Abstract: A first area (16) for detecting an object is formed by a radio wave or an ultrasonic wave, and a second area (18) for detecting an object by means of light is formed near the first area (16). When an object is detected in the first area (16) approaching the second area (18), the second area (18) is enabled. When an object is detected in the first area (16) moving in the direction away from the second area (18), the second area (18) is disabled.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for manufacturing a methyl methacrylate polymer comprising the steps of feeding a monomer containing at least 80 wt % of methyl methacrylate and a radical polymerization initiator represented formula (III) to a reactor; polymerizing the material at a polymerization temperature of 110 to 160° C. under the conditions satisfying particular equations between an initiator concentration and a polymerization temperature; feeding a reaction mixture taken out from the reactor to a devolatilization step (feeding step); and separating and removing volatiles from the reaction mixture (devolatilization step).

Abstract: A radio-wave transmitter-receiver section (12) forms a radio-wave detection zone (16) for detecting an object at a location way from a door (4). A light emitter-receiver section (20) forms an optical detection zone (42) for detecting an object at a location along and closer to the door (4). The light emitter-receiver section (20) includes mirrors (28, 36) which are used to increase or decrease the depth dimension of the optical detection zone (42) in the direction perpendicular to the door (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method of a plastic optical fiber which comprises the steps of heat drawing an undrawn plastic optical fiber obtained by melt spinning and annealing the drawn fiber at a circumferential velocity ratio between the front and rear rollers (circumferential velocity of a rear roller/circumferential velocity of a front roller) of 0.5 to 1.2 under heating conditions which satisfy 4?y?1.5x+330 and (Tgc?5)° C.?x?(Tgc+110)° C. [Tgc: a glass transition temperature of a core, x: an annealing temperature (° C.), and y: an annealing time (seconds)]. According to the present invention, a plastic optical fiber having a small thermal shrinkage ratio and excellent heat resistance can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production method of a plastic optical fiber which comprises the steps of heat drawing an undrawn plastic optical fiber obtained by melt spinning and annealing the drawn fiber at a circumferential velocity ratio between the front and rear rollers (circumferential velocity of a rear roller/circumferential velocity of a front roller) of 0.5 to 1.2 under heating conditions which satisfy 4?y??1.5x+330 and (Tgc?5)° C.?x?(Tgc+110)° C. [Tgc: a glass transition temperature of a core, x: an annealing temperature (° C.), and y: an annealing time (seconds)]. According to the present invention, a plastic optical fiber having a small thermal shrinkage ratio and excellent heat resistance can be provided.

Abstract: In the CELP coding system a low-order synthesis filter and a cascade-connected synthesis filter formed by a cascade connection of low- and high-order synthesis filters are provided, a synthesized acoustic signal is estimated in a mode decision part for an input acoustic signal, and the estimated synthesized acoustic signal is subjected to inverse filtering by an inverse filter corresponding to the low-order synthesis filter and an inverse filter corresponding to the cascade-connected synthesis filter to obtain residual signals. That one of the synthesis filters which corresponds to the residual signal of smaller power is selected by a switch, and a codebook is searched for indices which will minimize the error between the output synthesized acoustic signal by the selected synthesis filter and the input acoustic signal.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for manufacturing a methyl methacrylate polymer comprising the steps of feeding a monomer containing at least 80 wt % of methyl methacrylate and a radical polymerization initiator represented formula (III) to a reactor; polymerizing the material at a polymerization temperature of 110 to 160° C. under the conditions satisfying particular equations between an initiator concentration and a polymerization temperature; feeding a reaction mixture taken out from the reactor to a devolatilization step (feeding step); and separating and removing volatiles from the reaction mixture (devolatilization step). A methyl methacrylate polymer having adequately good optical properties and a plastic optical fiber having improved transmission performance can be prepared according to this invention.

Abstract: A radio-wave transmitter-receiver section (12) forms a radio-wave detection zone (16) for detecting an object at a location way from a door (4). A light emitter-receiver section (20) forms an optical detection zone (42) for detecting an object at a location along and closer to the door (4). The light emitter-receiver section (20) includes mirrors (28, 36) which are used to increase or decrease the depth dimension of the optical detection zone (42) in the direction perpendicular to the door (4).

Abstract: This invention provides a process for manufacturing a methyl methacrylate polymer comprising the steps of feeding a monomer containing at least 80 wt % of methyl methacrylate and a radical polymerization initiator represented formula (III) to a reactor; polymerizing the material at a polymerization temperature of 110 to 160° C. under the conditions satisfying particular equations between an initiator concentration and a polymerization temperature; feeding a reaction mixture taken out from the reactor to a devolatilization step (feeding step); and separating and removing volatiles from the reaction mixture (devolatilization step). A methyl methacrylate polymer having adequately good optical properties and a plastic optical fiber having improved transmission performance can be prepared according to this invention.

Abstract: An object sensor for use with an automatic swing door includes a light emitter, which is mounted on a door surface of the automatic swing door. The light emitter emits a light beam toward a floor. A distance detector is mounted on the door surface. The distance detector receives the light beam reflected from an object and develops an output signal having a value representing the distance of the object from the distance detector. A control unit makes a judgment based on the value of the output signal of the distance detector as to whether the object is approaching the door surface. The control unit stores the value of the distance detector output signal representing the distance between the distance detector and the floor, as a reference value. A dead zone is defined for the reference value to extend from the floor to a predetermined distance above the floor. When the value of the distance detector output signal is outside the dead zone, the control units judges the object to be approaching the door surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the production of methacrylic polymers which comprises the steps of, in one perfect mixing type reactor, effecting continuous bulk polymerization at a polymerization temperature of 110 to 160° C.

Abstract: An object sensor for use with an automatic swing door includes a light emitter, which is mounted on a door surface of the automatic swing door. The light emitter emits a light beam toward a floor. A distance detector is mounted on the door surface. The distance detector receives the light beam reflected from an object and develops an output signal having a value representing the distance of the object from the distance detector. A control unit makes a judgment based on the value of the output signal of the distance detector as to whether the object is approaching the door surface. The control unit stores the value of the distance detector output signal representing the distance between the distance detector and the floor, as a reference value. A dead zone is defined for the reference value to extend from the floor to a predetermined distance above the floor. When the value of the distance detector output signal is outside the dead zone, the control units judges the object to be approaching the door surface.

Abstract: A door panel is actuated when an actuator sensor disposed near the door panel senses an object approaching the door panel. When a safety sensor mounted on the door panel senses an object while the door panel is opening, the door panel is stopped. When a safety sensor mounted on the door panel senses an object while the door panel is closing, the door panel is opened. Each of the sensors includes a light-emitting unit, a light-receiving unit and a control unit, and the sensor can detect for itself failure in any of the light-emitting unit, the light-receiving unit and the control unit.

Abstract: In a CELP coding scheme, p-order LPC coefficients of an input signal are transformed into n-order LPC cepctrum coefficients c.sub.j (S.sub.2), which are modified into n-order modified LPC cepstrum coefficients c.sub.j ' (S.sub.3). Log power spectral envelopes of the input signal and a masking function suited thereto are calculated (FIGS. 3B, C), then they are subjected to inverse Fourier transform to obtain n-order LPC cepstrum coefficients, respectively, (FIGS. 3D, E), then the relationship between corresponding orders of the LPC cepstrum coefficients is calculated, and the modification in step S.sub.3 is carried out on the basis of the relationship. The modified coefficients c.sub.j are inversely transformed by the method of least squares into m-order LPC coefficients for use as filter coefficients of a perceptual weighting filter. This concept is applicable to a postfilter as well.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for producing an alloy containing terbium (Tb) and/or gadolinium (Gd). The process includes the steps of: (a) preparing a bath of molten electrolyte which consists essentially of 20-95% by weight of TbF.sub.3 and/or GdF.sub.3, 5-80% of LiF, up to 40% of BaF.sub.2 and up to 20% of CaF.sub.2 ; (b) reducing the TbF.sub.3 and/or GdF.sub.3 in the bath, with carbon anode and with cathode made of a metal such as iron or cobalt, so as to electrodeposit Tb and/or Gd on the cathode, and alloying the electrodeposited Tb and/or Gd with metal of the cathode so as to produce the alloy containing Tb and/or Gd in a liquid state on the cathode; (c) adding the TbF.sub.3 and/or GdF.sub.3 to the bath so as to maintain the composition of the bath, for compensating for consumption of the TbF.sub.3 and/or GdF.sub.

Abstract: An apparatus for thickening and extracting the liquid from a sludge comprises a sludge-thickening assembly wherein solid matters in the sludge are coagulated to form coagulated flocs and the floc sludge is separated and thickened, and an assembly for extracting liquid from said floc sludge under pressure to obtain a dehydrated cake. The sludge-thickening assembly comprises coagulation means for the sludge, a first and a second screen rolls having a reticulate material covering the outer surface; and the assembly for extracting the liquid comprises an endless moving flocked filter belt, means for supporting the belt, a cylinder forced to closely contact with an upper portion of said endless moving flocked filter belt, and at least one press roll urging said endless moving flocked filter belt against said cylinder.