Abstract: An audio signal encoding device includes: a window determination unit for determining the type of window of each channel; a correction unit for correcting the number of available bits; and a quantization unit for quantizing the audio signal of each channel sequentially so that the number of bits is equal to or less than the corrected number of available bits while adding the number of bits left unused, and the correction unit includes: a use rate history calculation unit for calculating a bit use rate in quantization of each type of window; and a corrected bit number calculation unit for correcting the number of available bits so that the rate of used bits to the number of available bits of each channel on the assumption that quantization is performed with the calculated bit use rate in quantization approaches the same.

Abstract: To provide a signal generator, a signal generating system, and a signal generating method capable of repeatedly generating an arbitrary waveform and making the phases of the head and tail of the generated waveform continuous with each other, without changing the frequency of the waveform. A signal generator (10, 11, 12) includes phase shift means (30) that receives waveform data which is repeatedly output n times, shifts the phase of each sample data item in an n-th waveform data item by a phase shift amount ?n corresponding to the number of times n the waveform data is repeatedly output, and outputs the waveform data to D/A conversion means.

Abstract: In a PTC heater unit configured to heat gas flowing through an inside of a heating gas passage with a PTC element, a gap passage (60) forming at least part of the heating gas passage (59) is formed between an inner peripheral surface of a base tube portion (42a) having the PTC element (43) disposed on an outer peripheral surface thereof and an outer peripheral surface of an insertion tube (61) inserted in the base tube portion (42a). Accordingly, it is possible to provide a pressure reduction valve for LPG fuel attached with a PTC heater unit capable of improving efficiency of heating using a PTC element.

Abstract: A liquid trap device for a gas is provided which includes a trap housing (3) that is formed from a ceiling wall (5), a bottom wall (6) and a peripheral wall (7), the ceiling wall (5) having provided therein a gas inlet port (20) and a gas outlet port (21), and a filter element (4) that is retained between the ceiling wall (5) and the bottom wall (6), the interior of the filter element (4) communicating with the gas inlet port (20) and the outer peripheral face of the filter element (4) communicating with the gas outlet port (21) via an internal space (8) of the trap housing (3), wherein the trap housing (3) is formed as a shape that in plan view is long along one laterally central line (X), and the filter element (4) and an outlet port upstream portion (21a), opening within the trap housing (3), of the gas outlet port (21) are disposed in proximity to first and second side wall portions (7a, 7b) respectively of the peripheral wall (7) facing each other on the laterally central line (X).

Abstract: There are provided a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected from an optical recording medium, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the element. In particular, the light-receiving element can be manufactured at low cost and in a simple manner and is configured to receive light from a short-wavelength laser source (having a wavelength of 402 nm to 413 nm). The light-receiving element includes a silicon substrate in which a light-receiving portion is formed; a circuit board for mounting the silicon substrate; at least one or more wires for electrically connecting the silicon substrate and the circuit board; a cover layer for covering the wires; and an exposed portion for exposing the light-receiving portion outside.

Abstract: A liquid trap device for a gas is provided which includes a trap housing (3) that is formed from a ceiling wall (5), a bottom wall (6) and a peripheral wall (7), the ceiling wall (5) having provided therein a gas inlet port (20) and a gas outlet port (21), and a filter element (4) that is retained between the ceiling wall (5) and the bottom wall (6), the interior of the filter element (4) communicating with the gas inlet port (20) and the outer peripheral face of the filter element (4) communicating with the gas outlet port (21) via an internal space (8) of the trap housing (3), wherein the trap housing (3) is formed as a shape that in plan view is long along one laterally central line (X), and the filter element (4) and an outlet port upstream portion (21a), opening within the trap housing (3), of the gas outlet port (21) are disposed in proximity to first and second side wall portions (7a, 7b) respectively of the peripheral wall (7) facing each other on the laterally central line (X).

Abstract: The steam reformer has a double-cylinder structure having an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder contains a high-temperature reaction section and an adjacent section being adjacent to the high-temperature reaction section. The high-temperature reaction section contains a mixed-catalyst bed prepared by mixing a steam reforming catalyst and an oxidation catalyst, and an oxygen-containing gas introduction section. A heat transfer suppresser is structured to suppress heat transfer from the high-temperature reaction section to the adjacent section or to the oxygen-containing gas introduction section. With the heat-transfer suppressor, the thermal diffusion from the high-temperature reaction section to peripheral area is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: The system is a self-oxidation internal heating steam reforming system for conducting self-oxidation of a raw material gas under the presence of oxygen and conducting steam reforming to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas. The system includes a steam generator including a combustion section for combusting an air-fuel mixture obtained by mixing a combustion air with a fuel, thereby heating water using a combustion gas generated in the combustion section to generate hydrogen; a first sucking-mixer for sucking the raw material gas into a steam stream coming from the steam generator to obtain a raw material-steam mixture; and a reformer for oxidizing the raw material gas in the raw material-steam mixture by an oxygen-containing gas supplied from outside, thereby conducting steam reforming of the raw material gas using the reaction heat of the oxidation to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas.

Abstract: A light receiving apparatus includes a holder made of metal and a light receiving element that is attached to the holder, receives laser light reflected by an information medium, and outputs an electric signal. The light receiving element is constructed of a bare chip, is attached to the holder, and parts of the light receiving element aside from a part on which the laser light is incident are sealed using resin.

Abstract: There are provided a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected from an optical recording medium, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the element. In particular, the light-receiving element can be manufactured at low cost and in a simple manner and is configured to receive light from a short-wavelength laser source (having a wavelength of 402 nm to 413 nm). The light-receiving element includes a silicon substrate in which a light-receiving portion is formed; a circuit board for mounting the silicon substrate; at least one or more wires for electrically connecting the silicon substrate and the circuit board; a cover layer for covering the wires; and an exposed portion for exposing the light-receiving portion outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected at an optical recording medium capable of preventing qualitative deterioration of an electrical signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of the light received, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus using the element. The light-receiving element includes a light-receiving portion formed on a silicon substrate, and a cover layer disposed so as to cover an upper side of the silicon substrate, the cover layer on the light-receiving portion having a thickness of 30 ?m or less as viewed in the normal direction of the silicon substrate surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light-receiving element for receiving light reflected at an optical recording medium, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproduction apparatus using the element. The invention provides a light-receiving element capable of preventing deterioration of an electrical signal obtained through photoelectric conversion of received light, an optical head using the element, and an optical recording/reproduction apparatus using the element. The light-receiving element includes a light-receiving portion formed on a silicon substrate and a cover layer formed with a thickness that is greater in a non-light-entrance region around the light-receiving portion than in a light entrance region above the light-receiving portion when viewed in a normal direction of a substrate surface of the silicon substrate. Two outer surfaces on a light entering side of the non-light-entrance region are inclined such that their height decreases toward the light entrance region.

Abstract: The steam reformer 1 has a double-cylinder structure having an inner cylinder 2 and an outer cylinder 3 surrounding the inner cylinder 2. The inner cylinder 2 contains a high-temperature reaction section 6 and an adjacent section 7 being adjacent to the high-temperature reaction section 6. The high-temperature reaction section 6 contains a mixed-catalyst bed 4 prepared by mixing a steam reforming catalyst and an oxidation catalyst, and an oxygen-containing gas introduction section 5. A heat transfer suppresser 50 is structured to suppress heat transfer from the high-temperature reaction section 6 to the adjacent section 7 or to the oxygen-containing gas introduction section 5. With the heat-transfer suppressor 50, the thermal diffusion from the high-temperature reaction section 6 to peripheral area is effectively suppressed.

Abstract: The system is a self-oxidation internal heating steam reforming system for conducting self-oxidation of a raw material gas under the presence of oxygen and conducting steam reforming to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas. The system includes a steam generator including a combustion section for combusting an air-fuel mixture obtained by mixing a combustion air with a fuel, thereby heating water using a combustion gas generated in the combustion section to generate hydrogen; a first sucking-mixer for sucking the raw material gas into a steam stream coming from the steam generator to obtain a raw material-steam mixture; and a reformer for oxidizing the raw material gas in the raw material-steam mixture by an oxygen-containing gas supplied from outside, thereby conducting steam reforming of the raw material gas using the reaction heat of the oxidation to generate a hydrogen-rich reformed gas.

Abstract: A mixer input circuit for converting a signal from a tuning section of an unbalanced type into a balanced signal and outputting the signal. In the mixer input circuit, an RF signal from an input terminal amplified by an RF amplifier is transmitted to a tuning circuit section employing a distributed constant line. A central conductor of the distributed constant line in the tuning circuit section is electromagnetically combined with a second central conductor, thereby constituting an imbalance-balance conversion section. A middle point of the second central conductor on an output side of the imbalance-balance conversion section is grounded, and a balanced output signal from both ends is transmitted to a mixer, so as to be converted into an IF signal and then to be output from an output terminal. With the present mixer input circuit, imbalance-balance conversion can be carried out without using a transformer, and a reduction in size can be realized due to the absence of deterioration of performance.

Abstract: A protective cover for a terminal includes a cover base for holding a terminal, a cover body for covering a terminal mounted on the cover base, the cover body including, a freely operatable lid formed through a hinge and a temporary opening holding member for holding the freely operatable lid portion at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An automotive door structure includes a door panel assembly of resin, a lifting/lowering device for lifting and lowering a door glass sheet, the lifting/lowering device being disposed in the door panel assembly, and a door frame of a rigid material disposed in the door panel assembly and supporting the door glass sheet and the lifting/lowering device.

Abstract: In a sunroof structure having an opening provided in a roof panel of an automobile, a sunroof panel which can move between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for exposing the opening, a sunroof base panel supporting a mechanism for achieving the motion of the sunroof panel, and a water drain trough defined along a peripheral region of the opening, the water drain trough is defined by a trough member having a substantially U-shaped cross section extending along the peripheral region of the opening and resting upon an inner surface of an outer wall of the sunroof base panel and an outer surface of a guide rail for the sunroof panel. Preferably, the trough member consists of an extension of a seal member which is interposed between a lower surface of the roof panel and an upper most edge of the outer wall of the sunroof base panel. Thus, the trough member is not required to be rigid and the assembly work is simplified.

Abstract: A sun-roof apparatus for a vehicle which comprises a sun-roof frame forming a gutter having at least two side portions and at least one raised rear portion at a higher height than the side portions, and interposed between the side portions. The gutter is provided under a roof outer plate having an opening opened and closed by a sun-roof panel. The gutter extends along at least three peripheral edges of the opening. An interior plate is arranged under the raised rear portion of the gutter. The interior plate is raised higher than the two side portions of the gutter and capable of moving between a closed position opposed to the opening and unopened position moved backward to a rear of the opening. A drain conduit is connected to each of the two side portions of the gutter. A connecting passage is arranged under the interior plate, wherein ends of the two side portions of the gutter which are close to one of the raised side portions are connected by a recessed groove.

Abstract: An integrated voltage controllable oscillator having a transistor for oscillation is further provided with a resonance circuit externally connected to two electrodes of the transistor for oscillation and including a variable capacitance element adapted to vary a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit, and a high impedance element connected between the variable capacitance element and the ground in a circuit adapted to supply a control voltage to the variable capacitance element.