Abstract: A method of covalently bonding a cyclic nitroxide radical compound to a hydrophobic block of a specific hydrophylic-phobic block copolymer, and polymerized cyclic nitroxide radical compound copolymerized in this manner, as well as use of such a compound, for instance, in the medical field are provided. The compound demonstrates long term stability in vivo under reductive environment.

Abstract: A driving circuit of at least one embodiment includes: m output terminals; m+1 video signal output sections including m+1 output circuits, respectively; a decision section for determining the quality of each of the video signal output sections; and switches for switching connections between the output terminals and the video signal output sections in accordance with a result of determination made by the decision section. When the decision section has determined the ith (i being a natural number of m or less) video signal output section to be defective, the switches connect the jth (j being a natural number of i?1 or less) video signal output section to the jth output terminal and connect the (k+1)th (k being a natural number of i or more to m or less) video signal output section to the kth output terminal. Thus provided is a driving circuit, capable of self-repairing a defective one of the video signal output sections, which has more simplified wires connected to the video signal output sections.

Abstract: A driving circuit of at least one embodiment includes: m output terminals; m+1 video signal output sections including m+1 output circuits, respectively; a decision section for determining the quality of each of the video signal output sections; and switches for switching connections between the output terminals and the video signal output sections in accordance with a result of determination made by the decision section. When the decision section has determined the ith (i being a natural number of m or less) video signal output section to be defective, the switches connect the jth (j being a natural number of i?1 or less) video signal output section to the jth output terminal and connect the (k+1)th (k being a natural number of i or more to m or less) video signal output section to the kth output terminal. Thus provided is a driving circuit, capable of self-repairing a defective one of the video signal output sections, which has more simplified wires connected to the video signal output sections.

Abstract: A method of covalently bonding a cyclic nitroxide radical compound to a hydrophobic block of a specific hydrophylic-phobic block copolymer, and polymerized cyclic nitroxide radical compound copolymerized in this manner, as well as use of such a compound, for instance, in the medical field are provided. The compound demonstrates long term stability in vivo under reductive environment.

Abstract: A circuit (1a) having analog circuits processes an analog input signal (Vin). The circuit (1a) having the analog circuits sends a coefficient s1 to a coefficient detection/control circuit (1b). The coefficient s1 indicates a predetermined property of each of the analog circuits provided in the circuit (1a). The coefficient detection/control circuit (1b) processes and detects the coefficient s1 as a signal value so as to detect the property of the analog circuit. The coefficient detection/control circuit (1b) sends a control signal s2, which is obtained according to a result of the detection of the coefficient s1, to the circuit (1a) having the analog circuit. In this way, the coefficient detection/control circuit (1b) adjusts an operation condition of the analog circuit so as to control an operation of the circuit (1a) having the analog circuit.

Abstract: A circuit including analog circuits processes an analog input signal. Further, the circuit including the analog circuits sends a coefficient to a coefficient detection/control circuit. The coefficient is indicative of a predetermined property of each of the analog circuits provided in the circuit. The coefficient detection/control circuit processes and detects the coefficient as a signal, with the result that the property of the analog circuit is detected. Then, the coefficient detection/control circuit sends a control signal to the circuit including the analog circuits. The control signal is generated according to a result of the detection of the coefficient. In accordance with the control signal, the coefficient detection/control circuit adjusts an operation state of the analog circuit so as to control an operation of the circuit including the analog circuits. The coefficient is sent from an external output terminal to outside.

Abstract: A circuit including analog circuits processes an analog input signal. Further, the circuit including the analog circuits sends a coefficient to a coefficient detection/control circuit. The coefficient is indicative of a predetermined property of each of the analog circuits provided in the circuit. The coefficient detection/control circuit processes and detects the coefficient as a signal, with the result that the property of the analog circuit is detected. Then, the coefficient detection/control circuit sends a control signal to the circuit including the analog circuits. The control signal is generated according to a result of the detection of the coefficient. In accordance with the control signal, the coefficient detection/control circuit adjusts an operation state of the analog circuit so as to control an operation of the circuit including the analog circuits. The coefficient is sent from an external output terminal to outside.

Abstract: A first D/A converter generates first and second reference voltages from digital data of upper m bit by using base reference voltages of these reference voltages. A controller outputs a control signal according to which of voltage levels of the first and second reference voltages is higher. An inversion controller outputs digital data of lower n bit as such to a second stage R-2R ladder resistor type D/A converter when judging that the first reference voltage is higher in voltage level than the second reference voltage, and outputs the digital data of the lower n bit to the second stage R-2R ladder resistor type D/A converter by inverting the digital data of the lower n bit when judging that the first reference voltage is lower in voltage level than the second reference voltage.

Abstract: A first D/A converter generates first and second reference voltages from digital data of upper m bit by using base reference voltages of these reference voltages. A controller outputs a control signal according to which of voltage levels of the first and second reference voltages is higher. An inversion controller outputs digital data of lower n bit as such to a second stage R-2R ladder resistor type D/A converter when judging that the first reference voltage is higher in voltage level than the second reference voltage, and outputs the digital data of the lower n bit to the second stage R-2R ladder resistor type D/A converter by inverting the digital data of the lower n bit when judging that the first reference voltage is lower in voltage level than the second reference voltage.

Abstract: An encoding apparatus uses a vector quantization encoding method for encoding indexes of codewords, which supply a scalar quantized code of a maximum scalar product value of each code word in a code book, and its maximum scalar product value to a vector component of an input image inputted from an image sensor, so as to output the encoded indexes. A scalar product value calculating circuit in the encoding apparatus has scalar product value calculating sections, which are composed of an analog circuit having a code component capacitor corresponding to each code component, a differential amplifier and a feedback capacitor, corresponding to each codeword, and the scalar product values of the input vectors are calculated in parallel by the scalar product value calculating sections. In such a manner, when the analog calculation is made, the scale of the circuit can be decreased and the power consumption can be lowered.

Abstract: An image compressing apparatus employs a mean-separated normalized vector quantization method according to which, with respect to vector components corresponding to input images inputted from image sensors via a plurality of lines, encodes and outputs a scalar-quantized code of a mean value, a scalar-quantized code of a maximum scalar product value with each code word in a code book, and an index of one of the code words which yields a maximum scalar product value. In this image compressing apparatus, when the maximum scalar product value is less than a predetermined threshold value, in accordance with judgement by a comparator circuit, an output selecting circuit stops outputting the codes of the maximum scalar product value and of the index, and outputs only the code of the mean value. Therefore, when the image is uniform with pixels varying little in their luminance levels in compression processing unit blocks, code data to be outputted are restricted so that only data of the mean value are outputted.

Abstract: In respective comparators, a plurality of input voltages are compared with a comparison voltage that has been swept, and only the binary output of a D flipflop corresponding to the comparator that has exceeded the comparison voltage earliest is allowed to have "1", while the outputs corresponding to the rest of the comparators have "0". Therefore, it is possible to detect a maximum output by using the comparators of a normal CMOS construction and a binary-change detection means circuit constituted by logical circuits. Compared with the application of floating-gate MOS, this arrangement makes it possible to reduce costs, and also to easily carry out offset-voltage compensation for each comparator by using switched capacitors. As a result, in a maximum input detector which detects a maximum input from analog inputs through multiple channels by carrying out analog operations, it is possible to reduce costs, and also to improve detection precision.

Abstract: An inner product calculation device for calculating an inner product of a coefficient vector including at least one first element with a positive sign and at least one second element with a negative sign and an input vector including elements corresponding to a plurality of input voltages.

Abstract: A winner-take-all circuit for judging a channel receiving an analog signal having the largest or smallest value among multiple channels upon input of analog signals. Each basic circuit includes a detecting unit for comparing an input voltage with a reference voltage, and a feedback current generating unit for outputting a feedback current that determines a judging range in response to an output voltage from the detecting unit. The winner-take-all circuit also includes a tenth transistor serving as a common transistor to all the basic circuits. The tenth transistor secures, even when an input voltage is small, a current that should flow through a sixth transistor serially connected to the seventh transistor that determines an amount of a feedback current from the feedback current generating circuit.

Abstract: Properties of a green sand for casting composed of siliceous sand, a combination of Na-type and Ca-type bentonite and water can be improved by utilizing surface activating characteristics of a waste liquor from the pulp manufacturing process. When a pulp cooking waste liquor having a pH of 9 to 13 or a concentrate or powder thereof is incorporated into this green sand, the green strength, the flowability and the packing property are remarkably improved. The used green sand mold has a good disintegrating property and the handling of the return sand is performed very easily, and the temperature control of the return sand can be remarkably facilitated. Further, when this green sand composition is used, occurrence of such defects as buckles, scabs, sand marks and cuts is effectively prevented. When an aluminum ion or transition metal ion is incorporated together with the pulp cooking waste liquor, the foregoing effects are further enhanced.

Abstract: Properties of a green sand for casting composed of siliceous sand, bentonite and water can be improved by utilizing surface activating characteristics of a waste liquor from the pulp manufacturing process. When a pulp cooking waste liquor having a pH of 9 to 13 or a concentrate or powder thereof is incorporated into this green sand, the green strength, the flowability and the packing property are remarkably improved. The used green sand mold has a good disintegrating property and the handling of the return sand is performed very easily, and the temperature control of the return sand can be remarkably facilitated. Further, when this green sand composition is used, occurrence of such defects as buckles, scabs, sand marks and cuts is effectively prevented. When an aluminum ion or transition metal ion is incorporated together with the pulp cooking waste liquor, the foregoing effects are further enhanced.