Abstract: A support structure for a light source prevents the occurrence of a contact noise caused by contact of the light source with elements disposed around it due to vibrations. In the support structure, at the front of a backlight unit, cold cathode tubes as light sources and optical sheets for controlling the properties of light emitted from the cold cathode tubes are placed, and a frame substantially in the shape of a square with an opening is attached thereto from the front, so that rubber holders attached to the ends of the cold cathode tubes and the edges of the optical sheets are secured while disposed between the backlight unit and the frame.

Abstract: A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for image processing, the process includes: inputting first image data as a reference and second image data to be compared with the first image data; selecting a plurality of first sequences from different positions of the first image data, each of the plurality of first sequences includes first unit-image elements; determining whether or not a second sequence including second unit-image elements, having identity in an alignment of shapes with respect to the plurality of first sequences, exists in the second image data; and detecting from the second sequence determined not to exist in the second image data, a unit-image element not having the identity in the alignment of shapes with respect to the first image data among the second image data.

Abstract: A backlight chassis that is capable of preventing an unusual noise caused by vibrations of a backlight unit or a tubular lamp houses tubular lamps arranged behind a display panel via optical sheets. The backlight chassis includes lamp holding members provided on a lamp housing surface of the backlight chassis, for holding the tubular lamps at an approximate midpoint thereof, wherein the lamp holding members and the backlight chassis are defined by a unitary molded resin member.

Abstract: A support structure for a light source prevents the occurrence of a contact noise caused by contact of the light source with elements disposed around it due to vibrations. In the support structure, at the front of a backlight unit, cold cathode tubes as light sources and optical sheets for controlling the properties of light emitted from the cold cathode tubes are placed, and a frame substantially in the shape of a square with an opening is attached thereto from the front, so that rubber holders attached to the ends of the cold cathode tubes and the edges of the optical sheets are secured while disposed between the backlight unit and the frame.

Abstract: A backlight unit is capable of being designed in consideration of both thermal expansion of optical sheets and positioning accuracy of the optical sheets on a backlight chassis. The backlight unit is arranged behind a display panel a and includes a backlight chassis arranged to house a lamp, which includes a support surface arranged to support optical sheets, and a frame arranged to hold the optical sheets with the support surface of the backlight chassis, the optical sheets being interposed between the frame and the support surface, wherein the backlight chassis has, on its support surface, a positioning piece arranged to position the optical sheets at a predetermined position with respect to the support surface, and a position of the positioning piece corresponds to an approximate center of a longer edge of the optical sheets.

Abstract: A backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device includes a prism light guide plate supported by a frame-like chassis. The light guide plate includes a light incident surface having two ends, near which stainless steel metal stoppers are attached respectively. The metal stoppers include pawls which, upon the attachment, come inward from sides of the light incident surface of the light guide plate to between the light incident surface and a lamp (lamp holders). When the liquid crystal display device is subjected to an impact from outside, the metal stoppers prevent the light guide plate from moving toward the lamp, thereby offering improved impact resistance.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion, a second bending portion, and a hand-held unit. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member and has a plurality of joint pieces concatenated so that the joint pieces can rotate freely. The second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion, and has a plurality of joint pieces concatenated so that the joint pieces can rotate freely. The hand-held unit is located at the proximal end of the insertion member, and has a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. In the endoscope, the control section of the hand-held unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion and a second bending portion. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member and bent in four directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion member. The second bending portion is bent in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion member. The endoscope further includes a hand-held unit having a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. The control section of the handheld unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion and a second bending portion. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member, and the second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion. The dimension of the second bending portion in the longitudinal axis of the insertion member is smaller than the dimension of the first bending portion therein. The endoscope includes a hand-held unit having a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. The control section of the hand-held unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: A backlight unit of a liquid crystal display device includes a prism light guide plate (3) supported by a frame-like chassis (7). The light guide plate (3) includes a light incident surface (3i) having two ends, near which stainless steel metal stoppers (11A, 11B) are attached respectively. The metal stoppers (11A, 11B) include pawls (11Ap, 11Bp) which, upon the attachment, come inward from sides of the light incident surface (3i) of the light guide plate (3) to between the light incident surface (3i) and a lamp (8) (lamp holders (10)). When the liquid crystal display device is subjected to an impact from outside, the metal stoppers (11A, 11B) prevent the light guide plate (3) from moving toward the lamp (8) thereby offering improved impact resistance.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion, a second bending portion, and a hand-held unit. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member. The second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion. The hand-held unit is located at the proximal end of the insertion member and has a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. In the endoscope, the control section of the hand-held unit includes a bending knob, a second bending lever, a first locking lever, and a second locking lever. The angling knob is used to bend the first bending portion, and the second angling lever is used to bend the second bending portion. The first locking lever is used to lock the angling knob at a predetermined angular position, and the second locking lever is used to lock the second angling lever at a predetermined angular position.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope, two control apparatuses, electric cables, and two electric connector receptacles. The endoscope has a connector unit, which includes a light source connector to be coupled to a light source apparatus, fixed to the proximal end of a universal cord extending from an operation unit. The two control apparatuses electrically control the endoscope. The electric cables electrically link the control apparatuses and the endoscope. The two electric connector receptacles are included in the connector unit of the endoscope. Connectors attached to the electric cables are coupled to the two electric connector receptacles. When the connector of one of the electric cables is mounted on a first electric connector receptacle of the two electric connector receptacles, the direction in which the connector is oriented to be mounted is orthogonal to the direction in which the light source connector is oriented to be coupled to the light source apparatus.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion and a second bending portion. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member, and the second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion. The dimension of the second bending portion in the longitudinal axis of the insertion member is smaller than the dimension of the first bending portion therein. The endoscope includes a hand-held unit having a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. The control section of the hand-held unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion and a second bending portion. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member and bent in four directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion member. The second bending portion is bent in at least two directions substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the insertion member. The endoscope further includes a hand-held unit having a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. The control section of the handheld unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion, a second bending portion, and a hand-held unit. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member. The second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion. The hand-held unit is located at the proximal end of the insertion member and has a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. In the endoscope, the control section of the hand-held unit includes a bending knob, a second bending lever, a first locking lever, and a second locking lever. The angling knob is used to bend the first bending portion, and the second angling lever is used to bend the second bending portion. The first locking lever is used to lock the angling knob at a predetermined angular position, and the second angling lever is used to lock the second angling lever at a predetermined angular position.

Abstract: An endoscope has a first bending portion, a second bending portion, and a hand-held unit. The first bending portion is the distal portion of an elongated insertion member and has a plurality of joint pieces concatenated so that the joint pieces can rotate freely. The second bending portion is located at the proximal end of the first bending portion, and has a plurality of joint pieces concatenated so that the joint pieces can rotate freely. The hand-held unit is located at the proximal end of the insertion member, and has a control section that is used to bend the first bending portion and second bending portion. In the endoscope, the control section of the hand-held unit has an angling knob that is used to bend the first bending portion, and a second angling lever that is used to bend the second bending portion.

Abstract: A method of obtaining a motion vector in moving images is based on evaluation of computational results of searches made by matching a target template and a group of pixel blocks each having a same size as the target template. The steps include: 1) searching in a wide area and obtaining a reference vector to indicate an overall image movement; 2) searching in narrow areas centered about the reference vector for all templates in the target image, and obtaining a displacement vector for each template in relation to the reference vector; and 3) summing the reference vector and the displacement vector for each template, and assigning a computed result as a motion vector in each template.

Abstract: A reflection sheet and a frame are arranged below a light guide plate having a light collecting effect. A tubular light source is arranged near the end surface (edge) of light guide plate. A reflector is arranged to surround tubular light source. A sheet having the light collecting effect and a sheet having a light diffusing effect are provided above light guide plate. Further, a liquid crystal panel is arranged thereabove. A sheet with protrusions is provided between a lens like grooved surface having the light collecting effect of light guide plate and reflection sheet. Thus, damage is not caused to lens like grooved surface, and lens like grooved surface is prevented from catching reflection sheet. Thus, a liquid crystal display or a back light which prevents a luminous dot phenomenon is provided.

Abstract: A two-dimensional PE (processing element) array that can achieve a small amount of hardware, short transfer time and high flexibility. It includes q.times.r CAMs, where q and r are any integers equal to or greater than two, and hit-flag lines. Each CAM has one-dimensionally arrayed w words, a hit-flag register capable of shift up and shift down, and an upper shift I/O port and a lower shift I/O port for inputting from and outputting to outside the contents of the hit-flag register. Each of the hit-flag lines connects the lower-shift I/O port of one of two horizontally adjacent CAMs with the upper-shift I/O port of the other of the two. The w words are arranged in m rows and n columns and are connected in a zigzag, and each word is assigned to a PE that performs various types of logical and arithmetic operations.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device operable at a power source voltage in a wide range and capable of stably detecting data includes a potential detector for detecting a potential of a dummy bit line having a parasitic capacitance corresponding to a parasitic capacitance of bit lines and a plurality of second precharge circuits provided correspondingly to the respective bit lines, for precharging the respective bit lines in response to a precharge signal and terminating the precharge operation in response to an output of the potential detector.