Abstract: For the purpose of realizing a method for measuring, after stopping application of a gradient magnetic field, the residual magnetic field and a method for manufacturing a gradient coil by causing the characteristics of the residual magnetic fields, revealed by the measurement, to be reflected in it, a magnetically resonant sample is arranged at a measuring point on the surface of an imaginary sphere in a measuring space; a gradient magnetic field is applied to the measuring space; RF excitation is carried out after stopping the application of the gradient magnetic field to measure FID signals generated by the sample; the magnetic field intensity is calculated on the basis of a difference in differentials of the phases of the FID signals; and a magnetic field intensity is fitted into a spheric surface function.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing an image processing method for determining the variance of noise in an image, a residual sum of squares of pixel values is determined for each of a plurality of local regions defined over the entire image (502-508); a histogram thereof is obtained (510); and the variance of noise is determined based on the value of the residual sum of squares that gives a peak of the histogram (512, 514).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling a process by inputting a deviation between setpoint and process variables to a controller to calculate a controlled/manipulated variable, and then inputting the controlled/manipulated variable to the process, wherein conditions for the process variable to settle within a finite length of time are determined from the final-value theorem, the transfer function of the controller is derived from the conditions, and the value of or change in the controlled/manipulated variable with which to control the process is calculated using the transfer function. With this control method and apparatus for the method, it is possible to allow even a process with a long dead time and a large time constant to settle within a short length of time.

Abstract: A Coriolis mass flowmeter has a vibration tube through which a fluid to be measured flows so that the flow of the fluid in cooperation with angular vibration of the vibration tube generates Coriolis force which causes vibratory deformation of the vibration tube. The vibration tube has a curved configuration which is point-symmetry with respect to the median point between an upstream fixed end and a downstream fixed end of the vibration tube and which has three inflection points, and performs, while maintaining the curved configuration, simple harmonic oscillation such that each point on the vibration tube oscillates on an arc of a predetermined radius from a reference axis which is a straight line interconnecting the upstream fixed end and the downstream fixed end of the vibration tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the shaver capable of cutting deeply, provided with the outer blade having a plurality of the hair-guiding ports and the inner blade being adjacently located to the inner part of the outer blade and relatively moving against the said inner part, serving like an electric shaver of rotation or motion, which consists in going back and forth adjacently, wherein there is provided an escaping gap for taking hairs out in one part between the outer and inner blades, thus hooking the hairs guided into the gap, on the tip of the inner blade or pinching them inside the escaping gap and afterward, taking out the hairs and beards from the root of hairs and when the hairs move to the region without any escaping gap, they will be cut in the deep location.

Abstract: The invention provides an SHG laser light source whose optical output can be modulated using a simple mechanism without having to equip the light source with an external modulator, and a method of modulation for use with the SHG laser light source, wherein the SHG laser light source comprises a laser diode for outputting a fundamental wave of light, a drive circuit for simultaneously modulating one or more electric currents or voltages supplied to the laser diode to modulate the fundamental wave outputted by the laser diode, and an SHG device which receives the modulated or unmodulated fundamental wave, converts the wavelength thereof, and outputs a second harmonic wave which is intensity modulated.

Abstract: To detect a boundary line between different objects in contact which appear to be the same object as their structural consistencies are identical or substantially identical, there are provided a motion vector detecting unit which calculates motion vectors in plural parts from plural images obtained at different times, a boundary block extracting unit which extracts a boundary block from the difference of motion vectors, and a boundary line estimating unit which estimates a boundary line based on the extracted boundary block.

Abstract: To correct static magnetic field intensity and homogeneity of an MRI system, B0 correction coil driving power sources respectively supply correction electric currents to B0 correction coils added to a pair of pillar yokes at the position where an imaging region is interposed therebetween, and the pair of B0 correction coils produce correction magnetic fields in which at least one of the direction and intensity is different, which are then applied to static magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets.

Abstract: For the purpose of reducing second-order static magnetic field components in an MRI apparatus, a first circular loop coil C1 and a second circular loop coil C2 are disposed at positions spaced in a static magnetic field B0 direction to be symmetrical with respect to a center Z0 of an imaging region of an MRI apparatus 100. Similarly, a third circular loop coil C3 and a fourth circular loop coil C4 are disposed. A first corrective magnetic field bz1 and a second corrective magnetic field bz2 are generated in the same direction by the first and second circular loop coils C1 and C2, and a third corrective magnetic field bz3 and a fourth corrective magnetic field bz4 are generated in the same direction and opposite to the first corrective magnetic field bz1 by the third and fourth circular loop coils C3 and C4. The second-order components of the static magnetic field B0 are corrected by the corrective magnetic fields bz1-bz4.

Abstract: A traffic accident recording system, wherein a recording unit is provided along a road, comprising a TV camera for continously obtaining visual images of a certain section of the road and a storage unit for continuously storing the visual images from the TV camera, and an accident recognition unit provided in a vehicle which upon occurrence of an accident transmits a trigger signal to the recording unit so that the storage unit retains visual images of the section of the road whereat the accident occurred at specified time durations before, during and after the occurrence of the accident. Thereafter, the stored visual images can be accessed and stored for later use. Also devices are provided for periodically discarding visual images not used.

Abstract: In order to provide an ultrasonic imaging apparatus that responds to the requirement for both portability and versatility, the ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a portable imaging apparatus 100 comprising ultrasonic imaging means, and a support apparatus 500 which comprises supporting means for supporting extension of functions of the imaging apparatus, and which is electrically connected to and mechanically joined to the imaging apparatus so that it can be removably combined with the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: For the purpose of accurately measuring and correcting a phase error in spins in a phase axis direction, a gradient magnetic field having an integral value of zero is applied in the phase axis direction during a time period between first and second 180° excitations to read out a first spin echo SE1; a gradient magnetic field having an integral value of zero is applied in the phase axis direction during a time period between second and third 180° excitations to read out a second spin echo SE2; and a phase error due to an effect of residual magnetization Gp0 is determined based on these spin echoes.

Abstract: A radiation tomographic imaging apparatus and method are provided in which the slice thickness can be dynamically switched during scanning, and the emission center of radiation can be arbitrarily moved in a direction of carrying a subject.

Abstract: With a view toward implementing an RF coil easy to uniformize the strength of a magnetic field, the RF coil is provided with a first current path group of wires including a plurality of linear current passes placed in parallel with one another, a second current pass group of wires placed so as to have the relations in mirror image with respect to the first current pass group, and a third current pass group of wires in which all the linear electrical passes are series-connected so as to be identical in current direction through both groups of the first and second current pass groups while bypassing the first and second current pass groups.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for controlling a process by calculating a manipulated variable from a deviation between setpoint and control output variables and then using the manipulated variable, wherein the time-series data of the control output variable is subjected to a frequency analysis, the rate of change in the frequency response amplitude of the control output variable in relation to a control gain ratio is determined, and a control gain is adjusted according to the rate of change and the results of the frequency analysis. With this adaptive control method and apparatus for the method, it is possible to automatically set a control gain according to the condition of disturbance. As a result, optimum control can always be achieved and follow-up capability can be improved for such events as a setpoint change.

Abstract: In order to obtain an X-ray tomographic image with high quality while minimizing the exposed dose to a subject by employing the most suitable filter according to the region of the subject to be scanned, a filter unit 6 having filters 6a-6c having different transmission properties are provided below an X-ray tube 4 in a gantry apparatus. To obtain an X-ray tomographic image, upon determining the scan region of the subject, a motor 7 is driven to position one of the filters corresponding to the scan region just below the X-ray tube 4 for employing the filter, and X-rays are applied to the subject through the filter.

Abstract: An optical image separation system, connected to a confocal image output port of a Nipkow disk type confocal scanner, wherein light returned from a sample and emitted from the confocal image output port is separated into a plurality of different wavelen regions, respectively, so that a plurality of samples emitting different wavelenghts are concurrently detected.

Abstract: To efficiently calculate a precise phase map, phase differentials are calculated for each pixel of pixel data of an image, corresponding integrals are calculated for each pixel, and the phase map is formed using this integral. A phase correction of the image is performed using the phase map, and separate water/lipid images are formed from the phase-corrected image.

Abstract: A TEM resonator RF coil with excellent operating characteristics comprising a plurality of ring segments on the orifice capable of being segmented by slits on the orifice are installed with a first conducting pattern connecting to the line element, a second conducting pattern disposed symmetrically on the left and right of the first conducting pattern, a capacitor connecting these conducting patterns, and a connection means spanning the adjacent ring segments and connecting the second conducting patterns.

Abstract: A user authentication method and system which maintains reliable security using a low cost storage medium in place of cryptocards, wherein the system comprises control equipment and an operating section connected to the control equipment, and wherein the method comprises the steps of the operating section reading a storage medium that stores specific parameters, creating a user authenticaly code using a specific function from the specific parameters and other parameters provided by the control equipment, and supplying the created user authentication code to the control equipment, wherein the user authentication code sent from the operating section is compared with another code computed using a specific function generated by the control equipment, and when both codes are found to coincide, the control equipment causes information to be interchanged between the control equipment and the operating section. Advantageously, the invention method provides reliable security combined with low cost.