Abstract: Various sensors detect conditions outside a robot and an operation applied to the robot, and output the results of detection to a robot-motion-system control section. The robot-motion-system control section determines a behavior state according to a behavior model. A robot-thinking-system control section determines an emotion state according to an emotion model. A speech-synthesizing-control-information selection section determines a field on a speech-synthesizing-control-information table according to the behavior state and the emotion state. A language processing section analyzes in grammar a text for speech synthesizing sent from the robot-thinking-system control section, converts a predetermined portion according to a speech-synthesizing control information, and outputs to a rule-based speech synthesizing section. The rule-based speech synthesizing section synthesizes a speech signal corresponding to the text for speech synthesizing.

Abstract: A compact liquid discharge regulator is provided at low cost by arranging a channel spirally formed in the surf ace of a passage forming member. The surface of the passage forming member is brought into close contact with the inner surface of a housing part, and the channel functions as a liquid passage. In this construction, the sectional form and length of the channel can be formed at high precision in accordance with the design. Therefore, a desired pipe loss is obtainable only by designing in advance the sectional form and length of the channel so as to correspond to the pipe loss. Particularly, with injection molding, mass production of a passage forming member of identical pipe loss can be effected merely by preparing a mold corresponding to the pipe loss, thus leading to a considerable reduction in the manufacturing cost of the discharge regulator.

Abstract: There is described a semiconductor device which includes in a single chip a high withstanding voltage transistor and a low withstanding voltage transistor and which imparts each of the transistors with a relevant threshold voltage and a characteristic suitable for retarding hot carriers. Specifically, an impurity profile is imparted to a lightly-doped extension (LDDEX) region formed across a channel region of a low withstanding voltage NMOS transistor, and a different impurity profile is imparted to an LDDEX region formed across a channel region of a high withstanding voltage NMOS transistor. These impurity profiles bring the threshold voltages of the MOS transistors to individual relevant voltages and retard hot carriers in the individual MOS transistors.

Abstract: In a synchronization control apparatus, a voice-language-information generating section generates the voice language information of a word which a robot utters. A voice synthesizing section calculates phoneme information and a phoneme continuation duration according to the voice language information, and also generates synthesized-voice data according to an adjusted phoneme continuation duration. An articulation-operation generating section calculates an articulation-operation period according to the phoneme information. A voice-operation adjusting section adjusts the phoneme continuation duration and the articulation-operation period. An articulation-operation executing section operates an organ of articulation according to the adjusted articulation-operation period.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, a dummy region which can suppress occurrence of a parasitic capacity can be provided for reducing a difference in level without increasing manufacturing steps in number. A semiconductor substrate is provided at its main surface with an isolation region formed by a trench, and a dummy region leaving the main surface is formed in the isolation region for the purpose of reducing an influence by the difference in level in a later step. The dummy region includes p- and n-type impurity regions each extending a predetermined depth from the surface. Since a pn junction occurs at the bottom of the impurity region, a depletion layer spreads in the pn junction, and thereby reduces a parasitic capacity between the dummy region and a conductive interconnection located in a crossing direction at a higher position.

Abstract: There is described a semiconductor device intended to increase a degree of integration of transistor without impairing a desired element characteristic. An n-type source region and an n-type drain region are formed in a p-well which acts as a substrate region of an NMOS transistor. Further, there are formed a first contact plug to be electrically connected to the n-type source region and a second contact plug to be electrically connected to the n-type drain region. The n-type source region is provided so as to become short-circuited with the p-well. The n-type drain region is provided so as not to become short-circuited with the p-well. The n-type source region is formed so as to become smaller than the n-type drain region.

Abstract: An information processing system stores information of various types, which is obtained in the real world, in connection with keys indicative of the attribute and feature of the information so that the real-world information is stored quickly and surely in the virtual world which is formed of the linkage of information and stored information of various types is retrieved easily.

Abstract: In order to simplify the complex setting of the expansion pressure of an inflator and easily control the expanded direction of an air bag, the air bag is contained in an instrument panel such that the air bag faces an expansion opening formed in an upper surface of the instrument panel and, when a pressure fluid discharged from the inflator is fed into the air bag through an inlet of the air bag and thereby the air bag is inflated and expanded, a front bag part for a front side of a vehicle and a rear bag part for a rear side of the vehicle are inflated and expanded forward and rearward in a vehicle longitudinal direction with the inlet therebetween, respectively. The air bag has a seam, formed in the front bag part, for temporarily delaying delivery of the pressure fluid into the front bag part during initial inflation of the air bag. Thereby, the front bag part is inflated and expanded later than the rear bag part.

Abstract: A semiconductor device improves its electrical characteristics by reducing crystal defects in the vicinity of junction interfaces between a semiconductor layer, and a metal compound layer composed of semiconductor and metal elements, and between an epitaxial layer and its forming substrate. A pair of source/drain layers (52) are separately formed in a surface of a well layer (50), and a metal silicide layer (8) is formed thereon. A nitrogen inclusion region (9) is formed in the vicinity of a junction interface between the source/drain layers (52) and the metal silicide layer (8).

Abstract: A heater unit 1 has a plurality of flat heaters 11 adjacently arranged side by side and having common upper and lower surfaces. The thickness T of the heaters 11 is substantially uniform. Each heater 11 has an adjacent end surface 111 which faces toward an adjacent end surface 111 of the adjacent heater 11. The heater unit 1 also has upper and lower electrodes 21 holding the heaters 11 and respectively attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the heaters 11. The adjacent end surfaces 111 of the heaters 11 adjoining each other, and the upper and lower electrodes 21 form an air gap 12 therebetween. The creepage distance L along each adjacent end surface 111 is larger than the thickness T of the heaters 11. The dielectric strength of the heater unit 1 depends on the creepage distance L. The thickness T of the heaters 11 can be decreased without decreasing the dielectric strength of the heater unit 1. The output of the heater unit 1 increases when the thickness T is decreased.

Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to a liquid infusion apparatus useful for infusing a medicinal liquid into a human or animal body.

Abstract: A positive TCR thermistor device has excellent electrical contact between a heat generator and heat radiating blocks and high heat transfer efficiency therebetween. The positive TCR thermistor includes a heat generator having a positive temperature coefficient of resistance and heat radiating blocks supplying electric current to the heat generator and heating a heated medium by receiving heat generated by the heat generator. The heat generator is provided with a metallic paste electrode at a contact surface which is in contact with the heat radiating blocks and oil having flowability is disposed between the metallic paste electrode of the heat generator and the heat radiating blocks.

Abstract: An image sensing device is provided with an expanded dynamic range when it photographs a moving object. A first gray value D1 of first picture taken with first exposure time is read in the first time interval and a second gray value D2 of second picture taken with second exposure time is read in the second time interval. Two function values f(D2) and g(D2) are calculated with respect to the second gray value D2. Then, a weight coefficient with respect to the function f(D2) is multiplied by the first gray value D1 and a weight coefficient with respect to the function g(D2) is multiplied by the second gray value D2. Those multiplied gray values are summed up. Such calculation of multiplying and summing up is carried out in each picture element of the first picture and the second picture, respectively.

Abstract: A method for speech analysis applicable to a speech analysis/synthesis system employed for producing a synthetic speech. Voiced and unvoiced segments of input speech signals X(n) are discriminated. An amplitude information A(.omega.) and a phase information P.sub.X (.omega.) are extracted from the voiced segments of the input speech signals. A pitch period is detected from the voiced segments of the input speech signals. A pulse train S(n) as a sound source information is generated so that its period corresponds on the time scale to the detected pitch period of the input speech signals. A phase information P.sub.S (.omega.) is extracted from the pulse train S(n). A difference P(.omega.) between the phase information P.sub.S (.omega.) of the pulse train S(n) and the phase information P.sub.X (.omega.) of the input speech signal is found and is supplied as the phase information of the desired one-pitch period within the input speech signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment for waste liquid containing a body fluid such as blood and lymph, and provides a method for treating a waste liquid containing a body fluid, which makes easy the transport of the container after collection of a waste liquid, the incineration of the container, and the sterilization of the water content in the waste liquid if necessary, and all; and a treating container suitable for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A positive-temperature-coefficient thermistor heating device including of a PTC element, a first electrode formed on its surface, a heat radiating means having heat radiating fins and a second electrode, and conductive particles contained in the first electrode and electrically conductive with the second electrode, and, also, a process for production of a positive-temperature-coefficient thermistor heating device including the steps of printing an electrode material paste containing conductive particles on the surface of a PTC element, heating this to bake it on and form a first electrode having a rough surface, and bringing the first electrode and the second electrode of the heat radiating means into contact by the conductive particles.

Abstract: A processor is provided for determining the layout of a branch of a bank or the like. On the basis of the determined layout, the processor further determines a moving route of a transaction processing apparatus to be moved. The transaction processing apparatus is moved to a predetermined position along the determined moving route. In that case, the transaction processing apparatus recognizes its own position and at the same time controls a driving mechanism so that the transaction processing apparatus is moved along the moving route. The driving mechanism is incorporated in the transaction processing apparatus.

Abstract: In curve fitting with respect to a series of data points representing a figure, control points are set for a parameter in accordance with a start point, an end point, and a passing point, and gradients of the respective points. A gradient of a Bezier curve specified on the basis of the start and end points and the control points is obtained for the parameter. If a difference value between the gradient of the Bezier curve and the gradient of the passing point is within a desired value, the curve specified by the start and end points and the control points for the parameter is determined to be a Bezier curve passing the passing point.

Abstract: In curve fitting for straight short vectors representing an original figure, an internally dividing point setting section sets, on two adjacent vectors, internally dividing points at which the vectors are divided internally in predetermined ratios. An interpolation point setting section sets the intersection of the straight line passing the internally dividing points of the two adjacent vectors and the perpendicular passing the connecting point of the two adjacent vectors as an interpolation point. In a curve-fitting process section, the curve fitting is performed on the basis of the acquired interpolation point.

Abstract: In curve fitting to straight short vectors, a corner point is detected by a determination of .vertline.Pi-Vi.vertline.>.delta. on the basis of a connecting point Pi, an interpolation point Vi and a reference value .delta.. After a comparison of the distance between vectors Pi-1Pi and PiPi+1 connected at the connecting point Pi, a determination of .vertline.Pi-Pi-1.vertline. cos (.theta.i/2)>.delta. or .vertline.Pi+1-Pi-1.vertline. cos(.theta.i/2)>.delta. is performed to detect a point at which a straight line connects a curve smoothly, a point at which a curve connects a straight line smoothly or a point on a curve.