Abstract: A lighting device has a light source, a reflector dish with a central opening facing the light source, and a lens between the light source and the reflector dish. The lens is so arranged that light emitted from the source towards the central opening of the reflector dish is diffracted away from the central opening. The reflector dish is arranged to reflect light received from the source through the lens back past the lens and source.

Abstract: Provided are a digital image photographing apparatus which easily captures an image of a composition intended by a user, a method of controlling the apparatus, and a recording medium having a program for executing the method. The apparatus includes: an image capturing device for receiving light to generate data on an image; and an auto-focusing tracking unit for allowing a lens to be auto-focused on a subject selected by a user. The image capturing device generates data on a still image when the subject on which the lens is auto-focused is located in a predetermined region of interest (ROI).

Abstract: An observation sample is prepared by immobilizing a nanomaterial on a substrate 10 by applying a voltage between a nanomaterial dispersion liquid 13, filled in an interior of an electrostatic spray nozzle 20, and the observation substrate 10 to electrostatically spray and dry the dispersion liquid 13 and electrostatically deposit the nanomaterial. With respect to the observation substrate 10, including a conductive grid portion 11 and a supporting film 12, a reference electrode 81 is disposed below the substrate 10 and a bias voltage of the same polarity as the electrostatic spraying voltage is applied to the grid portion 11 of the substrate 10 to adjust immobilization positions of the nanomaterial on the substrate 10. An observation sample, with which the nanomaterial is immobilized in a satisfactory state on the substrate, can thereby be prepared.

Abstract: Provided are a tape feeder for use in chip mounters that can reduce a chip feeding duration and prevent chips from being turned over or assuming wrong postures to feed the chips stably, and a chip mounting method. The tape feeder includes a second link having one end linked to a link shaft through which a first link and a pivot lever are combined and the other end in which a slot curved at a predetermined inclination is formed. The velocity at which a carrier tape is fed changes according to the inclination of the curve of the slot with respect to the moving direction of the first link, the curve contacting the contact unit upon the movement of the first link in a direction helping to rotate a ratchet gear.

Abstract: A porous metal body containing continuous pores and having a low oxygen content is provided by decomposing a porous resin body that contains continuous pores and has a layer of a metal thereon by heating the porous resin body at a temperature equal to or less than the melting point of the metal while the porous resin body is immersed in a first molten salt and a negative potential is applied to the metal layer; and a method for producing the porous metal body is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining the presence of a telecommunications signal on a frequency band, said signal being assumed cyclostationary, comprising steps of: determining an energy vector {circumflex over (T)} (14) comprising m components respectively representative of energy values of an autocorrelation function of the signal received on said frequency band for m shift times, calculating correlation elements (15) between the m components of the energy vector {circumflex over (T)}, performing a statistical calculation (16) on the correlation elements calculated so as to determine a statistical indicator ?, comparing (17) the statistical indicator obtained ? with a predetermined threshold with the aim of determining the presence of a telecommunications signal on said frequency band.

Abstract: A passive electro-optical tracker uses a two-band IR intensity ratio to discriminate high-speed projectiles and obtain a time-varying speed estimate from their time-varying temperature, as well as determining the trajectory back to the source of fire. In an omnidirectional system a hemispheric imager with an MWIR spectrum splitter forms two CCD images of the environment. Various methods are given to determine the azimuth and range of a projectile, both for clear atmospheric conditions and for nonhomogeneous atmospheric conditions. One approach uses the relative intensity of the image of the projectile on the pixels of a CCD camera to determine the azimuthal angle of trajectory with respect to the ground, and its range. A second uses a least squares optimization over multiple frames based on a triangle representation of the smeared image to yield a real-time trajectory estimate.

Abstract: While six rows of molten processed regions 131, 132 to become a cutting start point are formed within a silicon wafer 11 along a line to cut 5, a weakened region 18 is formed in a rear face 21 of an object to be processed 1 along the line to cut 5 when forming the molten processed region 131 closest to the rear face 21. Since the molten processed regions 131, 132 are thus formed within the silicon wafer 11, particles can be prevented from occurring from the molten processed regions 131, 132. Also, since the weakened region 18 having a predetermined depth is formed on the rear face 21 of the object 1 along the line to cut 5, the object 1 can be cut along the line to cut 5 with a relatively small external force.

Abstract: Provided are a circuit board with a viahole and a method of manufacturing the same. The circuit board includes: a substrate formed of an insulating material; a conductive layer disposed on the substrate; a plated layer comprising nickel and disposed on the conductive layer; and a viahole passing through the substrate, the conductive layer, and the plated layer, wherein a crystal growth direction of nickel in the plated layer is parallel to a thickness-wise direction of the substrate.

Abstract: A socket includes: a circuit board; a plurality of connection terminals disposed on the circuit board; a plurality of contacts each fixed to a corresponding one of the connection terminals, wherein each of the contacts is formed of a conductive elastic member, each of the contacts comprising: a tail portion fixed to the corresponding connection terminal; an extending portion connected to the tail portion and extending in a direction substantially parallel with a surface of the circuit board; a rise portion connected to the extending portion and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the circuit board; and a tip portion connected to the rise portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a distortion detecting system and a distortion detecting method having a structure for efficiently detecting distortion of a projected image that is projected onto a projected surface by a projector. The distortion detecting system includes a photodetecting apparatus, and an analyzing apparatus. When a reference brightness image is projected onto the projected surface by the projector, the photodetecting apparatus forms the projected image on the projected surface onto the photosensitive surface of the photodetector, and outputs light intensity profile data that indicates a one-dimensional distribution of incident light intensity in each of a first direction and a second direction on an image for inspection formed on the photosensitive surface.

Abstract: A hammering tool includes, within its tool main body, a piston which reciprocates by using a motor as its drive force, a hammering member which carries out its hammering operation in linking with the reciprocating motion of the piston, and an intermediate member which transmits a hammering force of the hammering member to a top end tool mounted on the top end of the tool main body. The tool main body further includes a measuring device which measures a hammering state of the hammering member and a control device which controls the number of rotations of the motor. The control device, according to measurement results of the measuring device, determines the limit number of times of hammering where the hammering member becomes unable to follow the reciprocating motion of the piston, and thus controls the number of rotations of the motor.

Abstract: A closure for a container, the closure including a spout having a dispensing nozzle and a tip attached to the spout at a break-away junction. The break-away junction is recessed from the nozzle such that a user is protected from rough or jagged edges that may be created when the tip is broken away from the spout. The spout also has an orifice that is smaller than the dispensing nozzle for controlling the rate or amount of product dispensed from the container, the orifice remaining intact when the tip is broken away from the spout. The tip is sufficiently flexible to absorb an impact, such as from the container being dropped, but is sufficiently stiff that a user can fracture the break-away junction by applying sideways force to the tip. The closure may be attached to the container by a cap body or may be formed integrally with the container.

Abstract: A shake correction module for a photographing apparatus, including a base plate, a first slider member capable of moving in a first axis direction with respect to the base plate and accommodating a photographing device, a first drive portion moving the first slider member in the first axis direction, a second slider member capable of moving in a second axis direction that is perpendicular to the first axis direction, a second drive portion moving the second slider member in the second axis direction, and a support member attached to the base plate and pressing one of the first and second slider members. The shake correction module can reduce the effect of shaking during photographing.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and software stored on a computer-readable storage medium, for correctly reduce noise included in image data regardless of the characteristics of the image data. The noise reduction apparatus and method employ a determinator for determining whether a target pixel of image data corresponds to a flat portion, an edge portion, or a gradation portion based on a pixel value of the target pixel and pixel values of neighboring pixels of the target pixel; and a noise reduction unit for reducing noise included in the image data based on a result of the determining by the determinator.

Abstract: A method for driving a plasma display panel (PDP) that can increase dark contrast without causing erroneous discharges is provided. A unit display period is divided into a plurality of subfields. A reset process and a sustain process are performed in one of the subfields. In the reset process, a reset pulse is applied to row electrodes of the PDP to initialize each discharge cell to an emission mode (or non-emission mode). In the sustain process, a sustain discharge is repeatedly generated a number of times, corresponding to the number of times a sustain pulse is to be applied, in those discharge cells that are in the emission mode. In this case, a peak potential of the reset pulse is changed based on the number of those discharge cells that are maintained in the non-emission mode during the unit display period and the number of times the sustain pulse is to be applied in the sustain process in this subfield.

Abstract: A light fixture for and method of rotating a rotatable light source. The light fixture having a flange with a rotating member positioned within the flange. The rotating member houses a light source. A first self-lubricating ring is located proximal to the front of the flange and at least partially encircles the rotating member. A second self-lubricating ring is located distal to the front of the flange and also at least partially encircles the rotating member. A compression device, held in place by a retaining ring, is located behind the second self-lubricating ring.

Abstract: A driving piston 7 is provided so as to be slidable in an up-down direction within a driving cylinder 6 disposed within a body 1. A movable sleeve is fitted on the outer peripheral side of the driving cylinder 6 on the cylinder so as to be movable in the up-down direction. When the movable sleeve 11 is moved upward to abut against a cylinder head 10 provided in the upper direction, a sealed combustion chamber 5 is formed. When combustible mixed gas is explosively burnt within the combustion chamber 5, high-pressure combustion gas acts on the driving piston 7 to thereby impulsively drive the piston, whereby a fastener is driven out by a driver 8 coupled on the lower surface side of the driving piston 7. Elastic members 15 are disposed between the movable sleeve 11 and the cylinder head 10. The elastic members 15 bias the movable sleeve 11 downward.

Abstract: A substrate dividing method which can thin and divide a substrate while preventing chipping and cracking from occurring. This substrate dividing method comprises the steps of irradiating a semiconductor substrate 1 having a front face 3 formed with functional devices 19 with laser light while positioning a light-converging point within the substrate, so as to form a modified region including a molten processed region due to multiphoton absorption within the semiconductor substrate 1, and causing the modified region including the molten processed region to form a starting point region for cutting; and grinding a rear face 21 of the semiconductor substrate 1 after the step of forming the starting point region for cutting such that the semiconductor substrate 1 attains a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: An eye movement measurement apparatus 1 measures movement of a cornea 101 by imaging a corneal reflection light image L2 generated as a result of irradiating the cornea 101 with infrared light L1. The eye movement measurement apparatus 1 includes: an imaging section 5 having a sensor section 51 including a plurality of pixels arrayed two-dimensionally, for generating imaging data including the corneal reflection light image L2 made incident on the sensor section 51; a bright spot position operation section 6 that calculates a position of the corneal reflection light image L2 in the imaging data; and a tremor signal operation section 7 that generates a third data string indicating a tremor component included in movement of the cornea 101 by calculating a difference between a first data string concerning temporal changes in position of the corneal reflection light image L2 and a second data string obtained by smoothing the first data string.