Abstract: In order to allow a user to arbitrarily set color processing parameters which determine the color reproduction characteristics of a digital camera according to user's preference, an image processing unit obtains color data by performing the same processing as that performed by the digital camera with respect to the sensed data of each color patch included in a color chart by using color processing parameters. A changing unit displays, on a display unit, a target data changing window which presents color data and the target data (the target color of color reproduction) of each color patch and allows the user to change the target data. A parameter editing unit edits color processing parameters so as to reduce the color difference between the changed target data and color data. A data input/output unit transmits the edited color processing parameters to the digital camera.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method. According to the present invention, an image processing method comprises the steps of retaining on file a profile for an input device and a profile for an output target film, employing the profiles for the input device and for the output target film to prepare a color reproduction table to facilitate the input of image data that is near that of the output target film, and correcting the colors of the input image data in accordance with the table that is prepared.

Abstract: A porous metal body having a foam structure of 500 ?m or less in average pore diameter, wherein the skeleton is composed of an alloy primarily including Fe and Cr, and Cr carbide or FeCr carbide is uniformly dispersed in the texture. The metal porous body is produced by preparing a slurry primarily containing an Fe oxide powder having an average particle diameter of 5 ?m or less, at least one powder selected from metallic Cr, Cr alloys, and Cr oxides, a thermosetting resin, and a diluent, applying a coating of this slurry to a resin core body having a foam structure, performing drying, and thereafter, performing firing in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to produce a metal porous body having the aforementioned skeleton structure.

Abstract: An image processing device for performing image correction of a scene by detecting whether a specific object is included in an input image of the scene, and that sets a correction parameter based on the detection result to correct the input image.

Abstract: On the basis of an image data of image data, an image discrimination unit discriminates whether the input image is a color image or an image having index data. The input image is corrected by an image correction unit based upon the results of discrimination.

Abstract: A porous metal body having a foam structure of 500 &mgr;m or less in average pore diameter, wherein the skeleton is composed of an alloy primarily including Fe and Cr, and Cr carbide or FeCr carbide is uniformly dispersed in the texture. The metal porous body is produced by preparing a slurry primarily containing an Fe oxide powder having an average particle diameter of 5 &mgr;m or less, at least one powder selected from metallic Cr, Cr alloys, and Cr oxides, a thermosetting resin, and a diluent, applying a coating of this slurry to a resin core body having a foam structure, performing drying, and thereafter, performing firing in a non-oxidizing atmosphere so as to produce a metal porous body having the aforementioned skeleton structure.

Abstract: The clean room of this invention includes a first clean region in which a semiconductor substrate to be set in a fabrication system is disposed and a second clean region adjacent to the first clean region in which an operator is disposed. A first air flow flowing downward is introduced into the first clean region and a second air flow flowing downward is introduced into the second clean region. The rate of the first air flow is higher than the rate of the second air flow.

Abstract: Generally, saturation conversion is done by multiplying data by a saturation conversion parameter with a constant value regardless of image features, an image may be saturated on the high-saturation side, or may become achromatic on the low-saturation side. Hence, in this invention, the saturation conversion parameters of an image are respectively set at the high- and low-saturation sides, and the conversion characteristics are calculated based on the plurality of saturation conversion parameters to convert saturation. In this way, appropriate saturation correction is achieved on both the high- and low-saturation sides.

Abstract: When an image contains a frame image representing a white frame, highlight portions except the frame are influenced by the white color of the frame, and gradation is not appropriately corrected. Hence, no sufficient dynamic range for gradation can be obtained. To prevent this, a frame recognition section (8) detects a frame image contained in an input image. A highlight/shadow calculation section (6) and a white balance calculation section (7) generate correction information of an image portion other than the detected frame image. An image correction section (10) corrects gradation of the image portion other than the frame image on the basis of the generated correction information.

Abstract: It was difficult to properly perform correction processing such as white balance adjustment and exposure compensation for all types of images.

Abstract: It is difficult properly to perform correction processing such as white balance adjustment and exposure compensation for all types of images. This invention provides a way in which white balance adjustment and exposure compensation are performed in accordance with image features by considering the arrangements of pixel values in the highlighted and shadow areas of an image. Proper correction processing can therefore be performed for any types of images.

Abstract: The clean room of this invention includes a first clean region in which a semiconductor substrate to be set in a fabrication system is disposed and a second clean region adjacent to the first clean region in which an operator is disposed. A first air flow flowing downward is introduced into the first clean region and a second air flow flowing downward is introduced into the second clean region. The rate of the first air flow is higher than the rate of the second air flow.

Abstract: An image processing method and an apparatus capable of employing the method, which smooth notches on outlines and output an image of high quality having smooth outlines. First, edges to be smoothed are determined, then numbers of consecutive black dots in the horizontal and vertical directions are counted from originating points in the determined edge. Further, dots for correcting an original image are calculated based on the counted numbers of consecutive black dots. Thereby it is possible to perform the high speed smoothing correction efficiently, facilitating production of a high quality printing apparatus for a reasonable price.

Abstract: A porous ceramic film which is formed onto and bonded to an oxide layer provided on the surface of a porous base, the film composed of finely deposited particles comprising at least one compound including (a) at least one selected from the group consisting of Si, B and Al or the group consisting of the metals of the Groups IVa, Va and VIa and (b) at least one selected from the group consisting of C and N in which the particles are intertwined with each other and bonded to each other through the component of the oxide layer to form a three-dimensionally intertwined structure. This porous ceramic film is produced by forming the oxide layer on the base surface and then heating it to a temperature of at least of the liquid-phase formation temperature of the oxide layer in a gaseous atmosphere containing the above elements (a) and (b).

Abstract: A silicon nitride ceramic porous body having excellent acid and alkali resistance, mechanical strength, and durability can be employed as a filter or a catalytic carrier. The silicon nitride porous body contains a plurality of silicon nitride crystal grains with pores formed in grain boundary parts thereof, or includes a body part and a pore part wherein the body part is formed by a plurality of silicon nitride crystal grains and the pore part forms a three-dimensional network structure. The body part is formed by at least 90 vol. % of silicon nitride crystal grains, which are directly bonded to each other. In order to prepare the finished ceramic porous body, a porous body compact which is mainly composed of silicon nitride, is brought into contact with an acid and/or an alkali so that a component other than silicon nitride is partially or entirely dissolved and removed from the compact.

Abstract: A high-porosity and high-strength porous silicon nitride body comprises columnar silicon nitride grains and an oxide bond phase containing 2 to 15 wt. %, in terms of oxide based on silicon nitride, of at least one rare earth element, and has an SiO.sub.2 /(SiO.sub.2 +rare earth element oxide) weight ratio of 0.012 to 0.65 and an average pore size of at most 3.5 .mu.m. The porous silicon nitride body is produced by compacting comprising a silicon nitride powder, 2 to 15 wt. %, in terms of oxide based on silicon nitride, of at least one rare earth element, and an organic binder while controlling the oxygen content and carbon content of said compact; and sintering said compact in an atmosphere comprising nitrogen at 1,650.degree. to 2,200.degree. C. to obtain a porous body having a three-dimensionally entangled structure made up of columnar silicon nitride grains and an oxide bond phase, and having an SiO.sub.2 /(SiO.sub.2 +rare earth element oxide) weight ratio of 0.012 to 0.65.

Abstract: A ceramics porous body having high porosity as well as high strength is especially suitable for use as a filter for removing foreign matter from a fluid or as a catalytic carrier. The porous body has a porosity of at least 30% and comprises columnar ceramic grains having an aspect ratio of at least 3. In particular, the porous body comprises Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 grains, of which at least 60% are hexagonal columnar .beta.-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 grains. The porous body further comprises at least one compound of a rare earth element in an amount of at least 1 volume % and not more than 20 volume % in terms of an oxide of the rare earth element, and optionally at least one compound of elements of the groups IIa and IIIb of the periodic table and transition metal elements in an amount of not more than 5 volume % in terms of an oxide of each element.

Abstract: A ceramic porous body for a filter or a catalyst carrier, having a structure in which voids each having the same volume as that of a sphere of 10 .mu.m to 500 .mu.m in diameter are formed and the voids are communicated with each other through smaller fine pores, the ceramic porous body having a volume fraction of the voids and the fine pores of from 15% to 60% and being formed of components 70% or higher by volume of which is silicon nitride.

Abstract: A ceramics porous body having a high porosity as well as high strength is especially suitable for use as a filter for removing foreign matter from a fluid or as a catalytic carrier. The porous body has a porosity of at least 30% and comprises columnar ceramic grains having an aspect ratio of at least 3. In particular, the porous body comprises Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 grains, of which at least 60% are hexagonal columnar beta-Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 grains. The porous body further comprises at least one compound of a rare earth element in an amount of at least 1 vol.% and not more than 20 vol.% of an oxide of the rare earth element, and optionally at least one compound of elements of the groups IIa and IIIb of the periodic table and transition metal elements in an amount of not more than 5 vol.% of an oxide of each element. A compact of mixed powder obtained by adding the compound powder of the rare earth element to silicon nitride powder is heat treated in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of at least 1500.degree. C.

Abstract: An aluminum nitride sintered body comprising aluminum nitride crystals belonging to a Wurtzite hexagonal crystal system wherein the 3 axes a, b and c of the unit lattice of the crystal are defined such that the ratio b/a of the lengths of the axes b and a is 1,000 near the center of the crystal grain and lies within the range 0.997-1.003 in the vicinity of the grain boundary phase. Aluminum nitride sintered body is produced by sintering a molded body of a raw material powder having aluminum and nitrogen as its principal components at a temperature of 1700.degree.-1900.degree. C. in a non-oxidizing atmosphere having a partial pressure of carbon monoxide or carbon of not more than 200 ppm and then cooling the sintered body to 1500.degree. C. or a lower temperature at a rate of 5.degree. C./min or less. The aluminum nitride sintered body has a greatly improved thermal conductivity and, therefore, is suitable for heat slingers, substrates or the like for semiconductor devices.