Abstract: An art of a driving device for appropriately improving a response of an SMA actuator will be provided. A portable telephone 1 has an image stabilization system 10 for driving an image pickup unit 9 by a pair of driving members 15a and 15b functioning as actuators, thereby performing image stabilization. Driving members 15a and 15b are formed as a wire of shape memory alloy (SMA) and when a voltage is applied to both ends and a current is supplied, driving force is generated in the contraction direction. With respect to the wire diameter of the SMAs, the wire diameter of the SMAs is set between 10 ?m and 80 ?m, thus the mountability and response are improved appropriately.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a display having a memory function and a communications capability. Display functions are controlled based on a state of the operation of the device and/or based on a state of received data. Also disclosed is a method of selectively displaying advertising information based on a state of the device where the advertising can be maintained on the display without requiring any power consumption.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a projection lens capable of sufficiently correcting lateral chromatic aberration at both of the wide-angle end and the telephoto end, with an increased zoom ratio, a less number of lens elements, and less variation in telecentricity.

Abstract: A rack and pinion type steering device capable of reducing contact surface pressure, suppressing the wear of contact surfaces, and preventing a rack guide movable amount from being excessively increased by increasing the contact area of the outer peripheral surface of roller on the outer peripheral surface of a rack shaft in a rack guide, and method of manufacturing the steering gear.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system provides gamma correction in a thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid-crystal-display (LCD). The system includes a digital-to-analog converter operable to receive digital control data. The digital-to-analog converter is operable to provide an output voltage for gamma correction in response to the digital control data.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an image pickup device in which photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to color components are arranged in a predetermined pattern; an acquisition unit that successively acquires a plurality of images by using the image pickup device; a detector that detects a positional deviation among the plurality of images; and a synthesis unit that compensates the positional deviation to synthesize the plurality of images by addition, wherein the synthesis unit adds the plurality of images in a state where the images have the same color layout as that of the photoelectric conversion elements in the image pickup device.

Abstract: A simply structured zooming movement mechanism for moving a first lens group located in the object side from a bending member. Also provided are a small-sized lens unit by making it collapsible and an image pickup apparatus. The lens unit has: the bending member for bending the light, entering from an object along a first optical axis, to the direction of a second optical axis substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis; and a first moving member for moving a first support member, which supports the first lens group, in the direction of the first optical axis to a storage position; a bending member moving member for moving the bending member to an evacuation position in order to create a space for storing the first supporting member; and a first zooming movement member for moving the first supporting member in the direction of the first optical axis in a variable magnification manner.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a frequency divider for performing a frequency division processing of dividing an input image into a plurality of frequency components each having a frequency band; a noise remover for performing a noise component removal processing of removing a noise component from a high frequency component in the frequency components each having the frequency band obtained by the frequency division processing by the frequency divider; an edge preservation information calculator for detecting an edge intensity based on a low frequency component in the frequency components each having the frequency band obtained by the frequency division processing by the frequency divider, and calculating edge preservation information relating to a degree of preserving an edge component based on the detected edge intensity; an edge preserving section for preserving the edge component in the high frequency component, based on the edge preservation information calculated by the edge preservation informati

Abstract: A method of string an SMA, method of manufacturing the SMA actuator, SMA actuator and apparatus for manufacturing the SMA actuator, wherein a drive member made up of an SMA is extended between a moving member and wire supporting member via a drive member supporting member, and current is applied to the unnecessary portion of the drive member located between the wire supporting member and drive member supporting member, whereby the unnecessary portion of the drive member is cut off by melting, with the result that the size of the protrusion left behind after cutting of the SMA is reduced, and there is no need of giving consideration to the durability of a cutter otherwise used for cutting purposes.

Abstract: Variation of the wavelength of the light emitted from a light source is reduced by a wavelength variation reduction mechanism. Hence, wavelength deviation of the intensity peak of the light emitted from the light source from the diffraction-efficiency peak of a hologram optical element is reduced. Thus, even when a high-brightness light source is used, the light emitted therefrom can be diffracted with the hologram optical element efficiently. Moreover, the heat generated by the light source is efficiently rejected through the surface of a land portion of a flexible printed circuit, is then, via an insulating layer of the flexible printed circuit, efficiently absorbed through the surface of a heat absorbing member, and is then, via a shield conductor, led out of a casing, so as to be thereby expelled.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power converter generates an output voltage by modulating an input voltage according to operations of a first switch and a second switch connected in a half-bridge arrangement. The power converter includes a switch driver circuit for controlling the turning on and off of the first and second switches. A PWM controller generates a switch driver control signal for controlling the switch driver circuit according to an output voltage. The switch driver circuit generates an on-time control signal for turning off the first switch when the first switch has been turned on for longer than a threshold period.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device has a first region in which a transistor is formed, a third region in which a control element is formed, and a second region for separating the first region and the third region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power integrated circuit device is provided. The power integrated circuit device includes a high-side power switch having a high voltage transistor and a low voltage transistor. The high voltage transistor has a gate, a source, and a drain, and is capable of withstanding a high voltage applied to its drain. The low voltage transistor has a gate, a source, and a drain, wherein the drain of the low voltage transistor is connected to the source of the high voltage transistor and the source of the low voltage transistor is connected to the gate of the high voltage transistor, and wherein a control signal is applied to the gate of the low voltage transistor from the power integrated circuit device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device structured by a plurality of pixels having different photoelectric conversion characteristics different from each other on each side of an inflection point, correcting an error of the photoelectric conversion characteristics, thereby contributing to realization of high image quality will be provided. In the image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device structured by a plurality of pixels having different photoelectric conversion characteristics different from each other on each side of the inflection point, on the basis of the inflection point of the standard photoelectric conversion characteristic and correction data, whether or not to execute a correction using the correction data to the imaged data of the pixels and whether or not to execute characteristic transformation using the characteristic transformation section to the imaged data of the pixels are decided.

Abstract: Scanning projection device PJ two-dimensionally deflects a beam emitted from light source unit 1 and performs scanning with deflection element 3, and projects the beam obliquely on screen SC with projection optical system 7. By defining a range of an incident angle to screen SC properly, projection optical system 7 does not disturb an observation of images, and a correction of a spot shape does not become difficult. Further, by defining a ratio of scan-angle magnifications between in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction properly, difference in resolution between in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction can be reduced, and a high-quality and excellent image can be displayed, even when a beam obliquely projected.

Abstract: A projection optical system for projecting, while enlarging, an image formed on an image formation surface onto an image projection surface from an oblique direction relative thereto has at least three optically powered reflective surfaces and a refractive lens surface having a non-rotation-symmetric free-form curved surface and disposed between the first and second reflective surfaces as counted from the image formation surface side.

Abstract: A three-dimensional measurement system comprises: a three-dimensional measuring device for obtaining measurement data related to the three-dimensional shape of a target object for measurement; a specification part for specifying a primitive of the target object based on annotation information contained in CAD data; and a controller for controlling the three-dimensional measuring device based on the primitive specified by the specification part.

Abstract: An image data compression method includes the steps of dividing image data into predetermined regions, generating modeled data by extracting a feature of the image data for each of the regions, performing trial calculation of data quantity of compressed data that is generated by a thinning-out process in which data is thinned out from the modeled data based on a threshold value concerning the thinning-out process, determining a thinning-out threshold value that is a threshold value such that the data quantity becomes equal to or less than a predetermined target data quantity, and performing the thinning-out process based on the thinning-out threshold value so that compressed data is generated.

Abstract: A switch control device, a switch control method, and a converter using the same are disclosed. The converter includes: a switch; an energy transfer element that converts input energy into output energy according to a switching operation of the switch; and a switch control device that generates a first signal, which is maintained at a first level during a first interval starting from a first time at which the switch is turned on by using a feedback signal corresponding to the output energy and is then gradually lowered from the first level to the feedback signal during a second interval, and controls the switching operation of the switch by using a second signal corresponding to a current flowing at the switch and the first signal. A malfunction due to an LEC can be effectively prevented, and the converter and the converter controller can be implemented to be compact and low-priced.

Abstract: A m Methods and apparatus is systems are provided for connecting a directing computers to communicate with a data service using electronic addresses in sync with an corresponding to audio/ or video broadcast programming content. In one embodiment, S simultaneously with the broadcasting of audio/ or video programming, an address transmitter transmits an address, such as a URL, identifying an on-line a data service, such as a web site, which contains information about the audio or video programming. This The address is received by a computer and used to automatically access the on-line data service. Preferably, the process is repeated with different addresses corresponding with different programming. It is also preferred that the addresses be sent via a paging system. Optionally, the computer may be directed to display content of the data service.