Abstract: Flexibility in design of steering characteristics is enhanced in a leaning vehicle including two front steerable wheels. A vehicle includes a body frame, a left front wheel, a right front wheel, a rear wheel, a leaning mechanism, a steering mechanism, and a leaning-responsiveness-adjusting mechanism. The leaning mechanism includes arms rotatably supported by the body frame. The arms rotate with respect to the body frame so that the body frame leans. The steering mechanism mechanically transfers rotation of the handle to the left front wheel and the right front wheel. Accordingly, the body frame leans in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the handle. The leaning-responsiveness-adjusting mechanism controls a motor by using an instruction value based on a time derivative value of a physical quantity generated by a motion of a rider affecting leaning of the body frame to thereby adjust responsiveness of leaning of the body frame.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer 111A includes: a silicon substrate 101; an insulating film 102 formed over the silicon substrate 101; a lower electrode 103; insulating films 104 and 106; a cavity 105 constituted by a void formed in a portion of the insulating film 106; an upper electrode 107; insulating films 108 and 114; and a protective film 109. In addition, the insulating film 106, upper electrode 107, insulating film 108 and insulating film 114 above the cavity 105 configure a vibration film 110, and the protective film 109 above the vibration film 110 is divided into a plurality of isolated patterns regularly arranged with a gap 115 having a constant spacing formed therebetween.

Abstract: In order to obtain a high-resolution ultrasound diagnostic image while reducing the back side reflection of a ultrasound irradiated to the side opposite to the ultrasound transmission direction of an ultrasound transmission/reception device, disclosed is an ultrasound probe, wherein a substrate is provided thereon with a cavity, insulation layers having the cavity therebetween, and an upper layer electrode and a lower layer electrode having the cavity and the insulation layers therebetween, so as to form an ultrasound vibration element, the substrate is held by a backing with a low-modulus member therebetween, and a direct voltage and a alternating voltage are applied between the electrodes to vibrate the ultrasound vibration element, and wherein a mechanical impedance by the substrate and the low-modulus member has a substantially equal value as an acoustic impedance of the backing.

Abstract: A straddled vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a steering shaft supported by the vehicle body frame, a handlebar that includes a left grip and a right grip and is connected to the steering shaft, a steering wheel, and a steering assist device that applies assist force in a same direction as that of a steering torque that has been input to the handlebar by a rider to the steering shaft. The steering assist device causes the assist force to decrease as speed of the vehicle increases in a first vehicle speed zone and causes the assist force to increase as the speed of the vehicle increases in a second vehicle speed zone that is higher than the first vehicle speed zone.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes a body frame including a headpipe, a front wheel, a steering torque transmission including a steering shaft supported by bearings, a handlebar assembly, and a front wheel connector that transmits a steering torque, and a steering torque detector. The steering torque transmission includes a torsional deformation element upstream of a portion of the steering shaft supported by the most upstream bearing in a steering torque transmission path, and which is easily twisted and deformed by a steering torque input from grips on the handlebar assembly. The steering torque detector detects at least a portion of the steering torque input into the steering torque transmission based on a torsional deformation of the torsional deformation element.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes a linkage mechanism including arms rotatably supported on a body frame, a left-right tilt angle control mechanism configured to control a tilt angle of the body frame by adjusting a rotation of the arms with respect to the body frame, and a control section. The control section controls the left-right tilt angle control mechanism to cause the tilt angle of the body frame to approach a target value based on information on at least a vehicle speed. The control section updates the target value in accordance with an input to the leaning vehicle from a rider concerning a tilt of the body frame, and controls the left-right tilt angle control mechanism to cause the tilt angle of the body frame to approach the updated target value in a period in which the vehicle speed is in at least a part of a low-speed traveling range.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes a body frame, a right wheel and a left wheel, a linkage mechanism including arms rotatably supported on the body frame, buffer devices, a left-right tilt angle control mechanism configured to control a tilt angle of the body frame by adjusting a rotation of the arms with respect to the body frame, a buffer control mechanism configured to suppress motion of the buffer devices, and a control section. The control section determines whether to cause the left-right tilt angle control mechanism to perform roll angle control during traveling toward stop, and performs control of causing the buffer control mechanism to suppress motion of the buffer devices in a period in which the vehicle speed is in at least a part of a low-speed traveling range and in at least a part of a period in which the left-right tilt angle control mechanism.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes a body frame, a steered wheel and a non-steered wheel, a motor that applies a steering force to steer the steered wheel, a left-right-tilt-angle-detection-section that detects a left-right tilt angle of the body frame, and a control device that controls a motor that applies a steering force to the steered wheel. The control device causes the motor to output a steering force to steer the steered wheel in a direction that causes the leaning vehicle to turn rightward in a case where the body frame tilts rightward in accordance with the left-right tilt angle, and causes the motor to output a steering force to steer the steered wheel in a direction that causes the leaning vehicle to turn leftward in a case where the body frame tilts leftward in accordance with the left-right tilt angle.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes: a body frame; a right wheel and a left wheel; a linkage mechanism including arms rotatably supported on the body frame; a left-right tilt angle control mechanism configured to control a tilt angle of the body frame in a left direction or in the right direction by adjusting a rotation of the arms with respect to the body frame; and a control section. The control section controls the left-right tilt angle control mechanism to change the tilt angle of the body frame in the left direction or in the right direction in accordance with an input to the leaning vehicle from a rider while the leaning vehicle is stopped.

Abstract: A vehicle with two front wheels includes an EPS that makes it difficult for a rider to feel a sensation of physical disorder while realizing a vertical angle suppression function. The EPS is configured to apply an assisting force to a steering effort transmission mechanism. The vehicle further includes an EPL configured to apply a turning effort to a cross member of a link mechanism to turn the cross member relative to a vehicle body frame, and a control unit configured to control the EPS and the EPL. The control unit determines an EPS command value that determines a magnitude of output torque of the EPS and an EPL command value that determines a magnitude of output torque of the EPL according to a physical quantity including at least a vehicle speed and a vertical angle, and controls a ratio of the EPL command value to the EPS command value.

Abstract: A leaning vehicle includes a body frame including a headpipe, a front wheel, a steering torque transmission including a steering shaft supported by bearings, a handlebar assembly, and a front wheel connector that transmits a steering torque, and a steering torque detector. The steering torque transmission includes a torsional deformation element upstream of a portion of the steering shaft supported by the most upstream bearing in a steering torque transmission path, and which is easily twisted and deformed by a steering torque input from grips on the handlebar assembly. The steering torque detector detects at least a portion of the steering torque input into the steering torque transmission based on a torsional deformation of the torsional deformation element.

Abstract: Both controlling damage when assembling an ultrasonic probe using a chip formed with a capacitive ultrasonic transducer and securing operational reliability are achieved. In a semiconductor substrate on which the capacitive ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) is formed on a first primary surface, a protective film is formed on the surface of the ultrasonic transducer which is formed on the first primary surface of the semiconductor substrate which is then thinned by polishing a second primary surface opposite to the first primary surface of the semiconductor substrate, an ultrasonic transducer chip is cutout of the semiconductor substrate, a sound absorbing material is provided on the surface opposite to the surface formed with the ultrasonic transducer, and the protective film formed on the surface of the ultrasonic transducer is removed.

Abstract: Provided are: an ultrasound probe with excellent characteristic stability; and ultrasound equipment that uses the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe has an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving element provided with a substrate, an insulating film formed on the substrate, a cavity formed between the substrate and the insulating film, and a pair of electrodes disposed parallel to the substrate so as to sandwich the cavity. The ultrasound probe is characterized in that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving element has a beam part with a multilayer structure formed by laminating films made of materials different in stress, the beam part being disposed on the electrode distant from the substrate out of the pair of electrodes, and the beam part is formed by laminating a film that applies tensile stress and a film that applies compressive stress.

Abstract: A structure that prevents a substrate from being warped is provided on a region or a location other than a membrane that determines the characteristics of a CMUT. In a CMUT in a structure in which a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are provided sandwiching a cavity on a substrate, for example, as a warpage prevention structure, a warpage prevention layer that prevents the substrate from being warped is provided between the substrate and the first conductive film. When the insulating film disposed between the cavity and the first conductive film and the insulating film disposed between the cavity and the second conductive film are silicon oxide films, the warpage prevention layer includes a silicon nitride film.

Abstract: In order to obtain a high-resolution ultrasound diagnostic image while reducing the back side reflection of a ultrasound irradiated to the side opposite to the ultrasound transmission direction of an ultrasound transmission/reception device, disclosed is an ultrasound probe, wherein a substrate is provided thereon with a cavity, insulation layers having the cavity therebetween, and an upper layer electrode and a lower layer electrode having the cavity and the insulation layers therebetween, so as to form an ultrasound vibration element, the substrate is held by a backing with a low-modulus member therebetween, and a direct voltage and a alternating voltage are applied between the electrodes to vibrate the ultrasound vibration element, and wherein a mechanical impedance by the substrate and the low-modulus member has a substantially equal value as an acoustic impedance of the backing.

Abstract: In order to obtain a high-resolution ultrasound diagnostic image while reducing the back side reflection of a ultrasound irradiated to the side opposite to the ultrasound transmission direction of an ultrasound transmission/reception device, disclosed is an ultrasound probe, wherein a substrate is provided thereon with a cavity, insulation layers having the cavity therebetween, and an upper layer electrode and a lower layer electrode having the cavity and the insulation layers therebetween, so as to form an ultrasound vibration element, the substrate is held by a backing with a low-modulus member therebetween, and a direct voltage and a alternating voltage are applied between the electrodes to vibrate the ultrasound vibration element, and wherein a mechanical impedance by the substrate and the low-modulus member has a substantially equal value as an acoustic impedance of the backing.

Abstract: Both controlling damage when assembling an ultrasonic probe using a chip formed with a capacitive ultrasonic transducer and securing operational reliability are achieved. In a semiconductor substrate on which the capacitive ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) is formed on a first primary surface, a protective film is formed on the surface of the ultrasonic transducer which is formed on the first primary surface of the semiconductor substrate which is then thinned by polishing a second primary surface opposite to the first primary surface of the semiconductor substrate, an ultrasonic transducer chip is cutout of the semiconductor substrate, a sound absorbing material is provided on the surface opposite to the surface formed with the ultrasonic transducer, and the protective film formed on the surface of the ultrasonic transducer is removed.

Abstract: A steering damper control apparatus includes a steering damper configured to generate a damping force which acts on a steering device, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a front wheel suspension, a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angle of the steering device, and a damping force adjuster configured to adjust the damping force of the steering damper with one of a first command value which is a damping force command value according to a change rate of the pressure, and a second command value which is a damping force command value according to a steering angular speed, based on each detection result of the pressure sensor and steering angle sensor.

Abstract: A steering damper control apparatus includes a steering damper configured to generate a damping force which acts on a steering device, a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of a front wheel suspension, a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angle of the steering device, and a damping force adjuster configured to adjust the damping force of the steering damper with one of a first command value which is a damping force command value according to a change rate of the pressure, and a second command value which is a damping force command value according to a steering angular speed, based on each detection result of the pressure sensor and steering angle sensor.

Abstract: Provided are: an ultrasound probe with excellent characteristic stability; and ultrasound equipment that uses the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound probe has an ultrasonic transmitting and receiving element provided with a substrate, an insulating film formed on the substrate, a cavity formed between the substrate and the insulating film, and a pair of electrodes disposed parallel to the substrate so as to sandwich the cavity. The ultrasound probe is characterized in that the ultrasonic transmitting and receiving element has a beam part with a multilayer structure formed by laminating films made of materials different in stress, the beam part being disposed on the electrode distant from the substrate out of the pair of electrodes, and the beam part is formed by laminating a film that applies tensile stress and a film that applies compressive stress.