Abstract: A compact micro-manipulator with low energy consumption accurately and quickly positions a micro-material in a visual field of a microscope. A micro-manipulator operable to grip micro-material by bringing leading ends of the gripping fingers in close proximity includes an XY drive unit that drives a handling unit in X and Y directions, a drive unit that changes a positional direction of the handling unit in order to swing the gripping fingers around leading ends of the gripping fingers, and a Z drive unit that drives the handling unit in the Z direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a 3-D image has a projector, and a projection controller. The projector has a projection optical system, and projects a series of 2-D images on different projected-positions in a depth direction, in order, by using light passing through the projection optical system. Each 2-D image is formed on the basis of section-views of a 3-D object in the depth-direction. The projector repeatedly and successively projects the series of 2-D images so as to cause an afterimage-effect. In the present invention, the projection controller adjusts a projection-timing of the series of 2-D images, and controls the projection optical system in accordance with the projection-timing so as to focus each 2-D image and maintain a magnification of the series of 2-D images constant.

Abstract: A micro-manipulator includes a gripping device having two gripping fingers for gripping a micro-material, and a gripping finger moving device for moving at least one of the gripping fingers of the gripping device. An exciting device vibrates the gripping fingers when the gripping fingers of the gripping device are opened to release the micro-material.

Abstract: A three-dimensional imaging device repeats a process for outputting three-dimensional image signals for displaying first through N-th elemental images that constitute a three-dimensional image. The device includes: an imaging optical system that forms an image of a subject; an illuminating section that repeats an action to irradiate illumination light in several directions in turn to illuminate first through N-th positions on the subject that are different in distance from the imaging optical system; a driving section that repeats an action to drive the imaging optical system so as to focus on one of the first through N-th positions to which the illumination light is irradiated in synchronism with the action of the illuminating section; a capturing section that repeats an action to capture the subject image to generate image signals in synchronism with the action of the illuminating section; and an output section to output the image signal.

Abstract: A compact micro-manipulator with low energy consumption accurately and quickly positions a micro-material in a visual field of a microscope. A micro-manipulator operable to grip micro-material by bringing leading ends of the gripping fingers in close proximity includes an XY drive unit that drives a handling unit in X and Y directions, a drive unit that changes a positional direction of the handling unit in order to swing the gripping fingers around leading ends of the gripping fingers, and a Z drive unit that drives the handling unit in the Z direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying a 3-D image has a projector, and a projection controller. The projector has a projection optical system, and projects a series of 2-D images on different projected-positions in a depth direction, in order, by using light passing through the projection optical system. Each 2-D image is formed on the basis of section-views of a 3-D object in the depth-direction. The projector repeatedly and successively projects the series of 2-D images so as to cause an afterimage-effect. In the present invention, the projection controller adjusts a projection-timing of the series of 2-D images, and controls the projection optical system in accordance with the projection-timing so as to focus each 2-D image and maintain a magnification of the series of 2-D images constant.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device includes a multi-beam light source unit that emits a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. The light beams are aligned in a main scanning direction. The device further includes first polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams in the main scanning direction, an f? optical system, a second polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams passed through the f? optical system in an auxiliary scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the second polygonal mirror deflects the plurality of light beams in the auxiliary direction by one line at each main scanning of the plurality of light beams, and a projecting optical system that projects the plurality of light beams deflected by the second polygonal mirror on a screen.

Abstract: A micro-manipulator includes a gripping device having two gripping fingers for gripping a micro-material, and a gripping finger moving device for moving at least one of the gripping fingers of the gripping device. An exciting device vibrates the gripping fingers when the gripping fingers of the gripping device are opened to release the micro-material.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device includes a multi-beam light source unit that emits a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths. The light beams are aligned in a main scanning direction. The device further includes first polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams in the main scanning direction, an f&thgr; optical system, a second polygonal mirror that deflects the plurality of light beams passed through the f&thgr; optical system in an auxiliary scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the second polygonal mirror deflects the plurality of light beams in the auxiliary direction by one line at each main scanning of the plurality of light beams, and a projecting optical system that projects the plurality of light beams deflected by the second polygonal mirror on a screen.

Abstract: The CPU of a test apparatus sends, to a subject test board, a test command containing an address in an address space where circuit blocks of the subject test board are mapped and a command code specifying an operation to be performed to the address. Test program executed by the CPU of the subject test board allow the CPU to extract the address and the command code included in the test command from the test apparatus and then to perform the operation specified by the command code to the address.

Abstract: Disclosed is a focusing system for a scanner. The focusing system utilizes an imaging lens and a line image sensor of the scanner. The focusing system is further provided with a lens drive system, a contrast data detecting system that detects a contrast data representing brightness gradient with respect to a pixel located in a predetermined area on said line image sensor. Further, a lens position detecting system is provided. The lens position detecting system detects, among all lens positions, a position at which a brightness gradient of a certain pixel is greatest. Then, a controller controls the lens drive system to locate the lens to the detected lens position.

Abstract: A thermal head for a printer includes a heating resistor temperature which is controlled by a temperature control apparatus. The temperature control apparatus senses the temperature of the heating resistor from a current flowing through the heating resistor and a temperature coefficient of the resistor. The temperature control apparatus includes a down-counter for decreasing an initial data corresponding to a current of the heating element when the heating element has a positive temperature coefficient. While, the temperature control apparatus includes an up-counter for increasing an initial data corresponding to a current of the heating element up to a full-count data when the heating element has a negative temperature coefficient.

Abstract: The CPU of a test apparatus sends, to a subject test board, a test command containing an address in an address space where circuit blocks of the subject test board are mapped and a command code specifying an operation to be performed to the address. Test program executed by the CPU of the subject test board allow the CPU to extract the address and the command code included in the test command from the test apparatus and then to perform the operation specified by the command code to the address.

Abstract: A ink transfer printer includes a thermal head having an array of heating elements, a film having through-holes facing the heating elements, an ink space formed between the thermal head and the film, and a mechanism which brings a recording medium in contact with the film. When the heating element generates heat, the ink is transmitted through the through-hole of the film and is transferred to the recording medium. An ink amount controller is provided in the ink space, which controls the amount of ink transmitted through the through-hole to the recording medium.

Abstract: An ink transfer printer has an electrically-insulated base plate. An array of electric heater elements, aligned with each other, is provided on a surface of the base plate, the heater elements being selectively and electrically energized in accordance with a series of digital image-pixel signals. A frame member, having an opening, is securely provided on the base plate such that the array of elements is encompassed by the opening of the frame member. A sheet of film covers the frame member such that the opening of the frame member is defined as an ink space fillable with ink, and the film sheet has a plurality of fine pores arranged along the array, with at least one of the plurality of fine pores being allocated to each of the heater elements. A heat dissipating conductor is formed of a thermal conductive material, and is associated with the film sheet such that thermal energy, locally generated by an electrical energization of at least one of the electric heater elements, is promptly dissipated.

Abstract: An image reading device is provided that includes a linear image sensor (such as a CCD), a contrast detecting system, and a focus condition judging system. The focus condition judging system is arranged to detect when the image reading device is in an in-focus condition based on output of the image sensor. Further, a driving mechanism is provided that moves an imaging lens or the image sensor, while the contrast detecting system monitors contrast data calculated from the output of the image sensor. An in-focus condition may be detected when the contrast data substantially reaches a maximum value. The maximum value may be a first maximum value detected during the movement controlled by the driving mechanism or may be a maximum value over a predetermined range of the controlled movement.

Abstract: A scanning-type image reading device is provided which includes an image sensor, a rotating-type scanning system, a focusing mechanism, and a controller. The controller may control the focusing mechanism for each rotational position of the rotating-type scanning system. In a particular case, the controller may control the focusing mechanism according to the rotational position of the rotating-type scanning system and according to an initial position of the focusing mechanism determined at a predetermined position of the rotating-type scanning system.

Abstract: A mode control system is provided for a printer having an internal battery. The mode control system selects at least a charge operation for charging the battery and a printing operation for printing an image on a recording sheet fed into the printer. The mode control system also includes a manually operable member. A duration of an operation of the manually operable member is detected, and one of the charge operation and the print operation is selected in accordance with the duration of the operation of the manually operable member.

Abstract: An image scanning device is provided that includes: an imaging lens; a linear image sensor; a rotating scanning system; and a shading correction system that corrects each pixel image signal for shading in accordance with image height and a magnification of the imaging lens. The magnification of the imaging lens changes according to the rotational position of the scanning system. The image scanning device may further include a color filter and a color correction system for correcting the pixel image signals for changes of wavelength transmittance of the color filter in accordance with image height and the magnification of the imaging lens.

Abstract: A cassette casing for holding an ink film ribbon has a discharge outlet for the ink film ribbon. A winding core is rotatably mounted in the cassette casing. An ink film ribbon is wound on the winding core and has one end thereof discharged through the discharge outlet. At least one slide contact member is disposed at the discharge outlet and contacts the ink film ribbon along the full width of the ink film ribbon.