Abstract: A user interface device and a PDA include: a transparent panel unit possessing plural layers, each provided with plural transparent deformation sections deformable to a specified shape by injection or discharge of fluid; a fluid channel unit possessing, in common or separately, two transparent fluid channels to inject and to discharge fluid to and from the deformation sections; a fluid pump unit to discharge or suck fluid to and from the fluid channel unit; a display panel unit provided with the transparent panel unit over an upper surface of the display panel unit and possessing a screen surface to display an image; and a controller to control injection and discharge of the fluid to and from the deformation sections of the transparent panel unit, corresponding to an image to be displayed on the screen of the display panel unit. Information can be conveyed tactilely and visually to a user.

Abstract: A variable capacitance device includes a fixing member, a fixed electrode having a first end side fixed by the fixing member, an actuator element having a first end side fixed by the fixing member directly or indirectly, a movable electrode provided to connect to the actuator element directly or indirectly and disposed to approximately face the fixed electrode, and a driving section deforming a second end side of the actuator element, to change a distance between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode.

Abstract: Provided are a lens drive device capable of moving with good accuracy a lens in the direction of an optical axis thereof, and a lens module and an image pickup device provided with such a lens drive device. By a pair of polymer actuator elements 441 and 442, a lens holding member 43 is driven via coupling members 451A, 451B, 452A, and 452B. As a result, a lens 48 can be moved with good accuracy in the direction of the optical axis Z1 thereof. In addition, preferably, the coupling members 451A, 451B, 452A, and 452B have the rigidity same as or lower than that of each of the polymer actuator elements 441 and 442.

Abstract: A driving unit that may improve characteristics in a low temperature environment while implementing downsizing, and a lens module as well as an image pickup device with such a driving unit are provided. The driving unit includes one or a plurality of polymer actuator elements, and a voltage supply section supplying a driving voltage and a heating voltage to the polymer actuator element.

Abstract: A geometry sensor includes: a detection surface including a plurality of polymer sensor elements and configured to detect an external object, the polymer sensor elements being arranged side-by-side along one or more directions and each generating a voltage according to a deformation; and a detecting section detecting a surface geometry of a region in the external object that is in contact with the detection surface, based on the voltage obtained from each of the polymer sensor elements in the detection surface.

Abstract: A lens module includes: a lens forming an image of an object; a lens holder to hold an outer peripheral side of the lens to allow reciprocal movement in an optical axis direction of the lens; a housing at least one end side of which is opened, which includes a cylindrical receiving part having an inner surface, one surface of which, at a lateral side, contacts one surface of the lens holder at the lateral side perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and which receives the lens holder in the receiving part to allow reciprocal movement in the optical axis direction of the lens and in a sliding state; and an actuator part including a movable part which is displaced by a displacement amount corresponding to a level of an applied drive voltage and reciprocates the lens holder received in the housing between a first position and a second position in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: A camera module includes: a barrel; a movable lens provided to be movable in the barrel in an optical axis direction; an imaging device that captures an image of a subject viewed through the movable lens; and an actuator that changes the distance between the movable lens and the imaging device, wherein the actuator has a first power feed terminal provided at one end thereof and a second power feed terminal provided at the other end thereof, the first terminal attached on the side where the movable lens is present, the second terminal attached on the side where the barrel is present, the actuator bends when electric power is fed to each of the first and second terminals and changes the distance between the movable lens and the imaging device, and each of the first and second terminals, when electric power is fed thereto, bends and changes the distance between the movable lens and the imaging device.

Abstract: A sensor includes: a first polymer sensor element generating a first voltage corresponding to a deformation thereof; a second polymer sensor element generating a second voltage corresponding to a deformation thereof; a fixing member fixing a first end of each of the first and the second polymer sensor elements while electrically insulating the first ends from each other; and a detector detecting an acceleration and an angular acceleration based on the first voltage derived from the first polymer sensor element and the second voltage derived from the second polymer sensor element.

Abstract: A protrusion pattern forming device with a display function includes a transparent elastic sheet having an internal layer including colored liquid, and an actuator including a plurality of actuator elements disposed along one surface of the elastic sheet, each of the actuator elements changing its own shape in response to an application of a voltage, thereby allowing the surface of the elastic sheet to protrude. A protrusion pattern is formed on the elastic sheet, and a dot pattern corresponding to the protrusion pattern is displayed on the elastic sheet by selectively driving the plurality of actuator elements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lens mechanism including: a base; a guide member fixed to the base; a lens holding member adapted to hold the lens and which is held by the guide member in such a manner as to move straight along the optical axis; a rotary member adapted to rotate while at the same time engaging with part of the lens holding member so as to cause the lens holding member to move straight along the optical axis; and polymer actuator elements each of which has one end fixed to the base or guide member and the other end engaging with part of the rotary member so as to rotate the rotary member in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: An actuator includes an ion-conductive polymer layer made of a first ion-conductive polymer, a pair of electrode layers provided one on each side of the ion-conductive polymer layer and made of a second ion-conductive polymer and conductive powder, and ions contained in the ion-conductive polymer layer and electrode layers. The first and second ion-conductive polymers differ in functional group type from each other.

Abstract: An actuator includes: an ion conductive polymer layer including an ion conductive polymer; a pair of electrode layers disposed on both surfaces of the ion conductive polymer layer; and an ionic liquid contained in the ion conductive polymer layer and the electrode layers; wherein the electrode layers contain at least an ion conductive polymer and carbon powder, and kinds of carbon powders included on an inside and an outside of the electrode layers are different from each other.

Abstract: An optical element module includes an optical element, and a plurality of actuator elements. In the module, the plurality of actuator elements are arranged such that a direction of width of the oblong strip shape of the plurality of actuator elements is a direction of the optical axis and such that a direction of thickness of the plurality of actuator elements is perpendicular to the optical axis , another end part in a direction of length of the plurality of actuator elements is fixed such that one end part in the direction of length of the plurality of actuator elements is displaced by the bending to move the optical element, and at least one actuator element A of the plurality of actuator elements is disposed such that a direction in which the one end part of the actuator element A is displaced by the bending (X-direction) is orthogonal to a direction in which the one end part of another actuator element B is displaced by the bending (Y-direction).

Abstract: There are provided first and second lenses, by which light incident from outside is condensed and caused to outgo, a barrel, which holds the first and second lenses, a barrel holding part having a substantially cylindrical shape to hold therein the barrel, a movement device for movement of the barrel holding part in an optical axis direction of the first and second lenses, and a pedestal having a lens receiving portion, which receives therein the barrel holding part in a slidable state, the pedestal receiving therein the barrel holding part contacting in plural lines with an inner wall surface of the lens receiving portion of the pedestal.

Abstract: An optical element module includes an optical element, and a plurality of actuator elements. In the module, each actuator element has an ion conductive polymer film and electrodes arranged on both sides of the film, and a whole of the actuator element is bent in a direction of thickness by applying a voltage between the electrodes, and the direction of the thickness of the actuator elements is a direction of an optical axis of the optical element, the actuator elements are arranged at equal intervals around the optical axis on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and a displacement due to the bend of one end part of at least one actuator element acts on one of a side surface and a bottom surface of the optical element to effect one of tilting and movement in the direction of the optical axis of the optical element.

Abstract: An actuator is provided. The actuator includes a pair of electrode layers, and an ionically conductive polymer layer arranged between the pair of electrode layers. The ionically conductive polymer layer is configured to bend or deform as a result of the application of a voltage between the pair of electrode layers. The electrode layers each include carbon particles and an ionically conductive resin, and the ionically conductive resin binds the carbon particles with each other.

Abstract: An ink-receiving layer has a bilayer constitution, which is formed by sequentially laminating a lower layer and an upper layer on a support. The upper layer contains alumina having an average pore diameter of less than 5 nm (alumina A) and alumina having an average pore diameter of 5 nm or more (alumina B) in a weight ratio of (alumina A):(alumina B)=100:0 to 70:30; the lower layer contains the alumina A and the alumina B in a weight ratio of (alumina A):(alumina B)=0:100 to 50:50; and the thickness ratio of the upper layer to the lower layer is as follows: (upper layer):(lower layer)=2:1 to 5:1.

Abstract: An optical element module includes an optical element, and a plurality of actuator elements. In the module, each actuator element has an ion conductive polymer film and electrodes arranged on both sides of the film, and a whole of the actuator element is bent in a direction of thickness by applying a voltage between the electrodes, and the direction of the thickness of the actuator elements is a direction of an optical axis of the optical element, the actuator elements are arranged at equal intervals around the optical axis on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and a displacement due to the bend of one end part of at least one actuator element acts on one of a side surface and a bottom surface of the optical element to effect one of tilting and movement in the direction of the optical axis of the optical element.

Abstract: An optical element module includes an optical element, and a plurality of actuator elements. In the module, the plurality of actuator elements are arranged such that a direction of width of the oblong strip shape of the plurality of actuator elements is a direction of the optical axis and such that a direction of thickness of the plurality of actuator elements is perpendicular to the optical axis, another end part in a direction of length of the plurality of actuator elements is fixed such that one end part in the direction of length of the plurality of actuator elements is displaced by the bending to move the optical element, and at least one actuator element A of the plurality of actuator elements is disposed such that a direction in which the one end part of the actuator element A is displaced by the bending (X-direction) is orthogonal to a direction in which the one end part of another actuator element B is displaced by the bending (Y-direction).

Abstract: A user interface device and a PDA include: a transparent panel unit possessing plural layers, each provided with plural transparent deformation sections deformable to a specified shape by injection or discharge of fluid; a fluid channel unit possessing, in common or separately, two transparent fluid channels to inject and to discharge fluid to and from the deformation sections; a fluid pump unit to discharge or suck fluid to and from the fluid channel unit; a display panel unit provided with the transparent panel unit over an upper surface of the display panel unit and possessing a screen surface to display an image; and a controller to control injection and discharge of the fluid to and from the deformation sections of the transparent panel unit, corresponding to an image to be displayed on the screen of the display panel unit. Information can be conveyed tactilely and visually to a user.