Abstract: A method and a system for automatically calibrating a sound level meter which achieves accurate and secure calibration of a sound level meter using a sound calibrator. The sound calibrator comprises a code signal generator and a calibration sound pressure generator. The sound level meter comprises a code signal discriminator, a mode switch for switching the mode into a calibration mode in response to the discrimination of the code signal discriminator, a gain adjuster for adjusting a gain of an amplifier such that the indicated value corresponds to the level of the calibration sound pressure in the calibration mode, and a calibration recorder for recording the calibration date and time, the sound pressure, the type, and the manufacturing number of the sound calibrator.

Abstract: A behind-the-ear type hearing aid which can improve a fit to a user includes a hearing aid main body and a tube for introducing sound output from the hearing aid main body to an external auditory meatus. The tube is comprised of a connector portion, and a tube portion having one end which connects to the connector portion and an opposite end which to an earplug. The tube portion is constructed so as to be freely transformed, into a desired shape and a metal wire for maintaining the transformed shape is embedded in the tube portion. Also, the shape of the hearing aid main body to be in contact with a user's body can be formed corresponding to the shape of a user's body.

Abstract: A particle counter for measuring the number of floating particles contained in a sample to determine the particle concentration therein comprises: a memory section 11 for storing a discrete value C per unit of time based on the maximum particle number concentration set in the specification in advance; an operation processing section 12 for comparing a discrete value M per unit of time to be actually counted to the discrete value C per unit of time stored in the memory section 11; and an output section 4 for outputting the information based on the comparison results of the operation processing section 12.

Abstract: A hearing aid device is provided in which wireless data transmission and reception are established between a first hearing aid and a second hearing aid, worn one on each ear, wherein in a case where wireless transmission and reception are not possible, the first hearing aid and the second hearing aid are switched from a liaison operation mode in which both hearing aids are interactively adjusted to a solo operation mode in which each hearing aid is independently adjusted. In a case where wireless transmission and reception are possible, the first hearing aid and the second hearing aid are switched from the solo operation mode to the liaison operation mode.

Abstract: An audiometer having an air-conduction receiver, a bone-conduction receiver, a masking receiver and an audiometer body is provided, in which the air-conduction receiver, the bone-conduction receiver, and the masking receiver are respectively provided with serial ROMs in which identification information and calibration information of each receiver are stored. The audiometer body comprises a misconnection detector for detecting misconnection of each receiver, a calibration period judging mechanism for judging a calibration transition period of each receiver, and a correction amount computer for computing a correction amount of sound pressure based on the information stored in the serial ROMs.

Abstract: Preparing for the full-fledged aged society, measures to prevent senility are required. Senility is prevented by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal using a first bandpass filter section having a plurality of bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using an envelope extraction section having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having a plurality of bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs from the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in a multiplication section, summing up the outputs from the multiplication section in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal for listening.

Abstract: A method and a system for automatically calibrating a sound level meter which achieves accurate and secure calibration of a sound level meter using a sound calibrator. The sound calibrator comprises a code signal generator and a calibration sound pressure generator. The sound level meter comprises a code signal discriminator, a mode switch for switching the mode into a calibration mode in response to the discrimination of the code signal discriminator, a gain adjuster for adjusting a gain of an amplifier such that the indicated value corresponds to the level of the calibration sound pressure in the calibration mode, and a calibration recorder for recording the calibration date and time, the sound pressure, the type, and the manufacturing number of the sound calibrator.

Abstract: A flow cell is provided which can detect scattered light more efficiently by fully utilizing the condensing angle of a condenser lens. A particle monitoring area M is formed within the flow cell by irradiating the area with laser light La, and scattered light Ls generated by particles contained in sample fluid passing through the particle monitoring area M is condensed by the condenser lens L so as to obtain information including diameter of the particles, and inner walls of the flow cell are shaped or arranged such that the scattered light Ls is condensed in a state where the condensing angle ? of the condenser lens L is fully utilized.

Abstract: The increasing globalization of the world necessitates further strengthening of foreign language learning policies. The brain's foreign language recognition activity is enhanced and effective foreign language learning is enabled by extracting signals of prescribed bands from a speech signal in a foreign language using a first bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters, extracting the envelopes of each frequency band signal using envelope extraction sections having envelope extractors, applying a noise source signal to a second bandpass filter section having two or more bandpass filters and extracting noise signals corresponding to the prescribed bands, multiplying the outputs of the first bandpass filter section and the second bandpass filter section in multiplication sections, summing up the outputs of the multiplication sections in an addition section to produce a Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signal, and presenting the Noise-Vocoded Speech Sound signals for listening.

Abstract: A light scattering type particle detector includes a light having a low-energy intensity emitted from a light sources which is converted into light having a high-energy intensity so as to detect fine particles. In the light scattering type particle detector, particles contained in fluid are irradiated with light Lb, and scattered light Ls generated by the particles is received so as to detect the presence of the particles. The light Lb is obtained by converting light La having a wavelength of ? emitted from a light-emitting diode into light having a wavelength of ?/2 after being transmitted through a nonlinear optical crystal. The light Lb having a wavelength of ?/2 is allowed to reciprocate between a reflecting film of the nonlinear optical crystal and a reflecting mirror so as to be intensified.

Abstract: A hearing aid device for processing an input sound signal via a microphone so as to output a sound signal from an earphone comprises a signal processing element, a couple of acoustic nerve excitation pattern calculation elements, a couple of acoustic filter shape memory elements, a comparison element, a correction processing element, etc. The couple of acoustic nerve excitation pattern calculation elements calculate acoustic nerve excitation patterns of a normal hearing person and a hearing impaired person based on an output signal of the signal processing element and acoustic filter shapes of the normal hearing person and the hearing impaired person which are stored in the couple of acoustic filter shape memory elements. Each of the acoustic nerve excitation patterns is compared via the comparison element.

Abstract: A method for estimating the shape of an auditory filter by finding a coefficient p of a roex (p, r) filter which is used as a model for the shape of the auditory filter is provided, which comprises the steps of: generating a tone S?; generating a masker of a notch width g and level Nx? including in a notch the frequency f in which frequency characteristics of the external and middle ears of the subject are considered; transmitting to the subject a sound which superposes the masker on the tone S?; measuring the minimum notch width gx?a of the subject while varying the notch width g; calculating the coefficient p from an upper limit value gmax of the notch width g suitable for the subject and estimating the shape of the auditory filter from the coefficient p calculated above and the value x corresponding to the coefficient r.

Abstract: A measuring device used in a manufacturing process of an engine, to determine the volume of a complex shaped combustion chamber precisely and quickly in a dry state. A reference chamber is mounted on a combustion chamber of a engine head block which is placed upside down, cyclic volume variation is differentially produced in the internal space of the reference chamber and the internal space of the combustion chamber by a speaker, the ratio of the magnitude of cyclic pressure variations generated within the two spaces is measured, and the difference in volume between the combustion chamber and a standard vessel, having the reference chamber similarly mounted thereto, is obtained based on the ratio of the magnitude of the pressure variations when the reference chamber is mounted on the combustion chamber and the ratio of the magnitude of pressure variations when the reference chamber is mounted on the standard vessel.

Abstract: A device for removing earwax which adheres to a signal outputting portion of an in-the-ear hearing aid includes a case, a brush accommodated in the case 1, another case, and a liquid retaining member for absorbing disinfecting alcohol accommodated in the other case. A user may easily clean the signal outputting portion by simply contacting an earwax guard tip at the signal outputting portion of the hearing aid to the liquid retaining member, letting the alcohol soak into the earwax, and thereafter rubbing the earwax guard tip against the brush while moving the in-the-ear hearing aid back and forth, left and right, for example.

Abstract: A flow cell is provided which can detect scattered light more efficiently by fully utilizing the condensing angle of a condenser lens. A particle monitoring area M is formed within the flow cell by irradiating the area with laser light La, and scattered light Ls generated by particles contained in sample fluid passing through the particle monitoring area M is condensed by the condenser lens L so as to obtain information including diameter of the particles, and inner walls of the flow cell are shaped or arranged such that the scattered light Ls is condensed in a state where the condensing angle ? of the condenser lens L is fully utilized.

Abstract: A measuring device used in a manufacturing process of an engine, to determine the volume of a complex shaped combustion chamber precisely and quickly in a dry state. A reference chamber is mounted on a combustion chamber of a engine head block which is placed upside down, cyclic volume variation is differentially produced in the internal space of the reference chamber and the internal space of the combustion chamber by a speaker, the ratio of the magnitude of cyclic pressure variations generated within the two spaces is measured, and the difference in volume between the combustion chamber and a standard vessel, having the reference chamber similarly mounted thereto, is obtained based on the ratio of the magnitude of the pressure variations when the reference chamber is mounted on the combustion chamber and the ratio of the magnitude of pressure variations when the reference chamber is mounted on the standard vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus that automatically adjusts self-noise and can lower the lower limit value of a measurement range by reducing the effects of self-noise on measured values. This apparatus corrects self-noise when amplifying an output signal from a sensor so as to conform to a sensor sensitivity G, further processing the amplified signal, and then outputting the processed signal as a measured value. This apparatus includes a sensor sensitivity adjusting circuit that adjusts an amplification factor so as to conform to the sensor sensitivity G, a self-noise value calculating circuit 4 that calculates a self-noise component F·N from the amplification factor adjusted by the sensor sensitivity adjusting circuit so as to conform to the sensor sensitivity G, and a measured value correcting circuit that calculates a true measured value F·S from the self-noise component F·N calculated by the self-noise value calculating circuit 4 as well as a measured value L containing the self-noise component F·N.

Abstract: Ground joint surfaces of two synthetic corundum pieces 4, 5 are superposed on each other, and ends thereof are held in intimate contact with each other. The synthetic corundum pieces are then heated at a temperature equal to or lower than the melting point of synthetic corundum to joint the synthetic corundum pieces 4, 5.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a light scattering type particle detector, using a semiconductor laser as a light source, for detecting particles contained in sample fluid which defines a flow path, wherein laser light generated from the semiconductor laser is irradiated to irradiate a region of the flow path with a concave mirror and thereby a particle detecting region is defined. According to the present invention, there is also provided a laser oscillator wherein the optical axis of a semiconductor laser for generating pumping laser light has a predetermined angle with respect to the optical axis of a laser medium for irradiating laser light by pumping. Using such a laser oscillator, laser light irradiated from the laser oscillator is condensed to irradiate a region of a flow path defined by sample fluid, and thereby a particle detecting region is defined. Particles contained in the particle detecting region are detected by receiving scattered light with a light receiving portion.

Abstract: An electroacoustic transducer comprises a carrier portion, a diaphragm supported by the carrier portion, an electrode portion opposed to the diaphragm at a predetermined interval, and a housing accommodating the diaphragm and the electrode portion, wherein the carrier portion has a saucer-like shape, at the bottom surface of which a plurality of upstanding posts are provided, and wherein the upper surface of the periphery of the carrier portion and the upper end surfaces of the posts are in the same plane, the diaphragm is bonded to the surface of the periphery of the carrier portion and the end surfaces of the posts, and the electrode portion is fixed to the end surfaces of the posts which are covered by the diaphragm with spacers interposed therebetween.