Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A measuring instrument includes a plurality of first readers that optically read a plurality of patterns from a measure having a color pattern including the plurality of patterns arranged at a regular interval in a length direction, the plurality of first readers being arranged at the regular interval in the length direction, a converter that converts the plurality of patterns read by the plurality of first readers into a value of an N-ary number (N is 3 or more), and a calculator that calculates a scale value of the measure based on data that defines a relationship between the value of the N-ary number and the scale value of the measure.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction power generator includes: a current transformer attached to a power transmission line; a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC voltage output from the current transformer; and a regulator circuit for regulating a DC voltage output from the rectifier circuit. The current transformer has a magnetic core attached to the power transmission line serving as a primary winding and a secondary winding magnetically coupled to the power transmission line through the magnetic core. The magnetic core is configured to start to be magnetically saturated around the minimum value within the fluctuation range of a current flowing through the power transmission line.

Abstract: A measuring instrument includes a plurality of first readers that optically read a plurality of patterns from a measure having a color pattern including the plurality of patterns arranged at a regular interval in a length direction, the plurality of first readers being arranged at the regular interval in the length direction, a converter that converts the plurality of patterns read by the plurality of first readers into a value of an N-ary number (N is 3 or more), and a calculator that calculates a scale value of the measure based on data that defines a relationship between the value of the Nary number and the scale value of the measure.

Abstract: A vibrational energy harvester element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode that moves in a predetermined direction with respect to the first electrode; a third electrode; a fourth electrode that moves in the predetermined direction with respect to the third electrode; and a support portion that supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode so that they are movable along the predetermined direction; and wherein: the first electrode and the third electrode are disposed along the predetermined direction; at least one of facing surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one of facing surfaces of the third electrode and the fourth electrode, are electrically charged; and the support portion supports the second electrode and the fourth electrode in a state in which electrostatic force between the first electrode and the second electrode, and electrostatic force between the third electrode and the fourth electrode are balanced along the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A vibration energy harvester includes: a first electrode; and a second electrode that can be displaced relative to the first electrode along a predetermined vibrating direction. At least either of a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode facing opposite each other is electrically charged. Power is generated as the second electrode becomes displaced causing a change in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. A range having included therein at least a vibrational center of the second electrode, over which the electrostatic capacitance remains unchanged even as the second electrode is displaced, is set.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an Si layer, an SiO2 layer formed at a surface of the Si layer; and an electret formed at the SiO2 layer near an interface of the SiO2 layer and the Si layer.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an electret film that contains silicon oxide; and a protective film formed over the electret film and constituted of aluminum oxide deposited through an atomic layer deposition method.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an electret film that contains silicon oxide; and a protective film formed over the electret film and constituted of aluminum oxide deposited through an atomic layer deposition method.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure detection unit in which a waterproof property can be improved. In a pressure sensor, a sealing-resin portion is joined to an outside side surface of an element main body made of stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel such that the sealing-resin portion surrounds a plurality of lead pins. In the pressure sensor, a roughened annular surface portion is provided at a region where the sealing-resin portion is joined on an upper end surface of the element main body so as to be disposed in a manner to partition an external peripheral edge and an internal peripheral edge arranged at the outside side surface of an element main body in the sealing-resin portion.

Abstract: An actuator includes: an electrostatic actuation mechanism including a stationary electrode and a movable electrode; a first movable part driven by the electrostatic actuation mechanism; a first elastic support part that elastically supports the first movable part; an electret formed in at least one of the stationary electrode and the movable electrode; and a drive control unit that controls application of voltage to the electrostatic actuation mechanism. In the actuator a plurality of stable states are set in which the first movable part is positioned at a stable position at which an electrostatic force generated by the electret matches with an elastic force exerted by the first elastic support part or at a stable position near such stable position. By applying a voltage to the electrostatic actuation mechanism, the first movable part may be displaced from any stable position to another stable position.

Abstract: A vibration energy harvester includes: a first electrode; and a second electrode that can be displaced relative to the first electrode along a predetermined vibrating direction. At least either of a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode facing opposite each other is electrically charged. Power is generated as the second electrode becomes displaced causing a change in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. A range having included therein at least a vibrational center of the second electrode, over which the electrostatic capacitance remains unchanged even as the second electrode is displaced, is set.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an electret film that contains silicon oxide; and a protective film formed over the electret film and constituted of aluminum oxide deposited through an atomic layer deposition method.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an Si layer, an SiO2 layer formed at a surface of the Si layer; and an electret formed at the SiO2 layer near an interface of the SiO2 layer and the Si layer.

Abstract: An electret element includes: an electret film that contains silicon oxide; and a protective film formed over the electret film and constituted of aluminum oxide deposited through an atomic layer deposition method.

Abstract: An actuator includes: an electrostatic actuation mechanism including a stationary electrode and a movable electrode; a first movable part driven by the electrostatic actuation mechanism; a first elastic support part that elastically supports the first movable part; an electret formed in at least one of the stationary electrode and the movable electrode; and a drive control unit that controls application of voltage to the electrostatic actuation mechanism. In the actuator a plurality of stable states are set in which the first movable part is positioned at a stable position at which an electrostatic force generated by the electret matches with an elastic force exerted by the first elastic support part or at a stable position near such stable position. By applying a voltage to the electrostatic actuation mechanism, the first movable part may be displaced from any stable position to another stable position.

Abstract: Provided is a pressure detection unit in which a waterproof property can be improved. In a pressure sensor, a sealing-resin portion is joined to an outside side surface of an element main body made of stainless steel, aluminum, or nickel such that the sealing-resin portion surrounds a plurality of lead pins. In the pressure sensor, a roughened annular surface portion is provided at a region where the sealing-resin portion is joined on an upper end surface of the element main body so as to be disposed in a manner to partition an external peripheral edge and an internal peripheral edge arranged at the outside side surface of an element main body in the sealing-resin portion.

Abstract: A ferrite core includes an end face portion, a pair of outer legs protruding from the end face portion, and a center leg protruding from the end face portion between the pair of outer legs. A width W1 close to one end portion of the center leg in a Y-axis direction perpendicular to a facing direction of the outer legs is smaller than a width W2 close to the other end portion. According to this configuration, a circuit component may be positioned close to the end portion. A transformer includes the ferrite core.

Abstract: A transformer includes a bobbin, terminal electrodes, a core, a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an additional winding. The bobbin is made from an electrically insulating material and has a tubular portion defining an internal space. The tubular portion has an outer peripheral surface providing a first through third sections arrayed side by side in an axial direction of the tubular portion. The terminal electrodes are provided at the bobbin for electrical connection to the windings. The core is inserted into the internal space. The primary winding has an insulating layer and is wound over the first section. The secondary winding has an insulating layer and is wound over the third section. The additional winding is wound over the second section and has an insulation layer whose insulating performance is greater than that of the insulation layer of the primary winding and the secondary winding.