Abstract: A holding material for a catalytic converter includes a catalyst carrier, a metal casing for receiving the catalyst carrier, and a holding material interposed in a gap between the catalyst carrier and the metal casing while wound on the catalyst carrier. The holding material is constituted by a molding of inorganic fiber molded with fibrillated fiber into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A holding material for a catalytic converter is interposed in a gap between a catalyst carrier and a metal casing receiving the catalyst carrier. The holding material includes a mat including alumina fiber and mullite fiber, wherein the alumina fiber and the mullite fiber are unitarily collected to form the holding material having a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: An inexpensive sound and heat insulating material that is able to prevent fine fiber granules generated by heat deterioration of the inorganic fiber as a main component of the base material from being scattered while maintaining the sound insulating property and heat resistant property. A coating layer of a lepidoflaky mineral is formed by coating, followed by drying, a water base dispersion of the lepidoflaky mineral by brushing, spraying, roll coating, dipping or showering on the surface of the base material comprising a heat-resistant fiber such as an inorganic fiber. Further exhaust manifold covers, engine exhaust pipes sound absorbing blocks made of, or utilizing the sound and heat insulting material.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided with a first panel selectively exposing the front face or the reverse face by being rotated, and a second panel mounted so that it is shifted between the position being flush with the first panel and the position where it is retracted into the system body. A braking unit for panels in which a resilient pressing member mounted on the second panel is brought into abutment with the first panel when the second panel is shifted from the position within the system body to the position being flush with the first panel that is exposing its front face is further provided. An electronic device further comprises an urging member fixed on the axial rod of the first panel and an urging operation element formed with a resiliently deformable oblique line on a part of the urging member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst carrier holding member to be fitted into a gap between a catalyst carrier and a casing accommodating the catalyst carrier. The catalyst carrier holding member includes a three-dimensional molded article having flexible inorganic fiber and an inorganic expansive admixture, if desired. The flexible inorganic fiber is bound together by a binder in a compression-deflected state. A surface in contact with the catalyst carrier is shaped substantially in conformity to the outer shape of the catalyst carrier, and a surface in contact with the casing is substantially in conformity to the inner shape of the casing. The catalyst carrier holding member has a thickness equal to or larger than the gap.

Abstract: A method of attaching a vibration floating washer with a sleeve to a heat insulating plate including an attaching-bolt insertion hole. The method comprises: disposing the metallic damping element on an inner side and a peripheral edge portion of the attaching-bolt insertion hole; inserting a male sleeve of a male washer and a female sleeve of a female washer respectively into the bolt insertion hole from both sides of the heat insulating plate; and fitting and fixing the male washer and the female washers to each other with a fitting portion provided on at least one of the male sleeve and the female sleeve so that the heat insulating plate is maintained in a state of noncontact with both the male washer and the female washer.

Abstract: A data terminal, a data distributing system, and an Internet telephoning system are provided where desired data such as advertisements can selectively be determined and used for enjoying its relevant services. The data terminal receives a summary of service data from a data provider apparatus over the Internet, and if desired, demands the data provider apparatus to provide the service data over the Internet. The service data from the data provider apparatus may selectively be received in at least one of an audio form, a text form, and a video form at the data terminal. The service data may be advertisement data, commercial product data, and entertainment data such as music, movies, and games. The entertainment data may selectively be presented as at least one of the title, the artist name, the cost, and a trial sample piece of the content.

Abstract: Stevia particles of at least 10 &mgr;m diameter and/or liquid extract is applied to soil in which plants are cultivated and/or to the plants. The Stevia is applied in a quantity per unit area effective for at least one of the following effects: enhancing root growth of plants, prolonging freshness and tastiness of edible agricultural products yielded by the plants, decreasing the dropping of fruit before harvest time, aiding the sustaining and multiplying of microbes in the soil beneficial to the plants, countering soil damage which would otherwise occur due to repeated plantings, moderating the absorption of fertilizer by the plants in the event of excessive application of fertilizers, and making the plants more resistant to harmful microbes in the soil.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image converting device, a voice converting device, an image data compressing and expanding device, a voice data compressing and expanding device, a single digital/analog converter, a sample-holding device for sample-holding and outputting the analog sound signals, a pedestal level generating device for generating signals indicative of pedestal levels, a change-over switching device for connecting the voice data compressing and expanding device to the sample-holding means when causing the pedestal level generating device to output the signals indicative of pedestal levels and for connecting the image data compressing and expanding device to the single digital/analog converter when causing the pedestal level generating device to prevent the outputting of the signals indicative of the pedestal level.

Abstract: An orthogonal transformation processor has a first one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator for calculating a one-dimensional orthogonal transformation; a memory device for temporarily storing an output of the first one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator; a second one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator for calculating a one-dimensional orthogonal transformation and inputting an output of the memory device thereto; and an address generator for designating an address of the memory device and replacing row and column addresses with each other in accordance with a switching operation of writing and reading operations of the memory device. Instead of this address generator, the orthogonal transformation processor may have an address generator for designating an address of the memory device and replacing row and column addresses with each other i n accordance with calculating operations of the first and second one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculators.

Abstract: An orthogonal transformation processor has a first one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator for calculating a one-dimensional orthogonal transformation; a memory device for temporarily storing an output of the first one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator; a second one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator for calculating a one-dimensional orthogonal transformation and inputting an output of the memory device thereto; and an address generator for designating an address of the memory device and replacing row and column addresses with each other in accordance with a switching operation of writing and reading operations of the memory device. Instead of this address generator, the orthogonal transformation processor may have an address generator for designating an address of the memory device and replacing row and column addresses with each other in accordance with calculating operations of the first and second one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculators.

Abstract: An orthogonal transformation processor has a first one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator for calculating a one-dimensional orthogonal transformation; a memory device for temporarily storing an output of the first one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator; a second one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculator for calculating a one-dimensional orthogonal transformation and inputting an output of the memory device thereto; and an address generator for designating an address of the memory device and replacing row and column addresses with each other in accordance with a switching operation of writing and reading operations of the memory device. Instead of this address generator, the orthogonal transformation processor may have an address generator for designating an address of the memory device and replacing row and column addresses with each other in accordance with calculating operations of the first and second one-dimensional orthogonal transformation calculators.

Abstract: An orthogonal transformation arithmetic unit performs a discrete cosine transformation with respect to a digital signal and compresses discrete cosine transformed data by quantizing and Huffman-coding processings thereof. The arithmetic unit Huffman-decodes the compressed data and demodulates the Huffman-decoded data to a digital signal by performing inverse quantization and an inverse discrete cosine transformation with respect to the Huffman-decoded data. The arithmetic unit has a memory section for storing one line block of image data of brightness and color signals converted to digital signals; and a section for processing the discrete cosine transformation and having a preprocessing circuit for performing adding and subtracting operations with respect to the image data read out of the memory section such that some values of discrete cosine transformation coefficients used in the discrete cosine transformation are partially set to zero. The other orthogonal arithmetic units are also shown.

Abstract: A battery including a spare battery is provided in which the six cells conventionally used for the spare battery are decreased to three cells, thereby allowing the capacity of the main battery to be increased. No charger for the spare battery is required. The main battery comprises six cells connected in series, the first of the six cells having a capacity at least 10% higher than that the remaining three cells. A switch is used to connect the spare battery in parallel with the remaining three cells of the main battery.

Abstract: An image data processing apparatus includes a converter for subjecting each block to a discrete cosine transform (DCT) to convert blocks into DCT coefficients, a first memory for temporarily storing the DCT coefficients, a second memory for storing threshold values of a quantization matrix which is used for quantizing the DCT coefficients, a quantizing part for quantizing the DCT coefficients, a differential part for obtaining a difference in D.C. components of quantized DCT coefficients related to present and previous blocks, a zero detector for detecting whether or not A.C. components of the quantized DCT coefficient are zero coefficients, a counter for counting a number of successive zero coefficients of the A.C. components, a coder for subjecting the D.C. and A.C. components to a Huffman coding to output a coded D.C. and A.C.

Abstract: A digital filter processor includes an input part for distributing an input digital data train including a plurality of digital data to a plurality of systems. Each of the systems is provided with a corresopnding one of the distributed data trains at the same time. Each of the systems includes an operation part for multiplying each digital data included in the corresponding one of the distributed data trains by a corresponding multiplication factor at the same time to thereby generate multiplied data and for generating a sum signal indicative of a sum total of the multiplied data related to the corresponding one of the distributed data trains, each of the systems outputting the sum signal at the same time. The operation part also includes a selection part for selecting one of the sum signals supplied from the operation parts provided for the plurality of systems and for outputting an output digital signal.

Abstract: A stirring device for the electrolytic solution in a storage battery. A solution circulating tube having open opposite ends is disposed in the electrolytic solution. The open top opens to a gas reservoir having an inverted J shape and opening downward in the upper part of the solution. A gas collecting chamber collects gas bubbles generated by the electrode plates and this gas enters an inverted U-shaped siphon strap which opens at one end to the chamber and at the other end to the tube via a small hole in the tube at a middle portion thereof. The gas in the siphon strap forces solution and gas from the upper part of the tube and gas reservoir into the upper part of the electrolytic solution via the gas reservoir opening.

Abstract: When the discharging of a battery is suspended, its open-circuit voltage or a voltage corresponding to the open-circuit voltage is detected, and with the voltage thus detected, as a start point an imaginary voltage curve having a certain decreasing rate is set for instance (by discharging a capacitor which has been charged by the voltage). When the discharging of the battery is suspended, the voltage detected at that time is used to correct the start point voltage of the imaginary voltage curve. According to the voltage obtained from the imaginary voltage curve, the number of LEDs turned on is changed or one of the LEDs is selected or liquid crystal display means is operated to display the remaining capacity of the battery.

Abstract: A frequency converter comprises a frequency converting circuit, and filters which are input and output functional with respect to the frequency converting circuit for passing input and output frequency waves respectively and which have different passing frequency bands. A single terminal is provided for the frequency converter, through which reception of the input frequency wave to the input functional filter and delivery of the output frequency wave from the output functional filter are effected.