Abstract: An internal pore of a sintered metal bearing 8 is impregnated with a lubricating fluid, and a radial dynamic pressure generation portion 8a1 is formed on an inner peripheral surface 8a. An axial dimension L is 4.8 nm or less, a thickness dimension t is 0.5 mm or more and 1.5 nm or less, and a ratio L/D2 of the axial dimension L to an outer diameter dimension D2 is 0.24 or more and 0.6 or less.

Abstract: A motion estimation system includes a head motion detection unit, a mobile body motion detection unit, and a movement estimation unit. The head motion detection unit is worn on an occupant in a mobile body, and detects a motion of a head of the occupant. The mobile body motion detection unit detects a motion of the mobile body. The movement estimation unit obtains the motion of the head of the occupant and the motion of the mobile body, and estimates a movement of the head of the occupant made by the occupant according to a difference between the motion of the head of the occupant and the motion of the mobile body.

Abstract: An electrical device wearable on a body of a user includes a first detector, a second detector, and a mode switch. The first detector detects whether the electrical device is worn on the body. The second detector is mountable on a surface of a first portion of the body and detects whether the first portion is in contact with or separated from a second portion of the body based on whether a closed loop conducting path is formed with the first portion and the second portion. The mode switch switches an operation mode of the electrical device to a lower power consumption mode when the first detector detects that the electrical device is not worn on the body.

Abstract: A user can wear a transmitter module on a finger. The transmitter module transmits an electric signal through a finger. An electronic device includes a touch panel as an input device and a conductive film. The conductive film is a part of a receiver module which receives the electric signal when the body part is approached to the conductive film. The control unit provides a performing module which selectively performs one function among the functions according to the detection result of the receiver module. A first function is performed when the user approaches a finger wearing the transmitter module. A second function is performed when the user approaches another finger not wearing the transmitter module.

Abstract: An information device operation apparatus includes an image capturing device, an illumination device, a controller, image storage device, operation object extracting device, detection device, and signal output device. The image storage device stores a plurality of images that are acquired by the image capturing device under a plurality of illumination intensity conditions. The operation object extracting device extracts the operation object by comparing the plurality of images. The detection device detects at least one of a predetermined shape and a movement of the operation object that is extracted by the operation object extracting device. The signal output device outputs a signal to the target device, the signal corresponding to the at least one of the predetermined shape and the movement of the operation object detected by the detection device.

Abstract: An object-detecting device detects an operation object for operating an operating apparatus. The object-detecting device includes an imaging portion for imaging the operation object and an image processor for extracting the operation object. The operation object has a first face, on which outside light falls from outside into the operating apparatus, and a second face opposite to the first face. The imaging portion images the second face of the operation object. The object-detecting device can stably detect the operation object, even when an illuminance variation of outside light is large.

Abstract: Provided is a medical tube that is capable of preventing thrombi from adhering to the inside of a side hole thereof such that a required and sufficient opening area of the side hole is maintained, as well as of preventing a kink from being generated in, e.g., a catheter using the medical tube with the side hole. A side hole is provided through a side surface of a catheter body. A strand of a braid member in the vicinity of the side hole is covered with a resinous protective resin portion, thus being kept from exposure at the inner peripheral surface of the side hole.

Abstract: A vehicular manipulation input apparatus for a vehicle includes a manipulation panel, and a display device which displays a position indication image for displaying an indication position on the manipulation panel. It is specified whether a finger state of a hand opposing the manipulation panel is a manipulation intention expression-use finger state. In a condition that the vehicle is in a travel state, a display of the position indication image is permitted when the finger state is specified as the manipulation intention expression-use finger state whereas a display of the position indication image is prohibited when the finger state is not specified as the manipulation intention expression-use finger state.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a voice recognition unit for recognizing user utterance to output a recognized word, a function storage unit for determining and storing a desired function that corresponds to the recognized word, a detector for detecting a preset user operation, a button display unit for displaying on a screen a shortcut button that instructs execution of the desired function stored in the storage unit when the detector detects the preset user operation, and a control unit for controlling execution of the desired function when the shortcut button is operated. By storing the desired function in association with the recognized word and by detecting user instruction, the control apparatus displays a shortcut button for a necessary function only.

Abstract: A user can wear a transmitter module on a finger. The transmitter module transmits an electric signal through a finger. An electronic device includes a touch panel as an input device and a conductive film. The conductive film is a part of a receiver module which receives the electric signal when the body part is approached to the conductive film. The control unit provides a performing module which selectively performs one function among the functions according to the detection result of the receiver module. A first function is performed when the user approaches a finger wearing the transmitter module. A second function is performed when the user approaches another finger not wearing the transmitter module.

Abstract: An information device operation apparatus includes an image capturing device, an illumination device, a controller, image storage device, operation object extracting device, detection device, and signal output device. The image storage device stores a plurality of images that are acquired by the image capturing device under a plurality of illumination intensity conditions. The operation object extracting device extracts the operation object by comparing the plurality of images. The detection device detects at least one of a predetermined shape and a movement of the operation object that is extracted by the operation object extracting device. The signal output device outputs a signal to the target device, the signal corresponding to the at least one of the predetermined shape and the movement of the operation object detected by the detection device.

Abstract: An object-detecting device detects an operation object for operating an operating apparatus. The object-detecting device includes an imaging portion for imaging the operation object and an image processor for extracting the operation object. The operation object has a first face, on which outside light falls from outside into the operating apparatus, and a second face opposite to the first face. The imaging portion images the second face of the operation object. The object-detecting device can stably detect the operation object, even when an illuminance variation of outside light is large.

Abstract: An etching processing apparatus 1 has a transfer chamber 2, a plurality of processing chambers 3 and 4, and a plurality of cassette chambers 7 and 8. Inside the transfer chamber 2, a transfer mechanism 14 is provided. A control device 17 pauses the operation of the vacuum pump 16 after closing an opening/closing valve 15 of a vacuum evacuating mechanism, which vacuum evacuates the transfer chamber 2 in which the transfer mechanism 14 is provided, when the operation of the transfer mechanism 14 is paused for a predetermined time or longer. Accordingly, conservation of energy becomes possible without causing decrease of productivity.

Abstract: An etching processing apparatus 1 has a transfer chamber 2, a plurality of processing chambers 3 and 4, and a plurality of cassette chambers 7 and 8. Inside the transfer chamber 2, a transfer mechanism 14 is provided. A control device 17 pauses the operation of the vacuum pump 16 after closing an opening/closing valve 15 of a vacuum evacuating mechanism, which vacuum evacuates the transfer chamber 2 in which the transfer mechanism 14 is provided, when the operation of the transfer mechanism 14 is paused for a predetermined time or longer. Accordingly, conservation of energy becomes possible without causing decrease of productivity.

Abstract: An etching processing apparatus 1 has a transfer chamber 2, a plurality of processing chambers 3 and 4, and a plurality of cassette chambers 7 and 8. Inside the transfer chamber 2, a transfer mechanism 14 is provided. A control device 17 pauses the operation of the vacuum pump 16 after closing an opening/closing valve 15 of a vacuum evacuating mechanism, which vacuum evacuates the transfer chamber 2 in which the transfer mechanism 14 is provided, when the operation of the transfer mechanism 14 is paused for a predetermined time or longer. Accordingly, conservation of energy becomes possible without causing decrease of productivity.

Abstract: An etching processing apparatus 1 has a transfer chamber 2, a plurality of processing chambers 3 and 4, and a plurality of cassette chambers 7 and 8. Inside the transfer chamber 2, a transfer mechanism 14 is provided. A control device 17 pauses the operation of the vacuum pump 16 after closing an opening/closing valve 15 of a vacuum evacuating mechanism, which vacuum evacuates the transfer chamber 2 in which the transfer mechanism 14 is provided, when the operation of the transfer mechanism 14 is paused for a predetermined time or longer. Accordingly, conservation of energy becomes possible without causing decrease of productivity.

Abstract: A probe device having a loader unit and two measuring units is disclosed. Each of the loader and measuring units is an independent unit supported by an independent casing. Each of the loader and measuring units has its exclusive slave CPU and integrated circuit members are under the control of this slave CPU to manage operations of members at the unit. The slave CPUs are connected to a master CPU, which controls the slave CPUs and which is also an independent unit, and they are connected to one another only through the master CPU. Program language is common to the master and slave CPUs and the units can be electrically connected to form an integral control system in which signals are exchanged among the units.