Abstract: A medical skin examination device configured to diagnose a skin lesion includes: a first storage unit configured to store an original first skin image related to a dermoscopy structure imaged via a dermoscope; an image conversion unit configured to apply High Dynamic Range (HDR) conversion processing to the first skin image and obtain a second skin image in which the dermoscopy structure is made clear and salient; a second storage unit configured to store the second skin image; and a display control unit configured execute control so as to display at least one of the first skin image and the second skin image.

Abstract: A training supporting system has a training supporting apparatus and an exercise form analyzing apparatus, the both apparatuses being connected to each other through a communication network. The training supporting apparatus is worn on the arm of a user and measures acceleration rates of motion of the user's body where the apparatus is fitted on, at least in the three directions along X-, Y- and Z-axes, while the user is walking or running. Receiving the measured acceleration rates from the training supporting apparatus through the communication network, the exercise form analyzing apparatus analyzes an exercise form including balance between arm swing and foot landing, and sends back the analysis result of the exercise form to the training supporting apparatus through the communication network.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes: a power generation unit that generates power by taking in energy from outside; a battery that stores the generated power; a generated power monitor that intermittently and repeatedly measures the power generated by the power generation unit; an input amount analyzing section that performs an analysis on an energy input amount based on the measurement results of the generated power monitor; and a power generation urging notification controller that starts power generation urging notification if it is determined, based on the analysis result of the input amount analyzing section, that the energy input amount is low on average.

Abstract: A motion picture playing method for playing a motion picture image on a display unit includes a motion picture image-obtaining step for obtaining the motion picture image, a character string-obtaining step for obtaining a character string scrolled and displayed in a predetermined direction overlaid on the motion picture image obtained in the motion picture image-obtaining step, and a control step for controlling a display mode for scrolling and displaying the character string based on (i) a length of the character string in the predetermined direction obtained in the character string-obtaining step, and (ii) a playing time of the motion picture image obtained in the motion picture image-obtaining step.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic timepiece, comprising: a second hand and a minute hand; a stepping motor which performs a stepping drive of the hands; a rotating body which includes a target section, and rotates with the second hand; a detection section which detects an existence of the target section; a detection control section which makes the detection section operate by every rotation period, to make the detection section detect the existence of the target section at a first timing and at a second timing; a hand position counter which counts estimated positions of the hands based on the number of drive times of the stepping motor; a counted value holding section capable of temporarily holding a value of the hand position counter; a counted value saving section which makes the counted value holding section hold the value; and a counted value correcting section which corrects the value.

Abstract: A backwashing method incorporating a membrane filtration apparatus in which a ceramic filtration membrane including a substrate layer 11b having an extremely large number of filtration pores and a separating layer 11a having filtration pores smaller than those of the substrate layer is accommodated in a casing. Air controlled to a pressure p1 is supplied to the secondary side of the filtration membrane so as to drain the filtrated water in the membrane filtration apparatus gradually toward the primary side. After that, air pressure is increased to p3 so as to push the water in the filtration membrane toward the primary side together with the air, thereby peeling off any fouling substances. Unlike in conventional cases, a large amount of backwashing drain water is at no time drained at any one time, and thus, without reducing the effectiveness of backwashing, a backwashing drain pipe can be designed to have a small diameter.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic timepiece, comprising: hands which indicate time to display the time; a stepping motor which performs a stepping drive of the hands; a drive control section which supplies the stepping motor with drive pulses; a hand movement examining section which examines whether the hands are moving or not; and awaiting control section which temporarily interrupts a supply of the drive pulses by the drive control section to be in a waiting state, when the hand movement examining section judges that the hands are stopped, wherein the supply of the drive pulses by the drive control section and an examination of whether the hands are moving or not by the hand movement examining section are respectively restarted, after the waiting control section has released the waiting state.

Abstract: There is provided a motion picture playing method for playing a motion picture image on a display unit, and the motion picture playing method includes a motion picture image-obtaining step for obtaining the motion picture image, a character string-obtaining step for obtaining a character string scrolled and displayed in a predetermined direction overlaid on the motion picture image obtained in the motion picture image-obtaining step, and a control step for controlling a display mode for scrolling and displaying the character string based on a length of the character string in the predetermined direction obtained in the character string-obtaining step, and a playing time of the motion picture image obtained in the motion picture image-obtaining step.

Abstract: A hand position detecting device including: a first gear rotating with a minute hand; a second gear rotating with a second hand; a first detection target portion that is provided on the first gear and identifiable by light irradiation; a second detection target portion that is provided on the second gear and identifiable by light irradiation; and a detector, wherein the second detection target portion is formed to be divided into a plurality of parts over a predetermined angular range out of a center angle of 360° of the second gear, and a presence-or-absence pattern of the second detection target portion in an angular range of successive N (N represents one of 5 to 10) angular segments with any angular segment being set as a start point is made different when the angular segment of the start point is different.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece includes: a power generation unit that generates power by taking in energy from outside; a battery that stores the generated power; a generated power monitor that intermittently and repeatedly measures the power generated by the power generation unit; an input amount analyzing section that performs an analysis on an energy input amount based on the measurement results of the generated power monitor; and a power generation urging notification controller that starts power generation urging notification if it is determined, based on the analysis result of the input amount analyzing section, that the energy input amount is low on average.

Abstract: When detecting a rotational position of a seconds hand, it is determined whether data stored in a register in correspondence with a supply state of a drive current previously supplied to a coil of a stepping motor is “0”. When the data is “0”, the rotational position of the seconds hand is optically detected. When the data is “1”, the seconds hand is rotated one step, and then, the rotational position of the seconds hand is optically detected. Even though the seconds hand is shifted one second, the position detection is executed every two steps.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic timepiece, comprising: hands which indicate time to display the time; a stepping motor which performs a stepping drive of the hands; a drive control section which supplies the stepping motor with drive pulses; a hand movement examining section which examines whether the hands are moving or not; and awaiting control section which temporarily interrupts a supply of the drive pulses by the drive control section to be in a waiting state, when the hand movement examining section judges that the hands are stopped, wherein the supply of the drive pulses by the drive control section and an examination of whether the hands are moving or not by the hand movement examining section are respectively restarted, after the waiting control section has released the waiting state.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic timepiece, comprising: a second hand and a minute hand; a stepping motor which performs a stepping drive of the hands; a rotating body which includes a target section, and rotates with the second hand; a detection section which detects an existence of the target section; a detection control section which makes the detection section operate by every rotation period, to make the detection section detect the existence of the target section at a first timing and at a second timing; a hand position counter which counts estimated positions of the hands based on the number of drive times of the stepping motor; a counted value holding section capable of temporarily holding a value of the hand position counter; a counted value saving section which makes the counted value holding section hold the value; and a counted value correcting section which corrects the value.

Abstract: A detection unit detects light passing through apertures provided in a seconds wheel, a center wheel and an hour wheel, respectively, which rotate on the same axis. The apertures in the seconds wheel include a circular aperture provided at a reference position therein, and two apertures provided separated by corresponding arcuate apertures of different lengths from the aperture on its opposite sides, respectively. By counting the number of light non-detection events the detection unit encounters due to the light blocking area covering the detection unit, the rotational position of the seconds wheel is detected accurately and securely.

Abstract: A hand position detecting device including: a first gear rotating with a minute hand; a second gear rotating with a second hand; a first detection target portion that is provided on the first gear and identifiable by light irradiation; a second detection target portion that is provided on the second gear and identifiable by light irradiation; and a detector, wherein the second detection target portion is formed to be divided into a plurality of parts over a predetermined angular range out of a center angle of 360° of the second gear, and a presence-or-absence pattern of the second detection target portion in an angular range of successive N (N represents one of 5 to 10) angular segments with any angular segment being set as a start point is made different when the angular segment of the start point is different.

Abstract: It is determined whether light has passed through apertures in a seconds, a center and an intermediate wheels and a relevant one of apertures in an hour wheel, thereby determining their respective rotational positions. When the center wheel rotates one step at a time in a predetermined direction to such a position that the apertures in the center and intermediate wheels align and a detection unit detects light which has passed thorough the apertures, the center wheel is returned twelve steps or more in the reverse direction. The center wheel is again rotated one step at a time in the predetermined direction to the position where the detection unit detected light first. When the detection unit again detects light at that position, this position is determined as the reference position in the center wheel.

Abstract: At the time of loading a ship, ballast water is sent to a ceramic filter membrane having a mesh of 9 to 12 ?m by a filtration pump, and at the time of unloading, ballast seawater is sent to the membrane by the filtration pump to be filtrated under pressure. Thus, marine organisms larger in size than this mesh are removed. The permeated water containing marine organisms smaller in size than the mesh is sterilized with a chemical agent made of chlorine or ozone in a facility for sterilizing with chemical agent, and then discharged into the sea or poured into the ballast tank. With this, it is possible to purify a large amount of ballast water, in a short time, into a level at which the water quality standard according to the guideline can be cleared without requiring any large-sized facility or any high-concentration chemical agent.

Abstract: When detecting a rotational position of a seconds hand, it is determined whether data stored in a register in correspondence with a supply state of a drive current previously supplied to a coil of a stepping motor is “0”. When the data is “0”, the rotational position of the seconds hand is optically detected. When the data is “1”, the seconds hand is rotated one step, and then, the rotational position of the seconds hand is optically detected. Even though the seconds hand is shifted one second, the position detection is executed every two steps.

Abstract: A detection unit detects light passing through apertures provided in a seconds wheel, a center wheel and an hour wheel, respectively, which rotate on the same axis. The apertures in the seconds wheel include a circular aperture provided at a reference position therein, and two apertures provided separated by corresponding arcuate apertures of different lengths from the aperture on its opposite sides, respectively. By counting the number of light non-detection events the detection unit encounters due to the light blocking area covering the detection unit, the rotational position of the seconds wheel is detected accurately and securely.

Abstract: It is determined whether light has passed through apertures in a seconds, a center and an intermediate wheels and a relevant one of apertures in an hour wheel, thereby determining their respective rotational positions. When the center wheel rotates one step at a time in a predetermined direction to such a position that the apertures in the center and intermediate wheels align and a detection unit detects light which has passed thorough the apertures, the center wheel is returned twelve steps or more in the reverse direction. The center wheel is again rotated one step at a time in the predetermined direction to the position where the detection unit detected light first. When the detection unit again detects light at that position, this position is determined as the reference position in the center wheel.