Abstract: An application method of applying a liquid agent includes determining any one of positions of the liquid agent at a halfway part between a first end portion and a second end portion in a state in which an application is completed as each of an application start position and an application end position. The method includes applying the liquid agent from the application start position to the first end portion. The method includes turning back from the first end portion and applying the liquid agent to the second end portion, including superimposing, in a height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent. The method includes turning back from the second end portion and applying the liquid agent to the application end position, including superimposing, in the height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent.

Abstract: A liquid coating apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a diaphragm deformable to change a volume of the liquid chamber, a piezoelectric element that deforms the diaphragm in a thickness direction, a pressurized casing bottom-wall portion between the piezoelectric element and the diaphragm to support the piezoelectric element from a diaphragm side, a fixed casing bottom wall portion that supports an end of the piezoelectric element on a side opposite to the diaphragm, a plunger that extends through the pressurized casing bottom-wall portion and transmits expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element to the diaphragm, and a coil spring that is between the piezoelectric element and the pressurized casing bottom-wall portion and is supported by the first support portion to apply a compressive force to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A device includes an external sensor to scan an environment so as to periodically output scan data, a storage to store an environmental map, and a location estimation device to match the sensor data against the environmental map read from the storage so as to estimate a location and an attitude of the vehicle. The location estimation device determines predicted values of a current location and a current estimation of the vehicle in accordance with a history of estimated locations and estimated attitudes of the vehicle, and performs the matching by using the predicted values.

Abstract: An application method of applying a liquid agent includes determining any one of positions of the liquid agent at a halfway part between a first end portion and a second end portion in a state in which an application is completed as each of an application start position and an application end position. The method includes applying the liquid agent from the application start position to the first end portion. The method includes turning back from the first end portion and applying the liquid agent to the second end portion, including superimposing, in a height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent. The method includes turning back from the second end portion and applying the liquid agent to the application end position, including superimposing, in the height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent.

Abstract: An application method of applying a liquid agent includes determining any one of positions of the liquid agent at a halfway part between a first end portion and a second end portion in a state in which an application is completed as each of an application start position and an application end position. The method includes applying the liquid agent from the application start position to the first end portion. The method includes turning back from the first end portion and applying the liquid agent to the second end portion, including superimposing, in a height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent. The method includes turning back from the second end portion and applying the liquid agent to the application end position, including superimposing, in the height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent.

Abstract: A liquid coating apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a diaphragm deformable to change a volume of the liquid chamber, a piezoelectric element that deforms the diaphragm in a thickness direction, a pressurized casing bottom-wall portion between the piezoelectric element and the diaphragm to support the piezoelectric element from a diaphragm side, a fixed casing bottom wall portion that supports an end of the piezoelectric element on a side opposite to the diaphragm, a plunger that extends through the pressurized casing bottom-wall portion and transmits expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element to the diaphragm, and a coil spring that is between the piezoelectric element and the pressurized casing bottom-wall portion and is supported by the first support portion to apply a compressive force to the piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A liquid coating apparatus includes a liquid storage assembly to store a liquid, a pressure sensor to detect a remaining amount of liquid in the liquid storage assembly, a discharge assembly to discharge the liquid in the liquid storage assembly to an outside, a negative pressure pump to generate a negative pressure lower than an atmospheric pressure, a negative pressure adjusting container with an internal pressure adjusted to a predetermined negative pressure by the negative pressure pump, a pressure adjustment controller to control drive of the negative pressure pump based on a detection result of the pressure sensor, and a pressure switch to adjust pressure in the liquid storage assembly to the predetermined negative pressure in the negative pressure adjusting container.

Abstract: A location estimation device includes an external sensor, a storage to store partial environmental maps including first and second partial environmental maps linked to each other based on a coordinate transformation relationship, and a location estimator to match scan data received from the external sensor against the partial environmental map so as to estimate the location and attitude of the vehicle.

Abstract: An application method of applying a liquid agent includes determining any one of positions of the liquid agent at a halfway part between a first end portion and a second end portion in a state in which an application is completed as each of an application start position and an application end position. The method includes applying the liquid agent from the application start position to the first end portion. The method includes turning back from the first end portion and applying the liquid agent to the second end portion, including superimposing, in a height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent. The method includes turning back from the second end portion and applying the liquid agent to the application end position, including superimposing, in the height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent.

Abstract: [Object] A liquid agent application device capable of adjusting the displacement amount of a diaphragm is provided. [Solution] The liquid agent application device 10 includes a diaphragm 12 that changes the internal volume of a liquid agent reservoir 11, and a drive unit 13 located on the diaphragm 12. The drive unit 13 includes a driving piezoelectric element 20 that vibrates in response to application of a drive voltage signal, and a horn 21 that vibrates together with the driving piezoelectric element 20.

Abstract: A location estimation system includes a processor and a memory to store a computer program to operate the processor. The processor performs acquiring scan data from an external sensor so as to generate a reference map from the scan data, executing matching of newly acquired latest scan data against the reference map so as to estimate a location and an attitude on the reference map and add the latest scan data to the reference map so that the reference map is updated, removing, from the reference map that has been updated a plurality of times, a portion thereof other than a portion including the latest scan data so as to reset the reference map, and updating an environmental map in accordance with the reference map before being reset.

Abstract: A device includes an external sensor to scan an environment so as to periodically output scan data, a storage to store an environmental map, and a location estimation device to match the sensor data against the environmental map read from the storage so as to estimate a location and an attitude of the vehicle. The location estimation device determines predicted values of a current location and a current estimation of the vehicle in accordance with a history of estimated locations and estimated attitudes of the vehicle, and performs the matching by using the predicted values.

Abstract: A discharge surface cleaning device for a liquid discharge head includes a wiping member, a washing liquid discharge device, and one or more absorbing members. The wiping member cleans the discharge surface by moving relative to the discharge surface while in contact with the discharge surface. The washing liquid discharge device applies a washing liquid directly to the wiping member. The absorbing member absorbs ink, and the washing liquid, on the wiping member.

Abstract: A control unit is arranged for a synchronous motor formed of a rotor provided with a magnet. The control unit includes a 180°-conduction drive unit for performing 180°-conduction drive of the synchronous motor, a 120°-conduction drive unit for performing 120°-conduction drive of the synchronous motor, a rotation speed calculating unit for calculating the motor rotation speed, a rotation-speed-vs.-efficiency table unit storing an efficiency relative to a rotation speed of the motor, and a drive method selecting unit for selecting an optimum drive method for the current rotation speed based on the current rotation speed and information stored in the rotation-speed-vs.-efficiency table unit. Thereby, the synchronous motor performs 120°- or 180°-conduction drive in accordance with the current rotation speed to achieve the drive with an optimum efficiency.

Abstract: A motor current detection amplifier detects a motor current's areas in two phase periods with reference to a motor voltage. A controlling microcomputer computed the ratio of the motor current areas of the two phase periods and provides the same as phase difference information which is in turn used to control a motor drive voltage to apply a sine wave of a predetermined period to the motor's coil to allow 180°-driving including a sine wave conduction resistant to noise and achieving a reduced cost hike.

Abstract: A sinusoidal wave data stream for correcting a torque ripple of a motor is stored in a torque ripple corrective memory. As the motor rotates, rotational angle information is computed from a rotational pulse signal and a rotor magnetic pole position pulse signal, which are generated accompanying the rotation. A sinusoidal wave data corresponding to the rotational angle information is recalled. Then, the sinusoidal wave data constituting a torque ripple corrective signal is subtracted from a motor control signal. With the use of the motor control signal after the subtraction, the motor is driven and controlled. With this arrangement, the motor torque ripple, which is a main cause of speed fluctuation of a polyphase brushless motor, is suppressed and stable and precise motor speed control is achieved.

Abstract: The motor speed control device of the present invention is provided with an FG sensor and a waveform shaping circuit for obtaining N pulse signals (N.gtoreq.1 where N is an integer) in one rotation of a motor so as to control the rotation speed of the motor in accordance with period information of the FG pulse signal outputted from the waveform shaping circuit. The motor speed control device is further provided with an FG nonuniformity correcting circuit for correcting, by using respective period information of a rising edge-falling edge period and a falling edge-rising edge period, periodic nonuniformity of each period. The motor speed control device controls the motor in response to an actual speed error signal whose nonuniformity such as a duty error and a phase error has been corrected by the FG nonuniformity correcting circuit.

Abstract: NO.sub.x is absorbed in an alkaline aqueous solution of a permanganate and/or a manganate and the manganese compounds are reduced to form the precipitate of manganese dioxide.The manganese dioxide is dispersed in an aqueous solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide having a concentration of higher than 20% and a gas containing NO.sub.x having a molar ratio of NO.sub.2 /NO.sub.x of higher than 0.55 is contacted with the dispersion in the presence of a permanganate and/or a manganate at higher than 40.degree. C, to convert manganese dioxide to the permanganate and/or the manganate.