Abstract: Disclosed is a menu distribution system that provides a menu, which is viewable in a conventional manner and is customized for each customer. A customer allows a read/write device to read a customer ID information storage medium storing customer ID information. The read/write device transmits the customer ID information to a menu server. The menu server has a customer information storage unit that stores, for each customer, attribute information such as food preferences. The menu server selects a menu item most suitable for the customer identified by the transmitted customer ID information, by comparing customer attribute information and menu items stored in a menu item information storage unit. Menu image data is generated based on the selected menu item and is transmitted to the read/write device. The read/write device writes the received menu image data to a memory of a paper like display.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, using distortion amount information showing how much a decoded image is degraded from an original image when data are eliminated from the data sequence is read from a code sequence in which the original image is compressed and encoded, an occurrence of an error in each unit of the code sequence is detected. A distortion amount of the decoded image against the original image is calculated when the code sequence is decoded after the data are eliminated from the code sequence by using the distortion amount information concerning the data in which the error is detected. Then, the decoding of the code sequence is cancelled based on a calculation result.

Abstract: A code stream generating part converts image data into two-dimensional wavelet coefficients, quantizes the same and coding the quantization result so as to compress the image data and generate a code stream. An additional information creating part creates additional information concerning the image data, and an additional information embedding part embeds the thus-created additional information into the code stream as a code in an off-rule zone which is not decoded by a JPEG 2000 standard rule.

Abstract: The invention provides a photothermographic material containing an image forming layer having at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder on at least one side of a support, an outermost layer on the same side of the support as the image forming layer, and a non-photosensitive intermediate layer between the outermost layer and the image forming layer, wherein 50% by weight or more of a binder of the non-photosensitive intermediate layer is formed by a hydrophobic polymer latex, the outermost layer has a mean thickness of from 0.1 ?m to 0.45 ?m, and the non-photosensitive intermediate layer has a variation coefficient of a thickness distribution of 50% or less based on a mean thickness of the non-photosensitive intermediate layer. A photothermographic material, which exhibits reduced image unevenness and excellent image storage stability, is provided.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus includes a code size setting unit setting one or more code sizes, a compressing unit compressing an image that is divided into plural image quality levels in accordance with the code sizes, and a code generating unit generating code being dividable into each code size.

Abstract: In consumable electrode type gas shielded arc welding, a time second order differential value of a welding voltage or an arc resistance is calculated. Based on the second order differential value, a detachment of a droplet or a timing just before the detachment is detected. After the droplet detachment or the timing just before the detachment is detected, a welding current value is immediately switched to a predetermined current value lower than that at the time of the detection. According to the control, even if welding conditions are changed or wire extension lengths are changed in the welding, the droplet detachment can be correctly detected.

Abstract: An image decoder comprises a code decompression/decoding unit that decodes code data produced through compression and encoding of image data, a power supply state detection unit that detects a current state of a power supply of the image decoder, and a controller that controls the code decompression/decoding unit based on the current state of the power supply so as to reduce power consumption in performing decompression and decoding of the code data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for generating data to be used for image processing, in which the image processing apparatus includes, a dividing unit dividing code data of a compressed image into a plurality of segments, a code size computing unit computing a code size corresponding to each of the plurality of segments, and a memory unit storing the corresponding relation between the code size and each of the plurality of segments.

Abstract: An optical article includes: an optical base; and a layer that is provided on the optical base and contains SiO2 as a main component, the layer being a silicon-nitride-containing silicon oxide layer containing SisOtNu (s>0, T?0, u>0).

Abstract: The present invention provides a photothermographic material having, on at least one side of a support, an image forming layer including at least a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, and a non-photosensitive outermost layer which is disposed on the same side of the support as the image forming layer, wherein the non-photosensitive outermost layer contains a copolymer having at least the following monomer (M1) and monomer (M2) as copolymerization components, and a maximum surface roughness (Rt) on the image forming layer side is 1.5 ?m or less; wherein monomer (M1) is a monomer having a salt or salt forming group, or a poly(alkylene oxide) group and having an unsaturated bond which performs radical polymerization; and monomer (M2) is a monomer containing a fluorine atom and having an unsaturated bond which performs radical polymerization. An image forming method is also provided.

Abstract: An adhesive tape interposed between a lens and at least one of a pair of chucks of an edging machine includes: a cutout extending from a periphery toward a center portion thereof.

Abstract: An image sending apparatus is provided, in which the image sending apparatus comprises an analyzing syntax of code sequence data, a generation unit generating another code sequence data from the code sequence data by using the analysis result, a unit to measure the load of the generation unit; a unit to generate a parameter corresponding to the load, wherein the generation unit generates the another code sequence data by using the parameter such that the data amount of the another code sequence data to be sent is adjusted according to the load.

Abstract: An emulsion composition having a small particle size of emulsified particles and excellent emulsion stability is provided. The emulsion composition includes a phospholipid, an oil-based component and a surfactant, wherein the content of the surfactant exceeds 0.5 times by weight the content of the oil-based component, and exceeds 5 times by weight the content of the phospholipid.

Abstract: An image decoder comprises a code decompression/decoding unit that decodes code data produced through compression and encoding of image data, a power supply state detection unit that detects a current state of a power supply of the image decoder, and a controller that controls the code decompression/decoding unit based on the current state of the power supply so as to reduce power consumption in performing decompression and decoding of the code data.

Abstract: An adhesive tape which is to be arranged between a lens and at least one of a plurality of chucks in an edge-machining apparatus comprises an adhesive face for being in contact with the lens. A measurement of an adhesive strength of the adhesive face is 4 gf (0.0392 N) or more when a polyethylene terephthalate plate which has been subjected to a surface treatment with a fluorine-modified silicone parting agent is used as a test plate in an adhesive strength test method based on a 180°-peeling method as defined in JIS Z 0237 “adhesive tape/adhesive sheet test method”. A technique which can be used to edge the lens in which an antifouling layer is formed by using a fluorine-containing silane compound having an excellent antifouling effect is also provided.

Abstract: An input apparatus for image includes recording means for previously incorporating and recording a format list in which there are described the procedures of an operation of inputting employing selectively a plurality of different input functions possessed by the input apparatus for image by an external apparatus such as a personal computer, processing means for analyzing the contents of the description of the incorporated format list, selecting an input function corresponding to a result of the analysis to transfer it to a corresponding input mode, and displaying and outputting the contents of the operation of inputting in the input mode, display means for displaying the selected input mode, and operation means for executing an operation of inputting of data based upon the input mode displayed on the display means.

Abstract: A carotenoid-containing emulsion composition comprises carotenoid, wherein the composition further comprises: at least one water-soluble emulsifier in an aqueous phase; and tocopherol and lecithin in an oil phase.

Abstract: An adhesive tape which is to be arranged between a lens and at least one of a plurality of chucks in an edge-machining apparatus comprises an adhesive face for being in contact with the lens. A measurement of an adhesive strength of the adhesive face is 4 gf (0.0392 N) or more when a polyethylene terephthalate plate which has been subjected to a surface treatment with a fluorine-modified silicone parting agent is used as a test plate in an adhesive strength test method based on a 180°-peeling method as defined in JIS Z 0237 “adhesive tape/adhesive sheet test method”. A technique which can be used to edge the lens in which an antifouling layer is formed by using a fluorine-containing silane compound having an excellent antifouling effect is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pulsed arc welding method using a pulse current of alternately repeating first and second pulses as a weld current, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have a pulse waveform of a different pulse peak current level and a different pulse width, respectively, and the following conditions are satisfied: peak current of the first pulse (Ip1)=300 to 700A; peak period (Tp1)=0.3 to 5.0 ms; base current Ib1=30 to 200A, base period (Tb1)=0.3 to 10 ms; peak current of the second pulse (Ip2)=200 to 600A; peak period (Tp2)=1.0 to 15 ms; base current (Ib2)=30 to 200A; and base period (Tb2)=3.0 to 20 ms. In this manner, the consumable electrode arc welding using carbon dioxide gas alone or a mixed gas made mainly of carbon dioxide gas as a shield gas can benefit from stabilized welding arc, improved regularity of droplet transfer, and significantly reduced generation rates of spatters and fumes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ehat-developabel photosensitive material comprising a support having provided thereon an image forming layer containing a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive organic silver salt, a reducing agent, and a binder, wherein a binder of an outermost layer at a side of the support at which the image forming layer is provided includes a latex polymer such as an ionomer type urethane polymer latex in an amount of 85 mass % or more, preferably 90 mass % or more, and more preferably 95 mass % or more. The heat-developable photosensitive material may also have a layer adjacent to the outermost layer which layer contains a binder that gels due to temperature reduction or contains a binder containing a water-soluble polymer derived from animal protein in an amount of 50 mass % or more.