Abstract: A method capable of obtaining a fluorescence image and a background image with a simple configuration. A color image is obtained, when excitation light is emitted on a subject, by imaging excitation light reflected from the subject and fluorescence emitted from the subject. Thereafter, an estimated spectral image that includes a background image representing the excitation light and a fluorescence image representing the fluorescence is generated by allocating a wavelength component of the excitation light and a wavelength component of the fluorescence included in the obtained color image to different primary color components.

Abstract: A narrow-band observation image and a spectral estimation image are automatically switched based on the type of a subject. In an endoscopic image obtained by a scope, judgment is made as to whether the endoscopic image was obtained by close-up imaging or by distant-view imaging. When it is judged that the endoscopic image was obtained by distant-view imaging, white light is output from a light source unit and a spectral estimation image is output. When it is judged that the endoscopic image was obtained by close-up imaging, narrow-band light is output from the light source unit and a narrow-band observation image that has been obtained when the narrow-band light was output is output.

Abstract: An imaging mode is automatically switched based on the kind of a subject. The spatial frequency of an endoscopic image obtained by imaging the subject is detected. Further, judgment is made, based on the distribution of the spatial frequency, as to whether the endoscopic image was obtained by performing close-up imaging on the subject. The condition of imaging is switched based on the result of judgment as to whether the image was obtained by close-up imaging or distant-view imaging.

Abstract: Emitting illumination light and auxiliary light having a wavelength range different from that of the illumination light onto an observation target simultaneously, obtaining an image formed of reflection light of the illumination light and reflection light of the auxiliary light reflected from the observation target, calculating, with respect to each pixel of the obtained image signal, estimated spectroscopic data in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light using a value of the image signal and estimated matrix data in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light stored in advance, obtaining quasi reflectivity information reflecting a reflectivity of the observation target in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light based on the estimated spectroscopic data in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light, and generating a special image based on the quasi reflectivity information.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus includes: a spatial light modulating element, constituted by a plurality of pixel portions for individually modulating light irradiated thereon; a light source, for irradiating light on the spatial light modulating element; and a focusing optical system. The focusing optical system includes: an optical system, for focusing an image borne by each of the pixel portions; and a micro lens array, in which a plurality of micro lenses into which the light beams modulated by the pixel portions enter individually are provided in an array. The micro lens array is provided in the vicinity of a focusing position of the pixel portions by the focusing optical system. Each micro lens of the micro lens array has different powers in two directions within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, to correct aberrations caused by anisotropic distortions in the pixel portions.

Abstract: A fluorescent image obtainment apparatus includes a light illumination means that illuminates a region to be observed with illumination-light and excitation-light at the same time, and an imaging means that captures an image composed of light reflected from the region illuminated with the illumination-light and an image composed of fluorescence output from the region illuminated with the excitation-light. Further, the apparatus includes an image processing means that produces an ordinary image based on the image of the reflection light and a fluorescent image based on the image of fluorescence, and a light amount control means that controls the light amount of the illumination-light so that a representative luminance value of the ordinary image becomes a predetermined luminance value and the light amount of the excitation-light so that the ratio of the light amount of the excitation-light to that of the illumination-light becomes a predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A probe apparatus in combination with an endoscope includes a confocal laser probe for in-vivo imaging. The probe is insertable through a forceps channel of an endoscope, and has an optical unit. There is a lens barrel. Plural lens optics are mounted in the lens barrel. The plural lens optics include first lens optics disposed on an object side, and opposed to an object within a body. An optically inactive surface is formed with the first lens optics, and has at least one portion protruding from a barrel end surface of the lens barrel on the object side. Preferably, a height difference of protruding the optically inactive surface from the barrel end surface is 10-500 microns. The portion of the optically inactive surface protruding from the barrel end surface is coated with adhesive agent, for adhesion of the first lens optics thereto.

Abstract: A reinforcement binding machine capable of detecting, by the rotation of a reel, that wire on the reel is consumed and the reel, the reinforcement binding machine wherein an interrupter is installed in the cassette case of a binding machine body, a cover is rotatably held on a reel mounting shaft, an opening part is formed in the cover, a projection is formed on the reel and fitted into the opening part, and a color with a lightness different from that of the cover is applied to the projection to detect the rotation of the reel by the interrupter.

Abstract: A reinforcement binding machine capable of detecting, by the rotation of a reel, that wire on the reel is consumed and the reel, the reinforcement binding machine wherein an interrupter is installed in the cassette case of a binding machine body, a cover is rotatably held on a reel mounting shaft, an opening part is formed in the cover, a projection is formed on the reel and fitted into the opening part, and a color with a lightness different from that of the cover is applied to the projection to detect the rotation of the reel by the interrupter.

Abstract: An antenna of an RF tag reader and a photo sensor for detecting a rotational position of a wire reel are provided in a wire reel receiving portion of a reinforcing bar binding machine. The photo sensor detects a mark on the wire reel, and when an RF tag mounted on a side surface of the wire reel is brought into opposed relation to the antenna of the RF tag reader, a control portion decelerates or stops the wire reel, and an RF tag recognition operation by the RF tag reader is executed, thereby identifying a wire kind. When the RF tag is opposed to the antenna of the RF tag reader, the wire reel is decelerated or stopped, and in this condition the transmitting and receiving operations are executed, and therefore the stable communication can be executed.

Abstract: An image exposure device includes an exposure head for forming a desired pattern on a photosensitive material. The exposure head is equipped with a light source for emitting a great number of light beams, a spatial light modulator in which a great number of pixel portions are arranged for independently modulating the light beams emitted from the light source, a micro lens array in which a great number of micro lenses are arranged for individually converging the great number of light beams modulated by the pixel portions, and a total of two or more aperture arrays arranged in the stage before the micro lens array and/or the stage after the micro lens array. Each of the aperture arrays has a great number of apertures for individually restricting the light beams.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a serial ATA interface apparatus having an S-ATA bridge. The S-ATA bridge is to be connected to a host system by a serial ATA bus. The S-ATA bridge has a shadow register and a buffer memory. The shadow register stores commands. The buffer memory can access a HDC. The S-ATA bridge finishes processing the commands before it outputs a response signal to the host system.

Abstract: An image exposure system is formed by a spatial light modulator element comprising a number of two-dimensionally arranged pixel portions each modulating light projected thereon, a light source which projects light onto the spatial light modulator element and an imaging optical system which includes a micro lens array and forms on a photosensitive material an image of light modulated by the spatial light modulator element, the micro lens array being made up of micro lenses which are arranged like an array and collect light from the pixel portions of the spatial light modulator element. Each micro lens of the micro lens array has an aspherical surface or a refractive index profile which corrects aberration due to distortion of the pixel portions or has a shape of lens aperture which does not permit light from a periphery of each of the pixel portions of the spatial light modulator element.

Abstract: A fuel cell including, a cell unit which has a fuel electrode including a catalyst, an air electrode including a catalyst, and an electrolyte membrane which is sandwiched by the fuel electrode and the air electrode; a fuel chamber which is disposed at a fuel electrode side, and which stores fuel; an air chamber which is disposed at an air electrode side and to which air is supplied; and a recovery chamber in which a fuel-side by-product, which is generated by a catalytic reaction of the fuel at the fuel electrode, is recovered, wherein a colorant containing an indicator is provided inside of one of the fuel chamber and the recovery chamber.

Abstract: An image exposure device includes an exposure head for forming a desired pattern on a photosensitive material. The exposure head is equipped with a light source for emitting a great number of light beams, a spatial light modulator in which a great number of pixel portions are arranged for independently modulating the light beams emitted from the light source, a micro lens array in which a great number of micro lenses are arranged for individually converging the great number of light beams modulated by the pixel portions, and a total of two or more aperture arrays arranged in the stage before the micro lens array and/or the stage after the micro lens array. Each of the aperture arrays has a great number of apertures for individually restricting the light beams.

Abstract: An image exposure system is formed by a spatial light modulator element comprising a number of two-dimensionally arranged pixel portions each modulating light projected thereon, a light source which projects light onto the spatial light modulator element and an imaging optical system which includes a micro lens array and forms on a photosensitive material an image of light modulated by the spatial light modulator element, the micro lens array being made up of micro lenses which are arranged like an array and collect light from the pixel portions of the spatial light modulator element. Each micro lens of the micro lens array has an aspherical surface or a refractive index profile which corrects aberration due to distortion of the pixel portions or has a shape of lens aperture which does not permit light from a periphery of each of the pixel portions of the spatial light modulator element.

Abstract: A reinforcement binding machine capable of detecting, by the rotation of a reel, that wire on the reel is consumed and the reel, the reinforcement binding machine wherein an interrupter (45) is installed in the cassette case (40) of a binding machine body (21), a cover (46) is rotatably held on a reel mounting shaft (43), an opening part (47) is formed in the cover (46), a projection (53) is formed on the reel (41) and fitted into the opening part (47), and a color with a lightness different from that of the cover (46) is applied to the projection (53) to detect the rotation of the reel (41) by the interrupter (45).

Abstract: A fuel cell including, a cell unit which has a fuel electrode including a catalyst, an air electrode including a catalyst, and an electrolyte membrane which is sandwiched by the fuel electrode and the air electrode; a fuel chamber which is disposed at a fuel electrode side, and which stores fuel; an air chamber which is disposed at an air electrode side and to which air is supplied; and a recovery chamber in which a fuel-side by-product, which is generated by a catalytic reaction of the fuel at the fuel electrode, is recovered, wherein a colorant containing an indicator is provided inside of one of the fuel chamber and the recovery chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a distance measuring equipment capable of performing efficiently a greater accuracy of focusing without troubling an operator, and a camera incorporating thereinto such a distance measuring equipment. By the use of the first focusing algorithm switches 61, 62 and 63 set up to the turn-off state, the turn-off state and the contact 62a side, respectively, so that AF-dedicated photo detector circuit 40 performs once a ratio arithmetic processing in accordance with photo-currents I1 and I2 from the PSD 30. In case of the short distance area, they are dealt with as the focusing data. In case of the middle distance area, the ratio arithmetic processing is performed by n times.

Abstract: There are disclosed a distance measuring equipment capable of performing a distance measurement with greater accuracy suppressing cost up, and a camera. In case of the short distance area and the middle distance area, switches 61 and 62 are set up to the turn-off state, and switch 63 is set up to take the contact 63a side, so that photo-current signals I1 and I2 from PSD 30 are fed to input terminals 41 and 42 to perform a usual ratio arithmetic processing. In case of the long distance area, the switches 61 and 62 are set up to the turn-off state and the turn-on state, respectively, and the switch 63 is set up to take the contact 63b side, so that photo-current signal the I1 and fixed current signal Ir are fed to the input terminals 41 and 42 to perform a ratio arithmetic processing based on the fixed current signal.