Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a video-scope with an image sensor and a video-processor. The electronic endoscope has a first memory, a second memory, and a program data transmitter. The first memory is provided in the video-scope, and is capable of storing program data associated with an operation of the video-processor. The second memory is provided in the video-processor, and is capable of storing the program data. The program data transmitter according to the present invention is capable of transmitting the program data from the first memory to the second memory in a situation where the video-scope is connected to the video-processor.

Abstract: In a rotation sensor including a rotor 10 mounted to a rotating shaft S and having a conductive sensing unit 12 whereof the width varies in the circumferential direction; and stationary cores 31, 32, 41, 42 each including an exciting coil for forming a magnetic circuit with respect to the sensing unit of the rotor by allowing AC exciting current to flow therein, and a core body formed of magnetic material and retaining the exciting coil, and being mounted to the fixed member and disposed so as to oppose to the sensing unit of the rotor at a distance in the axial direction of the shaft, the stationary cores are disposed at two positions each having a central angle with respect to the axis of the shaft other than substantially 180°, so that the rotation sensor which is superior in mountability, is low in cost, and is superior in detection accuracy over a wider range is provided.

Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a central support member typically consisting of wire mesh or grid and supports most of the load of the vehicle occupant via spring members, and undergoes a relatively large displacement when the occupant is seated in the seat. Thus, by detecting the displacements of various parts of the central support member, preferably peripheral parts thereof, the magnitude of the total load and distribution of the load can be evaluated both reliably and accurately. Additionally, displacement sensors for measuring such large displacements are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle. Also, such sensors would not interfere with the existing seat designs, and would not be adversely affected by the equipment of the seat such as seat heaters.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that prevents formation of scratches and occurrence of dishing in a CMP process utilizing a ceria slurry is to be provided. The method includes forming a first film on a part of a semiconductor substrate, forming a second film all over the semiconductor substrate, and a CMP process utilizing a ceria slurry to planarize the second film using the first film as a mask, and the CMP process includes performing a first CMP until a portion of the first film is exposed and performing a second CMP. A first ceria slurry of a predetermined abrasive grain concentration is employed in the first CMP, and a second ceria slurry of a lower abrasive grain concentration is employed in the the second CMP, in which the number of scratches is reduced by reducing the abrasive grain concentration of the ceria slurry, and also a dishing is prevented by reducing a polishing rate ratio between the first and the second films.

Abstract: A seat belt connector assembly is provided with a seat belt anchor adapted to be coupled to a passenger seat and a cover for accommodating an upper part of the seat belt anchor. The seat belt anchor and the cover, which are relatively movable, are each formed with a seat-belt insertion hole permitting a seat belt to pass therethrough, and are formed with a mark and a through hole, respectively. When the desired relative position permitting the desired tension force to be applied to the seat belt is established between the seat belt anchor and the cover, the mark is made visible through the through hole.

Abstract: A seat belt connector assembly is provided with a seat belt anchor adapted to be coupled to a passenger seat and a cover for accommodating an upper part of the seat belt anchor. The seat belt anchor and the cover, which are relatively movable, are each formed with a seat-belt insertion hole permitting a seat belt to pass therethrough, and are formed with a mark and a through hole, respectively. When the desired relative position permitting the desired tension force to be applied to the seat belt is established between the seat belt anchor and the cover, the mark is made visible through the through hole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weight sensor device for detecting a weight of an occupant seated on a seat having a seat frame and a cushion. The device has a sensing wire displaced downward in the seat frame as the cushion is deformed due to the weight of the occupant when the occupant is seated on the seat and a variable resistor for converting a displacement of the sensing wire into an electric signal indicative of the weight of the occupant.

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided, including an endoscope having a flexible inserting tube to be inserted into a human body and a plurality of bending sensors distributed over the flexible inserting tube along the longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the bending sensors detects the local bending state of the flexible inserting tube at the location the bending sensor are provided. A computer adapted to receive data on the local bending state from each of the plurality of bending sensors is also provided. The computer generates a graphical image representing the geometrical configuration of the flexible inserting tube from the data on the local bending states. A monitor connected to the computer to display the graphical image generated by the computer.

Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a central support member typically consisting of wire mesh or grid and supports most of the load of the vehicle occupant via spring members, and undergoes a relatively large displacement when the occupant is seated in the seat. Thus, by detecting the displacements of various parts of the central support member, preferably peripheral parts thereof, the magnitude of the total load and distribution of the load can be evaluated both reliably and accurately. Additionally, displacement sensors for measuring such large displacements are relatively inexpensive and easy to handle. Also, such sensors would not interfere with the existing seat designs, and would not be adversely affected by the equipment of the seat such as seat heaters.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system that shares peripheral devices, such as a TV monitor, VCR etc., among a plurality of electronic endoscopes via an electronic endoscope selector. Each of the electronic endoscopes is connected to the electronic endoscope selector and the electronic endoscope selector selectively switches between video signals of the electronic endoscopes and feeds them to the TV monitor. Further the electronic endoscope selector comprises image memories and is able to store an image captured by the electronic endoscopes. A stored image may be comparatively displayed on the screen of the TV monitor with the live video being captured by the selected endoscope units. Further, the comparative display is controlled by control buttons on the electronic endoscope. The electronic endoscope selector also comprises a memory for storing image parameters for each electronic endoscope, and adjusts images on the screen by utilizing the parameter for each electronic endoscope.

Abstract: A light transmitting part is formed on a second rotary shutter to intermittently transmit excitation light emitted from an excitation light source, which has a circumferential length substantially equal to a half of the entire periphery of the second rotary shutter in order to extend the period during which excitation light is emitted through a light distribution lens. As a living tissue is irradiated with excitation light, it generates autofluorescence. Although the autofluorescence is weak, a CCD can convert the image of the object under examination formed from the autofluorescence into a fluorescence video signal of a sufficient intensity level because excitation light is irradiated for an extended period of time. The obtained fluorescence video signal does not need to be amplified to an undesirable extent and hence can be processed with a high S/N to provide an appropriate diagnostic video signal that is free from noise.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system that shares peripheral devices, such as a TV monitor, VCR etc., among a plurality of electronic endoscopes via an electronic endoscope selector. Each of the electronic endoscopes is connected to the electronic endoscope selector and the electronic endoscope selector selectively switches between video signals of the electronic endoscopes and feeds them to the TV monitor. Further the electronic endoscope selector comprises image memories and is able to store an image captured by the electronic endoscopes. A stored image may be comparatively displayed on the screen of the TV monitor with the live video being captured by the selected endoscope units. Further, the comparative display is controlled by control buttons on the electronic endoscope. The electronic endoscope selector also comprises a memory for storing image parameters for each electronic endoscope, and adjusts images on the screen by utilizing the parameter for each electronic endoscope.

Abstract: In an electronic endoscope system, a scope has an image sensor provided at a distal end thereof to generate image-pixel signals. A proximal end of the scope is connected to an image-signal processing unit, in which the image-pixel signals are processed to produce a video signal. A light source device is provided in the processing unit. An optical light guide extends through the scope. When the connection is established between the scope and the processing unit, the light guide is optically connected to the light source device. The light source device includes a white light lamp, and an ultraviolet lamp, and a mirror for selectively introducing either the white light or the ultraviolet light into the light guide.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope system including a scope unit for capturing an image of an object illuminated by light using an image sensor and an image processing unit that processes the captured image to generate a video signal, is provided with a first illuminating system that illuminates the object with white light, and a second illuminating system that illuminates the object with light having a special wavelength. At least one operable switch that is operated for switching the Illumination system between the first and second systems is provided, and a switching system that switches the illuminating system between the first and second illuminating systems in response to operation of the operable switch. In such a system, the operable switch is provided at a portion accessible to an operator who is operating the scope unit.

Abstract: A passenger detecting apparatus determines the presence of a passenger or an object, such as a child seat, in a seat unit, estimates the weight of the passenger or determines the build of the passenger, thereby improving the usability of peripheral devices of a seat. The passenger detecting apparatus has a dielectric sensor (111) and a pressure-sensitive sensor (112) in a seat cushion (102) and detects the presence of a passenger or an object on a seat based on their outputs, or has a dielectric sensor and a pressure-sensitive sensor in the seat cushion and a dielectric sensor (113) in the back rest and an angle sensor (114) for detecting an angle defined by the seat cushion and the back rest and determines the build of a passenger based on their outputs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a weight sensor device for detecting a weight of an occupant seated on a seat having a seat frame and a cushion. The device has a sensing wire displaced downward in the seat frame as the cushion is deformed due to the weight of the occupant when the occupant is seated on the seat and a variable resistor for converting a displacement of the sensing wire into an electric signal indicative of the weight of the occupant.

Abstract: A film pressure sensor to be interposed between a cover of an automotive seating equipment and a seat cushion material thereof and used suitably for measuring pressure to be applied to the seating equipment. A temperature sensing area (25) for sensing the temperature of a pressure sensing area (23) is formed on an insulating film (21a or 21b) of the film pressure sensor (20) using a substance whose electrical resistance changes depending on the temperature. Errors in pressure measurement to be caused by change in the temperature can be reduced or removed by utilizing the temperature determined by the temperature sensing area (25).

Abstract: An endoscope system is provided, including an endoscope having a flexible inserting tube to be inserted into a human body and a plurality of bending sensors distributed over the flexible inserting tube along the longitudinal direction thereof. Each of the bending sensors detects the local bending state of the flexible inserting tube at the location the bending sensor are provided. A computer adapted to receive data on the local bending state from each of the plurality of bending sensors is also provided. The computer generates a graphical image representing the geometrical configuration of the flexible inserting tube from the data on the local bending states. A monitor connected to the computer to display the graphical image generated by the computer.

Abstract: A passenger detecting apparatus determines the presence of a passenger or an object, such as a child seat, in a seat unit, estimates the weight of the passenger or determines the build of the passenger, thereby improving the usability of peripheral devices of a seat. The passenger detecting apparatus has a dielectric sensor (111) and a pressure-sensitive sensor (112) in a seat cushion (102) and detects the presence of a passenger or an object on a seat based on their outputs, or has a dielectric sensor and a pressure-sensitive sensor in the seat cushion and a dielectric sensor (113) in the back rest and an angle sensor (114) for detecting an angle defined by the seat cushion and the back rest and determines the build of a passenger based on their outputs.

Abstract: A seat belt connector assembly is provided with a seat belt anchor adapted to be coupled to a passenger seat and a cover for accommodating an upper part of the seat belt anchor. The seat belt anchor and the cover, which are relatively movable, are each formed with a seat-belt insertion hole permitting a seat belt to pass therethrough, and are formed with a mark and a through hole, respectively. When the desired relative position permitting the desired tension force to be applied to the seat belt is established between the seat belt anchor and the cover, the mark is made visible through the through hole.