Abstract: A cap made of metal includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The first surface includes an outer ceiling surface, an outer sidewall surface, and a flange outer peripheral end surface. The second surface includes an inner ceiling surface parallel to the outer ceiling surface and an inner sidewall surface parallel to the outer sidewall surface. The second surface is a side facing the base plate. The third surface connects the flange outer peripheral end surface to the inner sidewall surface. The third surface is bonded to the base plate with the eutectic alloy. The third surface includes a first curved surface having a first curvature from one end of the third surface to the flange outer peripheral end surface and a second curved surface having a second curvature from another end of the third surface to the inner sidewall surface.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a cap, a base plate, and a flat bonding metal film. The cap has a flat plane area having a first width from a first outer peripheral end to a first inner peripheral end. The base plate has a first plane in contact with the cap and a second plane as an opposite surface of the first plane. The base plate has an outer periphery in a shape identical to the rectangular frame shape in plan view. The flat bonding metal film is formed on the first plane. The bonding metal film is formed in a rectangular frame shape in a size overlapping with the plane area. The bonding metal film has a second width from a second outer peripheral end to a second inner peripheral end. The second outer peripheral end is positioned outside the first outer peripheral end.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a filtering unit which filters an input image with variable frequency characteristics, an edge detection unit which detects magnitudes of edges appearing in the input image, and a degree-of-white-background-likeliness detection unit which detects degrees of white-background likeliness in respect of local areas of the input image, wherein the filtering unit changes the variable frequency characteristics in response to the magnitudes of edges and to the degrees of white-background likeliness.

Abstract: A plurality of image production processing parts each of which generates drawing data for image drawing processing from image drawing instructions obtained through data compression. A dividing part which divides the given image drawing instructions into a plurality of sets of image drawing instructions without decompressing them in such a manner that each set of image drawing instructions can be processed by any of the plurality of image producing processing part without referring to any other set of image drawing instructions. A distributing part which distributes the plurality of sets of image drawing instructions to the plurality of image production processing parts.

Abstract: A method of applying a protective layer forming material, wherein when a roller is rolled against a curved portion of a vehicle to apply the protective layer forming material, the roller is rolled at a speed that is lower than a speed when the protective layer forming material is applied by rolling the roller over a generally flat portion of the vehicle. When the roller is rolled against a portion of the vehicle having recessed and projected grooves, in order to apply the protective layer forming material, an axis of the roller is positioned generally horizontal to an extending direction of the grooves and the roller moves in a direction generally perpendicular to the extending direction of the grooves, while the roller is rolled at a speed that is lower than a speed when the protective layer forming material is applied over the generally flat portion.

Abstract: A coating system using a protective layer forming material includes a coating device which is movable according to information taught by an operator, and disposed adjacent to a transport line for an object to be coated. The coating system includes a roller mechanism having a roller and a cushion mechanism. The roller is connected to the coating device. The coating system further includes a supply mechanism which supplies liquid material to the roller. The liquid material is dried to form a peelable protective layer on the object. A force is applied to the roller on an external surface of the object through the cushion mechanism. The roller is lifted and lowered corresponding to unevenness of the external surface.

Abstract: A novel image forming system which includes an image input apparatus, an image processing apparatus, and an image output apparatus. The image input apparatus has an input property profile, reads an image, and converts the image into image data using the input property profile. The image processing apparatus executes an image processing operation relative to the image data. The image output apparatus has an output property profile, outputs an image using the output property profile in accordance with the image data processed through the image processing operation. The above-mentioned image processing apparatus includes a property recognizer, a memory, and a property calculator. The property recognizer reads and recognizes the input property profile and the output property profile. The memory prestores a reference property profile.

Abstract: A coating system (10) for forming a protective layer includes a roller mechanism (34) provided at an end of an arm (46) of a robot (16a) as an end effector. The roller mechanism (34) has a roller (48), a holder (86) for supporting the roller (48), and a pipe (112). The holder (86) is removably attached to the roller (48). The pipe (112) supports the roller (48) in a freely rotating manner, and delivers the protective layer forming material to the roller (48).

Abstract: An image processing device includes a filtering unit which filters an input image with variable frequency characteristics, an edge detection unit which detects magnitudes of edges appearing in the input image, and a degree-of-white-background-likeliness detection unit which detects degrees of white-background likeliness in respect of local areas of the input image, wherein the filtering unit changes the variable frequency characteristics in response to the magnitudes of edges and to the degrees of white-background likeliness.

Abstract: An image processing device includes a filtering unit which filters an input image with variable frequency characteristics, an edge detection unit which detects magnitudes of edges appearing in the input image, and a degree-of-white-background-likeliness detection unit which detects degrees of white-background likeliness in respect of local areas of the input image, wherein the filtering unit changes the variable frequency characteristics in response to the magnitudes of edges and to the degrees of white-background likeliness.

Abstract: Robots 16a, 16b, 16c which are able to be motion trained and controlled by controller 18 are established in close proximity to transport line 12. A roller mechanism 34 with a roller 48 made from a material which absorbs and holds protective layer forming material is established at the tip end of each robot 16a, 16b, 16c. Protective layer forming material uses an acrylic type copolymer material which forms a peelable protective layer when dried. Controller 18 records the training data which trains robots 16a, 16b, 16c to rotate and move so that roller 48 contacts vehicle 14, and vehicle 14 which has finished with painting is introduced; robots 16a, 16b, 16c are made to move according to the training data, protective layer forming material is supplied to roller 48, and protective layer forming material is applied to vehicle 14. To automate the process of applying protective layer forming material, to improve production efficiency, to simplify operations, and to make application quality consistent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to convert input image data having a first multivalue to image data having a second multivalue which is less than the first multivalue by using a multi error diffusion technique. An image processing apparatus includes a threshold generating device for generating a plurality of variable thresholds at least based on a characteristic of a target pixel data, wherein a number of the variable thresholds is less than a number of the second multivalue by one. A quantization device is provided to quantize the input image data of the target pixel into the image data having the second multivalue based on the variable thresholds. The variable thresholds are varied in a manner such that predetermined quantized data quantized by the quantization device does not create noticeable banding substantially in a middle density range and does not create noticeable dropout substantially in a high density range.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a converter, a calculator and a reverse converter. The converter performs a frequency conversion operation on a color image signal which includes a brightness signal and color signals and divides values of each of the brightness signal and the color signals into high frequency coefficients and a low frequency coefficient. The calculator calculates the high frequency coefficients of the brightness signal and the color signals, generates a set of different high frequency coefficients, and produces a new brightness signal by adding the low frequency coefficient of the brightness signal to the set of different high frequency coefficients. The reverse converter performs a reverse frequency conversion operation on the new brightness signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus having individual image processing programs, the apparatus includes mechanisms of image processing, function enhancement, and enhancement control. The image processing mechanism having hardware resources performing individual image processing operations in collaboration with the individual image processing programs. The function enhancing mechanism adds a new individual image processing program and/or upgrade of an existing individual image processing program. The enhancement control mechanism determines whether the image processing mechanism includes a hardware resource corresponding to the new individual image processing program or the existing individual image processing program when the function enhancing mechanism performs such addition and/or upgrade.

Abstract: An image outputting apparatus includes a first information processing unit that performs a first information processing and a second information processing unit that performs a second information processing, where the second information processing unit is attachable to and detachable from the first information processing unit, and a detection unit that detects an operational status of the second information processing unit such that an image is output in predetermined resolution, based on the operational status of the second information processing unit, thereby an upgrading to a high speed processing system is attained with a higher overall throughput, a better performance-to-cost ratio and a lower initial cost.

Abstract: A plurality of image production processing parts each of which generates drawing data for image drawing processing from image drawing instructions obtained through data compression. A dividing part which divides the given image drawing instructions into a plurality of sets of image drawing instructions without decompressing them in such a manner that each set of image drawing instructions can be processed by any of the plurality of image producing processing part without referring to any other set of image drawing instructions. A distributing part which distributes the plurality of sets of image drawing instructions to the plurality of image production processing parts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to convert input image data having a first multivalue to image data having a second multivalue which is less than the first multivalue by using a multi error diffusion technique. An image processing apparatus includes a threshold generating device for generating a plurality of variable thresholds at least based on a characteristic of a target pixel data, wherein a number of the variable thresholds is less than a number of the second multivalue by one. A quantization device is provided to quantize the input image data of the target pixel into the image data having the second multivalue based on the variable thresholds. The variable thresholds are varied in a manner such that predetermined quantized data quantized by the quantization device does not create noticeable banding substantially in a middle density range and does not create noticeable dropout substantially in a high density range.

Abstract: An original image comprises a printed region on which a predetermined printed matter is realized and a background region on which no printed matter is realized. The shape of a peripheral zone in the original image comprises the shape of the background region, which shape exists particularly at the peripheral region of said original image. It is determined whether or not the original image comprises the special document by detecting the peripheral zone. Further, the original image has an outer-frame region, having a predetermined shape at the peripheral region of the original image. The determination is carried out using a result of measuring the width of the outer-frame region. Further, the width of the outer-frame region comprises a width along a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction extending along the outline of the original image.

Abstract: An image processing device of the present invention includes a photoelectric transducing section for transforming input image information to an electric signal. An analog-to-digital converter converts the electric signal to a digital signal. An image processing section for processing the digital signal has a shading correcting section, a filtering section, a magnification changing section, a gamma correcting section, and a tonality processing section. The filtering section is capable of selecting a particular filter intensity for each of two perpendicular directions in accordance with a desired magnification change ratio. The device is capable of varying an MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) characteristic in the subscanning direction in accordance with a magnification change ratio with simple hardware.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for improving the performance of reproducing an image edge and obtaining a preferable image output including an edge judging unit for judging the presence or absence of both left and right edge pixels of an input image. The apparatus further includes plural halftone processing units and a selection unit for selecting one of the plural halftone processing units based on a result of the judgment result of the presence or absence of either of the left or right edge pixel.