Abstract: A voice recognition terminal executes a local voice recognition process and utilizes an external center voice recognition process. The terminal includes: a voice message synthesizing element for synthesizing at least one of a voice message to be output from a speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and a voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process so as to distinguish between characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process; and a voice output element for outputting a synthesized voice message from the speaker.

Abstract: A voice recognition terminal executes a local voice recognition process and utilizes an external center voice recognition process. The terminal includes: a voice message synthesizing element for synthesizing at least one of a voice message to be output from a speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and a voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process so as to distinguish between characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process; and a voice output element for outputting a synthesized voice message from the speaker.

Abstract: An object-detecting device detects an operation object for operating an operating apparatus. The object-detecting device includes an imaging portion for imaging the operation object and an image processor for extracting the operation object. The operation object has a first face, on which outside light falls from outside into the operating apparatus, and a second face opposite to the first face. The imaging portion images the second face of the operation object. The object-detecting device can stably detect the operation object, even when an illuminance variation of outside light is large.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus includes a storage medium for storing tree structured dictionary data containing words as nodes in a tree structure with a root and leaf nodes. An input speech is compared with a forward acoustic model corresponding to a speech resulting from chronologically reproducing words indicated by nodes for leaf nodes. A backward speech is further compared with a backward acoustic model. The backward speech is generated by reproducing the input speech in chronologically backward order. The backward acoustic model corresponds to a speech resulting from reproducing a word string toward the root in chronologically backward order. The comparison is performed in the backward order of a sequence starting from one of separator nodes. The speech recognition apparatus thereby outputs a word string that highly likely matches the input speech.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises master unit and remote unit, the master unit includes optical transmitter transmits the optical signal to the optical fiber at a fixed averaged output level, the remote unit includes optical receiver receives optical signal via optical fiber, and optical receiver includes light receiving element converts optical signal into electric signal, variable gain amplifier amplifies the electric signal at a gain corresponding to a value of a given adjustment voltage, gain controller supplied power for, a defined control period, controls the adjustment voltage to stabilize an averaged level of the electric signal to a defined value, and feed-forward-controls a gain of variable gain amplifier, a shut off unit shuts off supply of power to the gain control circuit when the control period ends, and a keeping unit keeps a value of an adjustment voltage applied to the variable gain amplifier.

Abstract: Electronic devices to which power is supplied from a power supplying unit commonly connected with other electronic devices, each of the electronic devices comprising a switch unit having an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal to which a control signal to close between the input terminal and the output terminal, a number input unit to which unique identification information is input, and a timing unit connected to the power supplying device together with the input terminal and inputting the control signal to the control terminal after a lapse of a delay time set in response to the identification information from a start timing of power supplying by the power supplying device.

Abstract: A speech recognition (SR) dictionary switching unit selects a SR dictionary including commands that are for controlling target devices and selectable in current operating states detected by a device-state detecting unit. When a SR engine recognizes an uttered command of a user, it collates the speech with the commands included in the selected SR dictionary. If the command is not selectable in the current operating states of the target devices and is one of a reciprocal pair of commands working oppositely to each other, the other of the reciprocal pair is substituted for the command. This results in decreasing unreasonable and unpleasant feeling of the user in voice manipulation.

Abstract: An optical transmission system comprises master unit and remote unit, the master unit includes optical transmitter transmits the optical signal to the optical fiber at a fixed averaged output level, the remote unit includes optical receiver receives optical signal via optical fiber, and optical receiver includes light receiving element converts optical signal into electric signal, variable gain amplifier amplifies the electric signal at a gain corresponding to a value of a given adjustment voltage, gain controller supplied power for, a defined control period, controls the adjustment voltage to stabilize an averaged level of the electric signal to a defined value, and feed-forward-controls a gain of variable gain amplifier, a shut off unit shuts off supply of power to the gain control circuit when the control period ends, and a keeping unit keeps a value of an adjustment voltage applied to the variable gain amplifier.

Abstract: An object-detecting device detects an operation object for operating an operating apparatus. The object-detecting device includes an imaging portion for imaging the operation object and an image processor for extracting the operation object. The operation object has a first face, on which outside light falls from outside into the operating apparatus, and a second face opposite to the first face. The imaging portion images the second face of the operation object. The object-detecting device can stably detect the operation object, even when an illuminance variation of outside light is large.

Abstract: A speech recognition apparatus includes a storage medium for storing tree structured dictionary data containing words as nodes in a tree structure with a root and leaf nodes. An input speech is compared with a forward acoustic model corresponding to a speech resulting from chronologically reproducing words indicated by nodes for leaf nodes. A backward speech is further compared with a backward acoustic model. The backward speech is generated by reproducing the input speech in chronologically backward order. The backward acoustic model corresponds to a speech resulting from reproducing a word string toward the root in chronologically backward order. The comparison is performed in the backward order of a sequence starting from one of separator nodes. The speech recognition apparatus thereby outputs a word string that highly likely matches the input speech.

Abstract: Electronic devices to which power is supplied from a power supplying unit commonly connected with other electronic devices, each of the electronic devices comprising a switch unit having an input terminal, an output terminal and a control terminal to which a control signal to close between the input terminal and the output terminal, a number input unit to which unique identification information is input, and a timing unit connected to the power supplying device together with the input terminal and inputting the control signal to the control terminal after a lapse of a delay time set in response to the identification information from a start timing of power supplying by the power supplying device.

Abstract: Optical signals inputted to input ports are split in half by 1×2 optical splitters respectively and the resulting signals are inputted to the input terminals of an optical matrix switch. The optical matrix switch switches between the routes of the individual optical signals and outputs the signal at any of the output ports. This enables the optical signal from the same input port to be outputted at two different output ports, which makes it possible to effect “bridge” at the time of protection switching.

Abstract: A speech recognition (SR) dictionary switching unit selects a SR dictionary including commands that are for controlling target devices and selectable in current operating states detected by a device-state detecting unit. When a SR engine recognizes an uttered command of a user, it collates the speech with the commands included in the selected SR dictionary. Commands that are not selectable in the current operating states of the target devices are thereby never determined as the uttered command. This results in decreasing unreasonable and unpleasant feeling of the user in voice manipulation.

Abstract: A/F ratio sensor includes an element portion using a solid electrolytic layer, and generates a sensor current in proportion to an oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas when a voltage is applied thereto. A bias control circuit switches the voltage applied to the A/F ratio sensor to an element resistance detection voltage during an element resistance detection with a given time constant, and detects the sensor current flowing at that time. A comparing circuit detects an amount of voltage change reaching a given value. A timing decision circuit decides a detection of voltage and current changes during the decision timing of the comparing circuit. A data output circuit measures the current change relative to the voltage change in response to the timing decision of the timing decision circuit. In this apparatus, the voltage change and the current change are detected when the applied voltage, which change with the given time constant, reaches to the given reference voltage Vref.

Abstract: Optical signals inputted to input ports are split in half by 1×2 optical splitters respectively and the resulting signals are inputted to the input terminals of an optical matrix switch. The optical matrix switch switches between the routes of the individual optical signals and outputs the signal at any of the output ports. This enables the optical signal from the same input port to be outputted at two different output ports, which makes it possible to effect “bridge” at the time of protection switching.

Abstract: A sensor element of an A/F sensor is constructed to laminate and integrate a solid electrolyte and a heater. The A/F sensor outputs a linear A/F detection signal proportional to the oxygen concentration in exhaust gases, when voltage is applied. An ECU controls the heater through heater control circuit to keep the sensor element at a predetermined activation temperature. The ECU detects an element resistance on the basis of the voltage applied to the sensor element and sensor current caused by the applied voltage, and converts the element resistance to an element temperature. During the temperature increasing of the A/F sensor, the current supply to the heater is duty-controlled according to the element temperature changing rate (the temperature increasing rate of the sensor element). Accordingly, the temperature increasing characteristics of the sensor is satisfactorily maintained, and disadvantages such as an element cracking are prevented.

Abstract: A detecting unit of an oxygen sensor as an A/F sensor has a solid electrolyte layer and a diffusion resistance layer and generates a current value according to the concentration of oxygen in an exhaust gas by applying a voltage across electrodes on an exhaust gas side and an atmosphere side of the solid electrolyte layer. An oxygen supply/exhaust unit has a solid electrolyte layer and a pair of electrodes formed on both faces of the solid electrolyte layer, and supplies oxygen near to the electrode on the atmosphere side of the detecting unit or exhausts oxygen near the electrode. A control unit controls, in response to a limit current value detected by a current detection unit, the amount of supply or exhaust of oxygen of the oxygen supply/exhaust unit on the basis of the detected current value.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio sensor generates linear air-fuel ratio detection signals proportional to concentration of oxygen in exhaust gas from an engine in response to a command voltage from a microprocessor. A bias command signal generated by the microprocessor is provided to a D/A converter which converts it to an analog signal. Thereafter, the signal is provided to an LPF for removing the high frequency components of the analog signal. Output voltage of the LPF is provided to a bias control circuit. A single AC signal which has a predetermined frequency and which is provided with a predetermined time constant (about 159 .mu.s) by the LPF is applied to the air-fuel ratio sensor. Element resistance of the air-fuel ratio sensor is detected based on the voltage of the AC signal and the change in the current level of the air-fuel ratio sensor caused by the application of the AC signal.

Abstract: An A/F sensor outputs a linear air-fuel ratio detection signal proportional to the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas from an engine upon application of a voltage. A computer controls the applied-voltage in a stoichiometric control region, a lean burn control region, an atmosphere detection region and a rich control region to have a fixed value such that the change rate of the applied-voltage is reduced to be less than that in other regions. In addition, when changing the voltage applied to the A/F sensor, the computer variably sets the voltage change speed sequentially. Thus, the influence of the capacitive characteristic of the A/F sensor is eliminated.

Abstract: An A/F sensor is driven by a voltage applied thereto at a command issued by a microprocessor, outputting an A/F detection signal which is linearly proportional to the concentration of oxygen. The microprocessor controls the voltage applied to the A/F sensor to bring a current flowing through the A/F sensor to a predetermined value in a zone outside a predetermined air-fuel ratio detection zone. In this outside zone, the applied voltage is controlled in accordance with a characteristic different from a positive characteristic in a normal positive characteristic in a voltage-current relation. That is, in a rich zone outside the air-fuel ratio detection zone, the applied voltage is controlled so as to make the applied voltage approach a maximum value of the electromotive force of the A/F sensor. In a lean zone outside the air-fuel ratio detection zone, on the other hand, the applied voltage is controlled so as to make the applied voltage approach a minimum value of the electromotive force of the A/F sensor.