Abstract: A server device for generating and outputting work management information of at least one carrier. The server device comprises a storage device for storing a program for generating work management information, and a controller for reading the program from the storage device and generating work management information by executing the program. The controller performs: a process of acquiring position information about at least one carrier; a process of generating, based on the position information, work type information indicating whether the carrier is performing a predetermined work or moving; a process of calculating a required time for each work type information item of the carrier; a process of comparing the required time for each work type information item and extracting a work element with low work efficiency based on a first rule concerning required time; and a process of outputting the extracted work element with low work efficiency.

Abstract: A server device for generating and outputting work management information of at least one carrier. The server device comprises a storage device for storing a program for generating work management information, and a controller for reading the program from the storage device and generating work management information by executing the program. The controller performs: a process of acquiring position information about at least one carrier; a process of generating, based on the position information, work type information indicating whether the carrier is performing a predetermined work or moving; a process of calculating a required time for each work type information item of the carrier; a process of comparing the required time for each work type information item and extracting a work element with low work efficiency based on a first rule concerning required time; and a process of outputting the extracted work element with low work efficiency.

Abstract: A farm field management apparatus: in generation of each task plan candidate, selects at least one task that includes harvest task, selects, a resource that is used to carry out each selected task, determines a task time within a predetermined period in which each selected task is carried out, includes the selected task, the selected resource, and the determined task time in each task plan candidate; obtains; information about a harvest impeding factor that is predicted for a harvest time of each task plan candidate; calculate an income from a harvest of each task plan candidate, based on a relevant piece of the harvest impeding factor information, and on the quantity and unit price of each crop; and calculates task cost of each task plan candidate based on a resource utilization period of the resource included in each task plan candidate, and on the utilization cost.

Abstract: A farm field management apparatus: in generation of each task plan candidate, selects at least one task that includes harvest task, selects, a resource that is used to carry out each selected task, determines a task time within a predetermined period in which each selected task is carried out, includes the selected task, the selected resource, and the determined task time in each task plan candidate; obtains; information about a harvest impeding factor that is predicted for a harvest time of each task plan candidate; calculate an income from a harvest of each task plan candidate, based on a relevant piece of the harvest impeding factor information, and on the quantity and unit price of each crop; and calculates task cost of each task plan candidate based on a resource utilization period of the resource included in each task plan candidate, and on the utilization cost.

Abstract: A motion picture recording apparatus that includes a similar-motion-area setup unit which sets up blocks having a similar motion vector as a similar motion area, the similar motion vector being included in motion vectors calculated by a block-based motion search unit. The recording apparatus also includes a representative-motion-vector calculation unit which calculates a representative motion vector by use of a motion vector provided by each block included in the similar motion area. The recording apparatus further includes a selection unit which selects either the representative motion vector or the motion vector provided by each block, which is to be used for each block in the similar motion area. The recording apparatus also includes an encoder which performs coding processing using the selected motion vector and a prediction picture, for each block in the similar motion area.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus and an image coding method are provided for reducing arithmetic processing while keeping a high compression ratio. A coding process necessary for the bi-prediction motion search can be effectively reduced by determining a block size for a bi-prediction motion search or a center position for a motion search on the basis of a result of a motion search of a unidirectional prediction. Further, a compression ratio can be also kept as high as possible, because the block size or the center position are obtained on the basis of the result of the motion search of the unidirectional prediction.

Abstract: When super-resolution processing is applied to an entire screen image at the same intensity, a blur contained in an input image is uniformly reduced over the entire screen image. Therefore, the screen image may be seen differently from when it is naturally seen. As one of methods for addressing the problem, there is such a method that: when a first image for a left eye and a second image for a right eye are inputted, each of parameters concerning image-quality correction is determined based on a magnitude of a positional deviation between associated pixels in the first image and second image respectively; and the parameters are used to perform image-quality correction processing for adjusting a sense of depth of an image.

Abstract: A biosensor measurement device for providing accurate measurement results within a short period of time by using only a very small amount of sample. The biosensor measurement device includes a power source, which is connected to a voltage regulator, a measurement instrument, and a controller for supplying power. When the biosensor chip is connected to the biosensor measurement device and a voltage is applied, the measurement instrument begins the measurement of a current value for the biosensor. When the measured current value or a measured charge value is greater than a reference value, the measurement is terminated in accordance with an instruction issued by the controller, and when the value is smaller than the reference value, the measurement is continued in accordance with a controller instruction.

Abstract: Transfer of fluid substances, and/or substances comprised in fluid substances, is controlled by introducing a separation medium, which prevents transfer of the fluid substances, and/or the substances comprised in the fluid substances, to an intermediate cavity connecting a first cavity and a second cavity; and introducing a connection medium to replace the separation medium and thereby start substance transfer to the second cavity. Substance transfer may be readily controlled without relying on mechanical means. Based on the present invention, two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis can be readily implemented on a chip.

Abstract: The methods for producing microchannel chips of the present invention comprise the steps of shielding substrate surfaces on which groove-like channels have been formed, using a mask that exposes the channels, and then forming polymer membranes on the exposed surfaces of the substrates; and the step of laminating cover materials onto the side of the substrate surfaces on which the channels have been formed.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a sample separation instrument used in a sample separation apparatus which includes: holding means for holding a first medium supporter which supports a first medium; and driving means for moving fixing means or the holding means in a direction parallel or perpendicular to a plane whose sides extend in the first direction and in the second directions. The sample separation instrument includes an insulator for storing a second medium which allows a sample separated in the first medium in the first direction to be further separated in the second direction different from the first direction, wherein: the insulator includes a first opening and a second opening each of which defines the second direction in which the second medium is electrified, and the second opening has a shape which allows the first medium containing the separated sample to be attached to the second medium along the first direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image coding apparatus and an image coding program that execute quantization control so that a generating bit is made close to a target bit. The image coding apparatus according to the present invention includes a generated bit measurement unit, a target bit setting unit, a residual bit computing unit for computing a residual value between the generated bit and the target bit, a remaining video buffer capacity measurement unit, and a quantization parameter computing unit for computing a quantization parameter to set the same to the quantization unit. The quantization parameter computing unit computes a quantization parameter for next image data to be encoded on the basis of at least one of the residual value computed and the remaining video buffer capacity measured.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing technique which more suitably reduces flicker noise. An image display device is comprised of an input unit which inputs encoded image data containing images encoded by intraframe prediction and interframe prediction, an image decoder which decodes the encoded image data, a filter unit which filters the decoded images output from the image decoder, and a display unit which displays the image after filtering. The filter unit performs at least a process to correct the pixel values in a decoded image decoded by interframe prediction immediately preceding in time a decoded image decoded by intraframe prediction of the decoded images output from the image decoder.

Abstract: In the motion search in the inter-frame prediction coding, parameters necessary for the motion search, such as sample-point spacing and sample-point number in the step search, are controlled using a unit for calculating the complexity of an image and a unit for estimating the movement amount of the image. This configuration makes it possible to provide the scheme for searching for the high-speed and high-accuracy motion vector, and the image coding device for performing this motion search.

Abstract: An object detection method which rapidly detects one or more objects existing in an image includes: a primary search step which judges whether an object exists at a predetermined interval by using a simple judgment device requiring a small number of calculation amounts; a range estimation step which estimates a range where an object actually exists from a spatial relationship obtained as a result of the primary search; a secondary search step which performs an object judgment process by using a secondary judgment device capable of performing more detailed judgment than the object judgment device used in the primary search; an object position estimation step which estimates a position where the similarity is maximum in a certain object existing range as an object existing position; and a final search step which judges a final object position.

Abstract: A sensor device has a needle-integrated type sensor element which is detachably mounted therein and which has a sensor chip, a lancet needle fixed to an end portion of the sensor chip, and a flow path forming element provided compressibly and restorably at the end portion of the sensor chip, to which the lancet needle is fixed. The sensor device includes a puncture mechanism (a drive spring) configured to cause the sensor element to puncture a target, and a pressing mechanism (a pressure spring) configured to urge the sensor element to the extent that the sensor element is prevented from being detached from the target by a restoring force of the flow path forming element after the target is punctured.

Abstract: The methods for producing microchannel chips of the present invention comprise the steps of shielding substrate surfaces on which groove-like channels have been formed, using a mask that exposes the channels, and then forming polymer membranes on the exposed surfaces of the substrates; and the step of laminating cover materials onto the side of the substrate surfaces on which the channels have been formed.

Abstract: A biosensor cartridge capable of performing puncturing in an exact position, and easily collecting and measuring a sample of a puncture hole without requiring the operation of bringing a sample collection opening close to the puncture hole is provided. When tip portion 11a of biosensor chip body 11 is pushed against a subject M, elastic body 20 protruding from a tip portion 11a of biosensor chip body 11 is compressed, and puncturing tool 12 for puncturing protrudes. Thus, the subject M can be punctured. Additionally, if a pushing force is weakened, puncturing tool 12 is extracted from the subject M by the restoring force of elastic body 20, and the sample R flows out of the puncture hole. Additionally, cover member 19 is provided around biosensor chip body 11. Thus, when puncturing is performed by thin plate-shaped biosensor cartridge 10, biosensor chip body 11 can be prevented from deforming, and puncturing can be accurately performed in a desired puncturing position.

Abstract: A biosensor cartridge capable of making the collected amount of a sample required for measurement into a small quantity to reduce a user's burden, and easily collecting and measuring a sample of a puncture hole without requiring the operation of bringing a sample collection opening close to the puncture hole is provided. When one end portion of biosensor chip is pushed against subject, elastic body is compressed, and puncturing tool can protrude and perform puncturing. Additionally, if a pushing force is weakened, puncturing tool is extracted from subject by the restoring force of elastic body, and blood (sample) flows out of the puncture hole. In this case, since the puncture hole, and sample collection opening provided at biosensor chip are contained in enclosed half-open space formed by elastic body, even a small amount of blood (sample) can also be easily collected.

Abstract: There is provided a biosensor chip where the collecting amount necessary for the measurement is made small whereby burden of a user is reduced and, at the same time, a sample at a puncture opening is able to be easily collected and measured without an operation of making the sample collection opening nearer the puncture opening. When an end of a main body chip is pushed onto a test body, an elastic body installed at an end of the main body chip is compressed and a device for puncture is produced whereby the test body is able to be punctured. When the pushing force is made weak, the device for puncture is pulled out from the test body due to resilience of the elastic body and a sample is flown out from the puncture opening.