Abstract: To propose an oral cavity sensor capable of analyzing tongue movements in more detail than before. In an oral cavity sensor (1) which is even provided with a sensor element (7) having a mechanical configuration capable of measuring each of external force components in three axis directions, the sensor element (7) can be protected by an elastic body (9), and the whole of the elastic body (9) is covered with the coating film (11a) made of a biocompatible material. Thereby, the sensor element (7) and the elastic body (9) can be safely attached in an oral cavity (MT) of a subject (EXA), and can measure each of the external force components in the three axis directions. As a result, on the basis of the external force components in the three axis directions, complicated tongue movements at the time of mastication or swallowing in the oral cavity (MT) can be analyzed in more detail than before.

Abstract: According to embodiments, a sensor includes a structure body, a container, a liquid and a sensing unit. The structure body includes a supporter, and a film unit. The film unit includes a first region. The first region includes a first end portion supported by the supporter, and a first portion being displaceable. The film unit includes an opening. The container is connected to the structure body. A first space is defined between the film unit and the container. The liquid is provided inside the first space. The sensing unit senses a displacement of the first portion accompanying a displacement of the liquid.

Abstract: A tactile sensor and a multi-axial tactile sensor are provided, each of which is thin and can measure shearing force. A multi-axial tactile sensor 1 includes a sensor element 2 provided in a plane substantially at the same level as the surface of a substrate 6, and an outer package member 42 covering around the sensor element 2 and transmitting external force to the sensor element 2. The sensor element 2 includes a flexible beam 7 (8) having at least one end supported by the substrate 6. The sensor element 2 detects deformation of the beam 7 (8), the deformation being caused in the direction in parallel with the surface of the substrate 6.

Abstract: Provided is a photodetector including: an organic semiconductor (20) having protrusions; a metal layer (30) added onto the organic semiconductor (20), for promoting at least one of localized plasmon resonance and surface plasmon resonance in which electrons are excited through irradiation of detection light; and a semiconductor (40) forming a junction with the metal layer (30), for allowing electrons excited through the plasmon resonance to pass through the junction (40a) with the metal layer (30).

Abstract: A gas sensor that can enhance gas detection sensitivity more than the conventional sensors with a simple configuration is proposed. An electric double layer including a gate insulating layer is formed in an ionic liquid (IL), a change of a state of the gate insulating layer in the ionic liquid (IL) that occurs by absorbing a gas is directly reflected in a source-drain current (Isd) that flows in a carbon nanotube (8). Therefore, the gas detection sensitivity can be enhanced more than in the conventional sensors. Further, since the ionic liquid (IL) can be simply provided on a substrate (2) to be in contact with the carbon nanotube (8) and a gate electrode (7), the configuration that chemically modifies a surface of the carbon nanotube with a plurality of polymers as in the conventional gas sensors is not needed, and the configuration can be simplified correspondingly.

Abstract: The present invention achieves a pressure-sensitive sensor which can detect information on a pressure, a sound pressure, acceleration, gas and the like, with high sensitivity. The pressure-sensitive sensor includes: a cantilever (22); a frame (23) which is provided around the cantilever (22) and holds a base end of the cantilever (22); a gap (24) formed between the cantilever (22) and the frame (23); and a liquid (28) which seals the gap (24).

Abstract: There is provided a differential pressure sensor capable of measuring a pressure fluctuation with a simple structure. The differential pressure sensor includes a main body formed with an air chamber, and an opening that causes an interior of the air chamber to be in communication with an exterior, and a detector provided at the opening. The detector includes a cantilever provided in a manner tiltable so as to block off the opening, and the cantilever is formed with a Piezo resistor layer.

Abstract: To propose a gas sensor and a gas sensor structural body that can improve detection sensitivity of gas more than in the conventional gas sensors with a simple configuration. A graphene (8) between a source electrode (3) and a drain electrode (4) is provided in an ion liquid (L), whereby a state change of charges in the ion liquid (L) caused by absorption of gas is directly reflected on a source-drain current (Isd) that flows in the graphene (8). Therefore, it is possible to improve detection sensitivity of the gas more than in the conventional gas sensors. The graphene (8) only has to be provided to be disposed in the ion liquid (L). Therefore, unlike in the conventional gas sensors, a configuration in which carbon nanotubes are surface-chemically modified by a plurality of polymers is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to simplify a configuration.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a sensor body which has a first surface and a cavity with an opening in the first surface, a cantilever which has a base end portion supported on the first surface and a distal end portion provided to form a gap from a peripheral edge of the opening inside the opening, is flexurally deformed according to a pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the cavity, and is formed of a semiconductor material, and a displacement measurement unit which measures a displacement of the cantilever vibrating according to the pressure difference at a frequency larger than a lower limit frequency fLOW (Hz) defined by Expression (1), where a width (?m) of the gap is represented by G, a volume (ml) of the cavity is represented by V, and a proportional constant is represented by k.

Abstract: A gas sensor is proposed, which can detect a gas by a novel configuration while reduction in size is achieved. The gas sensor (1) does not need a light absorption path as in a prior art so that the size can be reduced correspondingly. Further, in the gas sensor (1), a gas is absorbed in an ionic liquid (IL), and a dielectric constant of the ionic liquid (IL) that changes by absorbing the gas can be measured according to a change in light intensity that occurs by a surface plasmon resonance phenomenon in a metal layer (7). Thus, the gas sensor (1) including the novel configuration that can detect a gas based on the change in the light intensity can be realized.

Abstract: A gas sensor that can enhance gas detection sensitivity more than the conventional sensors with a simple configuration is proposed. An electric double layer including a gate insulating layer is formed in an ionic liquid (IL), a change of a state of the gate insulating layer in the ionic liquid (IL) that occurs by absorbing a gas is directly reflected in a source-drain current (Isd) that flows in a carbon nanotube (8). Therefore, the gas detection sensitivity can be enhanced more than in the conventional sensors. Further, since the ionic liquid (IL) can be simply provided on a substrate (2) to be in contact with the carbon nanotube (8) and a gate electrode (7), the configuration that chemically modifies a surface of the carbon nanotube with a plurality of polymers as in the conventional gas sensors is not needed, and the configuration can be simplified correspondingly.

Abstract: To propose an oral cavity sensor capable of analyzing tongue movements in more detail than before. In an oral cavity sensor (1) which is even provided with a sensor element (7) having a mechanical configuration capable of measuring each of external force components in three axis directions, the sensor element (7) can be protected by an elastic body (9), and the whole of the elastic body (9) is covered with the coating film (11a) made of a biocompatible material. Thereby, the sensor element (7) and the elastic body (9) can be safely attached in an oral cavity (MT) of a subject (EXA), and can measure each of the external force components in the three axis directions. As a result, on the basis of the external force components in the three axis directions, complicated tongue movements at the time of mastication or swallowing in the oral cavity (MT) can be analyzed in more detail than before.

Abstract: A tactile sensor and a multi-axial tactile sensor are provided, each of which is thin and can measure shearing force. A multi-axial tactile sensor 1 includes a sensor element 2 provided in a plane substantially at the same level as the surface of a substrate 6, and an outer package member 42 covering around the sensor element 2 and transmitting external force to the sensor element 2. The sensor element 2 includes a flexible beam 7 (8) having at least one end supported by the substrate 6. The sensor element 2 detects deformation of the beam 7 (8), the deformation being caused in the direction in parallel with the surface of the substrate 6.

Abstract: There is provided a differential pressure sensor capable of measuring a pressure fluctuation with a simple structure. The differential pressure sensor includes a main body formed with an air chamber, and an opening that causes an interior of the air chamber to be in communication with an exterior, and a detector provided at the opening. The detector includes a cantilever provided in a manner tiltable so as to block off the opening, and the cantilever is formed with a Piezo resistor layer.

Abstract: A plurality of three-dimensional structure configuring devices, each including an elastic body in which micro three-dimensional structure elements fixed to a substrate member are placed so as to be covered therewith and which is fixed to the substrate member, are placed within a film-like elastic body with the substrate members thereof spaced apart from one another so as to configure a three-dimensional structure. Thereby, the plurality of three-dimensional structure configuring devices can be placed with desired intervals of arrangement and in desired positions within the film-like elastic body and so that various specifications can be addressed.

Abstract: A plurality of micro three-dimensional structure elements each having a movable structure fixed on a sacrifice layer, and fixation portions of the micro three-dimensional structure elements for the sacrifice layer are arranged into a film-like elastic body, and then the sacrifice layer is removed. Thus, a three-dimensional structure in which the individual micro three-dimensional structure elements are arranged independently of one another within the elastic body is manufactured.

Abstract: Provided is a scanning near-field optical microscope capable of obtaining, in a highly sensitive manner, optical information having a spatial frequency higher than a spatial frequency corresponding to a wavelength of irradiation light. A scanning near-field optical microscope 100 according to the present invention includes: a light irradiating part 102 for emitting illumination light toward a sample 107; a light receiving part 112 for receiving light; a microstructure for generating or selectively transmitting near-field light, the microstructure being disposed on at least one of an emission side of the light irradiating part 102 and an incident side of the light receiving part 112; and an ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium 108 for transmitting near-field light, the ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium exhibiting anisotropy in permittivity or permeability.

Abstract: An ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting element has at least two anisotropic media having slopes of isofrequency curves complementary with each other. The at least two anisotropic media are layered so as to transmit ultrahigh wavenumber.

Abstract: Provided is a scanning near-field optical microscope capable of obtaining in a highly sensitive manner, optical information having a spatial frequency higher than a spatial frequency corresponding to a wavelength of irradiation light. A scanning near-field optical microscope 100 according to the present invention includes: a light irradiating part 102 for emitting illumination light toward a sample 107; a light receiving part 112 for receiving light; a microstructure for generating or selectively transmitting near-field light, the microstructure being disposed on at least one of an emission side of the light irradiating part 102 and an incident side of the light receiving part 112; and an ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium 108 for transmitting near-field light, the ultrahigh-wavenumber transmitting medium exhibiting anisotropy in permittivity or permeability.

Abstract: A blood-pressure sensor is constituted of an elastic body which is fitted to a blood-vessel outer wall, and a shape of which is deformed by force generated by pulsing motion of expansion and contraction of the blood vessel, and a plurality of nanosized particles dispersedly provided in the elastic body, and when the force is applied to the sensor in a state where the sensor is irradiated with light, the magnitude of the force is measured on the basis of intensity of scattered light from the particles or emission intensity of fluorescence from the particles, the intensity of the scattered light or emission intensity of the fluorescence corresponding to a change in distance between the particles.