Abstract: A screen display control device includes: a compression unit which compresses input image data in a line unit; a rewritable image memory to which the compressed data compressed in the line unit by the compression unit is written in non-synchronization with a reading process; a decompression unit which decompresses the compressed data periodically read from the image memory in synchronization with screen display to restore original image data; a display unit which displays an image of the image data decompressed and restored by the decompression unit; a buffer memory which temporarily maintains one-line data of the image data; and a writing/reading control unit which controls the process of writing the compressed data to the image memory and the processes of writing and reading the image data to and from the buffer memory.

Abstract: A screen display control device includes: a compression unit which compresses input image data in a line unit; a rewritable image memory to which the compressed data compressed in the line unit by the compression unit is written in non-synchronization with a reading process; a decompression unit which decompresses the compressed data periodically read from the image memory in synchronization with screen display to restore original image data; a display unit which displays an image of the image data decompressed and restored by the decompression unit; a buffer memory which temporarily maintains compressed one-line data compressed by the compression unit; and a writing/reading control unit which controls the processes of writing and reading the compressed data to and from the image memory and processes of writing and reading the image data to and from the buffer memory.

Abstract: An image processing method for generating a gradation image, including the steps of: (a) acquiring a coordinate of a start point, a color value of the start point, a coordinate of an end point, and a color value of the end point; (b) setting either the number of pixels between the start point and the end point that is calculated on the basis of the coordinates that are acquired in the coordinate-and-color-value acquisition (a) or the number of colors between the start point and the end point, whichever is smaller, as the number of complementary colors of a complementary color list; (c) creating the complementary color list that has the number of complementary colors that is set in the complementary-color-number setting (b); and (d) generating the gradation image with the use of the complementary color list that is created in the complementary-color-list creation (c).

Abstract: From the target image data, a luminance component, a first color difference component, and a second color difference component which represent color of respective pixels are acquired; and a maximum magnitude smoothing process is carried out on the first color difference component.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for placing a spinal fixation rod into a rod receiving opening in a spinal anchor and installing a fastener to secure the rod to the spinal anchor. In one embodiment, the system can include a cap having a bore extending therethrough, an elongate drive rod that is adapted to extend through the bore, and a fastener that is disposed on a distal portion of the drive rod. The cap can include a driving element that is adapted to cooperate with a complementary driving element disposed on the rod to form a driving mechanism. Actuation of the driver mechanism can be effective to advance the drive rod through the cap to thereby reduce a spinal rod into a rod receiving opening of the spinal anchor and install the fastener to secure the rod to the spinal anchor.

Abstract: A vertebral implant comprising a first base configured for securing to a first cut portion of a vertebra, and second base configured for securing to a second cut portion of the vertebra. A connecting member is configured to associate the first and second bases at a preselected spacing from each other, and the implant is preferable adjustable to select the spacing.

Abstract: A fluid discharge device, a control method for a fluid discharge device, and an ink tank enable easy and accurate confirmation of the fluid usage history, such as how much fluid is left in the tank, on the user or device side without increasing the price. An inkjet printer that discharges ink from the inkjet head to print on recording paper has a cartridge loading unit in which a ink cartridge is loaded, an inkjet head that discharges ink drawn from the ink cartridge, a reader/writer that reads and writes an ink usage history about usage of ink in the ink cartridge to an IC chip substrate disposed to the ink cartridge, and a control unit that prints at least a part of the ink usage history written to the IC chip substrate to a printable part on the outside surface of the ink cartridge by the inkjet head.

Abstract: In Step S230, an ICM P3a1 calculates an ink amount set ? capable of reproduction of the same spectral reflectivity R (?) as a target spectral reflectivity Rt (?) indicated by a spectral reflectivity data RD. An ECM P3a3 multiplies a weight function w (?) obtained by adding the color-matching functions x (?), y (?), and z (?) in respective wavelengths, when calculating a mean square error of a difference D (?) between the target spectral reflectivity Rt (?) indicated by the spectral reflectivity data RD and an estimation spectral reflectivity Rs (?) as an evaluation value E (?). In addition, the ink amount set ? is calculated as an optimum solution for minimizing the evaluation value E (?).

Abstract: To provide a method of removing a heavy metal contained in a thinned semiconductor substrate. A method of removing a heavy metal in a semiconductor substrate of the present invention comprises: attaching, to a rear surface of the semiconductor substrate, a material that lowers a potential barrier of the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate, on a front surface of which a circuit is to be formed or is formed; applying a thermal treatment to the semiconductor substrate under a condition based on a thickness and a resistivity of the semiconductor substrate; and, depositing the heavy metal in the semiconductor substrate on the rear surface.

Abstract: A method for dynamic pixel mass spectrometric imaging, or dynamic pixel imaging is disclosed. The method includes striking a sample to be scanned with a laser beam so that the laser beam releases analytes from the sample. The laser beam and the sample are then displaced relative to one another so that the laser beam substantially continuously traces a predefined path on the sample to release analytes from the sample along the predefined path. A mass analysis of the released analytes is performed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: an image data acquiring unit which acquires image data representing an image of a print target; a print data generating unit which on the basis of the image data generates print data for forming the image by allowing an ink head to perform scanning and record ink in a specific edge of a print medium more times than in a portion other than the specific edge; and a print control unit which performs printing on the image on the basis of the print data by controlling the ink head.

Abstract: The medium conveying mechanism includes a motor, a driving pulley adapted to be rotated by the motor, an endless belt wound around the driving pulley and adapted to be moved by the driving pulley in a belt moving direction, a first driven pulley around which the endless belt is wound and adapted to be rotated by the endless belt, a first conveying roller disposed on the medium conveying path and adapted to be rotated by the first driven pulley to convey the medium, and a first pressure roller disposed to correspond to the first conveying roller so as to press the medium against the first conveying roller. A distance in the medium conveying path between the information reading position and a nip portion between the first conveying roller and the first pressure roller is shorter than a distance between a leading end of the conveyed medium and back end of the recording area. The first driven pulley is disposed upstream from the driving pulley in the belt moving direction.

Abstract: Provided is an image output method of outputting predetermined image data from plural pieces of image data, the method including: acquiring a group including plural pieces of image data which are similar to each other; detecting a face turning angle with respect to a face image plane included in an image indicated by each image data belonging to the same group and a face rotation angle indicating a rotation angle in the face image plane; and outputting image data, in which the face turning angle and the face rotation angle are smaller than those of other image data, among the image data belonging to the same group.

Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing solar-electrical generators are discussed. Solar-electrical generators are disclosed having a radiation-capture structure and one or more thermoelectric converters. Heat produced in a capture structure via impingement of solar radiation can maintain a portion of a thermoelectric converter at a high temperature, while the use of a low temperature at another portion allows electricity generation. Thus, unlike photovoltaic cells which are generally primarily concerned with optical radiation management, solar thermoelectrics converters are generally concerned with a variety of mechanisms for heat management. Generators can include any number of features including selective radiation surfaces, low emissivity surfaces, flat panel configurations, evacuated environments, and other concepts that can act to provide thermal concentration. Designs utilizing one or more optical concentrators are also disclosed.

Abstract: A two-dimensional substantially quadrupole field is provided. The field comprises a quadrupole harmonic of amplitude A2 and an octopole harmonic of amplitude A4, wherein A4 is greater than 0.01% of A2, A4 is less than 5% of A2, and, for any other higher order harmonic with amplitude An present in the field, n being any integer greater than 2 except 4, A4 is greater than ten times An.

Abstract: The media storage status of a target medium stacker is reported to the user through a host computer. In response to a height measurement command for measuring the height of blank media stacked in a blank media stacker and processed media stacked in a processed media stacker, a height measurement step measures the height of blank media and processed media based on operation of the media transportation arm, and a measurement transmission step sends the measurement acquired in the height measurement step to the host computer in response to a measurement transmission request from the host computer.

Abstract: A system is provided for establishing a compliance zone and monitoring interactions therewith. The system includes a compliance zone designator and a wearable device. The compliance zone designator transmits an ultrasound signal to establish the compliance zone. The ultrasound signal may be encoded with information on the compliance zone. The compliance zone designator is configured for placement at a location in which the compliance zone is desired. The wearable device is separate from the compliance zone designator. The wearable device includes a compliance zone recognition component configured to recognize the compliance zone and identify one or more pre-defined interaction criteria for the compliance zone. When the wearable device is within the compliance zone, the compliance zone recognition component recognizes the compliance zone and identifies the interaction criteria of the compliance zone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for determining analyte concentration in a rapid and accurate manner. The methods include depositing a physiological sample in an electrochemical cell and finding a first and second current transient. Peak current values are obtained from the first and second peak current values and used to reduce the influence of interferents in a current value. Based on this “corrected” current value, an accurate analyte concentration can be determined.

Abstract: An endoscopic device and method of use for facilitating movement of an elongate insertion element through a tortuous passageway includes a tissue engaging section having an outer wall with a plurality of openings that communicate with at least one of a source of vacuum and a source of irrigation, and a porous fabric extending over at least a portion of the tissue engaging section. The tissue engaging section can be appended to an accessory channel formed on an outer surface of the elongate insertion element, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the tissue engaging section is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the insertion element, or can be in the form of an elongate helical ribbon disposed around at least a portion of the insertion element. The movement of the device is effected by applying suction to draw tissue to the device, thus straightening the passageway. The suction can be removed or reduced and then the device can be further advanced along the passageway.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for enhancing the sensitivity of a resist composition are disclosed. In one aspect, compositions for use with a matrix material (e.g., a lithographically sensitive polymeric material) can be formulated with an acid generator and a sensitizer, where the sensitizer can be present in a relatively small amount. The sensitizer can include a compound with one or more silicon-silicon bonds, and can act to enhance the efficiency of acid generation when the resist is impinged by a selected lithographic radiation. The methods of the present invention can be especially useful in performing short wavelength (e.g., less than 200 nm) lithography, or for processes such as e-beam lithography, which traditionally suffer from low throughput.