Abstract: A reflection characteristic measuring apparatus for measuring a characteristic, such as a gloss, of a sample surface. The apparatus includes at least one illuminator for illuminating a sample surface to be measured with light and a plurality of light receiving sections which are arranged axially symmetrically to each other with respect to a normal to an intended object surface and which output two-dimensional light receiving data. A deriving section derives a characteristic of the sample surface such as gloss based on a weighted average obtained by applying a weighting factor to each of the light receiving data outputted from the light receiving sections.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for soft-start in a power converter includes the following: providing a feedback signal indicative of the output voltage of the power system at a first input terminal of an error amplifier in a negative feedback loop of the power converter; providing a reference voltage at a second input terminal of the error amplifier; comparing the feedback signal against the reference voltage to generate a control signal for regulating an output voltage of the power converter; charging a soft-start capacitor coupled to the second input terminal of the error amplifier with a current for establishing the reference voltage; and adjusting the current in response to the control signal so that the error amplifier is prevented from saturation.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus is provided with an image sensor having a photoelectric conversion characteristic having a linear characteristic area where an electrical signal is outputted after being linearly converted in relation to an amount of an incident light and a logarithmic characteristic area where the electrical signal is outputted after being logarithmically converted in relation to the amount of the incident light; an evaluation value detector for detecting exposure evaluation values concerning an exposure control based on a luminance information of a subject; and a central control unit for controlling the exposure based on the exposure evaluation values detected by the evaluation value detector.

Abstract: A three-dimensional shape measuring system is provided with a measuring unit having a three-dimensional measurement range and adapted to measure the three-dimensional shape of a measurement object in a noncontact manner, a measurement range shifting unit for shifting the position of the measurement range of the measuring unit, a shape calculating unit for calculating the overall three-dimensional shape of the measurement object from a plurality of measurement data obtained by shifting the measurement range relative to the measurement object, and a judging unit for setting judgment areas in specified peripheral areas within the measurement range and judging the presence or absence of any unmeasured area of the measurement object outside the measurement range based on measurement data corresponding to the judgment areas.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system is provided for driving at least one light-emitting diode (LED). The system includes an output terminal connectable to an anode of the LED and at which an output voltage can be provided for the LED. A driver loop, connectable to a cathode of the LED, is operable to maintain a LED current flowing through the LED at a desired level, thereby attenuating modulation error attributable to voltage variations at the cathode of the LED.

Abstract: A print system includes a computer and a printer. Image data having pseudo gradation with a dither pattern are printed by the printer. The computer divides the image data into predetermined areas, determines whether or not a dot arrangement pattern of image data in each of the areas matches a dither pattern that was used for generating the pseudo gradation, determines a representative value concerning a density of image data within the area if they match one another, and sends data related to the determined representative value to the printer. The printer obtains a representative value of each area from compressed data received from the computer and compares the obtained representative value with the dither pattern so as to reproduce a dot pattern.

Abstract: Disclosed is a user history based multimedia service system, wherein user history data include a multimedia consumption type and/or consumption behavior of the user. The consumption type data includes a start time or end time of the multimedia content consumption (i.e., simple view data), content recording time and format, content backup time and format, and content transfer time and format. The consumption behavior data includes a content access/play data such as a normal finish, skimmed, skipped, slowed, or replay, and a stopped data of the content access/play. The consumption type or consumption behavior data include information on program identification and information on access to the consumption type/consumption behavior data. The respective data is provided for each user and program.

Abstract: A switching mode power supply includes: a power supply unit that comprises a switch that is coupled to a primary coil at a primary side of a transformer for converting an input DC voltage, and that supplies power to a secondary coil and a tertiary coil at a secondary side of the transformer according to an operation of the switch; a switching controller that receives a feedback voltage corresponding to a first voltage generated in the secondary coil at the secondary side of the transformer, and receives a detection signal corresponding to a current flowing to the switch to control an on/off operation of the switch; and a feedback signal generator that receives the first voltage and the switching control signal, samples the first voltage by using first pulse strings, and generates the feedback voltage according to a level of the first voltage sampled by a first pulse in the first pulse strings, wherein a toggling time of the first pulse strings is changed in a first period for sampling the first voltage, and a

Abstract: An energy transfer element includes a first winding coupled to an input circuit and a second winding coupled to an output circuit. The first winding has a first unit and a second unit, and the second winding is wound between the first unit of the first winding and the second unit of the first winding. The energy transfer element further includes a third winding provided between the first unit of the first winding and the second winding. The third winding is used to supply a bias voltage of the input circuit, and a winding width of the third winding is greater than a winding width of the first unit of the first winding and a width of the second winding.

Abstract: An optical glass contains as glass ingredients, by weight: 0-8% SiO2; 34.5-46% B2O3; 2.6-6% Li2O; 21-38% ZnO; 0-40% La2O3; 0-35% Gd2O3; and 0-15% Y2O3, with the total content of La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3 accounting for 10-40%. The optical glass also has a predetermined index of refraction and a predetermined dispersion.

Abstract: A wavelength displacement correcting system and method where a monochromatic beam from an LED is incident through an incident slit of a spectral device and is diffracted on a diffraction grating to form a dispersed light image. Information relating to the dispersed light image is outputted and a wavelength displacement is calculated, using a forward voltage value corresponding to the constant current, and a forward voltage initial value. Wavelength displacement amounts of at least two diffracted beams are calculated, using output values of the at least two diffracted beams, and diffracted beam output initial values with respect to the dispersed light image. A dispersion width is calculated, using the calculated wavelength displacement amount of the beam, and the calculated wavelength displacement amounts of at least two diffracted beams.

Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes: a channel waveguide which is positioned at a predetermined height relative to a bottom surface of a substrate; and a slab waveguide having a cross-sectional shape wider than that of the channel waveguide, being positioned at a predetermined height relative to the channel waveguide. Initially, an input end face of the optical waveguide device is vertically scanned with a light beam to achieve optical coupling with the slab waveguide, followed by transversely scanning to achieve optical coupling with the channel waveguide, hence, alignment of an optical axis with a minute channel waveguide can be effected easily and quickly.

Abstract: An arrangement of the invention includes a base block 16, a cylindrical cam 14, as a rotary member, which is rotatably supported on the base block 16, and includes a contact portion on an outer periphery thereof for outputting a rotating force, a drive gear 21, as an oscillatory ring, which includes a contact portion on an inner periphery thereof, and is oscillated on a plane perpendicular to a rotation axis of the cylindrical cam 14 in contact with the contact portion of the cylindrical cam 14, parallel springs 23 through 26, as a position retainer, for retaining the position of the drive gear 21, and three or more shape metal alloy actuators (SMA) wires 35 through 38, as expandable and contractible actuators, with both ends of the each SMA wire being fixed to the base block 16 for contact with the drive gear 21.

Abstract: There is provided a driving device 1 in which an electromechanical transducer is used and which has a high drive efficiency, having an electromechanical transducer 4 that is extended and contracted by application thereto of voltages, a drive shaft 6 having one end fixed by adhesive 5 to the electromechanical transducer 4, and a movable member 7 that is frictionally engaged on the driving shaft 6, an expression 8?E/t?0.48 where t (?m) is a thickness of the adhesive and E (GPa) is a modulus of longitudinal elasticity of the adhesive is satisfied by mixing into the adhesive 3, 5 particulates 10 that have diameters not smaller than 1 ?m and not larger than 5 ?m.

Abstract: A converter and a driving method thereof are provided. The converter includes a main switch and a switching controller. The switching controller controls on/off of the main switch by using a first voltage corresponding to an output voltage and a first current flowing to the main switch. The switching controller determines a reference count according to the first voltage, and determines a peak value of the first current corresponding to a reference count and a switching frequency of the main switch.

Abstract: An image capturing device, including an rectangular image capturing element having long sides and short sides; an image capturing optical system forming an image of a subject on the rectangular image capturing element; a first driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a first direction slanted by a predetermined angle from the long side and the short side of an outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image capturing optical system; and a second driving device which moves the rectangular image capturing element in a second direction slanted by a predetermined angle from the long side and the short side of the outer shape of the rectangular image capturing element in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the image capturing optical system, but the second direction differs from the first direction.

Abstract: A monitor camera is provided with a control device which carries out a predetermined process in response to an input of a trigger signal. The control device has an arrangement in that continuous images are successively inputted from a camera unit thereto and in that a detection of a moving object is carried out by detecting a change in images in a moving-object detector. When no change in images is detected by the moving-object detector within a predetermined time after the input of a trigger signal from a detection sensor to a trigger signal input unit, the control device determines the trigger signal inputted to the trigger signal input unit as valid. Then, only when the valid trigger signal has been detected, an abnormality process is carried out. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the abnormality process from being performed upon erroneous detection of a normal state as an abnormal state.

Abstract: An optical glass contains as glass ingredients, by weight: 10-35% SiO2; 8-30% B2O3; 4-9% Li2O; 26-40% ZnO; 1-25% La2O3; and 6-22% Nb2O5.

Abstract: An image-taking lens unit includes: a variable magnification optical system for forming an optical image of an object with a variable magnification; and an image sensor for converting the optical image into an electrical signal. The image-taking lens unit changes the shape thereof between a photographing state and a non-photographing state. The variable magnification optical system has a plurality of lens groups for performing magnification variation by changing intervals therebetween and a reflective surface for bending an optical axis. At least one of the plurality of lens groups is a movable group that moves during magnification variation. The reflective surface is kept in fixed position during magnification variation or focusing. In transition from the photographing state to the non-photographing state, at least the reflective surface moves so that at least part of the movable group is stored into a space left after the movement of the reflective surface.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a prism that comprises a first and a second substrate, both translucent, bonded together with an optical thin film interposed at the interface in between and that is used with the interface inclined relative to the optical axis of incident laser light of a wavelength of 420 nm or shorter includes the step of bonding together the first and second substrates of which the difference ?N1 in refractive index at the wavelength of the laser light fulfills the condition: ?N1?|1/(0.3×104×NA×t)|, where t represents the thickness of the first and second substrates cemented together as measured along the optical axis of the laser light, and NA represents the numerical aperture of the incident laser light.