Abstract: An image retrieval method includes reading from a first database a first image group mapped to an object as a retrieval target, and extracting an image feature quantity of a plurality of images of the first image group. A second image group mapped to an object as a search key is read from a second database and an image feature quantity of a plurality of images of the second image group is extracted. Similarity is determined between the first image group and the second image group, based on the image feature quantity of the plurality of images of the first image group and the image feature quantity of the plurality of images of the second image group. On an output device, as retrieval results, the plurality of images of the first image group are displayed in order of similarity of the object as the retrieval target based on determined similarity.

Abstract: A symbol display device that displays a symbol for data while disposing the symbol at a coordinate position indicated by the data concerned, includes a pre-movement image position obtaining unit that records into a recording unit a pre-movement coordinate position at which the symbol is disposed; an image moving unit that moves the symbol to a coordinate position indicated by an instruction upon reception of the instruction; a post-movement image position obtaining unit that records, into the recording unit, a post-movement coordinate position of the symbol moved by the image moving unit; and a connection line drawing unit that connects the post-movement coordinate position and a pre-movement coordinate position by a line, and changing the line thickness of the connecting line or the size of the symbol.

Abstract: A television personal computer 40, when saving video data 43 by recording a video content, extracts a section including a predetermined type of scene from within the video content, then specifies, when accepting a skip instruction from an operator during reproduction of the video content, a resuming point based on a relationship between the section extracted from the video content and the reproducing point, and resumes the reproduction of the video content from the resuming point.

Abstract: A television personal computer 40, when saving video data 43 by recording a video content, extracts a section containing a predetermined type of scene from within the video content, and displays, when instructed to reproduce the video data, a picture framing area and a time line. The time line includes blocks specifying the section containing the predetermined type of scene together with this type of scene, and an indicator indicating a reproducing point is displayed on the time line.

Abstract: An iron compound catalyst for inhibiting the generation of dioxin contains iron oxide particles, iron oxide hydroxide particles or mixed particles having a catalytic activity capable of converting not less than 15% of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide when 2.8×10−4 mol of iron oxide particles obtained by heat-treating the iron compound catalyst in air at a temperature of 800° C. for 15 minutes, are instantaneously contacted with 6.1×10−7 mol of carbon monoxide at a temperature of 250° C. at a space velocity (SV) of 42,400 h−1 in an inert gas atmosphere using a pulse catalytic reactor, the iron oxide particles or the iron oxide hydroxide particles have an average particle size of 0.01 to 2.0 &mgr;m, a BET specific surface area of 0.2 to 200 m2/g, a phosphorus content of not more than 0.02% by weight, a sulfur content of not more than 0.6% by weight and a sodium content of not more than 0.5% by weight.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating a dioxin-containing exhaust gas which can inhibit the generation of dioxin occurring either in the course of cooling of the exhaust gas between a downstream portion subsequent to a combustion chamber and a dust collector or due to a memory effect upon low-temperature combustion in flues or dust collector at the start-up or shut-down of intermittent operation-type solid waste incinerators, without large-scale incineration facilities or plant renovation and equipment investment, and a composite catalyst composition for inhibiting the generation of dioxin, comprising an iron compound, an acid gas neutralizing agent and optionally an activated carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating a dioxin-containing exhaust gas which can inhibit the generation of dioxin occurring either in the course of cooling of the exhaust gas between a downstream portion subsequent to a combustion chamber and a dust collector or due to a memory effect upon low-temperature combustion in flues or dust collector at the start-up or shut-down of intermittent operation-type solid waste incinerators, without large-scale incineration facilities or plant renovation and equipment investment, and a composite catalyst composition for inhibiting the generation of dioxin, comprising an iron compound, an acid gas neutralizing agent and optionally an activated carbon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for treating a dioxin-containing exhaust gas which can inhibit the generation of dioxin occurring either in the course of cooling of the exhaust gas between a downstream portion subsequent to a combustion chamber and a dust collector or due to a memory effect upon low-temperature combustion in flues or dust collector at the start-up or shut-down of intermittent operation-type solid waste incinerators, without large-scale incineration facilities or plant renovation and equipment investment, and a composite catalyst composition for inhibiting the generation of dioxin, comprising an iron compound, an acid gas neutralizing agent and optionally an activated carbon.

Abstract: An iron compound catalyst for inhibiting the generation of dioxin of the present invention, comprise iron oxide particles, iron oxide hydroxide particles or mixed particles thereof having a catalytic activity capable of converting not less than 15% of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide when 2.8×10−4 mol of iron oxide particles obtained by heat-treating said iron compound catalyst in air at a temperature of 800° C. for 15 minutes, are instantaneously contacted with 6.1×10−7 mol of carbon monoxide at a temperature of 250° C. at a space velocity (SV) of 42,400 h−1 in an inert gas atmosphere using a pulse catalytic reactor, said iron oxide particles or said iron oxide hydroxide particles having an average particle size of 0.01 to 2.0 &mgr;m, a BET specific surface area of 0.2 to 200 m2/g, a phosphorus content of not more than 0.02% by weight, a sulfur content of not more than 0.6% by weight and a sodium content of not more than 0.5% by weight.

Abstract: An iron compound catalyst for inhibiting the generation of dioxin of the present invention, comprise iron oxide particles, iron oxide hydroxide particles or mixed particles thereof having a catalytic activity capable of converting not less than 15 % of carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide when 2.8×10−4 mol of iron oxide particles obtained by heat-treating said iron compound catalyst in air at a temperature of 800° C. for 15 minutes, are instantaneously contacted with 6.1×107 mol of carbon monoxide at a temperature of 250° C. at a space velocity (SV) of 42,400 h−1 in an inert gas atmosphere using a pulse catalytic reactor, the iron oxide particles or said iron oxide hydroxide particles having an average particle size of 0.01 to 2.0 &mgr;m, a BET specific surface area of 0.2 to 200 m2/g, a phosphorus content of not more than 0.02 % by weight, a sulfur content of not more than 0.6 % by weight and a sodium content of not more than 0.5 % by weight.

Abstract: A clutch control arrangement designed to prevent intentional starting of a vehicle while a clutch-stroke-position learning is being performed. The clutch control arrangement includes a mechanism for automatically disengaging and engaging a clutch. The vehicle has a manual transmission of which gear position (shift position) is changed as a driver operates a shift lever. The clutch control arrangement further includes a learning unit for learning a stroke position of the clutch, and a unit for interrupting the operation of the learning unit when the shift lever is operated toward a transmission gear engaged position during the clutch-stroke-position learning. Preferably, the automatic disengagement and engagement mechanism automatically disengages or engages the clutch depending upon a gear engaged condition of the manual transmission after interrupting the clutch-stroke-position learning.

Abstract: A clutch connection/disconnection system which causes a friction clutch to slip appropriately when the clutch is automatically disconnected and connected. An engine is controlled according an accelerate command signal. During automatic clutch connection, the accelerate command signal approaches an actual accelerator pedal position signal. An approaching speed of the accelerate command signal is stepwise changed based on comparison between a particular value and a threshold value. The "particular value" is a differential value of a difference between an engine rotational speed and clutch rotational speed. When the clutch is slipping, the engine rotational speed is controlled to rise gently so that overslipping of the clutch is prevented.

Abstract: The clutch disconnection/connection device of the present invention includes manual disconnection/connection devices for manually disconnecting/connecting a clutch by operation of a clutch pedal, and automatic disconnection/connection devices for automatically disconnecting/connecting the clutch by controllably supplying air pressure to or discharging the air pressure from a clutch booster.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of processing a malfunction of an accelerator pedal sensor of an automobile. An output voltage is outputted according to changes in a resistance depending upon depression of an accelerator pedal. A malfunction of the accelerator pedal sensor is shot to process and determine an acceleration value for controlling the run of the automobile in accordance with said output voltage. The acceleration value is set at a predetermined value in accordance with the malfunction of either of an idle switch for generating a signal indicating the idle position of the accelerator pedal and a wide-open switch for generating a signal indicating the wide open position of the accelerator pedal when the malfunction of the accelerator pedal sensor is judged. This judgement is conducted by detecting a plurality of times that said output voltage is outside of the predetermined voltage range.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a signal processing system for a motor vehicle with high responsiveness to the will of a driver. The output voltage of an acceleration sensor using a potentiometer is converted into a digital value by an analog-digital converter. The nonlinearity of the output voltage is corrected by polynominally calculating the digital value. This digital value is controlled by a central processing unit which processes the digital value to generate an acceleration signal having a linear relationship to the changes in the resistance of the potentiometer during actuation of an accelerator. The central processing unit further includes a memory for storing the acceleration signal at an idling position to determine a calibrated acceleration signal using a ratio of an actual acceleration signal obtained from the accelerator pedal to the stored value thereof.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission system has an internal lever for changing transmission gears, a select actuator for moving the internal lever to neutral positions N1, N2, N3 in a first direction, a shift actuator for moving the internal lever to 1st-5th gear positions and a reverse position in a second direction substantially normal to the first direction, and a clutch actuator for actuating a clutch. While any one of the actuators is in operation, the pressure of a fluid discharged from the operating actuator is prevented from acting on the select actuator and/or the shift actuator which is not in operation by applying a fluid pressure to the inoperative select actuator and/or the shift actuator to fix the actuator or actuators in a current position against operation, thereby allowing the transmission gears to be changed accurately and smoothly.

Abstract: An electronically controlled vehicle transmission has a gear shifting operation which is controlled by determining an optimum transmission gear based on shift map data stored in an electronic control device, a detected vehicle speed and a detected degree of depression and speed of movement of an accelerator pedal. If the accelerator pedal is abruptly depressed while the vehicle is running, such an abrupt depression is detected by a pedal speed detector which produces a signal to cause an electronic control device to interrupt the gear shifting operation. The electronic control device starts the gear shifting operation again after the accelerator pedal depression is stabilized.

Abstract: A method of controlling the starting of a vehicle having an engine, an automatic clutch and an electronic control system which detects the extent of depression of an accelerator pedal and determines the speed of operation of a clutch actuator based on the detected extent of depression of the accelerator pedal. In particular, the method includes detecting a load on the engine due to a change in the condition in which the clutch is engaged, and stopping connection control of the clutch when the detected load on the engine is increased, to prevent an engine stop. In addition correction is made to vary the speed at which the vehicle starts linearly with respect to the extent of depression of the accelerator pedal.

Abstract: An automatic clutch control system including a clutch, a clutch actuator for controlling a clutch stroke, a plurality of solenoid valves for controlling the clutch actuator, a clutch stroke sensor for measuring the clutch stroke, a control unit for feeding back a stroke signal detected by the clutch stroke sensor and for controlling the solenoid valves to control clutch engagement and disengagement. The control unit includes a learning control section for storing a full clutch engagement point upon saturation of the stroke signal in a clutch engagement operation and storing clutch contact point upon start of rotation of an engine input shaft in a clutch engagement operation following a clutch disengagement operation. Based on the full clutch engagement point and clutch contact point, the control unit judges a clutch operation range for control of clutch engagement and disengagement.

Abstract: An electronic control method for vehicles, wherein, when exercising control to start a vehicle from rest, the vehicle engine and clutch are controlled in a very low speed control mode, if the amount by which an accelerator pedal is depressed is less than a set value. If, however, the amount of accelerator pedal depression is greater than the set value, the engine and clutch are controlled in an ordinary start control mode. When the vehicle is travelling and the speed thereof is less than a set value, the clutch is controlled in a start control mode. When the travelling speed of the vehicle is greater than the set value, the clutch is controlled in a shift mode.