Abstract: In a mobile communication terminal, when a base station of a communication destination is switched from a base station having a first communication rate to a base station having a second communication rate higher than the first communication rate, a calculated remaining communication time necessary to complete a data communication from the switching time point on the basis of a remaining amount of data which has not communicated yet, before the switching. The mobile communication terminal then display the calculated remaining communication time.

Abstract: A drive unit in accordance with the present invention is provided with a magnetic field generating member generating a magnetic field, a magnetic field detecting device constituted by first, second and third magnetic field detecting elements detecting the magnetic field, and a piezoelectric actuator moving the magnetic field generating member. When executing a relative positioning between the magnetic field generating member and the magnetic field detecting device on the basis of a detection result by the magnetic field detecting device, a first positioning is executed on the basis of the detection result of the first and second magnetic field detecting elements in a predetermined region, and a second positioning is executed on the basis of the detection result of the third magnetic field detecting element at a predetermined point apart from the predetermined region, within a movable range in which the magnetic field generating member moves.

Abstract: In order to provide an actuator having great driving force and high impact resistance, an actuator of the present invention has a driving shaft 5 that can be vibrated in the shaft direction by a piezoelectric device 4 provided at its one end and a moving member 6 that is friction-engaged with the driving shaft 5 and moves on the driving shaft 5 due to the vibration of the driving shaft 5. The driving shaft 5 has two parallel shaft sliding faces 5a on its surface. The moving member 6 has two moving member sliding faces 7e, 8e that are in slide-contact with the shaft sliding faces 5a. The moving member 6 is friction-engaged with the driving shaft 5 such that the moving member sliding faces 7e, 8e clamp the shaft sliding faces 5a.

Abstract: In order to provide a linear actuator which is capable of solving deposition of deposit due to a long-time use and preventing malfunction, the linear actuator has a driving shaft 3 which reciprocates or expands and contracts to its axial direction, a slider 4 which is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft so as to be movable along the driving shaft, and driving controller for controlling a motion of the driving shaft so that the slider moves to an arbitrary moving direction. The driving controller has a self-maintenance mode for advancing N2 and retreating N1 the slider 4 alternatively, and making an advancing amount and a retreating amount different, controlling the driving shaft 3 so as to entirely move the slider 4 to any one of the directions.

Abstract: A cap with a display device includes a display element suspended in a position below a visor of the cap and in front of the forehead of a wearer and above the eyes of the wearer so as to allow a display surface of the display element to be directed ahead of the wearer, and a concave mirror suspended in a position below the visor and ahead of the display element from the wearer so as to allow a reflective surface of the concave mirror to be directed to the eyes of the wearer. The cap with a display device enables the wearer to observe an enlarged virtual image derived from an image displayed on the display element.

Abstract: An actuator using the vibration caused by a piezoelectric element. The actuator includes: a base; a vibratory rod bonded to the base; an piezoelectric element bonded to the vibratory rod; and a contact body for contacting frictionally with the vibratory rod under an suitable frictional force exerting therebetween. The piezoelectric element is charged and discharged, so that the piezoelectric element is transformed in one direction relatively fast and in opposite direction relatively slow, and so that the contact body is driven along the vibratory rod in a set direction.

Abstract: In order to provide a multi-degree-of-freedom drive mechanism which is capable of preventing a malfunction with a simple structure, the multi-degree-of-freedom drive mechanism includes at least two first and second actuators which generate lengthwise resonance in drive shafts by means of electro-mechanical transducers in a state that driven members are frictionally engaged with the drive shafts to which the electro-mechanical transducers are fixed at its one end, respectively, so as to be capable of moving the driven members along the drive shafts. The other end of the drive shaft of the second actuator is fixed to the driven member of the first actuator 10 directly or via another actuator, and the first and second actuators are composed so that resonating frequencies of their drive shafts are different from each other.

Abstract: In order to provide a linear actuator which is capable of solving deposition of deposit due to a long-time use and preventing malfunction, the linear actuator has a driving shaft 3 which reciprocates or expands and contracts to its axial direction, a slider 4 which is frictionally engaged with the driving shaft so as to be movable along the driving shaft, and driving controller for controlling a motion of the riving shaft so that the slider moves to an arbitrary moving direction. The driving controller has a self-maintenance mode for advancing N2 and retreating N1 the slider 4 alternatively, and making an advancing amount and a retreating amount different, controlling the driving shaft 3 so as to entirely move the slider 4 to any one of the directions.

Abstract: A spectroscopic image input system has an image data capturing apparatus for capturing the image data of an object by using a two-dimensional image-sensing device, a spectrum data obtaining apparatus for obtaining the spectrum data of the object within a smaller area and with higher wavelength resolution than the image data capturing apparatus, and a determination section for determining a portion of the object in which to obtain the spectrum data on the basis of the image data captured. Thus, this spectroscopic image input system captures the image data and obtains the spectrum data automatically.

Abstract: In order to provide a multi-degree-of-freedom drive mechanism which is capable of preventing a malfunction with a simple structure, the multi-degree-of-freedom drive mechanism includes at least two first and second actuators which generate lengthwise resonance in drive shafts by means of electro-mechanical transducers in a state that driven members are frictionally engaged with the drive shafts to which the electro-mechanical transducers are fixed at its one end, respectively, so as to be capable of moving the driven members along the drive shafts. The other end of the drive shaft of the second actuator is fixed to the driven member of the first actuator 10 directly or via another actuator, and the first and second actuators are composed so that resonating frequencies of their drive shafts are different from each other.

Abstract: A plurality of linear actuators (10, 20, 30) connected in sequence orthogonally to one another constitute rectilinear movement means having a plurality of degrees of freedom in rectilinear movement. Further, a rotary actuator (40) has one end connected to the linear actuator (30) on the last stage and the other end connected to a base side of an end effector (50) and works as attitude change means for changing an attitude of the end effector (50). When the rotary actuator (40) changes the attitude of the end effector (50), the linear actuators (10, 20, 30) are driven to offset a positional movement of an object occurring with the attitude change. This makes it possible to offset the positional movement of the object occurring with the rotary operation with a relatively simple constitution, and further the actuators can be constituted of the minimum elements, thereby providing a downsized micromanipulator.

Abstract: An actuator using the vibration caused by a piezoelectric element. The actuator includes: a base; a vibratory rod bonded to the base; an piezoelectric element bonded to the vibratory rod; and a contact body for contacting frictionally with the vibratory rod under an suitable frictional force exerting therebetween. The piezoelectric element is charged and discharged, so that the piezoelectric element is transformed in one direction relatively fast and in opposite direction relatively slow, and so that the contact body is driven along the vibratory rod in a set direction.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image reader which reads an optical image projected thereon and generates image signals by scanning the projected optical image, an optical unit which projects the optical image on the image reader at various ratios, and a controller which determines a range of the scanning operation performed by the image reader in accordance with the ratios employed by the optical unit.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is connectable to an external device through a communication line, and includes an image forming device for forming an image on paper and a device for setting specified set conditions in the image forming device. The image forming apparatus performs image forming operation corresponding to the set conditions, and further includes a receiving device for receiving a control signal from the communication line and a transmission device for transmitting the set conditions through the communication line in response to reception of the control signal.

Abstract: A control system of image forming apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatus and a control unit connected to each of the image forming apparatus through a communication line, and each of the image forming apparatus includes a data transmitting device for transmitting information related to a consumption amount of consumable products to the control unit through the communication line, and the control unit includes a receiving device receiving the information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and determines a stock amount of the consumable products which a user of the image forming apparatus has on the basis of the information received by the receiving device.

Abstract: A control system of image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of image forming apparatus and a control unit connected to each of said image forming apparatus through a communication line.Each of said image forming apparatus includes a detecting device for detecting contents of maintenance work for the image forming apparatus, and a transmitting device for transmitting the work data showing the detected results by the detecting device to the control unit through the communication line. The control unit includes a receiving device for receiving the work data transmitted from one of the image forming apparatus and a memory for storing the received work data.

Abstract: A camera having an auto zoom function includes: a taking lens for photographing an object; a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to the object; a magnification setting device for setting a photographing magnification for the object; and a focal length calculator for calculating a focal length of the taking lens to obtain the photographing magnification set with respect to the distance to the object. Auto zoom operation is carried out by automatic movement of the taking lens so that the focal length of the taking lens may be equal to the calculated focal length.

Abstract: A device for controlling a stop position of a movable member includes a movable member movable as far as a specified stop position, drive means for moving the movable member, detection means for detecting that the movable member reaches the specified stop position, timer means for setting a specified time, and control means responsive to detection means for suspending the drive means when the movable member reaches the specified stop position, setting the timer means, then allowing the drive means to drive again until the set time elapses.

Abstract: A control system of image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes image forming apparatus and a portable maintenance device connectable thereto. The image forming apparatus transmits first condition data indicating conditions of the apparatus to the portable maintenance device when the portable maintenance device is connected thereto, and the portable maintenance device receives the condition data from the image forming apparatus when it is connected to the image forming apparatus. Also, the portable maintenance device can be input second condition data indicating conditions of the image forming apparatus, and displays at least one piece of stored guide information on the basis of the first and second condition data.

Abstract: A photographic camera having a photographic lens system freely settable to various focal lengths, an openable and closable lens cover disposed in front of the photographic lens system, an opening and closing mechanism for the lens cover, a motor for providing kinetic energy for the focal length changeover operations of the photographic lens system and also for the opening and closing operations of the lens cover, and a drivable cylinder capable of transmitting the kinetic energy from the motor to the photographic lens system and to the opening and closing mechanism in the form of a mechanical displacement.