Abstract: A movable bed of the present invention, which includes a mat portion of a bed to lie thereon, and is composed of a fixed portion and a moving portion, is designed as a wheel chair in such a manner that the moving portion can be separated from or joined to the fixed portion and be transformed from a lying posture state to a sitting posture state, and when the moving portion is joined to the fixed portion so as to form the movable bed, an upper surface of a resting portion, allowing a person to carry thereon, of the moving portion and an inner surface of an armrest portion are configured to form a mat surface of the mat portion of the movable bed.

Abstract: A power assisted vehicle includes a wheel drive unit that transmits power of a motor as assist power to wheels via clutches capable of connecting and disconnecting power transmission, input rotation angle detection units that detect rotation angles of input shafts of the clutches, output rotation angle detection units that detect rotation angles of output shafts of the clutches, and assist power calculation units, that calculate the relative angle difference between the rotation angles of the input shafts of the clutches and the rotation angles of the output shafts of the clutches, and while clearing the relative angle difference in a predetermined period, calculate the assist power on the basis of the relative angle difference before it is cleared.

Abstract: A plurality of micro three-dimensional structure elements each having a movable structure fixed on a sacrifice layer, and fixation portions of the micro three-dimensional structure elements for the sacrifice layer are arranged into a film-like elastic body, and then the sacrifice layer is removed. Thus, a three-dimensional structure in which the individual micro three-dimensional structure elements are arranged independently of one another within the elastic body is manufactured.

Abstract: A plurality of three-dimensional structure configuring devices, each including an elastic body in which micro three-dimensional structure elements fixed to a substrate member are placed so as to be covered therewith and which is fixed to the substrate member, are placed within a film-like elastic body with the substrate members thereof spaced apart from one another so as to configure a three-dimensional structure. Thereby, the plurality of three-dimensional structure configuring devices can be placed with desired intervals of arrangement and in desired positions within the film-like elastic body and so that various specifications can be addressed.

Abstract: A manipulator is provided with an arm, an arm, a holding section, a first joint section pivotally interconnecting the arm and the arm, a second joint section pivotally interconnecting the arm and the holding section, a first joint driving section capable of driving the first joint section, a second joint driving section capable of driving the second joint section, a member specifying section for specifying one of the arms which has a possibility of collision with an obstacle or which has collided with the obstacle, and a control device for controlling the first joint driving section and the second joint driving section to pivotally move the one of the arms specified by the member specifying section in a direction away from the obstacle, and pivotally move the other of the arms in a direction toward the obstacle.

Abstract: A plurality of micro three-dimensional structure elements each having a movable structure fixed on a sacrifice layer, and fixation portions of the micro three-dimensional structure elements for the sacrifice layer are arranged into a film-like elastic body, and then the sacrifice layer is removed. Thus, a three-dimensional structure in which the individual micro three-dimensional structure elements are arranged independently of one another within the elastic body is manufactured.

Abstract: A multi-fingered robot hand having a minimum required number of joints in finger mechanisms and capable of stably grasping a variety of articles. The multi-fingered robot hand includes: a first palm portion (8) provided with three finger mechanisms (2, 3, 4) each connected by a root joint (12); a second palm portion (9) provided with one finger mechanism (1) connected by a root joint (13); and a palm joint (10) connecting the first palm portion (8) and the second palm portion (9). The palm joint (10) permits a variation in the connection angle of the second palm portion (9) to the first palm portion (8). The palm joint (10), bending joints (5), bending joints (6) of the root joints (12) and the root joint (13) have rotation axes parallel to each other, and the finger mechanisms (1, 2, 3, 4) bend while turning around the rotation axes.

Abstract: The transfer assist device has a supporter for lifting a human body placed on the placement base, joint portions for changing the posture of the supporter landing sensors for detecting whether the lower surface of the supporter has landed onto a placement surface, a leg portion for moving the supporter up and down, and a control section for controlling pivotal movements of the joint portions or an elevating movement of the leg portion based on outputs from the landing sensors. The control section is operable to move at least one of the joint portions and the leg portion so as to define and hold at least one of a parallel state and an adjusted state between the placement surface of the placement base and the lower surface of the supporter, based on the outputs from the landing sensors.

Abstract: The joint mechanism includes a first link, a second link, a third link, a shaft supported on the second link to be rotatable about an axis thereof, and movable in an axis direction thereof, a first worm and a second worm mounted on the shaft, a first worm wheel in mesh with the first worm to pivotally move the first link with respect to the second link, and a second worm wheel in mesh with the second worm to pivotally move the third link with respect to the second link. The first link and the third link are pivotally moved in opposite directions to each other by rotating the shaft, and pivotally moved in identical directions to each other by moving the shaft in the axis direction.

Abstract: When the tilt of an optical disk is detected using a light source of an optical head, the optical head cannot be simplified enough and an optical-disk tilt cannot be detected adequately. The optical head includes: an LED chip; a light-converging element that converges the light which is emitted from the LED chip upon an optical disk; a light-converging element driving means which drives the light-converging element; and a sensor which detects a tilt or a positional shift of the optical disk. In the sensor, the LED chip is placed on a semiconductor substrate which is provided with a plurality of light-receiving chips; the light emitted from the LED chip irradiates the optical disk; the light which is reflected from the optical disk is received by the plurality of light-receiving chips; and based upon the quantity of light which is received at the plurality of light-receiving chips, a tilt or a positional shift of the optical disk is detected.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a manipulator capable of reducing a colliding force exerted to an obstacle even in the case where the manipulator collides without being able to avoid a collision with the obstacle. A manipulator 1 includes an arm unit 3 rotatably provided on a main unit 2. A posture detector 10 executes a control to incline the arm unit 3 obliquely backward with respect to a moving direction P when the main unit 2 of the manipulator 1 is moved. Thus, the arm unit 3 collides with an obstacle 11 in an inclined state, wherefore a colliding force exerted to the obstacle 11 can be distributed.

Abstract: A manipulator is provided with a first link, a second link, first and second differential input shafts rotatably supported on the first link, a differential output shaft rotatably supported on the second link, a differential gear mechanism for rotating the differential output shaft about two axes orthogonal to each other in accordance with the sum or difference of rotating speeds of the first and second differential input shafts, a first transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force to the first differential input shaft, a second transmitting portion for transmitting a driving force to the second differential input shaft, a first shaft rotational angle sensor for detecting rotational angle information of the first differential input shaft, a second shaft rotational angle sensor for detecting rotational angle information of the second differential input shaft, and a controller for detecting the reception of an external force by the first or second link based on an output signal of the first or second s

Abstract: A structure is provided with a first member at a base end side, a third member at a leading end side, a second member arranged between the first and third members, and a coupling force generator for generating a first coupling force for pressing an end surface of the first member and that of the second member against each other and a second coupling force for pressing an end surface of the second member and that of the third member against each other. In this structure, the first and third members are relatively displaced upon the application of an external force larger than a coupling force generated between the end surface of the first member and that of the second member by the first coupling force, whereas the second and third members are relatively displaced upon the application of an external force larger than a coupling force generated between the end surface of the second member and that of the first member by the second coupling force.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a cooking assistance robot and a cooking assistance method capable of efficient mixing, with which ingredients are unlikely to be unevenly heated. A cooking assistance robot for cooking by physically moving ingredients in a cooking container selects a mixing direction for leveling a mountain and performs a mountain leveling operation in the selected mixing direction in the presence of a mountain of a specified height or higher in the cooking container.

Abstract: An optical data processing apparatus reads and/or writes data from/on a data storage medium, in which first and second data storage layer are stacked. The apparatus includes: a light detector including at least one photodetector for generating a light quantity signal; a detecting optical system for guiding reflected light beams from a storage layer; and a signal processor for generating a layer sensing signal from the light quantity signal and determining, by the layer sensing signal, the type of data storage medium. The light detector includes a layer sensing photodetector arranged in view of an of an area of the light detector, and further includes a photodetector which is different from the layer sensing photodetector which receives the reflected light beam to generate a focus signal.

Abstract: An optical data processing apparatus reads and/or writes data from/on a data storage medium, in which first and second data storage layer are stacked, by radiating light from the second layer. The processor includes: a light detector including at least one photodetector for generating a light quantity signal; a detecting optical system for guiding first and second reflected light beams from the first and second layers to the light detector; and a signal processor for generating a layer sensing signal from the light quantity signal and determining, by the layer sensing signal, whether the focal spot is now located near the first layer or the second layer. The detecting optical system includes an optical element that produces astigmatism to the first and second reflected beams.

Abstract: A loading/unloading unit is formed with an oblique surface and an upper surface having contact areas to come into contact with a cared person, and the oblique surface and the upper surface of the loading/unloading unit are vibrated in a load direction and an unload direction upon loading the cared person on the loading/unloading unit or unloading the cared person from the loading/unloading unit. Therefore, a transfer apparatus can safely transfer the cared person while preventing an occurrence of the entanglement of the hair and the like of the cared person.

Abstract: A plurality of micro three-dimensional structure elements each having a movable structure fixed on a sacrifice layer, and fixation portions of the micro three-dimensional structure elements for the sacrifice layer are arranged into a film-like elastic body, and then the sacrifice layer is removed. Thus, a three-dimensional structure in which the individual micro three-dimensional structure elements are arranged independently of one another within the elastic body is manufactured.

Abstract: An optical head is driven in a tracking direction with respect to a rotating optical disc. The optical head includes a light source, an optical block, a condenser shifter, and a rotating mechanism. The light source is used to read and write data from/on the optical disc. The optical block supports the light source. The condenser shifter includes a condenser, a movable body, a base, a focus direction drive mechanism and a tracking direction drive mechanism. The condenser focuses light, emitted from the light source, toward the optical disc. The movable body supports the condenser. The base supports the movable body elastically such that the movable body is able to shift in a focus direction and in the tracking direction. The focus and tracking direction drive mechanisms are provided to shift the movable body in the focus and tracking directions, respectively.