Abstract: An image processing apparatus for interpolating a pixel value of an interpolation pixel which makes an object of an interpolation process, includes a production section configured to produce, based on the position of the interpolation pixel, a pixel value group including the pixel value of the interpolation pixel and a plurality of pixel values of different pixels; a write control section configured to control a plurality of storage sections; a readout control section configured to control the storage sections so that the pixel values of the pixels included in the pixel value group are read out at a time from the storage sections in which the pixel values of the pixels included in the pixel value group are stored; and an interpolation section configured to interpolate the pixel value of the interpolation pixel using the pixel value group read out by the readout control section.

Abstract: A tightening string is used in an endoscope for firmly securing an outer cover of a flexible tube of the endoscope onto an internal member disposed inside the outer cover. The tightening string is comprised of a filament assembly formed by bundling a plurality of filaments made of a synthetic resin. The invention also provides an outer cover securing method, a flexible tube for an endoscope, and an endoscope equipped with the flexible tube. Alternatively, the filament assembly may include a first filament having an elongation ratio at room temperature of greater than 10% and a second filament having a elongation ratio at room temperature of equal to or lower than 10%, in which the filament assembly is formed by twisting the first and second filaments. An outer cover securing method using the tightening string, a flexible tube for an endoscope equipped with the thus secured outer cover, and an endoscope equipped with the flexible tube are also provided.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a gaming machine having a credit-value/bet-value processor storing the number of bets paid out by a player, a stage information generator determining CPU-side dice-numbers for the gaming machine, a player-side dice determination device determining player-side dice-numbers for the player, and a stage win and loss determination device making comparison between the CPU-side dice-numbers and the player-side dice-numbers for determining a win and loss of the relevant stage, whereby from among a plurality of stages, a stage available for the player to play is determined depending on the number of bets stored in the credit/value processor.

Abstract: An operation button for an endoscope is provided with a cylinder and a piston reciprocally slidable inside a lumen of the cylinder. A first flow channel and a second flow channel are formed to communicate with the lumen. When the piston is located at a first position, the first and second flow channel communicate with each other, while the first flow channel and the second flow channel are disconnected when the piston is located at a second position. A sealing member is provided on an outer periphery of the piston to provide secure airtightness between the cylinder and the piston. The sealing member includes a core member mainly made of one of poly-para-xylylene and poly-para-xylylene derivatives and a coating layer allocated on an outer periphery of the core member.

Abstract: Thermoplastic polyurethanes comprise segments A formed of a high molecular weight diol, segments B formed of at least one low molecular weight diol selected from 1,4-bis(hydroxyethoxy)benzene and 1,3-propanediol, and segments C formed of a polyisocyanate. These segments A, B and C are bonded together in a linear form by urethane bonds. The segments B account for 1 to 30 wt. % in the thermoplastic polyurethane. These thermoplastic polyurethanes are characterized in that they have high impact resilience and also in that their impact resilience does not drop much in a low temperature range, in other words, their impact resilience does not vary much depending on changes in outdoor temperature.

Abstract: A method for brazing two or more of stainless steel components for use in medical equipment, in which one component is joined to other component using a brazing material containing Au of which amount is 62.5 wt % or higher, the method comprising the steps of: a first step in which the components are subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of 1,050 to 1,200° C. in a hydrogen containing atmosphere or in a vacuum; a second step in which one of the components is allowed to close to the other component so as to form a gap therebetween; and a third step in which the brazing material in a molten state is supplied into the gap to join the components together to manufacture a metal assembly. The joint portions formed in the metal assembly have excellent chemical resistance and corrosion resistance, and thus the metal assembly is suitably used in an endoscope.

Abstract: A contact slidable structure is formed between a resilient terminal and a terminal electrode. The terminal electrodes and are disposed on the ceramic element. The resilient terminals and are resiliently deformed and forced to press the terminal electrodes and. The ceramic element has the ceramic body, inner leads and formed inside the ceramic body, terminal electrodes and disposed on the outer surfaces and, and conductive through holes and electrically connecting the inner leads and with the terminal electrodes and, respectively. In the ceramic element, the resilient terminals and are placed slidably on the outer surfaces and of the terminal electrodes and to form the contact slidable structure, and the conductive through holes and are not formed within the contact slidable areas and to the terminal electrodes and, respectively.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a fabrication method of a semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of improving the throughput, reducing the cost of a cleaning gas and prolonging the life of a process kit by automatically detecting the end point of cleaning in a chamber. A cleaning gas converted into plasma in a plasma gas generator is introduced into a chamber to remove an unnecessary film deposited over the interior wall of the chamber or electrode. By an RF power source adjusted to low output from the film formation time, a high frequency voltage is applied to a lower electrode and an upper electrode. This voltage is detected by an RF sensor and amplified by an electronic module. The voltage thus amplified by the electronic module is input to a termination controller. The termination controller automatically judges the termination of cleaning when the voltage thus input becomes substantially constant at a predetermined voltage or greater.

Abstract: A high heat-radiating structure of a gas sensor is provided. The gas sensor includes a sensing element which is to be exposed to a measurement gas and a body in which the sensing element is installed. The body has an outer wall which includes a gas-exposed surface and an air-exposed surface. The gas-exposed surface is to be exposed to the measurement gas. The air-exposed surface is to be exposed to an atmospheric air. At least a portion of at least one of the air-exposed surface and the gas-exposed surface has an emissivity of 0.7 or more, thereby enhancing the heat radiation from inside to outside the body of the gas sensor to protect less heat resistant parts from thermal damage.

Abstract: A contact slidable structure is formed between a resilient terminal and a terminal electrode. The terminal electrodes and are disposed on the ceramic element. The resilient terminals and are resiliently deformed and forced to press the terminal electrodes and. The ceramic element has the ceramic body, inner leads and formed inside the ceramic body, terminal electrodes and disposed on the outer surfaces and, and conductive through holes and electrically connecting the inner leads and with the terminal electrodes and, respectively. In the ceramic element, the resilient terminals and are placed slidably on the outer surfaces and of the terminal electrodes and to form the contact slidable structure, and the conductive through holes and are not formed within the contact slidable areas and to the terminal electrodes and, respectively.

Abstract: A slit type blow nozzle 14 for ejecting a blow gas 1 and a slit type chemical rinse nozzle 12 for ejecting a rinse chemical 2 are arranged such that the blow gas removes a coating film dissolved by the chemical rinse from the end surface of a glass substrate.

Abstract: In order to exchange waiting time, troublesomeness, and labor incurred in the receiving of goods and services with a monetary value, and acquire a priority with respect to the provision of goods and services, an auction system 1 receives bids for queuing exemption rights from bidder terminals 2, decides upon a successful bidder for the queuing exemption rights, sends an exemption rights password corresponding to the queuing exemption rights to the terminal 2 of the decided upon bidder, and sends the exemption rights password to an exemption rights authentication system 3. When the exemption rights authentication system 3 acquires the exemption rights password from the successful bidder, the exemption rights password acquired from the successful bidder and the exemption rights password acquired from the auction system 1 are collated, and when the result of this collation is a match, a signal indicating that the result of this collation is a match is outputted to exemption notification means 31.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a glow plug (1) with an ion current detecting function, which is mounted in a combustion chamber of a Diesel engine. The glow plug includes an insulator (8); a heating element (6) embedded in the insulator and energized through a pair of lead wires (11a, 11b) to generate heat; and an ion current detecting electrode (14) embedded in the insulator with a portion exposed into a flame in the combustion chamber so that an ionization state in the flame can be detected. The heating element of the glow plug promotes ignition and combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (7) due to its heating action caused when running the heating element hot. The ion current detecting electrode detects an ionization state in the combustion flame. When detecting ion current, the ion current detecting electrode and the adjacent inner wall of the combustion chamber form two electrodes for capturing positive and negative ions existing between both when burning the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a glow plug (1) with an ion current detecting function, which is mounted in a combustion chamber of a Diesel engine. The glow plug includes an insulator (8); a heating element (6) embedded in the insulator and energized through a pair of lead wires (11a, 11b) to generate heat; and an ion current detecting electrode (14) embedded in the insulator with a portion exposed into a flame in the combustion chamber so that an ionization state in the flame can be detected. The heating element of the glow plug promotes ignition and combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (7) due to its heating action caused when running the heating element hot. The ion current detecting electrode detects an ionization state in the combustion flame. When detecting ion current, the ion current detecting electrode and the adjacent inner wall of the combustion chamber form two electrodes for capturing positive and negative ions existing between both when burning the fuel.

Abstract: A device for electronic article search and supply services according to the present invention includes meta-data described by definitions that each publisher providing the electronic article defines differently, a meta-data loading unit for absorbing the different definitions and loading each of the meta-data, a database established by storing data loaded by the meta-data loading unit, a search unit for searching through the database, a link information display unit for displaying link information to the electronic article indicated by the meta-data, and an access unit for accessing to the indicated electronic article.

Abstract: A slit type blow nozzle 14 for ejecting a blow gas 1 and a slit type chemical rinse nozzle 12 for ejecting a rinse chemical 2 are arranged such that the blow gas removes a coating film dissolved by the chemical rinse from the end surface of a glass substrate.

Abstract: A delivery pipe of a fuel supply system for injectors mounted on a cylinder head is divided for each injector or a group of injectors. Divided pipe parts are coupled with each other through a flexible member to allow flexing of the delivery pipe. Each injector is connected with the delivery pipe through a flexible coupling member and with the cylinder head through a flexible cushioning member. Alternatively, a fuel passage is formed in the cylinder head in place of the delivery pipe to supply fuel to the injectors after heating in the cylinder head.

Abstract: A delivery pipe of a fuel supply system for injectors mounted on a cylinder head is divided for each injector or a group of injectors. Divided pipe parts are coupled with each other through a flexible member to allow flexing of the delivery pipe. Each injector is connected with the delivery pipe through a flexible coupling member and with the cylinder head through a flexible cushioning member. Alternatively, a fuel passage is formed in the cylinder head in place of the delivery pipe to supply fuel to the injectors after heating in the cylinder head.

Abstract: A path switching system and method for a multiple-node ATM network, in which a plurality of paths can be simultaneously switched preserving proper correspondence thereof. A key choosing unit provided in a node chooses first and second sorting keys out of the virtual paths between the nodes, based on a first and second path information stored in a path information memory unit. Two nodes located at both ends of the route failed due to trouble in the ATM network select a first pair of isolated virtual paths having the first sorting key, which were formerly connected to the failed route, and connect them to a first bypass route. The two nodes then connect in a similar way a second pair of isolated virtual paths both having the second sorting key to a second bypass route.

Abstract: A spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine comprises a central electrode made of a base metal and an earth electrode. A tip portion is provided on the central electrode. The tip portion includes a noble metal tip layer for defining a spark discharge gap between the noble metal tip layer and the earth electrode, and an alloy layer provided between the noble metal tip layer and the central electrode. The tip portion is provided with grooves to be divided into a plurality of sections. The tip portion has an outer peripheral wall flared towards the earth electrode, and a width of the grooves gradually increases from a bottom thereof to a surface of the noble metal tip layer for defining the shark discharge gap.