Abstract: An object detection device includes a wave transmitter to transmit a sound wave to an object, a wave receiver to receive the sound wave and generate a signal representing a reception result, and a controller to control transmission of the sound wave by the wave transmitter and obtain the receive signal from the wave receiver. The controller is configured or programmed to output a transmit signal to cause the wave transmitter to transmit the sound wave and obtain a corresponding receive signal. The controller is configured or programmed to generate detection information about the object by performing complexification on a correlation signal representing a correlation between the transmit signal and the receive signal. A signal corrector is configured or programmed to correct any of the correlation signal, the receive signal, and the transmit signal to mitigate a direct-current component in the correlation signal targeted for the complex analysis.

Abstract: A displacement detection device includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller configured or programmed to output a first transmission signal to the transmitter to transmit a modulated wave and acquire a responsive first reception signal in a first measurement period, extract first phase information indicating a phase defined in a correlation between a first transmission signal and a reception signal, output a second transmission signal to the transmitter and acquire a responsive second reception signal in a second measurement period after the first measurement period, extract second phase information indicating a phase defined in a correlation between the second transmission signal and reception signal, and detect a displacement of an object between the first and second measurement periods, depending on a difference between the first and second phase information.

Abstract: An object detection system includes an acoustic wave generator to generate an acoustic wave by generating heat upon energization and a processing circuit to perform object detection processing to detect an object in target space using an acoustic wave generated by the acoustic wave generator. The object detection processing includes setting processing, wave transmission processing, and determination processing. The setting processing sets a search range corresponding to a distance to the object in the target space. The wave transmission processing controls the acoustic wave generator to generate an acoustic wave at a target sound pressure associated with a search range set in the setting processing. The determination processing acquires, from a wave receiver to receive an acoustic wave from the target space, a received-wave signal representing an acoustic wave received by the wave receiver and determines whether the object is present based on the received-wave signal.

Abstract: An object detection system includes a processing circuit to perform wave transmission processing and determination processing. In the wave transmission processing, an acoustic wave generator is controlled to generate a series of acoustic waves of a time-varying frequency at target sound pressures associated with a frequency and correspond to the respective acoustic waves. In the determination processing, a received-wave signal representing an acoustic wave from a target space received by a wave receiver is acquired and it is determined whether an object is present in the target space based on the received-wave signal. Each of the target sound pressures is set based on the frequency characteristics of sensitivity of the wave receiver to an acoustic wave of a predetermined sound pressure, such that the sensitivity of the wave receiver to an acoustic wave of the target sound pressure is in a predetermined range including a predetermined value.

Abstract: An acoustic-wave generating device includes a drive circuit and a power auxiliary circuit. The drive circuit includes a capacitor chargeable via a direct-current power supply, and a drive switch to cause power to be supplied from the capacitor to an acoustic-wave source which produces heat through energization to generate acoustic waves. The power auxiliary circuit is operable to supplies power to the drive circuit to avoid a decrease of power supplied to the acoustic-wave source in an operation of generating a series of acoustic waves from the acoustic-wave source through switching of the drive switch.

Abstract: A medicine removal detection system is provided that includes a medication device and a storage member in a sheet shape storing the medication device. The medication device includes medicine, a secondary battery, and a signal transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating a state of the secondary battery. The storage member includes the electric current supply line for supplying an electric current to the secondary battery of the medication device, and is configured such that a supply environment of an electric current to the secondary battery changes when the medication device is taken out. The signal transmission unit transmits a signal indicating a state change of the secondary battery based on a change in the supply environment of an electric current to the secondary battery of the storage member.

Abstract: A thermal excitation acoustic-wave-generating device includes a first heating element, a substrate that includes a main surface along which the first heating element is disposed, and a facing body that faces the substrate with the first heating element interposed therebetween. The substrate and the facing body define a path for an acoustic wave. A length of the path is close to a whole number multiple of ¼ of a wavelength of the acoustic wave.

Abstract: A medicine-taking detection system is provided that includes an ingestion device 1 and a detection device that detects taking of the ingestion device. The ingestion device includes a medicine, a signal transmission unit that transmits a first signal, a signal reception unit that receives a reflected signal of the first signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit, and a secondary battery that supplies power to the signal transmission unit and the signal reception unit. The signal transmission unit is configured to, when the signal reception unit receives the reflected signal, transmit a second signal including information on a signal intensity of the reflected signal, and the detection device receives the second signal and detects the taking of the ingestion device based on the information on the signal intensity of the reflected signal.

Abstract: A medicine removal detection system is provided that includes a medication device and a storage member in a sheet shape storing the medication device. The medication device includes medicine, a secondary battery, and a signal transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating a state of the secondary battery. The storage member includes the electric current supply line for supplying an electric current to the secondary battery of the medication device, and is configured such that a supply environment of an electric current to the secondary battery changes when the medication device is taken out. The signal transmission unit transmits a signal indicating a state change of the secondary battery based on a change in the supply environment of an electric current to the secondary battery of the storage member.

Abstract: A thermal excitation acoustic-wave-generating device includes a first acoustic wave source that includes a first heating element and a substrate that includes a main surface along which the first heating element is disposed, a second acoustic wave source that includes a second heating element and a facing body that includes a main surface along which the second heating element is disposed, and a pair of electrodes connected to the first and second heating elements. The first and second acoustic wave sources are arranged such that the first and second heating elements are separated from each other and face each other. The pair of electrodes are disposed between the first and second acoustic wave sources.

Abstract: A low-profile ultrasonic wave generation device is provided that includes a drive unit having a piezoelectric member and an electrode formed on a surface of the piezoelectric member. The drive unit as a whole vibrates flexurally. The connection member is connected to a portion of the drive unit that includes a point of maximum displacement of the drive unit when the drive unit is subjected to flexural vibration. The vibrating unit is connected to the connection member. The vibrating unit vibrates due to the flexural vibration of the drive unit being transmitted by the connection member and thereby generates ultrasonic waves.

Abstract: A thermal excitation acoustic-wave-generating device includes a first acoustic wave source that includes a first heating element and a substrate that includes a main surface along which the first heating element is disposed, a second acoustic wave source that includes a second heating element and a facing body that includes a main surface along which the second heating element is disposed, and a pair of electrodes connected to the first and second heating elements. The first and second acoustic wave sources are arranged such that the first and second heating elements are separated from each other and face each other. The pair of electrodes are disposed between the first and second acoustic wave sources.

Abstract: A thermal excitation acoustic-wave-generating device includes a first heating element, a substrate that includes a main surface along which the first heating element is disposed, and a facing body that faces the substrate with the first heating element interposed therebetween. The substrate and the facing body define a path for an acoustic wave. A length of the path is close to a whole number multiple of ¼ of a wavelength of the acoustic wave.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer includes a rectangular plate-shaped piezoelectric board having a length L in a longitudinal direction. In the piezoelectric board, five regions having a length L/5 are formed. In the two of regions, inner electrodes are formed in a thickness direction and conducted to outer electrodes provided in these regions. In a third region, outer electrodes are provided. The two regions of the piezoelectric board are polarized in the thickness direction, and two adjacent regions thereof are polarized in the longitudinal direction, and the third region is non-polarized. When a voltage is applied to the outer electrodes, the piezoelectric board expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction due to a piezoelectric effect. Thus, a piezoelectric transformer which enables high-efficient energy conversion even when a driving frequency is increased and a wireless power transmission system using the piezoelectric transformer are provided.

Abstract: The disclosed is an arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus capable of easily separating pulse wave data detected at one measurement site into an incident wave and a reflected wave and capable of easily determining and evaluating the degree of arteriosclerosis. The pulse wave transmitted through an artery is detected at one site of a living body by a pulse wave detection device, and the detected pulse wave is fitted with a fitting function by a breakdown device so that the detected pulse wave can be broken down into an incident wave and a reflected wave. The degree of arteriosclerosis is evaluated from the amplitude intensities (i.e., peak intensities) of the incident wave and the reflected wave broken down from the pulse wave.

Abstract: An arteriosclerosis diagnostic device according to various embodiments is a simple device, resistant to an external factor, such as an error resulting from a skin surface, and capable of measuring the degree of hardness of an artery. The arteriosclerosis diagnostic device detects a heart sound and a pulse wave at least one location of a living body, the pulse wave propagating through an artery in relation to the heart sound, converts detected signals thereof into respective frequency signals, specifies the peak frequency of each of the frequency signals, and determines the degree of arteriosclerosis on the basis of the difference between the peak frequency of the heart sound and the peak frequency of the pulse wave. Accordingly, the degree of arteriosclerosis can be determined by comparison between the frequency signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a case, a reflective portion, and a piezoelectric body. The case has a substantially cylindrical shape including one closed end in the center axis direction that defines a top. The piezoelectric body is disposed on the inner surface of the top of the case. The reflective portion is arranged to oppose and be spaced apart from the piezoelectric body. The distance between the piezoelectric body and the reflective portion is greater than the maximum displacement of the piezoelectric body and is substantially an odd number multiple of a ¼ wavelength of sound waves or less than or equal to the ¼ wavelength.

Abstract: The disclosed is an arteriosclerosis evaluating apparatus capable of easily separating pulse wave data detected at one measurement site into an incident wave and a reflected wave and capable of easily determining and evaluating the degree of arteriosclerosis. The pulse wave transmitted through an artery is detected at one site of a living body by a pulse wave detection device, and the detected pulse wave is fitted with a fitting function by a breakdown device so that the detected pulse wave can be broken down into an incident wave and a reflected wave. The degree of arteriosclerosis is evaluated from the amplitude intensities (i.e., peak intensities) of the incident wave and the reflected wave broken down from the pulse wave.

Abstract: A pulse wave measurement device includes a vibrating membrane configured to transfer displacement of a skin surface caused by a pulse wave, a frame portion configured to fix the outer region of the vibrating membrane, a partitioning portion configured to partition a central region of the vibrating membrane into a plurality of sections, and a plurality of sensor elements respectively provided in the plurality of sections and arranged on the vibrating membrane within each of the plurality of sections. The sensor element in each section is configured to convert vibration of the vibrating membrane in that section into an electric signal. The partitioning portion is coupled to the vibrating membrane. The vibrating membrane is coupled to the frame portion. Thus, the sections of the vibrating membrane partitioned by the partitioning portion vibrate individually, and each section of the vibrating membrane does not substantially interfere with the other sections.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer includes a case, a reflective portion, and a piezoelectric body. The case has a substantially cylindrical shape including one closed end in the center axis direction that defines a top. The piezoelectric body is disposed on the inner surface of the top of the case. The reflective portion is arranged to oppose and be spaced apart from the piezoelectric body. The distance between the piezoelectric body and the reflective portion is greater than the maximum displacement of the piezoelectric body and is substantially an odd number multiple of a ¼ wavelength of sound waves or less than or equal to the ¼ wavelength.