Abstract: An electronic camera is disclosed, which comprises a CCD image pick-up device 3, a CCD driver 19 for setting the photoelectric charge accumulation time of the CCD image pick-up device, an image pick-up circuit 4 including gain control means, for processing a signal from the CCD image pick-up device to obtain an image signal, and CPU 17 for sequentially executing an AE, an AF and an AWB process according to an AE, an AF and an AWB evaluation values obtained by using the image signal. The gain of the image signal is updated by adding ⅓ of the change in a gain setting value obtained in the AE process executed by the CPU for each frame. The image brightness is thus varied smoothly to provide movie images not giving any sense of uncomfortability.

Abstract: A tool for grinding and polishing diamond and a method for polishing diamond in which a single crystal diamond, a diamond thin film, a sintered diamond compact and the like can be polished at low temperatures without causing cracks, fractures or degradation in quality therein. The tool and method provide a polishing operation which is easy to accomplish, provides stable polishing quality, and provides decreased costs while maintaining stable grinder performance. The grinder is formed of a main component which is an intermetallic compound consisting of one kind or more of elements selected from the group of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt and one kind or more of elements selected from the group of Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W. The diamond polishing method includes pushing the above stated grinder against the diamond, and rotating or moving the grinder relative to the diamond while keeping the portion of the diamond subjected to polishing at room temperature.

Abstract: A tool for grinding and polishing diamond and a method for polishing diamond in which a single crystal diamond, a diamond thin film, a sintered diamond compact and the like can be polished at low temperatures without causing cracks, fractures or degradation in quality therein. The tool and method provide a polishing operation which is easy to accomplish, provides stable polishing quality, and provides decreased costs while maintaining stable grinder performance. The grinder is formed of a main component which is an intermetallic compound consisting of one kind or more of elements selected from the group of Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt and one kind or more of elements selected from the group of Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W. The diamond polishing method includes pushing the above stated grinder against the diamond, and rotating or moving the grinder relative to the diamond while keeping the portion of the diamond subjected to polishing at room temperature.

Abstract: An automatic exposure (“AE”), control apparatus to prevent exposure errors resulting from “smear.” Image-capturing is performed at a single exposure time TI (I=1, 2, . . . n); a CCD output is applied with a CCD drive signal to perform an integrating operation for a signal in an AE area using an integration circuit, and then outputs integration value EI+SI at each exposure time. A shutter trigger operation presents readout of an exposure value. An integrator value En+Sn obtained just before the shutter trigger operation, and a smear value Sn′ obtained just after the shutter trigger operation are provided to an exposure operation/control circuit. The exposure operation/control circuit then performs an AE operation to receive En+Sn−Sn≈En and compares the value to a target value for determining exposure conditions, and provides an AE operation value containing almost no smear component to determine an appropriate exposure condition.

Abstract: An automatic exposure (“AE”), control apparatus to prevent exposure errors resulting from “smear.” Image-capturing is performed at a single exposure time TI (I=1, 2, . . . n); a CCD output is applied with a CCD drive signal to perform an integrating operation for a signal in an AE area using an integration circuit, and then outputs integration value EI+SI at each exposure time. A shutter trigger operation presents readout of an exposure value. An integrator value En+Sn obtained just before the shutter trigger operation, and a smear value Sn′ obtained just after the shutter trigger operation are provided to an exposure operation/control circuit. The exposure operation/control circuit then performs an AE operation to receive En+Sn−Sn≈En and compares the value to a target value for determining exposure conditions, and provides an AE operation value containing almost no smear component to determine an appropriate exposure condition.

Abstract: A mammalian model animal for psychiatric disorders having a chromosome of a somatic cell and a germ cell with deficiency of function of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide gene.

Abstract: As a means to elucidate involvement of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (hereinafter designated as PACAP) in the impairment and the degeneration of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system and the pathophysiology of diversified diseases, a knockout animal, in which the function of PACAP gene of the animal is defective in somatic cells and germ cells is prepared.

Abstract: An auto-focusing apparatus comprises an image sensing element for photo-electrically converting an image focused by an focal lens into an image signal, an image sensing circuit for processing an image signal, an A/D converter for converting the image signal output from the image pickup circuit into a digital image signal, and an AE processing circuit and an AF processing circuit respectively for performing an automatic exposure process and an auto-focusing process, on the basis of the digital image signal, and determines the brightness of the subject on the basis of AE and AF evaluation values respectively obtained by the AE processing circuit and the AF processing circuit, and performs the auto-focusing process according to a hill-climbing AF method for a bright subject and the auto-focusing process according to the full-scanning AF method for a non-bright subject.

Abstract: The methods of the present invention provide efficient mechanical milling or alloying of stock materials of titanium and aluminum in order to increase yield of the titanium stock and reduce cost in connection with the production of a titanium-aluminum-based alloy sinter. Sponge titanium, which has a particle size of 1 to 20 mm and which contains hydrogen at 3.5 mass % or more, is used as the titanium stock. The sponge titanium is ball-milled with an aluminum stock in an argon atmosphere to produce a hydrogen-containing titanium-aluminum-based alloy powder. Furthermore, this powder may be sintered, as required.

Abstract: In a turret type of machine tool having a turret head which can be rotated for indexing to selectively index an arbitrary one of tool mounting members provided in a plurality of circumferential portions into a machining position which coincides with a predetermined radial direction, the construction of the turret head is simplified to reduce the cost and increase the reliability. A first supporting body is provided which is connected to a moving mechanism which advances or recedes the turret head along an axis of machining coinciding with the axial line of the tool mounting member at the machining position. A second supporting body which is movable along the axis of machining is supported on the first supporting body, and the turret head is rotatably supported on the second supporting body so as to be rotated for indexing. A spindle head is fixed to the first supporting body such that a spindle to be supported on the spindle head coincides with the axis of machining.

Abstract: An enzymatic method for the preparation of a fructose-containing oligosaccharide, in which a .beta.-fructofuranosidase obtained by culturing Arthrobacter sp. K-1 (FERM BP-3192) as an enzyme is reacted on sucrose, raffinose or stachyose as the donor in the presence of an aldose or ketose as the receptor. The enzyme is characterized by:(1) activity on sucrose for the transglycosidation of a fructosyl group to the receptor in the presence of a monosaccharide, sugar alcohol, alkyl alcohol, glycoside or oligosaccharide;(2) activity for the decomposition of sucrose, elrose, neokestose, xylsucrose, raffinose and stachyose with inactivity on a saccharide selected from the group consisting of 1-kestose, nistose, inulobiose and levan biose;(3) optimum pH of 6.5 to 6.8 at 40.degree. C. with stability at a pH of 5.5 to 10;(4) optimum temperature of 55.degree. C. at a pH of 6.5 exhibiting at least 70% of residual activity at 60.degree. C.

Abstract: In a method for preparing multiple glucosyl branched-cyclodextrins, a debranching enzyme is contacted to a mixture of maltose or a substance containing maltooligosaccharide such as maltose with a cyclodextrin to obtain a reaction product from which a branched-cyclodextrin is then separated; said branched-cyclodextrin is converted to glycosyl-cyclodextrin under the action of glucoamylase, which is thereafter mixed with maltose or a substance containing maltooligosaccharide such as maltose; and the resulting mixture is successively acted on by a debranching enzyme and glucoamylase.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises an upstanding column, a tool-driving unit vertically movable on the column, and a pair of guide rails on a front surface of the column to extend vertically thereon and horizontally spaced apart from each other for guiding the upward and downward movement of the tool-driving unit. The tool-driving unit includes a lift frame on the guide rails and a tilting-type turret head which is supported on a front surface of the lift frame and is rotatable about an axis inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the frame in a horizontal plane. One of the pair of guide rails is relatively disposed forwardly of the other guide rail, so that the individual guide rails both assume positions close to the turret head thereby to minimize the amount of overhang of the tool-driving unit.

Abstract: In multi-spindle head-replacing type machine tool comprising a machining unit disposed on a base for advancing and retreating movements between an original position and a machining position, a first annular guide rail including a movable rail integral with the machining unit and a stationary rail to surround the machining unit which is located in the original position, a second annular guide rail disposed concentrically with and at a place axially offset from the first guide rail, a plurality of multi-spindle heads travellably carried on each of the first and second guide rails, first and second index mechanisms releasably connected respectively to the multi-spindle heads on the first and second guide rails for driving such multi-spindle heads for angular displacement, and an elevator mechanism disposed sideways from the first and second guide rails at a place offset from the movable rail for providing replacement of the multi-spindle heads between the first and second guide rails, a part of the stationary ra

Abstract: A boring apparatus and process comprising suspending a boring bar for boring a hole in a workpiece for universal pivotal movement in all directions. Then, the workpiece is brought below the boring bar with the axis of the hole being vertical. Thereafter, the boring bar is lowered and eccentrically passed through the hole in the workpiece and slidably and rotatably supported at least at two points thereof axially spaced apart. Then, the boring is effected by the rotation and axial relative movement of the boring bar with respect to the workpiece, with the axis of the boring bar aligned with the axis of the workpiece.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for pulverizing or granulating nuts or seeds which comprises mechanically grinding a mixture of nuts or seeds with a cyclodextrin. The invention also provides a stable particulate admixture of cyclodextrin containing nuts or seeds. The admixture is highly stable during storage and provides a versatile product for use in food processing.

Abstract: A drilling machine tool is disclosed having a machine tool body with a movable frame which is movable in the three axial directions X, Y and Z, of a rectangular coordinate system.

Abstract: Machining equipment for a production line using pallet type jigs, which includes a plurality of pallet type jigs, a conveyance line capable of conveying the jigs, a work bench provided on the conveyance line, a spindle head capable of being fed back and forth with respect to the work bench, and a control system for controlling the conveyance line, the work bench, and the spindle head. On the work bench are provided a horizontal rotary table which is capable of turning and indexing at a desired angle and has a constant turning position, and two rails which are rotatable coaxially and integrally with the horizontal rotary table and disposed side by side in the vertical direction to extend in the horizontal direction, in order to follow the alterations of the machining angle of a workpiece held by the pallet type jig and further to carry the pallet type jig in and out of the work bench conveniently.

Abstract: In a current type GTO inverter, commutation surge voltage is inevitably generated from an inductive load whenever each GTO is turned off. The commutation surge voltage thus generated is once stored in a capacitor (C.sub.1) through a diode surge voltage rectifier (5) and then restored to the DC source terminals (3A, 3B) of the GTO bridge-connected inverter (3) through a pair of other GTOs (G.sub.7, G.sub.8) turned on during steady state intervals of inverter commutation. Magnetic energy stored in a reactor (Lr.sub.1, Lr.sub.2) in motor-driving operation is recharged to the capacitor (C.sub.1) through the diode surge voltage rectifier (5) after the GTOs (G.sub.7, G.sub.8) have been turned off; the motor kinetic energy stored in the capacitor (C.sub.1) through diodes (D.sub.8, D.sub.9) in motor-braking operation is regenerated to the AC source side of the inverter (3) through a pair of other GTOs (G.sub.9, G.sub.10) when the voltage across the capacitor (C.sub.

Abstract: A plurality of boring cutters and honing stones are coaxially arranged on a machining head. A bar member is reciprocatingly inserted and splined within a rotary hollow spindle. Both the end opening surface of the spindle and the end of the bar member are taper-engaged with each other so that the bar member may be disengaged and moved forwardly with respect to the spindle. The machining head is coupled with the end surface of the bar member. When the spindle is taper-engaged with the bar member, a workpiece is bored. When the bar member is moved forwardly to release the taper engagement, the workpiece is honed by reciprocating the bar member and the machining head. Thus, the honing operation can be performed with a rigid structure, and both boring and honing operations can be effected by the same machining head.