Abstract: In a speech recognizing apparatus, a grammatical qualification of a proposed speech recognition result candidate is judged without using a grammatical rule. The speech recognizing apparatus for performing sentence/speech recognition is comprised of an analyzing unit for acoustically analyzing speech inputted therein to extract a feature parameter of the inputted speech; a recognizing unit for recognizing the inputted speech based upon the feature parameter outputted from said analyzing unit to thereby a plurality of proposed recognition result candidates; an example data base for storing therein a plurality of examples; and an example retrieving unit for calculating a resemblance degree between each of said plurality of proposed recognition result candidates and each of the plural examples stored in the example data base and for obtaining the speech recognition result based on said calculated resemblance degree.

Abstract: A mapping determination method for obtaining mapping F from an N-dimensional metric vector space .OMEGA..sub.N to an M-dimensional metric vector space .OMEGA..sub.M has the following steps to get the optimal mapping quickly and positively. In the first step, complete, periodic, L.sub.m basic functions g.sub.m (X) according to the distribution of samples classified into Q categories on the N-dimensional metric vector space .OMEGA..sub.N are set. In the second step, a function f.sub.m (X) indicating the m-th component of the mapping F is expressed with the linear sum of the functions g.sub.m (X) and L.sub.m coefficients c.sub.m. The third step provides Q teacher vectors T.sub.q =(t.sub.q.1, t.sub.q.2, t.sub.q.3, . . . , t.sub.q.M) (where q=1, 2, . . . , Q) for the categories on the M-dimensional metric vector space .OMEGA..sub.M, calculates the specified estimation function J, and obtains the coefficients c.sub.m which minimize the estimation function J. In the fourth step, the coefficients c.sub.

Abstract: A method for forming an image using scanning exposure of an electrophotographic lithographic printing plate comprising an electrically conductive support having thereon a photoconductive layer containing an inorganic photoconductor, a chemical sensitizer, a sensitizing dye and a binder resin, and a back layer on the opposite side of the photoconductive layer, wherein the back layer has a surface resistivity of 1.times.10.sup.10 .OMEGA. or less and the sensitizing dye in the photoconductive layer is at least one selected from the compounds represented by formulae (I) and (II) defined in the disclosure.

Abstract: A voice recognition device according to the present invention including a voice analyzer for acoustically analyzing voice every predetermined frame unit to extract a feature vector X, a converter for subjecting the feature vector X output from the analyzer to a predetermined conversion process, and a voice recognizer for recognizing the voice on the basis of a new feature vector output from the converter, wherein the converter conducts the predetermined conversion processing according to a mapping F from an N-dimensional vector space .OMEGA..sub.N to an M-dimensional vector space .OMEGA..sub.M, the feature vector X is a vector on the N-dimensional vector space .OMEGA..sub.N and the function f.sub.m (X) of an m-th component of the mapping F is represented by the following linear summation of the products of functions g.sub.m.sup.k (X) and coefficients c.sub.m.sup.k of L.sub.m : ##EQU1## Each function g.sub.m.sup.k (X) may be set to a monomial.

Abstract: A map determination method and apparatus for calculating the coefficients to give a minimum evaluation function quickly and reliably where a map is expressed as the linear sum of a function g.sub.i (X) and a coefficient c.sub.i while a map for transforming a N-dimensional vector (x.sub.0, x.sub.1, x.sub.2, x.sub.3) to a M-dimensional vector y is being decided. The coefficient ci for the map is obtained by giving a learning sample and a teaching sample, obtaining an evaluation function and solving a simultaneous linear equation for which the partial differential is zero.

Abstract: A method for preparation of a printing plate by an electrophotographic process comprising providing a peelable transfer layer (T) containing a resin (A) capable of being removed upon a chemical reaction treatment on an electrophotographic light-sensitive element, forming a toner image on the transfer layer by an electrophotographic process, providing an adhesive layer (M) containing a thermoplastic resin (B) only on the toner image, transferring the toner image together with the transfer layer (T) and the adhesive layer (M) from the electrophotographic light-sensitive element to a primary receptor, transferring the toner image together with the transfer layer (T) and the adhesive layer (M) from the primary receptor to a receiving material having a surface capable of providing a hydrophilic surface suitable for lithographic printing at the time of printing, and then removing the transfer layer (T) in the non-image portion on the receiving material by the chemical reaction treatment.

Abstract: A method for forming an image using beam exposure of an electrophotosensitive material comprising an electrically conductive support having thereon an electrophotosensitive layer containing an inorganic photoconductor, a chemical sensitizer, a spectral sensitizing dye and a binder resin, wherein the spectral sensitizing dye is at least one dye selected from the compounds represented by formulae (I) and (II) defined in the disclosure and the surface of the electrically conductive support on the side of the electrophotosensitive layer has a BEKK smoothness of 300 sec/10 cc or more.

Abstract: An electric power circuit for producing a DC output from an AC output of an AC power source comprises a rectifying circuit to be connected to the AC power source for rectifying the AC output to produce a rectified output, and a smoothing circuit comprising an electrolytic capacitor connected to the rectifying circuit and having an output port to be connected to a load, for smoothing the rectified output to produce a smoothed output as the DC output onto the output port. The DC output is supplied to the load connected to the output port so that a load current flows from the power circuit through the load. In order to reduce harmonic components flowing back to the AC power source due to ripple component included in the load current, a non-linear resistance element having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance is used in a positive one of connection lines connecting the rectifying circuit and the smoothing circuit.

Abstract: A method for preparation of a printing plate by an electrophotographic process comprising providing a peelable transfer layer (T) containing a resin (A) capable of being removed upon a chemical reaction treatment on an electrophotographic light-sensitive element, forming a toner image on the transfer layer by an electrophotographic process, providing an adhesive layer (M) containing a thermoplastic resin (B) only on the toner image, transferring the toner image together with the transfer layer (T) and the adhesive layer (M) from the electrophotographic light-sensitive element to a receiving material having a surface capable of providing a hydrophilic surface suitable for lithographic printing at the time of printing, and then removing the transfer layer (T) on the receiving material by the chemical reaction treatment.

Abstract: An electrophotographic lithographic printing plate precursor having a photoconductive layer containing a resin which contains a functional group capable of forming --COOH group and a functional group capable of forming at least one group selected from --SO.sub.3 H group, --SO.sub.2 H group and --PO.sub.3 H group and which has a crosslinking structure.Owing to the specific polar group in the resin, a lithographic printing plate which is free from the occurrence of background stain and has excellent oil-desensitivity and high printing durability is provided.

Abstract: An electrophotographic light-sensitive material which has improved electrostatic characteristics and image forming performance and is excellent particularly in reproducibility of highly accurate image using a liquid developer and image forming performance upon a scanning exposure system using a laser beam of a low power.The electrophotographic light-sensitive material contains, as a binder resin, at least one resin selected from a low molecular weight resin (A.sub.1) formed from a macromonomer containing a polymer component of formula (I) and a monomer of the formula (I) and having a polar group bonded at one terminal of the main chain thereof, a low molecular weight resin (A.sub.2) formed from a macromonomer containing at random polar groups and a low molecular weight resin (A.sub.

Abstract: An electrophotographic light-sensitive material which has improved electrostatic characteristics and image forming performance and is excellent particularly in reproducibility of highly accurate image using a liquid developer and image forming performance upon a scanning exposure system using a laser beam of a low power.The electrophotographic light-sensitive material contains, as a binder resin, at least one resin (A) which has a weight average molecular weight of from 1.times.10.sup.3 to 2.times.10.sup.4 and contains not less than 30% by weight of a polymer component of the formula (I) and from 0.5 to 15% by weight of a specified polar group-containing polymer component and at least one resin (B) which is a starlike polymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 3.times.10.sup.4 to 1.times.10.sup.6 and comprising an organic molecule having bonded thereto at least three polymer chains each containing a polymer component containing a specified polar group and a polymer component of the formula (I).

Abstract: An electrophotographic light-sensitive material which has improved electrostatic characteristics and image forming performance and is excellent particularly in reproducibility of highly accurate image using a liquid developer and image forming performance upon a scanning exposure system using a laser beam of a low power.The electrophotographic light-sensitive material contains, as a binder resin, at least one resin selected from a low molecular weight resin (A.sub.1) formed from a macromonomer containing a polymer component of formula (I) and a monomer of the formula (I), a low molecular weight resin (A.sub.2) formed from a macromonomer containing at random polar groups and a low molecular weight resin (A.sub.3) formed from a macromonomer containing polar groups as a block, and a resin (B) which is a medium to high molecular weight AB block copolymer comprising an A block containing a specified polar group and a B block containing a polymer component of formula (I). ##STR1## wherein a.sup.1 and a.sup.

Abstract: The stacked heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention comprises flat tubes and corrugated fins which are alternately put together, the flat tube having a tank portion and a core portion, the tank portion on one side at the outermost portion having an inlet header, the tank portion on the other side at the outermost portion having an outlet header, and the core portion having a side plate as an external plate at both ends, wherein the upper end of the side plate abuts against the lower end of the inlet header and the lower end of the outlet header. Therefore, when a pressure is applied, a force in the spreading direction applied to the inlet/outlet tank portion is received by the abutting of side plate against said inlet and outlet headers. Thus, the deformation of the whole stacked heat exchanger can be prevented.

Abstract: An electrophotographic light-sensitive material which has improved electrostatic characteristics and image forming performance and is excellent particularly in reproducibility of highly accurate image using a liquid developer and image forming performance upon a scanning exposure system using a laser beam of a low power.The electrophotographic light-sensitive material contains, as a binder resin, at least one resin (A) which has a weight average molecular weight of from 1.times.10.sup.3 to 2.times.10.sup.4 and contains not less than 30% by weight of a polymer component of the formula (I) and from 0.5 to 15% by weight of a specified polar group-containing polymer component and at least one resin (B) which is an AB block copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of from 3.times.10.sup.4 to 1.times.10.sup.6 and comprising an A block containing a specified polar group-containing polymer component and a B block containing a polymer component of the formula (I). ##STR1## wherein a.sup.1 and a.sup.

Abstract: An electrophotographic light-sensitive material which is excellent in image reproducibility, moisture resistance and anti-abrasion property, provides clear images of good quality and is particularly useful in a scanning exposure system using a semiconductor laser beam is provided.The electrophotographic light-sensitive material contains, as a binder resin, a resin (A) which has an acid value of from 5 to 120 and contains a component of the formula (I) shown below and a specified polar group-containing component and a resin (B) which is an AB or ABA block copolymer comprising an A block containing a component of the formula (II) shown below and a B block containing a component derived from a specific macromonomer having a specified polar group.In the formulae (I) and (II) below, a.sup.1 and a.sup.2 each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a hydrocarbon group, --COOR.sup.4 or --COOR.sup.4 bonded via a hydrocarbon group (R.sup.4 represents a hydrocarbon group); and R.sup.11 and R.sup.

Abstract: The stacked heat exchanger in accordance with the present invention comprises flat tubes and corrugated fins which are alternately put together, the flat tube having a tank portion and a core portion, the tank portion on one side at the outermost portion having an inlet header, the tank portion on the other side at the outermost portion having an outlet header, and the core portion having a side plate as an external plate at both ends, wherein the upper end of the side plate abuts against the lower end of the inlet header and the lower end of the outlet header. Therefore, when a pressure is applied, a force in the spreading direction applied to the inlet/outlet tank portion is received by the abutting of side plate against said inlet and outlet headers. Thus, the deformation of the whole stacked heat exchanger can be prevented.

Abstract: The stacked heat exchanger of the present invention has a structure wherein grooves are brazed together to seal the external surface of the coolant passage, further grooves are brazed together to form a partition between the straight incoming and outgoing flow passages, and least one groove in the straight incoming and outgoing flow passage section which groove runs in parallel with the grooves earlier mentioned is formed on the formed plates. With this structure, drain water flows down promptly through these grooves and the splashing of the drain water into the downstream area of the heat exchanger can be prevented.

Abstract: A bar code reader that shortens transport distances of articles and increases processing performance. The bar code reader comprises a conveyer for conveying articles to a predetermined area, a first to n.sup.th (wherein n is an integer equivalent to 2 or more) reader for reading information of a bar code attached on an article that is conveyed by the conveyer, an article location detector for detecting location in the read area of k articles conveyed by the conveyer, and a controller for controlling the first to n.sup.th readers so as to read each bar code attached on the first to k.sup.th articles conveyed to the read area based on an output signal of the article location detector.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a stacked heat exchanger in which separate flow paths 54 and 55 which are formed by corrugated inner fins 52 and 53 are disposed in chambers 48 and 49 of a flat tube 41, and also separate U-shaped flow paths 56 are formed at the U-turn portion 50 to make the flow of refrigerant smooth, increase the area of flow paths, and eliminate the stagnation of refrigerant at the U-turn portion 50. The separation of refrigerant into two phases of gas and liquid due to centrifugal forces at the U-turn portion 50 is limited to the inside of each divided U-shaped flow path 56, thereby the distribution of the gas and liquid phases can be decreased. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a stacked heat exchanger, in which the reliability of flat tube 41 is improved, and the leakage of refrigerant is prevented.