Abstract: A signal processing circuit including a demodulator having an input for receiving a received signal which includes falling and rising signal edges, and an output for outputting a demodulated received signal which, with signal edges of the received signal, includes transitions from a first level to a second level or vice versa, wherein times of the transitions depend on steepnesses of the signal edges. Additionally, the circuit includes a signal generator having an input for receiving the demodulated received signal and coupled to the output of the demodulator, and an output for outputting a corrected demodulated received signal which includes transitions, the times of which relative to the times of the transitions of the demodulated received signal are set based on a reference signal to reduce influences of the steepnesses of the falling and rising signal edges in the corrected demodulated received signal relative to the demodulated received signal.

Abstract: A laminated ceramic capacitor which has a dielectric ceramic with a high dielectric constant and has excellent reliability against changes in temperature and mechanical shocks, even when dielectric ceramic layers are reduced in thickness employs a dielectric ceramic containing (Ba1-xCax)yTiO3 (where 0.045?x?0.15 and 0.98?y?1.05) as its main constituent and containing Re2O3 (where Re is at least one of Gd, Dy, Ho, Yb, and Y), MgO, MnO, V2O5, and SiO2 as accessory constituents, which is represented by the general formula: 100(Ba1-xCax)yTiO3+aRe2O3+bMgO+cMnO+dV2O5+eSiO2, and satisfies each of the following conditions: 0.65?a?1.5; 0.98?y?1.05; 0.15?b?2.0; 0.4?c?1.5; 0.02?d?0.25; and 0.2?e?3.0.

Abstract: A participant response system comprises a plurality of handsets for allowing a participant of an event to input a response. Each handset comprises a wireless handset having a keyboard for allowing a user to input a response. The handsets are configurable either as a participant response handset to allow a participant to enter a response, or as a base station. The handset also includes audio capability to allow participants to receive and input audio.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a light source; an optical deflecting unit that deflects a light beam emitted from the light source to scan on a scanning surface in main-scanning direction; and a scanning optical system that includes a first scanning lens and a second scanning lens that converge the light beam that is deflected onto the scanning surface. Distance between an exit surface of the first scanning lens and an incident surface of the second scanning lens is shorter than distance between a deflection facet of the optical deflecting unit and an incident surface of the first scanning lens, an exit surface of the second scanning lens is nearer to the deflection facet than a midpoint between the deflection facet and the scanning surface, and an image-surface-side principal point of the scanning optical system in sub-scanning direction is nearer to the scanning surface than the midpoint.

Abstract: A method of generating a voltage supply (Vout+, Vout?) from a single input supply (+VDD), comprising connecting at least one flying capacitor (Cf) to at least one reservoir capacitor (CR1, CR2) and to the input supply in repeated cycles so as to generate a voltage on said reservoir capacitor, the cycles differing between at least two modes so that each mode generates a different voltage on said reservoir capacitor the method including changing from an existing one of said modes to enter a new one of said modes during operation, and operating in at least one transitional mode for a period prior to entering fully said new mode.

Abstract: A ceramic composition is prepared to contain a B2O3—SiO2—Al2O3-MO based glass composition (M: Ca, Mg, Sr and/or Ba, B2O3: 4 to 17.5 weight %, SiO2: 28 to 50 weight %, Al2O3: 0 to 20 weight %, and MO: 36 to 50 weight %): 24 to 40 weight %, SrTiO3 and/or CaTiO3: 46 to 75.4 weight %, CuO: 0.1 to 5.0 weight %, CaO: 0.5 to 7.0 weight %, and MnO, ZnO and/or CoO: 10 weight % or more (however, including 0% by weight). The ceramic composition is subjected to firing to produce a ceramic sintered body, and obtain a composite LC component including the ceramic sintered body. While suppressing the shrinkage behavior during firing, dielectric properties can be improved dramatically as compared with conventional cases, and moreover reliability can be ensured.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer that improves workability of a housing, suppresses variations in resonant frequency, and has stable characteristics is constructed. The ultrasonic transducer includes a bottomed circular cylindrical housing and a piezoelectric element provided at substantially a center of a bottom of the housing. The bottom of the housing has a slope portion that gradually becomes thinner from a position at which the piezoelectric element is provided toward an inner wall surface of the housing, and a flat portion that extends from an outer edge of the slope portion to the inner wall surface of the housing while maintaining a thickness of the outer edge of the slope portion.

Abstract: A resonator having respective electrode planes of first and second internal electrodes disposed so as to be substantially parallel to a line of magnetic force of a magnetic field. In the resonator, respective electrode planes of first and second external electrodes are disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the line of magnetic force of the magnetic field in planes different from the electrode planes of the first and second internal electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data processing device and a method for switching states thereof. The data processing device comprises an operating system and a communication interface for communicating with another data processing device, wherein the communication interface is enabled when the operating system stays in the operating state of the operating system, and the communication interface is disabled when the operating system stays in a low-power-consumption state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a concrete shaft bottom which comprises a drain having a defined shape. According to said method, concrete is introduced into a bottom mold (1) that comprises a mold jacket (2) and a mold bottom (3). On said mold bottom (3), a molded body (8) forming the negative shape of the drain is disposed to configure the drain. The aim of the invention is to allow for the inexpensive and mechanized production of a shaft bottom having an individual drain. For this purpose, the molded body (8) is configured from at least one molded piece (9) that is fixed on the bottom mold (1), especially on the mold bottom (3). The molded piece (9) is adapted to the dimensions of the defined shape of the drain and is removed from the shaft bottom once or while the formwork is dismantled from the shaft bottom.

Abstract: The present application provides an improved segmentation method and system for processing digital images that include an imaged document and surrounding image. A plurality of edge detection techniques are used to determine the edges of the imaged document and then segment the imaged document from the surrounding image.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method capable of grinding and polishing fabricated vertical surfaces of varying shapes and sizes without the use of hand tools. The system comprises a frame which can be affixed to the surface and which supports a grinding and polishing apparatus. The grinding and polishing apparatus uses air pressure to force a rotating grinding or polishing disc against the surface being worked on. The frame is designed so that the grinding and polishing apparatus can be moved (via, e.g., tracking) both vertically and horizontally to any desired point within the frame. The grinding and polishing apparatus optionally includes a water nozzle and vacuum system to spray and recapture water used to cool the surface being operated on.

Abstract: Process for the production of ammonia from a hydrocarbon feedstock all steam produced in the waste heat boilers of the reforming and ammonia section of the plant is superheated in one or more steam superheaters located downstream the ammonia converter in the ammonia section of the plant. There is no need for steam superheater (s) in the reforming section of the plant to cool the synthesis gas. A steam superheater for use in the process is also provided. The superheater comprises two compartments in which the first and second compartments are connected in series with respect to the steam flow and in parallel with respect to the process gas flow.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a present date and time information obtaining device to obtain present date-time information at a time performing a present photographing operation, a last date-time information recording device to record last date-time information at a time performing a last photographing operation, an image number counting device to compare the present and last date-time information when performing the present photographing operation and to newly count a number of photographed subject images when the present date-time information is not within the predetermined period from the last date-time information and to continuously count the number of photographed subject images when the present date and time information is within the predetermined period from the last date-time information, and a displaying unit having an exit screen displayed when the imaging apparatus is turned off and to display the number of the photographed subject images on the exit screen.

Abstract: A bra cup includes: an inner cup portion, comprising one or more inner foam layers; and an outer cup portion, attached to the inner cup portion, comprising one or more outer foam layers, the inner cup portion and the outer cup portion together forming the bra cup. The inner foam layers form first and second convex portions with respect to an inner surface of the inner cup portion. The first and second convex portions form, at an intersection therebetween, a channel on the inner surface extending from a lower portion of the cup towards an apex of the bra cup.

Abstract: The various embodiments and example provided herein are generally directed to novel multiphase resonant converters. In an embodiment, a multiphase resonant converter comprises N unit resonant converters having inputs and outputs connected in parallel, respectively. Each unit converter comprises an inverter, a LLC series resonant tank, and a rectifier. In a preferred embodiment, the inverters of the N unit converters are driven by N drive signals phase-shifted 2?/N degrees apart. During operation, the current of the multiphase converter is shared among the unit converters, resulting in a smaller current in each unit converter. The smaller current in each unit converter reduces conduction losses, thereby increasing the efficiency of the multiphase converter. In addition, the smaller current in each unit converter reduces the amount of stress placed on individual components of the converter allowing for the use of lower tolerance components.

Abstract: A telecommunication system, method, and terminal, the terminal having a telecommunication session message generation unit adding to at least one generated telecommunication session message a message validity information item indicating whether or until when the telecommunication session message or another telecommunication session message identified in the telecommunication session message is valid.

Abstract: A data recording/reproduction method for performing a data recording/reproduction process on a flexible optical disk by rotating the flexible optical disk while controlling an axial runout of the flexible optical disk with a stabilizing member that applies an aerodynamic force to the flexible optical disk, and irradiating an optical beam and focusing the optical beam to the flexible optical disk is disclosed that includes the steps of a) generating a first axial runout, b) generating a focus error signal forming an S-curve when the first axial runout is generated, c) determining a position of the optical beam according to the focus error signal, d) generating a second axial runout that is smaller than the first axial runout after step c), and e) conducting at least one of the data recording process and the data reproduction process after step d).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating a traffic encryption key includes generating a traffic encryption key for encrypting data transmitted as part of a service, the traffic encryption key having a validity equal to a traffic encryption key validity time period; checking whether a period for the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period; and if the period of the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period, ascertaining a residual period which indicates by what period the service is longer than the traffic encryption key validity time period of the traffic encryption key; generating a residual traffic encryption key which is used for encrypting data transmitted as part of a service; ascertaining a residual traffic encryption key validity time period which indicates for how long the residual traffic encryption key is valid; and associating the residual traffic encryption key validity time period with the residual traffic encryption key.