Abstract: A piezoelectric generator that includes a piezoelectric element having first and second surfaces on which a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed. A vibrating plate is bonded to the piezoelectric element such that the first surface is adjacent thereto. The vibrating plate includes a first bend disposed at a first side of a vibrating-plate main section to which the piezoelectric element is bonded and a second bend disposed at a second side thereof. A support member supports the vibrating plate at a location outside the first and second bends. A vibration body including the vibrating-plate main section and the piezoelectric element is supported at both ends.

Abstract: A parallel link robot (10) provided with a base (11), a moving part (12), three links (20a to 20c) coupling the base and the moving part and having respectively single degrees of freedom with respect to the base, and three actuators (13a to 13c) respectively driving the links, each of the links comprised of a drive link (21a to 21c) coupled with the base and two driven links (22a to 22c, 23a to 23c) coupling the drive link and the moving part and parallel to each other, and further provided with a posture changing mechanism (15) which changes a posture of an element (19) attached to the moving part, an additional actuator (13d to 13f) arranged between the two driven links of at least one link in parallel to these driven links, and a power transmission shaft (39) which extends coaxially from the additional actuator and transmits rotational drive force to the posture changing mechanism.

Abstract: A sealing device provided to a joint section of a robot. The sealing device includes overlapped seal portions having a multi-stage configuration, provided for a driving mechanism incorporated into the joint section. The overlapped seal portions include a first seal portion including a first contact seal element sealing a first inter-member gap defined adjacent to a lubricant retaining section provided in the driving mechanism; and a second seal portion arranged outside the first seal portion and including a second contact seal element sealing a second inter-member gap defined in a circumferential wall of the joint section, the circumferential wall defining an accommodation space for accommodating the driving mechanism.

Abstract: A small-sized piezoelectric power generation device is provided which can generate electric power even with vibrations at low frequencies. The piezoelectric power generation device includes a piezoelectric element formed in a spiral shape and having a center-side end fixed to a first fixing member and an outer-side end fixed to a second fixing member. The piezoelectric element includes a first piezoelectric body formed in a spiral shape and polarized in a radial direction of the piezoelectric element from one side toward the other side. The first and second fixing members are arranged such that the second fixing member is displaceable relative to the first fixing member in a tangential direction x, whereas the second fixing member is restricted from displacing relative to the first fixing member in a perpendicular direction y.

Abstract: A tuning fork vibrator includes a vibrating body having the shape of a tuning fork as a whole. The vibrating body includes legs having a meandering shape and a base coupled to an end of the legs. A support is formed so as to extend between the legs from the base. Two electrodes arranged separately in the width direction are formed on one of the legs, and two electrodes arranged separately in the width direction are formed on the other of the legs. The outermost electrodes on each of the legs are connected to a connection electrode formed on the base. The connection electrode is formed so as to extend toward the support. The innermost electrodes on each of the legs are formed so as to extend toward the support through the base. A common electrode is formed on a second principal surface of the vibrating body. A vibratory gyroscope can be formed using the tuning fork vibrator.

Abstract: Data of a preset separation mark is inserted between journal data of one transaction held in an electronic journal file and journal data of one transaction next made. Journal data items which are accumulatively held in the electronic journal file are displayed on a display unit. Data of a separation marks inserted before and after journal data specified among the journal data items displayed on the display unit are searched for. Journal data lying between the searched separation marks is extracted from the electronic journal file.

Abstract: A vibrating gyroscope includes a tuning-fork vibrator having a base and legs. The vibrator is joined to a support plate by conductive adhesive members. The support plate includes an outer frame portion in which a joining portion is provided at a location near a longitudinal end of the outer frame portion. The joining portion is supported by a first support portion in the air gap portion. The width of the first support portion is less than the width of the joining portion. The vibrator is joined to the joining portion of the support plate.

Abstract: A tuning bar vibrator formed on a substrate and including a vibrating body. The vibrating body is formed into a meander shape as a whole, and a middle vibrating reed is used as a first detection unit. At one end side of the vibrating body, two sensing electrodes are formed and connected respectively to two extended electrodes. A further sensing electrode and a common electrode are formed on a first principal surface of the first detection unit. A common electrode formed on a second principal surface of the vibrating body is connected to the common electrode on the first principal surface via a through-hole. The further sensing electrode and the common electrode are connected respectively to another set of extended electrodes. A tuning bar vibrator that is small in size, may be reduced in profile and may be used as a vibrating gyroscope having a desirable detection sensitivity, and a vibrating gyroscope using the tuning bar vibrator are obtained.

Abstract: Data of a preset separation mark is inserted between journal data of one transaction held in an electronic journal file and journal data of one transaction next made. Journal data items which are accumulatively held in the electronic journal file are displayed on a display unit. Data of a separation marks inserted before and after journal data specified among the journal data items displayed on the display unit are searched for. Journal data lying between the searched separation marks is extracted from the electronic journal file.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor that includes a rotor and a stator having a surface on which a driving member that is in contact with the rotor for rotating the rotor is disposed. The stator includes a stator body, a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on a surface of the stator body, and an electrode wiring plate integrally formed with the stator body. The piezoelectric elements are electrically connected to a plurality of electrodes formed on the electrode wiring plate through a plurality of wiring lines. The wiring lines are constituted by an electroconductive film extending from a surface of the stator body to the electrodes.

Abstract: A vibrator includes a vibrating body having a substantially quadrangular prism shape and including four side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the vibrating body. A common electrode is formed on substantially an entire surface of one of the side surfaces of the vibrating body. Split electrodes extend in the longitudinal direction on another side surface opposite to the side surface on which the common electrode is formed, and are spaced from each other in the width direction of the side surface on which the split electrodes are formed. In the vibrating body, a first polarized section is polarized in a direction from the side surfaces of the vibrating body that do not have an electrode disposed thereon, toward the split electrodes. A second polarized section is polarized in a direction from the side surfaces of the vibrating body that do not have an electrode disposed thereon, toward the common electrode.

Abstract: A vibrator module includes a frame having an outer frame and an inner frame. A vibrator unit is formed inside the inner frame. The frame and the vibrator unit are formed of a piezoelectric ceramic or the like as one piece. On one side of the vibrator unit, an IC is mounted so that a hollow portion is provided between the vibrator unit and the IC. The periphery of the IC is filled with a resin material. On the other side of the vibrator unit, a top cover serving as a sealing material is mounted so that a hollow portion is provided between the vibrator unit and the top cover.

Abstract: A tuning bar vibrator formed on a substrate and including a vibrating body. The vibrating body is formed into a meander shape as a whole, and a middle vibrating reed is used as a first detection unit. At one end side of the vibrating body, two sensing electrodes are formed and connected respectively to two extended electrodes. A further sensing electrode and a common electrode are formed on a first principal surface of the first detection unit. A common electrode formed on a second principal surface of the vibrating body is connected to the common electrode on the first principal surface via a through-hole. The further sensing electrode and the common electrode are connected respectively to another set of extended electrodes. A tuning bar vibrator that is small in size, may be reduced in profile and may be used as a vibrating gyroscope having a desirable detection sensitivity, and a vibrating gyroscope using the tuning bar vibrator are obtained.

Abstract: A tuning fork vibrator includes a vibrating body having the shape of a tuning fork as a whole. The vibrating body includes legs having a meandering shape and a base coupled to an end of the legs. A support is formed so as to extend between the legs from the base. Two electrodes arranged separately in the width direction are formed on one of the legs, and two electrodes arranged separately in the width direction are formed on the other of the legs. The outermost electrodes on each of the legs are connected to a connection electrode formed on the base. The connection electrode is formed so as to extend toward the support. The innermost electrodes on each of the legs are formed so as to extend toward the support through the base. A common electrode is formed on a second principal surface of the vibrating body. A vibratory gyroscope can be formed using the tuning fork vibrator.

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 a base and legs. The vibrator is joined to a support plate by conductive adhesive members. The support plate includes an outer frame portion in which a joining portion is provided at a location near a longitudinal end of the outer frame portion. The joining portion is supported by a first support portion in the air gap portion. The width of the first support portion is less than the width of the joining portion. The vibrator is joined to the joining portion of the support plate.

Abstract: A vibrator module includes a frame having an outer frame and an inner frame. A vibrator unit is formed inside the inner frame. The frame and the vibrator unit are formed of a piezoelectric ceramic or the like as one piece. On one side of the vibrator unit, an IC is mounted so that a hollow portion is provided between the vibrator unit and the IC. The periphery of the IC is filled with a resin material. On the other side of the vibrator unit, a top cover serving as a sealing material is mounted so that a hollow portion is provided between the vibrator unit and the top cover.

Abstract: A sealing device provided to a joint section of a robot. The sealing device includes overlapped seal portions having a multi-stage configuration, provided for a driving mechanism incorporated into the joint section. The overlapped seal portions include a first seal portion including a first contact seal element sealing a first inter-member gap defined adjacent to a lubricant retaining section provided in the driving mechanism; and a second seal portion arranged outside the first seal portion and including a second contact seal element sealing a second inter-member gap defined in a circumferential wall of the joint section, the circumferential wall defining an accommodation space for accommodating the driving mechanism.

Abstract: A vibrator includes a vibrating body having a substantially quadrangular prism shape and including four side surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the vibrating body. A common electrode is formed on substantially an entire surface of one of the side surfaces of the vibrating body. Split electrodes extend in the longitudinal direction on another side surface opposite to the side surface on which the common electrode is formed, and are spaced from each other in the width direction of the side surface on which the split electrodes are formed. In the vibrating body, a first polarized section is polarized in a direction from the side surfaces of the vibrating body that do not have an electrode disposed thereon, toward the split electrodes. A second polarized section is polarized in a direction from the side surfaces of the vibrating body that do not have an electrode disposed thereon, toward the common electrode.

Abstract: Human- and mouse-derived bHLH type transcription factors were isolated. These transcription factors shared homology with the transcription factor DEC1, the expression of which is induced in human cartilage cells when differentiated with cAMP. Thus, these isolated transcription factors are thought to be novel transcription factors belonging to the DEC1 subfamily. The transcription factors of the present invention are also homologous to mouse Stra13 and rat SHARP that are related to neurocyte differentiation. The transcription factors of the present invention may be used as tools for developing pharmaceutical agents for diseases related to the differentiation and proliferation of cells.