Showing papers by "Panasonic published in 1990"

Perceptual linear predictive (PLP) analysis of speech

Abstract: A new technique for the analysis of speech, the perceptual linear predictive (PLP) technique, is presented and examined. This technique uses three concepts from the psychophysics of hearing to derive an estimate of the auditory spectrum: (1) the critical-band spectral resolution, (2) the equal-loudness curve, and (3) the intensity-loudness power law. The auditory spectrum is then approximated by an autoregressive all-pole model. A 5th-order all-pole model is effective in suppressing speaker-dependent details of the auditory spectrum. In comparison with conventional linear predictive (LP) analysis, PLP analysis is more consistent with human hearing. The effective second formant F2' and the 3.5-Bark spectral-peak integration theories of vowel perception are well accounted for. PLP analysis is computationally efficient and yields a low-dimensional representation of speech. These properties are found to be useful in speaker-independent automatic-speech recognition.

Ink recording apparatus

Abstract: An ink recording apparatus used with printers or the like and manufactured by applying semiconductor device manufacturing techniques. One wall of an ink chamber (20) is formed of a single-crystal substrate (21) and an ink jet port (21a) is formed by etching on the single-crystal sub­strate (21). A shutter (25) and electrodes (24a to 24h) composed of polycrystalline-silicon film are formed on the single-crystal substrate by film forming in the LPCVD method and patterning through plasma etching. A front wall (28) is formed by coating the shutter (25) and electrodes (24a to 24h) further with a polycrystalline-silicon film. The shutter (25) is movable between the wall surface of the ink chamber (20) and the front wall (28), being driven through electrostatic attracting force produced between voltage-ap­plied electrodes (24a to 24h) and the shutter (25). The electrodes (24a to 24h) are formed at positions correspond­ing to those where the shutter (25) blocks the ink jet port (21a) and releases the same.

Flat panel display device

Abstract: A flat panel display device includes a face plate made of a transparent material, a back plate positioned parallel to the face plate, and a wall member extending between the face plate and back plate to define an airtight housing. An anode is provided on a inner surface of the face plate, a fluorescent layer is provided in association with the anode, and a cathode is provided in association with an inner surface of the back plate. A plurality of struts, made of an electrically conductive screen printed powdery material, are tightly held between the back plate and the face plate, such that an electric charge accumulated between the anode and cathode is discharged by a leakage current flowing through the struts.

Remote-control apparatus for electronics apparatus

Abstract: A remote-control apparatus for operating a plurality of audio visual apparatuses. On a display screen a plurality of icons showing functions and operation modes of audio visual apparatuses are displayed. An audio visual apparatus is selected and operated by pointing out an icon with a cursor. The cursor is shifted to predetermined positions on the display screen by manipulating one of several switches on the remote control apparatus. The shiftable destination of the cursor with respect to a switch is determined by a set of predetermined rules in which the relation between the switches and the destination of the cursor is changed based on the present position of the cursor.

Electrochemical Characterization of Activated Carbon‐Fiber Cloth Polarizable Electrodes for Electric Double‐Layer Capacitors

Abstract: Electrochemical characterization has been carried out for two types of phenolic resin‐based activated carbon‐fiber cloths (ACFC)—ACFC(a) and (b)—as polarizable electrodes. The specific surface areas of ACFC(a) and ACFC(b) were 1630 and 1060 m2g−1, respectively. The differential capacitance of ACFC(a) in organic electrolyte, which was determined by cyclic voltammetry, was 113 F g−1 at 0.1V vs. SCE. The capacitive current of ACFC(a) was almost constant in the range between −1.5 and 1.5V vs. SCE at 25° and −25°C, while that of ACFC(b) decreased under cathodic polarization, especially at −25°C. In accordance with the result of cyclic voltammetry, the temperature dependence of capacitance in the electric double‐layer capacitors with ACFC(a) and an organic electrolyte was small, and that of the capacitors with ACFC(b) was large. It was found that the temperature dependence of the capacitors with ACFC and an organic electrolyte was mainly influenced by the pore size distribution of ACFC electrodes.

Preparation of biosensor having a layer containing an enzyme, electron acceptor and hydrophilic polymer on an electrode system

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of preparation of a biosensor comprising forming an electrode system mainly containing carbon on an insulating base plate, treating the surface of electrode system with an organic solvent, and then arranging a reaction layer on the electrode system to give a unified element. The reaction layer contains an enzyme, electron acceptor and a hydrophilic polymer. Treatment with the organic solvent improves adhesion of the reaction layer to the electrode system. The electrode system contains a working electrode and a counter electrode. The electrode system is formed from a carbon paste containing a resin binder. Treatment is preferably carried out by wiping the surface of the electrodes with a material impregnated by the organic solvent.

Motion compensated prediction interframe coding system

Abstract: A motion compensated prediction interframe coding system which first measures characteristics regarding the fineness of a pattern or texture of a picture, which is represented by an input television signal and is divided into a group of continuous blocks each quantized by using a quantization step size, and changes the quantization step size into a smaller one if quantizes a block having a picture pattern or texture finer than patterns of the other blocks. Thereby, an amount of generated codes can be limited but a motion compensated prediction frame coding operation can be performed without degrading the fineness of the texture of the original input picture.

Pen-type computer input device

Abstract: A pen-type computer input device is used to move a cursor on the display of a computer system or enter data such as of figures, letters, numerals, or the like into a computer system. The pen-type computer input device includes a shank, a ball rotatably supported on the tip end of the shank, a pair of rotatable members rotatable about X and Y axes extending perpendicularly to each other and held in rolling contact with the ball, and a rotation detector for detecting the direction in which the rotatable members rotate and the distance by which the rotatable members move. Since the rotation of the ball is directly transmitted to the rotatable members and the distance by which the rotatable members move is detected, the pen-type computer input device is small in size and can easily be handled.

Training module for estimating mixture Gaussian densities for speech unit models in speech recognition systems

Abstract: A model-training module generates mixture Gaussian density models from speech training data for continuous, or isolated word speech recognition systems. Speech feature sequences are labeled into segments of states of speech units using Viterbi-decoding based optimized segmentation algorithm. Each segment is modeled by a Gaussian density, and the parameters are estimated by sample mean and sample covariance. A mixture Gaussian density is generated for each state of each speech unit by merging the Gaussian densities of all the segments with the same corresponding label. The resulting number of mixture components is proportional to the dispersion and sample size of the training data. A single, fully merged, Gaussian density is also generated for each state of each speech unit. The covariance matrices of the mixture components are selectively smoothed by a measure of relative sharpness of the Gaussian density and the smoothing can also be done blockwise. The weights of the mixture components are set uniformly initially, and are reestimated using a segmental-average procedure. The weighting coefficients, together with the Gaussian densities, then become the models of speech units for use in speech recognition.

Moving image signal encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus

Abstract: A moving image signal encoding apparatus includes: a frame decimating circuit for extracting . .encoded.!. frames from an input moving image signal at specified intervals; a frame interpolating circuit for obtaining an interpolated frame between the . .encoded.!. .Iadd.extracted .Iaddend.frames, and a circuit for obtaining an error formed by frame interpolation. A moving image signal decoding apparatus includes: a receiving circuit for extracting a frame code from an inputted signal; a frame decoding circuit for decoding the frame code to obtain a reproduced frame, and a frame interpolating circuit for obtaining an interpolated frame between the reproduced frames. By transmitting an error of the interpolated frame from the encoding apparatus to the decoding apparatus and correcting the error of the interpolated frame with the decoding apparatus, the error of the interpolated frame is eliminated. Alternatively, depending on the value of the error of the interpolated frame obtained with the encoding apparatus, a circuit determines the operation mode as to whether the frame interpolating circuit of the decoder carries out frame interpolation or preceding value holding and sends a flag to show the operation mode to the decoder, so that improvement occurs when the error of the interpolated frame is large.

Method for recording and reproducing information on and from an optical disk having a read-only recorded zone and a writable and readable zone using a spot laser light

Abstract: An optical disk is provided with a pre-recorded ROM zone and at least one of the write-once zone and an erasable-writable zone. Two types of information are pre-recorded in the ROM zone, including first information for controlling reading from and writing to the non-ROM zone or zones, and second information for use in data information production. Information is recorded and read as localized differences in reflectivity on the disk. A laser used for reading and writing is operated at a first, lower power level for reading and at a second, higher power level for writing. Data information is created using second information read from the ROM zone, and is written to and reproduced from the non-ROM zone or zones.

Process of fabricating three-dimensional objects from a light curable resin liquid

Abstract: A process of fabricating a three-dimensional object from a light curable liquid resin by radiating a light to a surface of the liquid resin to form successive cross-sectional layers of the cured resin superimposed on each other. The process makes it possible to rapidly form on a platform or on a previously cured layer a fresh stratum of a desired thickness to be subsequently cured into the corresponding layer. The process utilizes a vessel containing a volume of the liquid resin and a platform carrying the layers, and comprises the steps of a) forming the stratum of the liquid resin on an overlay surface of the platform or previously cured layer outside of the liquid resin in the vessel; b) immersing the resulting stratum into the liquid resin in the vessel to place a top surface of the stratum approximately in level with a liquid level of the vessel, thereby surrounding a periphery of the stratum by the liquid resin in the vessel; c) allowing a portion of the liquid resin surrounding the stratum to flow toward the periphery of the stratum such that the stratum has a continuous flush top surface over substantially the entire of the overlay surface; and d) radiating the light to the stratum so as to cure it into the cross sectional cured layer. At the step c), only a minimum amount of the resin is caused to flow into the stratum from the surrounding resin and therefore expedite to the formation of the stratum into a straight configuration.

Self-running cleaning apparatus

Abstract: A zone of a floor to be cleaned is subdivided into a plurality of blocks, the position of each block is memorized in a memory of a self-running cleaning apparatus, and the status of each block such that a wall or an obstacle is placed on the block or the block is passed by the cleaning apparatus thereon is also memorized in the memory. The cleaning apparatus moves across the blocks having neither wall nor obstacle thereon and which have not been passed by the cleaning apparatus on the basis of a predetermined priority order in running direction.

Optical information recording method

Abstract: A recording apparatus overwrites an input signal (s1) having pulse duration periods and pulse spacing periods to a optical disk by irradiation of a laser beam to form recording marks corresponding to the pulse duration periods. The apparatus includes detector (10) for detecting a leading edge of the pulse duration period and for producing a start signal thereupon, another detector (11) for detecting a trailing edge of the pulse duration period and for producing a stop signal thereupon, a pattern setting circuit (3) for setting a predetermined basic pattern, and a pattern generator (12) for generating the basic pattern from its beginning in response to the start signal and for terminating the generation of the basic pattern in response to the stop signal. The apparatus further includes a circuit (9, Ia, Ib, Ic, 4) for forming a modulated signal using a full or portion of the basic pattern produced from the pattern generator (12). The laser is produced by the modulated signal.

Fast packet transmission system of video data

Abstract: A transmission system for packaging and transmission digital video data divides the data into a first group of components which would cause image quality to be drastically damaged if discarded, and a second group of components which would cause little damage if discarded. Data cells are composed for each group of components, and a priorty level is assigned giving a high priority to the first group of components and a low priority to the second group of components. The data is sent and received, and the received data is classified in accordance with the priority levels. If it is necessary to discard low priority components, a compensating device compensates for the discarded cells to ensure a constant image transmission across a congested channel.

Stack type semiconductor package

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, an outer lead is divided into plural leads at an outer lead region connected to an inner lead which is connected to an electrode terminal of a semiconductor chip, a plurality of TAB packages on which the semiconductor chip has been packaged are stacked in plural layers, at least one of the plural divided leads every stacked layers is left and a predetermined number of the divided leads are cut out, and these stacked TAB packages are mounted on a circuit board.

Color‐appearance model and chromatic‐adaptation transform

Abstract: A nonlinear color-appearance model was extended to apply to white and light-gray background. Based on this extended model, two kinds of chromatic-adaptation transforms were derived, which correspond to lightness-chroma match and brightness-colorfulness match. The chromatic-adaptation transform for lightness-chroma match is also an extension of the transform proposed by CIE for further testing. The differences between the two transforms were confirmed by visual observations. The usefulness of a combination of a color-appearance model and its corresponding chromatic adaptation transform is discussed. In addition, the practical importance of brightness and colorfulness is discussed.

Method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a capacitor in a stacked memory cell

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: forming a multi-layer film comprising two or more kinds of layers; performing first etching for patterning said multi-layer film under a first etching condition; and performing second etching for forming irregularities in the side faces of said patterned multi-layer film under a second etching condition.

Polarizing beam splitter apparatus and light valve image projection system

Abstract: A polarizing beam splitter apparatus of a light valve image projection system includes a polarizing beam splitter commonly usable as a polarizer and an analyzer, and a quarter wave plate in combination. In the polarizing beam splitter apparatus, a quarter wave plate is arranged in a light path along which a light passes out from and passes back again to the polarizing beam splitter in such a manner that either a fast axis or a slow axis of the quarter wave plate is perpendicular to a plane containing both a first optical axis and a second optical axis of the polarizing beam splitter, so that the angular range of a light to be used can be increased. In the light valve image projection system, a light outputted from a light source is incident through a polarizing beam splitter apparatus to a light valve, and an effective component of the light reflected from the light valve is projected through the polarizing beam splitter apparatus and a projection lens on a projection screen. The polarizing beam splitter apparatus is high in polarization efficiency even if the range of incident angle of a light to be used is large, so that a projected image highly improved in contrast and brightness can be obtained.

Piezoelectric pressure sensor

Abstract: A piezoelectric pressure sensor is provided with a sensor housing including an inner sensor housing (12), accommodating an piezoelectric element (15), and an outer sensor housing (10) threaded to a test article. The inner sensor housing is attached to the outer sensor housing in such a manner that a prestress applied to the piezoelectric element does not change due to an axial strain in the outer sensor housing. The axial strain is produced when the outer sensor housing is mounted to a test article.

Narrow-band laser apparatus

Abstract: A laser apparatus comprises an optical resonator including first and second mirrors, and laser medium. An wavelength selection element is provided in the resonator for narrowing band-width. A polarizing conversion element for changing ratio of S to P components and polarizing beam splitter are provided for amplifying laser beam to output after wavelength selection and for reducing light load of the wavelength selection element. The polarizing conversion element is provided in the resonator light path. In another embodiment, the polarizing conversion element is provided in a branch light path formed by a second polarizing conversion element and a third mirror, where the second polarizing conversion element reflects and transmits P component at a given ratio and reflects S component. The wavelength selection element comprises a Fabry-Perot etalon, grating, or prism. The polarizing conversion element comprises a quarter-wave plate or a phase retarder mirror. The polarizing beam splitting element comprises a polarizing beam splitter or polarizing beam splitting prism. Such laser apparatus is suited for an exposure light source for photolithography.

Apparatus for recording and reproducing a digital video signal in the form of order-rearranged and coded data

Abstract: A video signal digital recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a rearranging section for rearranging a sequence of signals on a rectangular unit by rectangular unit basis formed by sectioning a group of pixel data on a screen of a digital video signal; an encoding section for subjecting the signals in the rectangular units to bit rate reduction; a block forming section for gathering plural number of the coded rectangular units to constitute a block of signals, and a recording the block of signals section for recording on a recording medium. The rearranging section divides the screen into plural regions, takes out the rectangular units by a certain number in order from each region, and carries out rearrangement so that mutually corresponding rectangular units which are contained respectively in adjacent blocks on the recording medium are mutually adjacent on the screen. The recording section is constituted so that the blocks signals are recorded simultaneously in parallel on the recording medium by using plural channels. The rearranging section may have such a constitution that the screen is divided into plural regions and the rectangular units are taken out by a certain number in order from each region, and rearrangement is carried out to that mutually corresponding rectangular units which are contained respectively in adjacent or neighboring blocks to be simultaneously recorded in parallel by the plural channels on the recording section are mutually adjacent on the screen.

Flat configuration image display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract: A flat configuration image display apparatus electron beam generator equipped with cold cathodes for generating a plurality of electron beams in response to image signals fed from an image signal supply circuit, and electron beam control electrodes for selectively energizing the cold cathodes of the electron beam generator in accordance with a scanning line selection signal. The electron beam generator is further equipped with at least an array of n base electrodes extending in vertical directions of a screen of the image display apparatus where n is an integer equal to or greater than 3, and a predetermined number of the cold cathodes are disposed on each of the base electrodes. The image signals are independently applied through terminal leaders to the base electrodes, the terminal leaders being led up to outsides of a vacuum housing of the image display apparatus. The electron control electrodes are divided into a plurality of groups each of which are responsive to the scanning line selection signal through a common bus.

Optical disk apparatus operative with optimal recording power setting

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of determining the optimal recording power for an optical disk apparatus. Specifically, the apparatus, which records a signal on a recording medium through the projection of a laser beam at two levels of bias power and peak power, initially records a signal on an assessment track by decreasing the peak power progressively, with the bias power being fixed, determines the lower-limit peak power based on peak power immediately before the reproduced signal is first judged to be unsatisfactory by reproduced signal quality discrimination means, subsequently records a signal by decreasing the bias power progressively, with the peak power being fixed, determines the lower-limit bias power based on bias power immediately before the reproduced signal is first judges to be unsatisfactory by the reproduced signal quality discrimination means adds prescribed powers to the lower-limit peak power and bias power thereby to evaluate the optimal peak power and optimal bias power for the optical disk apparatus, and performs the recording of user data with the optimal peak power and optimal bias power.

Orthogonal transform coding apparatus for reducing the amount of coded signals to be processed and transmitted

Abstract: An orthogonal transform coding device assembles sample values of the input signals and forms a large block. The large block is divided into a plurality of small blocks and the sample values are subjected to the orthogonal transform coding for every small block. A plurality of quantizers are provided for the orthogonal transformed components and the data amount after coding when the quantization performed by the respective quantizers is estimated, whereby the optimum quantizers are selected for the respective small blocks according to the estimated value.

Thin film transistor substrate, liquid crystal display panel and liquid crystal display equipment

Abstract: Disclosed is an active-matrix addressed TFT substrate using a thin film transistor, a manufacturing method and an anodic oxidation method thereof, a liquid crystal display panel using the TFT substrate and a liquid crystal display equipment using the liquid crystal display panel. In the TFT substrate, Cr or Ta is used for gate terminals, aluminum or a metal mainly composed of aluminum is used for gate bus-lines extending therefrom, for gate electrodes, and for electrodes of thin film capacitors (additional capacitance, storage capacitance), and an anodic oxidized film composed of the metal and free from defect is used for at least one of gate insulators, dielectric films of the thin film capacitances and interlayer insulating films for the intersections between the bus-lines. Also disclosed is a method of selectively forming an anodic oxidized film on an aluminum pattern. That is, in a case of forming a selective oxidation mask to a desired region on the aluminum pattern with a positive type photoresist, in the present invention, an angle (θ) formed between the selective oxidation mask and the aluminum pattern is made as: θ≧110-20T (T: film thickness of the positive type photoresist).

Optical recording apparatus employing stacked recording media with spiral grooves and floating optical heads

Abstract: The apparatus includes optical recording media each of which includes a single plate substrate with recording layers and spiral grooves formed on both sides of the substrate and which are available for recording and reproduction or for recording, erasing and reproduction via irradiation with laser beams. Both surfaces of the recording media are available for simultaneous access, and a plurality of thin floating-type optical heads are provided to irradiate laser beams onto the recording media. The optical heads are respectively provided at each side of the recording media and float, responsive to rotation of the recording media, above the respective surfaces of the recording media at a distance of at most hundreds of microns. The combination of these optical recording media and optical heads makes it possible to stack plural pairs thereof within an ultra-thin space, thus greatly improving the on-line capacity of the optical recording apparatus.

Apparatus for inspecting electronic devices mounted on a circuit board

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting electronic devices mounted on a circuit board is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a camera for forming an image of a view of an electronic device to be inspected; a laser device for emitting laser light toward the device to be inspected; a laser light detector for detecting a laser beam reflected from the device to be inspected; and a control unit for inspecting the condition of mounting the device to be inspected on the circuit board based on data obtained from the camera and the laser detector. Rough inspections are performed first by the camera which can rapidly perform the inspection, and then only failing devices are inspected by the combination of the laser device and detector which is capable of precisely measuring the solder shape. Therefore, visual inspection for various items is performed at an overall faster rate while maintaining the required inspection level.

Chip mounting apparatus

Abstract: A chip mounting apparatus includes an X-Y robot having a chip mounting head and a substrate position recognizing camera both positioned in an upper arm of the robot apparatus. The chip mounting head is for holding a chip to be mounted. A substrate holding member is for holding a chip mounting substrate and is disposed below the robot. A chip position recognizing camera is also disposed below the robot. The positional relationship between the chip mounting head and the substrate position recognizing camera is equivalent to the positional relationship between a chip mounting position of the chip mounting substrate and the chip position recognizing camera.