Abstract: The present disclosure describes a seat frame including a waist portion supporting member having a smaller size while stably supporting a waist portion of an occupant. A vehicle seat frame serving as a frame for a vehicle seat includes a seat cushion frame forming a frame of a sitting part of the vehicle seat, a seatback frame forming a frame of a backrest part of the vehicle seat, and a waist portion supporting member coupled to a lower frame which is included in the seatback frame. The waist portion supporting member has a coupling region extending in the seat width direction, the coupling region being coupled to the lower frame, and a waist portion supporting region extending from the coupling region toward the seat cushion frame and supporting a waist portion of an occupant. The waist portion supporting region is longer in the seat width direction than the coupling region.

Abstract: A rack housing and a reduction drive housing accommodate a ball screw mechanism and a reduction drive. Within the rack housing and the reduction drive housing, a gap is provided between the left end of a nut and the rack housing, and a gap is provided between the right end of the nut and the rack housing. A groove serving as a communication path in communication with the gaps on both axial sides of the nut is provided in the outer circumferential surface of the nut. The groove is provided so as to avoid a recirculation path provided in the nut. The groove is provided axially and rectilinearly from the end of the nut that is located on the side opposite to a flange, to the flange and is provided along the flange.

Abstract: Provided is a ball screw device in which a deflector can securely be prevented from falling into a nut when the deflector is attached. A ball screw device includes a ball screw shaft, a nut, rolling elements, a ball recirculation path, and a deflector. An attachment hole has a pair of first faces. The deflector has a pair of second faces that respectively face the pair of first faces in a state in which the deflector is housed in the attachment hole. The first faces of the attachment hole and the second faces of the deflector have a locking structure in which the first faces and the second faces respectively lock each other in an improper state in which a part of the deflector is inserted into the attachment hole in a posture different from a posture of the deflector housed in the attachment hole.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element in which, at a time when the piezoelectric element is manufactured, a piezoelectric material is prevented from being exposed to a temperature higher than a Curie temperature thereof to be depolarized, to thereby significantly decrease piezoelectric properties. The method of manufacturing a piezoelectric element includes a first step of arranging a plurality of electrodes on a piezoelectric material, electrically short-circuiting two or more electrodes of the plurality of electrodes, and subjecting the piezoelectric material to heat treatment, and a second step of, after the first step, electrically opening the short circuit of the two or more electrodes at a time when a temperature of the piezoelectric material decreases to less than a temperature of the piezoelectric material at a time of the heat treatment.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a talk control unit that controls proxy utterance processing in voice talk processing on the basis of environment information regarding a user terminal acquired from the user terminal. Furthermore, there is provided an information processing method performed by a processor, including: acquiring environment information regarding a user terminal from the user terminal; and controlling proxy utterance processing in voice talk processing on the basis of the acquired environment information. Furthermore, there is provided an information processing system including: a user terminal that is able to acquire environment information regarding the user terminal; and a server that includes a talk control unit controlling proxy utterance processing in voice talk processing on the basis of the environment information regarding the user terminal acquired from the user terminal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor includes an annular vibrator and an annular moving member that is brought into pressure-contact with the vibrator. The vibrator includes an annular vibrating plate and an annular piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element includes an annular lead-free piezoelectric ceramic piece, a common electrode arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric ceramic piece, and a plurality of electrodes arranged on the other surface of the piezoelectric ceramic piece. The plurality of electrodes include two drive phase electrodes, one or more non-drive phase electrodes, and one or more detection phase electrodes. A second surface of the vibrating plate includes a plurality of groove regions extending radially, and the depths of the groove regions change in a circumferential direction along a curve obtained by superimposing one or more sine waves on one another. The ultrasonic motor exhibits a sufficient drive speed while suppressing generation of an unnecessary vibration wave.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a seat frame including a waist portion supporting member having a smaller size while stably supporting a waist portion of an occupant. A vehicle seat frame serving as a frame for a vehicle seat includes a seat cushion frame forming a frame of a sitting part of the vehicle seat, a seatback frame forming a frame of a backrest part of the vehicle seat, and a waist portion supporting member coupled to a lower frame which is included in the seatback frame. The waist portion supporting member has a coupling region extending in the seat width direction, the coupling region being coupled to the lower frame, and a waist portion supporting region extending from the coupling region toward the seat cushion frame and supporting a waist portion of an occupant. The waist portion supporting region is longer in the seat width direction than the coupling region.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a seat frame including a waist portion supporting member having a smaller size while stably supporting a waist portion of an occupant. A vehicle seat frame serving as a frame for a vehicle seat includes a seat cushion frame forming a frame of a sitting part of the vehicle seat, a seatback frame forming a frame of a backrest part of the vehicle seat, and a waist portion supporting member coupled to a lower frame which is included in the seatback frame. The waist portion supporting member has a coupling region extending in the seat width direction, the coupling region being coupled to the lower frame, and a waist portion supporting region extending from the coupling region toward the seat cushion frame and supporting a waist portion of an occupant. The waist portion supporting region is longer in the seat width direction than the coupling region.

Abstract: A grease injection valve 10 is provided having a valve body 16 including a flow path 15 the valve body. A foreign matter intrusion prevention valve 18 is provided at the upstream side of a check valve 17 in the flow path 15 of valve body 16. Grooves 47 are positioned around the periphery of a foreign matter intrusion prevention valve body 44 in the flow path 15 to provide communication between the downstream side and the upstream side of the foreign matter intrusion prevention valve body 44. When the check valve 17 has a functional failure, high-pressure grease escapes through the grooves 47 to bypass the foreign matter intrusion prevention valve body 44 and is discharged to an exterior of the grease injection valve 10. This can avoid excessive pressure caused by the grease backflow from being applied to the foreign matter intrusion prevention valve 18.

Abstract: A frame serving as a seatback frame for a vehicle seat and simply configured to reduce a load applied to a seated occupant at the time of a vehicle collision is provided. A seatback frame includes a connecting wire which connects side frames. The center of the connecting wire is bent to extend toward a front side of a vehicle seat. When the seated occupant is moved toward a rear side of the vehicle seat at the time of a vehicle rear-end collision, the forward extending portion restrains a portion of the back of the seated occupant in which a thoracic vertebra is located and reduces an amount of a rearward movement of the portion.

Abstract: A vehicle seat comprises a frame member provided on a floor of a vehicle, a seat part such as a seat cushion detachably attached to the frame member, a mechanical connector device provided on the frame member and the seat part for detachably attaching the seat part to the frame member; and an electric connector device provided on the frame member and the seat part for electrically connecting an electric component provided on the seat part to an electric component provided on the frame member.

Abstract: A vibration wave drive device includes an annular piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric material and multiple electrodes provided sandwiching the piezoelectric material, the annular piezoelectric element being configured to vibrate by a traveling wave of a wavelength ?; and a power feeding member including at least an electric wire for supplying electric power to the element, the feeding member being provided at a first surface of the element. The element includes at least two driving regions, and a non-driving region arranged between two of the at least two driving regions and having an average annular length of n?/4, n being an odd number. At least one electrode provided on the first surface is arranged across the driving region and the non-driving region, and is electrically connected to the feeding member only in the non-driving region.

Abstract: A frame serving as a seatback frame for a vehicle seat and simply configured to reduce a load applied to a seated occupant at the time of a vehicle collision is provided. A seatback frame includes a connecting wire which connects side frames. The center of the connecting wire is bent to extend toward a front side of a vehicle seat. When the seated occupant is moved toward a rear side of the vehicle seat at the time of a vehicle rear-end collision, the forward extending portion restrains a portion of the back of the seated occupant in which a thoracic vertebra is located and reduces an amount of a rearward movement of the portion.

Abstract: Provided is a ball screw device in which a deflector can securely be prevented from falling into a nut when the deflector is attached. A ball screw device includes a ball screw shaft, a nut, rolling elements, a ball recirculation path, and a deflector. An attachment hole has a pair of first faces. The deflector has a pair of second faces that respectively face the pair of first faces in a state in which the deflector is housed in the attachment hole. The first faces of the attachment hole and the second faces of the deflector have a locking structure in which the first faces and the second faces respectively lock each other in an improper state in which a part of the deflector is inserted into the attachment hole in a posture different from a posture of the deflector housed in the attachment hole.

Abstract: A frame serving as a seatback frame for a vehicle seat and simply configured to reduce a load applied to a seated occupant at the time of a vehicle collision is provided. A seatback frame includes a connecting wire which connects side frames. The center of the connecting wire is bent to extend toward a front side of a vehicle seat. When the seated occupant is moved toward a rear side of the vehicle seat at the time of a vehicle rear-end collision, the forward extending portion restrains a portion of the back of the seated occupant in which a thoracic vertebra is located and reduces an amount of a rearward movement of the portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric element that includes a piezoelectric material having first and second surfaces; a common electrode disposed on the first surface; and a plurality of drive phase electrodes, a detection phase electrode, and a non-drive phase electrode disposed on the second surface, the piezoelectric material being sandwiched between the common electrode and the electrodes on the second surface. An absolute value d(1) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material (1) in portions sandwiched between the drive phase electrodes and the common electrode, an absolute value d(2) of a piezoelectric constant of the piezoelectric material (2) in a portion sandwiched between the detection phase electrode and the common electrode, and an absolute value d(3) of the piezoelectric material (3) in a portion sandwiched between the non-drive phase electrode and the common electrode satisfy d(2)<0.95d(1), d(3)<0.95d(1), and 0.9?d(3)/d(2)?1.1.

Abstract: A rack housing and a reduction drive housing accommodate a ball screw mechanism and a reduction drive. Within the rack housing and the reduction drive housing, a gap is provided between the left end of a nut and the rack housing, and a gap is provided between the right end of the nut and the rack housing. A groove serving as a communication path in communication with the gaps on both axial sides of the nut is provided in the outer circumferential surface of the nut. The groove is provided so as to avoid a recirculation path provided in the nut. The groove is provided axially and rectilinearly from the end of the nut that is located on the side opposite to a flange, to the flange and is provided along the flange.

Abstract: Provided is a seat frame for a vehicle seat capable of supporting the back of a seated person during a rear-end collision by using a simple structure and few component portions. The seat frame includes a top frame portion on the top of the seat, lateral frame portions on the right and left of the seat, and a connection frame connecting the tops of the lateral frame portions to bridge them. The connection frame includes a bent protrusion portion bent in the longitudinal direction and arranged in a standing condition from a surface formed by the connection frame, at a position between a pair of the lateral frame portions. The bent protrusion portion is provided over the entire length of the up and down direction of the connection frame.

Abstract: A grease injection valve 10 is provided having a valve body 16 including a flow path 15 the valve body. A foreign matter intrusion prevention valve 18 is provided at the upstream side of a check valve 17 in the flow path 15 of valve body 16. Grooves 47 are positioned around the periphery of a foreign matter intrusion prevention valve body 44 in the flow path 15 to provide communication between the downstream side and the upstream side of the foreign matter intrusion prevention valve body 44. When the check valve 17 has a functional failure, high-pressure grease escapes through the grooves 47 to bypass the foreign matter intrusion prevention valve body 44 and is discharged to an exterior of the grease injection valve 10. This can avoid excessive pressure caused by the grease backflow from being applied to the foreign matter intrusion prevention valve 18.

Abstract: Provided is an ultrasonic motor including an annular vibrator and an annular moving member that is brought into pressure-contact with the vibrator. The vibrator includes an annular vibrating plate and an annular piezoelectric element. The piezoelectric element includes an annular lead-free piezoelectric ceramic piece, a common electrode arranged on one surface of the piezoelectric ceramic piece, and a plurality of electrodes arranged on the other surface of the piezoelectric ceramic piece. The plurality of electrodes include two drive phase electrodes, one or more non-drive phase electrodes, and one or more detection phase electrodes. A second surface of the vibrating plate includes a plurality of groove regions extending radially, and the depths of the groove regions change in a circumferential direction along a curve obtained by superimposing one or more sine waves on one another. The ultrasonic motor exhibits a sufficient drive speed while suppressing generation of an unnecessary vibration wave.