Other

Zeon Corporation

Fukoku Co., Ltd.

Makoto Sawada

Seiki Chiba

Mikio Waki

Mitsuaki Ito

Junichi Minami

Fumio Ohnishi

Momofuku Ando

Mitsumune Takatsu

Fumiaki Watanabe

A dielectric elastomer vibration system includes a dielectric elastomer vibrator with a dielectric elastomer layer and a pair of electrode layers, and a power supply device producing a potential difference across the electrode layers. The vibrator exhibits various modes or regions of relationship between potential difference and deformation induced by the potential difference: a high-response region in which a relatively large deformation is induced; a low-response region of lower-potential difference in which a relatively small deformation is induced; and a low-response region of higher-potential difference in which a relatively small deformation is induced or in which a break point of the dielectric elastomer layer is included. The power supply device produces the potential difference by applying across the electrode layers a vibration signal voltage, which is generated by combining an AC voltage with a bias DC voltage corresponding to a potential difference falling in the high-response region.

Dielectric elastomer vibration system and power supply device

A dielectric elastomer drive system Aincludes: a dielectric elastomer drive unitprovided with a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layersflanking the dielectric elastomer layer; a power supply unitconfigured to apply voltage to the dielectric elastomer drive unit; and a charge removal unitconfigured to remove the charge stored in the dielectric elastomer drive unit. The configuration contributes to improving responsiveness.

Dielectric elastomer drive system and dielectric elastomer drive method

Provided are: a power generator including a dielectric elastomer element with an elastomer layer and electrodes sandwiching the layer; an intermediate power storage including a specific number of capacitors to receive output power from the power generator; a storage unit to receive output power from the intermediate power storage; and a controller for setting control by switching a mode between an input mode and an output mode. In the input mode, some number of the capacitors of the intermediate power storage are connected to the power generator such that a series number is an input series number of less than or equal to the specific number. In the output mode, some number of the capacitors are connected to the storage unit such that the series number is an output series number which is smaller than the input series number.

Dielectric elastomer power generation system

A dielectric elastomer sensor system Ais provided with an oscillation circuitincluding a dielectric elastomer sensor elementhaving a dielectric elastomer layerand a pair of electrode layerssandwiching the dielectric elastomer layer, and with a determination circuitconfigured to determine a change in a capacitance of the dielectric elastomer sensor element, based on an output signal from the oscillation circuit. The dielectric elastomer sensor elementchanges in capacitance due to deformation caused by external forces of at least two mutually different directions. Such a configuration enables provision of a multifunctional dielectric elastomer sensor system and dielectric elastomer sensor element.

Dielectric elastomer sensor system and dielectric elastomer sensor element

The manufacturing method of a microfluidic device includes the steps of: preparing a first substrate which is obtained by curing silicone resin containing an unreacted part of a Si&#x2014;H group and a platinum catalyst after being cured and has a flat first surface in which a concave groove or a through hole is partly provided and a second substrate which has a flat second surface in which a concave groove or a through hole is partly provided as necessary and has a hydroxyl group on a flat face of the second surface; and joining the first substrate and the second substrate by sticking the first surface of the first substrate and the second surface of the second substrate together.

Manufacturing method of microfluidic device

Manufacture of ready-to-eat rice comprises soaking rice in water, gelatinizing the wet rice, pressing the gelatinized rice between rollers to alter the grain structure (to permit easier puffing during frying), adjusting its water content to 8-25% by weight and frying the rice at a temperature of 130.degree.-200.degree. C.

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Ageo, Japan

Makoto Sawada