Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus includes: an output unit that outputs a first probability that is a probability of a character sequence corresponding to a speech sequence indicated by speech data and a second probability that is a probability of a phoneme sequence corresponding to the speech sequence, by using a neural network that outputs the first probability and the second probability, when the speech data are inputted; and an update unit that updates the first probability on the basis of the second probability and dictionary data in which a registered character is associated with a registered phoneme that is a phoneme of the registered character.

Abstract: An authentication device is provided with: a plurality of attribute-dependent score calculation units each calculating an attribute-dependent score dependent on a prescribed attribute for input data; an attribute-independent score calculation unit for calculating an attribute-independent score independent of the attribute for the input data; an attribute estimation unit for performing attribute estimation for the input data; and a score integration unit for determining a score weight of each of a plurality of attribute-dependent scores and of the attribute-independent score using the result of the attribute estimation and calculating an output score using the attribute-dependent scores, the attribute-independent score, and the determined score weights.

Abstract: A sealing device is disposed within a circumferential groove of an inner member that reciprocates relative to an outer member. An inner seal ring of the sealing device is made of a resin and includes an outer peripheral surface having a circumferential groove. An outer seal ring of the sealing device has a high elasticity and is fitted into the circumferential groove of the inner seal ring. The outer seal ring is brought into slidable contact with the inner peripheral surface of the hole of the outer member. A back ring of the sealing device has a high elasticity, is disposed radially inside the inner seal ring, and is compressed between the inner peripheral surface of the inner seal ring and the bottom wall surface of the circumferential groove of the inner member.

Abstract: The invention provides a clutch seal which can enhance a durability of a membrane portion which is a constituting part of a seal and is constructed by a rubber-like elastic body, and can inhibit a working fluid from standing in a concave surface of the membrane portion. The clutch seal of the invention is an annular seal interposed between a clutch plate in a dry clutch and a piston pressing the clutch plate, has a middle ring fixed to the piston between an outer ring and an inner ring which are fixed to a clutch housing, and has membrane portions constructed by a rubber-like elastic body respectively between the outer ring and the middle ring and between the inner ring and the middle ring, wherein the middle ring is arranged at an intermediate position of a stroke in an initial shape of the membrane portion.

Abstract: An equipment failure prediction system includes an equipment failure prediction device and smart meters which are all connectable to a network, and a transformer that provides information to the smart meters. The smart meters transmit quantitative data to the equipment failure prediction device through the network, the quantitative data obtained by quantifying the information provided by the transformer. The equipment failure prediction device accumulates the transmitted quantitative data in a database and predicts occurrence of failure in the transformer by using a statistic calculated from the quantitative data accumulated in the database.

Abstract: The invention provides a clutch seal which can enhance a durability of a membrane portion which is a constituting part of a seal and is constructed by a rubber-like elastic body, and can inhibit a working fluid from standing in a concave surface of the membrane portion. The clutch seal of the invention is an annular seal interposed between a clutch plate in a dry clutch and a piston pressing the clutch plate, has a middle ring fixed to the piston between an outer ring and an inner ring which are fixed to a clutch housing, and has membrane portions constructed by a rubber-like elastic body respectively between the outer ring and the middle ring and between the inner ring and the middle ring, wherein the middle ring is arranged at an intermediate position of a stroke in an initial shape of the membrane portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixation member which exhibits enhanced wear resistance and sliding property between the peripheral surface of the fixation member and a pressure member, which can reduce driving torque at a fixation unit, and which does not cause stick slipping even in a high-load operational mode, and a fixation apparatus having the fixation member. The fixation member employed in a fixation unit of the fixation apparatus has a metallic substrate having at least one layer of an electrocast seamless belt, and a slide layer disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the metallic substrate, wherein the slide layer is formed of at least one species of the group consisting of a polyamide-imide resin and a polyimide resin, and a fluororesin; the slide layer has a fluororesin content of 27.5 mass % to 50 mass %; and the slide layer has a surface roughness Ra of 0.4 ?m or less.

Abstract: A plasma generating device for an internal combustion engine sets the generating-atmosphere pressure for generating plasma to the intake pressure, thereby achieving a reduction in the size, weight, and energy consumption of the plasma generating device and an improvement in combustibility. An internal combustion engine includes a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage having an intake opening that opens to a combustion chamber. An intake valve opens and closes the intake opening. A plasma generating device includes a plasma generator having a generating chamber for converting intake air into a plasma state to generate plasma. The plasma generating device supplies plasma to a downstream passage of the intake passage between the throttle valve and the intake valve. A gas control valve operates in conjunction with the throttle valve, and is arranged in an introduction passage between a clean chamber of the air cleaner chamber and a generating chamber.

Abstract: A plasma generating device for an internal combustion engine sets the generating-atmosphere pressure for generating plasma to the intake pressure, thereby achieving a reduction in the size, weight, and energy consumption of the plasma generating device and an improvement in combustibility. An internal combustion engine includes a throttle valve arranged in an intake passage having an intake opening that opens to a combustion chamber. An intake valve opens and closes the intake opening. A plasma generating device includes a plasma generator having a generating chamber for converting intake air into a plasma state to generate plasma. The plasma generating device supplies plasma to a downstream passage of the intake passage between the throttle valve and the intake valve. A gas control valve operates in conjunction with the throttle valve, and is arranged in an introduction passage between a clean chamber of the air cleaner chamber and a generating chamber.

Abstract: To provide a lateral steady acceleration simulation system for railway vehicle, which is capable of simulating a situation in which lateral steady acceleration is applied to a railway vehicle for a long period of time, while having a compact structure. In a riding quality simulation system of the invention, a control unit activates each of actuators (40), thereby making a simulated passenger room (10) roll. Then, the simulated passenger room (10) is gradually inclined, while a component force, along an inclined plane, of gravitational acceleration g, that is, a first reproductive acceleration G1 is generated depending on an angle of inclination ?. In this manner, a person riding on the simulated passenger room (10) bodily senses the first reproductive acceleration G1 by the roll. At the same time, the control unit moves the simulated passenger room 10, by means of a laterally moving device, in either of the left or right direction with acceleration G.

Abstract: To provide a lateral steady acceleration simulation system for railway vehicle, which is capable of simulating a situation in which lateral steady acceleration is applied to a railway vehicle for a long period of time, while having a compact structure. In a riding quality simulation system of the invention, a control unit activates each of actuators (40), thereby making a simulated passenger room (10) roll. Then, the simulated passenger room (10) is gradually inclined, while a component force, along an inclined plane, of gravitational acceleration g, that is, a first reproductive acceleration G1 is generated depending on an angle of inclination ?. In this manner, a person riding on the simulated passenger room (10) bodily senses the first reproductive acceleration G1 by the roll. At the same time, the control unit moves the simulated passenger room 10, by means of a laterally moving device, in either of the left or right direction with acceleration G.

Abstract: To realize an accurate evaluation of the riding quality of a railway vehicle In a riding quality simulation system (1), a control unit (60) controls a drive unit (50) such that vibrations along a plurality of axes arbitrarily selected among six axes can be simultaneously applied to a simulated passenger room (10) simulating an interior of a railway vehicle. The control unit (60) makes control in such a manner that, among an up-down component, a left-right component, and a forward-backward component of the vibration applied to the simulated passenger room (10), upper limits of vibration acceleration and frequency range of the forward-backward component are made smaller, thereby making higher upper limits of vibration acceleration and frequency range of the up-down and left-right components.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a vacuum circuit-breaker, a vacuum bulb used therein and electrodes for the vacuum bulb, which can reduce the manufacturing cost while being of high performance and compact in size. The invention resides in a vacuum circuit-breaker, a vacuum bulb and electrodes for the vacuum bulb, which are characterized in that fixed and movable electrodes each comprise arc electrodes, whose entire surfaces, mutually facing each other, are made of an alloy containing a refractory metal and a highly conductive metal, and electrode rods of a highly conductive metal supporting the respective arc electrodes, and that each arc electrode and the mating electrode rod are integrally formed by means of solid-phase diffusion bonding.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a vacuum circuit-breaker, a vacuum valve used therein and electrodes for the vacuum valve, which can reduce the manufacturing cost while being of high performance and compact in size. The invention resides in a vacuum circuit-breaker, a vacuum valve and electrodes for the vacuum valve, which are characterized in that fixed and movable electrodes each comprise arc electrodes, whose entire surfaces, mutually facing each other, are made of an alloy containing a refractory metal and a highly conductive metal, and electrode rods of a highly conductive metal supporting the respective arc electrodes, and that each arc electrode and the mating electrode rod are integrally formed by means of solid-phase diffusion bonding.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum circuit breaker including a small-sized electrode structure capable of reducing deformation with age thereby enhancing the reliability and a vacuum bulb and a vacuum bulb electrode used for the breaker. In the vacuum circuit breaker, each of a fixed electrode and a movable side electrode includes an arc electrode made from particles of a refractory metal material, a high conductive metal material and a low melting point metal; an electrode supporting portion, made from the high conductive metal material, for supporting the arc electrode; a back conductor having a diameter smaller than the electrode supporting portion; and an external side connecting portion having a diameter larger than that of the back conductor. The arc electrode is integrated with the electrode supporting portion, back conductor, and external side connecting portion by the high conductive metal material, preferably, by melting of the highly conductive metal material.

Abstract: An electrode for a vacuum circuit breaker provided with a connecting portion made of a material having the same resistivity as the arc running face portions across the corresponding arc guiding channel at the outer circumferential end thereof, wherein when the outer diameter of the connecting portion is D.sub.1 and the inner diameter of the connecting portion is D.sub.2, the width of the connecting portion is designed so that the ratio D.sub.2 /D.sub.1 is in a range of more than 0.9 and less than 1.0. An arc generated between the electrodes is magnetically driven over the arc running face portions via the connecting portion so that the current interrupting capacity of the electrode is increased and the size and weight of the electrode are reduced.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head cylinder device for use in a helical-scanning system video tape recorder has a projection provided on a tape running race of a stationary lower cylinder near a location at which a magnetic tape leaves from the lower cylinder. The projection is preferably integral with the tape running race and has a small area which is defined by a shoulder circumferentially extending identically with a tape guide shoulder contouring the lower edge of the tape running race and which spreads perpendicularly to the tape running race, and an upper surface coplanar with the top face of the lower cylinder, and a height defined by a protruded length radially outwardly toward the outer circumferential surface of the lower cylinder. The projection serves to reduce vibrations of the magnetic tape generated when the video head carried by the rotary upper cylinder leaves from the magnetic tape.