Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic fiber in which from a convergent extended wire, which is formed by a metallic fiber and a matrix member which is formed of a metallic material and whose dissolvability is higher than the dissolvability of the metallic fiber, the matrix member is continuously dissolved and removed by an electrolytic processing in a plurality of electrolytic tanks which are arranged in the conveying direction of the convergent extended wire, wherein: the convergent extended wire is passed through electrolytes in the plurality of electrolytic tanks, which are arranged in the shape of a gentle convex arch at the vertical direction upper side which includes the conveying passage of the convergent extended wire, the convergent extended wire is passed above a plurality of feeding devices which are provided at the outer sides of the electrolytes and which are disposed in the same arch-shape so as to correspond to the electrolytic tanks, in each of the plurality of electrolytic tanks, the metallic

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and a predetermined number of pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. An angular position of the light shielding system is determined and the phase of excitation of the motor is varied in response to the angular position. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: An original is allowed to pass on an exposing glass along a conveying path, thereby exposing and scanning a front surface of the original and reading an image by a CCD. A back surface of the original is subsequently fed to the exposing glass along a conveying path and is allowed to pass on the exposing glass, thereby exposing and scanning the back surface of the original. The image data read by the CCD is stored into an image buffer. The order of address columns to read out the image data on the front surface and the order of address columns to read out the image data of the back surface are made opposite. Thus, a copying apparatus which can efficiently expose and scan both of the front and back surfaces of a both-side original is provided.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals motor hunting is detected. The number of pulses generated is determined in response to detection of hunting and when hunting is detected the number of pulses is reduced. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inexpensive and reliable circuit-board inspection apparatus and method applicable to a densely wired circuit board. A sensor module 50 is disposed on a pad section 38 on an inspected circuit board. The sensor module 50 is formed by integrating four sensor units 52, 54, 56, and 58 together. Each sensor unit is capacitively coupled to a plurality of corresponding pads so that a signal can be independently obtained from each sensor unit. By selecting a pad 36b of a pad section 36 and a sensor unit 54 and providing a predetermined signal between them to inspect the continuity, it can be determined whether a printed pattern 34x is open-circuited between a pad 38 b and a pad 38x. This invention enables the continuity of dense complicated and irregular printed patterns to be inspected accurately and inexpensively.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit for processing an image signal into which an original document, after being exposed to light, is photoelectrically converted, a compression module for compressing image information processed through the processing unit, a memory for storing image data compressed by the compression module, a control unit for setting a diversity of image processing modes, and a predicting module for predicting an image compression rate used by the compression module. The predicting module predicts the image compression rate of an image after being processed according to the image processing mode set by the control unit.

Abstract: A high-efficiency, compact and low-cost electric power storage air-conditioning system incorporates inside its air-conditioner an electric power storage unit including a battery which is electrically interconnected to a d.c. system of the air-conditioner. Charging of the battery is controlled to be executed only during a steady operation of the air-conditioner when its load is light. Since a d.c. voltage of the battery is used directly as a d.c. voltage to drive the air-conditioner, a high efficiency, minimized loss and economical operation conditioning system is achieved.

Abstract: A device for controlling an amount of light of a lighting unit for use in an endoscope, used to view an image of an object. The device includes a light shield for shielding light generated by a light source and transmitted to the endoscope. A stepping motor drives the light shield for a series of predetermined time intervals. Brightness of the image is detected during each of the time intervals and pulses are generated during each of the time intervals. The number of pulses generated is determined in accordance with a difference between the brightness of the image detected during each of the time intervals and a desired brightness of the image. The pulses generated are used to drive the stepping motor in each of the plurality of time intervals.

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus includes at least one endoscope, a peripheral device having a light source, and a detachable connecting device to connect the endoscope to the peripheral device. The emission time or illumination duration of the light source is measured and stored in the peripheral device. An indicating device is used to display the stored emission time or illumination duration independent of the connection between the endoscope and the peripheral device.

Abstract: An original document reading apparatus includes a first control portion for performing a first control wherein documents are transported at a first document interval in the event that a detected occupying capacity is less than a detected unused capacity. The first control portion also performs a second control wherein documents are transported at a second document interval which is greater than the first document interval in the event that the detected occupying capacity exceeds the detected unused capacity. A second control portion continuously activates an exposure portion under the first control, and intermittently activates the exposure portion under the second control.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image reading apparatus comprising plural line sensors for converting light from an object into image signals, charge transfer unit for transferring the image signals, converted by the line sensors, mutually among the line sensors, correction unit for correcting signal levels of the image signals and control unit for effecting control so as to vary a manner of correction by the correction unit, according to a direction of transfer of the image signals by the charge transfer means among the line sensors.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus for scanning an original in different directions is constructed by a light receiving unit to receive a reflection light from the original a transfer unit to transfer charges of the light received by the light receiving unit by using a transfer unit in accordance with the scanning direction a correction unit to correct an image signal outputted from the transfer unit and a control unit to control the correction in the correction unit in accordance with the scanning direction.

Abstract: During the charging of a secondary battery, the charging current is maintained, but the value of the current is changed for a short time, and the internal resistance of the battery is calculated from the voltage and the current before and after the changing of the charging current. The charging voltage is determined by adding an extra voltage equivalent to the voltage drop caused by the internal resistance to a designated voltage. Thus, it takes only a short time for stabilizing the voltage when the current is changed, because the charging current is not switched off completely. Therefore, the charging time can be shortened.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an operation invalidating device which invalidates the operation of a switch or key which is actuated to control the operation of a device connected to an endoscope. The operation invalidating device begins operating automatically after a lapse of a predetermined time from actuation of a power source or after a lapse of a predetermined time from operation of a switch or key.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a read unit for reading a document sheet to generate image data, a data compression unit for compressing the image data generated by the read unit, a prediction unit for predicting data amount after the compression for the image data to be compressed by the data compression unit and a control unit for controlling the reading of the document sheet by the read means in accordance with the prediction result by the prediction means.

Abstract: An endoscope system, having an exchangeable endoscope device, for outputting an image data and a video processing device. The endoscope device is provided with a memory for storing data related to an endoscope type. The video processing device reads the data related to the endoscope type, and transmits the data to a peripheral device. The video processing device has a display, and is capable of displaying an image on the display in accordance with a selected one of a plurality of magnification ratios. The selected magnification ratio is also transmitted to the peripheral device.

Abstract: A device for feeding stock sheets is provided with a hopper for storing carton blanks as stock sheets in an upright posture, a delivery roller for delivering the carton blanks in the hopper toward a hopper outlet, an auxiliary roller located between the delivery roller and the hopper outlet to deliver the carton blanks toward the hopper outlet, a plurality of gap sensors used to detect gaps between the carton blanks situated between the delivery roller and the auxiliary roller and to control the delivery roller in rotation, and an arrival sensor used to detect a gap between the hopper outlet and the leading stock sheet and to control the auxiliary roller in rotation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a metallic fiber in which from a convergent extended wire, which is formed by a metallic fiber and a matrix member which is formed of a metallic material and whose dissolvability is higher than the dissolvability of the metallic fiber, the matrix member is continuously dissolved and removed by an electrolytic processing in a plurality of electrolytic tanks which are arranged in the conveying direction of the convergent extended wire, wherein: the convergent extended wire is passed through electrolytes in the plurality of electrolytic tanks, which are arranged in the shape of a gentle convex arch at the vertical direction upper side which includes the conveying passage of the convergent extended wire, the convergent extended wire is passed above a plurality of feeding devices which are provided at the outer sides of the electrolytes and which are disposed in the same arch-shape so as to correspond to the electrolytic tanks, in each of the plurality of electrolytic tanks, the metallic

Abstract: An endoscope apparatus for counting a total number of times each endoscope, of a plurality of endoscopes, is connected to a peripheral device includes a connector on the peripheral device, a switch for detecting the connection of an endoscope to the connector, and a storage device provided in the peripheral device for storing the total usage operating time or the number of times connected for each individual endoscope. A display device is connected to the storage device and allows an operator to visually confirm usage times or connection totals for each endoscope independent of which endoscope is connected to the peripheral device.

Abstract: A photographing light quantity controller for an endoscope, which is used to control the quantity of illuminating light when a photograph is to be taken through the endoscope. The photographing light quantity controller comprises a device for supplying light for illuminating an object to the endoscope, a device for detecting a quantity of light that is reflected from the object and for outputting a signal in accordance with the detected quantity of light, and a device for amplifying the signal, with the amplifying device having a plurality of amplification factors which can be selected as desired. A photographing light quantity control device is provided for controlling the quantity of illuminating light that is supplied to the endoscope when a photographing operation is conducted, on the basis of the output signal from the amplifying device.