Abstract: A substrate polishing apparatus is provided for preventing excessive polishing and insufficient polishing, and enabling a quantitative setting of an additional polishing time. The substrate polishing apparatus comprises a mechanism for polishing a substrate to be polished; a film thickness measuring device for measuring the thickness of a thin film deposited on the substrate; an interface for entering a target thickness for the polished thin film; a storage area for preserving past polishing results; and a processing unit for calculating a polishing time and a polishing rate. The substrate polishing apparatus builds an additional polishing database for storing data acquired from the result of additional polishing in the storage area.

Abstract: An optical device has a light-transmitting optical substrate formed with a multilayer film and a barrier layer disposed on the multilayer film side thereof. The light-transmitting optical substrate has a refractive index Ns (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of 1.7≦Ns≦1.9, whereas the barrier layer has a refractive index Nb (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of −0.1≦Nb−Ns≦0.1.

Abstract: A method for producing interpolated signal values between sampled signal values in a sampled image signal produced by a checkerboard sampling pattern is accomplished by extracting a block of 2N-by-2N signal values that correspond to a block of sampling locations of the checkerboard sampling pattern, providing a set of frequency coefficients by a discrete cosine transform with the block of 2N-by-2N signal values, and providing at least a interpolated signal value that corresponds to the interpolation location by an inverse discrete cosine transform with the set of frequency coefficients. Here, a block of 2N-by-2N signal values is extracted so that sampled signal values exist in all the pixel locations of the block.

Abstract: An optical device comprises a light-transmitting optical substrate formed with a multilayer film and a barrier layer disposed on the multilayer film side thereof. The light-transmitting optical substrate has a refractive index Ns (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of 1.7≦Ns≦1.9, whereas the barrier layer has a refractive index Nb (at a reference wavelength of 632.8 nm) falling within the range of −0.1≦Nb−Ns≦0.1.

Abstract: A voltage controlled oscillation circuit with an oscillation frequency thereof controlled in accordance with an external voltage is disclosed. An odd number of inversion circuit elements such as inverters for inverting output signals thereof with respect to input signals thereto are connected in series with each other. An output side of the last-stage one of the odd number of the inversion circuit elements is connected to an input side of the first-stage one of the inversion circuit elements to thereby cause an oscillation. A plurality of oscillation frequency variable control units such as variable resistor circuit elements for changing an oscillation frequency in accordance with an external voltage are each inserted between each set of adjacent inversion circuit elements. A plurality of fixed resistor circuit elements each having a fixed resistance value are connected in parallel with a plurality of the oscillation frequency variable control units, respectively.

Abstract: In a digital information system for realizing the sale of information or the like having a commercial value in the form of a digital signal, and an audio processor, and signal processor suitably used with the system, when a digital signal is received/delivered, a digital signal source is connected directly to a player for receiving and storing a specified information, which is reproduced by the player independently. A voice interval of a digital audio signal is processed to realize the slow and fast playback. The system includes a data compressor and a data extender of simple configuration. The value of the digital signal received/delivered can be exhibited directly. A selling system is constructed easily, and the player is simple in configuration and easy to operate by anyone.

Abstract: In a digital information system for realizing the sale of information or the like having a commercial value in the form of a digital signal, and an audio processor, and signal processor suitably used with the system, when a digital signal is received/delivered, a digital signal source is connected directly to a player for receiving and storing a specified information, which is reproduced by the player independently. A voice interval of a digital audio signal is processed to realize the slow and fast playback. The system includes a data compressor and a data extender of simple configuration. The value of the digital signal received/delivered can be exhibited directly. A selling system is constructed easily, and the player is simple in configuration and easy to operate by anyone.

Abstract: A digital signal transmission system operates in a mode for transmitting multiplexed signals as a serial digital signal and in a mode for transmitting only a predetermined signal. A transmitter of the system includes a first control circuit which, in a particular signal transmission mode, places only a particular signal processing circuit block for transmitting a particular signal in an operative state and places in an inoperative state a multiplexer circuit block for multiplexing the predetermined signal with at least one other signal. In a multiplexed transmission mode, the first control circuit places in an operative state only the multiplexer circuit block and places in an inoperative state the particular signal processing circuit block.

Abstract: A signal interpolation apparatus in which first signals of the same type as a first signal selected and taken out at a given time point from several types of signals having a predetermined correlationship with an original signal are taken out from a signal source by a sampling device, and second signals of a first type different from the first signals are taken out from the signal source by a second sampling device. The output signals of the first and second sampling devices are converted into a predetermined form respectively, and a coefficient of the conversion signal of the second sampling device against that of the first sampling device is determined. An output signal of the second sampling device is interpolated on the basis of the coefficient.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for a television and a depth-of-field control apparatus used in the same. Image signals corresponding to a plurality of picture images different in focal point or length position are obtained by a mechanism for changing a focal point or length position to produce a new image signal by composing these image signals through a composition circuit, and motion information of an object is obtained by a circuit for detecting a moving portion in the object to control the image composition by the motion information. The focal point or length position is moved in synchronism with an integer multiple of a vertical scanning period of the television. The image signals corresponding to the plurality of picture images different in focal point or length position are obtained within one vertical scanning period determined by the system of the television. The amount of movement of the focal point or length position is controlled in conjunction with a value of a lens aperture of the camera lens.

Abstract: A signal for a first scanning line including a picture element whose signal does not exist and a signal for a second scanning line adjacent to the first scanning line in the same field are obtained in the same period. Then, a coefficient representing the ratio of the level of the signal for the first scanning line to the level of the signal for the second scanning line is calculated. Multiplying by the coefficient the level of the signal for the second scanning line to thereby provide an interpolation signal. The interpolation signal is added to the signal for the first canning line.

Abstract: An aggregation pattern detecting apparatus includes a microplate having a plurality of reactive vessels in which aggregation patterns are formed, a light source arranged above the microplate, and a light sensor arrangement positioned below the microplate. The microplate is removably fastened to a main body, and a movable frame is movably supported on the main body. The light source and light sensor arrangement are carried on the movable frame for movement therewith. A driving mechanism effects movement of the movable frame and is controlled by a main control section. A reference plate is provided separately from the microplate, and has a plurality of through holes therein which correspond to the reactive vessels of the microplate. The reference plate is removably fastenable to the main body at the normal operative position of the microplate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discriminating aggregation patterns includes detection of an image of the aggregation pattern and dividing the image into a plurality of image line data using a photoelectric element. The image line data defines an image waveform and includes a maximum image value. High and low image levels are defined based on the maximum image value. These high and low image levels are used to determine first and second areas of the aggregation pattern image, which first and second areas respectively include image values at least as large as the high and low image levels. An area difference between the first and second areas and a level difference between the high and low image levels are then calculated, along with a ratio of the area difference to the level difference. The calculated area difference and ratio are then compared with a predetermined reference value to discriminate whether or not the aggregation pattern is positive.

Abstract: An apparatus for discriminating a particle aggregation pattern includes a memory circuit for storing line data output from a CCD line sensor, which line data represents the aggregation pattern. A maximum value is obtained for each set of line data, and thereafter a further maximum value is obtained from the afore-mentioned previously obtained maximum values. A threshold value is determined on the basis of the further maximum value, and is then applied to the line data in order to extract therefrom information regarding the shape and area of the aggregation pattern. In another embodiment, the threshold value is determined on the basis of minimum values obtained from the line data.

Abstract: A CCD driving circuit for reading and outputting data from a plurality of CCD sensors, each CCD sensor being actuable to convert an image into data by first optically sensing the image during a first time period and thereafter converting the optically-sensed image into data during a second time period, including a driving arrangement for actuating the CCD sensors such that the first time periods associated therewith are staggered so that the second time periods associated therewith do not overlap each other. A multiplexing arrangement is provided for multiplexing and outputting the data read from each of the CCD sensors.

Abstract: An immunological agglutination detecting apparatus including an agglutination examination plate having one or more reaction vessels each provided with a bottom face of which at least a part is slanted. A light emitting source is arranged at one side of the agglutination examination plate. A light receiver is situated on the other side thereof. Respective images of the agglutination patterns formed on the bottom faces of the reaction vessels are focussed on the light receiver through individual lenses in order to detect, by an electrical device, the agglutination patterns which are formed by the shining light from the light emitting source. In the preferred embodiment, the light emitting source is one or more rows of primary point sources, each corresponding to a particular vessel in the plate, and one or more supplementary point sources adjacent the ends of the row or rows. The intensity of the primary and supplementary light sources can be separately adjusted.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a two-dimensional filter for interpolating the registration discrepancy due to the chromatic aberrations of the lens used; and a two-dimensional filter for correcting the fixing discrepancy of an image pickup element. The registration discrepancy may be corrected by guiding video signals from the image pickup element through the two-dimensional filters.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus, an interpolation signal for interpolating a discrepancy of registration is calculated from signals of (M.times.N) pieces of arranged elements (M, N being an integer, respectively) the positions of which on a light receiving plane are mutually adjoined with each other among arranged elements corresponding to signals in 2 fields which are continuously output from the respective image pickup elements, whereby the registration error can be corrected. An image pickup element has such a structure that signals having the same element number as an arranged element number corresponding to mutually continuous 2 field signals among the signals read during the normal interlace operation are entirely independently read every 1 field. By utilizing such an image pickup element having the element numbers two times higher than that of the conventional element, the registration error is interpolated from the signals of (M.times.

Abstract: A high resolution solid-state color imaging apparatus having two-dimensionally disposed photoelectric sensors are arranged in rows and columns each having a color spectral responsivity characteristic such as by employing color filters. Each of the photoelectric sensors is scanned so as to obtain an intensity signal with respect to each row of each field, and wherein scanning of each field is for the same number of rows as that of each frame. Intensity signals are obtained only by the scanned output of each row. Additional intensity signals equal to half the number of said first mentioned intensity signals are obtained by a 2:1 subsampling of bandwidth-restricted signals by a filter along the vertical temporal frequency, thereby realizing high vertical resolution by the photoelectric image sensors of conventional row numbers and having compatibility with a conventional NTSC system and, furthermore, eliminating aliasing distortion.