Abstract: An echo canceller includes means for reducing correlation in a receiving side input signal based on a linear prediction model by regarding the receiving side input signal as an output signal of the linear prediction model. This means for reducing correlation is provided in a form suitable for hardware implementation, and thus, a convergence rate for the receiving side input signal having strong correlation as a speech signal can be improved without substantially increasing the number of calculations or the amount of memory.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a magnetic head, a magnetic layer is sputtered or evaporated on a surface of a first substrate of glass or nonmagnetic material and a nonmagnetic material such as glass is sputtered on one end face of the composite body formed by the substrate and the magnetic layer to form a gap filling layer. A second substrate of the same material and thickness as the first is bonded thereto with the magnetic gap filling being interposed therebetween. Magnetic material is sputtered or evaporated on the bonded substrates until a predetermined thickness is reached to form a second magnetic layer. The magnetic layers are then lapped to reveal an edge of the gap filling layer between adjacent edges of the two magnetic layers.Since the gap filling layer is formed by sputtering method, magnetic gap length can be precisely determined and since the thickness of the magnetic layers determines the track width, a magnetic head having a narrow width can be easily manufactured.

Abstract: A passive infrared detector including an optical collector releasably attached to a base with a sensor on which incident infrared radiation directed through the optical collector is focused. The sensor is held by a joint member which is pivotally supported on the base and to which said optical collector is releasably attached, whereby the optical collector is rotatable together with the joint member relative to the base for adjustment of its angular position and the optical collector can be alone replaced as necessary without having to replace the base, the sensor and its associated electric circuitry.

Abstract: A CMOS integrated circuit includes a P-channel type MOS transistor which is formed on an N-type silicon substrate, an N-channel type MOS transistor which is formed on a P well formed in the substrate, and parasitic bipolar transistors which are electrically connected to each other to form a kind of thyristor structure. A power supply voltage is applied to a source electrode of the P-channel type MOS transistor through a part of the substrate which presents a resistance. The resistance is electrically connected to the parasitic bipolar transistor of the thyristor structure to thereby prevent the occurrence of a latch-up phenomenon in which a large current continuously flows through the parasitic bipolar transistors and may destroy the CMOS integrated circuit. Because of the prevention of the latch-up phenomenon, the CMOS integrated circuit is always maintained in good condition.

Abstract: A portable video tape recorder includes a tachogenerator which generates an actual speed signal representative of the angular velocity of a video head and an actual phase signal representative of the angular position of the head. A frequency comparator generates a speed control signal representative of the deviation of the actual speed signal from a reference speed signal and a phase comparator generates a phase control signal representative of the deviation of the actual phase signal from a reference phase signal. The speed and phase control signals are summed and applied to the motor. A detector is provided for detecting when the deviation of the actual phase signal exceeds a predetermined level and generating a warning signal to alert the user either in visual or audible form to prevent external vibration from severely disturbing the angular position of the video head.

Abstract: A keyboard capable of efficiently illuminating push buttons with a small number of light sources, wherein light sources are randomly distributed below a grating-like retainer provided for retaining push buttons of the keyboard and light rays from the light sources are reflected by means of pyramidal reflectors disposed above the light sources so as to illuminate a plurality of push buttons sideways and thereby efficiently illuminate a push button with light rays from light sources positioned along a plurality of directions.

Abstract: A color filter is constituted by unit arrays of two columns and four rows of filter elements. The first column has cyan, magenta, cyan, and green (or green, yellow, green and cyan) filter elements which are arranged in that order and the second column has yellow, green, yellow, and magenta (or magenta, cyan, magenta and yellow filter elements which are arranged in that order. A solid state image apparatus having an expanded dynamic range is realized by using this color filter in that the dynamic range of the photoelectric elements corresponding to the green filter elements can be utilized more efficiently.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor is formed of the combination of a semiconductor substrate having a charge transfer function and a photoconductive film. In this solid-state image sensor, blooming suppressing capability is greatly increased by controlling the following potentials to fixed potentials, that is, (1) the potential of a transparent electrode formed on the photoconductive film, (2) the channel potential of a MOS field-effect transistor formed of a charge transfer stage and a gate electrode which are formed together with a Si diode in the semiconductor substrate in which the diode is electrically connected to the photoconductive film, and (3) the barrier potential of the charge transfer stage.

Abstract: A rechargeable cordless vacuum cleaner apparatus includes a hand-held cordless vacuum cleaner containing rechargeable batteries, a motor, a fan driven by the motor and a dust-collection filter, and a charging unit containing a power transformer and rectifier diode, with the charging unit being formed with a pocket to removably retain the vacuum cleaner with charging terminals of the charging unit engaged in an electrical receptacle of the vacuum cleaner. Ribs or grooves are formed on an end of the vacuum cleaner which is inserted in the charging unit pocket, and these slidably engage with corresponding grooves or ribs formed on the charging unit, for accurate engagement. A microswitch on the vacuum cleaner acts to disconnect the batteries from a motor drive circuit and connect them to a charging circuit when the vacuum cleaner is inserted in the charging unit.

Abstract: A data storage apparatus comprises a memory circuit including 2.sup.n1.multidot.n2 memories for storing binary information. Data of N bits from the row direction and column direction can be written and read out in parallel, and, also, such data of N bits reduced with a data reduction rate of an exponential power of 2 can be written and read out in parallel. The apparatus is used, for example, for displaying data on a display by fetching the data from common file servers connected to a private network or the like.

Abstract: A chrominance signal processing system includes an A/D converter for converting an analog video signal including a carrier chrominance signal into a digital signal and a frequency controlable variable frequency oscillator for generating a clock to be fed to the A/D converter and a phase comparator for comparing the phase of the output of the A/D converter with the phase of the clock and a computing circuit for computing the absolute value and sign of the output signal of the phase comparator during a burst period. The system further includes two current sources of a current outflow type and a current influx type, having current values which are controlled by the absolute value output of the computing circuit and are turned on/off respectively by the sign output of the computing circuit, the output terminals of the two current sources being connected to each other and the outputs of the current sources controlling the variable frequency oscillator through a low pass filter.

Abstract: A cartridge type dispensing gun comprises a housing and a barrel in which is mounted a cartridge containing a supply of viscous material. A plunger is driven to extend from the housing into the barrel for pushing a piston at the rear end of the cartridge to force the contents thereof out of a spout formed at the front end of the cartridge. The spout is in use to be cut off at an angle of about 45.degree. to leave an angled edge which is utilized as a spatula when applying a bead of viscous material to a surface being treated.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording sheet is produced by placing, on one side of a sheet-like heat-resistant substrate successively along the surface, one or more thermal transfer recording layers containing a recording material which contains a binder material and a coloring material and whose viscosity is lowered and controlled by temperature-raise recording control, so that transferability to recording medium is imparted, and a thermal transfer coating layer containing a hot-melt material which is miscible (compatible) with at least a part of said binder material.The thermal transfer recording using said thermal transfer recording sheet is characterized by first subjecting the thermal transfer coating layer to temperature-raise recording control, forming a film of the hot-melt material on the surface of the recording material at least on a portion to which the recording material is transferred, and conducting thereon thermal transfer recording as usual.

Abstract: New black color insulator thin films comprising Pr oxide, composite oxides of Pr-Mn, Pr-Ni, Pr-Co or Mn oxide are used to constitute at least one part or all parts of interface film between a phosphor film and a back electrode film of an AC thin film EL panel; and the panel with such a high contrast as 5:1 even at an illumination of 400 lux has been obtained.

Abstract: A coffee kettle of this invention comprises a filter case (8, 80), a water tank (7, 79) having a heater (6, 78), power supply and control means for supplying power to the heater (6, 78), a steam sensing element (52, 128) to operate upon sensing steam generated from water heated to boiling in the water tank (7, 79), wherein hot water in the water tank (7, 79) is supplied to the filter case (8, 80) by operating the hot water supply valve (38, 100) in association with the movement of the steam sensing element (52, 128).

Abstract: A rechargeable electrochemical device composed of a negative electrode (4) which comprises an alkali metal as an active material, a non-aqueous electrolyte (6), and a positive electrode (1). The positive electrode (1) is composed of an oxide of chromium and vanadium represented by the general formula:Cr.sub.x V.sub.2(1-x) O.sub.5-(2+y)x(wherein 0.2.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.9, 0.1.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1.0). The rechargeable electrochemical device offers a high discharge voltage, a large discharge capacity, linear discharge voltage, and the capacity to withstand over-charging.

Abstract: A power control system for electrical apparatus, in which a unidirectional rectifying device is connected to one of a plurality of loads connected mutually in parallel, an ignition circuit comprising a plurality of resistors is connected between the loads and a switching element whose conduction phase is controllable, and at least one of the resistors in the ignition circuit is connected through the unidirectional rectifying device to the said load, whereby the power supply to each of the plurality of loads can be controlled in an individual manner by means of the single switching element.

Abstract: A quick charging circuit comprises a charging current generating circuit including a rectifier connected to an A.C. power source and a high frequency inverter connected to the rectifier for supplying a charging current to a storage battery, a circuit for detecting a voltage across the battery, a timer circuit operated by an output of the battery voltage detecting circuit, and means for reducing the charging current in response to a time limit output of the timer circuit, wherein an integrating circuit is provided with respect to the battery voltage detecting circuit so that any influence of high frequency components in the battery voltage can be removed, whereby the timer circuit can be operated accurately with a set voltage to reduce the charging current and to reliably prevent the battery from being subjected to any overcharging and internal pressure rise.

Abstract: A pen recorder for writing characters and graphic patterns with recording pens on a sheet of recording paper by moving the recording pens in an X-axis direction and moving the sheet of recording paper in a Y-axis direction. When a desired key on a keyboard is depressed, the recording pens and the sheet of recording paper are moved to write a character corresponding to the depressed key on the sheet of recording paper. The size of the character can relatively freely be selected by operation switches for selecting horizontal and vertical character sizes. The pen recorder is automatically controlled for the same operability when the character size is changed in any of horizontal and vertical directions. Where the character size is changed horizontally, an alarm is issued prior to the completion of recording in a recording position a prescribed number of characters prior to a preset right margin.

Abstract: An optical disk drive apparatus, for data or information disks of which the data or information are able to record or playback on each of the recording tracks, comprises an optical rotary pick-up head actuator for both seeking and following to the recording track to read or write data signals by a light beam. The light beam is injected along the axis of rotation of the optical rotary pick-up head actuator; guided through a stick-shaped prism in cantilever form which is fixed by one side on the optical rotary pick-up head actuator and is unsuspended by the other side; and focused upon the recording surface of the disk through an objective lens which can be rotatively moved and controlled with the optical rotary pick-up head actuator in the direction to seeking the tracks. An reflective light beam from the recording surface of the disk is guided in the reverse order and is taken out from the center axis of rotation.