Abstract: An image recognizing method is provided, which includes the capability of efficiently recognizing characters such as letters and numerical characters included in an original image with accuracy when at least one of the characters is composed of plural elements. In this method, the elements in the original image are extracted to obtain a second image, in which each of the elements is enclosed by a rectangular frame. Then, a composite image is prepared with respect to a combination of the rectangular frames in the second image. After calculating a characteristic amount of the elements included in the composite image, the characteristic amount is input in a back-propagation network, in which learning about a reference character(s) to be included in the image has already finished, so that a degree of agreement between the characteristic amount of the composite image and the reference character is obtained.

Abstract: An image processor for generating, from a surface image of an object having a pattern, a processed image having a distinct contrast between the pattern and a background, is provided. This image processor comprises a first smoothing filter for generating a first smoothed image; a second smoothing filter for generating a second smoothed image; a weighting unit for multiplying each of pixel values of the first smoothed image by a weight coefficient of 1 or more to determine a weighted pixel value; a differential image generator for subtracting each of weighted pixel values provided by the weighting unit from a pixel value of a corresponding pixel of the second smoothed image to generate a differential image; and an image extracting unit for extracting pixel values having the positive sign from the differential image to obtain the processed image. For example, this image processor can be utilized in a pattern recognition apparatus.

Abstract: A position detection system which performs rough detection processing of detecting a rough position of an approximate position of a check object in a check range based on the comparison result of comparison processing of comparing images provided by compressing the check image and a correct solution image subjected to the detection displacement operation of displacing by rough detection displacement amount at a time in the check image, then performs precise detection processing of detecting a more precise position of the check object in the check range in the proximity of the rough position based on the comparison result of comparison processing of comparing images provided by compressing the check image and the correct solution image subjected to the detection displacement operation of displacing by rough detection displacement amount at a time in the check image at a compression rate more moderate than the previous compression rate, and detects the position of the check object in the check range in multiple

Abstract: A sanitary-pipe gasket includes an annular disk portion of predetermined thickness, and a projecting portion which is provided concentrically with the annular disk portion on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the annular disk portion. The annular disk portion and the projecting portion of the sanitary-pipe gasket are integrally formed of porous PTFE such that the density of the annular portion ranges from 1.0 to 1.9 g/cm.sup.3 and the density of the projecting portion ranges from 0.3 to 1.8 g/cm.sup.3. The gasket is produced by disposing a porous PTFE sheet of 0.3 to 1.4 g/cm.sup.3 density and 1 to 10 mm thickness in a mold, and applying pressure perpendicular to the sheet at room temperature or with heating.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in ventilating the lungs of a patient comprises a respiratory gas source means; a breathing mask means; a conduit means for fluidly connecting the respiratory gas source means to the mask; a means fop regulating the pressure within the conduit means; a flow meter means for detecting the flow rate of the respiratory gas; and a pressure sensor means for detecting the pressure within the conduit adjacent to the breathing mask. The apparatus further comprises a means for calculating the flow impedance parameter of the flow system downstream the pressure sensing means; a means for storing the relationship between the operation of the pressure regulating means, the flow impedance parameter, and the pressure within the conduit means; a means for predicting the flow impedance parameter after a predetermined time interval; and a means for generating a target pressure to which the pressure regulating means regulates the pressure within the conduit.