Abstract: An Al based wiring material layer is formed on an insulating film covering the surface of a semiconductor substrate. The wiring material layer is then selectively etched by a Cl base gas by using a resist layer as a mask, to form a wiring layer. The resist layer is ashed by using a plasma of a mixed gas of an H-and-O containing gas and a F containing gas, such as O.sub.2 /CHF.sub.3 /CH.sub.3 OH, without heating the substrate. Cl components are removed in the form of HCl, and excessive H components are removed in the form of HF to suppress the generation and adherence of H.sub.2 O, thereby improving the anticorrosion performance. The substrate is not heated so that the resist is prevented from a quality change and curing, allowing the resist to be easily removed. Another ashing process may be performed thereafter by using a F containing O.sub.2 gas such as O.sub.2 /CHF.sub.3.

Abstract: In a production system in which a plurality of production rules are partitioned into a plurality of clusters for processing to effect cluster control, control expression elements, each describing an instruction for specifying a cluster to be invoked next for execution or an instruction for other flow control, are arranged in the order of execution to provide a control expression part separate from the clusters for processing. An instruction for a return to the control expression part is described in an action part of an appropriate production rule in a cluster, in place of the cluster specifying instruction, so that sequential invocation of clusters can be performed following the instructions described in the control expression part, thereby making it unnecessary to give a description for specifying the name of a cluster to be invoked next for execution in the action part of each production rule.

Abstract: A modem device enabling a single communication line to be shared by a plurality of terminal units, and needing no switching operation between the terminal units on transmission. In transmission, when a transmission-start request is supplied from a terminal unit of any channel, the state of the other channels are checked. If these other channels are all in idle state, a channel selecting signal for selecting the channel corresponding to the transmission-start request is turned on so as to couple the corresponding terminal unit to a modem section for starting the transmission. In reception, on the other hand, upon receiving a call, priority calling channel information having been set in a predetermined mode register is read out to turn on a channel selecting signal for selecting the channel indicated by that information. As a result, a terminal unit of the channel corresponding to the channel selecting signal is selected to enable the receiving operation.

Abstract: A data conversion apparatus for a facsimile system converts a first digital data composed of a sequence of primary values sampled at a first frequency, into a second digital data composed of a sequence of secondary values sampled at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The apparatus is provided with a sampling frequency conversion unit operative before and after every sampling point timed by the second frequency for sampling a pair of preceding and succeeding primary values and for counting respective time differences from the sampling point to the preceding and succeeding primary values. The sampling frequency conversion unit further calculates a secondary value at every sampling point by linear interpolation of each pair of the sampled preceding and succeeding primary values according to the counted time differences to thereby produce the second digital data.

Abstract: A sound field control device for simulating a sound field of a small space such as a concert hall in a large space such as an open outdoor space and a large indoor space comprises loudspeakers for controlling a sound field disposed at or in the vicinity of positions in a real space corresponding to positions on a hypothetical peripheral plane which defines a hypothetical space in the real space, and a hypothetical reflected sound synthesizing section for synthesizing hypothetical reflected sounds on the basis of the sounds from a real sound source and supplying the synthesized hypothetical reflected sounds to the loudspeakers. The hypothetical reflected sounds are synthesized so that they will simulate sounds which are emanated from the real sound source and reflected from the hypothetical peripheral plane of the hypothetical space. A natural sound field in which one feels as if he was in an indoor concert hall can be obtained in the whole hypothetical space.

Abstract: An element for an optical isolator which is formed by alternately bonding together at least one flat plate-shaped Faraday rotator and two or more flat plate-shaped polarizers, the optical isolator element having an outer peripheral surface which is cut such that, when the outer peripheral surface is disposed parallel to an optical axis, incidence and emergence planes of the element are inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The optical isolator element is accommodated in a cylindrical magnet having an inner peripheral surface of the same shape as the outer peripheral surface of the optical isolator element, thereby forming an optical isolator.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding video signals to facilitate identification of, editing, modifying, queuing, routing, distributing, switching, activating and controlling the video signals.Within a television program distribution system containing a plurality of units through which the television programs flow, the flow of television programs is tracked by operating a first signal processing unit connected within the system for adding signal elements to the video signal of a program in order to add patterns of symbols to the television picture such that the symbols are disposed at predetermined locations of the television picture and a plurality of successive patterns constituting a code uniquely identifying the program, and a second signal processing unit connected within the system for detecting signal elements previously added to a video signal and for producing, in response to such detection, an identification of the program which included the video signal.

Abstract: A gradient detecting unit detects the gradient in the output of a driven circuit. An offset voltage generating unit generates an offset voltage in response to an output of a driven circuit as well as the gradient detected by the gradient detecting unit. The gradient in the output of the driven circuit is increased as the change thereof is more abrupt and decreased as the change thereof is more gentle. For example, if the detected gradient is added to the normal offset voltage to form an offset voltage, the offset voltage can follow the changes in the output of the driven circuit to supply a proper supply voltage to the driven circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for expelling gas from within a sealed container. The apparatus may include a device for collecting gas in a predetermined area within the container as well as a device for drawing the gas out of the predetermined area and for directing the gas into the inlet of a pump. The apparatus eliminates problems related to the buildup of gas within the container such as water noise and vapor lock.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device comprises a semiconductor substrate; an input and output terminal (1) formed on the semiconductor substrate; an input and output circuit (2, 3) formed on the semiconductor substrate, connected to the input and output terminal (1), and having an output buffer (2) of CMOS FETs, supply voltages Vcc1 and Vcc2 being applied to the output buffer; a semiconductor integrated circuit formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the input and output circuit; and a circuit for preventing forward junction current from flowing from the input and output terminal (1) to the output buffer (2) when an input voltage exceeding the supply voltages is applied to the output buffer. In an integrated circuit device using a plurality of different supply voltages, it is possible to prevent an input voltage beyond the supply voltages from being applied to the input and output circuit.

Abstract: An object is to enable a semiconductor integrated circuit device to perform the second action, without waiting for the first action to finish after the first action starts. Aside from a resistor containing input signal pulses, an input signal pulses recognizing circuit is provided so that it detects signal input which activates the second action during the execution of the first action and controls driving with the result thereof. In a device such as EEPROM, CPU moves on the next action after writing operation starts. CPU checks periodically whether writing operation is being conducted or has finished, so that the processing ability of a whole device can be improved to the maximum.

Abstract: A modular ramp system for use with a threshold which has an offset. The modular ramp system includes a number of elements which may be arranged in various combinations in order to conform to offsets of varying height.

Abstract: A communication system that performs time-division multiple access mobile communication using radio in a service area in which are disposed a plurality of base stations connected to a central station through a communication network. The central station selects and designates a master base station and a selected base station close to the master base station. The central station instructs the selected base station to synchronize a radio signal transmitted by the selected base station with a radio signal transmitted by the master base station. The central station further selects at least one additional base station close to the selected base station. The central station instructs the at least one additional base station to synchronize a radio signal transmitted by the additional base station with a radio signal transmitted by the selected base station. The process is repeated until all of the base stations are transmitting a synchronized radio wave.

Abstract: A CPU 8 computes differential data of thermal analysis data in a data memory 9a, stores the differential data in a differential data memory 9b, scans secondary differential data, and detects the crossing point of a set differential width as a peak point. The CPU 8 computes second differential data, stores the data in a second differential data memory 9c, scans the second differential data, detects then as a stable area when a part within a set second differential width continues as for as over a set length and the corresponding thermal analysis data has a certain gradient or less. The scanning of the differential data is performed to detect the peak of the differential data as the maximum gradient point. Computation of the transition point and heat of transition having made a peak point, stable area, and maximum gradient point as specified points is performed, and the results are outputted to a CRT 7 or the like.

Abstract: An unwinding assisting device for an automatic winder. The automatic winder has a winding position at which a cop of yarn is unwound from a take-up tube supported on a tray. A lifting mechanism raises the tray at the winding position as the cop of yarn is unwound from the take-up tube. A tubular member receives the take-up tube therein. The tubular member has an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter of the cop and larger than the outside diameter of the take-up tube.

Abstract: Moisture sensor devices, systems and methods of making and using the same employ a pair of elongated, probe-like, conductive sensor elements, coupled as part of an LC oscillator circuit. The use of an LC oscillator circuit can minimize adverse effects of conductivity variances in the medium being monitored, because the resistance of the medium (and, thus, the medium's conductivity) has minimal or no effect on the resonant frequency of an LC oscillator circuit. An LC oscillator circuit of suitable stability for moisture sensing applications includes first and second comparators connected such that the output of the first comparator is coupled to the inverting input of the second comparator. An inductor is coupled between the output and inverting input of the first comparator and a capacitance C is provided between the output of the second comparator and the inverting input of the first comparator.

Abstract: The voice processor includes a microphone for a device for inputting a voice signal, a device for inputting chord information from an electronic musical instrument or the like, a converter for converting the pitch of the voice signal into a specified pitch according to the chord information, a mixer for mixing the input voice signal and a pitch-converted voice signal, and a loudspeaker for outputting the mixed signal. The pitch of the input voice signal is converted into such one as will be consonant with the chord information or as will coincide therewith and thereafter the pitch converted signal will be output along with the input voice signal.

Abstract: In an image device wherein rays from LED arrays are guided through single lenses to form an image, LED arrays are arranged on a base plate, single lenses are arranged on a lens plate, the distance between the base plate and the lens plate is kept constant by using a spacer, and the coefficients of thermal expansion of the lens plate, base plate and spacer are made virtually identical to each other.

Abstract: A process for removal of manganese from water which includes the steps of (i) preparing a fluidized bed of particles (eg. magnetite) in a bioreactor capable of adsorbing a strongly adherent biofilm of microorganisms (e.g. pedomicrobium manganicum) metabolising manganese to provide an actively propagated biomass, and (ii) passing a stream of water through the fluidized bed where manganese is adsorbed by said biomass and is thus removed from the stream of water to provide a purified effluent of water exiting from the bioreactor.