Abstract: When generating one file from image data having plural pages, the present invention generates coded data of a background portion that is common to plural pages for sharing the coded data, thereby realizing a file compressed at high compression rate while maintaining image quality. For this, the apparatus reads plural pages. In the page processing, the read page image is separated into a text image and a background image. The background image is divided into predetermined pixel blocks, then comparison is performed with respect to a certain position between one page and a previous page in units of pixel block, and common pixel blocks are separated from page-unique pixel blocks. When reading of all pages is completed, a page image is generated with the text image and the page-unique background image. Thereafter, the background image common to plural pages is linked to corresponding pages for generating one file.

Abstract: A reliable barrier device for a camera, which is able to smoothly open and close blade members while suppressing a drive load applied when the blade members are opened and closed. Closing springs for primary and secondary blades are each interposed between corresponding ones of spring hooks on a barrier drive ring and on primary and secondary blade members. When the drive ring is rotated in a barrier opening direction, the distance between the spring hook on the ring and the spring hook for primary blade decreases and the urging force of the closing spring for primary blade decreases, which reduces a rotational torque produced by the closing springs for primary and secondary blades at barrier open state, making it possible to decrease a rotational torque produced by opening springs and acting on the drive ring at barrier open state.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image search apparatus including a control unit configured to, when a search key image is set, perform an obtaining process of obtaining at least either of feature amounts of the search key image, a generation process of generating a plurality of search conditions different from each other from the at least either of the feature amounts and the image capturing conditions, a search process of searching the plurality of images except the search key image for an image matching or similar to the search condition for each of the plurality of search conditions, the display control process of displaying a plurality of images that are images found for the plurality of search conditions, a selection process of selecting one image from the plurality of images, and a setting process of setting, as a new search key image, the image selected.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display control apparatus comprising a read out unit configured to read out an image from a recording medium, a classification unit configured to classify a plurality of images into a plurality of groups in accordance with attribute information of each image, a display control unit configured to control to display a representative image which represents each of the plurality of groups, a comparison unit configured to compare an image included in one of the plurality of groups classified by the classification unit with an image included in another group, and a determination unit configured to determine one of images included in the one group as a representative image of the one group based on comparison by the comparison unit, the image not overlapping a representative image of the other group.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed which can reliably form AF images and split the AF images to provide excellent focus detection performance in the phase difference detection method. The optical apparatus comprises a light deflection unit including a deflection optical member. The deflection optical member deflects at least one of a first luminous flux and a second luminous flux relative to the other, the first and second luminous fluxes passing through a first area and a second area in the exit pupil of an optical system, respectively, and forming images on a photoelectrical conversion element. The light deflection unit comprises a light-limiting member which limits an image-forming area where at least one of the first and second luminous fluxes emerging from the light deflection unit forms the image on the photoelectrical conversion element.

Abstract: A decoding apparatus includes a state variable calculation unit which calculates a second state variable based on a first context variable and a first state variable which are stored in a first memory unit and a second memory unit, respectively, and determines a selection signal representing a symbol as a result of arithmetic decoding processing. A context variable calculation unit calculates a second context variable based on the first context variable and the selection signal and updates the first memory unit. A re-normalization unit calculates a third state variable by using the coded data and the second state variable and updates the second memory unit. The state variable calculation unit outputs the determined selection signal that is usable in processing of a succeeding step without waiting for the operations of the context variable calculation unit and the re-normalization unit.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display unit, a time setting unit, a detection unit and an image changing unit. The display unit is configured to display a color image. The time setting unit is configured to set a time. The time to be set by the time setting unit can be changed by a user. The detection unit is configured to detect whether the time set by the time setting unit is passed. The image changing unit is configured to change a color image to be displayed on the display unit to a monochrome image so as to warn the user that the time set by the time setting unit is passed, if the detection unit detects that the time set by the time setting unit is passed.

Abstract: Upon detection of the attachment of a recording medium, an image signal obtained by taking a picture and condition information representing a condition in which the picture is taken are read out from a memory in an image pickup apparatus and recorded on the recording medium. The apparatus is also arranged in such a manner that the condition information recorded on the recording medium may be transferred to the memory. With this arrangement, it becomes possible to process the image signal by using the condition information stored in the memory, even in a situation in which the recording medium is detached. Furthermore, it becomes possible to inherit the condition information even when the recording medium is exchanged.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is arranged to automatically control, on the basis of an object distance, a convergence distance of right and left optical systems arranged to cause right and left optical images having a predetermined amount of parallax to enter a photographing optical system, and has a plurality of modes in which a difference between the convergence distance and the object distance varies.

Abstract: A particle size of polyarylene sulfide obtained in polymerization is controlled by a process characterized in that a gaseous phase part of a reactor is cooled or heated after starting decreasing a temperature of a reaction system o an end of precipitation of polyarylene sulfide formed In an embodiment, a water content in the reaction system is 0.8 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a novel combination device for the destruction of calculi such as urinary stones in the human bladder, individual urinary ureters, the biliary tract, or other locations in the human body. More specifically, the present invention concerns an electrohydraulic lithotripsy basket (EHL) which consists of multiple electrical conduit wires that act both as electrical conduits and collectively act as a grasping device. This invention also concerns a method for the destruction of urinary stones using the device claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling activity of a heart of a living person during a medical procedure. Electrical signals are applied to the heart so as to induce a spontaneously-reversible cardioplegia thereof. The signals are preferably such that terminating application of the signals does not induce fibrillation. Most preferably, the signals have an amplitude that is below a level that would induce fibrillation upon termination thereof.

Abstract: A method and devices for timing the delivery of non-excitatory signals for modifying myocardial contractility of a portion of the heart. The method includes the steps of applying electrodes to a plurality of cardiac sites, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac site through a first electrode for detecting a first electrical depolarization event within a beat cycle, sensing electrical activity in a second cardiac site through a second electrode for detecting a second electrical depolarization event within the beat cycle, and applying a non-excitatory signal to the heart at or near at least the second cardiac site through at least one of the electrodes in response to detecting the second electrical depolarization event within an alert window period. The alert window period starts at a first delay from the time of detection of the first electrical depolarization event and has a first duration.

Abstract: A device for dragging and positioning of a member within a duct in a body comprising a rod, having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the rod is coupled to a loop, designed to be slidably mounted over a guidewire, and wherein said loop is provided with hooking means, onto which a member to be guide and positioned within a duct in a body is hooked, so that when advancing the rod from its distal end, the loop slides forward over the guidewire, and drags the member to the desired target location.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises circuitry for creating a non-excitor electric potential between at least two points located in the vicinity of a muscle. A method is provided which employs the apparatus for reducing the contraction force of a muscle.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining from a patient's heart data useful for on-line setting of the parameters of a detection time window in an excitable tissue control device. The method includes applying electrodes to a first cardiac site and a second cardiac site of a patient and electrically connecting the electrodes to a data collecting device. The device is then operated under a plurality of different cardiac conditions to obtain a plurality of different histogram data sets. Each histogram data set represents a cumulative time distribution histogram of cardiac depolarization events detected at the second cardiac site in a plurality of cardiac beats. Each histogram data set is defined by a plurality of histogram parameters having values indicative of the cardiac conditions common to the plurality of cardiac beats used to obtain the histogram data set.