Ricoh Company, Ltd.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.

Junichiro Natori

Tomoaki Sugawara

Tsuneaki Kondoh

Yuko Arizumi

Takahiro Imai

Mizuki Otagiri

Mayuka Araumi

Megumi Kitamura

Hideyuki Miyazawa

Makito Nakashima

Keisuke Chino

Kimio Aoki

Yuki Hoshikawa

Masahiro Ikawa

An element includes a pair of electrodes, an intermediate layer between the pair of electrodes, and at least one insulator layer between the pair of electrodes. The intermediate layer contains a silicon compound including unpaired electrons as a material. The intermediate layer is deformable.

Element and method for manufacturing element

Emergency stop pressure sensorsare installed on both side surfaces of a movable linkof a robot armof an assembly robot. When a worker S unintentionally walks in a swing range Ra of the robot armand contacts the emergency stop pressure sensor, a detection signal is transmitted to a control unit, and the control unitshuts power transmission to a driving source swinging the robot arm. The emergency stop pressure sensorhas a first electrode and a second electrode constituting a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer formed of rubber or a rubber composition, which is disposed between the pair of electrodes, the intermediate layer generating power upon deformation caused by contact with a contacted body (the worker). A side of the intermediate layer in a laminate direction undergoes surface modification treatment and/or inactivation treatment. With this treatment, the one side and the other side of the intermediate layer have different degrees of deformation to the same deformation adding force.

Emergency stop pressure sensor, safety device, and safety system

An elementincludes a pair of electrodesand, and an intermediate layerhaving deformability, arranged between the pair of electrodesand, and containing, as a material, a silicon compound including an unpaired electron. The intermediate layermay contain a particle including the unpaired electron. The intermediate layermay have rubber elasticity. The intermediate layermay have at least one peak at a g value between 2.070 and 2.001 when being measured at an environment temperature of &#x2212;150&#xb0; C. by using an electron spin resonance (ESR) device. The intermediate layermay have at least one peak at a g value between 2.070 and 2.001 when being measured at an environment temperature of &#x2212;150&#xb0; C. by using the electron spin resonance (ESR) device.

Element, cell, and power generation device

A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes a pair of electrodes, an intermediate layer being insulating, and a substrate being flexible. The intermediate layer is disposed between the electrodes. The substrate is configured to support the electrodes and the intermediate layer. When the substrate undergoes a deformation, the intermediate layer is separated from or pressed against one of the electrodes.

Power generating element and power generating device

An input element includes: a first electrode and a second electrode that face each other; and an intermediate layer disposed between the first and the second electrodes and made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane. The intermediate layer is made of rubber or a rubber composition, the rubber or rubber composition containing siloxane that has a silicon atom bound to three to four oxygen atoms. The intermediate layer has concentration profiles such that, while oxygen increases from one side to the other side of a thickness direction thereof and has a maximal value, carbon decreases from the one side to the other side thereof and has a minimal value.

Input element and input device

An element, including a first electrode, an intermediate layer, and a second electrode, the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being laminated in this order, wherein the intermediate layer has flexibility, and wherein a deformation amount on a side of the first electrode of the intermediate layer is different from a deformation amount on a side of the second electrode of the intermediate layer when a pressure is applied to the intermediate layer in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the intermediate layer.

Element and electric power generator

A sensor includes a plurality of elements and an insulating layer. The plurality of elements is deformable to generate power. The insulating layer is interposed between the plurality of elements. Each of the plurality of elements includes a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is disposed between the pair of electrodes and formed of one of a rubber and a rubber composition.

Sensor and sensor system

A power generating device is provided. The power generating device includes an element having flexibility and a support to support at least one portion of the element. The element is capable of undergoing a deformation when receiving a vibration and capable of generating power when undergoing the deformation. The deformation includes at least one of a bending deformation, a torsional deformation, and a bending-torsional complex deformation.

Power generating device

An element including: a first electrode; an intermediate layer made of a silicone rubber composition containing a silicone rubber; and a second electrode, where the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode are disposed in this order, wherein a peak intensity ratio (1095&#xb1;5 cm/1025&#xb1;5 cm) of an infrared absorption spectrum of the intermediate layer varies along a vertical direction relative to a surface of the first electrode, and to a surface of the second electrode.

Element and electric generator

A power generating device including an element and a moving member. The element is deformable and generates power when deforming. The moving member moves when receiving a vibration, and contacts the element when moving. When the moving member contacts the element, the element deforms into another state or returns to a previous state.

Power generating device having a deformable element that generates power when deforming

An element including: a first electrode; an intermediate layer; and a second electrode, the first electrode, the intermediate layer, and the second electrode being disposed in this order, the intermediate layer including an organic polymer material, where a molecular structure of the organic polymer material includes a structure represented by the following formula (1) where Ris a carbonyl group, an ether group, a thioether group, or organopolysiloxane, and Rmay form a cyclic structure (an imide group) with R; and Rto Rare organic groups that may be identical or different, where each of the organic groups may have a valency of 2 or more and may form another structure: 

A sensor includes an electrode, an insulator, a pressure receiver, and a pressure imparting unit. The insulator is disposed at a position facing the electrode and away from the electrode. The pressure receiver is disposed on a surface of the insulator on a side opposite to the electrode. The pressure imparting unit presses a part of the insulator toward the electrode at a position different from the pressure receiver to contact the insulator with the electrode. The insulator generates power by contact charging or separation charging with respect to the electrode, to output the power as a signal.

Sensor including an electrode, insulator, pressure receiver, and pressure imparting unit, and a system including the sensor

A gripping deviceis provided at the front end of an arm of an assembly robot. The gripping deviceincludes a pair of grippersandcapable of opening and closing. The side configured to come into contact with a part, of each gripperincludes a pressure-sensitive sensor. The pressure-sensitive sensorincludes a first electrode and a second electrode serving as a pair of electrodes and an intermediate layer formed of rubber or a rubber composition between the pair of electrodes. The intermediate layer is configured to generate electricity when deformed by contact with an object (part). The side configured to come into contact with the object, of the intermediate layer is subjected to a surface modification treatment and has a higher hardness than the opposite side.

Pressure-sensitive sensor, gripping device, and robot

An element including: electrodes; and intermediate layers, each being sandwiched between any pair of the electrodes, wherein the intermediate layers comprise at least two selected from the group consisting of: intermediate layer that can be elongated and deformed in direction that is not parallel to direction in which external force is applied, when the external force is applied to the intermediate layer; intermediate layer that can be compressed and deformed in direction that is parallel to direction in which external force is applied, when the external force is applied to the intermediate layer; and intermediate layer that can be elongated and deformed in direction that is not parallel to direction in which external force is applied, and can be compressed and deformed in direction that is parallel to the direction in which the external force is applied, when the external force is applied to the intermediate layer.

A power generating element is provided. The power generating element includes an electrode pair and an intermediate layer. The electrode pair includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The intermediate layer is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The intermediate layer is insulating and has a first side facing the first electrode and a second side facing the second electrode. The first electrode and the intermediate layer together operate as a contact/separation mechanism configured to perform a contact/separation operation, when an external force is applied to the power generating element to generate power. In the contact/separation operation, the contact/separation mechanism transitions between a contact or close state in which the first electrode and the first side are brought into contact with each other or close to each other, and a separation state in which the first electrode and the first side are separated from each other.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Junichiro Natori