Abstract: In order to attain an image pickup technique in which a photographing time of a dark image which becomes the cause of a shutter release time lag or a waiting time for the photographing is reduced to the minimum, both of a dark noise component which depends on an accumulation time and a circuit system noise component which does not depend on the accumulation time can be corrected and a good image can be obtained, an image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit for obtaining image data by picking up a plurality of images of different charge accumulation time in a non-exposing state and obtaining image data by picking up images in an exposing state and a correcting unit for correcting the image data of the images picked up in the exposing state on the basis of the image data of the plurality of images picked up in the non-exposing state, wherein the charge accumulation time for the image data of the plurality of images picked up in the non-exposing state is shorter than that of the image data of the imag

Abstract: A process for producing a shaped material can be designed in parallel to product designing, thereby reducing a period between initiation of product designing and completion of design of the process for producing the shaped material. A shaped material production process designing device (1) comprises a CPU (21) which includes a design record retrieving section (41) for retrieving a past design record from a design record database (5). Of the past process for producing the shaped material, design data of a standard portion independent from a shape of the product is acquired by a standard portion design data acquiring section (43). A shape dependent portion designing section (45) designs the shaped material production process that depends on the shape of the product. The CPU further includes a process design data editing section (47) for editing the design data of the standard portion and a design result of the shape dependent portion.

Abstract: A display device of the present invention prevents the deterioration of display quality even when input video data are changed. In a matrix type display device, lines of video data are inputted to the data driver circuit one after another for every horizontal scanning period of the video data. The data driver circuit alternately repeats (i) a first step for generating a display signal corresponding to each one of the lines of the video data one after another for every fixed period and outputting the display signal to the pixel array N-times (N being a natural number equal to or greater than 2) and (ii) a second step for generating a display signal which makes the luminance of the pixels lower than the luminance of the pixel in the first step for the fixed period and outputting the display signal to the pixel array M-times (M being a natural number smaller than N).

Abstract: A display device of the present invention eliminates the possibility that a ratio between a display period for display signals and a display period for blanking signals differs from a preset ratio even when the video data are changed. A display device, for making images vivid at the time of visualizing animated images, sequentially supplies blanking data from a data driver circuit which sequentially supplies display signals after a lapse of a given time from starting of the supply of the display signals. The display device further includes a means which sets a ratio of display based on the blanking data per one frame period. Further, the display device includes a means which measures the number of pulses of a horizontal synchronizing signal in one frame period contained in the video data, and determines a point of time for starting display based on the blanking data in response to pulses of the horizontal synchronizing signal corresponding to the ratio based on a measured value of the number of pulses.

Abstract: A reflecting-type optical system according to the invention includes an optical element composed of a transparent body having an entrance surface, an exit surface and at least three curved reflecting surfaces of internal reflection. A light beam coming from an object and entering at the entrance surface is reflected from at least one of the reflecting surfaces to form a primary image within the optical element and is, then, made to exit from the exit surface through the remaining reflecting surfaces to form an object image on a predetermined plane. In the optical system, 70% or more of the length of a reference axis in the optical element lies in one plane.

Abstract: A display device of the present invention prevents the display flow of brightness lines on a screen. Lines of image data are inputted to a data driver circuit one after another for every horizontal scanning period of the image data. The data driver circuit alternately repeats (i) a first step for generating a display signal corresponding to each one of the lines of the image data one after another for a fixed period and outputting the display signal to a pixel array N-times (N being a natural number equal to or greater than 2) and (ii) a second step for generating a display signal which makes the luminance of the pixels lower than the luminance of the pixel in the first step for the fixed period and outputting the display signal to the pixel array M-times (M being a natural number smaller than N).

Abstract: An object of this invention is to realize both stable clamping operation of a CDS circuit and an operation of draining unnecessary charges from a CCD. To achieve this object, during the storage period of an image sensing element, (A) vertical CCDs perform high-speed transfer or all the vertical CCDs are fixed to a LOW voltage, (B) a horizontal CCD is stopped, (C) the reset pulse of a floating diffusion amplifier is not stopped, and (D) a clamping pulse supplied to the CDS circuit is kept output. During this operation, the reference level of the floating diffusion amplifier is clamped. Stable clamping operation can, therefore, be executed during the storage period.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to enable performing accurate DC recovery operation for an output signal from an image sensing element, and obtaining a high-quality image free from any image degradation such as a horizontal streak. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes first and second clamping circuits on the output side of an image sensing element. The image sensing element outputs a signal from an effective pixel region, a first reference signal for DC recovery of an image signal that is set for each row, and a second reference signal that is uniformly set for the pixel region. The first clamping circuit DC-recovers a signal from the effective pixel region for each row on the basis of the first reference signal. The second clamping circuit uniformly DC-recovers signals from the effective pixel region for the pixel region on the basis of the second reference signal.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus of this embodiment, a variable angle prism for preventing a camera shake is used to attain a pixel shift. Consequently, low resolution images free from a blur and high-resolution images obtained by the pixel shift can be selectively obtained with an extremely simple arrangement. Whether a resolution increasing function is to be executed is properly determined in accordance with photographing conditions. Therefore, the resolution increasing function has no adverse effect on other functions. In addition, a power-saving effect can be enhanced since an unnecessary resolution increasing function is not performed. Since the resolution can be further increased by using a conventional camera shake preventing device, a larger amount of a high-frequency component can be detected. Consequently, focus detection can be performed accurately.

Abstract: A safe brushing is realized without sticking the gum if the bristle tips are once inserted in a pocket of a tooth by using a system having a brush of which the bristle tips automatically vibrate in a direction at right angles with the direction of length of the bristles. A brush lever 5 having a brush 4 is swingingly supported in the nozzle 1, a flow passage 3 leading to a blow-out port 1a at an end of a nozzle 1 is partly bent, and a resilient member 7 is provided at the bent portion to urge the brush lever 5 in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of water, so that the brush lever 5 oscillates reciprocally due to the resilient force produced by the resilient member 7 and the pressure of water flow, causing the bristle tips of the brush 4 to oscillate in a direction at right angles with the direction of length of the bristles outside the nozzle 1.

Abstract: In a display device having a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally along a first direction and a second direction, each of the pixels includes a pair of electrodes applying a voltage to liquid crystals, respective groups of the pixels arranged along the first direction form a plurality of pixel-rows juxtaposed along the second direction, and respective groups of the pixels arranged along the second direction form a plurality of pixel-columns juxtaposed along the first direction, the present invention repeats a first step for selecting every Y rows of the pixel-rows sequentially along the second direction N-times and applying an image signal to one of the pair of electrodes provided for each one of the pixels belonging to the each Y rows of the pixel-rows as selected, and a second step for selecting every Z rows of the pixel-rows sequentially along the second direction M-times and applying a blanking signal to the one of the pair of electrodes provided for each one of the pi

Abstract: A hold-type display device for eliminating blurring without damaging the display brightness of moving images. The display device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, a plurality of first signal lines, a plurality of second signal lines, a first driving circuit outputting scanning signals to the plurality of first signal lines, and a second driving circuit outputting display signals to the plurality of second signal lines. The first driving circuit repeats a step for sequentially selecting the first signal lines every Y lines for every N times and a step for selecting the first signal lines every Z lines for every M times which follows the N times. The second driving circuit repeats outputting N times the display signals and outputting M times a blanking signal which masks an image displayed on corresponding pixels.

Abstract: The head and face washing apparatus of the invention is designed to prevent scattering of fluid and enhance the washing efficiency. The head and face washing apparatus comprises pumps (103a to 103d) for supplying washing fluid through supply pipes (101a to 101d), plural spouts (105) for ejecting the washing fluid, and supply passages (106a to 106d) for supplying the washing fluid supplied through the supply pipes (101a to 101d) into the specified spout (105). Washing fluid is continuously pumped out from the pump (103a), while washing fluid is pumped out intermittently from the pumps (103b to 103d). As a result, a continuous water stream is ejected from the spout group (105a), and an intermittent water stream is ejected from the spout groups (105b to 105d).

Abstract: A reflecting type of zoom optical system comprises a plurality of optical elements each of which includes a transparent body and two refracting surfaces and a plurality of reflecting surfaces formed on the transparent body and is arranged so that a light beam enters the transparent body from one of the two refracting surfaces, repeatedly undergoes reflection by the plurality of reflecting surfaces, and exits from the other of the two refracting surfaces, and/or a plurality of optical elements on each of which a plurality of reflecting surfaces made from surface reflecting mirrors are integrally formed, and each of which is arranged so that an entering light beam repeatedly undergoes reflection by the plurality of reflecting surfaces and exits from the optical element.

Abstract: A reflecting type of zoom optical system comprises a plurality of optical elements each of which includes a transparent body and two refracting surfaces and a plurality of reflecting surfaces formed on the transparent body and is arranged so that a light beam enters the transparent body from one of the two refracting surfaces, repeatedly undergoes reflection by the plurality of reflecting surfaces, and exits from the other of the two refracting surfaces, and/or a plurality of optical elements on each of which a plurality of reflecting surfaces made from surface reflecting mirrors are integrally formed, and each of which is arranged so that an entering light beam repeatedly undergoes reflection by the plurality of reflecting surfaces and exits from the optical element.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and image pickup method, in which an image pickup area where a plurality of pixels each having at least first and second photoelectric conversion sections are arranged in a depth direction is used to pick up an object image, signals from the first and second photoelectric conversion sections are obtained in case that said image pickup area is light-shielded, and differential processing between a signal obtained in the first photoelectric conversion section in case that said image pickup area is light-shielded and a signal obtained in the first photoelectric conversion section by picking up an object image in said image pickup area, and differential processing between a signal obtained in the second photoelectric conversion section in case that said image pickup area is light-shielded and a signal obtained in the second photoelectric conversion section by picking up an object image in said image pickup area are performed, so that correction of image pickup signals is performed.

Abstract: Unit design according to the present invention makes it possible for accumulated results of past design examples to be reflected in forming new designs, thereby preventing repetitive of designs and thereby reducing the time required for development. In the unit designing apparatus (1), the CPU (3) includes a basic structure designing section (21) for designing a basic structure in accordance with a given design target, and a function block searching section (23) for searching a design example of a function block for application to the engine concerned. The function block layout section (25) lays out a retrieved outer shape of a function block in a basic structural view to design a raw material shape. The CPU (3) further includes a production machining information searching section (29) for searching production machining information for application to each function block.

Abstract: A process for producing a shaped material can be designed in parallel to product designing, thereby reducing a period between initiation of product designing and completion of design of the process for producing the shaped material. A shaped material production process designing device (1) comprises a CPU (21) which includes a design record retrieving section (41) for retrieving a past design record from a design record database (5). Of the past process for producing the shaped material, design data of a standard portion independent from a shape of the product is acquired by a standard portion design data acquiring section (43). A shape dependent portion designing section (45) designs the shaped material production process that depends on the shape of the product. The CPU further includes a process design data editing section (47) for editing the design data of the standard portion and a design result of the shape dependent portion.

Abstract: During the exposure of an image sensing device, the optical image of a subject is rotated by one revolution or a plurality of revolutions relative to the sensing surface of the image sensing device along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the image sensing device while the orientation of the image is maintained substantially horizontally and vertically with respect to the sensing surface. The radius r of this rotation is set so as to satisfy the equation r = ω 0 2 ⁢ π ⁢   ⁢ ρ where &rgr; represents trap frequency and &ohgr;0 the initial zero point of a Bessel function of the first kind of order zero.

Abstract: In the method for driving a liquid crystal display device which has a plurality of picture elements or “pixels” and a drive circuit for outputting to each pixel a gradation voltage as selected from among M (M≧2) gradation voltages, the polarity of a gradation voltage that is outputted from the drive circuit to each pixel is inverted for every N (N≧2)-line group while letting the voltage value of m (1≧m≧M)-th gradation voltage to be outputted from the drive circuit to each pixel be different between when outputting it to the pixels on the first line immediately after the polarity inversion and when outputting it to the pixel on a line which is subsequent to the first line immediately after the polarity inversion and whose polarity is not inverted.