Abstract: The image comparison portion calculates a plurality of pixel SSIM values of a first image and a second image and a representative SSIM value which is an overall SSIM value of both images. The image comparison portion identifies one or more count target SSIM values that belong to a specific range below a first threshold value among the plurality of pixel SSIM values when the representative SSIM value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value. The image comparison portion adds up a number of pixels for each level of the one or more count target SSIM values in both images with a weight according to each level of the one or more count target SSIM values to calculate a weighted sum. The image comparison portion determines that the two images do not match when the weighted sum exceeds a second threshold value.

Abstract: An image comparison apparatus includes an image comparison portion configured to compare a reference image with a target image. The image comparison portion calculates a degree of blur of each of the reference image and the target image. The image comparison apparatus reduces a difference in the degree of blur between the reference image and the target image to within a specific range by adding blur to one of the reference image and the target image that has a smaller degree of blur. The image comparison apparatus compares the reference image and the target image whose difference in the degree of blur has been reduced to within the specific range.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a stem in which a pressure introduction hole into which a pressure medium is introduced and a diaphragm deformable according to the pressure of the pressure medium are formed, and a strain detecting element which is arranged on the diaphragm via an insulating film and being configured to output a detection signal according to the deformation of the diaphragm. The strain detecting element is configured to have a portion made of polysilicon. A low doping layer having a higher electrical resistivity than polysilicon and a higher crystallinity than the insulating film is arranged between the insulating film and the strain detecting element.

Abstract: A photon detection device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a superconducting photon detector array in which a plurality of superconducting photon detectors (SPDs) are arranged; a plurality of first transmission lines connected to the plurality of SPDs and configured to transmit a detection current output from each of the plurality of SPDs; an address information generation circuit connected to the plurality of first transmission lines and configured to generate, based on the detection current, an address information signal that specifies a superconducting photon detector from which the detection current is output; a second transmission line magnetically coupled to all of the plurality of first transmission lines; and a time information generation circuit connected to the second transmission line and configured to generate, based on the detection current, a time information signal indicating a time at which a photon is incident on the plurality of superconductive photon detection SPDs.

Abstract: A heat management system disclosed herein is used for a vehicle. The heat management system may include an electric device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first channel, a second channel, a first pump, a second pump, a first channel valve, a second channel valve, a bypass channel, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, when one of the first pump and the second pump operates abnormally, control the first channel valve and the second channel valve such that the flow of the first heat medium from both of the first channel and the second channel to the first heat exchanger is allowed and activate the other of the first pump and the second pump.

Abstract: A solution search device includes a variable value calculation circuit provided for each variable in a conjunctive-normal-form logical expression of an instance of the Boolean Satisfiability problem (SAT) and calculates a value of the variable; and a notification path that notifies another variable value calculation circuit of the value, in which each of the variable value calculation circuit includes a positive-side variable value calculation circuit that calculates a value of a target variable making all clauses including a target variable having no negation among clauses of the logical expression be true, a negative-side variable value calculation circuit that calculates the value of the target variable making all clauses including a target variable having negation among clauses of the logical expression be true, and a current value calculation circuit that calculates the value of the target variable based on the value of the target variable calculated by the positive- side variable value calculation circu

Abstract: A photon detection device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a superconducting photon detector array in which a plurality of superconducting photon detectors (SPDs) are arranged; a plurality of first transmission lines connected to the plurality of SPDs and configured to transmit a detection current output from each of the plurality of SPDs; an address information generation circuit connected to the plurality of first transmission lines and configured to generate, based on the detection current, an address information signal that specifies a superconducting photon detector from which the detection current is output; a second transmission line magnetically coupled to all of the plurality of first transmission lines; and a time information generation circuit connected to the second transmission line and configured to generate, based on the detection current, a time information signal indicating a time at which a photon is incident on the plurality of superconductive photon detection SPDs.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a line head including multiple ink jet nozzles arrayed in a line direction; a storage device; and a controller circuit configured to determine an image width, the image width being a width of an image to be formed in the line direction, mandatorily eject ink from an ink jet nozzle group before forming the image, the ink jet nozzle group including multiple ink jet nozzles used to form the image having the image width out of the multiple ink jet nozzles, and store the image width in the storage device as a mandatory ejection width.

Abstract: A heat management system disclosed herein is used for a vehicle. The heat management system may include an electric device, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a first channel, a second channel, a first pump, a second pump, a first channel valve, a second channel valve, a bypass channel, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, when one of the first pump and the second pump operates abnormally, control the first channel valve and the second channel valve such that the flow of the first heat medium from both of the first channel and the second channel to the first heat exchanger is allowed and activate the other of the first pump and the second pump.

Abstract: An adhesive composition that exhibits excellent adhesive performance such as curved surface adhesiveness to low-polarity adherends and constant load peeling properties in high-temperature environments, and also an adhesive sheet and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a case section, a conveyance section, a controller, an acquiring section, and storage. The controller controls the image forming section and the conveyance section according to mechanical settings information corresponding to a type of the sheet. The acquiring section acquires an identification image for identifying the type of the sheet. The storage stores therein mechanical-settings-information candidates and registered images associated with the mechanical-settings-information candidates. The controller determines whether or not a matching image exists when a sheet is loaded in the case section. Here, the matching image is a registered image matching the identification image of the registered images. The controller adjusts mechanical settings information based on a mechanical-settings-information candidate associated with the matching image of the mechanical-settings-information candidates when determining that the matching image exists.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a case section, a conveyance section, a controller, an acquiring section, and storage. The controller controls the image forming section and the conveyance section according to mechanical settings information corresponding to a type of the sheet. The acquiring section acquires an identification image for identifying the type of the sheet. The storage stores therein mechanical-settings-information candidates and registered images associated with the mechanical-settings-information candidates. The controller determines whether or not a matching image exists when a sheet is loaded in the case section. Here, the matching image is a registered image matching the identification image of the registered images. The controller adjusts mechanical settings information based on a mechanical-settings-information candidate associated with the matching image of the mechanical-settings-information candidates when determining that the matching image exists.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a line head including multiple ink jet nozzles arrayed in a line direction; a storage device; and a controller circuit configured to determine an image width, the image width being a width of an image to be formed in the line direction, mandatorily eject ink from an ink jet nozzle group before forming the image, the ink jet nozzle group including multiple ink jet nozzles used to form the image having the image width out of the multiple ink jet nozzles, and store the image width in the storage device as a mandatory ejection width.

Abstract: A solution search device includes a variable value calculation circuit that is provided for each variable included in a conjunctive-normal-form logical expression of an instance of the Boolean Satisfiability problem (SAT) and calculates a value of the variable; and a notification path that notifies another variable value calculation circuit of the value of the variable calculated by the variable value calculation circuit, in which each of the variable value calculation circuits includes a positive-side variable value calculation circuit that calculates a value of a target variable in a case where a value of another variable calculated by another variable value calculation circuit is input to the logical expression, the target variable being the variable whose value is calculated by the variable value calculation circuit, the value calculated by the positive-side variable value calculation circuit making all clauses including a target variable having no negation among clauses of the logical expression be true,

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust system component having excellent properties to be located in an exhaust flow path from an internal combustion engine, particularly, an exhaust system component having an extended use-life. The exhaust system component of the present invention for an internal combustion engine has a self-healing ceramic material and an electric heater for heating the self-healing ceramic material. In particular, the exhaust system component of the present invention is an oxygen sensor having a detection element and an electric heater, wherein the detection element has a solid electrolyte layer, a reference-side electrode layer, an exhaust-side electrode layer, and a diffusion layer and/or a trap layer each composed of a self-healing ceramic material.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress a blockage caused by oil particles in an upstream side of a filter in an oil removal apparatus that collects oil particles in a filter disposed between an anode and a cathode. While an internal combustion engine is operative, application of a voltage to a bipolar electrode is controlled such that a voltage application period, in which the voltage is applied to the bipolar electrode, and a voltage application stoppage period, in which application of the voltage to the bipolar electrode is stopped, are repeated alternately at predetermined periodic intervals.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suppress conduction between an anode and a cathode caused by condensed water in an oil removal apparatus in which oil particles are trapped in a filter disposed between the anode and the cathode. A bipolar electrode having an anode and a cathode that extend in a flow direction of blow-by gas, and a filter formed from an insulator and disposed between the anode and the cathode of the bipolar electrode are housed in a case. Further, when the oil removal apparatus is installed in a vehicle, the bipolar electrode and the filter are disposed in the case so as to be arranged in a horizontal direction, and a space through which the blow-by gas flows is formed between a lower inner wall surface of the case, and the bipolar electrode and filter.

Abstract: An oil separator includes a case, electrode plates, filters, and a power supply unit. The electrode plates are arranged in the case with a space in between such that any two adjacent electrode plates face each other. The filters are made of an electrically insulating material and each arranged between any two adjacent electrode plates. The power supply unit is connected to the electrode plates and applies voltage between any two adjacent electrode plates, thereby creating a potential difference between the adjacent electrode plates. The filling factor of each filter is in a range from 0.005 to 0.03. The voltage applied between any two adjacent electrode plates by the power supply unit is in a range from 0.5 to 5 kV. The distance between any two adjacent electrode plates is in a range from 3 to 20 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid transport pipe. A first unit channel in which a channel cross-sectional area continuously decreases toward a downstream side and a second unit channel in which a channel cross-sectional area continuously increases toward the downstream side are alternately combined. A ratio A (=L/{[Smax]1/2-[Smin]1/2}) is set within a range in which a drag reduction rate RD becomes a positive value. The fluid transport pipe includes: a first opening formed in a channel wall of the first unit channel; a second opening formed in a channel wall of the second unit channel; and a bypass channel that allows by-passing of a flow from the first unit channel to the second unit channel through the openings.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus that reduces replacement frequency for waste toner container, and efficiently performs waste toner accommodation with a waste toner container. The image forming apparatus includes a toner detection sensor detecting a quantity of a toner in a toner container; a waste toner detection sensor detecting an accommodation quantity of a waste toner removed from a photosensitive medium and accommodated in a waste toner container; a waste toner container full-state forecasting part that, upon toner detection sensor detecting empty state of toner container, forecasts whether waste toner container is filled up with waste toner before toner container newly loaded is emptied, on detection result by waste toner detection sensor; and a system control part that, upon waste toner container full-state forecasting part forecasting waste toner container being filled up, notifies a replacement message urging replacement of waste toner container to a panel part.