A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor includes: a pair of body-side packings which seal between a body housing and both side edges of a light transmissive plate; first packings which seal between caps and the side edges of the light transmissive plate, and between the caps and end portions of the light transmissive plate, and which are connected to the pair of body-side packings; and second packings which are integrally molded with the first packings, respectively, and which seal between the caps and the body housing.

A sensor device includes a body case provided with an opening, and a body cover assembled to the body case to cover the opening. The body cover has at an outer peripheral portion thereof an overlapping region overlapping a portion of the body case located at a peripheral edge of the opening. The body cover is fixed to the body case by providing a welded portion surrounding the opening using laser-welding at a portion distant from an end surface of the body cover in a boundary of the overlapping region of the body cover and a portion of the body case overlapping the overlapping region.

A sensor device includes a body case provided with an opening, and a body cover assembled to the body case to cover the opening. The body cover has at an outer peripheral portion thereof an overlapping region overlapping a portion of the body case located at a peripheral edge of the opening. The body cover is fixed to the body case by providing a welded portion surrounding the opening using laser-welding at a portion distant from an end surface of the body cover in a boundary of the overlapping region of the body cover and a portion of the body case overlapping the overlapping region.

An optical sensing device includes an optical unit and an accommodating unit. The accommodation unit includes an optical window portion which transmits the projected beam from the accommodation chamber to the detection area and transmits the reflected beam from the detection area to the accommodation chamber. The accommodation unit includes a holding portion which holds the optical window portion from a side of an outer periphery. The accommodation unit further includes an optical partition member which is arranged to partition between the optical unit and the optical window portion.

An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off.

Modules, systems, and methods for monitoring environmental conditions, such as physical, electromagnetic, thermal, and/or chemical parameters within an environment, over extended periods of time with the use of one or more electromechanical sensing devices that include a sensing device and electronic circuitry for processing an output of the sensing device and generating a output of the module. The sensing device includes a microstructure, for example, a cantilevered beam, and at least one set of contacts configured for contact-mode operation with the microstructure in response to the microstructure deflecting toward or away from the contacts when exposed to the parameter of interest. The microstructure has a stack of layers of dissimilar materials, at least one of which has at least one property that changes as a result of curing of or absorption by the first material when exposed to the parameter.

Modules, systems, and methods for monitoring environmental conditions, such as physical, electromagnetic, thermal, and/or chemical parameters within an environment, over extended periods of time with the use of one or more electromechanical sensing devices that include a sensing device and electronic circuitry for processing an output of the sensing device and generating a output of the module. The sensing device includes a microstructure, for example, a cantilevered beam, and at least one set of contacts configured for contact-mode operation with the microstructure in response to the microstructure deflecting toward or away from the contacts when exposed to the parameter of interest. The microstructure has a stack of layers of dissimilar materials, at least one of which has at least one property that changes as a result of curing of or absorption by the first material when exposed to the parameter.

An operation determination device determines a type of an operation performed on an operation unit including a distortion detection element that outputs a detection signal according to a load generated by an operation on the operation unit. The operation determination device sets, as an operation time, a period from a time when a load that is equal to or larger than an on-threshold and acquired based on a detection signal of the distortion detection element is applied, to a time when the load becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined off-threshold, and determines the type of the operation based on at least one of a change of coordinates or a change of the load during the operation time.

A system is disclosed comprising a DC power supply for supplying DC power to a device having a universal electric motor configured to operate on AC power. The system is configured to have a first authorization component associated with the device and second authorization component associated with the DC power supply so that DC power is supplied to device, or is continued to be supplied to the device, only when the first and second authorization components operatively engage.

A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.