Showing papers by "Panasonic published in 2000"

Rapid speaker adaptation in eigenvoice space

Abstract: This paper describes a new model-based speaker adaptation algorithm called the eigenvoice approach. The approach constrains the adapted model to be a linear combination of a small number of basis vectors obtained offline from a set of reference speakers, and thus greatly reduces the number of free parameters to be estimated from adaptation data. These "eigenvoice" basis vectors are orthogonal to each other and guaranteed to represent the most important components of variation between the reference speakers. Experimental results for a small-vocabulary task (letter recognition) given in the paper show that the approach yields major improvements in performance for tiny amounts of adaptation data. For instance, we obtained 16% relative improvement in error rate with one letter of supervised adaptation data, and 26% relative improvement with four letters of supervised adaptation data. After a comparison of the eigenvoice approach with other speaker adaptation algorithms, the paper concludes with a discussion of future work.

Image processing device and monitoring system

Abstract: A synthetic image viewed from a virtual viewpoint above a car is created from images captured by cameras for imaging the surroundings of the car. In the synthetic image, an illustrated or real image of the car is displayed in the area where the car is present. The area which is not imaged by any of the cameras is displayed as a blind spot.

Method for locating and reading a two-dimensional barcode

Abstract: Two-dimensional barcodes surrounded by a quiet zone of white space which may or may not include a border, each barcode having encoded digital information in a bitmap representing preferably randomized encoded data bits, are printed onto a printed medium. To extract the encoded digital information from the printed medium, the printed medium is scanned, then the bitmap is located within the printed medium by moving a window, in stepwise fashion in a predetermined pattern across the printed medium. At each step the portion of the printed medium which is encompassed by the window is tested to determine whether it conforms to one or more characteristics of the bitmap. The skew of the bitmap, if any, is determined, by using a finite-state recognizer in combination with a Hough Transform calculation. In one embodiment, the candidate region is divided into a plurality of horizontal regions, preliminary skew angles are calculated for each region, and the actual skew angle is selected using a voting scheme. Once the skew angle is calculated, the bitmap is deskewed if necessary, cropped, and the randomized digital information is read from the bitmap. Finally, the digital information is derandomized and any error correction codes are removed, in the process correcting and/or recording any errors discovered, thereby reproducing the original encoded digital information.

High-efficiency modulating RF amplifier

Abstract: The present invention, generally speaking, provides for high-efficiency power control of a high-efficiency (e.g., hard-limiting or switch-mode) power amplifier in such a manner as to achieve a desired modulation. In one embodiment, the spread between a maximum frequency of the desired modulation and the operating frequency of a switch-mode DC-DC converter is reduced by following the switch-mode converter with an active linear regulator. The linear regulator is designed so as to control the operating voltage of the power amplifier with sufficient bandwidth to faithfully reproduce the desired amplitude modulation wave-form. The linear regulator is further designed to reject variations on its input voltage even while the output voltage is changed in response to an applied control signal. This rejection will occur even though the variations on the input voltage are of commensurate or even lower frequency than that of the controlled output variation. Amplitude modulation may be achieved by directly or effectively varying the operating voltage on the power amplifier while simultaneously achieving high efficiency in the conversion of primary DC power to the amplitude modulated output signal. High efficiency is enhanced by allowing the switch-mode DC-to-DC converter to also vary its output voltage such that the voltage drop across the linear regulator is kept at a low and relatively constant level. Time-division multiple access (TDMA) bursting capability may be combined with efficient amplitude modulation, with control of these functions being combined. In addition, the variation of average output power level in accordance with commands from a communications system may also be combined within the same structure.

Parking assistance system

Abstract: A parking assistance system is mounted in a vehicle, and has an image pick-up with a single camera, an image processing device, a display, a steering angle sensor, a wheel speed sensor, and a pulse counter. An A/D converter subjects two analog images picked up by the image pick-up at different locations to A/D conversion, and sends the results to frame memories. A CPU uses the digital image data and the transition data of the vehicle to calculate object data and a distance from the vehicle to the 3D object. An image thus obtained is then converted into a view from the above. The view from the above is stored in a frame memory, and outputted to the display under the control of a controller for display.

The bacterial flagellar cap as the rotary promoter of flagellin self-assembly

Abstract: The growth of the bacterial flagellar filament occurs at its distal end by self-assembly of flagellin transported from the cytoplasm through the narrow central channel. The cap at the growing end is essential for its growth, remaining stably attached while permitting the flagellin insertion. In order to understand the assembly mechanism, we used electron microscopy to study the structures of the cap-filament complex and isolated cap dimer. Five leg-like anchor domains of the pentameric cap flexibly adjusted their conformations to keep just one flagellin binding site open, indicating a cap rotation mechanism to promote the flagellin self-assembly. This represents one of the most dynamic movements in protein structures.

Wireless communication system and method and system for detection of position of radio mobile station

Abstract: A method of detecting a position of a radio mobile station in radiocommunications, which is capable of accurately and simply finding the position of the mobile station. At a measuring point the mobile station measures the reception radio strength levels from a plurality of base stations and conveys the measurement results through the base station to a control station. The control station learns, through a neural network, the correlation between the reception radio strength levels and the position of the mobile station on the basis of the measurement results at a plurality of measuring points and the positions of the measuring points. Subsequently, when the mobile station communicates to the control station the reception radio strength levels measured at an arbitrary point, the control station estimates the position of the mobile station, causing those measurement results, on the basis of the correlation obtained through the learning.

Distributed group key management scheme for secure many-to-many communication

Abstract: A group key management system (20) and method for providing secure many-to-many communication is presented. The system (20) employs a binary distribution tree structure (26). The binary tree (26) includes a first internal node having a first branch and a second branch depending therefrom. Each of the branches includes a first member (22, 22a) assigned to a corresponding leaf node. The first member (22, 22a) has a unique binary ID (24) that is associated with the corresponding leaf node to which the first member (22, 22a) is assigned. A first secret key (28) of the first member (22, 22a) is operable for encrypting data to be sent to other members (22, 22a). The first member (22, 22a) is associated with a key association group (33) that is comprised of other members (22, 22a). The other members (22, 22a) have blinded keys (30). A blinded key (30) derived from the first secret key (28) of the first member (22, 22a) is transmitted to the key association group (33). Wherein, the first member (22, 22a) uses the blinded keys (30) received from the key association group (33) and the first secret key (28) to calculate an unblinded key of the first internal node. The unblinded key is used for encrypting data that is communicated between members (22, 22a) located on branches depending from the first internal node.

Circuit component built-in module, radio device having the same, and method for producing the same

Abstract: A circuit component built-in module capable of mounting the circuit component with high density and having high heat releasing property and the high reliability. The circuit component built-in module 100 includes the insulating substrate 101 made of a first mixture 105 and a second mixture 106, wiring patterns 102a and 102b formed on one principal surface and another principal surface of the insulating substrate 101, a circuit component 103a electrically connected to the wiring pattern 102a and sealed with the second mixture 106 in an internal portion of the insulating substrate 101, the inner via conductor 104 electrically connecting the wiring pattern 102a and 102b.

Photocatalytic decomposition of NO under visible light irradiation on the Cr‐ion‐implanted TiO2 thin film photocatalyst

Abstract: Transparent TiO2 thin film photocatalysts were prepared on transparent porous Vycor glass (PVG) by the ionized cluster beam (ICB) method. In order to improve the photocatalytic performance of these thin films under visible light irradiation, transition metal ions such as Cr and V were implanted into the deep bulk inside of the films using an advanced metal‐ion‐implantation technique. The UV‐vis absorption spectra of these metal‐ion‐implanted TiO2 thin films were found to shift smoothly toward visible light regions, its extent depending on the amount and kinds of metal ions implanted. Using these metal‐ion‐implanted TiO2 thin films as photocatalysts, the photocatalytic decomposition of NOx into N2 and O2 was successfully carried out under visible light (λ 450 nm) irradiation at 275 K.

Multi-functional on-vehicle camera system and image display method for the same

Abstract: A multi-functional on-vehicle camera system comprises a plurality of cameras mounted on a vehicle and monitors each displaying a camera image. An image processing section is provided for processing images taken by the plurality of cameras. A system control means is provided for selecting a camera image to be processed from a plurality of images obtained from the plurality of cameras based on signals representing vehicle conditions, and for designating a type of image processing performed in the image processing section. The image for assisting the safety driving is displayed at an appropriate timing according to driving conditions in such a manner that the driver can easily grasp the circumferential conditions from the displayed image.

Mechanism for storing information about recorded television broadcasts

Abstract: Program content, recorded to a storage medium such as disk recorder, optical recorder or random access memory, is indexed by the replay file system. The file system maintains a storage location and program I.D. record for each recorded program. The file system further maintains other data obtained from an electronic program guide that may be accessed by downloading from the cable or satellite infrastructure or over the internet. The file system also may store additional user data, such as the date and time the program was last viewed, together with any user-recorded indexes. The file system may be accessed through natural language input speech. The system includes a speech recognizer and natural language parser, coupled to a dialog system that engages the user in a dialog to determine what the user is interested in accessing from the storage medium. The natural language parser operates with a task-based grammar that is keyed to the electronic program guide data and user data maintained by the file system.

Semiconductor memory card access apparatus, a computer-readable recording medium, an initialization method, and a semiconductor memory card

Abstract: A predetermined number of erasable blocks positioned at a start of a volume area in a semiconductor memory card are provided so as to include volume management information. A user area following the volume management information includes a plurality of clusters. A data length NOM of an area from a master boot record & partition table sector to a partition boot sector is determined so that the plurality of clusters in the user area are not arranged so as to straddle erasable block boundaries. Since cluster boundaries and erasable block boundaries in the user area are aligned, there is no need to perform wasteful processing in which two erasable blocks are erased to rewrite one cluster.

Semiconductor memory card

Abstract: A plurality of audio object (AOB) files and a plurality of picture object (POB) files are stored Default Playlist Information and sets of Playlist Information each show an order in which AOBs stored in the plurality of AOB files are to be reproduced The DPLGI includes DPLI_POB_SRPs that specify at least one POB to be displayed during the playback period of AOBs indicated by the playback order given in the Default Playlist Information The TKGI includes TKI_POB_SRPs that specify at least one POB to be displayed only during the playback period of a particular AOB out of the AOBs indicated by the playback order given in the Default Playlist Information

Liquid crystal display panel including a light shielding film to control incident light

Abstract: An array substrate 12 is formed with pixel electrodes 14 in the form of a matrix. The pixel electrode 14 is connected to a thin film transistor 155 . The thin film transistor 155 is formed with a light shielding film 152 consisting of resin for preventing an entry of light into the thin film transistor 155 . A polymer dispersion liquid crystal layer 21 is interposed between a counter electrode 25 and the pixel electrode 14 . A substrate 11 is formed with a color filter 151 having red (R), green (G), and blue (B). The color filter 151 is formed from dielectric multilayer film or organic material. The counter electrode 25 is formed above the color filter 155 , and the counter electrode 25 and the liquid crystal layer 21 are bonded together by an adhesive layer 371.

Generation and synthesis of prosody templates

Abstract: A method of separating high-level prosodic behavior from purely articulatory constraints so that timing information can be extracted from human speech is presented. The extracted timing information is used to construct duration templates that are employed for speech synthesis. The duration templates are constructed so that words exhibiting the same stress pattern will be assigned the same duration template. Initially, the words of input text segmented into phonemes and syllables, and the associated stress pattern is assigned. The stress assigned words are then assigned grouping features by a text grouping module. A phoneme cluster module groups the phonemes into phoneme pairs and single phonemes. A static duration associated with each phoneme pair and single phoneme is retrieved from a global static table. A normalization module generates a normalized syllable duration value based upon the retrieved static durations associated with the phonemes that comprise the syllable. The normalized syllable duration value is stored in a duration template based upon the grouping features associated with that syllable. To produce natural human-sounding prosody in synthesized speech, the duration information is then extracted from the selected template, de-normalized and applied to the phonemic information.

Monitor camera system and method of displaying picture from monitor camera thereof

Abstract: In a monitor camera system comprising a monitor camera making 360-degree panning rotation and more-than 90-degree tilting rotation and a control unit for controlling the monitor camera, for masking a privacy zone in a picture taken by the monitor camera, the control unit sets mask data through the use of a contour parameter of a configuration of a mask zone for covering the privacy zone, while the monitor camera side holds the mask data to mask a portion of the picture with the mask zone defined on the basis of the mask data. According to this monitor camera system, since only a portion of the picture is masked with the mask zone, it is possible to protect the privacy from the picture taken by the monitor camera without impairing the monitoring function. In addition, since the monitor camera side holds the mask data, quick processing becomes feasible.

Laminate sheath type battery

Abstract: A laminate sheath type battery has an electrode-group fixing means for preventing movement of an electrode-group (2) in a sheath case (1, 18). The electrode-group fixing means includes a protective frame (19, 33, 38, 50, 54) attached to the electrode-group (2) in such a manner as to surround the latter, an insulation frame-like spacer (59, 69, 70, 77, 78) received in the sheath case (1, 18) together with the electrode-group (2) and filling the space in the sheath case (1, 18) on the lead take-out side of the electrode-group (2) within the sheath case (1, 18), an arrangement for thermally bonding the sheath case (1, 18) and the electrode-group (2) to each other, or an abutment surface (87h) formed on a sheath case (87) itself and abutting against the end surface of the electrode-group (2) received in the sheath case (87).

A novel approach to robust speech endpoint detection in car environments

Abstract: In the process of speech recognition, it is especially crucial to precisely locate endpoints of the input utterance to be free of non-speech regions. This paper proposes a novel approach that finds robust features for endpoint detection in a noisy in-car environment. In the proposed method, we integrate both the widely used energy and entropy to form a new feature that possesses advantages of each individual while compensating for the drawback of each other. By monitoring the transition of the extracted new features, more precise endpoints could be found. Experiments in a real noisy environment, inside a Honda Civic car with background radio music and free chat, reveal an accuracy improvement which reached over 10% higher compared with a pure energy-based algorithm.

Information recording medium, and method and apparatus for managing defect thereof

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a disk information area; a user area including a plurality of sectors; and a spare area including at least one sector which, when at least one of the plurality of sectors included in the user area is a defective sector, is usable instead of the at least one defective sector. The spare area is located radially inward from the user area. A physical sector number of a sector to which a logical sector number “0” is assigned, among the plurality of sectors included in the user area and the at least one sector included in the spare area, is recorded in the disk information area.

Electrodeless discharge lamp

Abstract: An electrodeless fluorescent lamp operating at relatively low frequencies (50-500 kHz) whereby a ferrite core is utilized to generate the necessary magnetic and electric fields to maintain the discharge where the core material is Mn-Zn type combination due to its low power losses, 400 mW/cm3, in the frequency range of 50-100 kHz and magnetic field strengths of 150 mT Furthermore, the material may cover a variety of atomic percentages of Mn and Zn added to Fe2O3 base to obtain favorable grain boundary and crystalline structure, resulting in a practical ferrite core material, having a Curie temperature greater than 200°C Such material enables the operation of electrodeless fluorescent lamps with powers ranging from 10W to about 250W at low frequencies, as mentioned above, in such a manner that ferrite core losses constitute less than 20% of the lamp power and heat generated by core losses is minimized

Electronic ticket, electronic wallet, and information terminal

Abstract: A network electronic ticket 1003 is provided in an electronic ticket 1000. Start page data 1016, a ticket owner secret key 1017, an electronic ticket possession certificate 1018, and a network service program 1019 are provided in the network electronic ticket 1003, the network service program 1019 controls various types of processing and an electronic ticket storage terminal, and the ticket owner secret key 1017 and the electronic ticket possession certificate 1018 are used for authentication processing with an information providing apparatus on a network, whereby it is made possible to connect to the network from the electronic ticket itself and receive information service.

Parking conduct device and parking conduct method

Abstract: A vehicle position calculation unit (1) calculates a position of a vehicle on a plan view, and an estimate locus calculation unit (2) calculates an estimate movement locus of a vehicle body when the vehicle is moved at a maximum steering angle with respect to the vehicle position, and a display unit (3) displays the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculation unit (1) together with the estimate locus of the vehicle body calculated by the estimate locus calculation unit (2). Thus, even a beginner driver of the vehicle can easily and quickly park the vehicle with accuracy and safety while monitoring the estimate movement locus of the vehicle on the display screen.

Origins and Distribution of Cholinergically Induced β Rhythms in Hippocampal Slices

Abstract: Regional variations and substrates of high-frequency rhythmic activity induced by cholinergic stimulation were studied in hippocampal slices with 64-electrode recording arrays. (1) Carbachol triggered b waves (17.6 6 5.7 Hz) in pyramidal regions of 75% of the slices. (2) The waves had phase shifts across the cell body layers and were substantially larger in the apical dendrites than in cell body layers or basal dendrites. (3) Continuous, twodimensional current source density analyses indicated apical sinks associated with basal sources, lasting ;10 msec, followed by apical sources and basal sinks, lasting ;20 msec, in a repeating pattern with a period in the range of 15‐25 Hz. (4) Carbachol-induced b waves in the hippocampus were accompanied by 40 Hz (g) oscillations in deep layers of the entorhinal cortex. (5) Cholinergically elicited b and g rhythms were eliminated by antagonists of either AMPA or GABA receptors. Benzodiazepines markedly enhanced b activity and sometimes introduced a distinct g frequency peak. (6) Twenty Hertz activity after orthodromic activation of field CA3 was distributed in the same manner as carbachol-induced b waves and was generated by a current source in the apical dendrites of CA3. This source was eliminated by high concentrations of GABAA receptor blockers. It is concluded that cholinergically driven b rhythms arise independently in hippocampal subfields from oscillatory circuits involving (1) bursts of pyramidal cell discharges, (2) activation of a subset of feedback interneurons that project apically, and (3) production of a GABAA-mediated hyperpolarization in the outer portions of the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons.

Apparatus and method using speech understanding for automatic channel selection in interactive television

Abstract: A speech understanding system for receiving a spoken request from a user and processing the request against a knowledge base of programming information for automatically selecting a television program is disclosed. The speech understanding system includes a knowledge extractor for receiving electronic programming guide (EPG) information and processing the EPG information for creating a program database. The system also includes a speech recognizer for receiving the spoken request and translating the spoken request into a text stream having a plurality of words. A natural language processor is provided for receiving the text stream and processing the words for resolving a semantic content of the spoken request. The natural language processor places the meaning of the words into a task frame having a plurality of key word slots. A dialogue manager analyzes the task frame for determining if a sufficient number of key word slots have been filled and prompts the user for additional information for filing empty slots. The dialog manager searches the program database using the key words placed within the task frame for selecting a program, and produces a signal for selecting a television channel associated with the program.

Mobile body discrimination apparatus for rapidly acquiring respective data sets transmitted through modulation of reflected radio waves by transponders which are within a communication region of an interrogator apparatus

Abstract: In a mobile body discrimination apparatus having an interrogator apparatus (1) and a plurality of transponders (20) each capable of transmitting information to the interrogator apparatus by modulation of radio waves that are reflected from a transponder antenna (24), which can be attached to respective articles, store data concering the articles, and transmit the data to the interrogator apparatus in response to a command signal transmitted while the transponder traverses a communication region of an antenna of the interrogator apparatus, each transponder is configured to begin sending such response data after a randomly determined time interval following reception of the command signal, thereby reducing the probability of data conflict when plural transponders are within the communication region. In addition, radio waves from a second antenna (10) of the interrogator apparatus are directed into that communication region in the intervals between transmissions of the command signal, thereby increasing the power level of radio waves that are reflected by a transponder antenna or used by a rectifier circuit (21) to supply power for operating the transponder circuits.

Home network gateway apparatus and home network device

Abstract: A home network gateway apparatus controls information of home network devices connected to an IEEE 1394 bus in a unified manner in a household. When a device is connected to the home network, the home network gateway apparatus of the present invention acquires information of each device and posts the information on a built-in WWW server in a list menu format. The user can remotely control home network devices individually from an apparatus on another network via the list menu.

Optical disc, recording device and reproducing device

Abstract: Optical discs formatted to record plural audio streams of different content for reproduction with a single video stream can result in audio output of content unexpected by the user depending upon the audio stream configuration contained in the AV stream reproduced. This can confuse and cause the user to change the audio output after reproduction starts. To prevent this, information indicating the type of audio stream configuration contained in each AV stream on the optical disc is stored with each audio stream. This audio stream type information is presented to the user on the same screen from which an AV program is selected for playback. The user can thus know before playback starts what audio stream channel is preselected for playback, and can change the audio channel as desired before playback starts.