Abstract: A two-dimensional rangefinding sensor of the present invention consisting of an illuminating device for projecting light beams, which undergoes luminance modulation at a predetermined frequency for a predetermined duration with a predetermined cycle time, onto an object, an image-formation optical system for forming an image of the object illuminated with light beams which have undergone the luminance modulation and which have been projected from the illuminating device, a two-dimensional image sensor mounted on an image-formation plane of the image-formation optical system, a driving means for performing a modulation driving operation on an electrode terminal, which is operative to determine the sensitivity of the two-dimensional image sensor at the frequency, and a reading means for reading a signal corresponding to a signal charge generated in each of picture elements of the image sensors.

Abstract: A distance-velocity predicting system has an illuminator for projecting a light beam for searching for an obstacle, and a plurality of position sensors spaced at a distance corresponding to a base line length. A minimum value of a distance component from the base line to an obstacle lying in a direction perpendicular to the base line, which is obtained from the light beam and the position sensors, or a value in the neighborhood of the minimum value, is sampled to obtain time-series data, and a relative velocity component in a direction perpendicular to the base line with respect to the obstacle is obtained in real time by using the time-series data. The relative velocity component perpendicular to the base line is compared with a predetermined threshold value, and when the relative velocity component exceeds the threshold value, a starting signal for life protecting equipment is generated.

Abstract: A high precision coordinate measuring device comprising a reflecting mirror fixed to a base, a movable holder displaceable in a direction perpendicular to the reflecting mirror, a position detector mounted on the movable holder and an interferometer for detecting a displacement of the position detector relative to the reflecting mirror. The interferometer has a measuring optical system and a reference optical system. This coordinate measuring device uses movable members light in weights thereof and permits performing measurements of lengths with high precision free from Abbe's error.

Abstract: A method for measuring eccentricity uses two radial gratings, in annular areas of which elementary patterns are provided at equal intervals so that the patterns of one radial grating are opposite to those of the other radial grating rotated by 180.degree.. Reference lines are provided on a rotary axis having eccentricity to be measured, coordinate axes relative to a bisector of the patterns opposite to each other are provided parallel with the reference lines, and spaces between the coordinate axes and the reference lines are measured, thereby allowing the shift of the rotary axis to be found. Thus, the eccentricity of the rotary axis can be measured with high accuracy.

Abstract: A high-accuracy position comparator includes a length-measuring grating having a ruling extending two-dimensionally, a reflecting device, an index grating having the ruling following the same direction as that of the length-measuring grating, a grating overlapping optical system comprised of a projecting device for projecting an image of one of these two gratings and an imaging device for forming the image through the reflecting device, a fringe detecting device for detecting interference fringes produced by the optical system, and a measuring position detecting device. Thus, the comparator has practically important advantages of being able to make two-dimensional measurement and positional comparison without resetting an object being measured.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a hot developing treatment which can check a hot developed condition of a film used for a hot developing process is disclosed. At least one portion of those image regions of the film which are simultaneously hot developed by a hot developing heating body is used to photoelectrically monitor the developed concentration of said portion and stop the hot developing treatment when the developed concentration of said portion reaches to a predetermined concentration. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An illumination device used in the case of forming, on a dupe film, a visible copy of an image pattern of a master film. The illumination device comprises a light source including a center portion having a high brightness and a peripheral portion for emitting light in all directions, and a collimator lens having an optical axis that passes through the high brightness center portion of the light source.

Abstract: A process of forming a picture image information such as a manuscript, etc. on a dry treated roll film and developing the same is disclosed. The process comprises successive steps of preparing a film segment having a given length and formed thereon with said picture image information and hot developing said image information formed on said film segment under a flat state without applying tension thereto. An apparatus for practicing the process is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cutting block, a photographic block and a hot developing block arranged in succession along a path, said hot developing block having at least one flat surface for attracting a film segment having a given length, and a film carriage provided at its one end with a holding head for attracting and holding said film segment formed thereon with said picture image information and movable along said path to carry said film segment in succession to a position opposed to each of said blocks.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head comprises the steps of providing a pair of core block pieces each having an abutting area and a gap defining surface which is slightly recessed relative to the abutting area, disposing the pair of core block pieces in a manner such that the gap defining surfaces are located opposite to each other and the abutting areas are held in abutment against each other, thereby defining a gap between the gap defining surfaces, placing a quantity of a gap forming material such as glass, ceramic, enamel or the like within or adjacent to the gap, heating the gap forming material to cause it to melt, cooling the core block pieces, upon completion of permeation of the gap forming material into the respective gaps, to solidify such material, thereby providing a core block, cutting and/or slicing the core block into cores of a given size, winding a coil on the individual cores, and fixedly mounting each of the cores with the coil thereon in a housing to provide a magnetic head.

Abstract: A detecting head for use in an apparatus for reading optically information recorded on a record carrier as a track or tracks comprising an optical system including a projection lens for projecting a light spot onto the track to be read and a device for detecting a relative position between the light spot and the track. The optical system further comprises a device for supporting the projection lens movably in a direction perpendicular to a track direction and a device for driving the projection lens in this direction. The projection lens is further moved in a direction parallel to the track or in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the projection lens.

Abstract: An endoscope for displaying a color picture image of an object to be visualized in a hollow cavity is disclosed. The endoscope comprises a sheath to be inserted into said hollow cavity and an exterior circuit. The sheath includes a self-scanning type solid state image pick-up device, a bundle of lead wires composed of a lead wire for supplying a signal for operating said image pick-up device from said exterior circuit and a lead wire for leading out a picture image signal supplied from said image pick-up device toward said exterior circuit, and an illumination light transfer body for transferring a light for illuminating said object to be visualized from said exterior circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided of manufacturing magnetic heads which comprises the steps of providing a pair of core block pieces each having a gap defining surface, masking a pair of spaced areas of the gap defining surface of one core block piece, subjecting the gap defining surface of said one core block piece to etching by an ion beam or plasma sputtering, disposing the etched core block piece and the other non-etched core block piece in abutting relationship so that the respective gap defining surfaces are located opposite to each other, placing a gap forming material in a clearance formed between the gap defining surfaces of the both core block pieces as a result of the etching step applied to one of the gap defining surfaces, causing the gap forming material to melt and permeate into the clearance, and subsequently causing the gap forming material to solidify to provide a core block, which is cut to size to produce a core or cores.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control circuit comprises a pair of lamp circuits for displaying the fact that an automatic exposure is feasible and the exposure period which is automatically determined, as well as an electronic shutter circuit and an automatic shutter release circuit, and optionally a color temperature measuring circuit. The control circuit is associated with a photomicrographic apparatus which takes a picture of a specimen being observed in a microscope. When taking a picture, a photometry is made of light from a specimen being photographed in order to determine initially whether an automatic exposure control is feasible for the specimen, and if it is feasible, to provide an automatic release of an electronic shutter by means of a motor, thereby activating the electronic shutter and also producing a lamp display during the period when the electronic shutter is operating. Optionally, a color temperature of the light from a light source which is used to irradiate the specimen is measured.

Abstract: Interferometers for precise determination of lengths and more particularly, a highly sensitive interferometer which can produce interference fringes one fringe separation of which corresponds to .lambda./2N (.lambda. is a wavelength of an incident light and N is an integer which is 2, 3, 4 . . . ). The interferometer comprises light emitting means at least one beam splitting means, retroreflecting optical means and bilateral reflecting optical means. Two embodiments of the beam splitting means are provided. The corresponding prisms in both preferred embodiments have the same effect of dividing an incident light into a reference light beam and a measuring light beam, but the configuration and construction of the equivalent prisms of the two embodiments differ slightly in order to provide mutually perpendicular light paths for the divided light beams.