Abstract: A torque sensor for detecting torque around a predetermined rotation axis, including: a first support body, a second support body, a detection part which connects the first support body and the second support body and which undergoes elastic deformation by exertion of torque to be detected, a detection element which detects elastic deformation occurring at the detection part, and a detection circuit which outputs an electric signal indicating torque around the rotation axis exerted on one of (i) the first support body in a state that a load is applied to the second support body, and (ii) the second support body in a state that a load is applied to the first support body. The detection element includes a capacitive element which includes a displacement electrode fixed to a displacement part and a fixing electrode opposing the displacement electrode. The detection circuit outputs the electric signal indicating the exerted torque based on fluctuation in capacitance value of the capacitive element.

Abstract: A power generating element is provided that includes first and second plate-like structures, a pedestal that supports the first plate-like structure, and first and second piezoelectric elements that generate charges on the basis of the deflections of the two plate-like structures. A base end portion of the first plate-like structure is connected to the pedestal, and a direction from the base end portion toward the tip end portion of the first plate-like structure is a Y-axis positive direction. A base end portion of the second plate-like structure is connected to the tip end portion of the first plate-like structure via a connection body, and a direction from the base end portion toward the tip end portion of the second plate-like structure is a Y-axis negative direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a torque sensor that is small and highly rigid and for which high production efficiency is possible. An annular deformation body (50) is disposed between a left side support body (10) and a right side support body (20). Protruding parts (11, 12) of the left side support body (10) are joined to two upper and lower sites on the left side surface of the annular deformation body (50), and protruding parts (21, 22) of the right side support body (20) are joined to two left and right sites on the right side surface of the annular deformation body (50). The annular deformation body (50) has, at four sites, detection parts (D1 to D4) that cause elastic deformation, the right side surface of each of the detection parts (D1 to D4) moves close to or moves away from the opposing surface of the right side support body (20) when torque around the Z axis is exerted on the left side support body (10) in a state that a load is applied to the right side support body (20).

Abstract: A power generating element according to the present invention includes: a support frame formed in a frame shape in plan view; a vibrating body provided inside the support frame; a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion that supports the vibrating body on the support frame; and a charge generating element to generate a charge at the time of displacement of the vibrating body. The support frame includes a first frame portion arranged on a first side with respect to the vibrating body and includes a second frame portion arranged on a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the vibrating body. The first bridge portion couples the vibrating body with the first frame portion. The second bridge portion couples the vibrating body with the second frame portion.

Abstract: A torque sensor including an annular deformation body disposed so as to surround a circumference of a rotation axis, an exertion support body, a fixing support body, and a detection circuit. The annular deformation body has four coupling parts, and four detection parts positioned between two coupling parts which are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the annular deformation body, the detection parts undergoing elastic deformation by exertion of torque. The detection parts each are formed in a convex shape on one side in a direction along the rotation axis and are formed in a concave shape on the other side in a direction along the rotation axis. The detection circuit outputs electric signals on the basis of elastic deformation undergone to the detection part of the annular deformation body.

Abstract: The power generation efficiency is to be enhanced by converting vibration energy including various direction components into electric energy without waste. A cantilever structure is adopted, in which a first plate-like bridge portion (120) and a second plate-like bridge portion (130) extend in a shape of a letter U from a fixing-portion (110) fixed to the device housing (200) and a weight body (150) is connected to the end. On the upper surface of the cantilever structure, a common lower layer electrode (E00), a layered piezoelectric element (300) and discrete upper layer electrodes (Ex1 to Ez4) are formed. The upper layer electrodes (Ez1 to Ez4) disposed on a center line (Lx, Ly) of each plate-like bridge portion take out charge generated in the piezoelectric element (300) due to deflection caused by the Z-axis direction vibration of the weight body (150).

Abstract: A power generating element according to the present invention includes a pedestal formed in a frame shape in plan view, a vibrating body provided inside the pedestal, at least three first bridge supporting portions, each of the first bridge supporting portions extending along a first extending axis and configured to arrange the vibrating body to be supported on a pedestal, and a charge generating element. The first extending axes of a pair of the first bridge supporting portions adjacent to each other form a predetermined angle in a circumferential direction with the vibrating body defined as a center in plan view. At least one first electrode layer of the charge generating element is arranged on each of the first bridge supporting portions.

Abstract: There is provided a detection ring (600), the structure of which is shown in the perspective view of FIG. 13(a). The detection ring (600) is arranged so that the Z-axis is a central axis on the XY plane as shown in the side view (b), and a planar shape thereof is formed in a circular ring as shown in the bottom view (c). The detection ring (600) is structured so that four sets of detection portions (D1 to D4), each constituted with a blade spring which undergoes elastic deformation, are coupled with four sets of circular arc-shaped coupling portions (L1 to L4). A supporting substrate is arranged below the detection ring (600) and fixing points (P1, P2) arranged on the Y-axis are fixed to the supporting substrate. When force or moment to be detected is exerted on exertion points (Q1, Q2), the four sets of detection portions (D1 to D4) undergo elastic deformation.

Abstract: A torque sensor of the present invention includes: a ring-shaped deformation body; first to fourth displacement electrodes deformable due to elastic deformation of the ring-shaped deformation body; first to fourth fixed electrodes arranged at positions opposite to those of the first to fourth displacement electrodes; and a detection circuit that outputs an electrical signal representing torque based on a variation amount of capacitance values of first to fourth capacitive elements formed by the first to fourth displacement electrodes and the first to fourth fixed electrodes, wherein the detection circuit outputs, as the electrical signals representing the acting torque, a first electrical signal corresponding to a difference between “a sum of a capacitance value of the first capacitive element and a capacitance value of the second capacitive element” and “a sum of a capacitance value of the third capacitive element and a capacitance value of the fourth capacitive element” and a second electrical signal corres

Abstract: Provided is a power generating element and a power generating device capable of using vibration energy not used for power generation in the past. The power generating element includes a displacement member, a fixed member, and an elastic deformation body. An electret material layer is formed on a surface of one of the displacement member and the fixed member. A counter electrode layer opposed to the electret material layer is formed on the other surface. When vibration energy is given to the power generating element, the displacement member is displaced with respect to the fixed member such that an inter-layer distance between the electret material layer and the counter electrode layer fluctuates according to deformation of the elastic deformation body.

Abstract: A force sensor of the present invention includes: a supporting body arranged on an X-Y plane; a deformation body arranged opposite to the supporting body and having a deformation part elastically deformed by an action of a force to be detected; a fixed electrode arranged on the supporting body; a displacement electrode provided to the deformation part of the deformation body in such a manner as to face the fixed electrode with which it forms a capacitive element; and a detection circuit that outputs an electrical signal representing the acting force based on a variation amount of a capacitance value of the capacitive element, wherein the capacitive element includes a first capacitive element and a second capacitive element, and the detection circuit determines whether the force sensor is normally functioning based on a first electrical signal corresponding to a capacitance value of the first capacitive element, a second electrical signal corresponding to a capacitance value of the second capacitive element, a

Abstract: A power generating element 1 according to an embodiment includes a displacement member 10, a displacement member 20, and a fixed member 30. The displacement member 10 and the displacement member 20 are connected via an elastic deformation body 41. The displacement member 10 is connected to an attachment section 51 via an elastic deformation body 42. The displacement member 10 and/or the displacement member 20 includes a first power generation surface. The fixed member 30 includes a second power generation surface opposed to the first power generation surface. An electret material layer is provided on one surface of the first power generation surface and the second power generation surface. A counter electrode layer is provided on the other surface.

Abstract: A capacitive force sensor that is inexpensive but highly sensitive, and is hardly affected by temperature changes and in-phase noise in the use environment. A force sensor includes: a deformable body having a force receiving portion and a fixed portion; a displacement body that is connected to the deformable body, and is displaced by elastic deformation caused in the deformable body; and a detection circuit that detects an applied force, in accordance with the displacement caused in the displacement body.

Abstract: A force sensor includes: a deformable body having a force receiving portion and a fixed portion; a displacement body configured to generate a displacement by elastic deformation generated in the deformable body; and a detection circuit configured to detect an applied force on the basis of the displacement generated in the displacement body, in which the deformable body includes: a tilting portion arranged between the force receiving portion and the fixed portion; a first deformable portion that connects the force receiving portion and the tilting portion; and a second deformable portion that connects the fixed portion and the tilting portion, the displacement body includes a displacement portion connected to the tilting portion and separated from the fixed portion, the detection circuit includes a first displacement sensor and a second displacement sensor arranged in the displacement portion, and the detection circuit outputs a first electric signal indicating an applied force on the basis of a detection valu

Abstract: A force sensor according to the present invention is configured to detect at least one component among components of a force in each axis direction in an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system and a moment around each axis, and includes: a support body arranged on an XY plane; a deformation body joined to the support body; and a detection circuit that outputs an electric signal indicating a force applied on the deformation body.

Abstract: A torque sensor including an annular deformation body, left side support body, right side support body, left side connection members which connect left side connection points of the annular deformation body with the left side support body, and right side connection members which connect right side connection points of the annular deformation body with the right side support body. Orthogonal projection images of the left side connection points on the basic plane and orthogonal projection images of the right side connection points on the basic plane are formed at mutually different positions.

Abstract: A torque sensor includes: an annular deformation body; first and second displacement electrodes which cause displacement by elastic deformation of the annular deformation body; first and second fixed electrodes arranged at positions opposite the first and second displacement electrodes; and a detection circuit that outputs an electric signal indicating a torque based on a variation amount of capacitance values of first and second capacitive elements each of which is configured of the displacement electrode and the fixed electrode. The annular deformation body includes a high elastic portion and a low elastic portion having a spring constant smaller than a spring constant of the high elastic portion. The detection circuit determines whether the torque sensor functions normally based on a ratio between first and second electric signals.

Abstract: There is provided a power generating element which is capable of converting vibration energy in various directions into electric energy without waste and less likely to be damaged even upon application of excessive vibration. Made available is a main generating structure (MGS) in which a first layer (100), a second layer (200) and a third layer (300) are laminated. The second layer (200) has a plate-like bridge portion (210), a central plate-like portion (220), a left-hand side plate-like portion (230) and a right-hand side plate-like portion (240), each of which is flexible, and the third layer (300), that is a weight body, formed in the “U” letter shape is joined with the lower surface thereof. The plate-like bridge portion (210) is protected by the weight body (300) circumference thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a torque sensor that is small and highly rigid and for which high production efficiency is possible. An annular deformation body (50) is disposed between a left side support body (10) and a right side support body (20). Protruding parts (11, 12) of the left side support body (10) are joined to two upper and lower sites on the left side surface of the annular deformation body (50), and protruding parts (21, 22) of the right side support body (20) are joined to two left and right sites on the right side surface of the annular deformation body (50). The annular deformation body (50) has, at four sites, detection parts (D1 to D4) that cause elastic deformation, the right side surface of each of the detection parts (D1 to D4) moves close to or moves away from the opposing surface of the right side support body (20) when torque around the Z axis is exerted on the left side support body (10) in a state that a load is applied to the right side support body (20).

Abstract: A capacitive force sensor that is inexpensive but highly sensitive, and hardly affected by temperature changes and in-phase noise in the use environment is provided. a capacitive force sensor that is inexpensive but highly sensitive, and is hardly affected by temperature changes and in-phase noise in the use environment. A force sensor includes: a deformable body having a force receiving portion and a fixed portion; a displacement body that is connected to the deformable body, and is displaced by elastic deformation caused in the deformable body; and a detection circuit that detects an applied force, in accordance with the displacement caused in the displacement body. The deformable body includes a tilting portion that has a longitudinal direction and is disposed between the force receiving portion and the fixed portion. The displacement body includes displacement portions that are connected to the tilting portion and are displaced by tilting movement of the tilting portion.