Abstract: A control apparatus controls an operation of a self-propelled mechanism of an endoscope. The control apparatus includes a drive circuit that outputs a motor current, a motor current detection circuit that acquires a value relating to magnitude of the motor current as a detection value, a storage circuit that stores a limit value relating to the detection value, and a control circuit that performs an operation as a first controller that controls the drive circuit so as to stop the motor when it is determined that the detection value exceeds a value relating to the limit value, and performs an operation as a second controller that controls the drive circuit so as to stop the motor when it is determined that the detection value exceeds the value relating to the limit value.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an elongated insertion portion, a self-propelling mechanism configured to be rotatably driven to advance and retract the insertion portion, and a motor configured to supply a drive force to the self-propelling mechanism. A control apparatus for the endoscope apparatus includes a current controller configured to supply a motor current to the motor to control driving of the motor, a motor current detector configured to detect a value of the motor current, a motor current change amount detector configured to detect an amount of change in the value of the motor current, and a limit controller configured to stop a supply of the motor current by the current controller according to the amount of change.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a drive current detector detecting a drive current value driving the motor to drive a rotation body, and a controller controlling the motor in a speed control method which controls the motor so that a rotation speed of the motor reaches a targeted rotation speed until the drive current value reaches a predetermined switching value, and, when the drive current value reaches the switching value, controlling the motor by switching to a torque control method which controls the motor so that the drive current value reaches a targeted current value.

Abstract: A self-propelled endoscope apparatus includes a rotation body, a motor, a drive circuit, and a regeneration protection circuit. The rotation body is provided on an outer peripheral surface of an elongated insertion section. The rotation body is configured to be rotatable. The motor rotates the rotation body. The drive circuit drives the motor. The regeneration protection circuit performs protecting operation for protecting the drive circuit from regeneration voltage generated by regeneration of the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotation body, a motor, a drive controller, a rotating speed detector, a rotation error determination circuit, and a filter. The rotation body is provided on an outer peripheral surface of an elongated insertion section and configured to be rotatable around a longitudinal axis. The motor rotates the rotation body. The drive controller controls driving of the motor. The rotating speed detector detects a rotating speed of the motor based on an encoder signal output from an encoder. The rotation error determination circuit determines an error in rotation of the rotation body based on the detected rotating speed. The filter passes, as the encoder signal, only a signal having a frequency, outside a frequency band of a high-frequency signal of a high-frequency treatment instrument, of signals input to the rotating speed detector.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a long and thin insertion section, a rotating housing that is provided to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a drive shaft that is connected to a motor rotating the rotating housing, and that transmits a rotation of the motor, a rotor that is provided at a distal-end side of the drive shaft and that is provided to be movable in relation to the rotating housing in axial direction of the insertion section, and that transmits the rotation to the rotating housing via a coating of the insertion section, a sensor that detects that the rotor moves a predetermined amount in either forward or backward direction relative to the axial direction of the insertion section, and a control unit that controls, according to the detection by the sensor, a state of the motor including a positive rotation, a negative rotation, and rotation halt.

Abstract: The invention provides a prepreg comprising: a primary prepreg composed of reinforcing fibers and a resin composition (I) impregnating the interior of a reinforcing fiber layer formed from these fibers; and a surface layer composed of a resin composition (II) formed on one or both sides of the primary prepreg; wherein the resin composition (I) is an epoxy resin composition [B] containing at least an epoxy resin and a thermoplastic resin, and the resin composition (II) is an epoxy resin composition [A] containing at least an epoxy resin and conductive particles.

Abstract: An insertion device includes a thin and elongated insertion section, a rotating body which is rotated to advance or retreat the insertion section, a driving force supply source which supplies a driving force to the rotating body, a variable stiffness section provided for the insertion section and permitting stiffness of the insertion section to be varied, a stiffness detector which detects the stiffness of the insertion section varied by the variable stiffness section, and a controller which controls the driving force supply source in accordance with the stiffness of the insertion section detected by the stiffness detector.

Abstract: A control apparatus controls an operation of a self-propelled mechanism of an endoscope. The control apparatus includes a drive circuit that outputs a motor current, a motor current detection circuit that acquires a value relating to magnitude of the motor current as a detection value, a storage circuit that stores a limit value relating to the detection value, and a control circuit that performs an operation as a first controller that controls the drive circuit so as to stop the motor when it is determined that the detection value exceeds a value relating to the limit value, and performs an operation as a second controller that controls the drive circuit so as to stop the motor when it is determined that the detection value exceeds the value relating to the limit value.

Abstract: A self-propelled endoscope apparatus includes a rotation body, a motor, a drive circuit, and a regeneration protection circuit. The rotation body is provided on an outer peripheral surface of an elongated insertion section. The rotation body is configured to be rotatable. The motor rotates the rotation body. The drive circuit drives the motor. The regeneration protection circuit performs protecting operation for protecting the drive circuit from regeneration voltage generated by regeneration of the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a rotation body, a motor, a drive controller, a rotating speed detector, a rotation error determination circuit, and a filter. The rotation body is provided on an outer peripheral surface of an elongated insertion section and configured to be rotatable around a longitudinal axis. The motor rotates the rotation body. The drive controller controls driving of the motor. The rotating speed detector detects a rotating speed of the motor based on an encoder signal output from an encoder. The rotation error determination circuit determines an error in rotation of the rotation body based on the detected rotating speed. The filter passes, as the encoder signal, only a signal having a frequency, outside a frequency band of a high-frequency signal of a high-frequency treatment instrument, of signals input to the rotating speed detector.

Abstract: A controller which controls an operation of a self-propelled mechanism of an endoscope includes an inspection control section, a usual control section, an endoscope connection detection circuit and a control switch section. The endoscope connection detection circuit detects that the endoscope has been connected. The control switch section determines whether or not the inspection operation is performed for the endoscope at the time of the connection of the endoscope, causes the usual control section to perform the usual operation when the inspection operation is performed, and causes the inspection control section to perform the inspection operation and then causes the usual control section to perform the usual operation when the inspection operation is not performed.

Abstract: A prepreg includes conductive fibers impregnated with a matrix resin, the prepreg having a conductive region where a conductive material is dispersed in the resin. In the present invention, a resin layer composed of at least the matrix resin preferably is present on one or both surfaces of a conductive fiber layer composed of at least the conductive fibers, and the conductive region is present at least in the resin layer. In addition, the above-described conductive region preferably is present continuously in the thickness direction. The conductive region preferably is a conductive region where the conductive material is dispersed in the matrix resin, and the resin in the conductive region preferably forms a continuous phase with the matrix resin in other regions. A volume resistivity of the conductive region preferably is 1/1,000 or less of that of other regions of the matrix resin.

Abstract: A control section outputs a control signal. An actuator is connected to a drive section and operates based on the control signal. An operation information acquisition section acquires operation information related to an operation status of the actuator. A storage section stores correction information included in control information which includes a relationship between an operation status and the control signal. The correction section determines whether or not the control signal and the operation status are consistent with the control information, and when inconsistent, corrects correction information for consistency.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes an elongated insertion portion, a self-propelling mechanism configured to be rotatably driven to advance and retract the insertion portion, and a motor configured to supply a drive force to the self-propelling mechanism. A control apparatus for the endoscope apparatus includes a current controller configured to supply a motor current to the motor to control driving of the motor, a motor current detector configured to detect a value of the motor current, a motor current change amount detector configured to detect an amount of change in the value of the motor current, and a limit controller configured to stop a supply of the motor current by the current controller according to the amount of change.

Abstract: A controller is configured to control an operation of a self-propelled mechanism provided in an elongated insertion section of an endoscope. The controller includes a circuit configured to: acquire a speed value corresponding to a rotation speed of a motor of the self-propelled mechanism; acquire a torque value corresponding to a torque generated by the motor; control rotation of the motor by switching between at least two of speed control that controls rotation of the motor based on the speed value and torque control that controls rotation of the motor based on the torque value; and stop the rotation of the motor if the torque value has exceeded a predetermined threshold value, perform the torque control when the rotation of the motor is resumed.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes an insertion section, a motor that rotates a rotational housing, a drive control unit that supplies a driving current to the motor to control driving of the motor, a temperature detector provided in the rotational housing, that detects a temperature of the rotational housing, a temperature measurement unit that measures a temperature in a vicinity of the rotational housing based on a detection result obtained from the temperature detector, a heating element used for heating, and a heating control unit that controls the heating element to perform heating when a measurement result of the temperature measurement unit is lower than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An insertion apparatus includes an insertion section, a rotational housing, a motor, and a controller. The motor rotates the rotational housing. The controller designates a rotational direction of the motor. The controller limits the rotational direction of the motor to allow the insertion section to move only in a removal direction when inspection control for inspecting an operation relative to an insertion direction of the insertion section is initiated.

Abstract: A controller controls a first device, one of an endoscope and a treatment instrument being the first device, a remaining one of the endoscope and the treatment instrument being a second device, the endoscope comprising an insertion tube and a self-propelled mechanism adapted to generate force for insertion or removal of the insertion tube. The controller includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the second device is functioning; and a control unit configured to restrict an operation of the first device if the second device is determined to be functioning.

Abstract: A controller which controls an operation of a self-propelled mechanism of an endoscope includes an inspection control section, a usual control section, an endoscope connection detection circuit and a control switch section. The endoscope connection detection circuit detects that the endoscope has been connected. The control switch section determines whether or not the inspection operation is performed for the endoscope at the time of the connection of the endoscope, causes the usual control section to perform the usual operation when the inspection operation is performed, and causes the inspection control section to perform the inspection operation and then causes the usual control section to perform the usual operation when the inspection operation is not performed.