Abstract: An electrically assisted bicycle is provided with a so-called single-shaft motor drive unit that can satisfactorily keep torque detection capability. The outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a has a cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a torque sensor 31 for detecting a human driving force and a combined force member 29 that combines a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force from a motor 21. A one-way clutch is not provided on a driving force transmission path including the crankshaft 7a, the human-power transmission member 28, and the combined force member 28. The human-power transmission member 28 and the combined force member 29 are always rotated in response to a rotation of the crankshaft 7a.

Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided to satisfactorily keep torque detection capability while reducing the pedal force of a pedal during pedaling if a battery has run out. A cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a magneto-striction generation portion 31b of a torque sensor 31 is disposed on the outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a. A combined force member 29 for combining a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force is disposed on the outer periphery of the crankshaft 7a. An auxiliary-driving-force transmission path from a motor 21 to the combined force member 29 has a deceleration mechanism 25 that includes a plurality of reduction gears 36c and 36d and reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b. A one-way clutch 37 for interrupting a human driving force is disposed between the reduction gears 36c and 36d and the reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b.

Abstract: In a laminated piezoelectric body, a laminated piezoelectric body manufacturing method, an ultrasound transducer, and an ultrasound diagnostic device according to the present invention, a plurality of mutually laminated piezoelectric bodies are electrically connected in parallel to each other, and each of the plurality of piezoelectric bodies arranges an orientation of residual polarization or a crystal axis that is related to an electrical displacement or a sign of an electric field due to a direct piezoelectric effect in a direction which reduces sensitivity in a first resonance mode and increases sensitivity in a second resonance mode of a higher order than the first resonance mode with respect to an axis of a first-level piezoelectric body on a fixed end-side.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer of the invention comprises a structural unit, an armature, and first and second elastic members. The structural unit includes at least one pair of magnets, a yoke conducting a magnetic flux generated by the magnets, and a coil supplied with an electric signal. The armature has an inner portion disposed to pass through an internal space of the structural unit and first and second outer portions protruding on both sides from the inner portion, and the armature constitutes a magnetic circuit with the structural unit via two regions through which components of the magnetic flux flow in directions opposite to each other in the inner portion. The first and second elastic members connect between the first and second outer portions of the armature and the structural unit, respectively.

Abstract: An electrically assisted bicycle is provided with a so-called single-shaft motor drive unit that can satisfactorily keep torque detection capability. The outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a has a cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a torque sensor 31 for detecting a human driving force and a combined force member 29 that combines a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force from a motor 21. A one-way clutch is not provided on a driving force transmission path including the crankshaft 7a, the human-power transmission member 28, and the combined force member 28. The human-power transmission member 28 and the combined force member 29 are always rotated in response to a rotation of the crankshaft 7a.

Abstract: A power-assisted bicycle is provided to satisfactorily keep torque detection capability while reducing the pedal force of a pedal during pedaling if a battery has run out. A cylindrical human-power transmission member 28 having a magneto-striction generation portion 31b of a torque sensor 31 is disposed on the outer periphery of a crankshaft 7a. A combined force member 29 for combining a human driving force and an auxiliary driving force is disposed on the outer periphery of the crankshaft 7a. An auxiliary-driving-force transmission path from a motor 21 to the combined force member 29 has a deceleration mechanism 25 that includes a plurality of reduction gears 36c and 36d and reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b. A one-way clutch 37 for interrupting a human driving force is disposed between the reduction gears 36c and 36d and the reduction gear support shafts 36a and 36b.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer of the invention comprises a structural unit, an armature, and first and second elastic members. The structural unit includes at least one pair of magnets, a yoke conducting a magnetic flux generated by the magnets, and a coil supplied with an electric signal. The armature has an inner portion disposed to pass through an internal space of the structural unit and first and second outer portions protruding on both sides from the inner portion, and the armature constitutes a magnetic circuit with the structural unit via two regions through which components of the magnetic flux flow in directions opposite to each other in the inner portion. The first and second elastic members connect between the first and second outer portions of the armature and the structural unit, respectively.

Abstract: In a laminated piezoelectric body, a laminated piezoelectric body manufacturing method, an ultrasound transducer, and an ultrasound diagnostic device according to the present invention, a plurality of mutually laminated piezoelectric bodies are electrically connected in parallel to each other, and each of the plurality of piezoelectric bodies arranges an orientation of residual polarization or a crystal axis that is related to an electrical displacement or a sign of an electric field due to a direct piezoelectric effect in a direction which reduces sensitivity in a first resonance mode and increases sensitivity in a second resonance mode of a higher order than the first resonance mode with respect to an axis of a first-level piezoelectric body on a fixed end-side.

Abstract: An acoustic capacity measurement method for finding capacity of a container or object by removing effect of the surface area without using an approximate expression of acoustic impedance is provided. The acoustic capacity measurement method for finding capacity of a container includes a pressure change ratio calculating step, a rotation step, an oblique coordinate transformation step, and a capacity calculating step.

Abstract: The present invention provides an acoustic capacity measurement method for finding capacity of a container or object by removing effect of the surface area without using an approximate expression of acoustic impedance.

Abstract: A sound insulation/absorption structure, a sound insulation/absorption device, and a structure having these applied thereto and a member constituting the same, are capable of insulating or absorbing sound by stiffness control. The sound insulation/absorption structure comprises a film member, such as a polymer film or metal foil, and a frame body having at least one annular opening, the film member being fixed to the frame body, the section of the film member surrounded by the frame body being of a curved shape such as a dome, wherein the resonance frequency of the in-plane stretching of this curved shape is set at a frequency equal to or higher than the audible frequency band, so as to insulate or absorb sound by the elastic force of the film. The film member may be replaced by an acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate or other plastic plate, an aluminum or other metal plate, or a veneer or other plate member, molded into a curved shape, such as a dome, a semi-cylinder and a cone.

Abstract: A data management apparatus, according to a request of an application program, lends a pointer for reading out a data from a data field stored a plurality of data. An address of the data field corresponding to the lent pointer is stored a lending pointer table. When the application program accesses a data stored in the data field, the data management apparatus receives the pointer from the application program, reads out an address corresponding to the received pointer from the lending pointer table, and reads out the data corresponding to the read address from the data field. The read data is given to the application program.

Abstract: A reversible heat-sensitive layer 1a provided with an electron donative precursor and a reversible developer that colors and discolors the precursor, is provided on the surface of a base, and the reversible heat-sensitive recording layer is heated previously to a molten state and then quickly cooled to a solid colored state. Using this reversible heat-sensitive paper (reversible writing heat-sensitive paper), the reversible heat-sensitive recording layer is heated during operation to a color-erasing temperature range lower than the melting temperature of the layer, thereby, a heated part is discolored and written with information. Thus, the life of the reversible heat-sensitive layer can be prolonged and information can be written with weak light.

Abstract: A sound insulation/absorption structure, a sound insulation/absorption device, and a structure having these applied thereto and a member constituting the same, are capable of insulating or absorbing sound by stiffness control. The sound insulation/absorption structure comprises a film member, such as a polymer film or metal foil, and a frame body having at least one annular opening, the film member being fixed to the frame body, the section of the film member surrounded by the frame body being of a curved shape such as a dome, wherein the resonance frequency of the in-plane stretching of this curved shape is set at a frequency equal to or higher than the audible frequency band, so as to insulate or absorb sound by the elastic force of the film. The film member may be replaced by an acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate or other plastic plate, an aluminum or other metal plate, or a veneer or other plate member, molded into a curved shape, such as a dome, a semi-cylinder and a cone.

Abstract: Rewritable labels 10 capable of erasing and writing information are used as a buying form I and shipping form O incapable of being falsified. Each rewritable label has a barcode 2 in which a serial number N is written in a mode incapable of being erased, and an erasable two-dimensional code 4 for writing commodity information. In the two-dimensional code 4 of the buying form I, supplier's commodity information and the serial number N of the buying form I are written in a mode incapable of being falsified. In the two-dimensional code 4 of the shipping form O, at least some of contents of the two-dimensional code 4 of the buying form I, new commodity information, and the serial number N of the shipping form O are written in a mode incapable of being falsified.

Abstract: An elastic wave control element includes a piezoelectric material which is inserted into a propagation path for an elastic wave or installed in an oscillator to allow the elastic wave in a selected frequency to be damped, reflected, or transmitted. The piezoelectric material is provided with a pair of electrodes between which a negative capacitance circuit is connected to allow a loss factor of the negative capacitance circuit in a selected frequency or frequency band to be matched with a dielectric loss factor of the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: An elastic wave control element is inserted into a propagation path for an elastic wave or installed in an oscillator to allow the elastic wave in a selected frequency to be damped, reflected, or transmitted. A piezoelectric material 1 is provided with a pair of electrodes between which a negative capacitance circuit A is connected to allow a loss factor of the negative capacitance circuit A in a selected frequency or frequency band to be matched with a dielectric loss factor of the piezoelectric material 1.

Abstract: A variably sound-absorbing device comprises a piezoelectric material 32 the peripheral portion of which is fixed to a frame 31 or the like, at least one pair of electrodes 34 formed on opposite surfaces of the piezoelectric material, and at least one circuit element 36 through which the electrodes are connected to each other. The piezoelectric material 32 is boardlike and curved, and an electrical characteristic of the circuit element 36 (a circuit showing a negative capacitance for example) is variable. The modulus of elasticity (the real number part of the modulus of elasticity) and the loss factor (the imaginary number part of the modulus of elasticity) of the piezoelectric material are thereby varied and the sound-absorbing characteristic is electrically varied to a considerable extent.

Abstract: The elastic modulus of a piezoelectric substance is controlled over a wide range using a simple method. The effective modulus (the real part of the elastic modulus) and the energy loss modulus (the imaginary part of the elastic modulus) of the piezoelectric substance are changed by installing electrodes on the surface of the piezoelectric substance and by connecting a mechanism consisting of one or more circuit elements to each of the electrodes.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating phase change of an emulsion comprises a sliding part having a sliding surface to which the emulsion is applied, a pushing part disposed at a fixed position and pushed against the sliding surface applied with the emulsion, and sensor means for measuring a force imparted to the pushing part in the sliding direction. Also disclosed is a method for evaluating phase change of an emulsion from changes in the force measured by the apparatus.