Abstract: A capacitance measurement device includes a bridging capacitor connected in series to another one of the opposite end sides of a measurement-objective capacitance, and a charging/discharging switching element connected in series to the other one of the opposite end sides of the measurement-objective capacitance, and connected in parallel to the bridging capacitor. The measurement-objective capacitance is discharged when the charging/discharging switching element is turned to the closed state, and is charged when the charging/discharging switching element is turned to the opened state. A gauge gains an equivalent value for the measurement-objective capacitance, based on a potential at the other one of the opposite end sides of the measurement-objective capacitance, at the time of the charging step.

Abstract: Provided is an input state detection device capable of reliably detecting contact and pressing of an object. A state switching switch can switch a first state in which a voltage application terminal of a constant-voltage power supply is connected to a side of a first electrode and a detection terminal of a detector is connected to a side of second electrodes, and a second state in which the voltage application terminal of the constant-voltage power supply is connected to the side of the second electrodes and the detection terminal of the detector is connected to the side of the first electrode. An input detector detects whether the object is in a non-contact state or in a contact but not pressing state with respect to a surface on the side of the second electrodes based on a value detected by the detector with the state switching switch in the first state.

Abstract: A capacitance measurement device includes a bridging capacitor connected in series to another one of the opposite end sides of a measurement-objective capacitance, and a charging/discharging switching element connected in series to the other one of the opposite end sides of the measurement-objective capacitance, and connected in parallel to the bridging capacitor. The measurement-objective capacitance is discharged when the charging/discharging switching element is turned to the closed state, and is charged when the charging/discharging switching element is turned to the opened state. A gauge gains an equivalent value for the measurement-objective capacitance, based on a potential at the other one of the opposite end sides of the measurement-objective capacitance, at the time of the charging step.

Abstract: A capacitance type sensor includes: a dielectric layer made of a polymer; an elongated front-side electrode placed on a front side of the dielectric layer; an elongated back-side electrode placed on a back side of the dielectric layer; a front-side wiring connected to the front-side electrode; a back-side wiring connected to the back-side electrode; and a plurality of detection portions formed between the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode. Each of the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode has an elongated electrode body containing a binder and a conductive material, and an extended wiring portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the electrode body and having lower volume resistivity than the electrode body, and the front-side wiring and the back-side wiring have lower volume resistivity than the electrode body.

Abstract: Provided is a capacitive liquid level detection device capable of determining liquid level and liquid quality. This detection device comprises a plurality of electrode pairs disposed at different positions in a height direction in a tank for storing liquid; a measuring instrument for acquiring values equivalent to capacitance between respective electrode pairs of the plurality of electrode pairs; a storage part for storing a plurality of threshold values determined based on values equivalent to capacitance between one of the electrode pairs in the presence of the air or a plurality of kinds of liquids; and a determination part comparing the values equivalent to capacitance between the respective electrode pairs with each of the threshold values, and the determination part determines for determining liquid level corresponding to liquid quality based on the comparison result.

Abstract: Provided is an input state detection device capable of reliably detecting contact and pressing of an object. A state switching switch can switch a first state in which a voltage application terminal of a constant-voltage power supply is connected to a side of a first electrode and a detection terminal of a detector is connected to a side of second electrodes, and a second state in which the voltage application terminal of the constant-voltage power supply is connected to the side of the second electrodes and the detection terminal of the detector is connected to the side of the first electrode. An input detector detects whether the object is in a non-contact state or in a contact but not pressing state with respect to a surface on the side of the second electrodes based on a value detected by the detector with the state switching switch in the first state.

Abstract: Provided are a bending sensor that is less dependent on an input speed of a strain and in which a response delay is unlikely to occur, and a deformed shape measurement method using the bending sensor. The bending sensor is configured to include a base material; a sensor body arranged on a surface of the base material and containing a matrix resin and conductive filler particles filled in the matrix resin at a filling rate of 30% by volume or more, and in which three-dimensional conductive paths are formed by contact among the conductive filler particles, and electrical resistance increases as an deformation amount increases; an elastically deformable cover film arranged so as to cover the sensor body; and a plurality of electrodes connected to the sensor body and capable of outputting electrical resistances. In the sensor body, cracks are formed in advance in such a direction that the conductive paths are cut off during a bending deformation.

Abstract: A capacitance type sensor includes: a dielectric layer made of a polymer; an elongated front-side electrode placed on a front side of the dielectric layer; an elongated back-side electrode placed on a back side of the dielectric layer; a front-side wiring connected to the front-side electrode; a back-side wiring connected to the back-side electrode; and a plurality of detection portions formed between the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode. Each of the front-side electrode and the back-side electrode has an elongated electrode body containing a binder and a conductive material, and an extended wiring portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the electrode body and having lower volume resistivity than the electrode body, and the front-side wiring and the back-side wiring have lower volume resistivity than the electrode body.

Abstract: An active vibration damper including: an inner shaft member provided to a movable member; an outer tube member provided to a stator; a pair of leaf springs elastically connecting axially both sides of the inner shaft member and the outer tube member so as to make a linear actuator operatable by itself; an elastic connecting rubber connecting the inner shaft member and the outer tube member; a mass body holding portion provided to the inner shaft member for holding an additional mass body that is disposed further outwardly than the elastic connecting rubber; and a housing having a structure dividable in an axial direction in which respective openings are secured to each other with an annular seal being interposed therebetween at an outer peripheral side of the elastic connecting rubber.

Abstract: A deformable sensor system that can be used for pressure-distribution sensors. The deformable sensor system makes it possible to obtain a pressure distribution with a much higher accuracy, while reducing the number of electrodes. The system utilizes a deformable sensor which can detect deformation as the electric resistivity of the surface increases monotonically as an elastic deformation variation in each of the elastic deformations increases. Based on a voltage being detected by means of a detecting unit, the deformable sensor electric-resistivity variation computing unit computes the variation of the electric resistivity based on the method of least squares with a restriction condition imposed thereon. The system uses such a technology as “EIT” that is based on an inverse-problem theory. At an external-force position computing unit, a position in a pressure-receiving surface, position which receives an external force, is computed based on the computed electric-resistivity variation.

Abstract: Provided are a bending sensor that is less dependent on an input speed of a strain and in which a response delay is unlikely to occur, and a deformed shape measurement method using the bending sensor. The bending sensor is configured to include a base material; a sensor body arranged on a surface of the base material and containing a matrix resin and conductive filler particles filled in the matrix resin at a filling rate of 30% by volume or more, and in which three-dimensional conductive paths are formed by contact among the conductive filler particles, and electrical resistance increases as an deformation amount increases; an elastically deformable cover film arranged so as to cover the sensor body; and a plurality of electrodes connected to the sensor body and capable of outputting electrical resistances. In the sensor body, cracks are formed in advance in such a direction that the conductive paths are cut off during a bending deformation.

Abstract: An active vibration damper including: an inner shaft member provided to a movable member; an outer tube member provided to a stator; a pair of leaf springs elastically connecting axially both sides of the inner shaft member and the outer tube member so as to make a linear actuator operatable by itself; an elastic connecting rubber connecting the inner shaft member and the outer tube member; a mass body holding portion provided to the inner shaft member for holding an additional mass body that is disposed further outwardly than the elastic connecting rubber; and a housing having a structure dividable in an axial direction in which respective openings are secured to each other with an annular seal being interposed therebetween at an outer peripheral side of the elastic connecting rubber.

Abstract: To provide a deformable sensor system, which makes it possible to obtain a pressure distribution with a much higher accuracy, while reducing the number of electrodes. A deformable sensor 12 comprises an elastic material whose electric resistivity, when all types of elastic deformations are caused therein respectively, increases monotonically as an elastic deformation variation in each of the elastic deformations increases. Based on a voltage being detected by means of a detecting unit 22, the deformable sensor 12's electric-resistivity variation ??(x, y), which minimizes an evaluation Function J of Equation (1) while satisfying a condition of Equation (2), is computed at an electric-resistivity variation computing unit 25 using such a technology as “EIT” that is based on an inverse-problem theory. At an external-force position computing unit 26, a position in a pressure-receiving surface 12a, position which receives an external force, is computed based on the computed electric-resistivity variation ??(x, y).

Abstract: A diaphragm pump includes: a volume changing member which changes the volume of a fluid chamber; a diaphragm member fixed in a stretched state and arranged separate from the fluid chamber, the diaphragm member having a pair of electrodes and a stretch film formed of dielectric elastomer, and the diaphragm member driving the volume changing member in a forward movement direction; a return bias member which drives the volume changing member in a backward movement direction; and a connection member which connects the diaphragm member and the volume changing member. In a low voltage state, the diaphragm member and the return bias member have driving force with respect to the volume changing member.