Abstract: A thin film polymer structure obtained by the steps of: (a) causing polyfunctional molecules to adsorb to an area of an arbitrary shape in an interface between a substrate body and a liquid phase; (b) polymerizing and/or crosslinking the adsorbing polyfunctional molecules to form a polymer thin film; and (c) exfoliating the formed thin film from the substrate body.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus that is capable of setting desired image processing conditions for each of images that have been shot, an image of interest for which number of prints is to be set is specified and it is determined whether image processing conditions have been set for the specified image of interest. If image processing conditions have not been set for the specified image of interest, a number of prints for the image of interest is allowed to be set. If setting of number of prints has been allowed, then the setting of number of prints is accepted and the set number of prints is stored in correlation with the image of interest.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus that is capable of setting desired image processing conditions for each of images that have been shot, an image of interest for which number of prints is to be set is specified and it is determined whether image processing conditions have been set for the specified image of interest. If image processing conditions have not been set for the specified image of interest, a number of prints for the image of interest is allowed to be set. If setting of number of prints has been allowed, then the setting of number of prints is accepted and the set number of prints is stored in correlation with the image of interest.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus that is capable of setting desired image processing conditions for each of images that have been shot, an image of interest for which number of prints is to be set is specified and it is determined whether image processing conditions have been set for the specified image of interest. If image processing conditions have not been set for the specified image of interest, a number of prints for the image of interest is allowed to be set. If setting of number of prints has been allowed, then the setting of number of prints is accepted and the set number of prints is stored in correlation with the image of interest.

Abstract: A compact is obtained from a mixed powder of a multi-component system ceramics composed of constitutive elements of at least two metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, V, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mo, Ta, Cr, and W, N, and optionally C; and Fe, Ni, Co, or an alloy composed of a constitutive element of at least one metal element of Fe, Ni, and Co. A composite material is prepared by sintering the compact.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: A die comprises metal-rich sections which form an inner wall and an outer wall of the die, respectively. Gradient sections are disposed adjacent to the metal-rich sections, respectively. Further, a ceramics-rich section is disposed between the gradient sections. A punch comprises an inner ceramics-rich section, a gradient section, and an outer metal-rich section. In the die, the composition ratio of metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich sections to the ceramics-rich section. Similarly, in the punch, the composition ratio of the metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich section to the ceramics-rich section.

Abstract: This invention includes accumulation units (102a, 102b) which accumulate signals obtained by sensing units (111a, 111b), an area determination unit (103, 100) which sets the size of an area of a sensing unit to be segmented into a plurality of areas on the basis of the information of a lens to be focus-detected, accumulation control units (104a-104c, 105) which control, for each of the areas, accumulation of signals obtained in a plurality of areas by the accumulation units, and a defocus detection unit (100) which detects defocus states in the respective areas from accumulated signals from a plurality of areas.

Abstract: A visitor monitoring system includes a reading device that reads personal data of a visitor from an identification medium, a terminal device that converts the personal data into digital data, and a remote database formed in a database server, which is connected to the terminal device via a communications line, and including precise digital personal data. The read and converted personal data is corrected and equalized with corresponding precise digital personal data before forming a new database in the remote database.

Abstract: A die comprises metal-rich sections which form an inner wall and an outer wall of the die, respectively. Gradient sections are disposed adjacent to the metal-rich sections, respectively. Further, a ceramics-rich section is disposed between the gradient sections. A punch comprises an inner ceramics-rich section, a gradient section, and an outer metal-rich section. In the die, the composition ratio of metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich sections to the ceramics-rich section. Similarly, in the punch, the composition ratio of the metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich section to the ceramics-rich section.

Abstract: A die comprises metal-rich sections which form an inner wall and an outer wall of the die, respectively. Gradient sections are disposed adjacent to the metal-rich sections, respectively. Further, a ceramics-rich section is disposed between the gradient sections. A punch comprises an inner ceramics-rich section, a gradient section, and an outer metal-rich section. In the die, the composition ratio of metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich sections to the ceramics-rich section. Similarly, in the punch, the composition ratio of the metal gradually decreases from the metal-rich section to the ceramics-rich section.

Abstract: A control system comprises multiple memories consuming different current amounts for operation, wherein multiple programs corresponding to different functions are stored in the memories, wherein, in accordance with a function to be processed by an operating circuit, one of the programs is read from one of the memories and is processed, and wherein, from a specific memory for which the current consumed during an operation is equal to or smaller than a predetermined amount, the operating circuit reads and executes one of the programs that performs a function for which an operating time period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

Abstract: An electric power supply control apparatus, which starts an interruption process upon detecting a voltage lower than a predetermined voltage, then detecting the electric power supply voltage again and, in case the predetermined voltage is recovered, does not execute a self resetting, thereby continuing a device control without executing a resetting operation in a situation where the electric power supply voltage is actually not lowered thereby not causing an erroneous operation of control means.

Abstract: A photometric device according to the present invention performs the steps of: performing photometry in a first area of an overall area where photometry can be performed; performing photometry in a plurality of second areas, each included in the first area; and when a difference greater than a predetermined value exists among the photometric results in the plurality of second areas, correcting the photometric result in the first area based on the photometric results in the plurality of second areas and determining a backlight state exist based on the corrected photometric result.

Abstract: A visitor monitoring system includes a reading device that reads personal data of a visitor from an identification medium, a terminal device that converts the personal data into digital data, and a remote database formed in a database server, which is connected to the terminal device via a communications line, and including precise digital personal data. The read and converted personal data is corrected and equalized with corresponding precise digital personal data before forming a new database in the remote database.

Abstract: A machining surface of a machining tool such as a drill is composed of a metal-rich section. A ceramics-rich section is formed centrally in the drill. Further, a gradient section is provided between the ceramics-rich section and the metal-rich section. In the gradient section, the composition ratio of metal is gradually increased from the ceramics-rich section to the metal-rich section. That is, the drill is composed of the gradient composite material in which the composition ratio of ceramics is increased and the composition ratio of metal is decreased inwardly from the machining surface.

Abstract: Photographed image data is segmented into a plurality of image areas, and whether a pink-eye effect occurs in each of the plurality of image areas is detected. The original photographed image data is stored together with image data of an image area in which the detected pink-eye effect is corrected and its correction information. If the result of pink-eye correction is unsatisfactory to the user, the image area of the original image can be designated to perform pink-eye correction again.

Abstract: A compact is obtained from a mixed powder of a multi-component system ceramics composed of constitutive elements of at least two metal elements selected from the group consisting of Ti, Al, V, Nb, Zr, Hf, Mo, Ta, Cr, and W, N, and optionally C; and Fe, Ni, Co, or an alloy composed of a constitutive element of at least one metal element of Fe, Ni, and Co. A composite material is prepared by sintering the compact.