Abstract: According to a semiconductor device (101), a first switching active element (103) of a normally-on type and a second switching active element (104) of a normally-off type are cascode-connected to each other. This causes an electric current path to be formed. The first and second switching active elements (103, 104) are provided and connected so that loop area of the electric current path is a minimum area in a plan view of the semiconductor device (101).

Abstract: An interactive whiteboard system that can be put on a desk or a floor surface is implemented. A reflection frame-equipped sheet in accordance with the present invention has a flexible sheet, and a retroreflective frame(s) that is/are fixed to given one side or given two opposite sides of the sheet.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with an operation portion that protrudes toward a rear seat from an opening formed at an outer shield and that is used to unlock a recliner from the rear seat side and a reinforcement member that is attached to a cushion frame side so as to cover a notch formed near the opening of the outer shield. Engagement hooks that engage with respective engagement holes formed at edges of the notch and a fixing portion that is fixed to a plate provided at the cushion frame side are formed at the reinforcement member.

Abstract: According to a semiconductor device (101), a first switching active element (103) of a normally-on type and a second switching active element (104) of a normally-off type are cascode-connected to each other. This causes an electric current path to be formed. The first and second switching active elements (103, 104) are provided and connected so that loop area of the electric current path is a minimum area in a plan view of the semiconductor device (101).

Abstract: In a method of controlling a gaze direction of a camera, the camera is placed on a top surface of a substrate that is pivotally coupled to a frame, wherein a movement arm depends downwardly from the substrate. The movement arm is moved with two spaced apart amplified piezoelectric ceramic stack actuators that are affixed to the frame and coupled to the movement arm by deforming the amplified piezoelectric ceramic stack actuators as a result of applying a voltage thereto, thereby changing an angular orientation of the substrate.

Abstract: An interactive whiteboard system that can be put on a desk or a floor surface is implemented. A reflection frame-equipped sheet in accordance with the present invention has a flexible sheet, and a retroreflective frame(s) that is/are fixed to given one side or given two opposite sides of the sheet.

Abstract: In a method of controlling a gaze direction of a camera, the camera is placed on a top surface of a substrate that is pivotally coupled to a frame, wherein a movement arm depends downwardly from the substrate. The movement arm is moved with two spaced apart amplified piezoelectric ceramic stack actuators that are affixed to the frame and coupled to the movement arm by deforming the amplified piezoelectric ceramic stack actuators as a result of applying a voltage thereto, thereby changing an angular orientation of the substrate.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided with an operation portion that protrudes toward a rear seat from an opening formed at an outer shield and that is used to unlock a recliner from the rear seat side and a reinforcement member that is attached to a cushion frame side so as to cover a notch formed near the opening of the outer shield. Engagement hooks that engage with respective engagement holes formed at edges of the notch and a fixing portion that is fixed to a plate provided at the cushion frame side are formed at the reinforcement member.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a driving force calculating device calculates a driving force so that a desired load is applied on a muscle while a power assisting device assists and/or resists a predetermined motion. A driving force calculating section of a driving force calculating device calculates a driving force of each driving section according to a joint torque table on joint torque necessary for a rotational motion and an assigned muscle force table on an assigned muscle force input to a muscle force input section. For the calculation is used a muscle/artificial muscle integrated model data integrally including musculoskeletal model data on a musculoskeletal model of a human and artificial muscle model data on an artificial muscle model of the power assisting device. The driving force is calculated through optimization using Crowninshield performance function under constraint conditions of the joint torque and the assigned muscle force.

Abstract: Semiconductor chips are fixed to one of two opposite surfaces of a leadframe, and the leadframe is electrically connected to each semiconductor chip with wires. After having applied water-soluble masking ink to the other surface of the leadframe, a sealed structure is molded. Then, when the sealed structure is cut with cutting water into individual semiconductor packages, burrs of the mold resin formed on the other surface side of the leadframe are removed by the cutting water while the masking ink on the other surface of the leadframe is dissolved and removed by the cutting water.

Abstract: A tactile sensor of an embodiment of the present invention includes: a sensing section having an elastic member at a portion which contacts a measurement target; an image acquiring section for acquiring as image information the state of a contact surface of the measurement target and the elastic member, before and after application of an external force tangential to the contact surface; a deformation analyzing section for analyzing deformation information of the contact surface, based on the image information acquired by the image acquiring section; an external force detecting section for detecting the external force applied tangential to the contact surface; and an estimating section for estimating a slippage margin between the measurement target and the elastic member, based on (I) the deformation information of the contact surface, which information acquired by the deformation analyzing section, (II) the external force detected by the external force detecting section, and (III) an object constant of the el

Abstract: A multi-layer strain-amplification device includes at least one first amplifying layer unit and a second amplifying layer unit positioned about the at least one first amplifying layer unit. A strain of the at least one first amplifying layer unit is amplified by the second amplifying layer unit.

Abstract: A driving force calculating device (1) includes: a setting information acquiring section (23) which acquires (a) muscle specifying information that specifies a target muscle, which is a muscle whose function is assisted or resisted by a driving section and (b) a target value of muscle force to be produced by the target muscle at the time of rotational motion under assistance or resistance of the driving section; and a target muscle force evaluating section (24) which acquires an estimated muscle force table (58) and musculoskeletal model data (53) and evaluates the feasibility of the target value of the target muscle. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce time required to calculate a driving force of the driving section of the power assisting device.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a driving force calculating device calculates a driving force so that a desired load is applied on a muscle while a power assisting device assists and/or resists a predetermined motion. A driving force calculating section of a driving force calculating device calculates a driving force of each driving section according to a joint torque table on joint torque necessary for a rotational motion and an assigned muscle force table on an assigned muscle force input to a muscle force input section. For the calculation is used a muscle/artificial muscle integrated model data integrally including musculoskeletal model data on a musculoskeletal model of a human and artificial muscle model data on an artificial muscle model of the power assisting device. The driving force is calculated through optimization using Crowninshield performance function under constraint conditions of the joint torque and the assigned muscle force.

Abstract: [Technical Problem]: To reduce time required to calculate a driving force of the driving section of the power assisting device [Technical Solution]: A driving force calculating device (1) includes: a setting information acquiring section (23) which acquires (a) muscle specifying information that specifies a target muscle, which is a muscle whose function is assisted or resisted by a driving section and (b) a target value of muscle force to be produced by the target muscle at the time of rotational motion under assistance or resistance of the driving section; and a target muscle force evaluating section (24) which acquires an estimated muscle force table (58) and musculoskeletal model data (53) and evaluates the feasibility of the target value of the target muscle. With this arrangement, it is possible to reduce time required to calculate a driving force of the driving section of the power assisting device.

Abstract: A tactile sensor of an embodiment of the present invention includes: a sensing section having an elastic member at a portion which contacts a measurement target; an image acquiring section for acquiring as image information the state of a contact surface of the measurement target and the elastic member, before and after application of an external force tangential to the contact surface; a deformation analyzing section for analyzing deformation information of the contact surface, based on the image information acquired by the image acquiring section; an external force detecting section for detecting the external force applied tangential to the contact surface; and an estimating section for estimating a slippage margin between the measurement target and the elastic member, based on (I) the deformation information of the contact surface, which information acquired by the deformation analyzing section, (II) the external force detected by the external force detecting section, and (III) an object constant of the el

Abstract: A broadcast feedback method is presented for distributed stochastic control of an actuator system consisting of many cellular units. The method can be implemented for an artificial cellular actuator, consisting of many units of smart actuator material with a random signal generator. The output of the actuator system is an aggregate effect of numerous cellular units, each taking a bi-stable ON-OFF state. A central controller broadcasts the error between the aggregate output and a reference input. The central controller broadcasts the overall error signal to all the cellular units uniformly. In turn, each cellular unit makes a stochastic decision with a state transition probability modulated in relation to the broadcasted error. Even in the absence of deterministic coordination, the ensemble of the cellular units can track a given trajectory stably.

Abstract: A programming tool has selection means for selecting a plurality of function blocks displayed in a library format, storage means for storing the function blocks selected through the selection means in the order as they are selected, and drawing means, as a plurality of function blocks selected through the selection means are confirmed, for drawing and display the confirmed function blocks in the order as they are selected.