Abstract: A method includes calculating an activity level of participant in a conference; determining whether to cause a voice output device to perform a speech operation to speak to one of the participants, based on a first level of the entire conference during a first period until a time that is earlier than a current time by a first time, the first level being calculated based on the respective activity levels; and when having determined to cause the voice output device to perform the speech operation, determining a person in the speech operation from among the participants, based on a second level of the entire conference during a second period until a time that is earlier than the current time by a second time longer than the first time, and the respective activity levels of the participants, the second level being calculated based on the respective activity levels of the participants.

Abstract: A robot control device includes a memory and a processor configured to acquire first environmental information regarding a surrounding environment of a robot, specify a first appropriate level associated with a first activity based on the first environmental information by referring to a control policy in which activity information on an activity which has been conducted by the robot, environmental information at a time of conduction of the activity, and appropriate level determined based on a reaction to the activity are associated with each other, and when the first appropriate level information of the first activity does not satisfy a specific condition, deter conduction of the first activity by the robot.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method for evaluating the possibility of suffering from pancreatic disease on the basis of the concentration of a pancreatic disease marker in a duodenal juice sample. The method for evaluating the possibility of suffering from pancreatic disease of the present invention has a step for (a) measuring the concentration of the pancreatic disease marker in a duodenal juice sample taken from a subject and a step for (b) evaluating the possibility of the subject suffering from pancreatic disease on the basis of the concentration of the pancreatic disease marker measured in step (a) and the age of the subject.

Abstract: In an electric motor, a magnetic bearing generates an electromagnetic force between multiple permanent magnets and a coil and rotatably supports an other side of a rotation shaft in an axis line direction. The rotation shaft is configured to be capable of being inclined with a rotation center line using a bearing side of the rotation shaft as a fulcrum. An electronic control device controls a current that flows to the coil such that an axis line of the rotation shaft approaches the rotation center line due to a supporting force which is the electromagnetic force between the multiple permanent magnets and the coil. Accordingly, the rotation shaft is rotatably supported to be freely rotatable by a magnetic bearing and the bearing.

Abstract: A battery temperature rise causing system has a converting unit for converting voltage of electric power held in one of a rechargeable battery and an accumulator and applies the converted voltage to the other one, and a control unit controlling the converting unit to alternately perform first transfer of electric power from the battery to the accumulator and second transfer of electric power from the accumulator to the battery while changing the first transfer for the second transfer each time the battery voltage reaches a lower limit and changing the second transfer for the first transfer each time the battery voltage reaches an upper limit, and to increase temperature of the battery due to heat generated by electric current flowing through the battery during the electric power transfer.

Abstract: A battery temperature rise causing system has a converting unit for converting voltage of electric power held in one of a rechargeable battery and a capacitor and applies the converted voltage to the other one, and a control unit controlling the converting unit to alternately perform first transfer of electric power from the battery to the capacitor and second transfer of electric power from the capacitor to the battery while changing the first transfer for the second transfer each time the battery voltage reaches a lower limit and changing the second transfer for the first transfer each time the battery voltage reaches an upper limit, and to increase temperature of the battery due to heat generated by electric current flowing through the battery during the electric power transfer.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a torsion bar coaxially in alignment with input and output shafts, a ring shaped magnet fixed to an axial end of the input shaft, a pair of magnetic yokes fixed to an axial end of the output shaft, and a magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic flux density generated between the pair of magnetic yokes. Each of the magnetic yokes is provided with claws, which are circumferentially spaced at constant intervals, and whose number is equal to that of each of N and S poles alternately arranged circumferentially in the magnet. Each, center of the claws coincides with a boundary between immediately adjacent N and S poles of the magnet, when the torsion bar is not twisted. The magnetic sensor is inserted into an axial gap between the pair of magnetic yokes without contacting the magnetic yokes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of screening a physiologically active substance, comprising the steps of (1) contacting a transformed yeast with a test sample, wherein the transformed yeast is capable of expressing a heterogeneous protein, and shows a change in a growing state in an expression state of the protein as compared to that in a non-expression state of the protein; (2) culturing the yeast under conditions that the protein is capable of being expressed; and (3) measuring the growing state of the yeast, wherein the physiologically active substance is judged to be present in the test sample in a case where the growth of the yeast is lowered or improved in the presence of the test sample as compared to that in the absence of the test sample as a control; an yeast to be used in the method; a physiologically active substance obtainable by the method of screening as defined above; and a kit for screening a physiologically active substance, comprising the yeast as defined above.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a torsion bar coaxially in alignment with input and output shafts, a ring shaped magnet fixed to an axial end of the input shaft, a pair of magnetic yokes fixed to an axial end of the output shaft, and a magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic flux density generated between the pair of magnetic yokes. Each of the magnetic yokes is provided with claws, which are circumferentially spaced at constant intervals, and whose number is equal to that of each of N and S poles alternately arranged circumferentially in the magnet. Each, center of the claws coincides with a boundary between immediately adjacent N and S poles of the magnet, when the torsion bar is not twisted. The magnetic sensor is inserted into an axial gap between the pair of magnetic yokes without contacting the magnetic yokes.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a torsion bar coaxially in alignment with input and output shafts, a ring shaped magnet fixed to an axial end of the input shaft, a pair of magnetic yokes fixed to an axial end of the output shaft, and a magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic flux density generated between the pair of magnetic yokes. Each of the magnetic yokes is provided with claws, which are circumferentially spaced at constant intervals, and whose number is equal to that of each of N and S poles alternately arranged circumferentially in the magnet. Each center of the claws coincides with a boundary between immediately adjacent N and S poles of the magnet, when the torsion bar is not twisted. The magnetic sensor is inserted into an axial gap between the pair of magnetic yokes without contacting the magnetic yokes.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor unit includes an actuator motor and a magnetic position sensor. The actuator motor has a magnetic circuit including motor magnets. The magnetic position sensor includes a sensor magnet and a hall element for detecting magnetic flux. Magnet clearances are formed between the motor magnets. The hall element is disposed outside of the motor to detect the magnetic flux in a direction penetrating through the magnet clearances, and which is perpendicular to a direction from one of the motor magnets to the other. In this disposition of the hall element, it is restricted that the hall element detects leaking magnetic flux from the motor magnets.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a torsion bar coaxially in alignment with input and output shafts, a ring shaped magnet fixed to an axial end of the input shaft, a pair of magnetic yokes fixed to an axial end of the output shaft, and a magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic flux density generated between the pair of magnetic yokes. Each of the magnetic yokes is provided with claws, which are circumferentially spaced at constant intervals, and whose number is equal to that of each of N and S poles alternately arranged circumferentially in the magnet. Each center of the claws coincides with a boundary between immediately adjacent N and S poles of the magnet, when the torsion bar is not twisted. The magnetic sensor is inserted into an axial gap between the pair of magnetic yokes without contacting the magnetic yokes.

Abstract: A displacement sensor precisely detects displacement of a moving body in a rectilinear movement direction even if the moving body rotates. The sensor includes a detector and a magnet. The cross sectional area of the permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to an axis, which extends in the rectilinear movement direction, varies in the direction of movement. The permanent magnet is magnetized in the rectilinear movement direction. The detector is located so that magnetic flux passes through a detection face of the detector substantially perpendicularly.

Abstract: A rain sensor includes an amplifier circuit that amplifies an output voltage from a photodiode and then provides this voltage signal to a CPU. The amplifier circuit conducts an offset amplification. The output voltage from the amplifier circuit is controlled to be at a predetermined level, for example, 3.0V, and the CPU detects rainfall based on the drop in the output voltage from the predetermined level, 3.0V. Then it becomes possible to improve sensor sensitivity, maintain a small sensor size, and a low manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor unit includes an actuator motor and a magnetic position sensor. The actuator motor has a magnetic circuit including motor magnets. The magnetic position sensor includes a sensor magnet and a hall element for detecting magnetic flux. Magnet clearances are formed between the motor magnets. The hall element is disposed outside of the motor to detect the magnetic flux in a direction penetrating through the magnet clearances, and which is perpendicular to a direction from one of the motor magnets to the other. In this disposition of the hall element, it is restricted that the hall element detects leaking magnetic flux from the motor magnets.

Abstract: A torque sensor has a torsion bar coaxially in alignment with input and output shafts, a ring shaped magnet fixed to an axial end of the input shaft, a pair of magnetic yokes fixed to an axial end of the output shaft, and a magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic flux density generated between the pair of magnetic yokes. Each of the magnetic yokes is provided with claws, which are circumferentially spaced at constant intervals, and whose number is equal to that of each of N and S poles alternately arranged circumferentially in the magnet. Each center of the claws coincides with a boundary between immediately adjacent N and S poles of the magnet, when the torsion bar is not twisted. The magnetic sensor is inserted into an axial gap between the pair of magnetic yokes without contacting the magnetic yokes.

Abstract: A precipitation sensor has a prism bonded to a front windshield, a beam transmitter, and a beam receiver. The prism has an entry-side prism wall, a connection wall, and an exit-side prism wall. The entry-side prism wall of the prism parallelizes light transmitted from the beam transmitter by refracting them on a convex lens face. The parallelized light is reflected from a parabolic outer face of the prism wall toward the inner face of the windshield. The parallel beams reflected from the inner face of the front windshield are reflected from a parabolic outer face of the exit-side prism wall and then focused on the beam receiver through a convex lens face of the prism wall. The convex shapes of the lens faces form arcs, the centers of which are aligned with the beam transmitter and the beam receiver, respectively.

Abstract: A raindrop sensor detects an amount of raindrops landed on a window glass and outputs a measurement signal to a microcomputer. The microcomputer calculates an average amount of raindrops by averaging a predetermined number of the latest measurements. The microcomputer calculates an interval time for the wiper based on the calculated average amount of raindrops. At this time, when the calculated average amount of raindrops deviates from a predetermined reference value, the microcomputer calculates the average amount of raindrops using a smaller number of the latest measurements.

Abstract: A displacement sensor precisely detects displacement of a moving body in a rectilinear movement direction even if the moving body rotates. The sensor includes a detector and a magnet. The cross sectional area of the permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to an axis, which extends in the rectilinear movement direction, varies in the direction of movement. The permanent magnet is magnetized in the rectilinear movement direction. The detector is located so that magnetic flux passes through a detection face of the detector substantially perpendicularly.

Abstract: A rain sensor includes an amplifier circuit that amplifies an output voltage from a photodiode and then provides this voltage signal to a CPU. The amplifier circuit conducts an offset amplification. The output voltage from the amplifier circuit is controlled to be at a predetermined level, for example, 3.0V, and the CPU detects rainfall based on the drop in the output voltage from the predetermined level, 3.0V. Then it becomes possible to improve sensor sensitivity, maintain a small sensor size, and a low manufacturing cost.