Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises a solid image pickup element having pixels for outputting signals, which are logarithmically varied with respect to an incident light intensity, and a voltage controller. Each of the pixels includes an photoelectric conversion element, and a MOS transistor for logarithmic transformation, in which an output from the photoelectric conversion element is input into a drain. The voltage controller can apply, to a source, a reset voltage for resetting the transistor in such a manner that the photoelectric conversion element is operated in a moving object extraction image pickup mode. Furthermore, the voltage controller applies, to the source, the reset voltage for resetting the transistor to a level selected from a plurality of reset levels for moving object extraction image pickup.

Abstract: A digital camera having an image shake correction apparatus and a method of preventing the image shake of an image taken by the digital camera. The digital camera includes optical elements arranged along a bent line for focusing an object image upon a light receiving plane in which the elements include at least one mirror which reflects a light from an object toward the light receiving plane, a driver for moving the mirror so as to turn its light axis having been bent by the mirror, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration of a camera body, and a processor for making the driver move the mirror based on the sensed vibration. The mirror turns so as to cancel the vibration of the object image focussed on the light receiving plane.

Abstract: A compound camera system comprising component cameras that generate image data of an object and a processor that receives first image data from a first component camera and second image data from a second component camera and generates a virtual image. The processor projects virtual pixel data (u,v) to generate point data (x,y,z) located at depth, z=Z1, of a object plane of the object and projects the said point data (x,y,z) to generate first pixel data (u1,v1) located at a image plane of the first image. The processor also projects said point data (x,y,z) located at the depth, z=Z1, of the said object plane to generate second pixel data (u2,v2) located at the second image.

Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged in the row direction and the column direction, and every two of the plurality of pixels that are adjacent to each other in the row direction or the column direction include color filters of different colors, respectively. A signal mixture circuit is provided in each same-row and same-color pixel group. Each said same-row and same-color pixel group consisting of ones of the plurality of pixels which are included in a pixel mixture unit to be a subject of pixel signal mixture, which are located in the same row, and which include color filters of the same color. The signal mixture circuit includes a combination of a capacitor and a transmission switch, stores pixel signals from pixels included in a same-row and same-color pixel group and mixes the signals together.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically and accurately determining the exact location of a knife-edge, such as an edge of an optical shutter, so that it can be controlled automatically. In one aspect the system comprises a mechanized shutter coupled to a shutter controller that can automatically control the shutter's location and movement. According to one implementation of the shutter controller the system takes a first image at a first shutter position. The shutter is then moved a predetermined about and a second image is taken. Then, the pixels of each image are added in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the shutter, so as to provide two one-dimension functions. A linear difference of the functions is then taken, so as to obtain a one-dimensional linear difference function. A peak in the linear difference function is then identified as the location of the shutter.

Abstract: Upon reading out signals from a plurality of photodiode layers, highly color-separable signals which suffer less color mixture and noise are read out.

Abstract: A sensor including an image pickup element provided with arrangement of a plurality of pixels, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions in a depth direction of a semiconductor, outputs each color component from the same pixel position so that the color components are not extracted separately but extracted as a component different from an ordinary color signal, and this causes an image quality deterioration. The sensor of the present invention, however, is arranged to perform color correction of the signals of the plurality of pixels output from the image pickup element by using different color correction coefficients, respectively, thereby obtaining a high quality image, and to perform appropriate color correction corresponding to color temperature by discriminating an appropriate color correction coefficient to be used for the color correction in accordance with the color temperature detected by an external color temperature sensor at the time of photographing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a model vehicle layout by moving a vehicle around the track and noting when the vehicle passes track position detection elements. The vehicle can either detect the position detection elements, or the position detection elements can be sensors which detect the vehicle. By noting the order of the position detection elements as detected, and the direction of the vehicle, the layout of the track can be determined. In one embodiment, the position detection elements are sensors along the track which detect an emitted ID from the vehicle, and also detect the speed and direction of the vehicle. This information is then relayed to a control system. In another embodiment, the vehicle detects the position detection element, and relays this information, along with the train ID, speed and direction, to the control system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unloading long ribbon rails which are carried on a transport car on bunks which hold the rails in four or five different tiers each containing eight to ten rails. A special railcar is equipped with a gantry crane which feeds the rails from the bunks into power driven thread boxes. The thread boxes grip the rails and feed them rearwardly onto the railway bed. After the first two rails have been unloaded side by side, the next pair are fed into the thread boxes. The thread boxes feed these rails out of the bunks as the train is moved forwardly at the same speed as the rails are fed rearwardly so that the rails are unloaded end to end with the first pair of rails. The railcar has retractable over the road wheels that allow it to be towed on the roadway to the site of the rail transport car.

Abstract: A lift for inclined or vertical operation has a pair of guide rails that run parallel to one other, on which guide rollers run that are mounted on swivel plates so that they can swivel and contact the rails from opposite sides. At least one guide roller on each swivel plate is designed as a drive roller. The periphery of the drive roller is pressed against a respective engagement area of the rail by a spring force in such a way that the drive force of the drive roller is primarily transferred to the rail by friction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for selectively enabling intermediate data processing of digital signals external to an integrated circuit (IC). The system comprises a transcoder, a codec connected to the transcoder, and a data processor located externally to the IC. In response to a strobe signal, a programmable switch diverts digital signals between the transcoder and the codec to a data path from the IC to the external processor. The digital signals are formatted within the IC for processing by the external processor. The externally processed digital signals are returned to the IC via a data path from the external processor. The digital signals are then reformatted within the IC for further processing by the IC.

Abstract: A railway Type H tightlock coupler locklift assembly for coupling railway cars comprises a Type H rotary locklift toggle, a Type H rotary locklift lever, and a rivet connecting the rotary locklift toggle to the rotary locklift lever. The Type H rotary locklift lever further comprises a standard flange or finger for operatively engaging a coupler operating rod and a second opposing flange or finger that abuts the coupler operating rod. The second opposing flange or finger prevents unintentional rotary motion of the rotary locklift lever by acting on or abutting against the locked operating rod, thereby preventing unintentional uncoupling of the railway cars when coupler components of such cars are struck by flying debris.

Abstract: A crane carrying vehicle for transporting track ties comprises an elongated machine frame supported on undercarriages for movement on rails in an operating direction, the machine frame comprising a storage section for temporarily storing track ties and having two side walls extending in this direction, the side walls being spaced from each other in a transverse direction extending perpendicularly to the operating direction by a distance corresponding at least to the length of the track ties. A track tie supporting platform in the storage section may be tilted between a horizontally extending loading position and an unloading position extending at an angle to the loading position, and the vehicle carries a power-adjustable pivotal crane outrigger with a gripping device for gripping track ties.

Abstract: An auto-coefficient renewal digital channel equalizer is disclosed, including an auto-coefficient renewing device for automatically renewing a coefficient using received data and an error signal, an error detecting device for detecting an error signal from a signal of the auto-coefficient renewing device, a device for determining convergence or divergence of the error signal detected in the error detecting device to produce a convergence or divergence signal according to a result of the determination, and an error processing device for shifting down the error signal detected in the error detecting device a certain number of bits in response to a convergence signal to produce a signal smaller than the received error signal to the auto-coefficient renewing device, thereby processing the coefficient renewal at the same rate with the data for all of the taps of an equalizer. The equalizer converges at an increased rate, and operation of the equalizer is made more stable even in diversion of a reception channel.

Abstract: A feeder is disposed along a guide rail that guides an electrically powered vehicle. The electrically powered vehicle has an electric power receiving unit that surrounds the feeder on a non-contact basis. Electric power is supplied from the feeder to the electrically powered vehicle through electric power receiving units. The number of electric power receiving units is two. Each of the electric power receiving units has a mechanism that causes the electric power receiving unit to be inclined in the tangent direction of the feeder at a curved portion of the guide rail in such a manner that the distance between the feeder and the electric power receiving unit is kept so that optimum power can be obtained.

Abstract: Persons and/or goods are transported in vehicles which are each equipped with running wheels. The vehicles are connectable to a continuously driven traction cable by which they are driven along a track, such as on rails. A plurality of deceleration wheels and a plurality of acceleration wheels disposed in stations of the system where the vehicles may be loaded and unloaded. In the stations, the vehicles are disconnectable from the traction cable. The vehicles are slowed down by bringing the deceleration wheels into contact therewith and they are accelerated by bringing the acceleration wheels into contact therewith. The deceleration wheels are divided into a plurality of groups and the wheels within each group are driven at the same peripheral speed. Upon transfer of the vehicle from one group of wheels to an adjacent group, the wheels of the two groups are driven at the same speed as well.

Abstract: To provide inexpensively a connector constructed of a steel pipe and bearing a tie function of a ladder-type sleeper for railway tracks, in a connector constructed of a steel pipe 1 used in the ladder-type sleeper for railway tracks integrated with longitudinal beams made of concrete and the connectors constructed of steel pipes 1 by feeding concrete, both end portions of the connector constructed of the steel pipe 1 are flattened in the horizontal direction and a corrosion resistant coating 4 is coated at portions of the connector constructed of the steel pipe 1 exposed to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A running mechanism which travels on a running rail comprising a web and a flange. Running wheels are supported by the flange on opposite sides of the web and are rotatably mounted in frame parts which are connected by an articulation arranged below the running rail such that the frame parts swivel open or closed laterally about a swivel pin. A load acts on at least one of the frame parts at the height of or below the swivel pin and holds the frame parts swiveled closed towards the web on both sides by means of a closing moment generated by the load. Guide rollers, one of which is rotatably supported in the frame part, are supported on opposite sides of the web.

Abstract: A carrier synchronizing unit for a coherent detection data communication system over non-frequency selective fading channels wherein the redundancy in estimation of a fading channel multiplicative distortion is reduced to improve the reliability of the estimation and compensate for an influence of a tracking delay in recursive least square estimation. The carrier synchronizing unit combines pilot symbols interpolation and recursive least square type phase and amplitude estimation.

Abstract: A loading station of a detachable chair-lift comprises two spots 22, 29 for alternate pickup of skiers 21. To give the skiers easy access to the pickup spots, the distance between the chairs is increased by grouping them in pairs in the access zones. The station may comprise two tracks 16, 17, each having a pickup spot, onto which the chairs 11, uncoupled from the rope, are directed alternately. The two pickup spots can be on the same track, one after the other, the grouping of the chairs in pairs then being modified when running between the two pickup spots so that the rear chair of the pair at the first is pickup spot comes in front at the second pickup spot.