Abstract: A water heater tank is designed to be installed within a wall to provide substantially instantaneous and continuous hot water when the faucet is activated. The tank maintains water at a hot temperature to be mixed, if necessary, with standing water from the main hot water line. The tank includes a narrow channel through which the water traverses as it proceeds through the tank. A controller calculates the appropriate mixing ratio of the water sources depending on the desired water temperature.

Abstract: The performance of digital communication over a noisy communication channel is improved. An encoder combines bit modulation with error control encoding to allow the decoder to use the redundancy in the error control codes to detect uncorrectable bit errors. This method improves the efficiency of the communication system since fewer bits are required for error control, leaving more bits available for data. In the context of a speech coding system, speech quality is improved without sacrificing robustness to bit errors. A bit prioritization method further improves performance over noisy channels. Individual bits in a set of quantizer values are arranged according to their sensitivity to bit errors. Error control codes having higher levels of redundancy are used to protect the most sensitive (highest priority) bits, while lower levels of redundancy are used to protest less sensitive bits.

Abstract: For a television signal having a succession of video frames, at least some of which have an image area and a non-image area, a frame having a non-image area is encoded by generating identification data descriptive of the location within the frame of the non-image area, video encoding only the image area to produce encoded image data, and providing the identification data and the encoded image data as outputs for subsequent decoding of the frame.

Abstract: A method of encoding speech analyzes a digitized speech signal to determine excitation parameters for the digitized speech signal. The method includes dividing the digitized speech signal into at least two frequency bands, performing a nonlinear operation on at least one of the frequency bands to produce a modified frequency band, and determining whether the modified frequency band is voiced or unvoiced. The nonlinear operation is an operation that emphasizes a fundamental frequency of the digitized speech signal so that the modified frequency band signal includes a component corresponding to the fundamental frequency even when the at least one frequency band signal does not include such a component.

Abstract: A speech decoder apparatus for synthesizing a speech signal from a digitized speech bit stream of the type produced by processing speech with a speech encoder. The apparatus includes an analyzer for processing the digitized speech bit stream to generate an angular frequency and magnitude for each of a plurality of sinusoidal components representing the speech processed by the speech encoder, the analyzer generating the angular frequencies and magnitudes over a sequence of times; a random signal generator for generating a time sequence of random phase components; a phase synthesizer for generating a time sequence of synthesized phases for at least some of the sinusoidal components, the synthesized phases being generated from the angular frequencies and random phase components; and a synthesizer for synthesizing speech from the time sequences of angular frequencies, magnitudes, and synthesized phases.

Abstract: The effects of mismatch between the data rate states of at least first and second transceiver components in a signal transmission line for transmitting an original data signal are minimized by an apparatus that includes buffer means located between first and second transceivers for storing signal components, and data rate matching means for receiving a signal at a data rate that matches the data rate state of the first transceiver and transmitting a signal at a data rate that matches the data rate state of the second transceiver.

Abstract: An audio type signal is encoded. The signal is first divided into bands. For each band, a yardstick signal element is selected. The yardstick may be the signal element having the largest magnitude in the band, the second largest, closest to the median magnitude, or having some other selected magnitude. This magnitude is used for various purposes, including assigning bits to the different bands, and for establishing reconstruction levels within a band. The magnitude of non yardstick signal elements is also quantized. The encoded signal is also decoded. Apparatus for both encoding and decoding are also disclosed. The location of the yardstick element within its band may also be recorded and encoded, and used for efficiently allocating bits to non-yardstick signal elements. Split bands may be established, such that each split band includes a yardstick signal element and each full band includes a major and a minor yardstick signal element.

Abstract: In a speech coding and decoding system, in which a timewise segment of an acoustic speech signal is represented by a frame of a data signal characterized by a fundamental frequency and spectral harmonics, a current frame is reconstructed using a set of prediction signals based on the number of spectral harmonics for the current frame and a preceding frame and reconstructed signal parameters characterizing the preceding frame. The number of spectral harmonics for the current and preceding frames are reconstructed from at least a pair of digitally encoded signals that are generated using error protection codes for all of their bits.

Abstract: An audio-type signal is encoded. The signal is first divided into bands. For each band, a yardstick signal element is selected. Its magnitude is quantized using a first level of accuracy. This magnitude is used for various purposes, including assigning bits to the different bands, and for establishing reconstruction levels within a band. The magnitude of non-yardstick signal elements is quantized with less accuracy than are the yardstick signal elements. The encoded signal is also decoded. Apparatus for both encoding and decoding are also disclosed. The location of the yardstick element within its band may also be recorded and encoded, and used for efficiently allocating bits to non-yardstick signal elements.

Abstract: The pitch estimation method is improved. Sub-integer resolution pitch values are estimated in making the initial pitch estimate; the sub-integer pitch values are preferably estimated by interpolating intermediate variables between integer values. Pitch regions are used to reduce the amount of computation required in making the initial pitch estimate. Pitch-dependent resolution is used in making the initial pitch estimate, with higher resolution being used for smaller values of pitch. The accuracy of the voiced/unvoiced decision is improved by making the decision dependent on the energy of the current segment relative to the energy of recent prior segments; if the relative energy is low, the current segment favors an unvoiced decision; if high, it favors a voiced decision.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel and a manufacturing process therefor are disclosed, in which, instead of the expensive Ni, there are added Cu as an austenite (.tau.) stabilizing element, and tiny amounts of Ti as a ferrite forming element and B for improvement of high temperature hot workability, so that the optimum Md.sub.30 temperature and the optimum delta-ferrite content can be controlled, thereby improving the formability, the season cracking resistance, the hot workability and the high temperature oxidation resistance, and reducing the surface defects during the hot rolling and saving the manufacturing cost by reducing the content of Ni. The austenitic stainless steel according to the present invention includes in weight %: less than 0.07% of C, less than 1.0% of Si, less than 2.0% of Mn, 16-18% of Cr, 6.0-8.0% of Ni, less than 0.005% of Al, less than 0.05% of P, less than 0.005% of S, less than 0.03% of Ti, less than 0.003% of B, less than 3.0% of Cu, less than 0.3% of Mo, less than 0.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the channel width of a multi-channel fiber amplifier light source, including an erbium-doped optical fiber amplifier constructed to generate a spontaneously emitted, amplified noise beam under a condition that no optical signal is applied thereto, the amplifier being used as a light source for wavelength division multiplexing, namely, a fiber amplifier light source. By the angle-turned Fabry-Perot etalon filter and the fiber-optic beam expander, the channel width can be easily controlled without affecting the free spectral range and the power of output light.

Abstract: A self refresh control circuit for a memory cell array including a plurality of address buffers for inputting addresses of the memory cell array and a plurality of decoders for decoding the addresses from the address buffers.

Abstract: A golf club is disclosed herein having aerodynamic characteristics reducing drag resistance to maintain maximum head speed which includes a head having a front face with a top surface and an undersurface rearwardly sloping together to define a tapered back face. The sides of the head slope in convergence from the top surface to the undersurface. A pair of open-ended arcuate passageways are provided in the head substantially in parallel with a round opening at the front face and terminating in an oval exit at the back face. The radius of the arcuate passageways lies on the radius of the golfer's swing and a pointer is located on the top surface adjacent the front face to indicate alignment with sweet spot location on the front face. The undersurface includes a pair of ridges defining a central groove and opposite side grooves with terminations at the oval exits of the passageways.

Abstract: An automatic focus circuit for use with a video camera comprises an analog to digital converter which converts an analog luminance signal provided from an image signal processing circuit into a digital luminance signal, a microcomputer for controlling the automatic focus unit using an integrated luminance value which is integrated in an integrating circuit, and an area dividing circuit for horizontally and vertically dividing a screen of a video camera monitor. The automatic focus operation is easily performed by using the integrated digital luminance value as stored in a memory circuit. Accordingly, the automatic focus circuit simplifies the constitution and accuracy of the automatic focus.

Abstract: A photomask capable of forming a photoresist pattern including a chrome dot formed at the center of a reticle, adapted to attenuate light exposure energy strength concentrated at the center of the photomask, is disclosed. The chrome dot is capable of compensating for the limited resolution exhibited at edges of the pattern due to an intrinsic wave surging property of light source used and, thus, obtaining a high resolution. The photomask makes it possible to easily obtain a photoresist pattern on a highly integrated semiconductor device.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel herbicidal compounds and compositions. The compounds of the invention are highly substituted derivatives of pyrimidine.

Abstract: The performance of digital communication over a noisy communication channel is improved. An encoder combines bit modulation with error control encoding to allow the decoder to use the redundancy in the error control codes to detect uncorrectable bit errors. This method improves the efficiency of the communication system since fewer bits are required for error control, leaving more bits available for data. In the context of a speech coding system, speech quality is improved without sacrificing robustness to bit errors. A bit prioritization method further improves performance over noisy channels. Individual bits in a set of quantizer values are arranged according to their sensitivity to bit errors. Error control codes having higher levels of redundancy are used to protect the most sensitive (highest priority) bits, while lower levels of redundancy are used to protest less sensitive bits.

Abstract: A load clamping apparatus is provided for use with a forklift truck including a mast having a vertical guide channel, a lift carriage mounted to the mast for elevational movement therealong and a pair of spaced apart forks carried by the lift carriage to support a load to be handled.

Abstract: A method for incorporating future developments in video compression technology to migrate toward a better television system in a receiver-compatible manner. The invention uses enhancement data that can be combined with standard video data. Standard HDTV receivers will utilize standard video data, ignoring the enhancement data. More advanced HDTV receivers will combine the enhancement data with standard data. The television signal is transmitted in a format comprising a first set of bits that represents images at a first quality (e.g., first resolution) and that can be decoded to provide an output at the first resolution, and a second set of bits that represents enhancement information and that can be decoded and used in conjunction with the first set of bits to provide an output at a second resolution greater than the first resolution. The first set of bits is decoded according to a first decoding procedure to provide information representative of images at the first resolution.