Abstract: A sensor unit capable of protecting a piezoelectric element and detecting vibration and sound is provided. The sensor unit comprises a sheet-like piezoelectric element having a porous layer, and a sound propagation sheet covering at least one face of the piezoelectric element and permitting transmission of sound from a first face toward a second face of the sound propagation sheet. A difference in acoustic pressure level between the sound incident on the sound propagation sheet and the transmitted sound is preferably no greater than 10 dB. A surface density of the sound propagation sheet is preferably from 0.03 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The sound propagation sheet is preferably flexible and preferably has voids. The sensor unit preferably further comprises a sound insulation sheet covering another face of the piezoelectric element and substantially preventing transmission of sound from a second face toward a first face of the sound insulation sheet.

Abstract: Provision of a piezoelectric element which uses a lightweight and flexible electret material and an electrode layer which is also lightweight, has high conductivity and good flexibility to easily receive electrical signals from an electret, and has good durability. Additionally, provision of a musical instrument provided with such a piezoelectric element. A piezoelectric element comprising an electrode layer (B) on at least one surface of an electret material (A) having pores inside, wherein a porosity of the electret material (A) is 20 to 80%, the electrode layer (B) contains 20 to 70 mass % of a carbon fine particle, and a thickness of the electrode layer (B) is 2 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: A speaker diaphragm includes a first polymer and a second polymer. The first polymer and the second polymer undergo phase separation. The first polymer is a polyolefin, and the second polymer is a thermoplastic resin being immiscible with the polyolefin. One of either the polyolefin or the thermoplastic resin constitutes a sea phase, and another one of either the polyolefin or the thermoplastic resin constitutes island phases being interspersed in the sea phase.

Abstract: A speaker diaphragm includes a substrate. The substrate includes a resin matrix and fibers. The resin matrix contains a thermoplastic resin as a main component. The fibers are dispersed in the resin matrix. The fibers are polyparaphenylenebenzobisoxazol fibers. An average length of the fibers is 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

Abstract: A sensor unit capable of protecting a piezoelectric element and detecting vibration and sound is provided. The sensor unit comprises a sheet-like piezoelectric element having a porous layer, and a sound propagation sheet covering at least one face of the piezoelectric element and permitting transmission of sound from a first face toward a second face of the sound propagation sheet. A difference in acoustic pressure level between the sound incident on the sound propagation sheet and the transmitted sound is preferably no greater than 10 dB. A surface density of the sound propagation sheet is preferably from 0.03 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The sound propagation sheet is preferably flexible and preferably has voids. The sensor unit preferably further comprises a sound insulation sheet covering another face of the piezoelectric element and substantially preventing transmission of sound from a second face toward a first face of the sound insulation sheet.

Abstract: A sensor unit capable of protecting a piezoelectric element and detecting vibration and sound is provided. The sensor unit comprises a sheet-like piezoelectric element having a porous layer, and a sound propagation sheet covering at least one face of the piezoelectric element and permitting transmission of sound from a first face toward a second face of the sound propagation sheet. A difference in acoustic pressure level between the sound incident on the sound propagation sheet and the transmitted sound is preferably no greater than 10 dB. A surface density of the sound propagation sheet is preferably from 0.03 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The sound propagation sheet is preferably flexible and preferably has voids. The sensor unit preferably further comprises a sound insulation sheet covering another face of the piezoelectric element and substantially preventing transmission of sound from a second face toward a first face of the sound insulation sheet.

Abstract: A vibration sensor in one aspect of the present invention includes a vibration detection element that has a sheet-shaped piezoelectric element and a pair of electrodes superposed on a front side and a rear side of the piezoelectric element, and a rear surface side gel layer superposed on a side where the vibration detection element faces a surface of a living body.

Abstract: Provision of a piezoelectric element which uses a lightweight and flexible electret material and an electrode layer which is also lightweight, has high conductivity and good flexibility to easily receive electrical signals from an electret, and has good durability. Additionally, provision of a musical instrument provided with such a piezoelectric element. A piezoelectric element comprising an electrode layer (B) on at least one surface of an electret material (A) having pores inside, wherein a porosity of the electret material (A) is 20 to 80%, the electrode layer (B) contains 20 to 70 mass % of a carbon fine particle, and a thickness of the electrode layer (B) is 2 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: A sensor unit capable of protecting a piezoelectric element and detecting vibration and sound is provided. The sensor unit comprises a sheet-like piezoelectric element having a porous layer, and a sound propagation sheet covering at least one face of the piezoelectric element and permitting transmission of sound from a first face toward a second face of the sound propagation sheet. A difference in acoustic pressure level between the sound incident on the sound propagation sheet and the transmitted sound is preferably no greater than 10 dB. A surface density of the sound propagation sheet is preferably from 0.03 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. The sound propagation sheet is preferably flexible and preferably has voids. The sensor unit preferably further comprises a sound insulation sheet covering another face of the piezoelectric element and substantially preventing transmission of sound from a second face toward a first face of the sound insulation sheet.

Abstract: A sound absorbing structure is constituted of a housing having a hollow portion and an opening and a vibration member composed of a board or diaphragm. The vibration member is a square-shaped material having elasticity composed of a synthetic resin and is bonded to the opening of the housing, thus forming an air layer closed inside the sound absorbing structure by the housing and the vibration member. In the sound absorbing structure, when the lateral/longitudinal dimensions of the air layer and characteristics of the vibration member (e.g. a Young's modulus, thickness, and Poisson's ratio) are set such that the fundamental frequency of a vibration occurring in a bending system falls within 5% and 65% of the resonance frequency of a spring-mass system, a vibration mode having a large amplitude occurs in a frequency band lower than the resonance frequency of the spring-mass system, this improving the sound absorption coefficient.

Abstract: A sound absorbing structure is constituted of a housing and a vibration member. The vibration member composed of a synthetic resin having elasticity is constituted of a first member and a second member whose surface density is smaller than the surface density of the first member, wherein the first member is fixed into a center hole of the second member so as to form a single board of the vibration member. Since the surface density of the center portion of the vibration member is higher than the surface density of the peripheral portion of the vibration member, the frequency of absorbed sound further decreases in comparison with the foregoing structure in which the vibration member is increased in weight to change the frequency of absorbed sound. This makes it possible to arbitrarily change the frequency of absorbed sound without substantially changing the overall weight of the sound absorbing structure.

Abstract: A sound absorbing structure is constituted of a housing having a hollow portion and an opening and a vibration member composed of a board or diaphragm. The vibration member is a square-shaped material having elasticity composed of a synthetic resin and is bonded to the opening of the housing, thus forming an air layer closed inside the sound absorbing structure by the housing and the vibration member. In the sound absorbing structure, when the lateral/longitudinal dimensions of the air layer and characteristics of the vibration member (e.g. a Young's modulus, thickness, and Poisson's ratio) are set such that the fundamental frequency of a vibration occurring in a bending system falls within 5% and 65% of the resonance frequency of a spring-mass system, a vibration mode having a large amplitude occurs in a frequency band lower than the resonance frequency of the spring-mass system, this improving the sound absorption coefficient.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a probe unit includes: (a) preparing a substrate; (b) forming a hollow part in the substrate; (c) forming a sacrificial layer that buries the hollow part on the substrate; (d) forming a first layer on the substrate, wherein one end of the first layer is positioned on the sacrificial layer; (e) forming a second layer on the first layer at least excepting the one end; and (f) removing the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: In order to provide a sound-absorbing body which has both a thin thickness and improved sound-absorption characteristics with regard to a low tone range sounds, the sound-absorbing body (1) includes: an organic hybrid sheet (2) constituted from an organic low-molecular material which is spread in a matrix polymer; and a gastight air cell (3) which is closely provided at a backside (2a) of the organic hybrid sheet, wherein the organic hybrid sheet indicates both a sound-absorption peak of a random incidence sound-absorption coefficient at a frequency band of 400 Hz or lower and another sound-absorption peak when the organic hybrid sheet is vibrated by applying air vibration caused by sound, because of adhering the organic hybrid sheet to the gastight air cell.

Abstract: A probe unit comprises a substrate and a lead formed on the substrate and having a tip part projecting from an edge of the substrate and contacting to an electrode of a sample, and a thick part of which thickness is thicker than the tip part. The probe unit can make continuity with a sample firmly with a proper contact pressure while lowering electrical resistance of leads.

Abstract: In order to provide a sound-absorbing body which has both a thin thickness and improved sound-absorption characteristics with regard to a low tone range sounds, the sound-absorbing body (1) includes: an organic hybrid sheet (2) constituted from an organic low-molecular material which is spread in a matrix polymer; and a gastight air cell (3) which is closely provided at a backside (2a) of the organic hybrid sheet, wherein the organic hybrid sheet indicates both a sound-absorption peak of a random incidence sound-absorption coefficient at a frequency band of 400 Hz or lower and another sound-absorption peak when the organic hybrid sheet is vibrated by applying air vibration caused by sound, because of adhering the organic hybrid sheet to the gastight air cell.

Abstract: In the silencer of the present invention, a cylindrical porous plate is provided on the outer circumferential side of a path forming component that forms a sound absorption path. The porous plate has a plurality of micro holes penetrating it in the thickness direction. By forming the plurality of micro holes on the outer circumferential side of the porous plate, sound generated by the air flowing along the sound absorption path is attenuated without any sound absorption material being used. The porous plate is formed from metal. As a result, there is no source for generating for dust and dirt such as sound absorption materials formed, for example, from connected foam resin and fiber. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce sound that is generated by the flow of air while also reducing the creation of dust and dirt.

Abstract: An air supplying apparatus may include, but is not limited to, a pump, a motor, a housing, and an intake unit. The motor drives the pump. The housing provides a chamber that contains the pump and the motor. The intake unit supplies an air to the chamber. The intake unit may include, but is not limited to, first and second portions. The first portion communicates with the atmosphere outside the apparatus. The second portion is coupled to the housing. The second portion communicates with the chamber. The second portion is configured to blow the air to the motor.

Abstract: A probe unit comprises a substrate and a lead formed on the substrate and having a tip part projecting from an edge of the substrate and contacting to an electrode of a sample, and a thick part of which thickness is thicker than the tip part. The probe unit can make continuity with a sample firmly with a proper contact pressure while lowering electrical resistance of leads.

Abstract: A ribbon-shaped material for FRTP molded objects 1 having a laminate 4 in which a ribbon-shaped reinforcing fiber tow 2 is placed between thermoplastic resin films for supplying matrix resin which are wider than the ribbon-shaped reinforcing fiber tow 2, and in which the thermoplastic resin films 3,3 are fused in side portions 5,5 of the laminate 4, which are along the longitudinal direction of the laminate 4; and a wide material for FRTP molded objects 30,40 obtained by arranging a plurality of the ribbon-shaped materials for FRTP molded objects 1 whereby adjacent ribbon-shaped materials for FRTP molded objects 1,1 overlap each other in a manner such that the side portion 5 of one of the adjacent ribbon-shaped materials for FRTP molded objects 1 is placed on the side portion 5 or the middle portion 6 of the other along the longitudinal direction, and fusing together each overlapping portion 31,41 of the ribbon-shaped materials for FRTP molded objects 1, whereby the reinforcing fiber tows 2 are arranged in pa