Abstract: A sound reproduction method is provided. The method includes acquiring ambient sound information that includes voice spoken to a speech dialog system and indicates sound around a speaking person who has spoken the voice. The method also includes separating the ambient sound information into first sound information including the spoken voice and second sound information including sound other than the spoken voice. The method further includes comparing the sound level of the first sound information with the sound level of the second sound information, and reproducing an audio response to the spoken voice, by selecting one of a first reproduction method and a second reproduction method that is different in terms of directivity of reproduced sound from the first reproduction method in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A brake lining includes friction structures, back boards fastened to respective the friction structures, a base plate supporting the friction structures. Each of the friction structures includes two adjacent friction portions with a groove formed in the front surface in between, and a thin portion with a smaller thickness than thicknesses of the friction portions, the thin portion located in a position corresponding to the groove. Each of the friction structures is supported by the base plate on two support points located in the two friction portions respectively. The thin portion has a constant length, the length being equal to a maximum width of the friction portions and satisfying a condition that L/D is equal to or greater than 1.1, where D denotes the length of the thin portion and L denotes a distance between the two support points located in the friction portions.

Abstract: There is provided a method for creating machining data for a hybrid ultraprecision machining device for manufacturing a micro-machined product from a workpiece, the machining device comprising: an electromagnetic-wave-machining means for roughly machining the workpiece; a precision-machining means for precisely machining the roughly machined workpiece; and a shape-measurement means, wherein the creation of the machining data makes use of: information on original shape corresponding to shape of the workpiece; information on roughly-machining shape to be removed from the workpiece by the electromagnetic-wave-machining means; and stereoscopic model of after-electromagnetic-wave-machining shape which is obtained by subtracting the roughly-machining shape from the original shape, wherein the machining data is created for electromagnetic-wave machining on the basis of information on a plurality of sliced portions obtained by partially slice-cutting from the stereoscopic model of the after-electromagnetic-wave-machi

Abstract: A brake lining for a railroad car has a frictional surface on a brake disc that is pressed by a brake caliper. Friction bodies are pressed against the frictional surface of the brake disc and a back plate is mounted to the caliper to support the friction bodies. Each of the friction bodies is formed with a friction material which contacts the brake disc frictional surface, and has a base plate attached on the back plate side of the friction material. The base plate has a protrusion formed on its back side. On the friction body side of the back plate there is formed a groove which contacts the protrusion formed on the base plate. A disc spring or a spherical-seated structure is disposed between the base plate of each friction body and the back plate. Friction bodies are prevented from rotating at their attached places, without adding new components.

Abstract: An area-sound reproduction system is provided that includes a speaker array having a plurality of speakers arranged side by side, a sound collector configured to collect an environment sound in an environment where the area-sound reproduction system is installed, a processor, and a memory having a computer program stored thereon. The computer program causes the processor to execute operations, including adjusting signals that the plurality of speakers are caused to output as reproduced sounds according to a reproduction condition on a control line, and causing the plurality of speakers to output the reproduced sounds.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a device used in a speech-recognition system, in which the device captures speech. The method includes determining a presence or an absence of an object in proximity to the device. The method also includes controlling capturing speech or not capturing speech in accordance with the determination. In the method, the capturing of speech is performed using a microphone of the device.

Abstract: A configuration method for a sound collection system for a meeting using a plurality of terminals, the system obtaining speech from the terminals. The method includes: receiving external sounds from the respective terminals as collected-sound data, the external sounds being collected by the respective terminals; and determining a meeting to which each of the terminals belongs, in accordance with a degree of similarity between the collected-sound data. At least one of the receiving the collected-sound data and the determining the meeting is performed by a processor.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a speech-recognition text-generation system that captures speech, and converts the captured speech into character strings through speech recognition. The method includes determining whether or not the character strings include a predetermined phrase, and specifying, in a case where the predetermined phrase is determined to be included, a character string associated with the predetermined phrase among the character strings as a first character string which is a deletion candidate. The method also includes displaying the first character string in a first display form on a display terminal and displaying a second character string, which is a character string other than the first character string, in a second display form on the display terminal.

Abstract: An area-sound reproduction system is provided that includes a speaker array having a plurality of speakers arranged side by side, a sound collector configured to collect an environment sound in an environment where the area-sound reproduction system is installed, a processor, and a memory having a computer program stored thereon. The computer program causes the processor to execute operations, including adjusting signals that the plurality of speakers are caused to output as reproduced sounds according to a reproduction condition on a control line, and causing the plurality of speakers to output the reproduced sounds.

Abstract: An area-sound reproduction system includes a speaker array in which a plurality of speakers are linearly arranged side by side, a sound collector that collects an environment sound in an environment where the area-sound reproduction system is installed, and a processor that adjusts reproduced sounds that the plurality of speakers are caused to output, based on a control line, and causes the area-sound reproduction system to output the reproduced sounds, the control line being set at a position substantially in parallel with the speaker array and apart from the speaker array by a predetermined distance, and including a reproduction line in which sound waves emitted from the speaker array constructively interfere with each other and a non-reproduction line in which the sound waves destructively interfere with each other, in which the processor measures a noise level from the collected environment sound, and adjusts the reproduced sounds, at each frequency, such that a sound pressure of the reproduced sound reac

Abstract: There is provided a method for determining a machining means in a hybrid ultraprecision machining device for manufacturing a micro-machined product from a workpiece, the machining device comprising: an electromagnetic-wave-machining means for roughly machining the workpiece; a precision-machining means for precisely machining the roughly machined workpiece; and a shape-measurement means for measuring a shape of the workpiece upon use of the electromagnetic-wave machining means and the precision-machining means, wherein a choice is made between the electromagnetic-wave-machining means and the precision-machining means in the determination of the machining means, on the basis of: information on a stereoscopic model of the micro-machined product; information on a removal volume to be removed from a volume of the workpiece in the manufacturing of the micro-machined product; and data on a removal process time of the electromagnetic-wave-machining means and data on a removal process time of the precision-machining

Abstract: An area-sound reproduction system includes a speaker array in which a plurality of speakers are linearly arranged side by side, a sound collector that collects an environment sound in an environment where the area-sound reproduction system is installed, and a processor that adjusts reproduced sounds that the plurality of speakers are caused to output, based on a control line, and causes the area-sound reproduction system to output the reproduced sounds, the control line being set at a position substantially in parallel with the speaker array and apart from the speaker array by a predetermined distance, and including a reproduction line in which sound waves emitted from the speaker array constructively interfere with each other and a non-reproduction line in which the sound waves destructively interfere with each other, in which the processor measures a noise level from the collected environment sound, and adjusts the reproduced sounds, at each frequency, such that a sound pressure of the reproduced sound reac

Abstract: A railway wheel includes: a wheel including a plate portion; and a brake disc including a circular plate portion whose front face side is a sliding surface, and a plurality of fin portions projected on a back face of the circular plate portion, wherein two of the brake discs are fastened in a region within the sliding surface. Regarding an area of a section crossing a space formed between the brake disc and the wheel along a circumferential direction, a minimum section portion in which the sectional area is minimum is present closest to the back face within the outer peripheral surface of the circular plate portion within a region formed by an outer peripheral surface of the circular plate portion and an inner peripheral surface of the rim portion, and an area of the minimum section portion is not less than 2500 mm2 and not more than 7000 mm2.

Abstract: A railway wheel includes: a wheel including a plate portion; and a brake disc including a circular plate portion whose front face side is a sliding surface, and a plurality of fin portions which are radially projected on a back face of the circular plate portion, wherein two of the brake discs are fastened in a region within the sliding surface. Regarding an area of a section crossing a space between the brake disc and the wheel along a circumferential direction, a minimum section portion in which the sectional area is minimum is present in a region formed by an outer peripheral surface of the circular plate portion and an inner peripheral surface of the rim portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the circular plate portion follows the inner peripheral surface of the rim portion in a region extending to the outer side from the minimum section portion.

Abstract: A sound reproduction method includes: acquiring ambient sound information that includes voice spoken to a speech dialogue system and indicates sound around a speaking person who has spoken the voice; separating the ambient sound information into first sound information including the spoken voice and second sound information including sound other than the spoken voice; comparing the sound level of the first sound information with the sound level of the second sound information; and reproducing an audio response to the spoken voice by selecting one of a first reproduction method and a second reproduction method that is different in terms of directivity of reproduced sound from the first reproduction method in accordance with a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A speaker includes a diaphragm and a magnetic circuit, a plurality of acoustic paths that provide connection between a space formed on a side including the magnetic circuit with respect to the diaphragm and a space exterior to the speaker are formed in the magnetic circuit, and the plurality of acoustic paths include a first acoustic path and a second acoustic path that differs in acoustic impedance from the first acoustic path.

Abstract: A brake disc of the present invention is a brake disc that stops the rotation of an axle when a brake pad is pressed on a surface of the brake disc, including a disc main body that is attached to a rotary body integrally rotating with the axle; and a plurality of build-up layers laminated on a surface of the disc main body, in which the build-up layers are laminated on the surface of the disc main body by means of laser metal deposition welding.

Abstract: A railway vehicle brake disc which can reduce aerodynamic sound raised high speed running, improve cooling performance during braking, and improve durability comprises a donut-shaped disc section having a sliding surface on a front surface side, a plurality of fin sections, each convexly provided in a rear surface of the disc section in a radial pattern, and a bolt hole passing through the disc section and the fin section. The disc section is mounted on a wheel in a state where the fin sections contact a plate section of the wheel using a bolt inserted into the bolt hole. The fin section has a groove formed along a circumferential direction in at least one of an area on an inner peripheral side and an area on an outer peripheral side of the bolt hole when viewed in a radial direction of the disc section.

Abstract: A disc brake for railway vehicles includes a brake disc fixed to a wheel or an axle of a railway vehicle and a brake lining configured to be pressed against a frictional surface of the brake disc by a brake caliper. The brake lining includes a plurality of friction members arranged to be spaced from each other, each of the friction members having a surface that faces the frictional surface of the brake disc, a metallic backing secured to back surfaces of the friction members, and a base plate supporting the friction members on the back surface side via spring members. The base plate is mounted to a brake caliper; wherein the friction members are provided in pairs with each pair being formed by two adjacent ones of the friction members, and the metallic backing is a one-piece member provided for each pair of the friction members.