Abstract: An illumination controller for controlling an illumination device that irradiates an object to be photographed with illumination light. The illumination controller includes an introducing unit that introduces ambient light emitted to the object from a light source other than the illumination device; a processing unit that processes the ambient light introduced by the introducing unit to have a same characteristic as that of the illumination light; and an irradiation controlling unit that controls the ambient light processed by the processing unit so as to irradiate the object therewith as illumination, from a same path as the irradiation path of the illumination light.

Abstract: A guidance device which performs measurement by placing an object without contact, comprising: a virtual image display unit displaying a virtual image; a sample display generation unit making the virtual image display unit display a sample virtual image based on a shape of the object at a position where the object is to be finally arranged; a status detection unit detecting a position and attitude of the object; a correction amount calculation unit calculating a difference between the position and attitude of the object and the position and attitude of the virtual image; and a guidance display generation device making the virtual image display unit display a guidance display indicating the calculated difference in the same position as the virtual image.

Abstract: An image pickup unit that does not have a movable system and is fixed at one point picks up an image. A subject region extraction unit detects a subject in the image, extracts a region of the subject, and generates a region extraction image. A region extraction image storage unit holds a plurality of recent region extraction images. Then, a stain level calculation unit compares the held region extraction images for each pixel, and increases a value of the stain level of a pixel when it is highly probable that a stain is present on the pixel, and vise versa. The subject region extraction and the stain level calculation are performed each time an image is picked up, and the value is updated. A stain determination unit outputs whether or not a stain is present and the degree that the stain is present on the basis of the value.

Abstract: A photographing section photographs a photographing object, a light-projector projects a light spot parallel to or approximately parallel to an optical axis of the photographing section onto the photographing object, and a detector detects, from an image of the photographing object photographed by the photographing section, a light spot from the light-projector reflected by the photographing object on the basis of an arrangement position of the light-projector relative to the photographing section. A reflected light spot of light projected onto a detection object can be detected with certainty, and erroneous detection of the reflected light spot, in particular, erroneous detection due to disturbance light, can be prevented at a low cost, without an increase in size of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus causes an illuminating unit and an imaging unit to equally split a predetermined exposure time into a plurality of split exposure times, and acquire an image with illumination and an image without illumination in each of the split exposure time. A luminance difference image for a particular split exposure time is calculated by subtracting the image without illumination from the image with illumination of the exposure time. The luminance difference images of all the split exposure times are integrated.

Abstract: The image obtaining apparatus realizes a function of detecting the distance, tilt, and/or attitude of an object, irrespective of the distance between the image obtaining apparatus and the object, while reducing the size and the cost of the apparatus. The apparatus includes: an image obtaining camera which obtains an image of an object; a light projecting unit which projects each spotlight parallel or approximately parallel to the optical axis of the image obtaining camera onto the object; a detecting unit which detects the distance between the image obtaining camera and the object based on the position of the spotlight, projected by the light projecting unit, on the object image obtained by the image obtaining camera.

Abstract: An ultrasonic length measuring apparatus measures the number of times a waveform of an ultrasonic wave signal crosses a threshold value, detects the crossing timing at, for example, a waveform having a maximal amplitude after a predetermined number of times counting from a first crossing point, measures the time period from the transmission start of the ultrasonic wave by the transmission unit to the detected crossing timing and calculates the length based on the time measured. A coordinate inputting apparatus includes a pen for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a coordinate inputting apparatus for inputting coordinate positions of the pen based on a propagation time of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the pen and received by a plurality of ultrasonic wave receivers. The receiver includes at least a pair of ultrasonic receivers for receiving the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the pen.

Abstract: An ultrasonic coordinate input apparatus identifies using ultrasonic waves whether an input pen contacts a handwriting surface or it is held in the air within a predetermined distance, and can input not only a contact input locus but also an aerial movement locus. A receiver of the ultrasonic coordinate input apparatus is fixed to any of the four corners of the handwriting surface in an appropriate method. Infrared and ultrasonic waves are transmitted respectively from an Infrared transmitting unit and an ultrasonic transmission unit of the input pen being used at predetermined intervals. A distance detection unit of the receiver computes and inputs the contact movement locus or the aerial movement locus of the point of the input pen to the handwriting surface using the ultrasonic waves detected by two ultrasonic sensors only when the infrared from the input pen is received at 90° in the horizontal direction and 10° in the vertical direction.

Abstract: In the present invention, two ultrasonic receivers are provided in common for plural input planes, and the plural input planes are restricted to a plane not perpendicular to a line connecting the two ultrasonic receivers, so that the sufficiently practicable coordinate input device can be provided. When the line connecting two ultrasonic receivers is perpendicular to the input plane, the distances from the input device to the two ultrasonic receivers exist in plural sets, so that the coordinates of an input device cannot be specified. Furthermore, in order to acquire the coordinates of the input device by the two ultrasonic receivers, a positional relations between the two ultrasonic receivers and the input planes are made initial setting in advance. When set in advance, it is possible to acquire the position of the input devices in the plural input planes from the distance from input device to two ultrasonic receivers.

Abstract: An ultrasonic length measuring apparatus measures the number of times of crossing of the waveform of an ultrasonic wave signal with the threshold value, detects the crossing timing at, for example, the waveform having the maximal amplitude after a predetermined number of times counting from a crossing point crossing first, measures the time period from the transmission start of the ultrasonic wave by the transmission unit to the detected crossing timing and calculates the length based on the time measured. A coordinate inputting apparatus comprises a pen for transmitting an ultrasonic wave and a coordinate inputting apparatus for inputting coordinate positions of the pen based on a propagation time of the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the pen and received by a plurality of ultrasonic wave receivers and the receiver comprises at least a pair of ultrasonic receivers for receiving the ultrasonic wave transmitted by the pen and a clip mechanism for pinching a corner of a sheet.

Abstract: A device for measuring an electric current of a target circuit includes a pair of contact pins, a resistor electrically connected between the contact pins, a voltage drop appearing across the resistor when the contact pins come into contact with the target circuit to direct the electric current to the resistor, and an electro-optical crystal electrically connected between the contact pins in parallel with the resistor, the electro-optical crystal having a voltage applied thereto responsive to the voltage drop appearing across the resistor, wherein the voltage applied to the electro-optical crystal changes polarization of a light beam passing therethrough, thereby allowing the electric current to be measured from the polarization.

Abstract: In the present invention, two ultrasonic receivers are provided in common for plural input planes, and the plural input planes are restricted to a plane not perpendicular to a line connecting the two ultrasonic receivers, so that the sufficiently practicable coordinate input device can be provided. When the line connecting two ultrasonic receivers is perpendicular to the input plane, the distances from the input device to the two ultrasonic receivers exist in plural sets, so that the coordinates of an input device cannot be specified. Furthermore, in order to acquire the coordinates of the input device by the two ultrasonic receivers, a positional relations between the two ultrasonic receivers and the input planes are made initial setting in advance. When set in advance, it is possible to acquire the position of the input devices in the plural input planes from the distance from input device to two ultrasonic receivers.

Abstract: An electrooptic voltage waveform measuring apparatus, which includes an electrooptic element having an electrooptic effect; a first electrode mounted on the electrooptic element and electrically coupled to an object to be measured; and a first light source irradiating a light on the electrooptic element. The electrooptic voltage waveform measuring apparatus further includes a polarization analyzer for analyzing a polarization state of the light passed through the electrooptic element and detecting a voltage waveform of the object; a second electrode mounted on the electrooptic element and separated from the first electrode; and an amplifier having an input terminal coupled to the second electrode and outputting a low-frequency component of the voltage waveform of the object.

Abstract: An electrooptic voltage waveform measuring apparatus, which includes an electrooptic element having an electrooptic effect; a first electrode mounted on the electrooptic element and electrically coupled to an object to be measured; and a first light source irradiating a light on the electrooptic element. The electrooptic voltage waveform measuring apparatus further includes a polarization analyzer for analyzing a polarization state of the light passed through the electrooptic element and detecting a voltage waveform of the object; a second electrode mounted on the electrooptic element and separated from the first electrode; and an amplifier having an input terminal coupled to the second electrode and outputting a low-frequency component of the voltage waveform of the object.

Abstract: A voltage and displacement sensitive probe with an electro-optic crystal, electrically conductive transparent films and adhered to a pair of parallel surfaces on the electro-optic crystal, a transparent elastic film which circumferential portion is bonded to the frame and which is symmetric with respect to any plane through the axis thereof, a probing needle bonded at its reflective bottom surface to the central portion on the film, a holder for holding the electro-optic crystal and the transparent elastic film via frame concentrically, a lead for grounding, and electrically conductive films for connecting between the films. Displacement detection of the probing needle is based upon the change in the length of the path of the light travelling through the electro-optic crystal being reflected by the surface and travelling in reverse direction. Voltage detection of the probing needle is based upon the phase difference between the two linearly-polarized light components.

Abstract: A voltage and displacement sensitive probe with an electro-optic crystal, electrically conductive transparent films and adhered to a pair of parallel surfaces on the electro-optic crystal, a transparent elastic film which circumferential portion is bonded to the frame and which is symmetric with respect to any plane through the axis thereof, a probing needle bonded at its reflective bottom surface to the central portion on the film, a holder for holding the electro-optic crystal and the transparent elastic film via frame concentrically, a lead for grounding, and electrically conductive films for connecting between the films. Displacement detection of the probing needle is based upon the change in the length of the path of the light travelling through the electro-optic crystal being reflected by the surface and travelling in reverse direction. Voltage detection of the probing needle is based upon the phase difference between the two linearly-polarized light components.

Abstract: A probing device includes a minute probe in which at least an end portion is formed by conductive material, a cantilever having one end to which the probe is attached, and another end fixed to a moving member movable relatively to a sample in each direction of X, Y and Z, a unit for moving the moving member relatively to the sample, a transducing unit for generating information of voltage or current by means of light, a connecting unit having a low electric resistance, for connecting the transducing unit and the end portion of the probe, a detecting unit for detecting a change in a physical amount occurring in the cantilever by a force caused between the probe and the sample by a relative proximity of the moving member to the sample, and a voltage measuring unit for measuring a voltage at a measurement point on the sample, which is determined based on an output of the detecting unit, by way of the transducing unit when the probe is contacted with the measurement point.