Abstract: Digital signal sequences to be recorded in predetermined unitary recording areas are transformed into blocks, a plurality of bit data carrying all digit levels to be read and determined upon reproduction are included in the resultant blocks, and sequences of the data blocks are recorded in the recording medium in the unitary recording areas. Upon reproduction, the blocks of the read signals obtained from a recording medium are recognized, a threshold value is determined for each block on the basis of the values of read signals corresponding to bit data carrying all digit levels to be read and determined, and each digit level of bit data in the read signal are read and determined on the basis of the threshold values.

Abstract: The level of a laser beam is controlled to the maximum level detectable by a sensor, and light transmitted through the pattern is normalized with branched light. The laser beam level is made up for variations, and noise at zero and saturation levels are removed. Data thus can be taken out, in which noise in edge portions is always at a constant level. It is thus possible to increase the pattern image accuracy and obtain sharper image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel potassium channel protein expressed exclusively in the brain, a DNA molecule having a sequence encoding this protein, a vector containing the DNA molecule, a host cell containing this vector, and a method for obtaining the potassium channel protein, wherein mRNA is extracted from human cells or tissue capable of producing the potassium channel protein of the present invention. Then, use is made of two primers between which the channel protein mRNA or a part of the mRNA region is located by using the thus extracted mRNA as a template. By carrying out a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, the channel protein cDNA or a part thereof can be obtained. Thereafter, the channel protein can be produced by integrating the thus obtained novel potassium channel cDNA or a part of the same into an appropriate expression vector and then effecting its expression in a host cell.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image sensor including a first region in which light is converted into electricity, and a second region composed of silicide. The second region at least partially forms a boarder area of the first region at a surface of the first region. The solid-state image sensor prevents occurrence of smear.

Abstract: The inverter makes it possible to use a very simple conveyor for coupling the outlet of a printer in a word processor system to the inlet of a folder-inserter, even though the printer outputs printed pages in an order that is unsuitable for direct insertion into envelopes. The inverter includes a read/write memory in which the sequence of binary words representing the text of a letter is stored as it is output by the word processor system, with the address of the beginning of each page of text being identified. These binary words are played back, page by page, with the pages being played back in inverted order of text pages, but with the characters making up the pages being played back within each page in their initial order. The invention is applicable to folder-inserters for preparing mail.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatic inspection of the surface 20 of a moving object, in which a region on the object's surface is illuminated from at least two different illumination directions 13-15. The object's illuminated surface region is imaged with a camera to provide image information for analysis. The light sources in the different illumination directions 13-15 are pulsed to illuminate the object's surface region at different times, the pulsing frequency being >1 kHz The object's illuminated surface region is imaged as lines with a line scan camera 21 in sync with the above pulsing.

Abstract: An apparatus for curing a photocurable coating provided on a fiber, includes an irradiator tube having an upstream end on which an injection assembly is provided, and a downstream end on which an exhaust assembly is provided. The injection assembly receives an inert gas flow. The injection assembly includes a diffuser that splits the inert gas flow into a counter flow and a tube flow. The counter flow is directed counter to the travel direction of the fiber, and the tube flow is directed in a laminar fashion through the irradiator tube. The exhaust assembly has a vent though which the tube flow is drawn, and an air opening provided between a downstream end of the irradiator tube and the exhaust vent.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a first processing chamber 3 into which a gas under measurement is introduced through a first gas passage 2; a second processing chamber 5 into which the gas is introduced from the first processing chamber 3 through a second gas passage 4 and in which combustible gas components burn; a third gas passage 15 for introducing O2 into the second processing chamber 5 under diffusion resistance; oxygen pump element 12 adapted to pump out O2 from or pump into the first processing chamber 3 on the basis of an output from an oxygen-concentration sensor 13, which senses the oxygen concentration of the gas introduced into the second processing chamber 5, to thereby control the oxygen concentration of the gas; and a second oxygen pump including a second inner electrode 10 and a second outer electrode 11 formed on an oxygen-ion conductor 1 in such a manner as to face the interior and exterior, respectively, of the second processing chamber 5, and adapted to pump out O2 which remains unconsumed in burn

Abstract: A supporting part 11 arranged nearer to a head 1 than a pair of carrier rollers 3 and on the same side as a rib 2a based upon paper S for supporting the side Sb of the paper S toward the head 1 is provided. The supporting part 11 is formed so that it is wider than the rib 2a. The driving roller 3a1 of the pair of carrier rollers and the supporting part 11 are overlapped when they are viewed from a direction in which paper is carried. A ringed member 4 may be also provided in place of overlapping the supporting part 11 and the driving roller 3a1.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory apparatus including a current detecting circuit, an input signal generating circuit, a reference current detecting circuit, a reference input signal generating circuit and a differential amplifier circuit. The current detecting circuit detects a current flowing through a memory cell to output a detecting signal from an output section of the current detecting circuit. The input signal generating circuit generates a first differential input signal by amplifying the detecting signal to output from an output section of the input signal generating circuit. The reference current detecting circuit detects a current flowing through a reference cell to output a reference detecting signal from an output section of the reference current detecting circuit. The reference input signal generating circuit generates a second differential input signal by amplifying the reference detecting signal to output from an output section of the reference input signal generating circuit.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for manufacturing a postcard-affixed photographic print and a photographic print, which can improve productivity while using a conventional digital image recording device, and which improve the efficiency of processing a roll of photographic printing paper without greatly altering a conventional manufacturing line by that images are printed such that a plurality of image rows, each having a plurality of images which are formed along the transverse direction of an elongated photographic printing paper on the photographic printing paper.

Abstract: A molding die for molding a magnetic tape cartridge case in which an electronic part for exchanging a signal with the outside via contacts is incorporated as the need arises is such that a molding die portion for use in molding openings for exposing the contacts of the electronic part is constituted of two kinds of inserts which are alternatively attachable to the molding die proper; and a first insert is used to form openings for exposing the contacts, whereas a second insert is used to shut the openings for exposing the contacts.

Abstract: The colors of a print as a target are easily and reliably equalized with the colors of a proof generated by a proofer. A printed color chart Cpa is colorimetrically measured by a colorimeter, and an original printing profile as a target for converting CMYK image data into colorimetric data is produced. Then, using the original printing profile and a printer profile, a color chart Cpa′ of the proof is outputted from a printer based on the CMYK image data. The color chart Cpa′ is colorimetrically measured to generate a printing color reproduction profile. In the printing color reproduction profile, weighting is set in view of color reproduction ranges of a printing press and the printer, and a corrected printing profile is generated. The corrected printing profile and the printer profile are set as a color converting means. It is possible to perform easily corrected color matching by using the corrected color converting means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tear bar for a thermal printer mechanism, the thermal printer mechanism including at least a thermal head that is housed in a device housing defining an interior space with a base and surrounding walls and being formed with a window next to one of the surrounding walls, the tear bar comprising: a body portion having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge opposing the first longitudinal edge; a tear portion extending along the first longitudinal edge at a first angle with respect to the body portion; a support portion extending along the second longitudinal edge at a second angle with respect to the body portion in a direction substantially opposing the tear portion; and a retaining device formed at the support portion; whereby when the body portion rests against the base juxtaposed the window, a channel space is formed between the support portion and the surrounding wall for retaining the thermal printer mechanism therein.

Abstract: A contact element is proposed for connecting a ribbon cable (10) with circular conductors (5, 7) wherein the contact element comprises a plurality of mutually insulated parallel conductor strips (20) made of a conductive material, to the one end of which a circular conductor (5, 7) can be attached and the other end of which is provided with a surface (21) to which a strand of the ribbon cable (10) can be fixed through a material connection. A conductor strip (20) has at least one pair of blades (29) between which a circular conductor (5, 7) can be inserted under termination. Furthermore, a rotary connector with such a contact element is described.

Abstract: A document management system is provided to manage electronic documents in connection with copyrights. Herein, copyright management information is set with respect to a constituent element of a document that a user produces. The constituent element corresponds to a chapter, a paragraph, a sentence, a figure or a table, for example. The copyright management information represents copyright information regarding the use of the document, which is classified into prescribed levels such as a reference level, a copy level and a print level. In addition, it represents prescribed conditions as to whether the use of the document is allowed with payment of fee, with filing of application and with display of copyright or not, for example. Further, the content of the copyright management information can be changed in response to user levels respectively. The copyright management information is connected with information representing the constituent element.

Abstract: A printer includes a print data reception section for receiving print data corresponding to a plurality of print jobs, an intermediate data generation section for generating intermediate code from the received print data, a print request preparation section for issuing a print request for generated intermediate code, and a print mechanism for printing based on the corresponding intermediate code in the acceptance order of the print requests. The printer is provided with a priority determination section for determining priorities for issuing the print requests so that print requests are issued in the print data transfer termination order.

Abstract: A mounting assistance device with which a vibrating device can be efficiently mounted to a tire and wheel assembly. In the mounting assistance device, abutting portions are made to abut against sidewall portions of a tire and then an eccentric disc is pressed against a sliding portion so as to be united therewith by lowering a lever of a handle member in a first direction. In this state, when the lever is rotated 180° about a pin member in a second direction, due to an effect of the eccentric disc, clamping members move in a mutually approaching direction. Accordingly, clamping and fixing to the tire is accomplished by the mounting assistance device. Thus, the mounting assistance device (and vibrating device) can be mounted without using tools, simply by rotating the lever in the two directions.