Abstract: A three-dimensional image is displayed on a display in a central projection method based upon a viewpoint which is placed at the inside of an object and a line of sight. In this case, a plurality of tomographic images interposed between the viewpoint and a projection plane are sequentially arranged and displayed on a display screen. Polygon visual field frames are formed at points of intersection of projection lines forming a polygon pyramid and each tomographic image, and the visual field frames are displayed on the display screen. Thereby, the position of the viewpoint and the line of sight with respect to the currently-displayed three-dimensional image showing the inside of the object can be easily detected, and the part of the object which is being displayed can be easily recognized.

Abstract: A vehicle steering device has a steering inhibition portion that enables the steering device to be switched between a steering inhibition application mode and a steering inhibition release mode--regardless of whether or not the vehicle is being steered by a driver. This arrangement avoids the need to determine whether or not the vehicle is being steered before determining whether or not to inhibit steering.

Abstract: A method of setting threshold values for extracting image data includes the steps of determining (a) that a pixel of an image to be extracted is to be displayed in color if (1) a density value of the pixel is between a first threshold value and a second threshold value, and (2) a density gradient of the pixel is between a third threshold value and a fourth threshold value, and (b) that the pixel is to be displayed in monochrome if (1) the density value of the pixel is not between the first threshold value and the second threshold value, or (2) the density gradient of the pixel is not between the third threshold value and the fourth threshold value, and changing at least one of the first threshold value and the second threshold value to enable a desired image region of the image to be extracted to be displayed in color.

Abstract: A flat type IC conveyor capable of conveying flat type ICs while stabilizing the posture of the ICs. A plurality of recess portions accommodating therein flat type ICs are formed lengthwise and widthwise on a flat type IC conveyor. Through holes are respectively defined in the bottom surfaces of the recess portions in a manner of avoiding leads of the ICs. Positioning pins are provided upright on the IC conveyor. A cover includes a plurality of convex portions which are positioned corresponding to the recess portions and direct to project toward package portions of the ICs to be accommodated in the recess portions. The cover also includes holes into which the positioning pins are inserted. When the cover is mounted on the conveyor, the convex portions can prevent the inclination of the ICs in the recess portions.

Abstract: A method of constructing a three-dimensional image according to a central projection method, in which after a view point, tomographic images and a projection plane are set so that the tomographic images are put between the view point and the projection plane, a projection image is obtained by a central projection method, so that the pixel value of a projection point is determined in accordance with the distance between the view point and each of the tomographic images. Further, the view point is moved in combination with the projection plane successively in the direction of the depth of the tomographic images, so that a three-dimensional image is constructed and displayed whenever the position of the view point is changed.

Abstract: A handling system which carries a carrier carrying a plurality of IC devices, subjects the IC devices to testing, sorts the tested IC devices and stores the tested IC devices, said handling system comprises test units for electrically connecting IC devices to an IC socket for transmitting electrical signals provided by the IC devices to an IC tester; a loader/unloader unit for transferring IC devices to be tested from a container to a carrier, sorting tested IC devices and selectively transferring the tested IC devices from the carrier to containers; and carrier transfer units combined with the test units, respectively, to transfer the carrier from the loader/unloader unit to the corresponding test units and from the corresponding test units to the loader/unloader unit. The number of the test units to be used in combination with the loader/unloader unit being varied according to test time required by the IC tester for testing the IC devices contained in the carrier.

Abstract: In a three-dimensional image shading method using a volume rendering algorithm, the amount of light incident to a view plane from voxels of a predetermined value or above is determined by modulating the amount of light incident to the voxels by a function of sin .THETA., where .THETA. is the angle of the surfaces of CT slices to a perpendicular line drawn from an arbitrarily selected origin of an orthogonal three-dimensional coordinate system on the view plane.

Abstract: A moving-picture display method in which a stacked region of a plurality of planar images is changed, a three-dimensional image is constructed corresponding to each changed stacked region, projected three-dimensional images on a desirably set viewing plane are determined from the constructed three-dimensional images, and obtained projected three-dimensional images are sequentially displayed in order of stacked regions which sequentially increase or decrease in size.

Abstract: A method of displaying and cutting out a region of interest. Upon depicting contour lines indicating regions of interest, respectively, on a display screen, the regions of interest are displayed with contour lines differing from one region to another in accordance with the order in which the regions of interest are designated. The contour displayed is scanned in the four directions leftward, rightward, upward and downward. For the inaccessible regions which are located outside of the contour and which could not have been reached by the scanning line, one of the upward and downward scannings and one of the leftward and rightward scannings are repeated until the inaccessible regions are no longer present.

Abstract: A specific region extraction method of a medical image includes a step of displaying an image selected by a user from among a plurality of tomographic plane images aligned in a predetermined direction, on a display, generating a plurality of sectional plane images by designating a plurality of sectional positions for the tomographic plane image displayed, tracing a profile of a focus in each sectional plane image by using a data input device by a user, and determining profile data of a specific region in each tomographic plane image using coordinates of pixel data extracted by the tracing operation by interpolation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes a circuit for detecting a portion which changes more than a predetermined magnitude in the received echo signal, the portion being a changing point corresponding to a measurement point to be measured within the inspected object, a circuit for measuring an elapsed time until the changing point is detected from a timing point at which the echo signal is detected, a circuit for obtaining luminance values in correspondence with the elapsed time as display luminance values of the measurement point, and a circuit for displaying the measurement point within the inspected object by the luminance values thus obtained.

Abstract: A plurality of Doppler image data corresponding to a plurality of sliced planes of an object which are different from one another, respectively, are received. The plurality of Doppler image data shows distributions of first and second moving directions and moving velocities of a moving substance in the object on the plurality of sliced planes, respectively. First and second data showing distribution corresponding to each of a plurality of velocity ranges of the moving velocities among the distribution of the first and second moving direction, respectively, of the moving substance on each of the sliced planes is obtained based on the Doppler image data. Each of first and second three-dimensional image data is obtained based on the data corresponding to each of the plurality of velocity ranges and also corresponding to all of the plurality of sliced planes among all of the first and second data, respectively.

Abstract: A method of displaying and cutting out a region of interest. Upon depicting contour lines indicating regions of interest, respectively, on a display screen, the regions of interest are displayed with contour lines differing from one region to another in accordance with the order in which the regions of interest are designated. The contour displayed is scanned in the four directions leftward, rightward, upward and downward. For the inaccessible regions which are located outside of the contour and which could not have been reached by the scanning line, one of the upward and downward scannings and one of the leftward and rightward scannings are repeated until the inaccessible regions are no longer present.

Abstract: A refractory for use in firing ceramics has a ceramic coating applied by plasma spraying onto the surface of a heat-resistant lightweight shaped article containing heat-resistant lightweight shaped article containing heat-resistant inorganic fibers. The shaped article is composed of highly aluminous short fibers not longer than 2,000 .mu.m or a mixture thereof with an aluminous refractory powder as bound to each other by means of aluminous binder, the shaped article not containing free silica.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image display method for displaying a three-dimensional image including depth and distance information which consists of the steps of obtaining a densified three-dimensional image according to the distance information of an original three-dimensional image using a voxel method and modifying the densified three-dimensional image using a surface method. The surface method consists of the steps of determining each minute image element group including plural image elements proximate to each other over all image elements forming the densified three-dimensional image obtained under the voxel method, computing a density gradient defined by the each minute image element group based on density data of the plural image elements, substituting each modified density data modified according to the density gradient for the density data of the plural image elements obtained under voxel method, and displaying the modified density data on a display. A system for accomplishing this method is also provided.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a tiltable hanger apparatus including an overhead track assembly and a work-carrying assembly movable below and along the overhead track assembly. The work-carrying assembly is composed of a main carrier frame suspended from the overhead track assembly, an auxiliary carrier frame supported by the main carrier frame and arranged to be tiltable with respect to the main carrier frame in a fore-and-aft direction of the work-carrying assembly, and a hanger frame supported by the auxiliary carrier frame and angularly movable with respect to the auxiliary carrier frame about an axis normal to a plane perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction of the work-carrying assembly. The auxiliary carrier frame is caused to tilt with respect to the main carrier frame in a fore-and-aft direction of the work-carrying assembly by the aid of a first set of guide rollers and rails.