Abstract: A hemispherical dielectric resonator is arranged on a conductive substrate with a flat surface of the resonator in contact with the conductive substrate and fixed by a pair of fixing blocks. The dielectric resonator is fed with a signal feeder at a position at one side of the resonator such that intensity of the electric field is higher at that position. The fixing blocks contact a portion of the dielectric resonator where the intensity of the electric field is of a local minimum.

Abstract: Video data is segmented into a plurality of scenes. For each of the segmented scenes, an index is produced as an assembly of section information required in a playback of each scene, scene number, and representative frame of scene. A title is added to each index according to search purpose. In a retrieving operation, a desired index is easily found according to the title. The scenes of the retrieved index are successively played back in order of scene number.

Abstract: past positions of a plurality of composing elements indicated by various past arrangement examples are given to each potential function corresponding to one composing element, and parameter values of the potential functions corresponding to the composing elements are automatically set on condition that a past total potential energy obtained by solving the potential functions is minimized. Thereafter, the parameter values are given to the potential functions in which a position of any composing element is not determined, and particular positions of the composing elements are determined on condition that a total potential energy obtained by solving the potential functions is minimized.

Abstract: Contents of each of nodes indicating a plurality of hyper-text documents are prepared and revised in a node managing unit as node information. A connection-relationship between two nodes is established and revised for each of the nodes in a hierarchy structure managing unit as hierarchy structure information, and a hierarchy structure of the nodes is established. In this hierarchy structure, one node ranked to the top level is set as a parent node, and the other nodes are set to child nodes. Thereafter, a plurality of hyper-text documents arranged in the hierarchy structure are prepared from the node information and the hierarchy structure information. Therefore, because the contents of each node is managed in dependence of the preparation of the hierarchy structure, the hyper-text documents arranged in the hierarchy structure can be easily prepared.

Abstract: A neurofilter is implemented as a neural network in which the weighting coefficients have previously been set, by an appropriate training procedure, such as to provide a desired form of filter response. The neurofilter is applicable to filtering of image data or serial data signals. Also, by training a neurofilter to produce output data based on amounts of error that occur in the output data from a conventional filter, a filter apparatus can be provided whereby the neurofilter compensates for errors in output data from the conventional filter. The design and manufacturing constraints on the conventional filter can thereby be substantially relaxed.