Abstract: An image combining method includes a step of preparing picked-up images each provided with an overlapping region, a step of determining at least one of X and Y directions as a weighting direction for each overlapping region, a step of setting a one-dimensional weighting factor array in which a weighting factor gradually decreases toward an outer side of each picked-up image in the weighting direction in the overlapping region, a step of obtaining a weighted pixel value of each overlapping pixel included in the overlapping region in each picked-up image by weighting a pixel value of the overlapping pixel by using a weighting factor specified from the weighting factor array, and a step of acquiring a combined image by combining the picked-up images. A pixel value of each overlapping pixel in the combined image is obtained by using weighted pixel values in two or more picked-up images.

Abstract: A thinning method includes a step of detecting a target run group as a specific run group in a run-length encoded binary image in which a run representing a pattern is designated as a target run, wherein the target run group represents a linear region crossing a left-and-right direction corresponding to a run length and includes target runs sequentially connected to one another in an up-and-down direction, and a step of acquiring a run-length encoded partially-thinned image by shortening a run length of the specific run group. For shortening the run length of the specific run group, in the specific run group, a run length of each target run included in both end portions in the up-and-down direction becomes shorter as it gets positioned nearer to a center side and run lengths of target runs positioned between both the end portions become a set width.

Abstract: A fixing device includes an endless belt, a stretching roller, a stretching member, a pressing member, a rubbing member, a moving unit configured to move the rubbing member between a first position at which the rubbing member is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the belt and a second position at which the rubbing member is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the belt, and a steering roller. In a case where the rubbing member is located at the second position, a region of the belt rubbed by the rubbing member is sandwiched between the stretching roller and the rubbing member. In a case where the rubbing member is located at the first position, the region of the belt rubbed by the rubbing member is separated from the stretching roller and the rubbing member.

Abstract: A multilayer coil component includes an element body, a coil disposed in the element body, terminal electrodes disposed in the element body, and a first connection conductor and a second connection conductor that connect the coil and the terminal electrodes. A plurality of first pores are provided in the coil, a plurality of second pores are provided in the first connection conductor and the second connection conductor, and an area of the second pore per unit area in the first connection conductor and the second connection conductor is larger than an area of the first pore per unit area in the coil.

Abstract: An occupant protection device includes a seatbelt, an inflator, an airbag and a tether. The seatbelt has a lap belt portion that restrains a waist portion of an occupant. The inflator discharges an inflating gas. The airbag is provided in the lap belt portion, and includes a bag main body portion, which receives the occupant by inflating owing to the inflating gas being supplied, and a conduit portion, which is connected to the inflator, guides the inflating gas discharged from the inflator to the bag main body portion, and causes the inflating gas to flow into the bag main body The tether links the conduit portion and a side wall portion, of a left side wall portion and a right side wall portion of the bag main body portion when inflation is completed, on a side separated from the inflator in a left-right direction.

Abstract: A multilayer structured spun yarn (20) includes core component fibers (21) and sheath component fibers (24). The core component fibers (21) are a multifilament yarn. The sheath component fibers (24) include inner layer fibers (22) and outer layer fibers (23). The inner layer fibers (22) are untwisted and entirely bundled by the outer layer fibers (23) wound therearound in one direction. The sheath component fibers (24) are a blend of short fibers A with an average fiber length of 10 to 25 mm and short fibers B with an average fiber length of longer than 25 mm and 51 mm or shorter. The multifilament yarn of the core component fibers serves as a connecting yarn. The blending proportion of the short fibers A is preferably 0.1 to 20 mass % with respect to 100 mass % of the multilayer structured spun yarn (20).

Abstract: An image generation method generates a plurality of reduced partial images by reducing a plurality of partial images. The reduced partial images are then combined into a reduced composite image. Then, a reduced observation region corresponding to the observation region is detected from the reduced composite image. Then, an observation region that is not reduced is calculated in accordance with the reduced observation region. Thereafter, among the partial images, those that correspond to the observation region are combined into the observation image. This reduces the storage capacity of the memory as compared to the case where the observation region is detected from the composite image that is not reduced. The storage capacity of the memory is also reduced as compared to the case where the composite image of the entire imaging region is generated.

Abstract: An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a seat includes a seatbelt having at least a tongue, a buckle, and a lap belt portion, an inflator, and an airbag provided in the lap belt portion. In a state where a main body portion of the airbag is inflated, an end portion on a tongue side of a conduit portion of the airbag in a left-right direction of the seat extends as far as a position equivalent to that of an end portion on the tongue side of the main body portion, or nearer than the end portion on the tongue side of the main body portion to the tongue.

Abstract: Sharpness at each focus position is calculated as an individual sharpness. Thereafter, one or M (where M is a natural number equal to or greater than 2 and smaller than N) corrective sharpness are calculated and image reference values are determined from the individual sharpness. An luminance value is calculated based on the image reference values and the corrective sharpness for each pixel. An all-in-focus image is generated by combining those luminance values.

Abstract: In an image acquisition apparatus, acquired are picked-up images 71 representing divided regions, respectively, which are obtained by dividing a predetermined region on a target object, and in the picked-up images 71, each image pair 72 representing adjacent divided regions has an overlapping region 73. The amount of relative positional deviation in each image pair 72 is specified by generating a similarity map 74 indicating a distribution of the degree of similarity. Combination positions of the picked-up images 71 are determined on the basis of the amounts of positional deviation in image pairs 72 included in the picked-up images 71 while it is assumed that an image pair 72 whose similarity map 74 has a directivity is a specific image pair 72 and a weight of the specific image pair 72 is set to be lower than those of other image pairs 72.

Abstract: An image processing method according to the invention is for dilating an object in a binary image represented by run-length code. The image processing method includes obtaining a target dilation amount representing how much the object is to be dilated, determining a first dilation amount decreasing as a density of runs in the image increases, comparing the target dilation amount and the first dilation amount, and performing an dilation processing based on the comparison result. If the target dilation amount is larger than the first dilation amount, a first dilation processing by the first dilation amount and a second dilation processing after the first dilation processing by a second dilation amount are performed. The second dilation amount is a difference between the target dilation amount and the first dilation amount. Otherwise, the dilation processing by the target dilation amount is directly performed.

Abstract: In a focusing position detection method, a plurality of object images are acquired by imaging an imaging object by an imager while changing a focal position in M stages along an optical axis. A saturation consecutive region is acquired. The saturation consecutive region is included in all N (where N is a natural number equal to or more than three and equal to and less M) object images acquired while successively changing the focal position in N stages along the optical axis. A focusing degree decrease as the focal position approaches focusing position in the saturation consecutive region. Based on this property, the focusing position is detected.

Abstract: An imaging method according to the invention includes storing image data corresponding to an original image in a memory every time one original image is obtained and calculating positional deviation amounts between the original images. For each of the original images, an object image number indicating the number of calculation object images serving as calculation objects for the positional deviation amount, is set based on a positional relationship of the imaging fields of view. The image data corresponding to a particular image is released from the memory. The particular image is an original image of which a number of the calculation object images already used to calculate the positional deviation amount between this particular image increased to the object image number.

Abstract: In a focusing position detection method, a plurality of object images are acquired by imaging an imaging object by an imager while changing a focal position in M stages along an optical axis. A saturation consecutive region is acquired. The saturation consecutive region is included in all N (where N is a natural number equal to or more than three and equal to and less M) object images acquired while successively changing the focal position in N stages along the optical axis. A focusing degree decrease as the focal position approaches focusing position in the saturation consecutive region. Based on this property, the focusing position is detected.

Abstract: Definition is calculated for each pixel in a plurality of captured images while changing a focal position. For each coordinates, an image reference value indicating the number of a to-be-referenced captured image is determined. Then, a luminance value is calculated for each coordinates on the basis of the image reference value and the definition. At this time, the luminance value in the captured image indicated by the image reference value of peripheral coordinates is reflected in the luminance value in the captured image indicated by the image reference value of each coordinates. The calculated luminance values are combined to generate an omnifocal image. Accordingly, a smooth omnifocal image is generated. The image reference values themselves are not changed. This prevents unnecessary luminance values of pixels existing in captured images that ought not to be referenced from appearing in the omnifocal image.

Abstract: Sharpness at each focus position is calculated as an individual sharpness. Thereafter, one or M (where M is a natural number equal to or greater than 2 and smaller than N) corrective sharpness are calculated and image reference values are determined from the individual sharpness. An luminance value is calculated based on the image reference values and the corrective sharpness for each pixel. An all-in-focus image is generated by combining those luminance values.

Abstract: An image processing method that includes setting a plurality of search areas of a predetermined size having mutually different circumferential positions along a peripheral edge part and extending in a radial direction from a center of a recess toward the peripheral edge part near the peripheral edge part in an image, executing an edge detection in each search area to obtain detected edge position and edge intensity for each search area, obtaining a relative shift amount for making a degree of similarity of image patterns highest for each search area when another search area adjacent to the search area in the circumferential direction is shifted in the radial direction with respect to the search area, and specifying a position of the boundary in one search area based on the edge positions, the edge intensities and the relative shift amounts in the search area and each of the search areas in neighboring ranges in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: In a focusing position detection method, a second step is carried out. The second step includes dividing the object image into a plurality of local regions, obtaining a local value indicating the degree of focalization from the local region for each of the plurality of local regions and obtaining the focus degree on the basis of the plurality of local values. Thus, even when a plurality of object images acquired by imaging an imaging object by using an imager while changing a focal position along an optical axis are relatively dark or include a high-luminance region, it is possible to stably detect a focusing position without repeating detection operations.

Abstract: An image processing method is for detecting the edge of a well where cells are analyzed, from image data obtained by capturing the well and surroundings of the well, and an edge coordinate group for the well is extracted from the image data. If a plurality of edge coordinate groups has been extracted, edge candidates for the well are generated for each of the plurality of edge coordinate groups. Then, an edge candidate that satisfies a predetermined reference value is selected from among the generated edge candidates. If a plurality of edge candidates has been selected, relative evaluations are conducted to determine the edge of the analysis region from among the plurality of edge candidates.

Abstract: In a focusing position detection method, a second step is carried out. The second step includes dividing the object image into a plurality of local regions, obtaining a local value indicating the degree of focalization from the local region for each of the plurality of local regions and obtaining the focus degree on the basis of the plurality of local values. Thus, even when a plurality of object images acquired by imaging an imaging object by using an imager while changing a focal position along an optical axis are relatively dark or include a high-luminance region, it is possible to stably detect a focusing position without repeating detection operations.