Abstract: To provide an apparatus for rough classification of words that allows features of words to be stored in a vocabulary storage division to be generated from character codes of the words so that the words can be efficiently selected. A candidate character selection division 1 detects areas likely to be characters from a word image, and a character recognition division 2 recognizes candidate characters generated in candidate character selection division 1 and converts them into character codes. A number-of-characters estimation division 3 estimates the number of characters of the entire word image and the number of characters of the areas between candidate characters, a word description division 4 generates word description equivalent to a state transition graph from the recognition results of candidate characters and the estimated number of characters of candidate character separations.

Abstract: A holding and sealing material (1) for a catalytic converter is disposed between a cylindrical catalyst carrier (3) and a metal shell (2) covering the outer periphery of the catalyst carrier (3). The holding and sealing material (1) comprises a fiber aggregate mainly comprised of alumina-silica based ceramic fibers having a mullite crystal content of 10 wt % or less, and the fiber aggregate is subjected to a needle punch treatment. Owing to the improved holding and sealing material, a catalytic converter having excellent durability and assemblage and having extremely low pollution characteristics is provided.

Abstract: A document image scanning apparatus which can obtain a document image at the right timing by separating a hand image from the document image, even when a hand does not take off a document. The document image scanning apparatus consists of an image inputting apparatus and a document image scanning section.

Abstract: To provide an apparatus for rough classification of words that allows features of words to be stored in a vocabulary storage division to be generated from character codes of the words so that the words can be efficiently selected. A candidate character selection division 1 detects areas likely to be characters from a word image, and a character recognition division 2 recognizes candidate characters generated in candidate character selection division 1 and converts them into character codes. A number-of-characters estimation division 3 estimates the number of characters of the entire word image and the number of characters of the areas between candidate characters, a word description division 4 generates word description equivalent to a state transition graph from the recognition results of candidate characters and the estimated number of characters of candidate character separations.

Abstract: In a projection means black pixel histograms of a binary stationary image are generated in both the vertical and the horizontal direction. In a text type judgment means, in accordance with these histograms, a determination is made of whether the image is vertical text or horizontal text. Based on the result of this determination, a pattern block extraction means extracts either a column or a row from the image. The block is further projected and divided into smaller blocks. Then projection is again applied to these divided blocks and patterns are extracted by a pattern extraction means. A judgment is made as to whether or not joining of the extracted patterns is to be performed and, if joining is required, they are joined by a pattern joining means and finally the offsets of all the extracted patterns are calculated, whereupon data (of extracted patterns) are sent to a pattern matching process.

Abstract: Pattern encoding is carried out by 1) substituting an index data of a registered pattern for a position data in a library with respect to an index data peculiar to each of the extracted patterns, 2) taking a difference between an off-set position data of the extracted pattern and an off-set position data of the registered pattern whereby an off-set position difference data is provided, and 3) encoding the position data and the off-set position difference data and providing an encoded data. A pattern extracting unit obtains the extracted patterns from image data. An accumulating/checking unit accumulates the extracted patterns as accumulated patterns, assigns indexes specific to the accumulated patterns, and checks each extracted pattern by comparison with the accumulated patterns. When an accumulated pattern is found to match the extracted pattern, the accumulating/checking unit provides a position data within a library instead of the index data, and also provides the off-set position difference data.

Abstract: The film-forming apparatus includes a gas introduction tube for introducing an inert gas into a vacuum chamber, a vapour source and a target, and forms a thin film by depositing sputtered particles and evaporated particles on the surface of a substrate, the sputtered particles being liberated by sputtering the target using ion energy of plasma generated around the target while the evaporated particles being obtained by evaporating a vapour source by heating and ionising evaporated components using the plasma.

Abstract: The film-forming apparatus includes a gas introduction tube for introducing an inert gas into a vacuum chamber, a vapor source and a target, and forms thin film by depositing sputtered particles and evaporated particles on the surface of a substrate, the sputtered particles being liberated by sputtering the target using ion energy of plasma generated around the target while the evaporated particles being obtained by evaporating a vapor source by heating and ionizing evaporated components using the plasma.

Abstract: The invention provides a muffler for an internal combustion engine having excellent durability (resistance to scattering) even when being exposed to a high-temperature exhaust gas and capable of maintaining a high sound absorption coefficient over a long period. Such a muffler comprises a metal tube provided with a plurality of small holes, an inorganic fiber sound-absorbing material arranged on the outer periphery thereof and a metal shell covering the outside of the sound-absorbing material, in which a scattering prevention member is disposed between the metal tube and the sound-absorbing material. The sound-absorbing material is a laminated structure of crystalline alumna fiber mat and glass fiber mat. As the scattering prevention member, there is used a stainless woven wire cloth, a woven fabric made from inorganic fiber and a metal roll.

Abstract: The dry etching device according to the present invention comprises a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum source, a gas supply unit including a gas supply source and a number of gas supply pipes for leading a gas from the gas supply source to an inside of the vacuum chamber, and a number of electrical discharge electrodes, respectively arranged inside the vacuum chamber, for changing the gas led to the inside of the vacuum chamber into a plasma, active ions or both of the plasma and the active ions, wherein the electrical discharge electrode has a number of circular or polygonal ring shaped permanent magnets detachably interfitted into a shaft at regular intervals via each insulator in a magnetizing direction of the each permanent magnet, and aligned so that each magnet pole of the permanent magnets adjacent to each other may be equal to that of the adjacent permanent magnet.

Abstract: In order to divide a dot pattern of touching characters having a thickness into patterns of each character without deformation, it is analyzed in the invention, as an ensemble of run continuations non-branched, continuations of neighboring `run`s, a succession of black dots ranged in a column being defined as a run. Some peculiar `run`s are nominated as segmentation candidates for dividing the dot pattern thereby, and the dot pattern of touching characters is divided by most appropriate one of the segmentation candidates.

Abstract: An electron-beam exposure system includes an astigmatic compensation circuit that increases a voltage applied across a pair of electrodes forming an electrostatic sub-deflector and simultaneously decreases a voltage applied across another pair of electrodes forming the same electrostatic sub-deflector with a same magnitude as in the case of increasing the voltage, wherein the magnitude of the voltage change is changed in response to the deflection of the electron-beam caused by a main deflector.

Abstract: An electron-beam exposure system includes an astigmatic compensation circuit that increases a voltage applied across a pair of electrodes forming an electrostatic sub-deflector and simultaneously decreases a voltage applied across another pair of electrodes forming the same electrostatic sub-deflector with a same magnitude as in the case of increasing the voltage, wherein the magnitude of the voltage change is changed in response to the deflection of the electron-beam caused by a main deflector.

Abstract: A high-temperature gasket suitable for use in automobile engine or the like is comprised of particular amounts of ceramic inorganic fiber, wollastonite, organic elastomeric substance and inorganic binder, and exhibits excellent sealability and thermal resistance even at a temperature above 950.degree. C. without using asbestos.