Micromechatronics

[title in Japanese]

Article type: Cover
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages Cover1-
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_Cover1

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[title in Japanese]

Article type: Cover
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages Cover2-
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_Cover2

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Development of the micro thermoelectric device for cooling applications

Kosuke Yamamoto, Keitaro Koroishi, Shuzo Sudo, Matsuo Kishi

Article type: Article
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 1-8
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_1

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A thermoelectric device as a cooling device (Peltier cooler) can be miniaturized without degradation in the cooling power of the device by making the relation between the height and the cross section area of the elements consisting of thermoelectric materials constant. The original fabrication process, that was fostered with the development of the watch 'SEIKO THERMIC' powered by the body temperature, was applied to the micro thermoelectric device (TED) for cooling and temperature control. This report shows both the explanation of the original fabrication process and the cooling performance of the micro TEDs which were made by the process. It is confirmed that the amount of heat absorption per area (cooling power density) for the micro TEDs are higher than that for the conventional thermoelectric coolers, due to make TED thin and small.

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Land Mine Detecting Technology for Humanitarian Purposes

Nobuhiro SHIMOI, Yoshihiro TAKITA, Katsumi WASAKI

Article type: Article
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 9-18
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_9

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This paper presents a smart remote sensing technique that the detection of the landmines by making use of infrared camera. We propose a mines detection method using parallel image processing based on the time subtraction images from infrared image. In a case that the landmines are buried in the ground, they can be detected by the temperature distribution pattern of the ground surface after sprinkling cold water on it. We also discuss the landmine detecting robot that has six-legs. Because the landmine detecting field is generally an uneven ground, we developed a stable walking method using the attitude control. We propose an attitude control method and verify its validity by 3D simulations on an even ground and an uneven ground.

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Study on Positioning Technique of Optical Fiber Using Vibration on Glass Substrate

Ken SASAKI, Naoto NAGAKI, Tetsuya SUZUKI, Hiroshi HOSAKA, Kiyoshi ITAO

Article type: Article
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 19-28
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_19

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A new positioning technique for an optical fiber on a glass substrate is presented. In the manufacturing process of optical communication devices, the fibers must be positioned precisely on glass substrates. Since the fiber is slender and flexible, the fiber deflects by the friction force from the substrate when the fiber is moved on the substrate. In this paper, first, a positioning method when the friction force is known is derived based on a one-degree-of-freedom model of a sliding optical fiber. Then, a positioning method when the friction force is not known is derived by modifying the method for the case of known friction. Finally, the validity of the theory is verified by experiment and simulation.

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Measurement of structural damping coefficients using the envelope detection circuit

Hiroshi YAMAKAWA, Takao NIMI, Hiroshi HOSAKA, Kiyoshi ITAO

Article type: Article
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 29-40
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_29

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Methods for reducing the effect of the measurement error caused by beat and swinging of the sample were examined. The effect was problem when the small-damping sample was measured by previous system developed in this study. The beat was able to eliminate by using the rectangular solid shaped sample. And original damped wave for vibration of the sample was able to extract by using envelope detection circuit and filter circuit that remove the frequency component of the swell caused by swinging of the sample. As the result of measuring experiment using some known damped wave and metal samples, it was confirmed that the method was validated for measuring structural damping coefficients of the small-damping sample.

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Classification of object's surface based on spectrum analysis of ultrasonic echo

Ken SASAKI

Article type: Article
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 41-52
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_41

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Objects' surfaces are classified by analyzing the relative spectrum of an ultrasonic echo with respect to the spectrum of an echo from a flat plane, which serves as a reference echo. This new method enhances accuracy of range measurement by using linear phase difference for detecting time delay between transmission pulse and its echo. Range difference between two planes, which are separated along longitudinal direction, is obtained from frequency dips in the spectrum. Echo from an edge of a prism is recognized by a decrease of power in higher frequencies. Frequency dependency of the transducer's directivity is also considered. Theoretical analysis and some experimental data are presented.

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Tactile signal processing for differentiating contact and slip on a plane or an edge of a prism

Ken SASAKI

Article type: Article
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 53-63
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_53

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Signal processing for slip and contact sensing for a tactile sensor is presented. Small strips of piezoelectric film (PVDF) were embedded in a rubber thimble filled with silicon rubber. The sensor detected the vibration caused by slip and contact. A short impulsive vibration was generated when the sensor made contact with an object, and a random noise-like signal was observed when slip occurred at the contact point. Slip was differentiated from contact by counting the number of peaks in the waveform within a 6.4 ms interval. This non-linear filtering method was shown to be more effective than ordinary frequency domain filtering. Several experiments using the two-fingered robotic hand are presented to demonstrate the sensitivity of contact and slip sensing.

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[title in Japanese]

Article type: Appendix
2004 Volume 48 Issue 1 Pages 66-
Published: March 10, 2004
Released on J-STAGE: November 09, 2017

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.20805/micromechatronics.48.1_66_3

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