Abstract: A stereographic display apparatus and a vehicle headlight can include an optical modulator including a position sensor and a voltage supply. The position sensor can be configured to detect an inclined angle, and the voltage supply can be configured to apply a voltage to the optical modulator in accordance with the inclined angle output from the position sensor. The optical modulator can refract light at a refraction angle in accordance with the voltage output from the voltage supply. Therefore, when the optical modulator is incorporated into a stereographic display apparatus, the stereographic display apparatus can provide comfortable stereographic displays to viewers, even if it inclines due to hand movement and the like. A vehicle headlight incorporating the optical modulator can also form light distributions in a useful direction for drivers with a simple structure, even when it moves in various directions with reference to a road due to road conditions.

Abstract: A particle detector includes a light source, and a metal layer having an incident/reflective surface and a photoelectric surface opposing the incident/reflective surface. Incident light from the light source reaches the incident/reflective surface to excite near-field surface plasmon resonance photons at the photoelectric surface. A particle deposited on the photoelectric surface of the metal layer changes the near-field surface plasmon resonance photons to far-field scattered light. The particle detector further includes a scattered light detecting unit, provided above the photoelectric surface of the metal layer, for detecting the far-field scattered light.

Abstract: A stereographic display apparatus and a vehicle headlight can include an optical modulator including a position sensor and a voltage supply. The position sensor can be configured to detect an inclined angle, and the voltage supply can be configured to apply a voltage to the optical modulator in accordance with the inclined angle output from the position sensor. The optical modulator can refract light at a refraction angle in accordance with the voltage output from the voltage supply. Therefore, when the optical modulator is incorporated into a stereographic display apparatus, the stereographic display apparatus can provide comfortable stereographic displays to viewers, even if it inclines due to hand movement and the like. A vehicle headlight incorporating the optical modulator can also form light distributions in a useful direction for drivers with a simple structure, even when it moves in various directions with reference to a road due to road conditions.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter is directed to solid state cameras and sensor systems that include a pickup surface thereof with both a distance detecting area for measuring a distance from a moving object and a movement detecting area for detecting the object's movement. The device can also include an optical communication area for communicating with an outside communication device. Therefore, the device enables a single pickup surface to include at least the following three functions: distance measurement; movement detection; and optical communication. The above-described sensor systems can output a control signal for collision avoidance with stationary or moving obstacle(s) by using the solid state camera. Because the sensor system can be integrated as a single chip IC with a small size, the system is useful as a sensor device in a vehicle, a robot, and the like.

Abstract: A particle detector comprises a light source, and a metal layer having an incident/reflective surface and a photoelectric surface opposing the incident/reflective surface. Incident light from the light source reaches the incident/reflective surface to excite near-field surface plasmon resonance photons at the photoelectronic surface. A particle deposited on the photoelectronic surface of the metal layer changes the near-field surface plasmon resonance photons to far-field scattered light. The particle detector further comprises a unit, provided above the photoelectric surface of the metal layer, for detecting the far-field scattered light.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and apparatus for position judgment, which can include a plurality of light sources and a photo-detector. The plurality of light sources can be configured to emit a plurality of pulsed lights towards an object from different directions, and a photo-detector can be configured to serially detect the light reflected from the object. A determination of whether the object is moving further away or coming closer to the apparatus can be judged by calculating at least one of a position, an area and a brightness of the object from the reflected light and comparing the data with the previous data for the same value(s). Thus, because the method of the disclosed subject matter does not require a measurement of time as in the conventional methods, the method can result in providing a similar apparatus with a simple configuration and at a low cost, and can be used as a sensor for detecting an obstacle and the like in a vehicle, alarm system, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing methionine, which comprises steps of: hydrolyzing 5-[2-(methylthio)ethyl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione in the presence of a basic potassium compound in a non-stirred continuous first reaction tank, and heat-treating the reaction solution after hydrolysis in a second reaction tank. According to the process of the present invention, a methionine crystal with a higher bulk density can be produced.

Abstract: A regenerated sulfur recovery apparatus positioned in a sulfur recovery plant, which apparatus contains a sulfur purifier that cools gaseous sulfur and condensates it, forming liquid sulfur while removing impurities contained therein; the apparatus containing a steam supplying means for melting solid sulfur deposited on an inner wall of the sulfur purifier, a molten sulfur reservoir that recovers and stores the melted sulfur, a reservoir heating means that heats the reservoir, an exhaust gas line that directs to the outside an exhaust gas formed in the reservoir when the reservoir is heated by the reservoir heating means, and an inert gas supply means that supplies an inert gas to the reservoir, such that the inert gas supplied into the reservoir flows to the outside through the exhaust gas line when molten sulfur stored in the reservoir is discharged from the reservoir.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and distance measurement apparatus for measuring a distance to an object, which can include a light source, a solid state camera, a controller and a distance data generator. The light source can be configured to emit a modulated light towards an object, and the solid state camera can convert the light reflected from the object into charges. The distance data generator can be configured to calculate the distance based on the charges, and the controller can be configured to adjust the modulated light to be more favorable under various circumstances. Thus, the method of the disclosed subject matter can accurately measure distance under various circumstances and can result in providing a distance measurement apparatus with a simple configuration and at low cost, and can be used as a sensor for distance measurement of an obstacle and the like in a vehicle, security system, robot, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing methionine, which comprises steps of: hydrolyzing 5-[2-(methylthio)ethyl]imidazolidine-2,4-dione in the presence of a basic potassium compound in a non-stirred continuous first reaction tank, and heat-treating the reaction solution after hydrolysis in a second reaction tank. According to the process of the present invention, a methionine crystal with a higher bulk density can be produced.

Abstract: A regenerated sulfur recovery apparatus positioned in a sulfur recovery plant, which apparatus contains a sulfur purifier that cools gaseous sulfur and condensates it, forming liquid sulfur while removing impurities contained therein; the apparatus containing a steam supplying means for melting solid sulfur deposited on an inner wall of the sulfur purifier, a molten sulfur reservoir that recovers and stores the melted sulfur, a reservoir heating means that heats the reservoir, an exhaust gas line that directs to the outside an exhaust gas formed in the reservoir when the reservoir is heated by the reservoir heating means, and an inert gas supply means that supplies an inert gas to the reservoir, such that the inert gas supplied into the reservoir flows to the outside through the exhaust gas line when molten sulfur stored in the reservoir is discharged from the reservoir.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and distance measurement apparatus for measuring a distance to an object, which can include a light source, a solid state camera, a controller and a distance data generator. The light source can be configured to emit a modulated light towards an object, and the solid state camera can convert the light reflected from the object into charges. The distance data generator can be configured to calculate the distance based on the charges, and the controller can be configured to adjust the modulated light to be more favorable under various circumstances. Thus, the method of the disclosed subject matter can accurately measure distance under various circumstances and can result in providing a distance measurement apparatus with a simple configuration and at low cost, and can be used as a sensor for distance measurement of an obstacle and the like in a vehicle, security system, robot, etc.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and apparatus for position judgment, which can include a plurality of light sources and a photo-detector. The plurality of light sources can be configured to emit a plurality of pulsed lights towards an object from different directions, and a photo-detector can be configured to serially detect the light reflected from the object. A determination of whether the object is moving further away or coming closer to the apparatus can be judged by calculating at least one of a position, an area and a brightness of the object from the reflected light and comparing the data with the previous data for the same value(s). Thus, because the method of the disclosed subject matter does not require a measurement of time as in the conventional methods, the method can result in providing a similar apparatus with a simple configuration and at a low cost, and can be used as a sensor for detecting an obstacle and the like in a vehicle, alarm system, etc.

Abstract: The disclosed subject matter is directed to solid state cameras and sensor systems that include a pickup surface thereof with both a distance detecting area for measuring a distance from a moving object and a movement detecting area for detecting the object's movement. The device can also include an optical communication area for communicating with an outside communication device. Therefore, the device enables a single pickup surface to include at least the following three functions: distance measurement; movement detection; and optical communication. The above-described sensor systems can output a control signal for collision avoidance with stationary or moving obstacle(s) by using the solid state camera. Because the sensor system can be integrated as a single chip IC with a small size, the system is useful as a sensor device in a vehicle, a robot, and the like.

Abstract: An object movement tracking apparatus and its method tracks an object with an unknown initial position and which object is continually moving, the apparatus for recovering a tracking process even when the tracking has failed and includes an observing device such as a video camera for observing a scene at a video frame rate. Time-sequentially acquired image data from the observing device are stored in an image memory device and the data processed in parallel. During data processing, an object recognition module selects a frame memory based on predetermined information. An estimated value of position/posture of the object are calculated from the image data and transmitted. A movement tracking module receives transmitted data from the object recognition module, replacing a current frame with a next frame and waits until image data in the next frame are inputted.

Abstract: A double-faced splicing tape of the present invention splices a first web used for forming a tobacco rod and a second web in a stand-by state to and has a plurality of perforations extending in a longitudinal direction of the webs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feeding device for making the double-faced splicing tape hang toward a feeding position located in between a main delivery path of the first web and a sub-delivery path of the second web.

Abstract: A printer for a cigarette-manufacturing machine has a density sensor (70) disposed between a wrapping section (4) and a cutting section (16) of the machine, and the density sensor (70) detects the print density of printed information (PI) of a tobacco rod (TR). The information (PI) is printed on a paper web W by a printing unit (20) located upstream from the wrapping section (4). Disposed between the printing unit (20) and the wrapping section (4) is an adjusting device (62) for varying the length of a feeding path of the paper web W. A density signal from the density sensor (70) is used to control the operation of the printing unit (20) and adjusting device (62). Thus, based on the density signal, the print density of the printed information (PI) and the arrival timing thereof at the density sensor (70) are each controlled.

Abstract: A double-faced splicing tape of the present invention splices a first web used for forming a tobacco rod and a second web in a stand-by state to and has a plurality of perforations extending in a longitudinal direction of the webs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feeding device for making the double-faced splicing tape hang toward a feeding position located in between a main delivery path of the first web and a sub-delivery path of the second web.

Abstract: A cigarette inspection apparatus is provided, which is capable of measuring ventilation resistances of a large number of filter cigarettes easily and accurately and which includes an inspection drum (12) provided with part of an air-introducing unit for introducing air into a filter cigarette (C) from a non-filter side end face thereof, a measurement section (13) provided with the rest of the air-introducing unit, pressure transducers (17, 18) for detecting inlet side and outlet side air pressures of the cigarette, and a data processor (31) for determining the ventilation resistance of the cigarette based on a difference between the air pressures.

Abstract: An automatic splicing system is provided that includes a motor (20a) for rotating an active roll (R1) while a web (P1) is drawn from the roll (R1) toward a cigarette rod-manufacturing machine, a motor (20b) for rotating a standby roll (R2) when a residual of the roll (R1) reaches a predetermined amount or less so that a web (P2) is fed from the roll (R2), a splicing section (70) splicing the webs (P1; P2) and changing over the feeding of web from the roll (R1) to the roll (R2) when feed speeds of the webs match each other, and suction casings (42) disposed on feed paths of the webs, respectively, the suction casings drawing the webs thereinto temporarily. The rotational speeds of the motors (20a and 20b) are controlled so as to maintain drawn amounts of the webs in the respective suction casings (42) within a predetermined range.