Abstract: An input image processing apparatus includes a FIFO memory (FIFO-S) in which region selection information for specifying a selected region in an input image frame, in order to consecutively store in an image memory pixel data within a selected region in an arbitrary shape defined on the image frame. The FIFO memory provides a signal for indicating write of pixel data included in the selected region into the image memory, based on the region selection information.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing and aligning an amorphous film in a single step, a method of forming an aligned film on a substrate in a single step by combining the deposition and alignment of an alignment layer into a single-step using ion beam processing and an amorphous film having an aligned atomic structure prepared by a method in which an aligned film is deposited and aligned in a single step are provided. The film is deposited and aligned in a single step by bombarding a substrate with an ion beam at a designated incident angle to simultaneously (a) deposit the film onto the substrate and (b) arrange an atomic structure of the film in at least one predetermined aligned direction.

Abstract: An illuminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a dielectric barrier discharge type low pressure discharge lamp 1 composed of a tubular glass lamp vessel 10, in which mercury and rare gas are enclosed, a first and a second electrode 21,26, which are made of electrically conductive layer, are provided on an outer surface of both ends of the tubular glass lamp vessel 10 and a high frequency power source of a floating output type 81,82, which supplies a sine wave voltage between the first and the second electrodes of the dielectric barrier discharge type low pressure discharge lamp 1 having a neutral point of the sine wave voltage being grounded, and which supplies a frequency in a range from 40 kHz to 100 kHz.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of forming an aligned film on a substrate. The film is deposited and aligned in a single step by a method comprising the step of bombarding a substrate with an ion beam at a designated incident angle to simultaneously (a) deposit the film onto the substrate and (b) arrange an atomic structure of the film in at least one predetermined aligned direction.

Abstract: An image processing system comprises a plurality of memories to which image data is input, a control circuit for selecting areas for image processing from the image data input to the memories, and a plurality of DSPs connected to the memories and performing image processing of the selected image data selected by the control circuit.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes an alignment film having first alignment subdomains with a first alignment property and second alignment subdomains with a second alignment property different from the first one. In the alignment film, the first alignment subdomains and the second alignment subdomains are arranged in a matrix so that both of them are included in every line extending across the matrix.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for classifying the motion of an object such as a human being in a moving picture. A template is prepared in advance, which includes the Gabor wavelet expansion coefficients of an object image in a plurality of frames of a video image sequence representing each of a plurality of different reference motions of an object in a moving picture. Then, processing is performed to obtain the Gabor wavelet expansion coefficients of an object image in a plurality of frames of a video image sequence representing an unknown motion of the object. Matching factors are calculated based on the expansion coefficients for the unknown motion and the expansion coefficients for the reference motions in the template, and finally the unknown motion is classified based on the matching factors.

Abstract: Multi-domain liquid crystal cells having twist angles less than 90 degrees, and LCDs containing such liquid crystal cells, are provided. Such liquid crystal cells are stable, particularly at zero and high fields, and provide wide viewing angles. Also provided are methods of using an adjustable particle beam in combination with a mask to generate multi-domains alignments. Such methods are useful for producing liquid crystal cells in general, and for producing the novel multi-domain low twist angle liquid crystal cells of the present invention in particular.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an alignment layer for use in a liquid crystal cell layer for use in a liquid crystal cell using an ion beam source that includes the steps of: (1) providing a substrate having a surface; (2) providing an ion beam source that emanates an ion beam; (3) providing a mask layer disposed between the substrate surface and the ion beam source. The mask layer has at least two openings disposed between the ion beam source and the substrate surface. The shape and position of the openings reduce the irregularity of the beam exposure in a border region on the surface of the substrate resulting from the ion beam source. The present invention may be used in conjunction with substrate treatment using multiple sweeps with a single ion beam source, or with a substrate treatment using a single sweep with multiple ion beam sources. Also disclosed is an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for correcting image data detected by an image sensor with less used memory space and fewer arithmetic operation executions is provided for. A data correcting apparatus of the present invention comprises an operation memory for storing expansion coefficient array data and basis function array data, which includes data of expansion coefficients and function values of a basis function for orthogonally expanding a high order polynomial for correcting input image data; and an operation part for correcting the input image data using the expansion coefficient array data and the basis function array data. With the use of the apparatus, the processing time of the operation part can also be minimized.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an alignment layer for use in a liquid crystal cell layer for use in a liquid crystal cell using an ion beam source that includes the steps of: (1) providing a substrate having a surface; (2) providing an ion beam source that emanates an ion beam; (3) providing a mask layer disposed between the substrate surface and the ion beam source. The mask layer has at least two openings disposed between the ion beam source and the substrate surface. The shape and position of the openings reduce the irregularity of the beam exposure in a border region on the surface of the substrate resulting from the ion beam source. The present invention may be used in conjunction with substrate treatment using multiple sweeps with a single ion beam source, or with a substrate treatment using a single sweep with multiple ion beam sources. Also disclosed is an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming an alignment layer for use in a liquid crystal cell layer for use in a liquid crystal cell using an ion beam source that includes the steps of: (1) providing a substrate having a surface; (2) providing an ion beam source that emanates an ion beam; (3) providing a mask layer disposed between the substrate surface and the ion beam source. The mask layer has at least two openings disposed between the ion beam source and the substrate surface. The shape and position of the openings reduce the irregularity of the beam exposure in a border region on the surface of the substrate resulting from the ion beam source. The present invention may be used in conjunction with substrate treatment using multiple sweeps with a single ion beam source, or with a substrate treatment using a single sweep with multiple ion beam sources. Also disclosed is an apparatus for practicing the disclosed method.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display includes an alignment film having first alignment subdomains with a first alignment property and second alignment subdomains with a second alignment property different from the first one. In the alignment film, the first alignment subdomains and the second alignment subdomains are arranged in a matrix so that both of them are included in every line extending across the matrix.

Abstract: An input image processing apparatus includes a FIFO memory (FIFO-S) in which region selection information for specifying a selected region in an input image frame, in order to consecutively store in an image memory pixel data within a selected region in an arbitrary shape defined on the image frame. The FIFO memory provides a signal for indicating write of pixel data included in the selected region into the image memory, based on the region selection information.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing method employing pattern matching, whereby the number of calculations for a normalized correlation factor can be reduced and processing speed can be increased in a pattern matching process, and an image processing system therefor. In the pattern matching processing when an insensitive region is set in a template image, values (the sum and the squared sum) obtained during a previous operation for a prior search target sub-image are employed to perform calculations for a current search target sub-image, relative to coordinate sequence code that indicates the start point and the end point of a sequence of pixels having values of "1.

Abstract: A non-compressed template image is compared with compressed object images stored in a memory to find an object image corresponding to the template image. Each object image is DCT transformed and compressed according to JPEG algorithm such that the compressed image data includes DCT coefficients representing DC components which indicate average intensity or brightness of the respective block of the object image. The template image is processed to obtain average intensity for each of blocks corresponding in size to the blocks of the object image. Image recognition is performed by rough matching and fine matching. In the rough matching, the average intensity of the template image and the average intensity of the object image represented by the DC components are used to examine the degree of matching. When a maximum rough matching value is found, the object image is restored or decompressed and the fine matching is done with use of pixel intensity.

Abstract: A color filter thickness uniformity is evaluated quantitatively and accurately at high sensitivity by using a wavelength deviating by a predetermined wavelength from a central wavelength. The whole output of a screen is unified into one color tone by a monochromatic mask set between a white light source and a color filter to mask picture elements other than those with a specific color tone. The light emitted from the screen is filtered by a filter having a wavelength .lambda..sub.1 deviating by a predetermined wavelength .DELTA..lambda. from the central wavelength .lambda..sub.0 of the one color tone as the central wavelength, and the intensity of the filtered light is detected for each position on the screen to evaluate the intensity of the light detected for each position on the screen by a method such as image processing.

Abstract: A method of operating an adsorption refrigerator comprising two adsorption columns each housing therein a solid adsorbent and heat transfer tubes and sealed with a refrigerant, a condenser, an evaporator, paths for refrigerant connnecting the adsorption columns to the condenser and evaporator so that the refrigerant may be circulated through the columns, and a pipeline equipped with a valve connecting directly the adsorption columns, which method comprises changing over the adsorption columns periodically alternately between adsorption and desorption phases in manner that the one and the other adsorption columns are at opposite phases and that a heat transfer medium on a heat source side and a coolant are routed through alternately in response to desorption and adsorption phases, respectively.

Abstract: An adsorption thermal storage apparatus formed of an evacuated vessel comprising therein a refrigerant, and an adsorbent heating or cooling section and a refrigerant condensing or evaporating section located in communication with each other, the former section including an adsorbent and finned heat transfer tubes, the latter section including heat transfer tubes placed in dishes. An adsorption thermal storage system comprising the aforesaid apparatus; a heat source (e.g. a condenser of a compression refrigerator) for adsorbent heating; a cold source (e.g. an evaporator) for refrigerant condensation; an exothermic heat source (e.g. cooling tower); an endothermic heat source (e.g. air cooling coil); and a utilization equipment (e.g.

Abstract: An adsorption refrigeration system comprising adsorption columns housing a solid adsorbent and heat transfer tubes and sealed with a refrigerant, an evaporator, a condenser, and pipe lines connecting them together so that the refrigerant may be circulated, the pipe lines being equipped with valves, preferably, butterfly valves, capable of opening or closing by means of internal pressure difference between the evaporator side and condenser side and driving force of eccentric valve shafts. The system is operated by alternatively changing over adsorption and desorption stages between the one adsorption column(s) and the other column(s) so that both columns may be at mutually reverse stages; shortly before change-over, transferring whole amount of heat remained in the one column(s) immediately before shifting from desorption to adsorption stage to the other column(s) immediately before shifting from adsorption to desorption stage where the preheat the adsorbent and then reversing the stages.