Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a reading unit adapted to read an image and to generate image data representing the image; a separating unit adapted to separate the image data obtained by the reading unit into a plurality of objects corresponding to attributes; a selecting unit adapted to select a predetermined attribute of the image; a vectorization unit adapted to perform a vector conversion process for the image data separated by the separating unit in accordance with the predetermined attribute selected by the selecting unit; and an output unit adapted to output the image data processed by the vectorization unit.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (P/E) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by the displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intermediate laminated structure is provided including a plurality of unfired ceramic plates stacked along a laminating direction. Each of the plates has a plurality of holes formed therethrough by a punching operation. At least a first hole in one of the plurality of unfired ceramic plates has the same shape and cross-sectional area as respective first holes in the remaining plurality of unfired ceramic plates such that the first holes define a cylinder of constant cross-sectional area throughout the entire thickness of the intermediate laminated structure.

Abstract: An image processing system and method includes selecting a color desired by a user, extracting a partial image corresponding to the color desired by the user and selected from a bit-map image, converting the partial image into vector data, storing the vector data in a memory, and setting the converted vector data as vector data to be processed as desired by the user. The image processing system and method further includes calculating a palette color from the bit-map image, extracting a partial image corresponding to the palette color, converting the partial image into vector data per color object, storing the vector data in a memory, and setting, as vector data to be processed as desired by the user, vector data per object that is selected from the vector data stored in the memory based on the color selected from the calculated palette colors.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises a display that is used both in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a housing connected to the display. The housing includes a heating element therein and includes an exhaust port formed thereon. The electronic apparatus also has a fan arranged inside the housing. The fan is adapted to exhaust air heated by the heating element. The position of the exhaust port is located at an elevated end portion of the housing in any posture of both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a display that is used both in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a main unit coupled to the display, which includes a bottom wall. The apparatus also includes a first tilt leg fixed to the bottom wall, and a second tilt leg that is pivotally supported by the bottom wall between a use position protruded from the bottom wall and a storage position stored in the bottom wall. The position of the first tilt leg is eccentric to a rear side when the display is used in the horizontal direction, and the second tilt leg protruded makes the rear portion of the display in the vertical direction high.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a housing with a top surface, a keyboard placed on the top surface of the housing, a display unit with a front surface and a rear surface, supported by the housing and rotated between a closed position in which the keyboard is covered and an open position in which the keyboard is exposed, a sensor which senses an angle formed between the front surface of the display unit and the top surface of the housing, and a display device provided in the display unit to display a screen image in one of a first orientation in which a bottom-end portion of the screen image is located toward the housing and a second orientation in which a top-end portion of the screen image is located toward the housing in accordance with the angle sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: A matrix type piezoelectric/electrostrictive (PIE) actuator includes a plurality of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements, each including a piezoelectric/electrostrictive body and at least one pair of electrodes formed on a ceramic substrate. The matrix type P/E actuator is activated by displacement of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive bodies. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements are joined to the ceramic substrate as respective unified bodies, and are two-dimensionally arranged independently from each other. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive actuator provides a greater displacement with a lower voltage, a high responsive speed, and a greater generating force, as well as enhancing the mounting ability and the integration. A method for manufacturing such a matrix type P/E actuator is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a tire air pressure monitoring system in which ID registration is automatically made while specifying a tire position to reduce the manpower of the registration operation and further to prevent mistaken registration. In this system, when an ignition switch is changed from an OFF state to an ON state to satisfy a tire position detection condition, a command is issued to a smart control unit so that a transmitter transmits an ID transmission request to an air pressure sensor, and the air pressure sensor returns ID data as a reply to the ID transmission request. The ID data received is collated with a previously registered ID and, if the result of the collation shows that the ID data pertains to the air pressure sensor of his/her own vehicle, the received ID data is registered as an ID related to a specific tire position.

Abstract: By smoothing a full-color image, staircasing of characters even in a gradation image is removed. An area to be smoothed is detected from image data having a plurality of color components, and image data included in the detected area is smoothed in units of color components. Image data which places an importance on resolution is smoothed by increasing the resolution to reproduce smooth characters and figures. Image data which places an importance on gradation characteristic is output without increasing the resolution, thus attaining high-gradation recording. A character or figure is detected from bitmap image data input from external equipment, and is smoothed. In correspondence with the density of the smoothed image data, the pulse width is switched, thereby changing the resolution of image data.

Abstract: In a method for removing punched fragments in a workpiece formed using a punch and a die, the workpiece, which is tightly attached to a stripper, is lifted without extracting the punch from the perforations formed in the workpiece, subsequently pushing back the punch lifted from the die so as to make it protrude slightly from the bottommost end of the perforations, and performing an operation for removing punched fragments in that condition. The method for removing punched fragments can easily be performed even if only a very narrow space is available in a counterbore of a die, and can ensure that no punched fragments remain inside the perforations, and therefore can improve yield of a product being fabricated. A method for producing an article by punching inclusive of the method for removing the punched fragments is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A micro pump having at least one pump member for conveying a fluid by action of pressure includes a pump unit formed by at least one actuator member for generating a pressure fluctuation and a fluid channel in which the fluid flows. The actuator member is provided with a cell formed by disposing two side walls made of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements or antiferrodielectric elements on a connecting plate, and covering a surface facing the connecting plate between the side walls with a cover plate. The actuator member selectively forms the fluid channel and generates pressure fluctuation in the fluid channel member due to displacement of the cell caused by expansion/contraction of the side walls. The micro pump is small and thin in size, while attaining increasing fluid ejection amounts, and a high speed in response.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily producing a high-molecular weight polyimide resin at high yield by drying and heating a mixture mixed by material monomers of polyimide.

Abstract: An intermediate laminated structure is provided including a plurality of unfired ceramic plates stacked along a laminating direction. Each of the plates has a plurality of holes formed therethrough by a punching operation. At least a first hole in one of the plurality of unfired ceramic plates has the same shape and cross-sectional area as respective first holes in the remaining plurality of unfired ceramic plates such that the first holes define a cylinder of constant cross-sectional area throughout the entire thickness of the intermediate laminated structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micro pump member, in which a plurality of cells formed in a base part are used as pressurizing chambers, and side walls forming the pressurizing chambers are constructed by piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements. The micro pump member is formed by using a punch and die to form slits through green sheets that are laminated to one another.

Abstract: This is a method for manufacturing a multislit actuator in which cleaning to drying process is unnecessary, and even slits other than in a linear shape or slits having a width of 50 &mgr;m or less can be formed. A predetermined number of piezoelectric material green sheets 1 are prepared, a first piezoelectric material green sheet 1a is formed with slit apertures by a punch 8 and a die 9 disposed with a stripper 10 therearound. Then the piezoelectric material green sheet 1a is pulled up by the stripper 10 without removing the punch 8 from the piezoelectric material green sheet 1a. Then, a second piezoelectric material green sheet 1b is formed with slit apertures by the punch 8, the punched two piezoelectric material green sheets 1a and 1b are similarly pulled up by the stripper 10 without removing the punch 8 from the piezoelectric material green sheet 1b. After this the piezoelectric material green sheets are laminated at the same time when punched.

Abstract: A micro pump having at least one pump member for conveying a fluid by action of pressure includes a pump unit formed by at least one actuator member for generating a pressure fluctuation and a fluid channel in which the fluid flows. The actuator member provided with a cell formed by disposing two side walls made of piezoelectric/electrostrictive elements or antiferrodielectric elements on a connecting plate, and covering a surface facing the connecting plate between the side walls with a cover plate. The actuator member selectively forms the fluid channel and generates pressure fluctuation in the fluid channel member due to displacement of the cell caused by expansion/contraction of the side walls. The micro pump is small and thin in size, while attaining increasing fluid ejection amounts, and a thigh speed in response.

Abstract: This is a method for manufacturing a comb teeth type piezoelectric actuator in which interlayer separation is hard to occur and even in case of comb teeth with slit width of 70 &mgr;m and below, and also in case of comb teeth with slits of three-dimensional shape, it is easily manufactured.

Abstract: A fingerprint image judgment apparatus is capable of judging whether or not fingerprint image data has been correctly read when a CPU having a small utilizable memory space is used. A first count unit counts the number of ridges or valleys in one direction of an X-axis direction or a Y-axis direction based on the pixel values stored in the first memory 141. A second count unit counts the number of ridges or valleys in the other direction of the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction based on a judgment result h_flg [i] stored in a second memory 142 and the pixel values stored in the first memory 141. The judgment result h_flg [i] indicates whether or not the pixel values form ridges or valleys in the one direction. A correctibility judgment unit judges whether or not the fingerprint image data has been correctly read by the fingerprint sensor 15 based on the number of ridges or the valleys counted by the first and second count units.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing method which can provide appropriate image property information in accordance with the operation mode, and can realize a more preferable image process by arbitrarily switching the priority of image property information to be added. To this end, image data which contains first image property information for each predetermined unit is input from a scanner (1002), and is segmented by a tile bus (1048). Each segmented data is compressed by a tile compression section (1047). Compressed image data is stored in a-memory such as a RAM (1021) or the like. In this case, if the size of the compressed image data is equal to or larger than a predetermined size, image data excluding first image property information is stored.