Abstract: Methods of designing an active shield for substantially zeroing an electro-magnetic field on one side of a predetermined boundary in open magnetic resonance imaging systems and in open electric systems are provided. The methods include defining a finite length geometry for a primary structure which, in the case of zeroing a magnetic field, carries a first current distribution on its surface. A finite length geometry is also defined for a secondary structure which, in the case of zeroing a magnetic field, carries a second current distribution on its surface. In the case of zeroing an electric field, the current distributions are replaced with charge distributions. A total magnetic or electric field resulting from a combination of the first and second current or charge distributions respectively is constrained such that normal components (in the magnetic field case) or tangential components (in the electric field case) thereof substantially vanish at the surface of one of the primary and secondary structures.

Abstract: A power supply monitoring integrated circuit device for individually detecting the voltages of a plurality of lithium-ion cells connected in series has a plurality of comparators for comparing the voltages obtained by dividing the voltages of the individual cells with a predetermined voltage. The power supply monitoring integrated circuit device also has terminals for feeding electric power from the individual cells through resistors to the inputs of the individual comparators and terminals for supplying electric power from the individual cells to the individual comparators, and, in accordance with the results of comparison by the individual comparators, controls charging or discharging of the cells.

Abstract: A control device having a forced operation function has an output circuit that operates in response to an output control signal generated within the control device and a terminal for feeding a signal from the output circuit to outside the control device. The control device further has a signal detection circuit that outputs a forced operation signal when a predetermined signal is fed from the outside to that terminal. The output control signal generated within the control device and the forced operation signal produced by the signal detection circuit are fed through an OR circuit to the output circuit. This circuit configuration makes it possible to reduce the number of terminals to be provided in a control device having a forced operation function and thereby reduce its costs.

Abstract: There is disclosed an oxygen sensor disposed before an exhaust gas purifying catalyst of an engine which uses a hydrocarbon containing fuel with a H/C ratio of three or more. An oxygen sensor 1 is provided with a solid electrolytic body 2 which can generate a difference in oxygen concentration with reference gas and measured gas, a reference electrode 3 and a detection electrode 4 formed on inner and outer surfaces of the solid electrolytic body 2, and a porous protective layer 5 for covering the detection electrode 4. The detection electrode 4 is formed only of a metal like Pt which promotes oxidizing reaction of methane to have a thickness of 1 to 2 &mgr;m. In the protective layer 5, only a second protective layer 5b carries Pt catalyst 6 which promotes oxidizing reaction of hydrogen, and the amount of carried catalyst is in the range of 0.5 to 7 mol % relative to the whole of the second protective layer 5b.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing alicyclic hydrazine derivatives, tetrahydropyridazine and hexahydropyridazine which are useful as intermediate starting materials such as medicines and agricultural chemicals. Especially, the present invention provides; a process for producing an alicyclic hydrazine derivative or its hydrohalogenic acid salt, which comprises reacting a hydrazine hydrohalogenic acid salt with a doil compound or an alicyclic ether compound in the presence of an excessive inorganic acid existing in a free form or in the form of an acid addition salt; a process for producing tetrahydropyridazine from 1-aminopyrrolidine, which comprises oxidizing 1-aminopyrrolidine with an oxidizing agent to form tetrahydropyridazine; and a process for producing hexahydropyridazine, which comprises oxidizing 1-aminopyrrolidine with an oxidizing agent, synthesizing tetrahydropyridazine, and thereafter, hydrogenating the tetrahydropyridazine in the presence of a base.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor is disposed behind an exhaust gas purifying catalyst for an internal combustion engine and which suppresses the influence of unburnt hydrocarbon on the output voltage. A sensor element 1 is provided with a detection electrode 4 on the outer face of a zirconia ceramic body 2, a reference electrode 3 on the inner face of the ceramic body 2 and a spinel protective layer 5 on the outer surface of the detection electrode 4. The tip end of the sensor element 1 is covered with a protective cover 10 which is provided with an outer partition wall 11 having through holes 11a and an inner partition wall 12 having through holes 12a. In a case where the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the protective cover 10 is &Dgr;P(atm) when the atmospheric air with a volume flow rate Q(L/min) is passed into the protective cover 10 from the outside, the ratio &Dgr;P/Q2 is 3.2×10−5 (atm·min2·L−2).

Abstract: A power supply controlling integrated circuit device have detection input terminals for receiving the voltages of a plurality of cells and a plurality of comparing means for comparing the voltages of the individual cells with a predetermined reference voltage. To control discharging or charging of the cells in accordance with the outputs of the comparing means, a mode terminal is provided for receiving a signal for designating the number of cells. Also provided are a first circuit that can forcibly bring part of the comparing means into a predetermined output state in accordance with the signal received at the mode terminal and a second circuit for excluding from monitoring the outputs of those comparing means which have been brought into the predetermined output state. This enables the power supply monitoring integrated circuit device to control different numbers of cells without requiring any separately-mounted component or the like.

Abstract: A magnetic imaging apparatus generates a main magnetic field longitudinally through an image region and excites magnetic resonance in selected nuclei in a patient or subject disposed in the image area. The resonating nuclei generate radio frequency magnetic resonance signals which are received by a quadrature highpass ladder surface coil (D). The highpass ladder coil includes a central leg 34 having a capacitive element Cv disposed symmetrically about a midpoint 44. A like number of additional legs 30, 32, 36, 38 are disposed parallel to and symmetrically on opposite side of the central leg. Side elements 40, 42 include capacitive elements CA which interconnect adjacent ends of each of the legs. The capacitive elements are disposed symmetrically about the midpoint 44 and are selected such that the coil supports at least two intrinsic resonant modes including an odd mode 50 and an even mode 52.

Abstract: In a power supply monitoring integrated circuit device, a capacitor for setting a non-responsive interval is discharged at an increased rate without an undue increase in the current consumption of the circuit of the device and without undue variations in the non-responsive interval. The power supply monitoring integrated circuit device has a capacitor, a current source for charging the capacitor, a Darlington-connected transistor for discharging the capacitor, and a comparing means for comparing the voltage across the capacitor with a predetermined non-responsive interval setting voltage. An offset voltage equal to the collector-emitter voltage of the transistor when the capacitor is discharged is produced by using the forward voltage of a diode so as to be added to the non-responsive interval setting voltage.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device comprises a liquid crystal cell having a liquid crystal material sandwiched between a pair of substrates, the liquid crystal material having a retardation less than 1 .mu.m, a polymer film comprised of an optically anisotropic substance disposed on one of the substrates opposite the liquid crystal material, a color polarizing plate disposed on the polymer film opposite the one substrate, and a polarizing plate disposed on the other of the substrates opposite the liquid crystal material. The liquid crystal material preferably comprises a super twisted nematic liquid crystal material, and the color polarizing plate preferably comprises a red, green or blue polarizing plate.

Abstract: A data recording/reproducing apparatus in which speech data and video data can be recorded or reproduced separately from each other, the number of channels of the speech data can be changed or in which plural speech data with different number of channels can co-exist. A random-accessible vide data storage device and a random-accessible speech data storage device are provided separately for separately recording or reproducing video data and speech data. A video data file and a speech data file, obtained on dividing the video data and the speech data into respective plural records and recording the resulting records by the above data storage devices, are managed by a CPU using a file entry stored in a RAM or a file management information storage unit, a video data record entry and a speech data record entry.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring information by a local area network (LAN) between a video server having information stored therein and a general purpose computer. Part of the information may be transmitted on a file basis from the video server to the general purpose computer in accordance with a command of the general purpose computer and a file may be formed therefrom in a file system of the general purpose computer.

Abstract: A video data recording and reproduction apparatus in which a plurality of input/output control circuits input and output video data between the recording and reproducing apparatus and external apparatus based on a control signal received from an external apparatus, predetermined special effect processing is performed on the video data reproduced from the storage medium by the recording and reproduction apparatus, and the recording and reproduction apparatus store this processed video data on the storage medium.

Abstract: Apparatus and corresponding method for recording and reproducing video data to and from a record medium operate to communicate with plural external devices. The recording/reproducing apparatus includes plural audio/video data input/output devices each of which is programmable and coupled to a respective external device for receiving video data therefrom and transmitting reproduced video data thereto. Each input/output device is operable to receive a recording or reproducing external request signal from the respectively coupled external device, generate a respective recording/reproducing request signal in response thereto, output the request signal, receive data reproduced from a record medium during a reproducing operation and supply the reproduced data to the external device, and receive video data from the external device during a recording operation and supply the video data for recording on the record medium.

Abstract: An image editing system having an excellent editing operational efficiency. A recording/reproducing unit where compressed images have been recorded and an editing terminal unit are interconnected through a communication line. The compressed image which is needed at the time of editing is transmitted via the communication line without having recourse to a physical recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing alicyclic hydrazine derivatives, tetrahydropyridazine and hexahydropyridazine which are useful as intermediate starting materials such as medicines and agricultural chemicals. Especially, the present invention provides;a process for producing an alicyclic hydrazine derivative or its hydrohalogenic acid salt, which comprises reacting a hydrazine hydrohalogenic acid salt with a diol compound or an alicyclic ether compound in the presence of an excessive inorganic acid existing in a free form or in the form of an acid addition salt;a process for producing tetrahydropyridazine from 1-aminopyrrolidine, which comprises oxidizing 1-aminopyrrolidine with an oxidizing agent to form tetrahydropyridazine; anda process for producing hexahydropyridazine, which comprises oxidizing 1-aminopyrrolidine with an oxidizing agent, synthesizing tetrahydropyridazine, and thereafter, hydrogenating the tetrahydropyridazine in the presence of a base.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display panel comprises first and second substrates each having a transparent electrode and an orientation plane, a nematic liquid crystal material disposed between the first and second substrates, a polarizer disposed over the first substrate and the nematic liquid crystal material, and a simplex polymer film comprised of a single optically anisotropic substance disposed between the first substrate and the polarizer. The nematic liquid crystal material has a positive anisotropy of refractive index, a retardation of 0.55 .mu.m to 1.75 .mu.m, and molecules twisted at a high degree with a twist angle of 180.degree. to 270.degree.. The simplex polymer film has a retardation of 20 nm to 200 nm.

Abstract: A battery protection circuit has an overcharge detection circuit that detects overcharge of a battery and a charge inhibition circuit that, when overcharge is detected, inhibits charging with a delay produced by a capacitance element. This charge inhibition circuit can detect a short circuit in the capacitance element that is used to produce a predetermined delay, and, when it detects a short circuit in the capacitance element, it inhibits charging without delay. Thus, since charging is inhibited even when the capacitance element is short-circuited, a power supply unit incorporating this battery protection circuit is safer to use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data for recording and/or reproducing speech or audio data or video data to or from a random-accessible recording medium, in which speech data can be recorded and/or reproduced separately from video data in a virtual data file and in which the number of channels of speech data can be modified while speech data with different numbers of channels are allowed to co-exist in a virtual data file. A video data storage device and a speech data storage device, both being random-accessible, are separately provided for recording/reproducing video data and speech data. A data file for video and a data file for speech, each being divided in plural blocks and recorded by these data storage devices, are managed by a CPU using a file entry, a video data record entry and a speech data record entry stored in a RAM or a file management information storage unit.

Abstract: A memory back-up apparatus and method and an audio and/or video data recording and reproducing apparatus with which the loss of significant data is prevented where an abnormality occurs in the apparatus. The significant data to be backed up is copied to a SRAM from an external RAM. Where writing occurs in the significant data before completion of the copying, the copying is tried again from the first. Further, periodically, the data is copied from the SRAM to the other SRAM via the data. At the restart processing, the power supply status signal of a voltage detection device is inspected, and where the battery is consumed, the data backed up to a nonvolatile memory is copied to an original address of an external RAM, and where it is not consumed, the data stored in the SRAM is copied to the original address of the external RAM.