Abstract: An advance indication part performs an advance indication of operation of a robot by using a movable part in correspondence to an operation program or a command supplied to the robot. When the advance indication part performs the advance indication, a user detection part detects a user in a predetermined area of movement of the movable part based on a picture image taken by a camera. When the user detection part detects the user, a recognition check part checks whether the detected user has recognized the advance indication of the advance indication part. When the recognition check part determines that the detected user has not recognized the advance indication yet, a recognition promotion part promotes the detected user to recognize the advance indication or an operation of the robot.

Abstract: An advance indication part performs an advance indication of operation of a robot by using a movable part in correspondence to an operation program or a command supplied to the robot. When the advance indication part performs the advance indication, a user detection part detects a user in a predetermined area of movement of the movable part based on a picture image taken by a camera. When the user detection part detects the user, a recognition check part checks whether the detected user has recognized the advance indication of the advance indication part. When the recognition check part determines that the detected user has not recognized the advance indication yet, a recognition promotion part promotes the detected user to recognize the advance indication or an operation of the robot.

Abstract: A relative position detection device is used for a traveling system that allows a first and second vehicles to travel such that the first vehicle precedes and the second vehicle follows the first vehicle. The detecting device includes a sensor pair of a first and second sensors and an arithmetic unit. The first and second sensors are located at the same height on the right and left end portions of the front surface of the second vehicle. The first and second sensors emits transmission waves from their located positions in their front directions and receives their reflected waves. The arithmetic unit detects a direction of deviation between the first and second vehicles in the right and left direction on the basis of a difference between a first intensity of the reflected wave received by the first sensor and a second intensity of the reflected waves received by the second sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric element and an acoustic matching member. The piezoelectric element is configured to detect ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and reflected by a detection target object located in a detection target space. The acoustic matching member is configured to conduct the received ultrasonic wave to the piezoelectric element. The piezo electric element is covered with the acoustic matching member including a principal oscillation portion and a supplement oscillation portion. Thickness of a part of the supplement oscillation portion, the part covering the piezoelectric element, is smaller than a predetermined thickness threshold.

Abstract: A laser sensor is located close to a rotation axis of a vehicle door and configured to emit a laser beam to a surface of the vehicle door and accept reflected light reflected from an obstacle for scanning a scanning plane shifted in a door-opening direction, in which the vehicle door is openable. A determination section determines whether an obstacle, which is possible to make contact with the vehicle door, exists in the door-opening direction of the vehicle door, based on a result of emission and acceptance of the laser beam of the laser sensor. An opening regulating section regulates an opening of the vehicle door in response to determination of the determination section that the obstacle exists.

Abstract: A relative position detection device is used for a traveling system that allows a first and second vehicles to travel such that the first vehicle precedes and the second vehicle follows the first vehicle. The detecting device includes a sensor pair of a first and second sensors and an arithmetic unit. The first and second sensors are located at the same height on the right and left end portions of the front surface of the second vehicle. The first and second sensors emits transmission waves from their located positions in their front directions and receives their reflected waves. The arithmetic unit detects a direction of deviation between the first and second vehicles in the right and left direction on the basis of a difference between a first intensity of the reflected wave received by the first sensor and a second intensity of the reflected waves received by the second sensor.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, and a circuit device. The circuit device determines that the receiving device receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from an object, when an output voltage of the receiving device is equal to or greater than a first threshold. The circuit device includes a humidity detection section configured to detect an ambient humidity of the transmitting and receiving devices and a threshold adjustment section configured to calculate, based on the detected ambient humidity, a sound pressure of the ultrasonic wave that is received by the receiving device after propagating over a round-trip distance between the ultrasonic sensor and the object. The threshold adjustment section reduces the first threshold, when the output voltage corresponding to the calculated sound pressure is less than a second threshold that is greater the first threshold.

Abstract: In an obstacle detection system, a wave transmitted by a transmitting element and received by receiving elements as a receiving wave includes extraneous waves, which are reflection waves from other than an obstacle, and obstacle reflection waves from an obstacle. It is determined that, an obstacle is present, if the reflection waves are detected as having an amplitude (voltage) greater than a threshold level and a reception time difference between time points at which the amplitude exceeds threshold level at the receiving elements is less than a predetermined time.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, and a circuit device. The circuit device determines that the receiving device receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from an object, when an output voltage of the receiving device is equal to or greater than a first threshold. The circuit device includes a humidity detection section configured to detect an ambient humidity of the transmitting and receiving devices and a threshold adjustment section configured to calculate, based on the detected ambient humidity, a sound pressure of the ultrasonic wave that is received by the receiving device after propagating over a round-trip distance between the ultrasonic sensor and the object. The threshold adjustment section reduces the first threshold, when the output voltage corresponding to the calculated sound pressure is less than a second threshold that is greater the first threshold.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a transmitting device, a receiving device, and a circuit device. The circuit device determines that the receiving device receives an ultrasonic wave reflected from an object, when an output voltage of the receiving device is equal to or greater than a first threshold. The circuit device includes a humidity detection section configured to detect an ambient humidity of the transmitting and receiving devices and a threshold adjustment section configured to calculate, based on the detected ambient humidity, a sound pressure of the ultrasonic wave that is received by the receiving device after propagating over a round-trip distance between the ultrasonic sensor and the object. The threshold adjustment section reduces the first threshold, when the output voltage corresponding to the calculated sound pressure is less than a second threshold that is greater the first threshold.

Abstract: A ultrasonic device detecting a direction to an object includes: a transmitting element of a ultrasonic wave; first and second receiving elements; a diffraction wave phase detector; an initial phase memory for an initial phase of a diffraction wave; a sound speed detector; a phase correction amount calculator calculating a phase shift caused by a sound speed change and calculating a phase correction amount based on the phase of the diffraction wave, the initial phase and the phase shift; a phase correction element correcting a phase of the reflection wave based on the phase correction amount; and a direction detector for detecting the direction to the object based on a difference between corrected phases of the reflection wave received by the first and second receiving elements, a distance between the first and second receiving elements, and a wavelength of the transmission ultrasonic wave corresponding to a sound speed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor is disclosed. The ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric element and an acoustic matching member. The piezoelectric element is configured to detect ultrasonic wave transmitted from a transmitter and reflected by a detection target object located in a detection target space. The acoustic matching member is configured to conduct the received ultrasonic wave to the piezoelectric element. The piezo electric element is covered with the acoustic matching member including a principal oscillation portion and a supplement oscillation portion. Thickness of a part of the supplement oscillation portion, the part covering the piezoelectric element, is smaller than a predetermined thickness threshold.

Abstract: A location detection apparatus is disclosed that includes: a light source; a light output side reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light source to a space; a rotation mechanism for rotating the light output side reflector; a first light receiving element for receiving the light reflected from an object existing in the space; a light reception side reflector for reflecting the light from the object to the first light receiving element; a second light receiving element for receiving the light from the light output side reflector; a light conductor for conducting the light reflected from or transmitted through the reflecting surface toward the second light receiving element when the light output side reflector is in a predetermined position; and a rotational position detector that detects rotational position of the light output side reflector based on a detection result of the second light receiving element.

Abstract: A camera unit is provided in a hollow portion of an electric motor. A rotor is rotatably arranged at an outer periphery of a stator. A cylindrical motor casing is attached to the rotor. A lens cover is attached to the motor casing at a position of a front side of a lens of the camera unit. The lens cover is rotated together with the motor casing and the rotor, so that attachment adhered to an outer surface of the lens cover is removed by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A capacitive humidity sensor includes: a humidity sensing element with a humidity sensitive film and electrodes; and a processing circuit. The film has a dielectric constant variable in accordance with moisture. The electrodes detect capacitance of the film and outputs a signal corresponding to the capacitance. The processing circuit processes the signal. The film is made of inorganic material having fine pores for adsorbing the moisture. A diameter of the fine pores is set to be a predetermined diameter so that capillary tube aggregation phenomenon occurs at a predetermined relative humidity. The capacitance of the film has a change rate with respect to the relative humidity. The change rate in case of the relative humidity higher than the predetermined relative humidity is larger than that in case of the relative humidity lower than the predetermined relative humidity.

Abstract: In an obstacle detection system, a wave transmitted by a transmitting element and received by receiving elements as a receiving wave includes extraneous waves, which are reflection waves from other than an obstacle, and obstacle reflection waves from an obstacle. It is determined that, an obstacle is present, if the reflection waves are detected as having an amplitude (voltage) greater than a threshold level and a reception time difference between time points at which the amplitude exceeds threshold level at the receiving elements is less than a predetermined time.

Abstract: A laser sensor is located close to a rotation axis of a vehicle door and configured to emit a laser beam to a surface of the vehicle door and accept reflected light reflected from an obstacle for scanning a scanning plane shifted in a door-opening direction, in which the vehicle door is openable. A determination section determines whether an obstacle, which is possible to make contact with the vehicle door, exists in the door-opening direction of the vehicle door, based on a result of emission and acceptance of the laser beam of the laser sensor. An opening regulating section regulates an opening of the vehicle door in response to determination of the determination section that the obstacle exists.

Abstract: An inspection device inspects a humidity sensor having a sensor portion and a circuit portion, which are integrated into one chip. The inspection device includes: an inspection chamber for accommodating a wafer, in which a plurality of humidity sensors are disposed as a sensor chip in a wafer state; a probe for contacting an electrode pad of the circuit portion; a tester electrically connected to the probe for inspecting electric properties of the humidity sensor; and a temperature-humidity control portion for controlling a temperature and a humidity in the inspection chamber.

Abstract: A location detection apparatus is disclosed that includes: a light source; a light output side reflector having a reflecting surface for reflecting light from the light source to a space; a rotation mechanism for rotating the light output side reflector; a first light receiving element for receiving the light reflected from an object existing in the space; a light reception side reflector for reflecting the light from the object to the first light receiving element; a second light receiving element for receiving the light from the light output side reflector; a light conductor for conducting the light reflected from or transmitted through the reflecting surface toward the second light receiving element when the light output side reflector is in a predetermined position; and a rotational position detector that detects rotational position of the light output side reflector based on a detection result of the second light receiving element.

Abstract: A ultrasonic device detecting a direction to an object includes: a transmitting element of a ultrasonic wave; first and second receiving elements; a diffraction wave phase detector; an initial phase memory for an initial phase of a diffraction wave; a sound speed detector; a phase correction amount calculator calculating a phase shift caused by a sound speed change and calculating a phase correction amount based on the phase of the diffraction wave, the initial phase and the phase shift; a phase correction element correcting a phase of the reflection wave based on the phase correction amount; and a direction detector for detecting the direction to the object based on a difference between corrected phases of the reflection wave received by the first and second receiving elements, a distance between the first and second receiving elements, and a wavelength of the transmission ultrasonic wave corresponding to a sound speed.