Abstract: A password corresponding to an IC card or a service is stored or registered in a terminal apparatus provided with a preferably contactless IC card section having a read/write function. A password is inputted before utilizing the IC card function. The IC card function, which is disabled for utilization under other conditions, is enabled for utilization during a period of time only when the inputted password matches the registered password, thus even when the device is lost or stolen, others cannot have access to the services available for the apparatus without authentication.

Abstract: A pressure sensor (1) has a circuit board (5) having a circuit portion (11) for amplifying an electric signal detected by a pressure detecting element (2C) and attached with an IC die (16), and a terminal (12) for inputting and outputting the electric signal from the circuit portion (11). The circuit portion (11) and the terminal (12) have a frame (11A, 12D) formed by a metal plate, the metal plate being provided with resin molds (14, 15). The circuit portion (11) and the terminal (12) are continuously formed, so that steps for soldering etc. is not necessary.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a joint (1) having a pressure port (13), a pressure detecting device (2) bonded to the joint (1) to convert fluid pressure to an electric signal and a housing (5) provided to an output side of the pressure detecting device (2), the pressure sensor further including a flange member (3) bonded to the joint (1) and having a through-hole (26) for the pressure detecting device (2) to be inserted and a connector (6) bonded to the flange member (3) to fix the housing (5).

Abstract: A lower battery block feeds low-voltage power to a low-voltage load. The lower battery block includes cells. At least one higher battery block is connected in series with the lower battery block, and cooperates with the lower battery block to feed high-voltage power to a high-voltage load. The higher battery block includes cells. A DC—DC converter transmits power from the higher battery block to the lower battery block. A controller detects an electric parameter of the lower battery block which relates to an average per-cell voltage in the lower battery block, and also an electric parameter of the higher battery block which relates to an average per-cell voltage in the higher battery block. The controller operates for controlling the DC—DC converter in response to the detected electric parameters to equalize the average per-cell voltage in the lower battery block and the average per-cell voltage in the higher battery block.

Abstract: An over-charge determining circuit provided for every unit cell generates, a cell over-charge detection signal which becomes high level when a cell voltage is higher than an upper limit value of an allowable voltage range thereof which is set as the threshold value voltage. The threshold value voltage is changed to a lower limit value of the allowable voltage range with which the cell over-charge detection signal surely becomes high level. Even when an output of an AND circuit for obtaining a logical product of the cell over-charge detection signals should become high, if an over-charge determining circuit of which output is fixed to the low level due to a fault of the like exists, the output of the AND circuit becomes low.

Abstract: An over-charge determining circuit provided for every unit cell generates, a cell over-charge detection signal which becomes high level when a cell voltage is higher than an upper limit value of an allowable voltage range thereof which is set as the threshold value voltage. The threshold value voltage is changed to a lower limit value of the allowable voltage range with which the cell over-charge detection signal surely becomes high level. Even when an output of an AND circuit for obtaining a logical product of the cell over-charge detection signals should become high, if an over-charge determining circuit of which output is fixed to the low level due to a fault of the like exists, the output of the AND circuit becomes low.

Abstract: A password corresponding to an IC card or a service is stored or registered in a terminal apparatus provided with a preferably contactless IC card section having a read/write function. A password is inputted before utilizing the IC card function. The IC card function, which is disabled for utilization under other conditions, is enabled for utilization during a period of time only when the inputted password matches the registered password. According to the terminal apparatus of the present invention, even when the device is lost or stolen, others cannot have access to the services available for the apparatus without authentication.

Abstract: A porous impregnation material (14) impregnated with a gaseous-phase lubricant that vaporizes at an atmosphere temperature within an outer case (2) is disposed in the inside of the outer case (2) that incorporates a tape mechanism (1) having a magnetic head such as a rotary video head (5). This allows the magnetic head to be in a state of being protected by a coating film of the gaseous-phase lubricant, thereby eliminating the adhesion of foreign substances other than the gaseous-phase lubricant to the magnetic head. As a result, decrease in the reading precision of magnetic data to be caused by the foreign substances can be prevented.

Abstract: A lower battery block feeds low-voltage power to a low-voltage load. The lower battery block includes cells. At least one higher battery block is connected in series with the lower battery block, and cooperates with the lower battery block to feed high-voltage power to a high-voltage load. The higher battery block includes cells. A DC-DC converter transmits power from the higher battery block to the lower battery block. A controller detects an electric parameter of the lower battery block which relates to an average per-cell voltage in the lower battery block, and also an electric parameter of the higher battery block which relates to an average per-cell voltage in the higher battery block. The controller operates for controlling the DC-DC converter in response to the detected electric parameters to equalize the average per-cell voltage in the lower battery block and the average per-cell voltage in the higher battery block.

Abstract: A pressure sensor (1) has a circuit board (5) having a circuit portion (11) for amplifying an electric signal detected by a pressure detecting element (2C) and attached with an IC die (16), and a terminal (12) for inputting and outputting the electric signal from the circuit portion (11). The circuit portion (11) and the terminal (12) have a frame (11A, 12D) formed by a metal plate, the metal plate being provided with resin molds (14, 15). The circuit portion (11) and the terminal (12) are continuously formed, so that steps for soldering etc. is not necessary.

Abstract: A rotary head in which the tape running load is decreased by setting the tape path cylindrical surface of an upper drum (12) in a range of winding of a tape (31) at an inner side relative to the tape path cylindrical surface of a lower drum (11). Alternatively, the tape path cylindrical surface of an inner drum (13) in a range of winding of the tape (31) is positioned at an outer side relative to the tape path cylindrical surface of the upper or lower drum.

Abstract: A pressure sensor has a joint (1) having a pressure port (13), a pressure detecting device (2) bonded to the joint (1) to convert fluid pressure to an electric signal and a housing (5) provided to an output side of the pressure detecting device (2), the pressure sensor further including a flange member (3) bonded to the joint (1) and having a through-hole (26) for the pressure detecting device (2) to be inserted and a connector (6) bonded to the flange member (3) to fix the housing (5).

Abstract: Frame power of an input signal is calculated to discriminate speech frame intervals from non-speech intervals, by thresholding current frame power using an adaptive speech-detection threshold based on the past maximum frame power value and the difference between past maximum and the minimum frame power values, adaptively updated using a predetermined number of frames prior to the current one.

Abstract: A reproduction part reproduced at a changeable speed ratio r. An A/D conversion part A/D converts, based on sampling frequency fi, an audio signal reproduced at a speed different from that upon recording. A block data division part divides audio data based on an attribute possessed by the audio data. An audio data connection part successively interpolates or thins out the divided audio data based on a ratio of 1/r. A D/A conversion part D/A converts the interpolated or thinned-out audio data based on sampling frequency fo. If a relation of fi/fo=r/c is satisfied, the audio signal is outputted as a sound of high quality constantly synchronized with an image signal and having a pitch which does not change irrespective of the changeable speed ratio r at which the image signal is reproduced.

Abstract: When a delivered speed of a listening speech (speech speed) is slowed down, a connection order generator (8) always monitors a data length of input speech, an output data length calculated previously by a conversion function concerning a preset scaling factor, and a data length of actual output speech in predetermined processing unit, then decides connection order not to cause inconsistency among them. The speech data and the connection data are connected without omission of speech information by controlling a speech data connector (9). When power of an input signal data is calculated to discriminate a speech interval and a non-speech interval, a threshold value for power is decided according to a maximum value of the power and difference between the maximum value and a minimum value.

Abstract: A speech-rate converter slowing down input speech regularly monitors the data length of the input speech and the previously estimated extended output data length for the current rate scaling factor, computing new output data length estimates. The conversion rate is adaptively modified depending on the time lag between input and output speech so as to make input and output data lengths consistent without skipping any spoken input portions. Input signal power is monitored to discriminate speech and non-speech intervals, and the portions of input non-speech intervals exceeding a conversion-rate-dependent duration are deleted.

Abstract: An analysis processor applies an analysis process to input speech data thereby to obtain block lengths for respective attributes of voiced sound, voiceless sound and silence. A block data splitter splits the input speech data into blocks having the block lengths dependent on the respective attributes. A block data memory sequentially stores speech data split by the block data splitter as block speech data and the block lengths. A connection data generator generates connection data for connecting the adjacent block speech data each other at every moment by using the block speech data. A connection data storing portion sequentially stores the connection data. A connection order generator generates block connection order of the block speech data and the connection data at every moment according to at least the block lengths output sequentially from the block data storing portion and extension scaling factors in time for the respective attributes.

Abstract: A bearing has a composite elastic member, which supports a shaft. The composite elastic member comprises an elastic cylinder, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber and is provided at a bearing body section; and a spiral member, which projects from the circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder and is spirally assembled on the elastic cylinder. A lubricant is supplied to a spiral gap, which is divisionally formed between threads of the wire material forming the spiral member. When the shaft rotates, leakage of the lubricant is prevented by pumping operation and leakage of a fluid is prevented.

Abstract: A pump utilizing a helical seal comprises a barrel member 4, a cylindrical core member 1 eccentrically arranged in said barrel member 4 and a helical seal 3 arranged between said cylindrical core member 1 and said barrel member 4. As the barrel member 4 and the cylindrical core member 1 are made to revolve relative to each other, the helical fluid path defined by the helical seal, the cylindrical core member 1 and the barrel member changes its capacity and the fluid contained in the barrel member is forced to axially move. Thus, the fluid is subjected not only to the axial force but also to the pressure that increases as the capacity of the helical fluid path formed by the helical seal is reduced by the relative revolution of the cylindrical core member 1 and the barrel member 4.

Abstract: A novel cell growth-inhibiting protein is provided. The cell growth-inhibiting protein, obtainable from extract of human uterine endometrial carcinoma, has the amino acid sequence rich in hydrophobic residue at its N-terminal, has a molecular weight of about 68,000 dalton, and is considered to act as a paracrine growth-inhibiting factor in an organism.