Abstract: The present invention determines whether fingerprint ridgeline information is contained within the fingerprint image using a simple method by considering the properties of the fingerprint ridgeline. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, a density is obtained of a reference point provided within the fingerprint image and a density is obtained of a comparison point that is shifted from the reference point by a predetermined distance. The amount of fingerprint ridgeline information contained within the fingerprint image is evaluated based upon a difference between the density of the reference point and the density of the comparison point. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, the characteristic of the fingerprint ridgeline, in which a fingerprint furrow line exists proximally to the fingerprint ridgeline, is utilized. Therefore, erroneous determinations can be prevented in which an image, which is not in fact a fingerprint image, is determined to be a fingerprint image.

Abstract: The present invention determines whether fingerprint ridgeline information is contained within the fingerprint image using a simple method by considering the properties of the fingerprint ridgeline. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, a density is obtained of a reference point provided within the fingerprint image and a density is obtained of a comparison point that is shifted from the reference point by a predetermined distance. The amount of fingerprint ridgeline information contained within the fingerprint image is evaluated based upon a difference between the density of the reference point and the density of the comparison point. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, the characteristic of the fingerprint ridgeline, in which a fingerprint furrow line exists proximally to the fingerprint ridgeline, is utilized. Therefore, erroneous determinations can be prevented in which an image, which is not in fact a fingerprint image, is determined to be a fingerprint image.

Abstract: A ferrocene-containing, organic gelling compound represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups having 2 or more carbon atoms or alkyl groups containing at least one ether bond, X and Y independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and n represents an integer of 1 or 2, and a gel and a cast film using the compound.

Abstract: Techniques for reduced contamination formation evaluation are provided. The techniques relate to drawing fluid into a downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation having a virgin fluid and a contaminated fluid therein. Fluid is drawn into at least two inlets for receiving the fluids from the formation. At least one evaluation flowline is fluidly connected to at least one of the inlets for passage of the virgin fluid into the downhole tool. At least one cleanup flowline is fluidly connected to the inlets for passage of the contaminated fluid into the downhole tool. At least one fluid circuit is fluidly connected to the evaluation flowline and/or cleanup flowlines for selectively drawing fluid therein. At least one fluid connector is provided for selectively establishing a fluid connection between the flowlines. At least one sensor is provided for measuring downhole parameters in one of the flowlines.

Abstract: A ferrocene-containing, organic gelling compound represented by the following general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 represent the same or different alkyl groups having 2 or more carbon atoms or alkyl groups containing at least one ether bond, X and Y independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and n represents an integer of 1 or 2, and a gel and a cast film using the compound.

Abstract: A minute amplitude value emphasis device 2 has Fourier transformation devices 211, 212 which treat a two-dimensional original pictorial image 200 with a Fourier transformation to determine Fourier coefficients in x-axis and y-axis directions. Weight devices 221, 222 emphasize the respective Fourier coefficients in the corresponding directions so as to produce weighted Fourier coefficients. Inverse Fourier transformation devices 231, 232 treat the weighted Fourier coefficients with an inverse Fourier transformation in two directions to determine the corresponding minute amplitude value emphasis data 241, 242. A synthesizing device 250 synthesizes the corresponding minute amplitude value emphasis data 241, 242 to produce a minute amplitude value emphasis image 260. An obscure portion of the two-dimensional original pictorial image 200 is rectified to reproduce a clarified pictorial image.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a transmission/reception device for transmitting/receiving data and command signals from a transmission line, a recording/reproducing device for recording data received from the transmission/reception device on a recording medium during reception and for transmitting data reproduced from the recording medium to the transmission/reception device during transmission, an operation device for generating an operation signal for determining the operation of the recording/reproducing device, a control device for controlling the recording/reproducing device in accordance with the command signals or the operation signal, and a switching signal generation device for outputting a switching signal for determining whether the operation signal is valid or invalid to the control device.

Abstract: The present invention determines whether fingerprint ridgeline information is contained within the fingerprint image using a simple method by considering the properties of the fingerprint ridgeline. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, a density is obtained of a reference point provided within the fingerprint image and a density is obtained of a comparison point that is shifted from the reference point by a predetermined distance. The amount of fingerprint ridgeline information contained within the fingerprint image is evaluated based upon a difference between the density of the reference point and the density of the comparison point. In this fingerprint image evaluation method, the characteristic of the fingerprint ridgeline, in which a fingerprint furrow line exists proximally to the fingerprint ridgeline, is utilized. Therefore, erroneous determinations can be prevented in which an image, which is not in fact a fingerprint image, is determined to be a fingerprint image.

Abstract: A pressure- and temperature-sensitive transducer comprises a tubular housing, a resonator located within the housing and end caps closing the ends of the housing. The resonator is located in a radial plane with respect to the housing and is connected to the housing by two separate connecting regions. The housing, resonator and connecting, regions are formed from a single piece of double rotation cut quartz. The shape, dimensions and position of the connecting regions is chosen to optimize stress in an axis responsive to changes in pressure and temperature while minimizing stress in an axis responsive predominantly to pressure.

Abstract: In a positional detector device for a license plate of a motor vehicle, a camera is provided to photograph a front and rear portion of a motor vehicle so as to produce an image signal. An A/D converter converts the image signal into a digital image. A positional detector detects a position of a lisence plate of a motor vehicle based on the digital image. A cut-off treatment device cuts off a specified region from an original image photographed by the camera while scanning the original image when the motor vehicle approaches the camera member within a predetermined distance. An edge refining treatment device emphasizes a contour of a pattern represented by the specified region cut off from the original image. A contraction treatment device contracts an image size of the specified region which was treated with the edge refining treatment device. A calculation treatment device feeds the contracted pattern to a learned neural network so as to calculate an output value for a positional detection neural network.

Abstract: A pressure and temperature transducer includes an elongate housing formed from double rotation cut crystal quartz, an elongate plate-like resonator formed from double rotation cut crystal quartz capable of vibrating under an applied electric field located within the housing, the resonator being formed in unitary construction with the housing. The long edges of the resonator are connected to the interior walls of the housing, and short edges of the resonator are free and extend across the interior of the housing in a substantially continuous curve. Electrodes are located on opposite faces of the resonator for applying an electric field which causes the resonator to vibrate. End caps, formed from double rotation cut crystal quartz, are provided at each end of the housing. A borehole tool includes a tool body which can be positioned in a borehole, a probe for sampling fluid in the borehole; and a pressure and/or temperature transducer, connected to the probe for making measurements on the fluid.

Abstract: A dual-mode thickness-shear quartz pressure transducer includes a unitary piezoelectric crystal resonator and cylindrical housing structure wherein the resonator is located on a median radial plane of the housing and the exterior of the housing is provided with a pair of parallel flat surfaces which are located at an angle relative to the X" axis of the resonator. According to the presently preferred embodiment, the transducer is made from an SC-cut or a WAD-cut solid quartz crystal cylinder which is ultrasonically milled to form a plano-convex or bi-convex resonator disk in the medial radial plane of a hollow cylinder and the pair of exterior flats. The wall thickness of the cylinder is altered at the location of the flats such that stresses at the center of the resonator disk are anisotropic.

Abstract: A duster of an improved type for dust capturing efficiency, comprising a cylindrical stem with a continuous spiral thread extending along a portion thereof, a grip engaged with said stem, and fabric materials comprising a band of fiber or fibril bundles which are made of a ductile synthetic resin film or foil which has been split into fibers or fibrils and crimped. The bundles are arranged in a meandering manner. One edge of the band comprises loose edges while the other edge is held together by one or more strings. The secured edge is disposed within the thread with the ends of said material being engaged, respectively, by a supporting member provided at the tip of said stem and an engaging member provided at the root portion of the thread.

Abstract: The wall-mounted dispenser for liquid soap has a separable reservoir with an outlet valve. The dispenser further includes a main body with a second outlet valve. When the reservoir is mounted to the main body, a metering chamber is defined between the two outlet valves. The dispensing function is experienced by pushing in a plunger which temporarily decreases the chamber volume and forces the main body outlet valve to open temporarily, thus dispensing a charge of liquid soap. As the plunger is released, a spring return pushes the plunger out, decreasing pressure in the metering chamber, which is equalized as the first outlet valve temporarily opens, admitting a next charge of liquid soap from the reservoir to the metering chamber. The reservoir is replaced by pushing in a resilient release, but the resilient release is preferably normally provided with a stop which must first be moved out of the way.