Abstract: Within a prioritized mode selection dialog, either a measurement accuracy prioritized mode or a measurement speed prioritized mode is selected. If the measurement accuracy prioritized mode is selected, then processing for entering a tolerable amount of movement is executed. Then, a relative movement speed of a CCD camera to a measurement stage is calculated from the entered amount of movement. Finally, image information is captured at a lower speed than the calculated relative movement speed to execute image measurement. If the measurement speed prioritized mode is selected, then processing for entering a relative movement speed is executed, and image information is captured at the entered relative movement speed to execute image measurement.

Abstract: An image measuring system comprises a measurement point acquire, a measurement direction calculator, a synthesized direction calculator operative to calculate a synthesized direction resulted from synthesis of movement directions before and after the measurement point, a fore/aft-running point calculator operative to calculate a forerunning point at a position spaced a certain distance backward in the synthesized direction from the measurement point and to calculate an aft-running point at a position spaced a certain distance forward in the synthesized direction from the measurement point, a way point calculator operative to calculate a plurality of way points arranged on a path smoothly connecting the aft-running point to the forerunning point, and a measurement path setter operative to set a measurement path following the synthesized directions and passing through the calculated way points and the measurement points.

Abstract: There are provided a measuring method and a measuring system which enable creation of a measurement route with ease to thereby enable three-dimensional measurement to be quickly performed even if an object to be measured has a complicated shape or configuration. An object to be measured is shot. A plurality of images obtained by the shooting are combined together to generate a combined image of the object. A measuring region of the generated combined image is designated. A measurement path measuring program is created by inputting parameters for creating a measurement path. The designated measuring region is measured along the measurement path according to the created measurement path measuring program.

Abstract: An image measuring method comprises making no stop of an imaging means relative to a measurement stage at measurement positions (MP1-MP3), and capturing instantaneous images to acquire information required for measurement. A first direction to a measurement position (MP1) to be measured next and a second direction from the measurement position (MP1) to a next measurement position (MP2) form an angle therebetween. If this angle exceeds a certain angle, an overshoot path is formed at a location beyond the measurement position (MP1) in the first direction. The larger the angle formed between the first direction and the second direction, the lower the measurement speed at the measurement position (MP1) is made.

Abstract: An image measuring system comprises a measurement point acquire, a measurement direction calculator, a synthesized direction calculator operative to calculate a synthesized direction resulted from synthesis of movement directions before and after the measurement point, a fore/aft-running point calculator operative to calculate a forerunning point at a position spaced a certain distance backward in the synthesized direction from the measurement point and to calculate an aft-running point at a position spaced a certain distance forward in the synthesized direction from the measurement point, a way point calculator operative to calculate a plurality of way points arranged on a path smoothly connecting the aft-running point to the forerunning point, and a measurement path setter operative to set a measurement path following the synthesized directions and passing through the calculated way points and the measurement points.

Abstract: Within a prioritized mode selection dialog, either a measurement accuracy prioritized mode or a measurement speed prioritized mode is selected. If the measurement accuracy prioritized mode is selected, then processing for entering a tolerable amount of movement is executed. Then, a relative movement speed of a CCD camera to a measurement stage is calculated from the entered amount of movement. Finally, image information is captured at a lower speed than the calculated relative movement speed to execute image measurement. If the measurement speed prioritized mode is selected, then processing for entering a relative movement speed is executed, and image information is captured at the entered relative movement speed to execute image measurement.

Abstract: An image measuring method comprises making no stop of an imaging means relative to a measurement stage at measurement positions (MP1-MP3). and capturing instantaneous images to acquire information required for measurement. A first direction to a measurement position (MP1) to be measured next and a second direction from the measurement position (MP1) to a next measurement position (MP2) form an angle therebetween. If this angle exceeds a certain angle, an overshoot path is formed at a location beyond the measurement position (MP1) in the first direction. The larger the angle formed between the first direction and the second direction, the lower the measurement speed at the measurement position (MP1) is made.

Abstract: In this machine and method for measuring a plurality of workpieces, images of a plurality of workpieces placed on a stage are captured using a CCD camera. The images are processed by a computer system whereby the workpieces are measured. A computer system divides a measurement area on the stage into matrix such that each cell in the matrix is correlated to each workpiece. Then, the system sets a measurement program for each cell. Using the cells, the computer system determines a measurement order and whether or not to execute measurement. Measurement data for each cell is output to a CRT.

Abstract: There are provided a measuring method and a measuring system which enable creation of a measurement route with ease to thereby enable three-dimensional measurement to be quickly performed even if an object to be measured has a complicated shape or configuration. An object to be measured is shot. A plurality of images obtained by the shooting are combined together to generate a combined image of the object. A measuring region of the generated combined image is designated. A measurement path measuring program is created by inputting parameters for creating a measurement path. The designated measuring region is measured along the measurement path according to the created measurement path measuring program.

Abstract: An apparatus and program is provided for efficiently generating a part program for image measuring apparatus, conveniently usable for the operator without complicated operations. CAD data of a work is displayed and a target graphic is selected from the CAD data. A detection position mark is displayed on the selected graphic. The CAD data is displayed at a certain magnification that allows the position of the selected target graphic to be identified relative to the entire of the CAD data. In this state, a detection position mark is displayed in the vicinity of the target graphic, and the operator determines the location of the detection position mark.

Abstract: An apparatus and program is provided for efficiently generating a part program for image measuring apparatus, conveniently usable for the operator without complicated operations. CAD data of a work is displayed and a target graphic is selected from the CAD data. A detection position mark is displayed on the selected graphic. The CAD data is displayed at a certain magnification that allows the position of the selected target graphic to be identified relative to the entire of the CAD data. In this state, a detection position mark is displayed in the vicinity of the target graphic, and the operator determines the location of the detection position mark.

Abstract: An apparatus for visual measurement is provided, which can measure a plurality of portions on a work at a high speed. An image pick-up system (3), including an optical system (5, 6) and a CCD camera (4), picks up an image of a work (2) to obtain image data. The image pick-up system (3) is driven in the Z axial direction by a driving motor (7). A displacement of the image pick-up system (3) in the Z axial direction is measured by a scale counter (8). A computer (10) reads image data from the CCD camera (4) and a Z value from the scale counter (8) into respective memories (11, 9) with a constant time interval. A contrast arithmetic unit (12) computes a contrast value at each of a plurality of different regions of image data obtained at each z axial position by the image pick-up system (3). It determines a measure for the each region based on the position of the image pick-up system (3) in the z axial direction when the contrast value comes to the maximum in the each region.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a flash memory, having a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, comprises: a plurality of cell blocks CBL having the plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a data latch circuit 20, connected to said cell blocks, for storing data that is read from or written to a selected cell block. The flash memory further includes a control circuit 16 for, in response to an external copy command, erasing a copy destination cell block, reading data from a copy source cell block to store the data in said data latch circuit, and writing the stored data to said copy destination cell block. In the flash memory, when the system gives the address of the copy source cell block and the address of the copy destination cell block, checking and erasing of the copy destination cell block required for copying, reading of data from the copy source cell block and writing that data to the copy destination cell block are performed automatically inside the memory.

Abstract: A power assisted steering apparatus for a vehicle has a driving source and an actuator for the vehicle's steering mechanism, to power assist the steering operation. The driving source, such as an engine, continuously drives a pump. A working passage is arranged so that working oil discharged from the pump is introduced into the actuator. A check valve is disposed in the working passage, between the actuator and the pump so that the working oil flows only one way to the actuator. An accumulator is connected to the working passage, between the check valve and the actuator to maintain a predetermined pressure in the working passage. A regulator is connected to the working passage, between the pump and the check valve to regulate flow to the actuator. When the pressure within the working passage reaches the predetermined pressure, the working fluid is dumped to a reservoir, bypassing the check valve, the accumulator, and the actuator.

Abstract: A pressure control valve unit includes a valve housing formed with a valve bore. The valve housing is also formed with an inlet port, a drain port and a control port. A valve spool is disposed in the valve bore for selectively establishing fluid communication between the control port and the inlet port, and between the control port and the drain port. The drain port is connected to a first drain path which selectively establishes and blocks fluid communication between the drain port and a working fluid source and to a second drain path which normally connect the drain port to the working fluid source. A flow restricting orifice is provided in the second drain path for constantly permitting limited flow rate of the working fluid from the drain port and the working fluid source. The flow restricting orifice generates damping force for damping surge pressure.

Abstract: A power-assist device for an automotive steering system employs an easy-to-assemble hydraulic pressure control valve to compensate for differential forces on opposite sides of an actuating piston in an unbalanced hydraulic cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into first and second working chambers which are each connected to a hydraulic pump and a return reservoir via first and second spool valves, respectively. The spool valves are actuated axially by a torsion bar connected to the stub shaft of the steering column, so that they reciprocate axially within bores through the valve body as the steering wheel is turned back and forth. Lands on the spool valves oppose slightly larger lands the bores to define orifices which control the rates of hydraulic supply and drain to and from the working chambers of the cylinder.

Abstract: A steering control system for a vehicle is provided. This system includes a front power cylinder which provides steering assistance for front wheels and a rear power cylinder which provides steering assistance for rear wheels. The system further includes a single hydraulic pump which provides a pressurized hydraulic fluid to the front and rear power cylinders and a flow dividing valve which controls a supply rate of the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the front and rear power cylinders based on vehicle speed to steer the front and rear wheels with a preselected steering angle relationship.

Abstract: A power-assist device for an automotive steering system employs spool valves with different external diameters to control the fluid pressure in smaller and larger area chambers of a pressure control valve which controls pressure in an unbalanced cylinder device. The different size of spool valves are disposed within different sizes of bores formed through a housing of the pressure control valve for defining wider fluid path area for introducing larger amount of working fluid into the smaller area chamber in comparison with that for the larger area chamber and narrower fluid path for draining the working fluid in the smaller area chamber for lower drainage rate in comparison with that for the larger area chamber.

Abstract: In a connecting rod of reciprocating motion system in which a larger diameter end portion is divided into a body side bearing half and a bearing cap, and in which after a bearing metal is incorporated in a bearing hole defined by the bearing half and the bearing cap, the bearing half and bearing cap are integrally connected together by bolts, chamfers are made in the peripheral portions of the bearing half and the bearing cap facing their broken and divided surfaces. Such chamfers are made before the dividing of the larger diameter end portion and thus cause the breaking and dividing operation to be facilitated.

Abstract: In a connecting rod of reciprocating motion system in which a larger diameter end portion is divided into a body side bearing half and a bearing cap, and in which after a bearing metal is incorporated in a bearing hole defined by the bearing half and the bearing cap, the bearing half and bearing cap are integrally connected together by bolts, chamfers are made in the peripheral portions of the bearing half and the bearing cap facing their broken and divided surfaces. Such chamfers are made before the dividing of the larger diameter end portion and thus cause the breaking and dividing operation to be facilitated.