Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Toshihiko Matsuhashi

Yoshio Ozawa

Atsushi Ogawa

Daizo Takaoka

Kazuaki Mizukami

Masashi Yasuda

Mikio Hojo

Hiroaki Arakawa

Yoshiya Yamaue

Masashi Ikegami

Takashi Tanaka

Katsunori Hayashi

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

An electric working apparatus includes a movable body which is driven by a movement mechanism, and the movable body is provided with a working mechanism such as an articulated robot. The movement mechanism, the working mechanism and etc. are driven by an electric power which is supplied through a power supply cord being extended from a cord reel mechanism fixed on a wall or floor within a working space of the movable body to be connected to the movable body. When the movable body moves in a manner that the movable body goes away from the cord reel mechanism, a tension detection switch is turned-off by a lever, a reel motor is turned-off, and clutch plates are released, and therefore, the power supply cord is wound from the cord reel mechanism by necessary length. When the movable body moves in a manner that the movable body approaches to the cord reel mechanism, the tension detection switch is turned-on by the lever and the clutch plates are engaged to each other, and therefore, the cord reel is rotated by the reel motor to wind the power supply cord.

Electric working apparatus supplied with electric power through power

Growing community of inventors

Osaka-fu, Japan

Toshihiko Matsuhashi