Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Mikio Hojo

Masashi Yasuda

Yoshio Ozawa

Atsushi Ogawa

Kazuaki Mizukami

Tomoya Terauchi

Kouta Fujimura

Toshihiko Matsuhashi

Hiroaki Arakawa

Hidetoshi Nakashima

Images of a reference object for detecting each camera position are captured by cameras and the relative position between the cameras and is obtained by using the captured images. Then, a target is placed on a turntable onto which reference marks for detecting position are formed, and while the turntable is rotated, images are captured by the cameras and . Based on the reference marks on the turntable , the positional relationship between the camera and the target is determined, and, based on the relative position of the cameras and , the positional relationship between the target and the camera is determined. A three-dimensional model of the target is produced based on the images captured by the cameras and . In this manner, a target of relatively large size is easily three-dimensionally modeled.

Three dimensional modeling apparatus

A chuck mechanism (2) for holding a pipette head (3) is attached to an output end of a reciprocating drive mechanism (1). A chuck control mechanism (5) for controlling the head holding and releasing operations of the chuck mechanism (2) is disposed at one side of each of head support members (41) of a head stowing device (4) for accommodating replaceable pipette heads (3). The chuck control mechanism (5) comprises a control piece (54) engageable with and disengageable from the chuck mechanism (2) for effecting the holding and releasing operations, and a plurality of magnets (81), (82), (8) for reciprocatingly driving the control piece (54) with the reciprocating movement of the chuck mechanism (2) when the pipette head (3) as held by the chuck mechanism (2) is thereby moved toward or away from the head support member (41). The pipetting apparatus is adapted to automatically and rapidly replace the pipette head by another.

Pipetting apparatus

An ultrasonic sensor detects the time of rise of the first of transmitted waves and also detects peak points Po appearing in the waveform of received waves to detect a waveform reference point where the time-base coordinate of a phantom envelope connecting these peak points Po is a minimum. The time T2 of rise of the first of the received waves is calculated by adding a predetermined period of offset time To to the time t2 of the waveform reference point of the received waves to calculate the elapsed time .DELTA.T from the time of rise of the first transmitted wave to the time of rise of the first received wave. The distance L to an object of measurement is calculated based on the result of calculation. The distance L to the object can be calculated alternatively based on the elapsed time .DELTA.T' from a waveform reference point of the transmitted waves to the waveform reference point of the received waves. The sensor thus realized gives measurements with high accuracy even with use of ultrasonic waves of relatively low frequency.

Ultrasonic sensor and pipetting apparatus using same

Growing community of inventors

Higashiosaka, Japan

Mikio Hojo