Abstract: An A/D converter having high accuracy and high throughput irrespective of characteristic variations of analog circuits is provided. The A/D converter includes a voltage-to-time converter configured to synchronize with a sampling clock signal and convert an input analog voltage to a time difference between two signals, and a plurality of time-to-digital converters each configured to convert the time difference between the two signals to a digital value. The plurality of time-to-digital converters operate in an interleaved manner.

Abstract: An edge detector includes flip-flops receiving phase signals of a ring oscillator, a resetter canceling the reset states of the flip-flops at the edge timing of an input signal, and a logical operator performing a logical operation on output signals of the flip-flops. A phase state detector detects a phase state of the ring oscillator occurring at the edge timing of the input signal based on the output signals of the flip-flops. A time-to-digital converter converts an edge interval between the input signal and an output signal of the logical operator into a digital value. A latch latches a value of a counter counting the number of cycles of an output signal of the ring oscillator, at the edge timing of the input signal. An operator calculates a digital value of a received signal from output signals of the latch, the phase state detector, and the time-to-digital converter.

Abstract: Two T filters, one of which includes two resistive elements and one capacitive element and the other of which includes two capacitive elements and one resistive element, are inserted in a negative-feedback section of an operational amplifier, and a resistive element and a capacitive element are connected between each of intermediate nodes and a signal input terminal. A resistive element and a capacitive element which are connected to each other in parallel are connected between the signal input terminal and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. With this configuration, overall admittances where elements connected to the corresponding intermediate nodes are in parallel connection are equal to each other.

Abstract: An oversampling time-to-digital converter includes an input pulse generation circuit generating two pulse signals, a reference pulse generation circuit generating two pulse signals, a swap circuit swapping two pulse signals, a multiplexer selecting an output of the input pulse generation circuit or the swap circuit, a time-to-current conversion circuit outputting two pulse currents in accordance with an output of the multiplexer, a current mirror circuit whose input and output terminals receive the two pulse currents, an integration circuit integrating a differential current between the pulse current connected to the output terminal of the current mirror circuit and an output current of the current mirror circuit, and a comparison circuit comparing an output signal of the integration circuit to a threshold voltage. An output signal of the comparison circuit is given to the swap circuit as a control signal.

Abstract: A time-to-digital conversion circuit for converting a time difference between two input signals to a 1-bit digital value, and adjusting the time difference between the two input signals to generate two output signals includes: a phase comparator configured to compare phases of the two input signals with each other to generate the digital value; a phase selector configured to output one of the two input signals which has a leading phase as a first signal, and the other of the two input signals which has a lagging phase as a second signal; and a delay unit configured to output the first signal with a delay, wherein the time-to-digital conversion circuit outputs the signal output from the delay unit and the second signal as the two output signals.

Abstract: An oversampling A/D converter includes a first filter including a first resistive element, a first capacitive element, a second resistive element, an operational amplifier, and a second capacitive element; a second filter receiving an output of the first filter; a third filter including a third resistive element, a third capacitive element, and a fourth resistive element; a quantizer receiving an output of the third filter and generating a digital signal; and a D/A converter converting the digital signal to an analog current signal. The D/A converter inputs the generated analog current signal to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: An oversampling A/D converter includes a first filter including a first resistive element, a first capacitive element, a second resistive element, an operational amplifier, and a second capacitive element; a second filter receiving an output of the first filter; a third filter including a third resistive element, a third capacitive element, and a fourth resistive element; a quantizer receiving an output of the third filter and generating a digital signal; and a D/A converter converting the digital signal to an analog current signal. The D/A converter inputs the generated analog current signal to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a tray for stacking sheet-like conveyance-target media, a first pressing unit, and a second pressing unit. The first and second pressing units face and apply a first and second pressing force, respectively, on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. The first pressing unit includes a first pressing unit separation roller, and the first contact area is defined wherein the first pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other. The second contact area is defined wherein the second pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other such that the first contact area and the second contact appear to partly overlap each other when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller.

Abstract: A comparator offset correction device opens an open switch 205 and closes a short-circuit switch 204 in offset correction of a comparator 201. In this state, a controller 203 allows the comparator 201 to repeat, more than once, the operation of comparing reference voltages 101 input to two input terminals with each other. The filter 202 outputs a frequency signal obtained by smoothing a plurality of comparison results. Based on the frequency signal from the filter 202, the controller 203 outputs a threshold value control signal to the comparator 201 so that the ratio of a high-level voltage to a low-level voltage in the results of the comparison in the comparator 201 is 50%. Thus, even when a current which will be input may differ from a current which is currently input due to, for example, the influence of noise, the threshold value offset amount is normally corrected.

Abstract: Two T filters, one of which includes two resistive elements and one capacitive element and the other of which includes two capacitive elements and one resistive element, are inserted in a negative-feedback section of an operational amplifier, and a resistive element and a capacitive element are connected between each of intermediate nodes and a signal input terminal. A resistive element and a capacitive element which are connected to each other in parallel are connected between the signal input terminal and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier. With this configuration, overall admittances where elements connected to the corresponding intermediate nodes are in parallel connection are equal to each other.

Abstract: An integrator includes an operational amplifier, a first filter connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and a second filter connected between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier. The first filter includes n resistive elements connected in series, and (n?1) capacitive elements each having one end connected to an interconnecting node of the resistive elements and the other end connected to ground. The second filter includes n capacitive elements connected in series, and (n?1) resistive elements each having one end connected to an interconnecting node of the capacitive elements and the other end connected to ground.

Abstract: A layered composition which can be used in various processes has been developed. The composition comprises an inner core such as a cordierite core and an outer layer comprising a refractory inorganic oxide, a fibrous component and an inorganic binder. The refractory inorganic oxide layer can be alumina, zirconia, titania, etc. while the fibrous component can be titania fibers, silica fibers, carbon fibers, etc. The inorganic oxide binder can be alumina, silica, zirconia, etc. The layer can also contain catalytic metals such as gold and platinum plus other modifiers. The layered composition is prepared by coating the inner core with a slurry comprising the refractory inorganic oxide, fibrous component, an inorganic binder precursor and an organic binding agent such as polyvinyl alcohol. The composition can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion processes including production of vinyl acetate.

Abstract: In a DSM including a loop in which an output signal of a quantizer is digitally processed, and fed back through a DAC to an analog filter, the quantizer quantizes an analog signal from an analog filter section to output a digital signal. The digital signal from the quantizer is digitally processed in a first-order recursive filter circuit including a variable gain amplifier and a delay element. A LUT receives both the digital signal from the quantizer and a table control signal, which is an output signal from the recursive filter circuit, and stores in advance compensation values corresponding to the both signals. A compensation value from the LUT is used to provide a digital output signal compensated for a delay. The digital output signal is converted into an analog signal in the DAC, and then subtracted from an analog input signal in the analog filter section.

Abstract: A layered composition which can be used in various processes has been developed. The composition comprises an inner core such as a cordierite core and an outer layer comprising a refractory inorganic oxide, a fibrous component and an inorganic binder. The refractory inorganic oxide layer can be alumina, zirconia, titania, etc. while the fibrous component can be titania fibers, silica fibers, carbon fibers, etc. The inorganic oxide binder can be alumina, silica, zirconia, etc. The layer can also contain catalytic metals such as gold and platinum plus other modifiers. The layered composition is prepared by coating the inner core with a slurry comprising the refractory inorganic oxide, fibrous component, an inorganic binder precursor and an organic binding agent such as polyvinyl alcohol. The composition can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion processes including production of vinyl acetate.

Abstract: An oversampling A/D converter includes a first filter including a first resistive element, a first capacitive element, a second resistive element, an operational amplifier, and a second capacitive element; a second filter receiving an output of the first filter; a third filter including a third resistive element, a third capacitive element, and a fourth resistive element; a quantizer receiving an output of the third filter and generating a digital signal; and a D/A converter converting the digital signal to an analog current signal. The D/A converter inputs the generated analog current signal to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: A feeding device includes a tray for stacking sheet-like conveyance-target media, a first pressing unit, and a second pressing unit. The first and second pressing units face and apply a first and second pressing force, respectively, on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. The first pressing unit includes a first pressing unit separation roller, and the first contact area is defined wherein the first pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other. The second contact area is defined wherein the second pressing unit and the pick roller make contact with each other such that the first contact area and the second contact appear to partly overlap each other when viewed from an axial direction of the pick roller.

Abstract: In a feeding device, a first friction pad and a second friction pad are disposed on a circumferential surface of a pick roller so that a first contact area and a second contact area overlap each other. Thus, to a conveyance-target medium, which is either one of a conveyed medium and a separation-target medium, pressing forces are successively applied by the first friction pad or the second friction pad over the first contact area to the second contact area. Therefore, the conveyance-target medium, which is either one of the conveyed medium and the separation-target medium, successively receives a separation force in a total contact area wider than an area when receiving a separation force only in either one of the first contact area and the second contact area. With this, the capability of separating the conveyed medium and the separation-target medium can be increased.

Abstract: An integrator includes an operational amplifier, a first filter connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and a second filter connected between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier. The first filter includes n resistive elements connected in series, and (n?1) capacitive elements each having one end connected to an interconnecting node of the resistive elements and the other end connected to ground. The second filter includes n capacitive elements connected in series, and (n?1) resistive elements each having one end connected to an interconnecting node of the capacitive elements and the other end connected to ground.

Abstract: A layered composition which can be used in various processes has been developed. The composition comprises an inner core such as a cordierite core and an outer layer comprising a refractory inorganic oxide, a fibrous component and an inorganic binder. The refractory inorganic oxide layer can be alumina, zirconia, titania, etc. while the fibrous component can be titania fibers, silica fibers, carbon fibers, etc. The inorganic oxide binder can be alumina, silica, zirconia, etc. The layer can also contain catalytic metals such as gold and platinum plus other modifiers. The layered composition is prepared by coating the inner core with a slurry comprising the refractory inorganic oxide, fibrous component, an inorganic binder precursor and an organic binding agent such as polyvinyl alcohol. The composition can be used in various hydrocarbon conversion processes including production of vinyl acetate.

Abstract: In a flash A/D converter, a predictor predicts next analog input data based on a digital output signal from an A/D converter, and outputs prediction data. Based on the prediction data from the predictor, a controller turns on comparators having reference voltages near the prediction data, and in order to ensure a certain degree of A/D conversion accuracy even when the prediction fails, also turns on even-numbered comparators 103.2a (where a is 0 to 7), for example. In this manner, even when prediction of next analog input data fails, a 4-bit A/D converter can perform A/D conversion with 3-bit accuracy, while saving power consumption by reducing the number of comparators to be turned on.