Abstract: An impact drive type actuator (10) is comprised of a wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) which contracts upon being electrified and heated, a disk-shaped insulating heat conductor (12) which contacts this wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) and releases the heat which is generated at the wire-shaped shape memory alloy, and a drive circuit (16, 17) which instantaneously electrifies the wire-shaped shape memory alloy and instantaneously makes the wire-shaped shape memory alloy contract. According to this impact drive type actuator, it realizes a heat conduction structure which gives rise to a high heat dispersion action by the heat characteristics of the shape memory alloy, so it becomes possible to utilize the deformation by extension and contraction of a shape memory alloy which has a wire-shaped form, improve the speed and response of the deformation operation characteristics, and improve practicality.

Abstract: A tool attachment unit includes a power feeding electrode and a plurality of detection electrodes. When a tool including a power receiving electrode and a displacement electrode is attached onto the tool attachment unit, the power feeding electrode and the power receiving electrode are opposed to each other, and the detection electrode and the displacement electrode are opposed to each other. A pair of the power feeding electrode and the power receiving electrode and a pair of the detection electrode and the displacement electrode form a capacitor circuit. A capacity of the capacitor circuit is changed in response to a position of the tool. A tool position detection unit supplies a power feeding signal to the power feeding electrode. A voltage information extractor extracts voltage information from the detection electrode. Based on the extracted voltage information, a position detection/arithmetic operation unit detects to which position the tool is attached.

Abstract: An impact drive type actuator (10) is comprised of a wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) which contracts upon being electrified and heated, a disk-shaped insulating heat conductor (12) which contacts this wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) and releases the heat which is generated at the wire-shaped shape memory alloy, and a drive circuit (16, 17) which instantaneously electrifies the wire-shaped shape memory alloy and instantaneously makes the wire-shaped shape memory alloy contract. According to this impact drive type actuator, it realizes a heat conduction structure which gives rise to a high heat dispersion action by the heat characteristics of the shape memory alloy, so it becomes possible to utilize the deformation by extension and contraction of a shape memory alloy which has a wire-shaped form, improve the speed and response of the deformation operation characteristics, and improve practicality.

Abstract: An impact drive type actuator (10) is comprised of a wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) which contracts upon being electrified and heated, a disk-shaped insulating heat conductor (12) which contacts this wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) and releases the heat which is generated at the wire-shaped shape memory alloy, and a drive circuit (16, 17) which instantaneously electrifies the wire-shaped shape memory alloy and instantaneously makes the wire-shaped shape memory alloy contract. According to this impact drive type actuator, it realizes a heat conduction structure which gives rise to a high heat dispersion action by the heat characteristics of the shape memory alloy, so it becomes possible to utilize the deformation by extension and contraction of a shape memory alloy which has a wire-shaped form, improve the speed and response of the deformation operation characteristics, and improve practicality.

Abstract: A tool attachment unit includes a power feeding electrode and a plurality of detection electrodes. When a tool including a power receiving electrode and a displacement electrode is attached onto the tool attachment unit, the power feeding electrode and the power receiving electrode are opposed to each other, and the detection electrode and the displacement electrode are opposed to each other. A pair of the power feeding electrode and the power receiving electrode and a pair of the detection electrode and the displacement electrode form a capacitor circuit. A capacity of the capacitor circuit is changed in response to a position of the tool. A tool position detection unit supplies a power feeding signal to the power feeding electrode. A voltage information extractor extracts voltage information from the detection electrode. Based on the extracted voltage information, a position detection/arithmetic operation unit detects to which position the tool is attached.

Abstract: This haptic system is constituted by being provided with a liquid crystal display or other panel-type display device (15), an information selection haptic panel (contact panel (18) etc.) which is set on the top surface of the panel-type display device (15), a wire-shaped shape memory alloy (23) which contracts upon electrification and heating to make the information selection haptic panel move, and an insulating heat conductor (24 etc.) which releases the heat generated by the wire-shaped shape memory alloy (23). This haptic system is built into a display and operating part of a smartphone (10) etc. When this display and operating part is operated by being contacted by a finger of an operator, the operator is given a clear click sensation based on the contraction and extension action of the wire-shaped shape memory alloy (23).

Abstract: An impact drive type actuator (10) is comprised of a wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) which contracts upon being electrified and heated, a disk-shaped insulating heat conductor (12) which contacts this wire-shaped shape memory alloy (11) and releases the heat which is generated at the wire-shaped shape memory alloy, and a drive circuit (16, 17) which instantaneously electrifies the wire-shaped shape memory alloy and instantaneously makes the wire-shaped shape memory alloy contract. According to this impact drive type actuator, it realizes a heat conduction structure which gives rise to a high heat dispersion action by the heat characteristics of the shape memory alloy, so it becomes possible to utilize the deformation by extension and contraction of a shape memory alloy which has a wire-shaped form, improve the speed and response of the deformation operation characteristics, and improve practicality.

Abstract: A rotary electrostatic encoder comprising a disk-shaped fixed plate having a first transmission electrode, a second transmission electrode, and four reception electrodes; a disk-shaped rotating plate having a first induction electrode superposed on and facing the first transmission electrode, and a second induction electrode positioned on the inside of the first induction electrode and superposed on and facing the second transmission electrode, a portion of the second induction electrode being a protruding eccentric circular part; transmission means for applying a transmission signal between the first transmission electrode and the second transmission electrode; and signal processing means for generating an output signal relating to the absolute rotational displacement of the rotating plate on the basis of two signal components generated from the four reception electrodes.

Abstract: A rotary electrostatic encoder comprising a disk-shaped fixed plate having a first transmission electrode, a second transmission electrode, and four reception electrodes; a disk-shaped rotating plate having a first induction electrode superposed on and facing the first transmission electrode, and a second induction electrode positioned on the inside of the first induction electrode and superposed on and facing the second transmission electrode, a portion of the second induction electrode being a protruding eccentric circular part; transmission means for applying a transmission signal between the first transmission electrode and the second transmission electrode; and signal processing means for generating an output signal relating to the absolute rotational displacement of the rotating plate on the basis of two signal components generated from the four reception electrodes.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus comprises a probe having a plurality of transducers for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves; a selection circuit for sequentially selecting the transducers for performing transmission/reception of ultrasonic waves; and an A/D converter for converting a reception waveform signal from the transducer selected by the selection circuit into a digital waveform signal. The apparatus also includes a memory for storing the digital waveform signal converted by the A/D converter in correspondence with the selected transducer; and a read control circuit having a wavefront locus address generator for generating a wavefront locus data corresponding to time-of-flight data between each point in an ultrasonic scanning region and respective transducers to synthesize a wavefront converging on a point in the ultrasonic scanning region (including points which are not located on lines normal to the radiating surfaces of the transducers).

Abstract: Each of a plurality of transducers comprising a transducer array of an ultrasonic probe are sequentially driven, and the echo signals obtained from each of the transducers are stored in memory as complex data, following A/D conversion, quadrature detection, and the like. These complex data are read following a wave-front locus which converges on the focal point set as an observation point, and further the vector directions of each of the complex data are subjected to phase correction and synthesized, thus obtaining an ultrasonic image with high resolution.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus for acquiring Doppler information at a focal point in an object under inspection from AC components of a spatial frequency distribution of ultrasonic waves reflected from the focal point by removing components reflected from an off-axial static reflector. A transmission trigger generating circuit drives in accordance with predetermined time shifts an array of piezo-electric elements to transmit an electronically converged ultrasonic beam. Reflected signals from a reflector on the axis of the beam only are stored in memory.

Abstract: The ultrasonic diagnosing apparatus including an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving unit for transmitting ultrasonic pulses toward a living body and receiving ultrasonic waves reflected by the living body to produce an echo signal, and a signal processing circuit for processing the echo signal such that a Doppler frequency representing a relative movement between the ultrasonic probe and living tissues is detected and a velocity of a blood stream which is free from the influence of the relative movement is detected on the basis of the Doppler frequency due to the relative movement between the ultrasonic probe and the living tissues. In a power spectrum distribution, the Doppler frequency can be detected as a peak frequency at which the magnitude of the power spectrum becomes maximum.

Abstract: A plurality of vibrating elements are provided to form an array and successive vibrating elements are selected to emit ultrasonic pulses toward a cavity of a living body. Ultrasonic waves reflected by tissues and blood cells in the blood vessel are received by the vibrating elements and are converted into echo signals. The echo signals are supplied to an orthogonal detector together with a reference signal and are converted into real and imaginary parts of complex signals which are stored in memories as the wave surface data. The wave surface data is read out at suitable timings to obtain an ultrasonic reflection image data such that a focus point is formed in a given space. By processing the reflection image data by a spectrum distribution detector, a spatial frequency is derived. A reflection strength is derived from a DC component of the spatial frequency and a B-mode ultrasonic image is displayed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic image analyzing apparatus determines, on the basis of ultrasonic tomographic image information on a body portion being inspected, the properties of the tissues of the inspected portion, and causes a lesion portion to be displayed on a color image screen or the like, thereby allowing a diagnosis. The apparatus enables appropriate parameters for image analysis which correspond to the object organ, a body mark, and the type of ultrasonic probe used, to be automatically set. The apparatus also enables the size, the shape, the manner of scanning, etc. of regions of interest (ROIs), which are provided on the image of the portion being observed for the purpose of calculating the parameters, to be set in correspondence with the directions in which the ultrasonic wave from the probe propagates. Accordingly, the apparatus makes it possible to perform optimal image analysis with respect to the observation-object portion, and hence, perform correct diagnosis.