Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a binding unit configured to perform binding processing by pressing a sheet bundle, a motor configured to drive the binding unit to press the sheet bundle, and a motor control unit configured to set a driving current of the motor and an upper limit value of the driving current, the motor control unit being configured to set the driving current when starting activating the motor in a state where the binding unit is not pressing the sheet bundle to a first value, and set the upper limit value of the driving current in a period in which the binding unit is pressing the sheet bundle to a second value less than or equal to the first value.

Abstract: In a piezoelectric device, a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed to be opposed to each other on plate surfaces of the piezoelectric device, a first electrode plane of the piezoelectric device is fixedly bonded to a plate surface of a vibrating plate, a piezoelectric material forming the piezoelectric device is polarized in a direction parallel to the first electrode plane, the piezoelectric device is fixed to a base through a second electrode plane of the piezoelectric device, and the piezoelectric device generates a thickness-shear vibration with the fixed second electrode plane being a reference plane. The piezoelectric vibration generated by the piezoelectric device generates a flexural vibration in the vibrating plate, to thereby remove dust adhering to a surface of the vibrating plate.

Abstract: A robot arm apparatus includes a base structure, a first arm, a first actuator, and an assisting device. The first arm is pivotable relative to the base structure about a first pivot axis. The first actuator is configured to pivotally actuate the first arm relative to the base structure. The assisting device is configured to apply an assist rotational force to the first arm to assist the first actuator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element that can decrease the output voltage for detection relative to the input voltage for driving without requiring a step-down circuit between a detection phase electrode and a phase comparator and an oscillatory wave motor including the piezoelectric element are provided. A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric material having a first surface and a second surface, a common electrode disposed on the first surface, and a drive phase electrode and a detection phase electrode disposed on the second surface. An absolute value d(1) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a portion (1) sandwiched between the drive phase electrode and the common electrode and an absolute value d(2) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a portion (2) sandwiched between the detection phase electrode and the common electrode satisfy d(2)<d(1). An oscillatory wave motor includes this piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A programmable battery protection system. Implementations may include: a battery, only two field effect transistors (FETs), and a battery protection integrated circuit (IC). The battery protection IC may include an array of fuses, first plurality of latches, second plurality of latches, and a comparator. The array of fuses, first plurality of latches, and second plurality of latches may be coupled with a fuse refresh circuit coupled with an analog trigger circuit and a logic trigger circuit. The fuse refresh circuit may be configured to refresh the states of the latches using states of the array of fuses in response to receiving an operating trigger signal generated by the analog trigger circuit or a logic trigger signal generated by the logic trigger circuit. The first plurality of latches may be used to generate a threshold voltage that is provided to the comparator.

Abstract: A programmable battery protection system. Implementations may include: a battery and a battery protection integrated circuit (IC) coupled with the battery that includes a reference voltage circuit, a variable resistor circuit coupled with the reference voltage circuit, and only two field effect transistors (FETs) coupled with the overcurrent detection circuit and with the battery. The reference voltage circuit and the variable resistor circuit may be configured to cause a current sense signal of the system to vary substantially linearly with changes in a supply voltage of the system.

Abstract: A programmable battery protection system. Implementations may include a battery protection integrated circuit (IC) with an array of fuses, a plurality of latches coupled with the array of fuses, a plurality of MOSFETs coupled with the plurality of latches, and a plurality of resistors coupled in series and in parallel with each one of the plurality of MOSFETs. The IC may also include a comparator coupled with the plurality of resistors and with a battery control circuit. Whether any one of the array of fuses is open or closed (remains closed) may be set by a fuse trimming signal from the battery control circuit. A voltage supplied to the comparator by the plurality of resistors during operation may be one of a discharge overcurrent threshold voltage, a charge overcurrent threshold voltage, or a short current threshold voltage.

Abstract: A programmable battery protection system. Implementations may include: a battery, only two field effect transistors (FETs) coupled with the battery, and a battery protection integrated circuit (IC) coupled with the FETs. The battery protection IC may include an array of fuses, a plurality of latches coupled with the array of fuses, and a comparator coupled with the plurality of latches. The array of fuses and the plurality of latches may be coupled with a fuse refresh circuit coupled with a trigger circuit where the fuse refresh circuit is configured to refresh the states of the plurality of latches using states of the array of fuses in response to receiving one of a power on signal and an operating trigger signal generated by the trigger circuit. The plurality of latches may be used to generate a threshold voltage that is provided to the comparator.

Abstract: A friction stir welding device includes a pair of workpiece surface plates between which a gap extending along a welding line between workpieces is formed; a welding device body including a rotatable friction stir welding tool protruding upward from the gap; and a linear guide mechanism and a moving device for the welding device body. The moving device has a configuration in which a pair of pin racks extending in a direction along the gap are disposed at symmetrical positions on both sides in a width direction with a position immediately below a tool movement path of the friction stir welding tool as a symmetrical axis, and pin gears that individually mesh therewith are provided in the welding device body so as to be rotatably driven. Respective sets of a pin rack and a pin gear are alternately brought into a strong meshing state during the movement of the welding device body by causing the locations of pins and teeth thereof to deviate from each other by a half pitch.

Abstract: A workpiece securing device or a friction stir welding device is constituted of a starting-end-side workpiece stopper that positions a welding starting-end-side end of a workpiece to be placed on a workpiece surface plate; a finishing-end-side workpiece stopper that positions a welding finishing-end-side end of the workpiece; a starting-end-side workpiece clamping mechanism that presses and secures a portion along a welding line close to the welding starting-end-side end of the workpiece against the workpiece surface plate from above; and a finishing-end-side workpiece clamping mechanism that presses and secures a portion along the welding line close to the welding finishing-end-side end of the workpiece against the workpiece surface plate from above.

Abstract: To suppress an increase in the number of components in a charging/discharging control device and a battery apparatus which perform charging/discharging of a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series. A first charging/discharging control circuit receives an overdischarge signal generated based on the turning OFF of a discharging control switch therein and generates a power-down signal, based on the overdischarge signal to power-down a first battery voltage monitoring circuit. A second charging/discharging control circuit receives the power-down signal therein and power-down a second battery voltage monitoring circuit, based on the power-down signal.

Abstract: To provide a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high and stable piezoelectric constant in a wide operating temperature range. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite type metal oxide having the general formula (1), Mn, Mg, (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (wherein x is in the range of 0.050?x?0.200, y is in the range of 0.010?y?0.040, and z is in the range of 0?z?0.040, provided that x?0.375(y+z)+0.050, and a is in the range of 0.9925+b?a?1.0025+b) wherein the amount b (mol) of Mn on a metal basis per mole of the metal oxide is in the range of 0.0048?b?0.0400, and the Mg content on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.100 parts by weight or less.

Abstract: There is provided a lead-free piezoelectric material having a high and stable piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range. A piezoelectric material mainly composed of a perovskite type metal oxide having the general formula (1), wherein manganese is incorporated in the metal oxide, and the Mn content is 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis per 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide. (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3??(1) (1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x?0.300, 0<y?0.020, and 0.041?z?0.069).

Abstract: There is provided a lead-free piezoelectric material having a satisfactory piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in the range of device operating temperatures (from ?30° C. to 50° C.). The piezoelectric material contains a main constituent containing a perovskite-type metal oxide expressed by the general formula (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3, where x, y and a satisfy the 0.030?x<0.090, 0.030?y?0.080, and 0.9860?a?1.0200. The material also contains 0.040 to 0.500 part by weight of Mn, 0.042 to 0.850 part by weight of Bi, 0 to 0.028 part by weight of Li, 0.001 to 4.000 part by weight of a third sub-constituent including at least one of Si and B, and 0.001 to 4.000 parts by weight of Cu, each in terms of element relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide.

Abstract: A piezoelectric material includes, as a main component, a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by a general formula (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-y-zSnyZrz)O3 where 1.00?a?1.01, 0.125?x?0.300, 0?y?0.020, and 0.041?z?0.074, the perovskite-type metal oxide containing copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn). A Cu content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.02 parts by weight or more and 0.60 parts by weight or less on a metal basis, and a Mn content relative to 100 parts by weight of the metal oxide is 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Abstract: A lead-free piezoelectric material that has stable, excellent piezoelectric constant and mechanical quality factor in a wide operating temperature range is provided. A piezoelectric material include a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by (Ba1-xCax)a(Ti1-yZry)O3 (where 1.00?a?1.01, 0.155?x?0.300, 0.041?y?0.069) as a main component, and manganese incorporated in the perovskite-type metal oxide. The manganese content relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide is 0.12 parts by weight or more and 0.40 parts by weight or less on a metal basis.

Abstract: There is provided a pedal apparatus in which connection bracket is prevented from falling off from a pedal arm even if there is a welding defect. A pedal apparatus includes a pedal arm provided with an inclined portion, an upper retaining hole, and a lower retaining hole passing therethrough. A connection bracket, having a connecting face, an upper attachment face, a lower attachment face, an upper retaining projection and a lower retaining projection, is coupled with the pedal arm, with the upper retaining projection and the lower retaining projection respectively passing through the upper retaining hole and the lower retaining hole. Each edge of the upper attachment face and the lower attachment face is welded to the inclined portion of the pedal arm.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element that can decrease the output voltage for detection relative to the input voltage for driving without requiring a step-down circuit between a detection phase electrode and a phase comparator and an oscillatory wave motor including the piezoelectric element are provided. A piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric material having a first surface and a second surface, a common electrode disposed on the first surface, and a drive phase electrode and a detection phase electrode disposed on the second surface. An absolute value d(1) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a portion (1) sandwiched between the drive phase electrode and the common electrode and an absolute value d(2) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material in a portion (2) sandwiched between the detection phase electrode and the common electrode satisfy d(2)<d(1). An oscillatory wave motor includes this piezoelectric element.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a functional module system capable of implementing various function of a plurality of functional modules sequentially connected from a power supply unit without obstructing a scenic view of a space by enabling the functional modules to be connected in different order. [Solution] Provided is a functional module system including: a first functional module configured to be connectable to a power supply unit for a luminaire; and a second functional module configured to be connectable to the first functional module. The first and second functional modules are further connectable to the power supply unit in order of the second functional module and the first functional module by changing connection order.

Abstract: The present invention provides a charge and discharge control circuit and a battery device capable of detecting an intermediate terminal disconnection without causing the balance between battery voltages to collapse and shortening the service life of the battery device. A charge and discharge control circuit which controls charging/discharging of a plurality of secondary batteries connected in series is equipped with intermediate terminal disconnection detecting circuits each of which is provided between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of each secondary battery and detects an intermediate terminal disconnection of each intermediate terminal by intermittently equal detection currents.