Abstract: A specimen testing method and an apparatus capable of extracting accurate serum components depending on a patient even if the amount of the serum components in blood varies in each specimen. The apparatus comprises a visual sensor for taking an image of blood separated into serum components and clot components, an image memory for storing digital image data output from the visual sensor, a serum component upper boundary position detecting means for detecting an upper boundary position of the serum components from the digital image data stored in the image memory, a serum component lower boundary position detecting means for detecting a lower boundary position of the serum components, and a serum component amount measuring means for measuring the amount of the serum components from the upper boundary position and lower boundary position.

Abstract: A projector and a reflection plate with stripe shaped patterns printed on it are used for projecting the reflection light of the stripe shaped pattern onto a tape. An inspection apparatus for inspecting the crease condition of the tape by analyzing the pitch of the stripe shaped pattern projected onto the tape on a plurality of inspection lines is provided so that the change condition of delicate creases may be detected in a short time.

Abstract: Image of an electronic part is subdivided into a plurality of segments and is taken in a picture area of a video camera, and picture area is shifted in a predetermined direction along a circumference portion or boundary; a characteristic portion positioned on an end portion of the picture area is also included in the beginning part of a successive picture area, and then the positions and shapes of the respective characteristic portions in the successive picture area are detected on the basis of the image data of characterisitc portion at the end portion of the previous picture area.

Abstract: A shape recognition apparatus for detecting a boundary of an object using a video camera converts an image signal to a binary signal, and detects boundary points showing the boundary from the binary signal, Then, boundary angle and average of boundary angle difference are calculated based on the boundary points, and thereby corners of the boundary are recognized.