Abstract: A distance measurement device includes: a mirror disposed so as to be tilted relative to a rotation center axis; a drive unit configured to rotate the mirror about the rotation center axis; a photodetector configured to detect reflected light, of laser light, reflected in a distance measurement region; and a condensing lens disposed on the rotation center axis and configured to condense the reflected light reflected by the mirror, on the photodetector. The mirror has a shape elongated in one direction and is disposed such that a short axis thereof is tilted relative to the rotation center axis in a direction parallel to a plane including the rotation center axis. A width in a short-axis direction of the mirror is smaller than a width of a lens portion of the condensing lens as viewed in a direction parallel to the rotation center axis.

Abstract: A control signal is generated by an operating means for being operated by a driver. In response to this control signal, an input signal to rear-seat headphones is temporarily attenuated or is replaced by another given signal or a transmission signal from the driver.

Abstract: A visual-sound-reproducing system includes a display panel mounted on a ceiling of a cabin to reproduce a picture on a monitor screen; a moving mechanism moving the display panel toward a home-position that the monitor screen of the display panel is nearly parallel to a ceiling of a cabin of an automobile and a play-position that the monitor screen of the display panel faces rearward; and a visual-sound device providing information regarding visual and sound. The moving mechanism includes a rotational axis extending in a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of an automobile to support rotationally the display panel, a rotational means driving rotationally the display panel about the rotational axis, a guide member extending in the longitudinal direction of the automobile, and a rectilinear moving means moving reciprocally the display panel in the longitudinal direction of the automobile, the display panel being supported on the guide member to allow a slide of the display panel thereon.

Abstract: An infrared detector includes a high resistance substrate, a compound semiconductor disposed on the substrate, a pair of electrodes disposed on the compound semiconductor, and a plurality of grooves in the compound semiconductor perpendicular to a current path between the electrodes, wherein the grooves have shallower than the thickness of the compound semiconductor.

Abstract: A word speech recognition apparatus recognizes a speech inputted to a microphone (11). A feature extracting portion (20) extracts a feature parameter based on a aural signal waveform outputted from the microphone. The feature extracting circuit comprises a pitch cycle extraction circuit (21) for extracting pitch frequency of the speech signal waveform, a digital filter (23) for extracting, as a feature parameter, spectrum data of the speech signal waveform, and a filter coefficient setting circuit (22) for setting a filter coefficient so that a resonance frequency of the digital filter is an integral multiple of the pitch frequency. The feature parameter extracted from the feature extracting circuit is stored in an input pattern memory (3). A recognition processing portion (50) evaluates similarity between the feature parameter stored in advance in a registration pattern memory (4) and the feature parameter stored in the input pattern memory, so that speech recognition processing is made.

Abstract: A sound field producing apparatus operatively connected to a stereophonic sound source and adapted to supply audio signals to a loudspeaker system, comprising an indirect sound extracting circuit for extracting indirect sound components by extracting a difference signal representing the difference between right and left input signals. The difference signal is phase-inverted to obtain an inverted difference signal. Two mixing circuits are provided for mixing the right and left input signal, the difference signal and the inverted difference signal to supply mixed signals. Loudspeakers are disposed on the right and left both in front of and to the rear of a listener and are driven by the mixed signals from the mixing circuits.

Abstract: A speech synthesizer includes a lattice-type multi-stage digital filter modified in the next to last stage thereof by incorporating an increasing circuit for slightly effectively increasing the absolute value of a parameter K.sub.2 so as to reduce an attenuation factor. The device is useful for generating tones of a sustained quality, such as musical tones.

Abstract: An engine is coupled to an automatic power transmission having a lockup device. The lockup device is in an operative position when the speed of the engine is higher than a preset lockup reference level, and is in a rest position when the engine speed is not higher than the lockup reference level. A deceleration sensor detects when the engine is required to decelerate. A speed sensor detects the speed of the engine. A fuel-control device is associated with the deceleration sensor and the speed sensor to supply fuel to the engine when the engine is required to decelerate and the engine speed is lower than an adjustable fuel-supply control level. The fuel-control device also serves to interrupt the supply of fuel to the engine when the engine is required to decelerate and the engine speed is not lower than the fuel-supply control level. When the lockup device is in the rest position, the fuel-supply control level is equal to a first preset value.

Abstract: A sound reproducing device particularly adapted for use in the passenger compartment of an automobile and having improved stereo separation and symmetrical frequency characteristics. The device includes a high-pass filter circuit for passing, when a leakage signal occurs, a signal of equal frequency component to the leakage signal, an attenuation circuit for attenuating the level of the signal passed through the filter circuit to the level of the leakage signal, and a phase inverting circuit for inverting the phase of the signal thus attenuated so as to be opposite to that of the leakage signal, thereby to cancel out the leakage signal.

Abstract: A sound reproducing device adapted to be operated in a narrow space such as the passenger compartment of an automobile including a voltage amplifying or attenuating circuit for varying a difference signal between stereophonic right and left signals and a filter circuit. The voltage amplifying or attenuating circuit and filter circuit are provided in a circuit which produces a reverberation effect and an acoustic spreading effect for reproduced sound to decrease the closed-room effect. Each of these circuits is provided with a varible resistor, wherein the listener can vary the reverberation and acoustic spreading effects as desired.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having an air intake passage containing a throttle valve, and provided with passages to the outside from points upstream and downstream of the throttle valve, an auxiliary air regulator comprising a mounting block within which is formed a bypass passage, one end of which is matably connected with a passage in said air intake passage upstream of the throttle valve, and the other end of which is matably connected with a passage in said air intake passage downstream of the throttle valve. A movable shutter means is disposed within said bypass passage so as to control the effective cross-sectional area of said bypass passage. A bimetallic coil is enclosed within an air tight chamber annd being selectively heated. Engaging means connects the outer end of said bimetallic coil with said shutter means so that a movement of the bimetallic coil in response to a temperature change is transmitted mechanically to the shutter means.

Abstract: A waveform generator used for electronic musical instruments comprising a resistance device having a plurality of power source electrodes and a plurality of potential detecting electrodes. Electric current is supplied to the power source electrodes and potentials are periodically detected through scanning from the potential detecting electrodes by the use of a scanning circuit mechanism.

Abstract: An exciter for an induction heating apparatus comprises a central magnetic pole and a plurality of peripheral magnetic poles, a yoke for connecting the magnetic poles and excitation windings wound on the magnetic poles, wherein the first excitation circuit is formed by the excitation winding wound on the central magnetic pole and the second excitation circuit is formed by the excitation windings wound on the peripheral magnetic poles and such are excited by an excitation current having a phase difference of between 70.degree. and 110.degree..

Abstract: An induction heating apparatus which comprises a ferromagnetic member; a non-magnetic highly conductive member connected to the ferromagnetic member on one side thereof; a non-magnetic high electrical resistance member forming a vacuum space between itself and the side of the non-magnetic highly conductive member not connected to the ferromagnetic member; an exciter which is excited by a low frequency power source to generate an alternating magnetic field and to form a magnetic circuit passing through the non-magnetic high resistance member, the non-magnetic highly conductive member and the ferromagnetic member; whereby the non-magnetic highly conductive member is heated by induction heating and is insulated by the vacuum space.