Abstract: A position calculation method includes: by using a current position of a mobile object, a link candidate point position, an error variance of positions of a plurality of links included in a region around the current position, and an error variance of azimuths of the plurality of links, calculating, an evaluation value that corresponds to a probability that the mobile object is traveling upon a road corresponding to each link candidate point, for each link including the each link candidate point; and calculating the current position based upon the evaluation value, by taking the mobile object as being positioned at a link candidate point, among a plurality of link candidate points, for which the probability is highest.

Abstract: A position estimation device includes: a mathematical expression model processing unit that calculates a position of a mobile object, a condition quantity indicating a moving condition of the mobile object and an error in the condition quantity through filtering processing executed by using a probability model based upon an attitude information and a positioning information of the mobile object having been obtained from sensors and a specific mathematical expression model among a plurality of mathematical expression models expressing behavior of the mobile object; a threshold calculation unit that calculates a threshold candidate value for a threshold value to be used as a criterion when selecting the specific mathematical expression model, by using the error; a threshold value determining unit that determines the threshold value based upon the threshold candidate value; and a mathematical expression model selection unit that selects the specific mathematical expression model based upon the threshold value.

Abstract: A position calculation method includes: by using a current position of a mobile object, a link candidate point position, an error variance of positions of a plurality of links included in a region around the current position, and an error variance of azimuths of the plurality of links, calculating, an evaluation value that corresponds to a probability that the mobile object is traveling upon a road corresponding to each link candidate point, for each link including the each link candidate point; and calculating the current position based upon the evaluation value, by taking the mobile object as being positioned at a link candidate point, among a plurality of link candidate points, for which the probability is highest.

Abstract: A position estimation device includes: a mathematical expression model processing unit that calculates a position of a mobile object, a condition quantity indicating a moving condition of the mobile object and an error in the condition quantity through filtering processing executed by using a probability model based upon an attitude information and a positioning information of the mobile object having been obtained from sensors and a specific mathematical expression model among a plurality of mathematical expression models expressing behavior of the mobile object; a threshold calculation unit that calculates a threshold candidate value for a threshold value to be used as a criterion when selecting the specific mathematical expression model, by using the error; a threshold value determining unit that determines the threshold value based upon the threshold candidate value; and a mathematical expression model selection unit that selects the specific mathematical expression model based upon the threshold value.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted information processing apparatus such as a car-navigation system detects that a key switch of the vehicle has been set up at a Lock position (i.e., the engine is stopped). After that, the apparatus performs data reproduction of data files in an order from the oldest, then re-recording the reproduced data files with no change added thereto. Here, the above-described data files, which are stored within a magnetic disk device built in the apparatus, have been not updated for a constant time-period. This re-recording prevents a data loss caused by a thermal decay in the case where the magnetic disk device is mounted inside the vehicle that is likely to have existed under a high-temperature environment for a long time-period.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted information processing apparatus such as a car-navigation system detects that a key switch of the vehicle has been set up at a Lock position (i.e., the engine is stopped). After that, the apparatus performs data reproduction of data files in an order from the oldest, then re-recording the reproduced data files with no change added thereto. Here, the above-described data files, which are stored within a magnetic disk device built in the apparatus, have been not updated for a constant time-period. This re-recording prevents a data loss caused by a thermal decay in the case where the magnetic disk device is mounted inside the vehicle that is likely to have existed under a high-temperature environment for a long time-period.

Abstract: The following invention relates to an apparatus and a method for improving the rate of cell fusion. Cells contained in chambers are prevented from adhering to the surface of the walls of a chamber in which they are contained by the pulse-like changes in fluid pressure, which causes the cells to separate from the surface of the chamber.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to measure the light absorption coefficient of various sorts of substances contained in a light scattering material with a high precision, the wavelength of light transmitted through the light scattering material is varied and the coefficient of light absorption is calculated, starting from a ratio of variations in the intensity of the transmitted light to variations in the wavelength.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the treatment of particles or biological cells are disclosed, wherein the particles or cells are precipitated or ascended depending on the specific gravity of a liquid used, and the particles or cells are handled with the aid of a holding plate. A method and an apparatus for the fusion of particles or cells are also disclosed, wherein an electric voltage is loaded on a position between electrodes in a microchamber to fuse the particles or cells held in the microchamber.

Abstract: A cell handling apparatus is provided with a device for moving cells which are held in chambers of the apparatus, at predetermined periods, preferably a device for generating pulse-like changes in fluid pressure of the chambers, so as to prevent the same portions of the cells from remaining in contact with the wall surfaces of the chambers over a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cell manipulating apparatus for conveying cells to a plurality of chambers provided in a chamber plate. The apparatus comprises a taking-up device adapted to take up cells to the respective taking up portions of a carrier plate placed in positions corresponding to those of said chambers in the chamber plate and a moving device adapted to move, relatively with respect to the chamber plate, the taking-up device to a position above the chamber plate. The taking-up portions may be effectively composed of pressure-controlled cavities or SiO.sub.2 films provided in the carrier plate.

Abstract: A lithography apparatus in which a charged particle ray such as an electron beam or an ion beam is controlled to scan a desired region of a sample and thereby draw a pattern, including a framing pattern memory for storing therein closed framing lines of a pattern to be drawn in the form of dot images, a framing pattern generator for writing the framing lines of the pattern to be drawn into said framing pattern memory in the form of dot images, and a raster scanning circuit for scanning the framing pattern memory having stored therein closed framing lines of the pattern to be drawn and for generating a beam deflection address for drawing the pattern and a beam blanking control signal.