Abstract: An input device includes a housing, an operation unit, a vibrating body, a piezoelectric element, a picker, and a signal processing unit. The operation unit is movable relative to the housing. The vibrating body has elasticity. The vibrating body includes a first end partially fixed to the housing, and a second end provided so as to be vibratable. The piezoelectric element is provided to the vibrating body. The piezoelectric element is configured to convert vibration energy of the vibrating body into electrical energy as the vibrating body vibrates. The picker flicks the vibrating body to allow the vibrating body to vibrate in conjunction with the operation unit. The signal processing unit is configured to receive power generated by the piezoelectric element to operate and transmit, through wireless communications, detection information to be generated as the operation unit moves.

Abstract: An input device includes a housing, an operation unit, an attaching portion, a photovoltaic unit, and a signal processor. The operation unit is movable relative to the housing. The attaching portion is used for attaching the housing. The photovoltaic unit is held by the housing, and generates electric power with use of light incident from a side where the attaching portion is disposed in the housing. The signal processor operates by receiving the electric power generated by the photovoltaic unit, and transmits detection information generated in response to movement of the operation unit via wireless communication.

Abstract: An input device includes a housing, an operation unit, a vibrating body, a piezoelectric element, a picker, and a signal processing unit. The operation unit is movable relative to the housing. The vibrating body has elasticity. The vibrating body includes a first end partially fixed to the housing, and a second end provided so as to be vibratable. The piezoelectric element is provided to the vibrating body. The piezoelectric element is configured to convert vibration energy of the vibrating body into electrical energy as the vibrating body vibrates. The picker flicks the vibrating body to allow the vibrating body to vibrate in conjunction with the operation unit. The signal processing unit is configured to receive power generated by the piezoelectric element to operate and transmit, through wireless communications, detection information to be generated as the operation unit moves.

Abstract: An input device of the present disclosure has a stationary part, an operation input part that is provided above the stationary part, and is movable with respect to the stationary part, a detector configured to detect information regarding operation of the operation input part, and an attachment part provided in the stationary part so as to project downward from a second surface of the stationary part. The attachment part has a holder and a coupler configured to couple to the stationary part. A holding force maintaining a state where the holder is attached to an object is smaller than a coupling force between the coupler and the stationary part. When a force is applied to the holder from above, the holding force of the holder allows the holder to be fixed to the object.

Abstract: A processor of a position detection device intermittently performs an acquisition process during a measurement period to acquire a detection signal induced in a detection coil depending on the position of an object by driving an excitation coil. The processor configured to monitor whether or not the processor is executing the acquisition process without driving the excitation coil during a monitoring period set before the measurement period of the processor, and the processor is configured to execute a predetermined process when the processor is executing the acquisition process.

Abstract: A load sensor includes a core having a hollow part provided therein and containing magnetic material and a coil attached to the core. A magnetic path along which a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing in the coil is formed along a circumference direction of the hollow part. The core has a load-receiving portion that receives a load at a surface of the core located in a crossing direction crossing a plane along which the magnetic path is formed.

Abstract: A position sensor includes a first transmission coil, a second transmission coil having a different shape from the first transmission coil, a receiver coil for receiving electromagnetic waves transmitted from the first and second transmission coils, a transmission waveform generator that inputs first and second input waves to the first and second transmission coils having frequencies identical to each other and having phases different from each other, and a position detector that detects a position of a target provided movably with respect to the first transmission coil, the second transmission coil, and the receiver coil based on a first output signal obtained from the receiver coil in response to the first and second input waves input from the transmission waveform generator to the first and second transmission coils, respectively.

Abstract: A processor of a position detection device intermittently performs an acquisition process during a measurement period to acquire a detection signal induced in a detection coil depending on the position of an object by driving an excitation coil. The processor configured to monitor whether or not the processor is executing the acquisition process without driving the excitation coil during a monitoring period set before the measurement period of the processor, and the processor is configured to execute a predetermined process when the processor is executing the acquisition process.

Abstract: A position sensor includes a first transmission coil, a second transmission coil having a different shape from the first transmission coil, a receiver coil for receiving electromagnetic waves transmitted from the first and second transmission coils, a transmission waveform generator that inputs first and second input waves to the first and second transmission coils having frequencies identical to each other and having phases different from each other, and a position detector that detects a position of a target provided movably with respect to the first transmission coil, the second transmission coil, and the receiver coil based on a first output signal obtained from the receiver coil in response to the first and second input waves input from the transmission waveform generator to the first and second transmission coils, respectively.

Abstract: A position sensor includes a detector, an oscillation circuit, a signal processing circuit, and a resonance circuit having a detection coil and a capacitor. The oscillation circuit forms a negative feedback loop from: an amplitude detection circuit that detects an amplitude of an oscillation signal outputted from the resonance circuit; an integrating circuit that outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between a predetermined reference voltage and the amplitude of the oscillation signal; a negative conductance control circuit that, based on the output of the integrating circuit, controls the negative conductance of the oscillation circuit such that the amplitude of the oscillation signal is equals to the predetermined reference voltage; and an operational amplifier that adjusts such that the oscillation voltage of the resonance circuit is equal to the applied voltage of the negative conductance control circuit.

Abstract: A detection device includes a resonance unit having a coil and a capacitor, an oscillation unit for oscillating the resonance unit, and a signal processing unit for detecting the oscillation state of the resonance unit and outputting an object detection signal when oscillation is stopped. The signal processing unit intermittently executes a self-diagnosis mode by forcibly oscillating the oscillation unit to determine whether or not an abnormality occurs in the resonance unit.

Abstract: A load sensor includes a core having a hollow part provided therein and containing magnetic material and a coil attached to the core. A magnetic path along which a magnetic flux generated by a current flowing in the coil is formed along a circumference direction of the hollow part. The core has a load-receiving portion that receives a load at a surface of the core located in a crossing direction crossing a plane along which the magnetic path is formed.

Abstract: A mode detector in a sensor interface is configured to detect a mode specified by a mode signal when an input signal received from a side of a first terminal is the mode signal. A communication portion in the interface transmits an electric signal, obtained from a sensor circuit, to a side of a second terminal when a mode detected with the detector is a sensor output mode. The communication portion receives an input signal from the side of the first terminal while transmitting an output signal to the side of the second terminal, when a mode detected with the detector is a communication mode.

Abstract: A mode detector in a sensor interface is configured to detect a mode specified by a mode signal when an input signal received from a side of a first terminal is the mode signal. A communication portion in the interface transmits an electric signal, obtained from a sensor circuit, to a side of a second terminal when a mode detected with the detector is a sensor output mode. The communication portion receives an input signal from the side of the first terminal while transmitting an output signal to the side of the second terminal, when a mode detected with the detector is a communication mode.

Abstract: The displacement measurement device according to the present invention includes: a metal object movable in a moving direction within a moving plane; a measurement coil arranged such that an opposite area of a measurement coil surface opposite to the moving plane is varied with a movement of the metal object; and a correction coil arranged such that an opposite area of a correction coil surface to the moving plane is not varied irrespective of the movement of the metal object. The measurement coil and the correction coil are arranged such that the measurement coil surface and the correction coil surface are not overlapped with each other with regard to a plane parallel to the moving plane but a range occupied by the measurement coil in a coordinate axis along the moving direction and a range occupied by the correction coil in the coordinate axis are overlapped with each other.

Abstract: A detection device includes a resonance unit having a coil and a capacitor, an oscillation unit for oscillating the resonance unit, and a signal processing unit for detecting the oscillation state of the resonance unit and outputting an object detection signal when oscillation is stopped. The signal processing unit intermittently executes a self-diagnosis mode by forcibly oscillating the oscillation unit to determine whether or not an abnormality occurs in the resonance unit.

Abstract: A proximity sensor has an oscillation circuit, an amplitude measurement circuit, a control circuit and a signal processing circuit. The oscillation circuit has an LC resonant circuit and an oscillation control circuit that is configured to supply an electric current to the LC resonant circuit to generate oscillating voltage across the LC resonant circuit. The amplitude measurement circuit is configured to produce an amplitude signal corresponding to the amplitude of the oscillating voltage. The control circuit is configured to set the negative conductance of the oscillation control circuit to a critical value by which the LC resonant circuit can oscillate based on the amplitude signal. The signal processing circuit is configured to produce a distance signal corresponding to the distance between an object and the sensing coil based on a parameter associated with the negative conductance.

Abstract: The position sensor includes a moving member configured to be displaced in response to displacement of a measurement target, a resonant unit, an oscillation unit, a signal processing unit, an output unit, a signal absence detection unit, and a low-pass filter. The resonant unit includes a detection coil. The oscillation unit is configured to output an oscillation signal. The signal absence detection unit is configured to judge whether or not the oscillation signal is output from the oscillation unit. The low-pass filter is configured to have a cut-off frequency which passes the oscillation signal corresponding to the resonant frequency of the resonant unit in a normal condition, but blocks the oscillation signal output from the oscillation unit when the resonant unit sees an oscillation at an abnormal frequency.

Abstract: A position sensor includes a detection coil printed on a surface of a substrate formed of a dielectric material; and a detection body arranged in an opposing relationship with the detection coil and displaced along a specified orbit with respect to the detection coil in response to a displacement of a target object. The position sensor detects the displacement of the target object based on an inductance of the detection coil varying depending on the displacement of the detection body. At least one of the detection coil and the detection body is formed into such a shape that a change rate of the inductance of the detection coil with respect to the displacement of the detection body is kept constant.

Abstract: A position sensor includes a detector, an oscillation circuit, a signal processing circuit, and a resonance circuit having a detection coil and a capacitor. The oscillation circuit forms a negative feedback loop from: an amplitude detection circuit that detects an amplitude of an oscillation signal outputted from the resonance circuit; an integrating circuit that outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between a predetermined reference voltage and the amplitude of the oscillation signal; a negative conductance control circuit that, based on the output of the integrating circuit, controls the negative conductance of the oscillation circuit such that the amplitude of the oscillation signal is equals to the predetermined reference voltage; and an operational amplifier that adjusts such that the oscillation voltage of the resonance circuit is equal to the applied voltage of the negative conductance control circuit.