Abstract: There is provided a method for displaying the classification of a patent document to which multi-viewpoint patent classifications are added. The method makes it possible to grasp the patent document from a variety of viewpoints more than those obtained from the “Abstract” of the patent document without reading the specification, and hence improve the efficiency of patent research. The method comprises the steps of: (a) retrieving multi-viewpoint patent classifications added to the patent document; (b) using a database storing a multi-viewpoint patent classification table to read out multi-viewpoint patent classifications higher in hierarchy than each of the multi-viewpoint patent classifications retrieved; and (c) displaying, together with their titles, at least either the multi-viewpoint patent classifications retrieved or the higher levels of hierarchy.

Abstract: Markers for providing reference points or lines are recorded together with radiation images in stimulable phosphor sheets in a position fixed with respect to the radiation images. The stimulable phosphor sheets are scanned with stimulating rays, and the spatial coordinates of the reference points or lines are detected from light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheets. The stimulable phosphor sheets are moved with respect to scanning lines of stimulating rays based on the detected spatial coordinates to adjust the spatial coordinates to a spatial coordinate predetermined with respect to the scanning lines of stimulating rays. Then, the radiation images are read out.

Abstract: In a light beam scanning device, first and second light spots scan a scanning plane and a planar grating pattern, respectively. The grating pattern has alternating transparent and opaque parts extending parallel to one another and is rotated by a predetermined angle in its own plane. A speed of scanning the grating pattern by the second light spot is detected to correct irregularities in a speed of scanning the scanning plane with the first light spot. Further, the scanning length on the scanning plane can be finely adjusted by the rotation of the grating pattern.

Abstract: Markers having a shape defining an edge portion of a radiation image area are recorded together with radiation images in stimulable phosphor sheets in a position fixed with respect to the radiation images. The stimulable phosphor sheets are scanned with stimulating rays, and the edge portion defined by the markers is photoelectrically detected. Read-out of the image signals of the radiation images is conducted by using the detected signal of the edge portion as the read-out synchronizing signal, thereby to obtain the image signals corrected for deviations in position among the radiation images.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a stimulating ray optical system for exposing a stimulable phosphor carrying a radiation image stored therein to stimulating rays, a photodetector for detecting light emitted by the stimulable phosphor upon exposure to stimulating rays, and a light guide member for guiding the emitted light to the photodetector. A dichroic optical plane which selectively reflects either the stimulating rays or the light emitted by the stimulable phosphor and selectively passes the other is positioned in an optical path or the light guide member. The stimulating ray optical system is positioned so that the stimulating rays directly impinge upon the dichroic optical plane and come out of a light input face of the light guide member positioned close to the stimulable phosphor by being reflected by or passed through the dichroic optical plane.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for removing the scanning error due to imperfect parallelism of a rotary polyhedral mirror is disclosed. An incident beam of light initially deflected by the rotary polyhedral mirror is directed along an optical path which brings it back into incidence on the same deflection point on the mirror. The double deflection causes the second reflected beam to travel a path which is vertically independent of the error in parallelism, while at the same time not interfering with the horizontal scanning of the second reflected beam.