Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device for reclining a seatback for a vehicle, which may allow a separate actuator to be driven by a switching signal of a lever switch when a user operates the lever switch with only a small force such that a cable connected to a latch for locking or unlocking a recliner may be pulled in an unlock direction of the recliner, thereby implementing the reclining operation for adjusting an angle of the seatback in a semiautomatic manner.

Abstract: A system for distributed multi-axis motion control includes a controller having a memory configured to store a control program and a processor configured to execute the control program. A desired motion trajectory is determined for a multi-axis system having multiple axes, and an axis command is generated for each of the axes as a function of the desired motion trajectory. The system also includes multiple motors and multiple motor drives. Each of the motors corresponds to one axis for the multi-axis system, and each of the motor drives controls at least one of the motors responsive to receiving the axis command for the corresponding motor. Each of the motor drives also determines a motion state for a link driven by the motor as a function of the axis command and transmits at least a portion of the motion state to another motor drive controlling another axis.

Abstract: A pool cleaning robot that includes a ballast tank for controlling a buoyancy of the submarine pool cleaner; at least one cleaning element for cleaning debris from an underwater surface of a pool while the pool cleaning robot hovers over the underwater surface; a propulsion module that is configured to propel the submersible pool cleaner; and a steering module that comprises a rudder and diving planes.

Abstract: Configurable binary circuits for use in electrical power systems may include an input/output port, a binary input subsystem for receiving a binary input signal, a binary output subsystem for transmitting a binary output signal, and a switch subsystem for selecting one of the binary input subsystem or the binary output subsystem for operation. Intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and associated methods may include one or more configurable binary circuits.

Abstract: A vehicle seat (10) for a motor vehicle, having a backrest (12), a height-adjustable headrest (14) and a seatbelt guide (22) integrated in the vehicle seat (10) for a seatbelt (18), wherein the height-adjustable headrest (14) is coupled to the backrest (12), and wherein the headrest (14) can be mechanically coupled to a seatbelt guide adjusting mechanism (36), which mechanically adjusts the seatbelt guide (22) when adjusting the height of the headrest (14).

Abstract: This application describes multi-path cooling arrangements for robotic systems. For example, a robotic system can include a heat generating component positioned within a base that supports one or more articulating links. The heat generating component can be supported on a thermally conductive bracket within the base. The robotic system can include a first thermally conductive path configured to dissipate heat from the heat generating component. The first thermally conductive path can include the bracket and a first heatsink connected to the bracket. The robotic system can also include a second thermally conductive path configured to dissipate heat from the heat generating component. The second thermally conductive path can include the bracket, a thermal pad positioned on the bracket, and a second heatsink positioned on a second side of the base.

Abstract: A control method includes an acquiring step for acquiring information concerning a plurality of end effectors and acquiring an operation program, and a driving step for driving a robot arm based on the operation program acquired in the acquiring step, wherein in the driving step, speed of a speed estimation target part is calculated, for each of the plurality of end effectors based on a detection result of the detecting section, and when it is determined that, in a result of the calculation, speed of the speed estimation target part moving at highest speed when the robot arm is driven by the operation program is equal to or higher than predetermined speed, operating speed of the robot arm is reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a mechanical angle of a target from sine and cosine signals generated by inductive sensing elements by applying harmonic compensation on the sine and cosine signals using possible mechanical angles and analyzing results of the applied harmonic compensation. One of the mechanical angles can be selected based on the results of the applied harmonic compensation. In embodiments, a cost function can be used to select the mechanical angle.

Abstract: A robot collision avoidance motion optimization technique using a distance field constraint function. CAD or sensor data depicting obstacles in a robot workspace are converted to voxels, and a three-dimensional binary matrix of voxel occupancy is created. A corresponding distance map matrix is then computed, where each cell in the distance map matrix contains a distance to a nearest occupied cell. The distance map matrix is used as a constraint function in a motion planning optimization problem, where the optimization problem is convexified and then iteratively solved to yield a robot motion profile which avoids the obstacles and minimizes an objective function such as distance traveled. The distance field optimization technique is quickly computed and has a computation time which is independent of the number of obstacles. The disclosed optimization technique is easy to set up, as it requires no creation of geometry primitives to approximate robot and obstacle shapes.

Abstract: A control device for a robot is configured to control operation of a robotic arm having a plurality of links coupled to each other through a rotation axis, and a motor for drive provided to the rotation axis. The control device includes an angle calculating module configured to calculate an angle formed by the two links adjacent to each other through the rotation axis, and an angle monitoring module configured to monitor whether the angle calculated by the angle calculating module is a given angle or below.

Abstract: A control facility for a DC link converter includes a power regulator, which determines, based on an actual power determined at least partially at the feed converter, a power-based desired moment component for a kinetic energy store. The invention also relates to a DC link converter controlled by the control facility and to a forming machine, such as a press, with a DC link converter controlled by the control facility.

Abstract: A control device according to the present invention is provided with a data acquisition unit configured to acquire data on at least an operating state of an industrial machine, a learning model storage unit configured to store a learning model in which the value of a setting action for a base speed of a servomotor for peak cut is associated with the operating state of the industrial machine, and a decision making unit configured to settle the setting action for the base speed of the servomotor for peak cut based on the data on the operating state of the industrial machine acquired by the data acquisition unit, by using the learning model stored in the learning model storage unit.

Abstract: A lift detection arrangement in a robotic lawnmower for detecting a lift of a body of the robotic lawnmower relative to a chassis of the robotic lawnmower. The lift detection arrangement includes a collision absorber; and a sensor arrangement including a spring, a movable part, a metal plate and a sensor. The collision absorber is screwed to two plastic parts and arranged to allow a displacement of the body relative to the chassis in a collision plane during a collision between an obstacle and the robotic lawnmower, but not in a vertical direction. The moveable part is arranged to provide a displacement of the body relative to the chassis in a lift direction during a lift of the body. The sensor is configured to sense the distance to the metal plate that is fixed to the moveable part and to trigger a cut off of power to a cutting blade of the robotic lawnmower if the distance becomes greater than a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A control apparatus of a machine tool including a feed axis, which is driven by a feed axis motor, includes a load torque estimation unit configured to estimate a load torque acting on a spindle motor, based on a torque command to the spindle motor which drives a spindle axis of the machine tool, and a speed of the spindle motor; and a speed control unit configured to control a speed of a feed axis motor such that the load torque estimated by the load torque estimation unit follows a prescribed load torque target value.

Abstract: An electric tool includes a motor, an operation part provided to be operable by a user, a motor drive control unit configured to perform control of driving the motor in response to the operation part being operated, a temperature sensor, and a temperature determination unit configured to determine overheating of the motor. The temperature determination unit is configured to estimate a temperature of the motor based on a drive situation of the motor and a detection result of the temperature sensor, and to determine the overheating of the motor based on the estimated temperature.

Abstract: An atmosphere-to-vacuum (ATV) transfer module for a substrate processing tool includes a first side configured to interface with at least one loading station, a transfer robot assembly arranged within the ATV transfer module, and a second side opposite the first side. The transfer robot assembly is configured to transfer substrates between the at least one loading station and at least one load lock arranged between the ATV transfer module and a vacuum transfer module (VTM). The second side is configured to interface with the at least one load lock. The transfer robot assembly is arranged adjacent to the second side, and the at least one load lock extends through the second side into an interior volume of the ATV transfer module.

Abstract: A computer of a resource monitoring system is configured to execute an application for analyzing an operation of an industrial device. A use status acquisition module is configured to acquire a use status of a resource of the computer by the application. A display control module is configured to display the use status on a resource monitoring screen.

Abstract: A contour accuracy measuring system and a contour accuracy measuring method are provided. The contour accuracy measuring system captures location coordinate data of shafts of a machine tool. The location coordinate data are calculated to obtain a first true round trajectory on an inclined plane as reference information. The contour accuracy measuring system then adjusts parameters of the locations of the shafts based on the location coordinate data of the shafts of the reference information to generate a second true round trajectory on the inclined plane, so as to get to know whether the locations of the shafts after the parameters are adjusted comply with a standard. Therefore, the overall measurement process can be speeded up by automatically measuring the parameters and automatically testing an operating status.

Abstract: System, apparatus, and methods for controlling a motor by using servo-to-edge direction feedback are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus comprises: a fiber optic rotary junction (FORJ) having a rotatable portion; a motor to rotate the rotatable portion; a connector to connect the rotatable portion to a rotatable fiber of an imaging probe; a sensor positioned in close proximity to a target and configured to output a signal indicative of which one of at least two distinguishable regions of the target is proximal to the sensor; and a controller configured to control the rotational direction of the motor based on the sensor signal. In one embodiment, the motor is a servo-motor, and the rotation of the motor and/or rotatable portion is controlled by a servo-loop to change the rotation direction of the motor back-and-forth around a predetermined rotational position without the use of an encoder.

Abstract: Disclosed are an information processing method and information processing apparatus which execute an installed artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm and/or machine learning algorithm to process a spoken utterance of a user in a 5G communication environment. The information processing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include receiving a spoken utterance of a user and extracting, from the spoken utterance, a demonstrative pronoun referring to a target indicated by the user, determining an image capture region to be scanned by a camera according to the type of the demonstrative pronoun, recognizing the target indicated by the user from a result of scanning the image capture region, and feeding back a result of processing the spoken utterance to the user on the basis of a result of recognizing the target indicated by the user.

Abstract: An electronic control system of a frequency converter repeatedly receives one nominal base value at a time for the operation of an electrical machine, determines a respective nominal current value using the respective nominal base value, and determines respective control signals for power semiconductors of the frequency converter using the respective nominal current value. The electronic control system controls the power semiconductors according to the determined respective control signals and thereby supplies the electrical machine with electrical energy such that the electrical machine is operated according to the nominal base value. The electronic control system determines the respective nominal current value and/or the respective control signals according to an enabled determination method if and as long as a permissible extent of use for the enabled determination method is larger than 0.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method of correcting for errors in a rotational position sensor having a sine signal and a cosine signal is presented. The method includes compiling data from the sine signal and the cosine signal over a period of rotation of a motor shaft; determining offset correction parameters from the data; correcting the data with the offset correction parameters; determining amplitude difference parameters from the data; correcting the data with the amplitude difference parameters; determining phase difference parameters from the data; correcting the data with the phase difference parameters; and using the offset correction parameters, the amplitude difference parameters, and the phase difference parameters to correct the sine signal and the cosine signal.

Abstract: A system for moving a barrier includes a motor with an integrated encoder operative to generate pulses as a function of rotation of the rotatable shaft of the motor. A preferred form of encoder is a rotary optical encoder to generate optical pulses as a function of rotational movement of the rotatable shaft. Both a microcontroller to determine door status and a controller to control door movement receive the pulses and separately execute methods in response thereto.

Abstract: A robot for perceiving a spatial representation of an environment, including: an actuator, at least one sensor, a processor, and memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor effectuates operations including: capturing a plurality of data by the at least one sensor of the robot, wherein: the plurality of data comprises first data comprising pixel characteristics indicative of features of the environment and second data indicative of depth to objects in the environment; the plurality of data is captured from different positions within the environment through which the robot moves, the plurality of data corresponding with respective positions from which the plurality of data was captured; and the plurality of data captured from different respective positions within the environment corresponds to respective fields of view; and aligning the plurality of data as it is captured to more accurately perceive the spatial representation of the environment.

Abstract: An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a robot body defining a forward drive direction, a controller supported by the robot body, a drive supporting the robot body and configured to maneuver the robot across a surface in response to commands from the controller, a pad holder disposed on an underside of the robot body and configured to retain a removable cleaning pad during operation of the cleaning robot; and a pad sensor arranged to sense a feature of a cleaning pad held by the pad holder and generate a corresponding signal. The controller is responsive to the signal generated by the pad sensor, and configured to control the robot according to a cleaning mode selected from a set of multiple robot cleaning modes as a function of the signal generated by the pad sensor.

Abstract: An autonomous cleaning robot includes a drive system to support the autonomous cleaning robot above a floor surface, an image capture device positioned on the autonomous cleaning robot to capture imagery of a portion of the floor surface forward of the autonomous cleaning robot, and a controller operably connected to the drive system and the image capture device. The drive system is operable to maneuver the autonomous cleaning robot about the floor surface. The controller is configured to execute instructions to perform operations including initiating, based on a user-selected sensitivity and the imagery captured by the image capture device, an avoidance behavior to avoid an obstacle on the portion of the floor surface.

Abstract: To assist appropriately in performing a recovery operation of a device. A guidance information presentation apparatus includes: a guidance information receiving unit configured to acquire guidance information including access information and safety information, the access information including a moving route to reach an estimated location of a failure in an apparatus as a recovery target, and an operation procedure, the safety information indicating safety of the moving route and the operation procedure in the access information; and a guidance information displaying unit configured to perform, on a basis of the guidance information, notification for a guidance of the moving route to the estimated location of the failure in the apparatus as the recovery target, and the operation procedure, and notification that indicates the safety of the moving route and the operation procedure.

Abstract: Disclosed are a handling method, a handling device, and a handling system. The handling method includes: advancing toward a position of the target object at a first speed according to a navigation route; advancing toward the position of the target object at a second speed in response to the distance between a current position of the handling device and the position of the target object becoming less than or equal to a first distance, the second speed being less than the first speed; identifying a mark point on the target object when advancing at the second speed, and aligning with the target object according to the mark point of the target object in response to having identified the mark point on the target object; stopping advancing and lifting up the target object after aligning with the target object; and advancing toward a preset position after lifting up the target object.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and platforms for automatic setup planning for a robot. The method includes sampling multiple poses in multiple dimensions within a robotic workspace. The method includes generating one or more candidate configurations based on the multiple poses. The method includes determining a score for each candidate configuration of the one or more candidate configurations. The score represents area coverage of a region of interest and at least one of an amount of setup time of the candidate configuration or an amount of energy used. The method includes determining a set of candidate configurations that has an overall area coverage that covers the region of interest based on the score for each candidate configuration. The method includes controlling a position and an orientation of the object based on the set of candidate configurations.

Abstract: A hardware architecture for controlling a safety-relevant process having at least two microcontrollers for controlling the process in at least two control branches, wherein the respective microcontroller control the safety-relevant process. The microcontrollers process the data from at least one sensor, which detects the actual characteristic of the respective control branch. Between the two microcontrollers, the data of the respective sensor are exchanged and provided for each microcontroller and a check is made to determine whether the data from the sensors are consistent. In response to an inconsistency being detected, a majority decision is made and a model value used in forming the majority decision, is calculated in the microcontroller based on control commands so the control of the safety-relevant process by the microcontroller of the control branch, whose data were detected as erroneous in the majority decision, is disabled.

Abstract: A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.

Abstract: A robotic arm assembly having an arm with at least one end effector pivotally connected to the end of the arm. The robotic arm assembly has a continuous belt driven by two motors. Manipulation of the speed and direction of the two motors controls the length of the arm and the tilt of the end effector. A third motor controls the tilt of the arm.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot arm, and a controller configured to control posture of the robot arm. The controller configured to obtain a first teaching point, and first data on posture of the robot arm determined when the first teaching point is created. The controller configured to move the robot arm in accordance with the first teaching point in a state where the robot arm is supporting the workpiece or nothing, and obtain second data on posture of the robot arm determined when the robot arm has been moved in accordance with the first teaching point. The controller configured to create a second teaching point by correcting the first teaching point based on a difference between the first data and the second data.

Abstract: This robot includes a robot arm, a controller which controls the robot arm, an operation panel which sends a control signal to the controller, a camera which is provided in the operation panel and which captures images of an operator who operates the operation panel, a determination means which determines whether or not the operator is looking at a surface of the operation panel on which an operation portion is provided on the basis of the images captured by the camera, and a limitation means which limits motion of the robot arm when it is determined that the operator is looking at the surface or when it is determined that the operator has continuously been looking at the surface.

Abstract: A linear vibration generating device installed inside a cellular phone, a vibration bell or the like to generate vibration. Right after the power applied to the ‘circuit (a circuit generating and controlling vibration)’, which is one of elements constituting the linear vibration generating device, is turned off, the ‘circuit’ is configured as a short circuit. In addition, the linear vibration generating device can be easily manufactured since an additional space inside the linear vibration generating device is not required, and there is an outstanding effect of promptly removing residual vibration by increasing the amount of vibration damping after the vibration operation of the vibration generating device including a permanent magnet is finished.

Abstract: A substrate transport robot includes: a base installed inside a transport chamber; an arm; a first hand and a second hand rotatable about a vertical hand axis and configured to support a substrate; and a controller. The controller performs: a first transfer process of causing the first hand to enter from the transport chamber into a storage chamber, and transferring the substrate between the first hand and a placing portion in the storage chamber; an exit process of causing the first hand to exit the storage chamber into the transport chamber; and a second transfer process of causing the second hand to enter from the transport chamber into the storage chamber. In the exit process, the hand axis moves away from a center line of an opening, such that the hand axis is farther from the center line than a reference position of the first hand is.

Abstract: A robot with a safety fence includes: a base; a movable part having a base end supported to the base so as to be rotatable about a first axis, and a tip end performing operation on an operation target; and a safety fence rotated about the first axis together with the movable part, and disposed on a rear side opposite to a front side of the robot with a safety fence where the tip end of the movable part performs operation. The safety fence is disposed in a position radially closer to the first axis than the farthest distance the tip end of the movable part travels from the first axis on the front side, and a position radially farther away from the first axis than the farthest distance a portion of the movable part travels from the first axis during operation, on the rear side.

Abstract: A machining state display apparatus includes an achievement degree data storage (9) storing machining condition data relating to each of sets of machining conditions and achievement degree data relating to degrees of achievement of evaluation items to be obtained in machining under each of the sets of machining conditions, with the machining condition data and the achievement degree data being associated with each other, a display part (2) displaying a set of machining conditions and degrees of achievement of the evaluation items corresponding thereto on a display (5), and an input part (6) inputting a signal for selecting one from the evaluation items and a required degree of achievement for the selected evaluation item.

Abstract: An automation operating and management system consolidates and analyzes inputs from multiple machines within an automated enterprise to predict failures and provide instructions for counteractions to prevent failures during machine operation, and to identify opportunities for efficiency improvement, including actions for reduction in peak power consumption demand within a facility including multiple machines. A machine can include a machine controller and at least one base layer controller, where the base layer controller acts as a low level controller to directly control the motion of elements in communication with the base layer control, according to parameters set by the machine controller. The base layer controller collects timing data for the elements under its control, compares the timing data with the parameters and sets an alarm when the timing data is outside of tolerance limits defined by the parameters.

Abstract: A system, a computer program product, and method for controlling synthesized speech output on a voice-controlled device. The voice-controlled device recognized that speech input is being received. The voice-controlled device outputs synthesized speech based on the speech input. While outputting synthesized speech based on the audio is captured. The voice-controlled device recognized the audio input as speech and pausing the outputting of synthesized speech. Otherwise, in response to the captured audio not being recognized as speech and above a settable background noise threshold, pausing the outputting of synthesized speech. The paused output of speech based on the synthesized speech input is resumed after the pausing of the output of synthesized speech being within a settable pause timeframe.

Abstract: A vehicle control system for driving a vehicle toward a source while avoiding an obstacle includes a first sensor to measure a first intensity of a source signal from the source, a second sensor to detect an obstacle and a second vehicle. The system includes an interface to receive data of a second intensity of the source signal measured by the second vehicle and transmit the data of the first and second intensities via a wireless channel, a memory to store the data of the first and second intensities, an autonomous program, a leader algorithm and a follower algorithm for autonomously driving the vehicle, a processor to select and perform one of the leader algorithm and the follower algorithm and generate control signals, and a machinery control circuit to drive a machinery of the vehicle according the control signals.

Abstract: Computational methods and systems that collect operational data from an intelligent controller to identify information, or correct information, about a device and system controlled by the intelligent controller are disclosed. Computational methods and systems use a set of operational data and information known about other devices and systems controlled by similar intelligent controllers to process the operational data and generate information, or correct information, about the device and system.

Abstract: A triaxial motion device includes first, second and third bases, first and second power sources, and a workpiece positioning member. The first power source is disposed on the first base and has a first driving shaft. The second base is connected with the first driving shaft through a cannular rotary shaft in a way that the second base is rotatable about a first axis. The second power source is disposed on the first base and has a second driving shaft penetrating through the cannular rotary shaft. The third base is connected with the second driving shaft in a way that the third base is rotatable about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The workpiece positioning member is disposed on the third base and rotatable about a third axis perpendicular to the second axis. Therefore, the triaxial motion device has small volume and performs highly precise motion.

Abstract: A robot is moved along a first continuous programmed path with a robot controller executing a learning path control program without performing an operation on a workpiece. The actual movement of the robot along the first continuous programmed path is recorded. The first continuous programmed path is adjusted to create a second programmed path. The robot is moved along the second continuous programmed with the robot controller executing the learning path control program without performing the operation on the workpiece. The actual movement of the robot along the second continuous programmed path is recorded. Traces of the recorded actual movements of the robot along the first continuous programmed path and the second continuous programmed path are displayed.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring a functional state of a shaping tooth arrangement on a forming tool, at measurement times which are temporally staggered with respect to each other at a plurality of measurement locations on the shaping tooth arrangement, a tooth arrangement force is measured which acts on the shaping tooth arrangement. At each of the measurement times for each of the measurement locations an instantaneous local tooth arrangement force is thereby determined. A previous instantaneous local tooth arrangement force and a subsequent instantaneous local tooth arrangement force are correlated with each other to determine a local state identification value. On the basis of the local state identification values associated with the measurement locations, information is obtained relating to the functional state of the shaping tooth arrangement.

Abstract: To simplify determination of drive parameters upon driving a motor for which circuit constants are unknown, and shorten the time required in determination. A parameter determination support device includes: an automatic measurement part which applies initial parameters, and automatically measures a revolution speed (rpm) of a synchronous motor, as well as a DC link voltage (V) and Q-phase voltage command (%) of a motor drive device, as operating information upon driving the synchronous motor at substantially constant speed based on a base speed, according to a test-run program; an estimation part which estimates a reverse voltage constant (V/krpm) and torque constant (Nm/Arms) as circuit constants of the synchronous motor based on the operating information; and a calculation part which performs calculation of optimum parameters tailored to the output specification of the synchronous motor based on the circuit constants.

Abstract: Provided is a method including capturing a plurality of images by at least one sensor of a robot; aligning, with a processor of the robot, data of respective images based on an area of overlap between the fields of view of the plurality of images; and determining, with the processor of the robot, based on alignment of the data, a spatial model of the environment.

Abstract: A teleoperated robotic system that utilizes a graphical user interface (GUI) to perform work on a workpiece(s) using a robot. A coordinate system of the GUI is correlated to the tool center point (TCP) of the robot and the TCP or workspace of a teleoperated member, such as a haptic joystick. Operable manipulation of the teleoperated member is correlated to a movement at a particular location in the robot station, such as movement of the TCP of the robot. The GUI can also provide digital representations of the workpiece, which is based on inputted and/or scanned information relating to a reference workpiece and/or the particular workpiece on which the robot is performing work. The GUI can further provide indications of the various stages of assembly of the workpiece, as well as an indication of work already, or to be, performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a memory and a setting selector. The memory is configured to store setting items each relating to a motor, and the setting sequence to sequentially set the setting items. The setting selector is connected to the memory and configured to select a newly selected item from among the setting items based on the setting sequence, a user input, and a currently selected item of the setting items.

Abstract: A ripple detection device 10 includes: a current detection part 11 that outputs a variation in an armature current as a voltage variation signal; a first smoothing circuit block 12 that extracts a current ripple component and a noise component from the voltage variation signal and outputs a first smoothing signal S1; a gain adjustment part 13 that adjusts the amplitude of the first smoothing signal S1 and outputs an adjustment signal VCA; a second smoothing circuit block 14 that corrects distortion of the adjustment signal VCA and outputs a second smoothing signal S2; a ripple detection part 15 that extracts only the current ripple component from the second smoothing signal S2 by removing the noise component therefrom and outputs a ripple component signal S0; and a digital signal conversion part 16 that converts the ripple component signal S0 into a digital signal.