Abstract: It is determined whether or not a sound picked up by at least either a first microphone or a second microphone is a speech segment. When it is determined that the sound picked up by the first or the second microphone is the speech segment, a voice incoming direction indicating from which direction a voice sound travels is detected based on a first sound pick-up signal obtained based on a sound picked up by the first microphone and a second sound pick-up signal obtained based on a sound picked up by the second microphone. A noise reduction process is performed using the first and second sound pick-up signals based on speech segment information indicating that the sound picked up by the first or the second microphone is the speech segment and voice incoming-direction information indicating the voice incoming direction.

Abstract: A sample analysis disc has concave sections and convex sections formed alternately in a track area of a disc surface. Labeled beads are immobilized to the track area. Each labeled bead has a biopolymer bound thereto. Only one of the labeled beads is allowed to be filled in each concave section.

Abstract: A sound is picked up by a microphone. A speech waveform signal is generated based on the picked up sound. A speech segment or a non-speech segment is detected based on the speech waveform signal. The speech segment corresponds to a voice input period during which a voice is input. The non-speech segment corresponds to a non-voice input period during which no voice is input. A determination signal is generated that indicates whether the picked up sound is the speech segment or the non-speech segment. A detected state of the speech segment is indicated based on the determination signal.

Abstract: Sequential digital audio signals are received to calculate a difference between each currently sampled digital audio signal and another digital audio signal sampled at one sampling period before each currently sampled digital audio signal. Differences for the sequential digital audio signals are stored. The number of digital audio signals consecutively clipped is counted in the received sequential digital audio signals. A specific difference is retrieved, from the stored differences, for a digital audio signal sampled at a specific number of sampling periods before each clipped digital audio signal. The specific number of sampling periods is determined based on the counted number of digital audio signals consecutively clipped. Each clipped digital audio signal is corrected based on the specific difference.

Abstract: A speech-segment determination process is performed to determine whether audio data is a speech segment. A result of the speech-segment determination process is memorized. A noise rejection process is performed to reject a noise component of the audio data while performing an adaptive process to change filter coefficients for adaptive filtration if a result of the determination process indicates that the audio data is not the speech segment. The noise component is rejected with no adaptive process if the result of the determination process indicates that the audio data is the speech segment. The determination process is performed again to the audio data having the noise component rejected and the rejection process is performed again to the audio data if a result of the determination process performed again is different from the memorized result of the determination process.

Abstract: A first differential value is acquired between first current data and first previous data in an i number (i being a natural number) of sampling periods before the current data. A second differential value is acquired between second current data and second previous data in a j number (j being a natural number) of sampling periods before the current data. Both first data and both second data are of a first and a second digital audio signal, respectively, having a sound level of a digital stereo audio signal in the left and right channels, respectively. A first and a second correction coefficient are acquired by adding the first and second differential values at a first and a second ratio, respectively. The first signal is corrected by multiplying the first signal by the first correction coefficient. The second signal is corrected by multiplying the second signal by the second correction coefficient.

Abstract: A focus search is performed for an optical disc. A focus drive voltage is output for moving an objective lens in a thickness direction of an optical disc. An average value of focus drive voltages is acquired and recorded while the optical disc is rotating at least one time in an in-focus condition in which a laser beam emitted via the objective lens is in focus to a data layer of the optical disc. A closest-position voltage is set based on the average value, the closest-position voltage being a focus drive voltage at which the objective lens is moved closest to the optical disc in a focus search that is performed after the average value has been recorded. The focus search is performed by moving the objective lens between a specific starting position and a position corresponding to the closest-position voltage.

Abstract: A signal portion is extracted per frame having a specific duration from an input signal, thus generating a per-frame input signal. The per-frame input signal in the time domain is converted into a per-frame input signal in the frequency domain, thereby generating a spectral pattern of spectra. Peak spectra having peaks are detected in the spectral pattern. A harmonic spectrum is determined, in the peak spectra, having a harmonic structure showing a relationship between a fundamental pitch and a harmonic overtone.

Abstract: A signal portion per frame is extracted from an input signal, thus generating a per-frame signal. The per-frame signal in the time domain is converted into a per-frame signal in the frequency domain, thereby generating a spectral pattern of spectra. It is determined whether an energy ratio is higher than a threshold level. The energy ratio is a ratio of each spectral energy to subband energy in a subband that involves the spectrum. The subband is involved in subbands into which a frequency band is separated with a specific bandwidth. It is determined whether the per-frame signal is a speech segment, based on a result of the determination. Average energy is derived in the frequency direction for the spectra in the spectral pattern in each subband. Subband energy is derived per subband by averaging the average energy in the time domain.

Abstract: An orderer who has placed an order for goods is guided in accordance with a guidance program. Goods preparation-time information is stored that indicates goods for which an orderer has placed an order and a preparation time required for preparing the goods. A preparation complete time required for completing the preparation of the goods is derived by using the stored goods preparation-time information and using ordered goods information indicating the goods when the ordered goods information based on the order placement by the orderer is received. Guide information is generated for guiding the orderer based on the derived preparation complete time.

Abstract: An in-vehicle apparatus control system controls an in-vehicle apparatus installed in a vehicle. Voltage-change pattern data that indicates change in voltage level is stored as associated with elapse of time, the voltage levels being detected for each of a plurality of periods decided based on an operating condition of an engine of the vehicle. Voltage levels of a battery installed in the vehicle are detected for the respective periods. It is determined whether the detected voltage levels match the stored voltage-change pattern data. The in-vehicle apparatus is controlled to operate in normal operation only if it is determined that the detected voltage levels match the stored voltage-change pattern data.