Abstract: In one aspect, a nozzle for injecting a processing liquid is provided. The nozzle includes a cylindrical housing having a central axis, a liquid supply port to supply the processing liquid into the housing, a gas supply port to supply a compressed gas into the housing, and an injection port to inject the processing liquid together with the compressed gas, and the injection port has an annular shape extending around the central axis.

Abstract: An input device includes: a plurality of first sensor electrodes; and a plurality of second sensor electrodes. Furthermore, the plurality of first sensor electrodes and the plurality of second sensor electrodes are electrically disconnected. Additionally, the plurality of first sensor electrodes are disposed in a radial arrangement centered on a reference point. Moreover, the plurality of second sensor electrodes are disposed in a concentric circular arrangement centered on the reference point.

Abstract: A blasting abrasive includes a particle of hot melt resin and abrasive grains to be firmly fixed to the particle, a blasting method further includes preparing a blasting abrasive including particles of hot melt resin and abrasive grains to be firmly fixed to the particles, heating gas, and injecting both the blasting abrasive and the heated gas.

Abstract: A robot for performing an expression by a non-verbal reaction, includes a body including a lower part provided so as to be capable of panning and tilting with respect to a support point coupled to a placement surface; a pair of arms provided to side parts of the body so as to be capable of moving up and down; and a head provided to an upper part of the body so as to be capable of panning and tilting, wherein the non-verbal reaction includes a combination of the tilting and the panning of the body with respect to the support point and movement of the pair of arms or the head or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An output device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor obtains an utterance command and an action command, analyzes an utterance content of the utterance command inputted after an action performed in response to the action command, modifies the action command based on a result of the analysis, and outputs the modified action command and the utterance command.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus, including a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to execute a process, the process including selecting one or more users from users based on intensities of received signals of sensor information transmitted by a plurality of tag devices associated with the users respectively, outputting information that instructs an operation for the plurality of tag devices, detecting the tag device for which the operation has been performed based on acceleration information of the plurality of tag devices, and causing a service provision device to output sound information regarding a service for a specific user associated with the detected tag device.

Abstract: An output device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor obtains an utterance command and an action command, analyzes an utterance content of the utterance command inputted after an action performed in response to the action command, modifies the action command based on a result of the analysis, and outputs the modified action command and the utterance command.

Abstract: A communication control apparatus, including a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and the processor configured to execute a process, the process including selecting one or more users from users based on intensities of received signals of sensor information transmitted by a plurality of tag devices associated with the users respectively, outputting information that instructs an operation for the plurality of tag devices, detecting the tag device for which the operation has been performed based on acceleration information of the plurality of tag devices, and causing a service provision device to output sound information regarding a service for a specific user associated with the detected tag device.

Abstract: A robot for performing an expression by a non-verbal reaction, includes a body including a lower part provided so as to be capable of panning and tilting with respect to a support point coupled to a placement surface; a pair, of arms provided to side parts of the body so as to be capable of moving up and down; and a head provided to an upper part of the body so as to be capable of panning and tilting, wherein the non-verbal reaction includes a combination of the tilting and the panning of the body with respect to the support point and movement of the pair of arms or the head or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A robot for freely moving about in an environment where there is an obstacle. The robot includes a communication section transmitting by wireless an image taken by a camera to a base station, and via the base station to a communication terminal making a radio communication with the base station, and receiving by wireless movement target position information specified on the image by an operation of the communication terminal via the base station, and a motion control section that moves the robot up to a movement target position specified by the movement target position information acquired in the communication section.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a robot having the structure suitable for freely moving about in the environment where there is an obstacle within the house, for example. The robot includes a communication section transmitting by wireless an image taken by the camera to a base station, and via the base station to a communication terminal making the radio communication with the base station, and receiving by wireless the movement target position information specified on the image by an operation of the communication terminal via the base station, and a motion control section that moves the robot up to a movement target position specified by the movement target position information acquired in the communication section.

Abstract: A printing apparatus that includes a table and screen plate positioned facing each other. A screen sealing unit is provided to ensure that a relative hermetic seal is achieved between the screen plate and the table. The sealing unit and table are movable, the sealing unit being movable along the table to adjust for various work pieces utilized in the screen. A gas is provided between the sealed table and screen plate to aid in printing.

Abstract: A portable card type data storage device with a large capacity and low power consumption is provided which enalbes two storage mediums with different features to be installed into a single slot of an information processing device. The card type data storage device 100 of the invention includes a case 10 having a connection slot 10a, a first connector 11 adapted to be inserted into and connected with a connection slot 201 of an information processing device such as a PC 200, a hard disk 13 housed in the case 10, a second connector 12 for connection with a semiconductor memory 18 inserted into the connection slot 10a, and a storage device control section 20.

Abstract: The present invention aims to improve the printing accuracy. Further, the invention aims to reduce the size of the screen compared with the conventional processing pattern, and to reduce the cost of the screen. Further, it is also an object of the invention to lengthen the life of the screen. According to the invention, the screen printer for performing the screen printing using the screen plate includes: the table placed facing the screen plate; and the screen sealing unit which nearly seals the space between the screen plate and the table.

Abstract: A portable card type data storage device with a large capacity and low power consumption is provided which enalbes two storage mediums with different features to be installed into a single slot of an information processing device. The card type data storage device 100 of the invention includes a case 10 having a connection slot 10a, a first connector 11 adapted to be inserted into and connected with a connection slot 201 of an information processing device such as a PC 200, a hard disk 13 housed in the case 10, a second connector 12 for connection with a semiconductor memory 18 inserted into the connection slot 10a, and a storage device control section 20.

Abstract: There is disclosed an area detection apparatus in which a reference image having a predetermined pattern is prepared beforehand, and an area having the same pattern as the reference image is detected from an inputted search image. A reference image, in which only a pattern is determined, but density values for each area are not determined, is prepared. Respective density mean values for partial areas of the noticed area, each of which correspond to the associated one of partial areas of the reference area, are allocated to the reference area. A correlation operation is performed between the noticed area and the reference image to which the density mean values are allocated. The area detection apparatus is capable of detecting areas with greater accuracy, involving no necessity for an especial hardware or no greatly increasing an amount of operations, even if brightness is varied.

Abstract: A blasting apparatus and a blasting method enable a processing pattern to be enlarged or modified in a suction type blasting apparatus by using a relatively simple composition, and also permit stable, continuous ejection of an abrasive in the enlarged or modified processing pattern. A nozzle (42) of a blast gun (40) of a suction type blasting apparatus is surrounded by a nozzle cover (49) with a predetermined gap provided therebetween, and a passage (43) which is opened in an abrasive ejecting direction between the outer periphery of the nozzle (42) and the inner periphery of the nozzle cover (49) is communicated with a supply source of compressed air. An abrasive dispersion chamber (52) serving as a dispersing nozzle is connected to an ejection port (47) of the blast gun (40).

Abstract: A method for determining an orientation of a line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image. The number of pixels having a predetermined value and located in each orientation in the local area, is obtained, and it is determined that a line segment exists in an orientation in which the number of pixels is large. Further, when it is determined that the number of pixels located in each of a plurality of orientations and having a predetermined value, is greater than a sum of the numbers of pixels in orientations adjacent to said each orientation on both sides thereof, it is determined that a line segment exists in said each orientation. Two orientations in which large numbers of pixels are located are detected, and it is determined whether the point is a constituent of a line segment, a line segment of the sub-straight-line form, or a near-corner point, depending on angles made by the two orientations is equal to 180.degree.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an orientation of a line segment in a contour in a local area of a binary contour image. The number of pixels having a predetermined value and located in each orientation in the local area, is obtained, and it is determined that a line segment exists in an orientation in which the number of pixels is large. Further, when it is determined that the number of pixels located in each of a plurality of orientations and having a predetermined value is greater than a sum of the numbers of pixels in orientations adjacent to said each orientation on both sides thereof, it is determined that a line segment exists in said each orientation. Two orientations in which large numbers of pixels are located are detected, and it is determined whether the point is a constituent of a line segment, a line segment of the sub-straight-line form, or a near-corner point, depending on angles made by the two orientations is equal to 180.degree.

Abstract: A system for and a method of recognizing and tracking a target mark with a video camera is disclosed. The system includes a target mark (10) disposed on an object (1) and composed of a black circle and a white triangle mounted centrally on the black circle and three-dimensionally shifted from the black circle, a video camera (20) for imaging the target mark (10), a robot (30) supporting the video camera (20) and movable in directions with six degrees of freedom, an image processor (40) for processing image data of the target mark which is produced by the video camera (20), a shift calculating unit (50) for detecting a shift of the target mark (10) from projected histogram information of the target mark (10) which is produced by the image processor (40), and a robot controller (60) for controlling movement of the robot depending on the shift to enable the video camera (20) to track the target mark (10). The system is capable of tracking the target mark (20) attached to the object (1) on a real-time basis.