Abstract: A laminated sheet includes a first porous layer including a plurality of fibers of at least one of inorganic fiber or carbonized fiber; and a second porous layer formed of a plurality of organic fibers, wherein the laminated sheet has a surface density of greater than or equal to 400 g/m2 and less than or equal to 1550 g/m2, wherein the second porous layer is formed of the plurality of organic fibers having a mean diameter of fibers being greater than or equal to 0.5 ?m and less than or equal to 14 ?m, and wherein, expressing a total volume of solids and voids filling a unit volume of the second porous layer as 100%, a percentage of the solids is greater than or equal to 1.0% and less than or equal to 8.0%.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an artificial neural network circuit including: at least one crossbar circuit to transmit a signal between layered neurons of an artificial neural network, the crossbar circuit including multiple input bars, multiple output bars arranged intersecting the input bars, and multiple memristors that are disposed at respective intersections of the input bars and the output bars to give a weight to the signal to be transmitted; a processing circuit to calculate a sum of signals flowing into each of the output bars while a weight to a corresponding signal is given by each of the memristors; a temperature sensor to detect environmental temperature; and an update portion that updates a trained value used in the crossbar circuit and/or the processing circuit.

Abstract: In a communication system, a control unit and driver units are connected in a daisy chain; each unit includes a corresponding insulated communication circuit, respectively. The control unit measures a communication delay time between the control unit and each driver unit from a response time to transmission of a pulse signal performed to each driver unit during a measurement period. Then, based on each communication delay time, the control unit transmits a shift time to each driver unit for equalizing the timing of signals output by the driver units. When each driver unit receives, from the control unit, an instruction instructing each driver unit to output a signal, each driver unit outputs the signal when the shift time has elapsed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wiring board includes covering a part of a wiring disposed on a base material for the wiring board by disposing a separation layer on the base material; covering the wiring and the separation layer by disposing a cover lay including a removal portion on the base material; and removing the removal portion of the cover lay laminated on the separation layer and exposing a part of the wiring from the cover lay by peeling the separation layer from the base material.

Abstract: A differential communication circuit is connected to a communication line formed of a positive communication line and a negative communication line for differential communication. The differential communication circuit includes: a series circuit that includes a resistor element and a connection switch. The resistor element is connected between the positive and negative communication lines when the connection switch is turned on. The circuit also includes a transmission unit that is configured to output a differential signal to the communication line and a controller that is configured to change impedance of the communication line by turning on the connection switch in a period during which the transmission unit does not output the differential signal.

Abstract: An insulated communication system includes a communication controller that sets communication data to a communication symbol through a numeral system and executes insulated communication through an insulator by adopting the communication symbol. The numeral system includes multiple states having a positive state, a negative state and a zero state. The positive state is represented by at least one positive integer, and the negative state is represented by at least one negative integer. The zero state is represented by zero being a level without generating current consumption. An absolute value of the at least one positive integer and an absolute value of the at least one negative integer are identical to each other. The communication controller sets an initial section of the communication data in the communication symbol to the positive state or the negative state, and sets a following section of the communication data to one of the multiple states.

Abstract: A signal generation circuit includes: a capacitor charged and discharged by a current proportional to an input voltage; a switch controlling charging and discharging of the capacitor based on an output signal of a comparator that compares a feedback voltage according to an output voltage and a predetermined first reference voltage; a reference voltage generation unit generating a second reference voltage that is generated by adding an offset voltage proportional to the input voltage to an output proportional voltage proportional to the output voltage; and a comparator comparing a terminal voltage of the capacitor and the second reference voltage, and generates an ON-time signal based on an output signal of the comparator.

Abstract: A differential transmission circuit for a communication device performs bidirectional communication via a differential transmission line. The differential transmission circuit include: output transistors that are turned on and off according to a drive signal during a transmission period; a signal generation unit that generates and outputs the drive signal; short-circuit transistors connected between gates and drains of the output transistors; and a cut off unit that cuts off a supply path of the drive signal between the signal generation unit and the gates of the output transistors. The cut off unit cuts off the supply path of the drive signal during a reception period in which a reception operation is performed by the communication device.

Abstract: An artificial neural network circuit includes a crossbar circuit, and a processing circuit. The crossbar circuit transmits a signal between layered neurons of an artificial neural network. The crossbar circuit includes input bars, output bars arranged intersecting the input bars, and memristors. The processing circuit calculates a sum of signals flowing into each of the output bars. The processing circuit calculates, as the sum of the signals, a sum of signals flowing into a plurality of separate output bars and conductance values of the corresponding memristors are set so as to cooperate to give a desired weight to the signal to be transmitted.

Abstract: A differential communication circuit is connected to a communication line formed of a positive communication line and a negative communication line for differential communication. The differential communication circuit includes: a series circuit that includes a resistor element and a connection switch. The resistor element is connected between the positive and negative communication lines when the connection switch is turned on. The circuit also includes a transmission unit that is configured to output a differential signal to the communication line and a controller that is configured to change impedance of the communication line by turning on the connection switch in a period during which the transmission unit does not output the differential signal.

Abstract: A image recognition system includes a first convolution layer, a pooling layer, a second convolution layer, a crossbar circuit having a plurality of input lines, at least one output line intersecting with the input lines, and a plurality of weight elements that are provided at intersection points between the input lines and the output line, weights each input value input to the input lines to output to the output line, and a control portion that selects from convolution operation results of the first convolution layer, an input value needed to acquire each pooling operation result needed to perform second filter convolution operation at each shift position in the second convolution layer, and inputs the input value selected to the input lines.

Abstract: A neural network circuit that uses a ramp function as an activation function includes a memory device in which memristors serving as memory elements are connected in a matrix. The neural network circuit further includes I-V conversion amplification circuits for converting currents flowing via the memory elements into voltages, a differential amplifier circuit for performing a differential operation on outputs of two I-V conversion amplification circuits, an A-D converter for performing an A-D conversion on a result of the differential operation, and an output determine that, by referring to input signals of the differential amplifier circuit, determines whether an output signal value of the differential amplifier circuit belongs to an active region or an inactive region. Based on a determination result, the input determiner switches over the differential amplifier circuit and the A-D converter between an operating state and a standby state.

Abstract: A vehicle proposed herein includes a swivel, a lock mechanism selectively locking and unlocking the swivel, a seat mounted on the swivel, a plurality of surface pressure sensors each disposed along an outer surface of the seat and detecting a pressure distribution within a predetermined area of the outer surface, and a controller configured to cause the lock mechanism to be unlocked based on a change in pressure distribution or a surface pressure that is detected by any of the plurality of surface pressure sensors.

Abstract: In a communication system, a control unit and driver units are connected in a daisy chain; each unit includes a corresponding insulated communication circuit, respectively. The control unit measures a communication delay time between the control unit and each driver unit from a response time to transmission of a pulse signal performed to each driver unit during a measurement period. Then, based on each communication delay time, the control unit transmits a shift time to each driver unit for equalizing the timing of signals output by the driver units. When each driver unit receives, from the control unit, an instruction instructing each driver unit to output a signal, each driver unit outputs the signal when the shift time has elapsed.

Abstract: A neural network circuit includes a memory device in which memristors being variable resistance elements are connected in a matrix and serve as memory elements of the memory device. The neural network circuit further includes a voltage application device arranged to apply a bias voltage to the memory device and current-voltage (I-V) conversion amplification circuits arranged to convert currents flowing via the memory elements into voltages and output the voltage. A feedback resistor of a respective I-V conversion amplification circuit includes a memristor. The feedback resistor of a respective I-V conversion amplification circuit and the memory elements acting as an input resistor of the I-V conversion amplification circuit are connected to align a polarity direction of the memristor of the feedback resistor and polarity directions of the memristors of the memory elements acting as the input resistor.

Abstract: A differential communication driver circuit includes a drive unit that drives differential signal lines connected via capacitors by a source current and a sink current. When a noise detection unit detects that in-phase noise is applied to the differential signal lines, a drive assisting unit maintains an amplitude of a differential signal output to the differential signal lines by increasing a current drive capability of the sink current.

Abstract: A neural network circuit includes: multiple storage portions that include a memristor; multiple D/A converters that receive data, causing a signal voltage to be applied to multiple voltage input terminals of the storage portions; multiple drive amplifiers that are connected between to the D/A converters and the voltage input terminals; multiple I/V conversion amplifiers that are connected to at least one current output terminal of the storage portions; multiple A/D converters; and a series circuit of a first switch and a second switch that is disposed in a feedback loop of each of the drive amplifiers; and a series circuit of a third switch and a fourth switch that is disposed in a feedback loop of each of the I/V conversion amplifiers.

Abstract: A neural network circuit includes: a storage portion that includes memristors; D/A converters; drive amplifiers; I/V conversion amplifiers; A/D converters; and offset correctors. The offset corrector includes a first latch circuit, a second latch circuit, a subtractor that subtracts latch data, and a controller. In performing a bias setting operation, the controller controls a bias application amplifier to output the bias voltage, controls each of the D/A converters to cause the drive amplifier other than the bias application amplifier to output a reference voltage, and also cause the first latch circuit to latch the output data. In performing a normal operation, the controller controls the bias application amplifier to output the reference voltage, controls each of the D/A converters to cause the drive amplifier other than the bias application amplifier to output the signal voltage, and also cause the second latch circuit to latch the output data.

Abstract: A short-circuit determination device is provided in a switching power supply device. The switching power supply device converts a power supply voltage applied between an upper power supply line and a lower power supply line and outputs the power supply voltage to a load through an intermediate node. The switching power supply device includes a plurality of upper switching elements and a lower switching element. Each of the plurality of upper switching elements has an electrical conduction terminal and a control terminal. The electrical conduction terminals are connected in series between the upper power supply line and the intermediate node. The control terminals are driven at a same level as each other. The lower switching element has an electrical conduction terminal connected between the lower power supply line and the intermediate node. The lower switching element and the plurality of upper switching elements are connected in series.

Abstract: A signal generation circuit includes: a capacitor charged and discharged by a current proportional to an input voltage; a switch controlling charging and discharging of the capacitor based on an output signal of a comparator that compares a feedback voltage according to an output voltage and a predetermined first reference voltage; a reference voltage generation unit generating a second reference voltage that is generated by adding an offset voltage proportional to the input voltage to an output proportional voltage proportional to the output voltage; and a comparator comparing a terminal voltage of the capacitor and the second reference voltage, and generates an ON-time signal based on an output signal of the comparator.