Abstract: An acoustic echo canceller for cancelling an acoustic echo component produced when a signal on a receiving communication line appears on a transmitting communication line via an acoustic echo path. In the acoustic echo canceller, a variable coefficient series is divided into blocks, among which selected is a block requiring a coefficient correction amount update operation conforming to the attenuation characteristic of an impulse response in a sound field. A coefficient fitted to the attenuation characteristic of the impulse response in the sound field is set for the selected block. Therefore, convergence speed degradation of the acoustic echo cancellation characteristic involved in divided update can be compensated, and even if an echo path characteristic fluctuates, an excellent follow-up characteristic is provided, so that stable and high-speed acoustic echo cancellation can always be executed.

Abstract: The flowrate of powder in an air-powder mixture circuit comprising a mixture drive area defined by a powder drive device comprising air injector means adapted to inject air in the direction in which the mixture is to be driven is measured by measuring the pressure difference across the drive area and the injected air flowrate and computing the powder flowrate as a function of these two variables.

Abstract: A circuit sub-assembly as a mounting for an electronic component such as Josephson device, i.e., a superconducting element, comprises a ceramic insulating substrate, an oxygen-shielding barrier layer formed on the insulating substrate, and a circuit film of niobium, as a superconducting material formed on the barrier layer according to a desired pattern. The barrier layer prevents oxidation of the circuit layer by shielding it from oxygen present in the insulating substrate. Due to the barrier layer, the circuit film is scarcely subject to superconductivity-impairing oxidation. The circuit film is thus capable of high-speed electronic signal conduction.

Abstract: A composition including levamisol is applied to a tumor removal site to activate macrophages, promote tumor cell reversion and accelerate regenerative tissue in the cavity. The composition forms a porous sponge-like material which fills the cavity and provides a supporting structure for regeneration of tissue, growth reversion of the tumor and activation of macrophage elements.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for grilling and/or reheating a food product by subjecting the product, for an operating time T, to infrared radiation from at least one electrically operated unit for producing infrared radiation, the process comprising: setting a preestablished value for a frequency f; and varying, during at least part of the time T, the electrical supply to the electrically operated unit in a discontinuous manner between a first supply level during a time T1 and a second supply level, different from the first level, during a time T2 in cycles having the preestablished frequency f in order to generate infrared radiation of variable wavelength, wherein 1/f=T1+T2 whereby the product is heated by the infrared radiation.

Abstract: A removable memory device includes a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, carrying IC memory packages; a connector including a molded plastic connector block for electrically connecting the removable memory device to a host system; and a sheet metal cover for enclosing the substrate. The cover has opposed forward edges including a plurality of forwardly projecting retention tabs received within a plurality of corresponding retention slots formed in the upper and lower outer surfaces of the connector block. The slots and tabs are preferably directed inwardly to provide a secure latched connection between the cover and connector.

Abstract: A power supply controller includes a comparator for providing a regulated voltage when an input voltage exceeds a reference voltage, so that a reference voltage is provided to drive a load discharge circuit. When the input voltage is less than the reference voltage, such as during a startup or sleep mode of operation of the controller, the load discharge circuit is driven by an output pulldown circuit so as to maintain minimum functions within the integrated circuit of the controller including turnoff of an external MOSFET. The output pulldown circuit senses the resulting absence of the regulated voltage using a first transistor coupled to be biased into nonconduction when the regulated voltage is not provided. This biases a second transistor into conduction to maintain a transistor within the load discharge circuit conductive. In this manner, the output powers its own operation, including the pulldown thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and an anodic-oxide film, e.g., alumite film, formed by effecting the anodic oxidation process, wherein the surface of the alumite film has protruding portions formed in addition to micro-irregularities which are formed in response to the cell-pore structure of the alumite film and height of the protruding portions is higher than that of the micro-irregularity, and density of the protruding portions is ranging from 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.7 per one square millimeter, these protruding portions are formed by processing the alumite film in the fluorine-contained solution (e.g., hydrofluoric acid) or in solution containing one of the acid (HCl), base (NaOH) and strong-acid salt ((NH.sub.4)SO.sub.4), Cr film and magnetic film are sequentially formed on the alumite film by the sputtering process.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode having a hydrogen-absorbing alloy in a single crystal system and composed of at least three elements which are coated on a conductive substrate. One of the at least three elements has a density distribution profile with at least two adjacent high density peaks and a lowest density point between the at least two adjacent high density peaks. A density difference between one of the at least two adjacent high density peaks and the lowest density point is not less than about 3.0 wt % and a distance between the two adjacent high density peaks is not less than about 20 .mu.m. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy has a volume of 2 .mu.m.sup.3 and may include an additive selected from a group consisting of Manganese (Mn), Boron (B), Tungsten (W) and Cobalt (co).

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor device having a wiring configuration which can suppress an increase in the delay time of a wiring extending over the memory cell area even if the cell size is reduced. Wirings of preset wiring length are formed over a semiconductor substrate. A wiring of wiring length larger than that of the former wirings is formed over the former wirings with an inter-level insulation film disposed therebetween and the width of the latter wiring is made large. Thus, the wiring resistance is reduced and the wiring delay time can be effectively reduced. The semiconductor device is applied to a semiconductor memory or the like in which cell selection is made by use of the hierarchical structure such as a duplex word line system.

Abstract: A FIFO memory device using a serial pointer consists of first second memory cell arrays, a row decoder for selecting a word line first and second write registers for storing data, each write register consisting of registers, and a serial write pointer for serially selecting each register. The serial write pointer consists of pointers corresponding to the first and second write registers. The row decoder is located between the first memory cell array and the second memory cell array. In the device, in adjacent registers in each write register, the shift direction of one register indicated by said serial write pointer is opposed to the shift direction of the other register.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device, an n.sup.+ polysilicon layer is formed on a substrate through a gateoxide layer. A p.sup.+ source or drain diffusion layer is formed on both sides of an impurity layer in the substrate. The silicon layer positions over an intermediate portion of a channel formation layer, and has an oxide layer on upper surface thereof. The silicon layers have their side portions a p.sup.+ type polysilicon layer to be a gate electrode together with the silicon layer. The gate electrode semiconductor layer is formed on the channel formation layer through the gate insulation layer in the manner that, in a portion contacting with the gate insulation layer, the nearer portions approaches to the impurity layers of the source and drain regions, the larger a work function increases.

Abstract: There is provided a method for measuring a sound absorption power of a theater chair with a human being seated thereon. The method includes steps of disposing a theater chair which is an object of measurement in a measuring environment; disposing a dummy sound absorber in the theater chair, the dummy sound absorber having a shape in which it is in contact with the theater chair, a sound absorption power and a chair pressing force in such a manner that the dummy sound absorber simulates a human being seated on the theater chair; causing changes in the theater chair which changes are substantially equivalent to a change in the state of the theater chair caused when a human being gets seated on the chair and a change in the sound absorption power of the theater chair caused by seating of the human being thereon; and measuring the sound absorption power of the theater chair. There is also provided a dummy sound absorber used for carrying out this method.

Abstract: An image recording method and apparatus employing a thermal head capable of making a sublimation type thermal transfer recording and a fusion type thermal transfer recording by means of the same thermal head. This apparatus sets its vertical printing pitch at different values in the sublimation type recording mode and the fusion type recording mode. In the sublimation type recording mode, after making a first printing, this apparatus feeds a recording paper by a distance which is an integral multiple of the vertical printing pitch and makes a second printing using the same printing data as the first printing. In the fusion type recording mode, after making a 1-line printing, this apparatus feeds the recording paper by a 1-line spacing and makes a printing by means of printing data of the next line.

Abstract: As image data is received by the facsimile machine, it is stored in the form of plural lines. A line which contains black pixels more than a predetermined number is taken as a drawing line (image-carrying line or effective line). All the image data lines are scanned from the top to the bottom to find a top image-carrying line or top effective line and a bottom image-carrying line or bottom effective line and the number of the lines from the top effective line to the bottom effective line is calculated as the number of the effective lines of sending sheet. If the number of the effective lines of the sending sheet exceeds the number of recording lines of a recording sheet, the image data is reduced with a reduction ratio which is determined by the number of the recording lines and the number of the effective lines.

Abstract: A data input controller which can set a keyboard to a key lock mode without affecting the operation state of a central processing unit (CPU). In the normal key input enable state, a keyboard encoder encodes a key input through the keyboard and sends the resultant data via a keyboard controller to the CPU. In this state, when a specific key combination is entered through the keyboard, the keyboard encoder detects it and sets the key lock mode. The encoded data corresponding to the subsequent key inputs is not sent to the keyboard controller. If a desired password is entered at this time, it is registered in RAM in the keyboard controller. The key lock mode is released when the registered password is entered.

Abstract: A controller for AGC recognizes a signal level broader than an AGC control output from an AGC circuit and also recognizes a signal level (a desired station signal level) in a narrow-band by an output from an S-meter. No interference, or the occurrence of 2-signal interference or inter modulation interference can be detected from a change ratio of the desired station signal at the time of the alteration of attenuation values of these two signal levels and an RF signal. In consequence, a proper regulation of the RF signal attenuation value can be carried out in accordance with the presence or absence of the interference and the kind of interference, whereby the suitable receive of the signal can always be achieved.

Abstract: An image processing system uses a pseudo-random pixel interlace method and apparatus for capturing groups of pixels as image frames. This pseudo-random method eliminates the artifacts commonly present in standard regular line raster scan imaging systems. Moreover, the pixel interlacing method permits the construction of higher resolution frames from a series of orthogonal lower resolution frames. An enhancement circuit deduces information from previous pixel group frames and contributes additional detail to the pixels of the frame being processed. The format of the pixel interlaced groups permits the present invention to be used in a wide variety of normally incompatible target display rates. The present invention can also be used in a computing system as an auto-synchronizer for processing signals from different sources.

Abstract: The automatic gain controller is comprised of a multiplier for multiplying an input signal by a given AGC multiplication factor to produce an output signal. An adder is provided for subtracting a target value from the output signal and adding an integrated value of an error value from the adder to the output signal to produce error value. An integrator to compute the integrated value of the error value from the adder. An operator is provided for computing a compensation value based on the error value according to a predetermined polynomial. An accumulator is provided for producing said AGC multiplication factor according to the compensation value. The automatic gain controller is composed of a digital signal processor specifically programmed to functionally constitute those of the multiplier, the adder, the operator, and the accumulator.