Abstract: A device has first and second units that lights an object at first or second incident angles; a unit that generates image signals according to the intensity of the received light; units that guides diffusely and specularly reflected light from the object to the image-input unit; units that generates glossiness information, and texture information for the object, and image data based on image signals generated; a unit that generates and outputs the image data from glossiness information, texture information, and image data.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus includes a spectral reflectance calculation unit that calculates spectral reflectances respectively in plural wavelength ranges, based on intensity of reflected light from an object to be imaged and irradiation intensity of light that the object to be imaged is irradiated with; a determination unit that obtains derivatives of a function represented on the basis of the spectral reflectances calculated by the spectral reflectance calculation unit, and determines a number of eigenvectors, depending on whether the derivatives are positive or negative; a coefficient calculation unit that calculates coefficients where the spectral reflectances are expressed by linear combination of the number of eigenvectors and the coefficients respectively related to the eigenvectors, the number of eigenvectors being determined by the determination unit; and an output unit that outputs the coefficients calculated by the coefficient calculation unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a first calculation section that calculates a plurality of spectral reflectances at a plurality of wavelengths based on intensities of light irradiating an object and reflected from the object, the light having a certain spectral energy distribution; a second calculation section that calculates color descriptor values of the object based on the spectral reflectances calculated by the first calculation section; a third calculation section that calculates a set of factors when the color descriptor values are expressed using a linear combination of a predetermined plurality of eigenvectors, factors associated with the respective eigenvectors, and either spectral energy of a reference light or theoretical spectral energy of a virtual light; and an output section that outputs the factors calculated by the third calculation section.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a spectral reflectance calculation unit that calculates a spectral reflectance on the basis of intensities of reflection light and irradiation intensities; a color value calculation unit that obtains color values based on the spectral reflectance; a coefficient calculation unit that calculates coefficients respectively for a plurality of predetermined eigenvectors where the color values are expressed by a linear combination between the plurality of predetermined eigenvectors, the coefficients, and spectral energies of at least two types of irradiation light; and an output unit that generates and outputs information corresponding to estimation values within a wavelength range defined by excluding at least one of a low and a high wavelength ranges from the wavelength range including the wavelengths of visible light, among estimation values of the spectral reflectances expressed by linear combination between the respective coefficients calculated by the coefficient calculatio

Abstract: A device includes a light source; a first guiding unit that guides the light from the light source to an object at prescribed incident angles including a first incident angle and a second incident angle; a signal generating unit that receives light and that generates an image signal based on the received light; a second guiding unit that guides the light reflected from the object to the signal generating unit; and a control unit that controls the first guiding unit to guide the light from the light source to the object at least two different incident angles including the first incident angle and the second incident angle, and controls the signal generating unit to generate image signals for the at least two different incident angles.

Abstract: An image reader includes an illumination unit that irradiates an object to be read with light, a first optical system that allows a first reflection light from the object to be read advance therein, a second optical system that allows a second reflection light from the object to be read to advance therein, a switching unit that switches between the first optical system and the second optical system to be used, an imaging unit that forms an image of the first reflection light that advances in the first optical system and an image of the second reflection light that advances in the second optical system by switching between the first optical system and the second optical system by the switching unit, and a light receiving unit that receives the first reflection light and the second reflection light which are formed into images and generates respective image signals.

Abstract: A device includes a light source; a first guiding unit that guides the light from the light source to an object at prescribed incident angles including a first incident angle and a second incident angle; a signal generating unit that receives light and that generates an image signal based on the received light; a second guiding unit that guides the light reflected from the object to the signal generating unit; and a control unit that controls the first guiding unit to guide the light from the light source to the object at least two different incident angles including the first incident angle and the second incident angle, and controls the signal generating unit to generate image signals for the at least two different incident angles.

Abstract: A one-dimensional image sensor has N number of photosensitive element arrays arranged parallel to the fast scanning direction, N being a positive integer greater than 1. The adjacent N number photosensitive element arrays are separated from one another by a distance equal to the width of D number arrays in the slow scanning direction. If the moving speed of the one-dimensional image sensor in the slow scanning direction is set to M times as high as an ordinary speed, the distance between the adjacent N number photosensitive element arrays expressed in terms of the width of the D number arrays satisfies the following equation: D=M·a/n where a?nN, n being a positive integer equal to or smaller than N.

Abstract: A device includes: a first lighting unit that illuminates an object at a first incident angle; a second lighting unit that illuminates an object at a second incident angle, the second incident angle being larger than the first incident angle; an image-input unit that receives light and generates image signals in accordance with the received light; and a guiding unit that guides light diffusely reflected from the object illuminated by either the first lighting unit or the second lighting unit to the image-input unit.

Abstract: The imaging apparatus includes a light application unit that applies light to an object to be imaged, a first converging unit that converges diffuse reflection rays from the object to be imaged, a second converging unit that converges specular reflection rays from the object to be imaged, an image pickup unit that receives the rays converged by the first converging unit and by the second converging unit, and generates image signals corresponding to each rays, an image data generating unit that generates image data by combining first image signals corresponding to the rays converged by the first converging unit with second image signals corresponding to the rays converged by the second converging unit, and an image data output unit that outputs the image data generated by the image data generating unit.

Abstract: A device has first and second units that lights an object at first or second incident angles; a unit that generates image signals according to the intensity of the received light; units that guides diffusely and specularly reflected light from the object to the image-input unit; units that generates glossiness information, and texture information for the object, and image data based on image signals generated; a unit that generates and outputs the image data from glossiness information, texture information, and image data.

Abstract: The image reading device of the present invention reads images by using a visible light and an invisible light that are generated by a single light source. The fluorescent lamp is provided with a pair of internal electrodes and a pair of external electrodes. It generates a visible light with a higher intensity than an infrared light when switching a feeder circuit on to generate a discharge between the external electrodes. On the other hand, it generates an infrared light with a higher intensity than a visible light when switching another feeder circuit on to generate a discharge between the internal electrodes. Therefore, the fluorescent lamp has a reading mode using the visible light, and a reading mode using the infrared light. And, a lamp controller selectively switches the emission mode of the fluorescent lamp.

Abstract: The linear image sensor according to the present invention includes a light receiving a member consisting of at least three light receiving pixel lines 11, 12 and 13; signal charge transfer sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 located on both sides of each of the light receiving pixel lines 11, 12 and 13 of the light receiving a member; and branch transfer sections 33c and 34c which branch from the signal charge transfer sections 33 and 34, which are located on both sides of at least one of the at least three light receiving pixel lines 11, 12 and 13, to extend to reach the signal charge transfer sections 32 and 35 of the adjacent light receiving pixel lines 11 and 13.

Abstract: A reading scan controlling unit drives a scanning motor in accordance with a signal from a reading instructing unit and a line synchronous generating unit for scanning a document plural times in a slow-scanning direction, as well as controls a sensor driver to read a document image. At this time, an optical flat plate driving unit is controlled in the second and following scans to incline an optical flat plate provided in an imaging optical path at a predetermined angle in a fast-scanning direction, so that the imaging position on a CCD sensor in a fast-scanning direction is slightly changed. Further, the scanning speed is determined in accordance with the scanning times. An image reading device having such a construction can perform high-speed reading with high precision by using an image shift method.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering solder from dross present on the surface of a molten solder includes a solder reservoir for holding a pool of molten solder, and a solder nozzle disposed in the solder reservoir and adapted to direct a solder wave against a printed circuit board to be soldered. The solder nozzle includes opposite side troughs inclined downwardly toward one side of the solder reservoir to direct dross toward a dross zone. A semicircular hood extends across the solder reservoir and is located above the dross zone. A screw extends across the solder reservoir and is covered by the hood. The screw is activated to agitate the dross so as to remove oxides and recover solder from the dross.

Abstract: A one-dimensional image sensor has N number of photosensitive element arrays arranged parallel to the slow scanning direction, N being a positive integer greater than 1. The adjacent N number photosensitive element arrays are separated from one another by a distance equal to the width of D number arrays in the slow scanning direction.

Abstract: A method is supported for aligning the height of a polymer waveguide to the height of a core layer of a semiconductor element in an optical module composed so as to mount the semiconductor element on its polymer waveguide substrate. In order to achieve the method, at first a waveguide is formed on the silicon substrate coated with an oxide film using a polymer whose refractive index is larger than that of the oxide film. The waveguide consists of a lower cladding layer, a core layer, and an upper cladding layer. The lower cladding layer is formed to be thinner than the conventional one and the height of the core layer is set to 5 to 10 &mgr;m. In this way, it is possible to fabricate an optical module in less process steps and at a lower cost than the conventional one.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering solder from dross present on the surface of a molten solder where it is exposed to atmospheric air. The apparatus includes a solder reservoir for holding a pool of molten solder, and a solder nozzle disposed in the solder reservoir and adapted to direct a solder wave against a printed circuit board to be soldered. The solder nozzle includes opposite side troughs inclined downwardly toward one side of the solder reservoir to direct dross toward a dross zone. A semicircular hood extends across the solder reservoir and located above the dross zone. A screw extends across the solder reservoir and covered by the hood. The screw is activated to agitate the dross so as to remove oxides and recover solder from the dross.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer-holder having a member for holding the semiconductor wafer with a basic member made of a ceramic nitride, a cooling equipment made of a metal, and an intervened layer between the semiconductor wafer-holding member and the cooling equipment, the intervened layer being composed of a metallic foil or a carbon sheet having a thickness of not more than 500 &mgr;m.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of photosensitive pixel lines adjacent to each other in the sub-scanning direction, each of the photosensitive pixel lines having a number of photosensitive pixels arranged in the main scanning direction, and horizontal transfer registers disposed outside of the photosensitive pixel lines. A storage part for saving therein signal charges on a pixel-by-pixel basis is interposed between the photosensitive pixel lines and the horizontal transfer registers. Transfer of signal charges between the photosensitive pixel lines, storage part, and horizontal transfer registers are controlled by operating shift gates so that at a time point when exposure of the inside photosensitive pixel line has been finished, signal charges of the outside photosensitive pixel line is saved into the storage part to thereby secure a transfer passage for signal charges of the inside photosensitive pixel line.