Abstract: The invention provides a management system solving the problems of the storage area network shared among plural devices, which was incapable of guaranteeing communication performances due to varied response time, and which required unstable time for accessing volumes.

Abstract: In a system which manages path information and status of network with respect to a path being used for access to a storage apparatus and has a redundant path, when a fault occurs in the network, whether or not the path can be recovered by rerouting in network apparatuses is discriminated, thereby performing proper path switching. Construction information and the path information of the network are managed as information of the path which is being used for a storage access by a management server. Further, when the access path is made redundant, the management server obtains fault information in the network and information showing whether or not the path is being reconstructed from the network apparatuses, thereby discriminating the necessity of the path switching. If the path switching is necessary, the management server notifies a host computer and the storage apparatus of it and each apparatus executes a switching process.

Abstract: To provide a storage connection changing method for a storage management system of setting and releasing an external connection between a primary storage system and an external storage system in a storage system, the storage management system includes a computer, the primary storage system, the external storage system, a network device, and a management device which manages the computer, the primary storage system, the external storage system, and the network device. The management device obtains a communication group information for limiting a communicable range between the computer and the storage systems from the network device, upon receiving of a request for changing an external connection state, And the management device generates a communication group information after the changing of the external connection state based on the request for changing the external connection state and the obtained communication group information.

Abstract: A micro system capable of setting an appropriate amount of stimulation being applied in order to control liquid flow in a channel. The micro system comprises micro-heaters (5b, 5c) for applying stimulation to liquid flowing through liquid channels (2b, 2c) formed in a plate (1) and controlling liquid flow by the stimulation from the micro-heaters (5b, 5c), and a means for electrically controlling the amount of stimulation being applied to the liquid from the micro-heaters (5b, 5c). An appropriate amount of stimulation can be set by electrically controlling the amount of stimulation being applied to the liquid from the micro-heaters (5b, 5c) through the control means.

Abstract: Storage groups are generated using group information previously set to a switch 3. In a group information acquisition step, group information, which is previously set to the switch 3 and relates to computers 4 and storage devices 5, is acquired from the switch 3, and the acquired group information is stored in a storing means 16. In a node information acquisition step, node information required for connecting to a network is acquired from each of the computers 4 and the storage devices 5, and acquired node information is stored in the storing means 16. In a group generation step, the storage groups are generated based on the group information stored in the storing means 16. And, in a registration step, the generated storage groups and the node information stored in the storing means 16 are registered at a storage name solving server 2.

Abstract: The present invention decreases the burden of operation required for specifying the continuity status and the cause of failure of a network storage device. A host computer accepts the specification of the device identifier, that is an identifier of the network storage device in the host protocol which positions in a higher hierarchy than the network communication protocol, and a volume identifier, that is an identifier of the volume. Then based on the specified device identifier, the host computer specifies the network identifier, that is an identifier of the network storage device in the network communication protocol. And continuity is confirmed in the network communication protocol in which the specified network identifier is the destination. Also continuity is confirmed in the host protocol in which the device identifier is the destination. And the volume specified by the volume identifier is accessed.

Abstract: A bimorph switch electrically connecting a traveling contact and a fixed contact. The switch comprises a substrate having a front face, a rear face, and a through hole penetrating from the front face to the rear face; a fixed contact extending from an edge portion of the aperture of the through hole towards the inside of the aperture; and a bimorph section holding the traveling contact at a position facing the aperture and driving the traveling contact. One end of the bimorph section may be formed on a silicon oxide layer formed on a front face of the substrate.

Abstract: A control condition is automatically generated by using a discovery domain managed by an iSNS server as a network communication quality control unit and set in a network device. Thus, it is possible to realize communication whose quality is effectively controlled in storage data transmission. A network configuration server automatically acquires discovery domain information which groups a host and a storage apparatus managed by a name management server. The network configuration server sets a flow identification condition so as to identify the flow per discovery domain according to the information acquired, assigns a service class performing a control of quality of communication service to the flow, and sets transmission rule for the service class to routers.

Abstract: A robot system efficiently performing an operation of moving a robot to close to and/or separate from a target point, such as teaching operation. A camera of a visual sensor is mounted to the robot such that a distal end of an end effector is seen within the field of view of the camera, and the end effector's distal end and a target position on an object are specified on a monitor screen. When an approach key is depressed, a target position is detected on an image, and a difference from a position of the end effector's distal end is calculated. Whether the difference is within an allowable range is checked. Depending on the result, an amount of robot motion is calculated, and the robot is operated. The processing is repeated until the depressed approach key is released. When a retreat key is depressed, the robot moves away from the object. The robot may be caused to stop using a distance sensor.

Abstract: A teaching device and a teaching modification device capable of easily attaining conformity between an operation program of a robot prepared by off-line programming and an actual operation of the robot. A layout of a robot system including three-dimensional models of the robot and peripheral objects thereof (table, a workpiece, etc.) are prepared by an off-line programming system and taught points are defined for the workpiece. The system layout and a model of the workpiece are displayed on a display device of a teaching pendant. An operator specifies a present position of the operator in the system layout and a taught point to be modified referring to the display device. A line-of-sight vector is automatically calculated and the model of the workpiece as viewed from a direction of the line-of-sight is displayed on the display device.

Abstract: A confocal probe emits a scanning beam to a target and receives light returned therefrom to obtain an image thereof. The confocal probe has a chamber accommodating an optical system. The optical system includes an optical fiber through which a light beam is introduced to the optical system, a converging lens that converges the light beam introduced by the optical fiber, an optical element having a light incident surface, a first surface and a light emerging surface which statically define an optical path of the light beam, and a deflecting device mounted on the first surface of the optical element. The light beam enters the optical element through the light incident surface, enters the deflecting device through the first surface, and is dynamically deflected by the deflecting device. The deflected beam is output through the light emerging surface, as the scanning beam, toward the target.

Abstract: A taught position modification device easily correcting, in a short time, positions of taught points in a program prepared by an offline programming system. A workpiece image captured by a visual sensor and an image of a three-dimensional workpiece model having three characteristic points are displayed on a screen. Based on coordinate values of workpiece portions corresponding to the characteristic points which are specified in the workpiece image, the position and orientation of the model in a robot operating space are corrected, and also positions of taught points are corrected. When a tool end of a robot is positioned by jog feed to the operation position on a workpiece after being automatically moved to one of the corrected taught points, the taught point is modified based on the robot operating position detected at that time.

Abstract: A confocal probe is provided with an optical fiber introducing light having wavelengths within a predetermined wavelength range in the confocal probe, a collimating lens that collimates light emerged from an end surface of the optical fiber, a dispersing prism that receives the light collimated by the collimating lens and disperses the received light in a predetermined direction, light emerged from the dispersing prism and having the same wavelength being kept collimated, and a light converging optical system that converges the light emerged from the dispersing prism on a target (i.e., region of interest).

Abstract: A switch, comprising a movable part supported at both ends and a contact installed on the movable part, the movable part characterized by further comprising a first bimetal for displacing the contact in a specified direction according to a temperature and a second bimetal for displacing the contact in the direction opposite to the specified direction according to the temperature.

Abstract: An endoscope probe system includes an endoscope probe to be inserted into a body cavity to observe tissue of a living body. The endoscope probe system further includes a laser source that emits multiple laser beams, a light detector having multiple light receiving elements each of which detects intensity of light incident thereon, and a plurality of confocal optical systems arranged to focus the laser beams emitted from the laser source to small spots arranged in a matrix pattern on the target and selectively transmit the laser beams reflected by the target at the spots to respective ones of the light receiving elements of the light detector.

Abstract: An optical fiber splicer includes a pair of retainers for retaining optical fibers to be spliced, a block formed with a groove of V-shaped cross-section, and abutment and pressure-contact mechanism for sliding terminal portions of the optical fibers in mutually opposite directions along the groove, producing substantially equal elastic forces in the terminal portions, bringing the terminal portions into abutment, and bringing the abutted terminal portions into pressure contact. An optical fiber splicing method includes a step of sliding terminal portions of optical fibers to be spliced along a groove of V-shaped cross-section in mutually opposite directions and producing substantially equal elastic forces in the terminal portions, and a step of bringing the terminal portions into abutment and then bringing the abutted terminal portions into pressure contact.

Abstract: A confocal probe unit is provided with a scanning type confocal probe, which includes at least one scanning mirror, and a transparent substrate on which the at least one scanning mirror is mounted. The transparent substrate is inserted in an optical path of the confocal probe such that a light beam proceeding along the optical path is deflected by the scanning mirror.

Abstract: In the sensor: torsion beams 7a, 7b are fixedly connected between the centers of opposite outer sides of central fixed board 1 and the corresponding centers of opposite inner sides of a window 5; electrodes 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b are mounted on a front and a rear surface of weight portions 9a, 9b; and, an outer cover 21, which is constructed of an upper and a lower board 17, 19 provided with electrodes 23a, 23b, 25a, 25b corresponding to the electrodes of the weight portions, is mounted on a side surface of an outer frame 15 in which both the central fixed board 1 and the weight board 3 are received, so that the central fixed board 1 is rotatably supported. It is possible to increase the length of each of the torsion beams 7a, 7b. These electrodes 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b may be produced through a single path in printing process.

Abstract: In the sensor including a frame member provided with a central opening portion, a pair of beam members extending from adjacent corner portions of the frame member toward a center of the opening portion, and the beam members have vibrating-end portions, i.e., inner end portions, connected with each other through a weight portion. Each of the beam members is provided with a concave portion in cross section. A piezo-resistance device is formed on each of the beam members, respectively. The beam members are improved in mechanical strength without a corresponding increase in a thickness of each of the beam members, while the piezo-resistance devices formed on the beam members are improved in sensitivity to vibrations.

Abstract: A radial tire building drum for forming a radial tire green case having bead portions into a toroidal shape, includes a drive shaft rotatable about a center axis of rotation and movable in a fore-and-aft direction thereof, a pair of drum units carried on the drive shaft and having a common center axis of rotation which is in axially alignment with the center axis of the drive shaft, the drum units being axially movable toward and away from each other along the center axis of the drive shaft by driving at least one of the drum units to move along the common center axis of rotation, a plurality of arcuate drum segments each retained to the pair of drum units and formed with an annular groove circumferentially extending therethrough, each of the arcuate drum segments being radially movable toward and away from the common center axis.