Abstract: A heater element includes: a honeycomb structure including an outer peripheral wall and partition walls disposed on an inner side of the outer peripheral wall, the partition walls defining a plurality of cells, each of the cells extending from a first end face to a second end face to form a flow path; a pair of electrode layers provided on the outer peripheral wall and the partition walls on the first end face and the second end face; and terminals capable of electrically connecting the electrode layers to a conducting wire. At least a part of each of the electrode layers has an extending portion extending outwardly from an outer edge of each of the first end face and the second end face. Each of the terminals is connected to the extending portion and disposed to face a side surface of the honeycomb structure.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning agent comprising a lactone represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 is an alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms. The cleaning agent is useful for cleaning an organic electroluminescence material, photosensitive resin, liquid crystal or wax.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning agent comprising a lactone represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 is an alkylene group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms. The cleaning agent is useful for cleaning an organic electroluminescence material, photosensitive resin, liquid crystal or wax.

Abstract: A capsule retrieve sheet for retrieving a capsule endoscope excreted from a body by separation from excretions, includes a fold at which the capsule retrieve sheet is folded. By folding the capsule retrieve sheet at the fold, a recess including a hole for passing through the excretions and a wing for the capsule retrieve sheet to be placed on a toilet, are formed.

Abstract: A capsule retriever includes a retriever and a holder. The retriever retrieves a capsule endoscope while separating the capsule endoscope from excretions, such that fluid included in the excretions can pass through the retriever. The holder holds the capsule endoscope with the retriever. The retriever is attached to the holder, so that the capsule endoscope is surrounded by the retriever and is held in the holder with the retriever, by an operation using only the holder.

Abstract: A capsule container, for holding a used capsule, includes a body and a cover. The body has a holder to hold the capsule, and the cover is attached to the body. When the capsule is held by the holder, the cover is attached to the body, so that the capsule and the holder are sealed by the covers.

Abstract: An imaging element for an electronic endoscope is disclosed. The electronic endoscope has an elongated tubular main body. At the tip end portion of the main body, there are provided an optical imaging system comprising a convex lens, a concave lens and an optical low-pass filter, a CMOS type imaging element having a CMOS sensor, and a pair of light distribution lenses. The imaging element includes the CMOS sensor, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal outputted from the CMOS sensor, and a signal control circuit for timing control for extracting a signal from the CMOS sensor. In this imaging element, the signal processing circuit and the signal control circuit are arranged along the periphery of the light-receiving surface of the CMOS sensor so that a center of the base of the sensor on the light-receiving surface is substantially aligned with a center of an effective imaging region of the image sensor.

Abstract: A television device of a portable endoscope includes an endoscope including an inserted portion and an operating portion coupled to a base end of the inserted portion, a light source for lightening a subject through the inserted portion provided in the endoscope, a radio transmission television camera for obtaining an image of the subject through the inserted portion and radioing the image as the video signal provided in the endoscope, and a power source, which supplies a power for the light source and the radio transmission television camera, provided in the operating portion.

Abstract: An endoscope system with an endoscope, a TV monitor, and a peripheral device separate from the endoscope and the TV monitor is provided. The endoscope includes an objective optical system and an image pickup device that converts an image formed by the objective optical system into a video signal which can be indicated in the TV monitor. The endoscope also includes a signal generator that generates a control signal to be supplied to the peripheral device so as to control the peripheral device. Additionally, the endoscope includes a transmitter that transmits the video signal to the TV monitor while no control signal is generated by the signal generator. The transmitter also transmits, as a radio signal, both the video signal and the control signal to the TV monitor and the peripheral device upon the control signal being generated by the signal generator.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a tip portion with a tip end. This electronic endoscope comprises an imaging element provided in the tip portion; an imaging optical system provided in the tip portion at a position closer to the tip end than the imaging element; and a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting light, each of which is provided in the tip portion at a position closer to the tip end than the imaging element. Each of the light-emitting elements is arranged such that a part of the light-emitting element is seen so as to overlap with the imaging element when viewed from the optical axis direction of the imaging optical system. According to this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the tip portion of the electronic endoscope. Further, when such an electronic endoscope is used as a medical endoscope, it becomes possible to relieve the pain that patients may feel.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an article having oil adhered thereto, which enables the article to be cleaned easily in a short period of time and provides a high degree of cleanliness to the article.

Abstract: A television device of a portable endoscope includes an endoscope including an inserted portion and an operating portion coupled to a base end of the inserted portion, a light source for lightening a subject through the inserted portion provided in the endoscope, a radio transmission television camera for obtaining an image of the subject through the inserted portion and radioing the image as the video signal provided in the endoscope, and a power source, which supplies a power for the light source and the radio transmission television camera, provided in the operating portion.

Abstract: An imaging element for an electronic endoscope is disclosed. The electronic endoscope has an elongated tubular main body. At the tip end portion of the main body, there are provided an optical imaging system comprising a convex lens, a concave lens and an optical low-pass filter, a CMOS type imaging element having a CMOS sensor, and a pair of light distribution lenses. The imaging element includes the CMOS sensor, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal outputted from the CMOS sensor, and a signal control circuit for timing control for extracting a signal from the CMOS sensor. In this imaging element, the signal processing circuit and the signal control circuit are arranged along the periphery of the light-receiving surface of the CMOS sensor so that a center of the base of the sensor on the light-receiving surface is substantially aligned with a center of an effective imaging region of the image sensor.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope having an image pickup portion which converts an object image formed by an objective lens system to an electrical image signal, includes a solid-state image pickup device having an image sensor, a controller for controlling the horizontal and vertical scan direction of an image portion of the image sensor, and a scan control device which controls the scanning operation of the image sensor. The image sensor and either the scan control device or the controller are integrated on a common chip.

Abstract: In an endoscope system including an endoscope, a TV monitor, and a peripheral device separate from the endoscope and the TV monitor, the endoscope includes an objective optical system; an image pickup device for converting an image formed by the objective optical system into a video signal which can be indicated in said TV monitor; a signal generator for generating a control signal to be supplied to said peripheral device so as to control the peripheral device; and a transmitter for transmitting the video signal to the TV monitor while no control signal is generated by said signal generator, and for transmitting both the video signal and the control signal to the TV monitor and the peripheral device upon the control signal being generated by said signal generator, as a radio signal, by radio control.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a tip portion with a tip end. This electronic endoscope comprises an imaging element provided in the tip portion; an imaging optical system provided in the tip portion at a position closer to the tip end than the imaging element; and a plurality of light-emitting elements for emitting light, each of which is provided in the tip portion at a position closer to the tip end than the imaging element. Each of the light-emitting elements is arranged such that a part of the light-emitting element is seen so as to overlap with the imaging element when viewed from the optical axis direction of the imaging optical system. According to this arrangement, it is possible to reduce the diameter of the tip portion of the electronic endoscope. Further, when such an electronic endoscope is used as a medical endoscope, it becomes possible to relieve the pain that patients may feel.

Abstract: An endoscope system, having an exchangeable endoscope device, for outputting an image data and a video processing device. The endoscope device is provided with a memory for storing data related to an endoscope type. The video processing device reads the data related to the endoscope type, and transmits the data to a peripheral device. The video processing device has a display, and is capable of displaying an image on the display in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of magnification ratios. The selected magnification ratio is also transmitted to the peripheral device.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a dynamically operative apparatus having a dynamic characteristic by which a relationship between input to and output from said dynamically operative apparatus is defined includes an apparatus control subsystem and a model control subsystem for controlling an apparatus model which has an imitate dynamic characteristic modeled on the input and output relationship, performing adaptation of the imitate dynamic characteristic by optimizing control parameters of the model so that the model provides output in conformity with the input and output relationship, simulating operation of the apparatus by controlling the model after the adaptation, and regulating control parameters of the apparatus control subsystem according to a result of the simulation.

Abstract: A pattern inspection system for inspecting a pattern of a land for a through-hole formed in a printed board. In the system there are included a first illumination device for optically illuminating the printed board, a second illumination device for illuminating the printed board with light modulated at a predetermined period and an image pickup responsive to reflection light and transmission light from the printed board due to the first and second illumination devices to photoelectrically convert the printed board into a gray level image. The gray level image is converted into a bi-level image by a bi-level conversion device and then converted into an edge image by an edge detecting device. The edge image is expanded and contracted by predetermined amounts so as to obtain a through-hole image corresponding to the through-hole. A defect detecting device detects a defect of the pattern of the printed board on the basis of the through-hole image and the bi-level image from the bi-level conversion device.

Abstract: An electrode is arranged in an integrally formed, seamless, self-supporting tubular ion exchanger, and a liquid supply and discharge mechanism for circulating an electrolyte is arranged in the tubular ion exchanger to construct an electrode apparatus for the dialysis. When this apparatus is used for the dialysis of an electrodeposition coating solution, leakage of the coating solution into the electrode portion and leakage of the electrolyte into a tank are prevented.