A stepping motor has a relationship between an outer diameter of a rotor and an outer diameter of a bearing made of magnetic material that can be adjusted appropriately so as to impart magnetic attractive force to the bearing, the stepping motor including a rotor 400 made of a permanent magnet, a stator including multiple pole teeth 223, 243, 323 and 343 extending in an axial direction of the rotor 400 arranged at an outer circumferential side of the rotor 400, a bearing 250 rotatably supporting one end portion in the axial direction of the rotor 400, and a bearing 260 rotatably supporting the other end portion in the axial direction of the rotor 400. Magnetic permeability of the bearing 260 is greater than that of the bearing 250, the rotor 400 includes multiple magnetic poles on an outer circumferential surface along a circumferential direction of the rotor 400, and an outer diameter D.sub.R of the rotor 400, an outer diameter D.sub.B of a portion of the bearing 260 which is facing the rotor 400, and a pitch P of the multiple magnetic poles of the rotor 400 are set to satisfy the following relationship of formula 1
(D.sub.R−P)=<D.sub.B=<D.sub.R  (Formula 1).

A stepping motor has a relationship between an outer diameter of a rotor and an outer diameter of a bearing made of magnetic material that can be adjusted appropriately so as to impart magnetic attractive force to the bearing, the stepping motor including a rotor 400 made of a permanent magnet, a stator including multiple pole teeth 223, 243, 323 and 343 extending in an axial direction of the rotor 400 arranged at an outer circumferential side of the rotor 400, a bearing 250 rotatably supporting one end portion in the axial direction of the rotor 400, and a bearing 260 rotatably supporting the other end portion in the axial direction of the rotor 400. Magnetic permeability of the bearing 260 is greater than that of the bearing 250, the rotor 400 includes multiple magnetic poles on an outer circumferential surface along a circumferential direction of the rotor 400, and an outer diameter D.sub.R of the rotor 400, an outer diameter D.sub.B of a portion of the bearing 260 which is facing the rotor 400, and a pitch P of the multiple magnetic poles of the rotor 400 are set to satisfy the following relationship of formula 1
(D.sub.R−P)=<D.sub.B=<D.sub.R  (Formula 1).

A throttle body for an engine includes a throttle body housing, a throttle body plate supported by and rotatable within the throttle body housing, and a tab carried by the throttle body housing and movable between a first position in which the tab is in direct contact with the throttle body plate to prevent rotation of the throttle body plate and maintain the throttle body plate in a closed position, and a second position in which the tab is not in direct contact with the throttle body plate to permit rotation of the throttle body plate.

A throttle body for an engine includes a throttle body housing, a throttle body plate supported by and rotatable within the throttle body housing, and a tab carried by the throttle body housing and movable between a first position in which the tab is in direct contact with the throttle body plate to prevent rotation of the throttle body plate and maintain the throttle body plate in a closed position, and a second position in which the tab is not in direct contact with the throttle body plate to permit rotation of the throttle body plate.

A rotation operation device includes a stepping motor and an operation element. The stepping motor has a rotating shaft. The operation element is provided on the rotating shaft. The operation element also rotates the rotating shaft.

A rotation operation device includes a stepping motor and an operation element. The stepping motor has a rotating shaft. The operation element is provided on the rotating shaft. The operation element also rotates the rotating shaft.

A control device 10 for a rotary apparatus 1 includes a driving circuit 40 configured to apply a driving voltage to a stepping motor 20 that rotates an output gear 74, and a control circuit 30 configured to output, to the driving circuit 40, driving pulses in a number corresponding to a driving target included in a driving command signal from the outside. The control circuit 30 includes a driving-pulse output unit 61 configured to output the driving pulse in the number corresponding to the driving target, a position-information acquiring unit 52 configured to acquire position information from a potentiometer 75 that reads a rotating position of the output gear 74 of the rotary apparatus 1, and a rotation-abnormality determining unit 59 configured to determine, based on the position information acquired by the position-information acquiring unit 52, whether a rotation abnormality has occurred in the rotary apparatus 1.

A control device 10 for a rotary apparatus 1 includes a driving circuit 40 configured to apply a driving voltage to a stepping motor 20 that rotates an output gear 74, and a control circuit 30 configured to output, to the driving circuit 40, driving pulses in a number corresponding to a driving target included in a driving command signal from the outside. The control circuit 30 includes a driving-pulse output unit 61 configured to output the driving pulse in the number corresponding to the driving target, a position-information acquiring unit 52 configured to acquire position information from a potentiometer 75 that reads a rotating position of the output gear 74 of the rotary apparatus 1, and a rotation-abnormality determining unit 59 configured to determine, based on the position information acquired by the position-information acquiring unit 52, whether a rotation abnormality has occurred in the rotary apparatus 1.

Magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for and methods of actuating magnetically responsive microposts in a reaction (or assay) chamber is disclosed. Namely, a microfluidics system is provided that includes a microfluidics device (or cartridge) that includes the reaction (or assay) chamber in which a field of surface-attached magnetically responsive microposts is installed. The presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are provided in close proximity to the magnetically responsive microposts wherein the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are used for actuating the magnetically responsive microposts. Namely, the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms generate an actuation force that is used to compel at least some of the magnetically responsive microposts to exhibit motion. Additionally, methods of using the presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for actuating the magnetically responsive microposts are provided.

Magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for and methods of actuating magnetically responsive microposts in a reaction (or assay) chamber is disclosed. Namely, a microfluidics system is provided that includes a microfluidics device (or cartridge) that includes the reaction (or assay) chamber in which a field of surface-attached magnetically responsive microposts is installed. The presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are provided in close proximity to the magnetically responsive microposts wherein the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are used for actuating the magnetically responsive microposts. Namely, the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms generate an actuation force that is used to compel at least some of the magnetically responsive microposts to exhibit motion. Additionally, methods of using the presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for actuating the magnetically responsive microposts are provided.