Abstract: A portable card type data storage device with a large capacity and low power consumption is provided which enalbes two storage mediums with different features to be installed into a single slot of an information processing device. The card type data storage device 100 of the invention includes a case 10 having a connection slot 10a, a first connector 11 adapted to be inserted into and connected with a connection slot 201 of an information processing device such as a PC 200, a hard disk 13 housed in the case 10, a second connector 12 for connection with a semiconductor memory 18 inserted into the connection slot 10a, and a storage device control section 20.

Abstract: In an image processing unit for performing an arithmetic operation between a reference image and a search image, a product-sum operation section comprises systoric array, a normalization and accumulation processing section and a correlation value memory control section. The product-sum operation section is used on a common basis for an operation for the addition of a square of a pixel value of a search image over a plurality of pixels and an operation for the addition of a multiplication of pixel values of pixels associated with the search image and the reference image over a plurality of pixels. An operation for a norm of the reference image is performed on a path (a reference image norm computing section) which is different from that of the product-sum operation section.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which is capable of a high-speed process for obtaining a projection histogram. A digitizing unit subjects a video signal, obtained by acquiring an image of a target mark with a camera, to horizontal scanning and slicing to obtain a binary signal. A window signal output unit, coupled to the digitizing unit, outputs a window signal in accordance with a preset window area. An in-window signal output unit is connected to the outputs of the digital unit and the window signal output unit to perform a logical AND operation on the binary signal and the window signal and outputs an in-window binary signal. A histogram creating unit is coupled to the output of the in-window signal output unit to create a projection histogram by successively counting the high- and low-level states of the in-window binary signal generated as the horizontal scanning progresses.

Abstract: A system for and a method of recognizing and tracking a target mark with a video camera is disclosed. The system includes a target mark (10) disposed on an object (1) and composed of a black circle and a white triangle mounted centrally on the black circle and three-dimensionally shifted from the black circle, a video camera (20) for imaging the target mark (10), a robot (30) supporting the video camera (20) and movable in directions with six degrees of freedom, an image processor (40) for processing image data of the target mark which is produced by the video camera (20), a shift calculating unit (50) for detecting a shift of the target mark (10) from projected histogram information of the target mark (10) which is produced by the image processor (40), and a robot controller (60) for controlling movement of the robot depending on the shift to enable the video camera (20) to track the target mark (10). The system is capable of tracking the target mark (20) attached to the object (1) on a real-time basis.

Abstract: In a remote operation system using a manipulator-head, a trajectory of the manipulator head is automatically produced on the basis of an execution environment of a manipulator by using an automatic manipulator-head trajectory producing system. The automatic manipulator-head trajectory producing system includes a template storage memory, a shape register, an obstacle detecting section, a size decision section, a size register, a template limiting section, a priority order granting section, a first interference inspecting section, a curve interpolation section and a second interference inspecting section. The trajectory templates are registered in the template storage memory, then an interference of the manipulator with an obstacle is inspected by the obstacle detecting section based on each trajectory template. As a result of such an inspection, a priority is made for the templates inspected to have no interference with the obstacle.

Abstract: A system for and a method of recognizing and tracking a target mark with a video camera is disclosed. The system includes a target mark (10) disposed on an object (1) and composed of a black circle and a white triangle mounted centrally on the black circle and three-dimensionally shifted from the black circle, a video camera (20) for imaging the target mark (10), a robot (30) supporting the video camera (20) and movable in directions with six degrees of freedom, an image processor (40) for processing image data of the target mark which is produced by the video camera (20), a shift calculating unit (50) for detecting a shift of the target mark (10) from projected histogram information of the target mark (10) which is produced by the image processor (40), and a robot controller (60) for controlling movement of the robot depending on the shift to enable the video camera (20) to track the target mark (10). The system is capable of tracking the target mark ( 20) attached to the object (1) on a real-time basis.