Abstract: A composite and pressureless sintering process for making whisker-reinforced alumina composites using about 2 to about 7.5 wt. % of a nitride modifier consisting essentially of silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, or mixtures thereof produces a sintered body having a density of greater than about 95% theoretical.

Abstract: An improved automatic lateral guidance control system for guiding moving vehicles is provided which includes a sensing subsystem for viewing an area in front of a vehicle, a plurality of energy radiating or energy reflective devices disposed adjacent a predetermined length of road, an apparatus for translating the radiated or reflected information from the viewed area into coordinate data representing an approximation of the predetermined path along the road, and a vehicle controller for determining the vehicle's heading with respect to the approximated path and providing an output control signal to correct the vehicle's heading with respect to the approximated path. The system uses past and present position data to calculate a predetermined path for the vehicle. Gain factors and comfort factors are determined to maximize comfort to passengers of the system and to optimize performance of the system.

Abstract: This invention discloses a signal output circuit including DC and AC buffers having output nodes commonly connected to a signal output terminal, and an AC buffer control circuit for driving the AC buffer when an output from the DC buffer is changed and for controlling an output from the AC buffer in a high-impedance state when the output from the DC buffer is stationary.

Abstract: A tube well extends through a fluid containment compartment and is secured at both ends thereof to the compartment shell. Both ends of the well communicate with respective shell openings. Compartment fittings and/or equipment are positioned in the tube and are accessible through at least one of the openings. Both openings can be sealed and the well pressurized, to prevent pressurized fluid in the compartment from leaking through the equipment and into the tube well.

Abstract: An anti-coccidial vaccine is provided which contains a recombinant peptide with novel epitopes. The recombinant peptide has an amino-terminal amino acid sequence that is unique among known Eimeria antigens. Recombinant vectors encoding the novel peptide antigen are deposited under ATCC Accession No. 68450, and ATCC Accession No. 68537.

Abstract: A function extraction apparatus comprises a display device for displaying a plurality of icons indicative of functions, an input device for selectively designating the icons displayed on the display device, an operator icon storage for storing information of operator icons each designated as an operator by the input device, an operand icon storage for storing information of operand icons each designated as an operand by the input device, an icon/attribute knowledge section for storing the attributes of operator and operand functions of each of all usable objects, and an function inference section for inferring the function, on the basis of the object information stored in the operator and operand icon storages and the knowledge information stored in the icon/attribute knowledge section.

Abstract: A curved panel including a panel body and a pair of reinforcing members fixed to the panel body and arranged so that a planar restorative force of the panel body is balanced by a resilient force of each of the pair of reinforcing members so as to keep the panel body at a predetermined curvature. The panel body is made of resiliently deformable material including a face portion at (a) each of a first pair of opposite sides to which a deformable bent portion is attached which allows the face portion of the panel body to be curved to the predetermined curvature and at (b) each of a second pair of opposite sides to which a reinforcing bent portion is attached which keeps the second pair of opposite sides linear. The reinforcing members have a curvature greater than the predetermined curvature and are fixed to the deformable bent portions of the panel body.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a bonding pad serving as a power supply terminal and a plurality of bonding pads having the same function and serving as one of grouped terminals other than the power supply terminal.

Abstract: A sole having an articulated forefoot includes a flex joint extending generally longitudinally between the hallux and the second toe and at least one additional flex joint extending transversely across the sole. The flex joints can intersect with each other to form substantially separated sections in the sole by for facilitating relatively independent movement of selected toes.

Abstract: A user interface console for programming exercise parameters relating to the operation of an exercise device, including a display for displaying the value of each of the exercise parameters and a selector for selecting one of the exercise parameters to be programmed. The interface console further includes a programmer for programming the selected exercise parameter with a desired value; the programmer includes an encoder unit having a rotatable shaft, wherein the user programs the selected exercise parameter by rotating the rotatable shaft. In response, the encoder unit generates electrical signals representative of the incremental motion of the rotatable shaft. The interface console further includes a microprocessor, coupled to the programming means and the display, for receiving the electrical signals and for responsively adjusting the value of the selected exercise parameter.

Abstract: A semiconductor body has a first and a second element formation surface. The semiconductor body is constructed in such a manner that a first semiconductor substrate, which has a first main surface at which the plane appears, is laminated to a second semiconductor substrate, which has a second main surface at which the plane appears. Made in the first semiconductor substrate is at least one opening at which the second main surface of the second semiconductor substrate. The first main surface of the first semiconductor substrate becomes the first element formation surface of the semiconductor body, and the second main surface of the second semiconductor substrate becomes the second element formation surface of the body.

Abstract: A plastic liner for protecting concrete manhole interior surfaces from corrosion wherein the liner includes provisions for creating a strong mechanical lock between the liner and the interior surfaces. A side of the liner which includes the provisions has a plurality of raised hollow projections with spaced sections. The mechanical lock is created when concrete is poured against the side of the liner with the projections. The concrete at least partially enters the hollow portions and fills spaces between the projection sections. The projections also intersect to enhance the mechanical lock by preventing bulging. Liner sections cover essentially all of the manhole interior surfaces. Forming a liner section by rotationally molding the plastic and cutting gaps into the projections is also disclosed.

Abstract: A DRAM includes a memory cell array having cascade-connected type memory cells arranged in a matrix form and each capable of storing plural-bit information in the unit of bit, sense amplifiers each arranged for a preset number of columns in the memory cell array and disposed in the central portion of the bit lines of the preset number of columns in the arrangement direction, switching circuits disposed on both sides of each of the sense amplifiers, for electrically and selectively connecting the preset number of columns to the sense amplifier, an address designation circuit for separately and serially designating addresses of a plurality of memory cells disposed on both sides of the sense amplifier in the same column of the memory cell array, a word line driving circuit for selectively driving a word line connected to a memory cell of an address designated by the address designation circuit, a column selection circuit for effecting the column selection of the memory cell array, and an access control circuit f

Abstract: In a mobile radio system including at least one mobile station unit and a plurality of base station units, the mobile station unit communicates with a base station through time-division multiplexed control and communication channels. The mobile station unit includes a line quality detecting section for detecting the deterioration of the line quality occurring during communication, and a control section for controlling the entire unit.

Abstract: The source-drain paths of first and second N-channel MOS transistors are series-connected between a first node to which a first power source voltage is applied and a second node to which a ground voltage is applied. The gate of the first MOS transistor is supplied with an input signal and the gate of the second MOS transistor is supplied with a signal obtained by inverting the input signal by means of a CMOS inverter. The inverter is supplied with a second power source voltage which is independent from the first power source voltage as an operation power source voltage.