Abstract: The fingerprint image input apparatus includes two-dimensional image sensor 14 formed on transparent substrate 21 and including diffraction grating 41, photo-sensitive elements 24, switch elements 22, switching lines 25, signal reading lines 26, bias applying lines 27, and light interception plates 23 disposed below photo-sensitive elements 24, planar light source 11 and transparent protective film 42. Diffraction grating 41 is formed on two-dimensional image sensor 14 together with photo-sensitive elements 24 commonly using one or more opaque materials of photo-sensitive elements 24.

Abstract: In a digital oscilloscope for indicating an input signal waveform on a display, all or part of the circuits which constitute the oscilloscope are de-energized in accordance with at least one of an operation mode in which the digital oscilloscope has been set by the user and another mode of the oscilloscope. Alternatively, it is determined whether the digital oscilloscope is not operated for a time established by the user or more, and if it is determined that the oscilloscope is not operated for the set time or above, the display is de-energized.

Abstract: Possible microbending of individual fibers (14.sub.1 and 142.sub.2) within a fiber optic cable (12) is detected by monitoring each fiber as well as each piece of equipment (16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, 18.sub.1 and 18.sub.2) connected to it. Should there exist multiple failed fibers under the condition that the equipment pieces associated with each failed fiber are operational; then a possible microbending condition is signaled.

Abstract: Sensor apparatus 18 for use in a plastic service pipe 16 inside a steel service pipe 10 connected to a main consists of a flexible element 42 which is fed through the steel pipe 10 and through the plastic pipe 16. The element 42 has at its remote end two light-emitting diodes 80 and two photoconductive cells 82 The flexible element 42 and the pipe 16 are fed together into the steel pipe 10. The sensor apparatus 18 indicates when the cells 82 have entered the main 14 because the intensity of the light reflected to the cells 82 falls to a low value and gives an audible or visual signal. This also indicates that the end of the plastic pipe 16 which carries a seal 38 is positioned correctly and that sealant 30 can be injected into the space between the steel pipe 10 and the plastic pipe 16 and is detected by a second light sensor arrangement 154/156. After the sealant 30 has been injected the sensor apparatus 18 can be recovered by withdrawal through the nose-piece 32 and through the pipe 10.

Abstract: A position detection error generated due to the response delay of a position measuring device is corrected so as to essentially improve the relative position alignment performance of a moving member. In a position control method for controlling a moving member 15 (25) to target positions generated at predetermined periods, the current position of the moving member is measured by a position measuring device 16 (26), and a value corresponding to the detection error of the current position of the moving member due to the detection delay of the position measuring device is subtracted, as a correction amount O.sub.w (O.sub.r) of the current position of the moving member, from the value of a target position command signal X.sub.w (X.sub.r).

Abstract: A surface inspection apparatus of the present invention comprises an optical sensor having a plurality of detecting portions arranged in a sub-scan direction, the detecting portions being responsive to the scattering light for producing the detection signals correspondingly to respective pixels, a detection optical system including an objective lens and disposed between the optical sensor and the thing to be inspected, a projection optical system for irradiating the thing to be inspected with the laser beam having a cross sectional area large enough to cover the scattering light to be received by the plurality of the detecting portions through the detection optical system and an inspection device responsive to the detection signals for inspecting the surface of the thing to be inspected, wherein one of the detection optical system lens and the optical sensor is mounted such that a setting axis thereof is aligned in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the detection optical system lens with a light rece

Abstract: A fluorescent lighting system has: (A) a central power supply including: (i) a parallel-resonant self-oscillating bridge inverter operative to provide a 35 kHz sinusoidal output voltage at a pair of primary output terminals; (ii) a tank-inductor and a tank-capacitor parallel-connected across the primary output terminals; and (iii) plural pairs of secondary output terminals, each connected with the primary output terminals via its own dedicated current-limiting sub-circuit; thereby to prevent a load connected therewith from drawing more than a certain amount of power; thereby, in turn, to render each pair of secondary output terminals fire-hazard-safe and shock-hazard-safe; each pair of secondary power output terminals being connected with its own power output receptacle; and (B) a light-weight power cord plug-in-connected with one of the power output receptacles and having a pair of power conductors between which are connected a number of individually ballasted lighting units; each lighting unit having at lea

Abstract: A method of detecting a defect of a transparent sheet is provided in which light source casts light on a transparent sheet through a slit plate, a camera receives the light transmitted through the transparent sheet and produces an image for inspection of a defect, an image of the slit plate produced by the camera is out of focus and represented by a waveform which is representative of brightness of the light transmitting portions and shading portions of the slit plate, and the camera is set to focus on a point where the difference between a maximum brightness and a minimum brightness represented by the waveform becomes minimum or on a point adjacent thereto. An apparatus for detecting a defect of a transparent sheet is also provided.

Abstract: A compact dimmable fluorescent lamp apparatus that connects with at least one fluorescent lamp and with an input power source that supplies an AC input voltage. The lamp includes a rectification stage for rectifying the AC input voltage, a dimming stage for generating a dimming signal indicative of lamp brightness, and a ballast circuit that is in electrical communication with the rectification stage and the dimming stage. The ballast circuit is arranged for connection with the lamp for applying power variably to the lamp and includes a resonant circuit stage that electrically connects with the lamp and that generates a high frequency voltage in response to the input voltage. The resonant circuit varies the level of power supplied to the lamp in response to the dimming signal, thereby attaining a selected level of lamp brightness.

Abstract: An optical system for determining the axial load, the torsional load or both on a generally cylindrical member, such as a valve stem in a motor operated valve, includes a first system for producing a test light that is modified by a physical change in the valve stem caused by the load, a second system for receiving the test light and converting the same to a first signal indicative of the physical change, and a third system for converting the first signal to a second signal indicative of the load, preferably by utilizing one or more of the relations defined in Equations 1-3. The physical change in the cylindrical member can be, for example, a diametrical change or a longitudinal change, which can be measured by the first and second systems. The dimensional changes can be related to the axial load according to Hooke's Law or Poisson's relation by the third system when material properties and the geometry of the cylindrical member are known.

Abstract: A sampling apparatus for sampling interstitial fluid includes a sampler having an external geometry selected to mate with an internal geometry of a testing apparatus such that the sampler may be inserted within the testing apparatus in a predetermined alignment and with a sampling location positioned accurately within a light path for detecting an amount of a desired constituent collected by the sampler.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating sharper and more accurate LADAR intensity images is disclosed. The LADAR system includes an optical transmitter and receiver that generates and scans a laser beam in a target field. A backscatter detector senses the magnitude of the generated laser beam. A signal processing unit uses the magnitude of the transmitted laser beam to adjust the magnitude of received reflections to produce a sharper intensity image.

Abstract: A transistor having reduced hot carrier implantation is disclosed which is formed on an outer surface (12) of a semiconductor substrate (10). The transistor comprises a source region (22) and a drain region (24) which define there between a channel region (34). A gate insulator layer (14) insulates a gate conductor (16) from the channel region (34). A sidewall insulator body (20) is formed such that a thickened region of insulator separates an end of gate conductor (16) from a portion of channel region (34) proximate drain region (24). This thickened insulator reduces the local electric field in channel region (34) near drain region (24) and correspondingly reduces the implantation into gate insulator (14) of hot carriers generated from impact ionization.

Abstract: The target of the present invention is to provide an automatic high speed, low-cost, multi-mode three-dimensional(3D) surface profile measurement method. This method exploits the projected energy with a known spatially distributed wavelength spectrum on the surface of objects in the scene. The unique wavelength is encoded with geometry information of a unique projection ray of the radiation energy in 3D space. This wavelength of the projected energy is detected by a 2D image sensor array that is able to uniquely distinguish the wavelength of the radiation energy at the points of interest on the scene. The projection geometry information is recovered by using a color match scheme and the range values associated with every pixel of the 2D image sensor will be calculated through a straightforward triangulation algorithm. Full frames of 3D range images can then be obtained directly at the frame acquisition rate of the 2D image sensor array.

Abstract: An alignment method for use with an exposure apparatus including first and second alignment sensor systems for establishing alignment between a reticle and a wafer. A first one of reticles in a reticle set is loaded on the exposure apparatus and the position of the pattern center of the reticle is determined. At the same time, the position of the detection center of the first alignment sensor system is determined and the baseline amount B.sub.11, which is the distance from the pattern center of the reticle to the detection center of the first alignment sensor system, is determined. Then, the baseline amount B.sub.21 of the second alignment sensor system is determined, and the difference .DELTA.B (=B.sub.21 -B.sub.11) between the baseline amounts is calculated. For any of the second and later ones of the reticles in the reticle set, the baseline amount B.sub.12 of the first alignment sensor system is calculated in the same manner as the above whereas the baseline amount B.sub.

Abstract: Polarized test light is radiated on the rear surface of a test film placed on a light-transmissive substrate, so that the quality of the film is detected by observing a color-irregularity pattern formed on the front surface of the test film. An apparatus of this detection includes: a light-transmissive substrate on which a test film is placed; a planar light source disposed on the rear side of the substrate; and a polarizing plate disposed between the planer light source and the light-transmissive substrate. The polarizing plate is preferably provided rotatable.

Abstract: An optical encoder comprising a movable scale moving relatively to a light source, a surface-emitting semiconductor laser light-source for radiating a part of the movable scale, and a photodetector for receiving reflection light by the movable scale or transmission light through the movable scale.

Abstract: A display fluorescent lamp comprises; a dielectric cylindrical container having a large-diameter portion in which rare gas is sealed and a small-diameter portion which is almost coaxially connected with the large-diameter portion at one end of the large-diameter portion, the outside diameter thereof being smaller than that of the large-diameter portion; a light emitting portion which is formed at the other end of the large-diameter portion and has permeability; an internal electrode which is inserted into the cylindrical container from the other end of the small-diameter portion which is not connected with the large-diameter portion; a fluorescent substance layer formed on the inside face excluding that in which the light emitting portion is formed, of the large-diameter portion of the cylindrical container; and an external electrode formed on the outside face of the large-diameter portion excluding a portion in which the light emitting portion of the cylindrical container is formed, the length in the axial d

Abstract: A lighting system composed of: an AC ballast for delivering AC power from an AC power source to a lamp; an emergency power supply for delivering AC power to the lamp when the AC power source fails; and a switch for disconnecting the AC ballast from the AC power source when the AC power source fails.

Abstract: The invention concerns storage of data within a computer, from which a composite image may be generated on the computer's display. The data may include different types, which are normally incompatible, such as particular types of RGB data, and particular types of YUV data. As a specific example, the invention allows a user to view the image generated by an ordinary computer program, such as a word-processing program; which uses RGB data, together with a movie stored on video tape, which may use YUV data. The movie appears in a small window on the display.