Abstract: An apparatus for thermotherapy has a plurality of temperature sensors to control a temperature-elevating energy output for allowing temperature which is detected at the temperature sensors to be set to be within a predetermined temperature range. To this end, the apparatus is adapted to select one or a plurality of temperature sensors which are detected at different sites in an area including an affected region to be temperature-elevated, to compare measured data of the selected temperature sensor with predetermined temperature data and to control a temperature-elevating output on the basis of a result of comparison.

Abstract: An endoscope system according to the present invention includes a plurality of different endoscopes each of which has an illumination optical system for emitting light outward, an observation optical system for forming an optical image of a subject at the distal end of an insertion tube which can be inserted into the subject, and a solid-state imaging device for converting the optical image of the subject formed by the observation optical system into an electric signal, a plurality of different signal processors each of which drives a solid-state imaging device and processes the output signal sent from the solid-state imaging device to provide a video signal, and a plurality of different light sources each of which is compatible with one of the plurality of different endoscopes and supplies light to the illumination optical system. The system expendability is so excellent that the above equipment will be compatible with technologically-upgraded endoscopes, signal processors, or light sources.

Abstract: The invention discloses a PLL formed by a phase detector, a filter, three VCO's (VCO1, VCO2, and VCO3), a multiplexer, and a frequency divider. The VCO1, VCO2, and VCO3 have different mean frequencies, each oscillating at a frequency controlled according to the voltage value of a phase control signal from the filter. The multiplexer selects one of the VCO's which operate in parallel. If a pulse of a digital phase difference signal UP indicating that an internal signal is delayed in phase with respect to a reference signal is output twice in succession, or if a pulse of a digital phase difference signal DOWN indicating that an internal signal is advanced in phase with respect to a reference signal is output twice in succession, a counter makes the multiplexer change its current VCO selection via a shift register. Accordingly, high-speed PLL pulling is achievable even if a PLL frequency variable-range is expanded.

Abstract: A medical system has a detecting device for detecting three dimensional image information about a living body, a signal processing circuit for processing the image signal transmitted from the detecting device, and an object information reproduction device. The object information reproduction device comprises a movable displacement element which is touched by the operator and acts according to the output from the signal processing circuit so as to cause the operator to tactually sense information about the object. Thus, the operator is able to recognize the degree of unevenness in a tactile manner by touching the displacement element. Other embodiments include means for sensing and reproducing hardness and temperature of the object.

Abstract: A medical system according to the present invention comprises a medical apparatus including an operation unit manipulated by a surgeon and a treatment section formed away from the operation unit for treating a subject, a detector or a pressure sensor for detecting a state of contact between the subject and the treatment section, and a reproduction mechanism for amplifying a small contact pressure according to the output of the detector and thus reproduce the state of contact so that the surgeon can perceive the state of contact.

Abstract: A CAM cell array for storing a logical address is divided into first to third CAM sections. A first partition switch circuit intervenes between a zeroth piece of sense line connected to a sense circuit and a first piece of sense line for the first CAM section. The sense circuit is a circuit for selecting a RAM cell array in which a physical address to be read out is stored. A second partition switch circuit intervenes between the first piece of sense line and a second piece of sense line for the second CAM section. A third partition switch circuit intervenes between the second piece of sense line and a third piece of sense line for the third CAM section. By controlling switching operation of respective partition switch circuits according to page size, optimum length of the sense line is utilized, thus achieving a high-speed address translation.

Abstract: An endoscope system includes a plurality of different endoscopes each of which has an illumination optical system for emitting light outward, an observation optical system for forming an optical image of a subject at the distal end of an insertion tube which can be inserted into the subject, and a solid-state imaging device for converting the optical image of the subject formed by the observation optical system into an electric signal, a plurality of different signal processors each of which drives a solid-state imaging device and processes the output signal sent from the solid-state imaging device to provide a video signal, and a plurality of different light sources each of which is compatible with one of the plurality of different endoscopes and supplies light to the illumination optical system. The system expendability is so excellent that the above equipment will be compatible with technologically-upgraded endoscopes, signal processors, or light sources.

Abstract: A drive circuit provided in a semiconductor integrated circuit can perform a high-speed switching in compliance with a synchronizing signal and has a number of drive circuit elements. Each of the drive circuit elements is provided with a P-channel MOSFET, an N-channel MOSFET, and an inverter circuit to generate an output signal. The P-channel MOSFET has a gate connected to an input line of a first input signal and a source connected to a source line whereas the N-channel MOSFET has a gate connected to the input line of the first input signal, a source connected to an input line of an inverted logic signal of a second input signal, and a drain connected to a drain of the P-channel MOSFET. The inverter circuit has a gate connected to the drain of the P-channel MOSFET to generate the output signal in synchronization with the second input signal.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner comprising a fuzzy inferring device for determining a motor speed in response to the amount of dust, and means for holding the motor speed determined by the fuzzy inferring device for a predetermined period of time, whereby, after the motor speed is held for the predetermined period time, the motor is driven for a certain period of time at the speed subsequently determined by the fuzzy inferring device.

Abstract: An integrated circuit has a clock signal supply circuit positioned in a central region of the IC chip, for supplying a clock signal to each of a plurality of outer regions of the integrated circuit disposed around the central region, for thereby substantially eliminating clock signal skew effects. The clock signal may be distributed directly to circuit elements within the respective outer regions, or transferred to these circuit elements via respective buffer circuits which are formed at the centers of these regions.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner with fuzzy control comprises a detector for detecting condition of sucking of dust, such as an amount of dust, a kind of dust and/or a kind of a surface of a floor to be cleaned. A fuzzy inference section responsive to the condition of sucking of dust determines an appropriate sucking force and controls the vacuum cleaner's sucking force through fuzzy inference.

Abstract: A control apparatus of an electrical appliance comprising a sensor for detecting a physical amount; and a fuzzy inferring device for determining the drive condition of a load by fuzzy inference based on a signal outputted from the sensor, and wherein the sensor has at least one normalized membership function to be used by fuzzy inference and achieves a plurality of membership functions which can be expressed by congruent curves by performing a predetermined subtraction or an addition on the signal outputted from the sensor.

Abstract: A memory unit includes an array of memory cells. Word lines are connected to the memory cells. Bit lines are connected to the memory cells. A decoder receives an address signal at a timing which follows an occurrence of a clock signal by a given time t1. The address signal is in synchronism with the clock signal. The clock signal has a preset period t0. The decoder decodes the address signal into a word signal and outputs the word signal at a timing which follows the reception of the address signal by a given time t2. A delay device delays the clock signal by a preset time "t" and thereby converts the clock signal into a control signal. An access to a word of the memory cells is performed via one of the word lines in accordance with the word signal at a timing determined by the control signal. The bit lines are precharged at a timing determined by the control signal. The preset time "t" is longer than a sum of the times t1 and t2 but shorter than a half of the period t0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing an accumulator for pulsation absorption on a feeding passage between a hydraulic pressure generating device and hydraulic pressure booster equipment, and to provide a restriction on a section of the feeding passage between the accumulator and the hydraulic pressure generating device. As the result, the pulsation caused by a pump is reduced by the restriction, and the pulsation thus reduced is absorbed by the accumulator. Therefore, pulsation is effectively decreased by the restriction and the accumulator, and the pulsation transmitted to the hydraulic pressure booster equipment is quite small.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner has a blower motor; a dust detector responsive to a sucked dust particle due to rotation of the blower motor for producing a dust detecting signal when each of the dust particles is detected passing a portion in a suction passage; counter responsive to the dust detection signal for counting the number of the dust interception particles for a given interval; and input power controller responsive to an output signal of the counter for controlling the input power of the blower motor by selecting an input power value from plural preset input power values in accordance with the number. Controlling input power may be performed in accordance with a pulse width indicative of the dust particle size or the counted number may be modified by pulse width. Another embodiment of the vacuum cleaner has plural light emitting diodes for indicating the number counted to show an operator uncleanliness of the floor.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner and method for determining the kind of floor surface being cleaned by a vacuum cleaner wherein dust amount per unit interval is detected and dust detection change patterns are analyzed for determining floor type. This analysis is based on the following assumptions: smooth and carpet surfaces can be distinguished by dust detection patterns for an interval of several seconds. On the smooth surface, almost all of the dust at one place is picked up during an early stage of the interval. On the other hand, on a carpet floor, dust is picked up continuously. On a new carpet, many piles detach during vacuuming. Thus, if dust detection is continuous over several seconds it may be assumed that, the carpet is a new carpet.

Abstract: A pipe-inspecting apparatus having a self-propelled unit. The self-propelled unit comprises an elastic tube which has forward and rear ends, and into which a fluid is supplied and from which the fluid is discharged, a restriction member mounted on the elastic tube, for restricting an axial expansion of the elastic tube, a bias member for biasing the elastic tube in the axial direction thereof, first and second holding members coupled to the ends of the elastic tube, respectively, for holding the ends of the elastic tube to the inner periphery of a pipe being inspected, while the fluid is being supplied into the holding members, and releasing the ends of the elastic tube from the inner periphery of the pipe, while the fluid is being discharged from the holding members. An observation device is coupled to the self-propelled unit. A display device is connected to the observation device, for displaying the image scanned by the observation device.

Abstract: A memory unit includes an array of memory cells. Word lines are connected to the memory cells. Bit lines are connected to the memory cells. A decoder receives an address signal at a timing which follows an occurrence of a clock signal by a given time t1. The address signal is in synchronism with the clock signal. The clock signal has a preset period t0. The decoder decodes the address signal into a word signal and outputs the word signal at a timing which follows the reception of the address signal by a given time t2. A delay device delays the clock signal by a preset time "t" and thereby converts the clock signal into a control signal. An access to a word of the memory cells is performed via one of the word lines in accordance with the word signal at a timing determined by the control signal. The bit lines are precharged at a timing determined by the control signal. The preset time "t" is longer than a sum of the time t1 and t2 but shorter than a half of the period t0.

Abstract: A set associative type cache memory incorporated in a microprocessor includes memory arrays arranged in a group for each line, and only a memory array selected by a line address selected at the time of operation is made operative, thus reducing power consumption.