Abstract: The object recognition apparatus has an active range finder having a floodlight unit which floodlights a light onto a target object, and determines a distance up to a target object on the basis of a reflected light therefrom, a stereo camera to determine a distance up to the target object on the basis of image information from the target object, an object recognition unit which recognizes the target object on the basis of an output signal from the active range finder and an output signal from the stereo camera, and a fill light control unit which controls the floodlight unit to operate so as to irradiate a light floodlit by the floodlight unit as a fill light of the stereo camera.

Abstract: In this stereo optical module, a constituent member is arranged in at least one of a circuit arrangement space which exists substantially behind a front lens unit and above a primary deflecting mirror and a secondary deflecting mirror and a circuit arrangement space which exists substantially behind a front lens unit and below a primary deflecting mirror and a secondary deflecting mirror.

Abstract: This stereo camera system is constituted of a stereo optical module which acquires a stereo image, a central control unit which evaluates an object as a target based on the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module, and a communication line through which stereo image data output from the stereo optical module is input to the central control unit. Further, in this stereo camera system, an image output processing circuit which performs predetermined image processing with respect to the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module is provided in the stereo optical module, whereby this image output processing circuit performs a correction arithmetic operation which corrects unbalance at the time of capturing the stereo image.

Abstract: A method for forming an image contains steps of: transferring a toner having a volume average particle diameter of 5 ?m or less to a recording medium as a toner image having a monochromatic maximum toner mass per area of 0.35 mg/cm2 or less; and fixing the toner image at a surface temperature of a fixing roll which is 130° C. or less. The toner preferably has 0.02 log(Pa)/° C. or less of a gradient of a storage, elasticity per temperature in a temperature range of from Tm+20° C. to Tm+50° C. Here, Tm represents a melting temperature of a crystalline resin contained in the crystalline toner.

Abstract: A background lighting module illuminates an object from behind by visible light with respect to a photographing module to identify an area including the boundary between the object and the background portion in an image to be photographed by the photographing module. A controller controls a photographing operation including the exposure of the photographing module and the lighting intensity of the background lighting module. An image processing module processes the images photographed by the photographing module. The controller sets the exposure and lighting intensity to specific conditions so as to photograph a processing image where the background portion on the periphery of the object has a higher luminance than that of the silhouette portion of the object. The image processing module extracts the shape of the object by using the luminance difference between the silhouette area of the object and the background area on the periphery of the object.

Abstract: A calibration pattern unit which obtains correction information of an imaging system by imaging at the imaging system comprises a calibration pattern which has a known geometric pattern formed on a plurality of three-dimensionally arranged planes, and a relative position and posture fixing section which fixes relative position and posture between the calibration pattern and the imaging system.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional image acquisition apparatus acquires images to be used for 3-dimensionally reconstructing an object by picking up the object by a camera twice or more in an image acquisition set including picking up at least once the object carrying a pattern projected onto it by a projection light source. The apparatus comprises a light projection information memory configured to store information on projection of light including information on the time for projecting light for the purpose of projecting the pattern in the image acquisition set, an image acquisition progress information memory configured to store information on the progress of image acquisition in the image acquisition set, and a controller configured to control the projection of light by the projection light source and the picking up by the camera on the basis of the stored information on projection of light and the stored information on the progress.

Abstract: A background lighting module illuminates an object from behind by visible light with respect to a photographing module to identify an area including the boundary between the object and the background portion in an image to be photographed by the photographing module. A controller controls a photographing operation including the exposure of the photographing module and the lighting intensity of the background lighting module. An image processing module processes the images photographed by the photographing module. The controller sets the exposure and lighting intensity to specific conditions so as to photograph a processing image where the background portion on the periphery of the object has a higher luminance than that of the silhouette portion of the object. The image processing module extracts the shape of the object by using the luminance difference between the silhouette area of the object and the background area on the periphery of the object.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores a correction amount used to correct color unevenness of an image according to a plurality of halftone screening conditions; and a correction unit that corrects an input image according to the correction amount stored in the storage unit. The stored correction amount includes common information, which is common among the halftone screening conditions, and dependent information, which is dependent on the respective halftone screening conditions.

Abstract: An end face polishing apparatus with improved polishing precision regardless of the length of ferrules when end faces of the ferrules are polished is provided. In an end face polishing apparatus polishing a rod-shaped member mounted at a polishing fixture by pressing the rod-shaped member against a lapping member on a lapping machine provided on a surface plate that is supported at the main body of the apparatus to rotate and rock, there are a plurality of rod-shaped guide members provided at the polishing fixture radially outwardly projecting and a tubular member capable of supporting the polishing fixture through the guide members on the surface plate. In this way, the guide members at the polishing fixture and the tubular member abut against each other so that the movement of the polishing fixture in the pressing direction is restricted.

Abstract: A calibration pattern unit which obtains correction information of an imaging system by imaging at the imaging system is formed by combining a plurality of three-dimensionally arranged planes. The calibration pattern unit comprises supporting members each of which has a predetermined surface corresponding to one of the planes, and a calibration pattern in which a predetermined pattern is formed on the predetermined surface of the supporting member. The supporting member can selectively set the calibration pattern unit to a first form for photographing when the correction information is obtained, and a second form for other purposes.

Abstract: An end face polishing apparatus has a support member mounted on the main body for undergoing revolving and rotational movement during a polishing operation, a tubular member mounted on the support member for rotation and revolving movement therewith, a lapping member mounted on the support member for rotation and revolving movement therewith, and a polishing fixture for supporting at least one workpiece having an end face for pressure contact with the lapping member to polish the end face of the workpiece during rotation and revolving movement of the lapping member. The polishing fixture has radially outwardly projecting guide members for contacting the tubular member to limit the amount of polishing of the end face of the workpiece in a pressing direction during rotation and revolving movement of the lapping member.

Abstract: A safe movement support apparatus includes an environmental three-dimensional information acquisition unit 1 for acquiring environmental three-dimensional information corresponding to a state of an actual object within a virtual space surrounding a moving body or an assumed movement track relating the moving body with a prescribed finite expanse; a moving body state information acquisition unit 2 for acquiring moving body state information relating to the moving body; and a safe movement-enabled space calculation unit 3 for calculating a safe movement-enabled space which is a virtual space with a finite expanse in which the moving body is presumed to be movable safely, based on the environmental three dimensional information obtained from the environmental three-dimensional information acquisition unit and moving body state information obtained from the moving body state information acquisition unit.

Abstract: A synchronous induction motor features improved assemblability of a rotor, significantly reduced production cost, and improved operation performance of the motor. A plurality of die-cast secondary conductors is provided around a rotor yoke constituting the rotor of the synchronous induction motor. End rings are die-cast integrally with the secondary conductors on the peripheral portions of both end surfaces of the rotor yoke. Permanent magnets are inserted into slots formed such that they penetrate the rotor yoke. The openings of both ends of the slots are closed by a pair of end surface members formed of a non-magnetic constituent. One of the end surface members is secured to the rotor yoke by one of the end rings when the secondary conductors and the end rings are formed. The other end surface member is secured to the rotor yoke by a fixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stereo imaging unit or system that can have a suitable degree of parallax and a wide angle of view even when used with an image pickup device smaller than film.

Abstract: The physical training machine operation system of the present invention is adapted to inexpensively provide up-to-date exercise programs making use of results of medical science, exercise physiology and other sciences, specifically for individual users. A health promotion facility (10) is equipped with a plurality of training machines (12) connected to each other via a private network (11). Each training machine (12) is connected to an external network (22) via a private server (13). In a home (20), a training machine (21) connected to the external network (22) is installed, and a management server (31) connected to the external network (22) is installed in an operation business entity's facility (30).

Abstract: In this stereo optical module, a constituent member is arranged in at least one of a circuit arrangement space which exists substantially behind a front lens unit and above a primary deflecting mirror and a secondary deflecting mirror and a circuit arrangement space which exists substantially behind a front lens unit and below a primary deflecting mirror and a secondary deflecting mirror.

Abstract: This stereo camera system is constituted of a stereo optical module which acquires a stereo image, a central control unit which evaluates an object as a target based on the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module, and a communication line through which stereo image data output from the stereo optical module is input to the central control unit. Further, in this stereo camera system, an image output processing circuit which performs predetermined image processing with respect to the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module is provided in the stereo optical module, whereby this image output processing circuit performs a correction arithmetic operation which corrects unbalance at the time of capturing the stereo image.

Abstract: The object recognition apparatus has an active range finder having a floodlight unit which floodlights a light onto a target object, and determines a distance up to a target object on the basis of a reflected light therefrom, a stereo camera to determine a distance up to the target object on the basis of image information from the target object, an object recognition unit which recognizes the target object on the basis of an output signal from the active range finder and an output signal from the stereo camera, and a fill light control unit which controls the floodlight unit to operate so as to irradiate a light floodlit by the floodlight unit as a fill light of the stereo camera.

Abstract: Production of a hyaluronic acid gel, which comprises keeping hyaluronic acid in water at a hyaluronic acid concentration of at least 5 wt % in the presence of an acid component in an amount at least equimolar with the carboxyl groups in the hyaluronic acid.