Abstract: A contour inspecting device for detecting a defect in a contour of an object to be inspected according to the invention comprises; an image memory for storing an image of the inspection object captured by a camera; a scanner for scanning, along a plurality of scanning lines, an inspection region which covers a part of the image stored in the image memory; a binary unit for converting an image signal read out by the scanner into a binary signal; a detector for detecting positions of changing points at which the value of the binary signal changes; a comparator for calculating a difference between positions of the changing points on two of the plurality of scanning lines separated from each other by a predetermined interval; and a decision unit for determining whether or not the contour of the inspection object has a defect on the basis of a comparison of the difference with a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining or adjusting a projecting direction of a light beam emitted from an automobile headlight is provided. In a first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral region of a light beam is used in determining its projecting direction. In particular, a region definable in a light pattern of the projected beam having a proportionality relation between log S and I, where S indicates the value of an area having light intensity I or above, is determined and its outer contour or any predetermined point in the contour is used in determining the projecting direction. In a second aspect, apparatus for determining a projecting direction of a light beam emitted from an automobile headlight includes an indicator which automatically indicates a predetermined position of a light pattern of the light beam projected.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a rotational angle of an objective pattern which involves calculating the area A and linear moments M.sub.x and M.sub.y of the pattern from binary picture elements formed after optically sensing the pattern. The picture elements are stored in the memory in binary form. The center of gravity of the objective pattern is calculated on the basis of the area A and the linear moments M.sub.x and M.sub.y, and a circular or ring-like search region (a window) is formed about that center of gravity. Thereafter, significant picture information in the search region is extracted from the picture information stored in the memory (in either an inverted or non-inverted state). The rotational angle of the objective pattern is then determined either by using a moment of inertia method or a inter two-gravity centers method calculation. The selection between the moment of inertia method and the inter two-gravity centers method can be performed by means of pre-set switch state information.

Abstract: A pattern rotation angle detecting system in which the angle of rotation of a pattern is detected according to the image data obtained by binary-coding and spatially-dividing the image signal of the pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining or adjusting a projecting direction of a light beam emitted from an automobile headlight is provided. In a first aspect of the present invention, the peripheral region of a light beam is used in determining its projecting direction. In particular, a region definable in a light pattern of the projected beam having a proportionality relation between log S and I, where S indicates the value of an area having light intensity I or above, is determined and its outer contour or any predetermined point in the contour is used in determining the projecting direction. In a second aspect, apparatus for determining a projecting direction of a light beam emitted from an automobile headlight includes an indicator which automatically indicates a predetermined position of a light pattern of the light beam projected.