetrically in the width direction of the vibration unit. The slit is formed so as to include a portion of the base in the vicinity to the vibration unit.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a tuning fork vibrator having two legs defined by piezoelectric members which are polarized in opposite directions of thickness which are bonded to each other between a first principal surface and a second principal surface, so as to have a tuning fork shape with one fixed end. Two electrodes divided in a width direction of the two electrodes are provided on a first principal surface of the respective two legs and an electrode is provided on a second principal surface of the respective two legs. Among four electrodes provided on the first principal surface of the respective two legs, two electrodes that are disposed inside-to-inside or outside-to-outside are connected together to define a driving electrode, and the remaining two electrodes define a detection electrode and a feedback electrode. All of the electrodes provided on the second principal surfaces of the two legs are connected together, and are connected to a reference voltage or are floating.