Abstract: Disclosed is an LPC vector quantization device capable of quantizing an LSP vector by using correlation between divided vectors.

Abstract: It is possible to provide an encoding device and an encoding method capable of realizing encoding with a very small information amount and a very small calculation amount when encoding higher-band spectrum data according to lower-band spectrum data in a wide-band signal. The device and the method can obtain a high-quality decoded signal even if a large quantization distortion is caused in the lower-band spectrum data. In this device, when encoding higher-band spectrum data in a signal to be encoded, according to lower-band spectrum data in the signal, only for apart (a head portion) of the higher-band spectrum data, the lower-band spectrum data after being quantized is subjected to approximate partial search and higher-band spectrum data is generated according to the search result.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with low core loss and low magnetostriction and a method for producing the same. The grain-oriented electrical steel sheet is excellent in reduced core loss and magnetostriction while under a high flux density of 1.9 T, comprises a refined magnetic domain comprising a laser irradiated portion which has melted and resolidified to form a solidified layer, wherein the thickness of the solidified layer is 4 ?m or less. The grain-oriented electrical steel sheet may further comprise a laser irradiated portion where a surface roughness Rz is small and a cross section viewed from a transverse direction has a concave portion having a width of 200 ?m or less and a depth of 10 ?m or less for further improvement.

Abstract: An apparatus sets a pitch cycle search object in pitch cycle search processing for searching for a pitch cycle included in a linear predictive residual on a per subframe basis. A pitch cycle indicator of the apparatus sequentially output spitch cycle candidates within a predetermined pitch cycle search range at integral accuracy. A memory stores an integral component of a pitch cycle selected in pitch cycle search processing of a previous subframe. An adaptive sound source vector generator sets, as the pitch cycle search object in pitch cycle search processing in a processing subframe section, a group of candidates comprising a group of integral-accuracy pitch cycle candidates output from the pitch cycle indicator and a group of fractional-accuracy pitch cycle search candidates that cover a pitch cycle near an integral component of the pitch cycle read from the previous subframe integral pitch cycle memory using fractional accuracy.

Abstract: A coding device is provided with features in which optimum coding in a higher layer is flexibly carried out based on a coding result of a lower layer and a quality audio signal in limited circumstances is served to users. In this coding device, a basic layer coding unit codes an input signal to generate a basic layer information source code and outputs a linear prediction coefficient (LPC) and a quantum LPC, which are parameters calculated at coding, to an expanded layer control unit. A basic layer decoding unit decodes the basic layer information source code. An adding unit reverses a polarity of a basic layer decoded signal, adds the same to the input signal, and calculates a difference signal. The expanded layer control unit generates expanded layer mode information indicative of a coding mode in an expanded layer based on the LPC and the quantum LPC. An expanded layer coding unit codes the difference signal obtained from the adding unit under control of the expanded layer control unit.

Abstract: When a non-oriented electrical steel sheet is manufactured, simultaneously having superior magnetic properties and high strengths, a composition containing 0.02% or less of C, 4.5% or less of Si, 5.0% or less (including 0) of Ni, and 0.2% to 4.0% of Cu is used, and a solute Cu is allowed to appropriately remain in finish annealing. In the steel sheet thus obtained, finely shaped Cu is precipitated by aging treatment, and while the magnetic properties are not degraded, the yield stress is increased to not less than CYS (MPa) represented by the following formula: note CYS=180+5,600[% C]+95[% Si]+50[% Mn]+37[% Al]+435[% P]+25[% Ni]+22d?1/2 where d is an average grain diameter (mm) of crystal grains.

Abstract: There are provided an iron composition including a milk protein and an iron preparation, which is stable in the presence of a substance having a property of releasing iron from the composition or reducing the released iron, and foods or drinks, animal feeds, and medicines blended with the iron composition. A milk protein such as skim milk is blended into an iron preparation, thereby producing the iron composition which is stable in the presence of a substance having a property of releasing iron from the composition or reducing the released iron (e.g., vitamin C or citric acid).

Abstract: An encoder generating a decoded signal with an improved quality by scalable encoding by canceling the characteristic inherent to the encoder and causing degradation of quality of the decoded signal.

Abstract: A signal decoding apparatus that can suppress any large unusual sounds to provide decoded signals of improved audibility even when the number of hierarchical layers to be used in the decoding process varies due to a packet loss or the like in communication utilizing a scalable encoding/decoding technique. In the signal decoding apparatus, a gain adjusting part (2308) adjusts, based on a control of a decoding control part (2301), the gain of a basic layer decoded signal outputted from a basic layer decoding part (2302). A gain adjusting part (2309) adjusts, based on a control of the decoding control part (2301), the gain of a first expansion layer decoded signal outputted from a first expansion layer decoding part (2303). A gain adjusting part (2310) adjusts, based on a control of the decoding control part (2301), the gain of a second expansion layer decoded signal outputted from a second expansion layer decoding part (2304).

Abstract: A signal decoding apparatus preventing substantial noise from being produced when transmission error occurs during decoding of scalable-coded information. In this signal decoding apparatus, a coded information operation section (601) performs error detection for base layer coded information, first enhancement layer coded information and second enhancement layer coded information using transmission error detection bits. A decoding operation control section (602) performs ON/OFF control of control switches (606, 607) in accordance with pattern information indicating error detection results and bit rate patterns, and controls the sampling frequencies of sampling frequency adjustment sections (608, 609). A base layer decoding section (603), first enhancement layer decoding section (604) and second enhancement layer decoding section (605) perform decoding of coded information or frame loss compensation processing, depending on error detection results and bit rates.

Abstract: There is provided a relay device capable of simultaneously transmitting various additional information such as audio information, character information, and image information while suppressing the communication cost and the line use ratio without increasing the calculation cost in the decoding process. The relay device includes an encoded information analysis unit (602) which outputs transmission mode information and an additional information flag to an additional processing unit (603) and outputs an information source code of each layer to the additional processing unit (603) according to the transmission mode information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a delivery processing apparatus comprising an alignment stage, an aligning means having an alignment member operable to align a sheet on the alignment stage and to escape to a home position during a non-alignment period, a conveying means for conveying the sheet on the alignment stage, a sheet processing means for performing a prescribed processing to the sheet on the alignment stage, a delivery portion for stacking the sheets and a stacking amount detecting means having a detection member selectively moving to a detection position and a non-detection position at a region overlapping an operation region of the alignment member to detect the stacking amount of the sheet delivered to the delivery portion.

Abstract: A signal decoding apparatus preventing substantial noise from being produced when transmission error occurs during decoding of scalable-coded information. In this signal decoding apparatus, a coded information operation section (601) performs error detection for base layer coded information, first enhancement layer coded information and second enhancement layer coded information using transmission error detection bits. A decoding operation control section (602) performs ON/OFF control of control switches (606, 607) in accordance with pattern information indicating error detection results and bit rate patterns, and controls the sampling frequencies of sampling frequency adjustment sections (608, 609). A base layer decoding section (603), first enhancement layer decoding section (604) and second enhancement layer decoding section (605) perform decoding of coded information or frame loss compensation processing, depending on error detection results and bit rates.

Abstract: There is provided a communication device for effectively encoding an audio/music signal while maintaining a predetermined quality by controlling the transmission bit rate of the transmission side considering the use environment of the reception side. In this device, a transmission mode decision unit (101) detects an environment noise contained in the background of the audio/music signal in the input signal and decides the transmission mode controlling the transmission bit rate of the signal transmitted from a communication terminal device (150), which is a communication terminal of the partner side, according to the environment noise level. A signal decoding unit (103) decodes encoded information transmitted from the communication terminal device (150) via a transmission path (110) and outputs the obtained signal as an output signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an output processing device determining an output process time in accordance with reservation information of a sheet of paper to be outputted, and a controller adjusting a paper transport interval in accordance with the output process time determined by the output processing device. Upon canceling the reservation information, the controller adjusts the paper transport interval of reservation information to be processed right after the canceled reservation information on the basis of an output process time of reservation information to be processed right before the canceled reservation information.

Abstract: A speech coding apparatus includes a base layer coder that codes an input signal and generates first coded information. A base layer decoder decodes the first coded information and generates a first decoded signal. The base layer decoder also generates long term prediction information comprising information representing long term correlation of speech or sound. An adder obtains a residual signal representing a difference between the input signal and the first decoded signal. An enhancement layer coder calculates a long term prediction coefficient using the residual signal obtained in the adder and a long term prediction signal fetched from a previous long term prediction signal sequence based on the long term prediction information. The enhancement layer coder further codes the long term prediction coefficient and generates second coded information.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to which a paper handling unit is connected thereto is provided. The image forming apparatus detects the size of a sheet in a direction in which the sheet is conveyed for image formation. The image forming apparatus outputs sheet size mismatch information indicating that the size of the sheet does not match a predetermined size to the paper handling unit before a size detecting operation thereof has been completed detecting the trailing edge of the sheet is greater than the predetermined size.

Abstract: A signal decoding apparatus preventing substantial noise from being produced when transmission error occurs during decoding of scalable-coded information. In this signal decoding apparatus, a coded information operation section (601) performs error detection for base layer coded information, first enhancement layer coded information and second enhancement layer coded information using transmission error detection bits. A decoding operation control section (602) performs ON/OFF control of control switches (606, 607) in accordance with pattern information indicating error detection results and bit rate patterns, and controls the sampling frequencies of sampling frequency adjustment sections (608, 609). A base layer decoding section (603) , first enhancement layer decoding section (604) and second enhancement layer decoding section (605) perform decoding of coded information or frame loss compensation processing, depending on error detection results and bit rates.

Abstract: An audio/music decoding device capable of improving quality of a decoded signal generated by conceal processing of a frame erase using a scalable encoding method. The audio/music decoding device includes a frame loss detector that determines whether encoded information is normally received and generates frame loss information indicating the result of the determination. According to the frame loss information, a first decoder performs decoding by using at least one of the following encoded information: the first encoded information on the frame immediately before, the first encoded information on the current frame, and the second encoded information on the current frame.

Abstract: To implement scalable coding, a base layer coding section encodes an input signal to obtain base layer coded information, which is decoded by a base layer decoding section to obtain a base layer decoded signal and long term prediction information (pitch lag). An adding section inverts the polarity of the base layer decoded signal to add to the input signal, and obtains a residual signal. An enhancement layer coding section encodes a long term prediction coefficient calculated using the long term prediction information and the residual signal to obtain enhancement layer coded information. Also using the long term prediction information, an enhancement layer decoding section decodes the enhancement layer coded information to obtain an enhancement layer decoded signal. An adding section adds the base layer decoded signal and enhancement layer decoded signal to obtain a speech/sound signal.