Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and computer program product to control the access, copying, and/or transfer of a digital asset by mobile, wireless devices using a digital voucher. The digital voucher references a primary content that contains all of the expression for that particular asset and a secondary content that contains information that can be distilled out as a preview. The information in the primary content can be limited to a specified duration or a specific number of viewings. The author, owner, or possessor of the digital asset specifies the terms and conditions for distribution of the digital asset. The digital voucher authorizes the mobile, wireless device to access a specified primary or secondary content that may be located elsewhere in the network. The mobile, wireless device can download a copy of portions or all of the content depending on the terms specified in the voucher.

Abstract: A lens apparatus capable of realizing better optical performance by suppressing an inclination of each lens unit more reliably while shortening the overall length in a collapsed position to the smallest possible level is disclosed. The lens apparatus comprises a fixed member which makes up the body of the apparatus, first and second lens holding members which hold their respective lens units and are movable in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the fixed member and a driving member which engages the first and second lens holding members and drives these first and second lens holding members in the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: A screen deck runner assembly (20) suitable for use in a vibratory screening machine characterized by the assembly including a saddle member (5), being configured and 420 dimensioned to removably straddle a screen deck runner (1) and to engage a screen panel (3).

Abstract: A particle remover includes an irradiation unit for irradiating plural lights onto a target from different directions, and for scanning the lights on the target, and a collector for collecting particles carried as a result of scanning of the lights.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible to execute photography with a sufficient red-eye relaxation effect. To do this, in this invention, the amount of a red eye is detected on the basis of a signal obtained by reading an object image under light projection by a light projection unit. The light projection by the light projection unit is controlled on the basis of the detection result.

Abstract: A focus-state detecting device, to which a removable lens unit is mounted, that includes, for example, a focus-state detection unit that detects a focus-adjusted state; a first acquisition unit that acquires information on chromatic aberration; a second acquisition unit that acquires information on spectral characteristics of a subject; a correction unit that corrects information on the focus-adjusted state which has been detected by the focus-state detection unit; and a control unit that repeats operations.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus which improves the S/N ratio of an image-pickup system, prevents image blur and saturation of signals from an image-pickup device, and enables taking an excellent image, is disclosed. The camera of the invention which takes images through an image-taking optical system having a shake correction unit which drives a part of an image-taking optical system to correct image blur caused by camera shake and includes an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system and a control circuit which controls operations of the camera, wherein the control circuit changes the sensitivity and the exposure time of the image-pickup device whether the shake correction unit is in operation or not.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pancreas induced in vitro that is useful for developmental engineering and organ engineering, and a method wherein a pancreas induced in vitro which contributes to the development of diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic disorders for higher animals, can artificially and efficiently be induced from a gastrula apart from the presumptive region of pancreas. An explant which has a secretory gland-like structure wherein several cells are gathered and which expresses insulin is formed in vitro by treating the blastopore upper lip of an early gastrula of a vertebrate such as Xenopus with retinoic acid in vitro, and then culturing. The treatment with retinoic acid can be carried out, for example, by treating with retinoic acid at a concentration of 10?5 M or above for three hours.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit, an image compression unit and an inspection data generating unit. The image pickup unit captures an image and generates image data. The image compression unit compresses the image data in accordance with an image compression method selected from a first image compression method and a second image compression method, and generates compressed image data. The inspection data generating unit generates inspection data necessary to inspect whether the compressed image data is modified. A generation method of the inspection data is varied according to the selected image compression method. The inspection data generating unit adds first data and second data to the compressed image data. The first data indicates the generation method of the inspection data and the second data indicates a location of the compressed image data.

Abstract: Upon reception of a query about the address of a server from a client, a DNS server sends a query about the address of that server to an external DNS server. The DNS server checks based on the address obtained from the external DNS server if connection to the server can be established. If connection to the server cannot be established, and the DNS server receives a query about the address of the server, the DNS server returns a response indicating that the address is not available. When the address is returned before the check process, the DNS sever sets an expiration time shorter than that of the address of the server obtained from the external DNS server as the expiration time of the address of the server.

Abstract: A charged particle apparatus, with multiple electrically conducting semispheric grid electrodes, the grid electrodes mounted in a dielectric mounting ring, with hidden areas or regions to maintain electrical isolation between the grid electrodes as sputter deposits form on the grid electrodes and mounting ring. The grid electrodes are mounted to the mounting ring with slots and fastening pins that allow sliding thermal expansion and contraction between the grid electrodes and mounting ring while substantially maintaining alignment of grid openings and spacing between the grid electrodes. Asymmetric fastening pins facilitate the sliding thermal expansion while restraining the grid electrodes. Electrical contactors supply and maintain electrical potentials of the grid electrodes with spring loaded sliding contacts, without substantially affecting the thermal characteristics of the grid electrodes.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, call information is added to a picked-up image, and stored in a memory, and then image data and the call information are transmitted to a communication apparatus. The call information is about a preset destination or a destination entered after imaging. Upon having received the image data and the call information, the communication apparatus calls out based on the call information, and transmits the image data after connection is established with the destination.

Abstract: A system for distributing information via short-range wireless communication. A mobile server receives information from an information provider for distribution to encountered devices. The information received from the service provider may contain both content to be distributed and context information that controls how the content is distributed. The mobile server may sense current environmental conditions, which are compared to distribution rules created from the context information to control how content information is distributed. The present invention is suitable for many applications, including the distribution of podcast-related information.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to reduce image sensing errors due to wrong white balance control using wrong color temperature information in an image sensing device capable of performing white balance control using a color image signal from an image sensing device. In order to attain the above object, when the color in the vicinity of the locus of a blackbody cannot be extracted in detection of a color temperature in a color image signal, color temperature information is corrected on the basis of a piece of color temperature information output from a calorimetric sensor, thereby controlling the white balance of a color image signal output from an image sensing element. The number of achromatic data extracted from the color image signal is counted. The color temperature is calculated by weighting a color temperature obtained from the color image signal and that obtained from the colorimetric sensor in accordance with the count, thereby performing white balance control.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units for picking up an image of an object; and a filter, arranged on the image pickup unit, for reducing a light amount that causes a flicker.

Abstract: A hydraulic pipe mechanism for an industrial vehicle includes a pulley shaft, a plurality of hydraulic hoses and a pulley set. The pulley set is provided on the pulley shaft and has at least first and second hose pulleys that are rotatably supported on the pulley shaft. The first and second hose pulleys are respectively located on sides of the pulley set and each has a guide groove for hooking the hydraulic hose therein. Each of the first and second hose pulleys has a pair of outer and inner flanges that form side walls of the guide groove respectively. Each outer flange is located on the side of the pulley set, and each inner flange is located inside the outer flange in the pulley set. Each outer flange has a first radius, and each inner flange has a second radius. The first radius is larger than the second radius.

Abstract: A user interface design apparatus which reduces the load associated with input operation by an author is provided. When a speech recognition grammar including a semantic structure generating rule is acquired, at least one semantic structure is extracted from the semantic structure generating rule included in the grammar. This semantic structure is presented to the author. The author can select the semantic structural element presented using an input device. Upon selection by the author is completed, the selected information is extracted and is reflected in user interface contents.

Abstract: A zoom lens has a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, which is moved during zooming, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power, which is moved during zooming, arranged in the mentioned order from the object side to the image side. The zoom lens satisfies the following conditions: 0.15<|f2 |/?{square root over ((fw×ft))}<0.27 and 5.4021 f3/fw<10.00, where f2 and f3 are the focal lengths of the second and third lens units respectively, and fw and ft are the focal lengths of the zoom lens at the wide angle end and the telephoto end respectively.

Abstract: An saddle pad for use beneath a Western saddle that prevents the pad from slipping, shifting and riding out from under the saddle. The saddle pad is constructed with a substantially rigid peripheral restraint adjacent the pad's forward edge and projecting from the top surface of the pad to function as a restraining abutment should the saddle slip or shift. The peripheral restraint is constructed of an inner reinforcement member, preferably a braided nylon rope, which does not yield or collapse when the saddle is pushed against it and additionally provides a recess that mates with and securely engages the forwardmost edge of the saddle to lock the pad in place beneath the saddle. The pad is dimensioned to extend outwardly beyond the outer edges of the saddle, providing the saddle with limited freedom of movement relative to the pad.

Abstract: A free space optics communication apparatus which can perform stable communication is disclosed. The free space optics communication apparatus has a plurality of light-emitting units each emitting a light beam which forms a generally elliptical irradiation pattern. The plurality of light-emitting units are set such that irradiation patterns of beams from at least two of the plurality of light-emitting units partially overlap at a light-receiving unit of the other apparatus. Further the width of a combined irradiation pattern formed by combining the light beams is 1.5 times or more larger than a width in a shorter diameter direction of an irradiation pattern of a light beam from one light-emitting unit.