Abstract: In a digital signal processor, an arithmetic apparatus capable of performing Viterbi decoding processing at a high speed with minimum addition of hardware and least overhead of memory. Pathmetric value and branchmetric value read out from first and second memories on two paths are simultaneously added by an adder at most significant bits and least significant bits thereof. A comparator compares values of the most significant bits and the least significant bits output from the adder to generate a path select signal indicating the value which is pathmetrically smaller. The select signal is stored in a shift register on a bit-by-bit basis. Of the values of the most significant bits and the least significant bits of a register storing the output of the adder, the smaller one as decided by the path select signal is written in the memory at eight most significant bits or least significant bits thereof via distributor, a bus and a register.

Abstract: Silicon-containing carbide fibers having high strength and modulus of elasticity, and polymer compositions for production thereof. These fibrers are inexpensive and very useful as reinforcing fibers for composite materials comprising plastics, carbon, metals, etc. as a matrix. These polymer compositions are also useful as a matrix of the above composite materials.

Abstract: An inorganic fiber having excellent properties as a reinforcement for metals, plastics and rubbers, which has a surface layer portion and an inner layer portion, the surface layer portion having a composition continuously changing from the inner layer portion to the fiber surface, and which is composed of a basic constituent unit of;(1) an amorphous substance composed of silicon, carbon, either titanium or zirconium, and oxygen,(2) an aggregate composed of;crystalline fine particles formed of at least one selected from the group consisting of .beta.-SiC, MC, a solid solution of .beta.-SiC and MC, and MC.sub.1-x, and having a particle diameter of not more than 50 nm,amorphous SiO.sub.2, andMO.sub.2, or(3) a mixture of the above amorphous substance (1) with the above aggregate (2),wherein M is titanium or zirconium and x is greater than 0 and less than 1,the inorganic fiber having an inner layer portion comprising 40 to 60% by weight of silicon, 20 to 40% by weight of carbon, 0.

Abstract: A calcium-phosphate type hydroxyapatite for chromatographic separation is in the form of spherulites having a mean particle diameter of 0.5 to 50 .mu.m, preferably 1 to 10 .mu.m. The spherulites are each an aggregate mainly of acicular crystallites belonging to a series of hexagonal systems and having unit lattice constants of 9.58.+-.0.08 .ANG. for the a axis and 7.00.+-.0.05 .ANG. for the c axis. The hydroxyapatite is produced by granulating a calcium=phosphate type hydroxyapatite in the form of a gel and then firing the granular apatite at 400.degree. to 700.degree. C., preferably at 500.degree. to 600.degree. C. The firing is performed by heating the granules in the presence of oxygen or air for a given period of time.

Abstract: The high-strength and high-toughness sinter of the present invention includes a crystal agglomerate maintaining a fibrous shape and composed of crystals of SiC and MC.sub.1-x wherein M is Ti and/or Zr and x is a number of 0 or more but less than 1. This sinter is produced by laminating an inorganic fiber of a particular inorganic material containing titanium and/or zirconium molding the laminate into a predetermined shape, and conducting heat-sintering simultaneously with the molding or after the molding in an atmosphere of a vacuum, an inert gas, a reducing gas, or a hydrocarbon gas at a temperature of 1,700 to 2,200.degree. C.

Abstract: In an energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle body, when a shock sensing output signal is obtained from one of first and second shock sensors a control unit operates one or both of first and second bag inflators in accordance with an operation mode according to the seating states of passengers represented by a sensing output signal obtained from seating state sensors, and the use states of the seat belts represented by a sensing output signal obtained from belt use state sensors so as to inflate one or both of first and second energy absorbing bags in accordance with the seating states of passengers and the use states of the seat belts.

Abstract: A side body collision energy absorbing structure which has a closed cross-section configuration member formed by a belt line reinforcement or a door panel and a stiffness reduced portion formed at least on the belt line reinforcement or the door panel so that a portion of the closed cross-section member facing toward a passenger in a direction transverse to the vehicle has relatively lower stiffness compared with the remaining portion. By providing such a reduced stiffness portion, the shock acting on passengers can be effectively moderated. Furthermore, the stiffness reduced portion may be concealed in a side door by a trim which does not protrude toward the passenger compartment of the vehicle when the stiffness reduced portion is formed by a bead at least on the belt line reinforcement or the door panel.

Abstract: An impact energy absorbing structure for a vehicle includes impact energy absorbing devices attached to a side wall of the passenger compartment of the vehicle to absorb impact energy resulting from a lateral collision and tending to act laterally on an occupant of the vehicle. The impact energy absorbing devices include a chest protecting shock absorbing unit disposed opposite to an occupant's chest and having a shock absorbing pad protruding from the side wall of the passenger compartment toward the interior of the passenger compartment, and a lumbar region protecting shock absorbing unit disposed opposite to an occupant's lumbar region and having a shock absorbing pad protruding from the side wall of the passenger compartment toward the interior of the passenger compartment. Rigidity enhancing elements cover the shock absorbing pads so as to enhance the rigidity of only the side surfaces of the shock absorbing pads facing the interior of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: This invention provides an electromagnetic wave absorbing material composed of a composite material comprising a fiber having a specific resistance of 10.sup.-2 to 10.sup.2 .OMEGA..cm and a matrix, wherein the fiber is composed of an inorganic substance selected from the group consisting ofi) an amorphous substance substantially composed of Si, M, C and O,ii) crystalline ultrafine particles substantially composed of .beta.-SiC, C, MC, a solid solution of .sym.-SiC and MC and/or MC.sub.1-x, and having a particle diameter of not more than 500 .ANG., or optionally, an aggregate of the crystalline ultrafine particles, amorphous SiO.sub.2 and amorphous MO.sub.2, andiii) a mixture of the above i) amorphous substance with the above ii) crystalline ultrafine particles or aggregate in which M denotes Ti or Zr, and X is more than 0 but less than 1.

Abstract: A calcium-phosphate type hydroxyapatite for chromatographic separation is in the form of spherulites having a mean particle diameter of 0.5 to 50 .mu.m, preferably 1 to 10 .mu.m. The spherulites are each an aggregate mainly of acicular crystallites belonging to a series of hexagonal systems and having unit lattice constants of 9.58.+-.0.08 .ANG. for the a axis and 7.00.+-.0.05 .ANG. for the c axis. The hydroxyapatite is produced by granulating a calcium-phosphate type hydroxyapatite in the form of a gel and then firing the granular apatite at 400.degree. to 700.degree. C., preferably at 500.degree. to 600.degree. C. The firing is performed by heating the granules in the presence of oxygen or air for a given period of time.

Abstract: An energy absorbing structure for a vehicle body side portion, includes a pair of vehicle body members constituting two side portions of a vehicle body, a pair of collision detection sensors for respectively detecting collisions on two side surfaces of the vehicle body, one air bag which is mounted in each vehicle body member, can be unfolded toward the interior of a passenger room, and can receive at least one passenger who is moved sideways by a side collision in an unfolded state, a timing varying unit for changing unfolding timings of the two air bags in accordance with a side-collision direction on the basis of detection results from the collision detection sensors, and an air bag unfolding device for unfolding the air bags in accordance with the unfolding timings set by the timing varying unit.

Abstract: The high-strength and high-toughness sinter of the present invention comprises a crystal agglomerate maintaining a fibrous shape and composed of crystals of SiC and MC.sub.1-x wherein M is Ti and/or Zr and X is a number of 0 or more but less than 1. This sinter is produced by laminating an inorganic fiber comprising a particular inorganic material containing titanium and/or zirconium molding the laminate into a predetermined shape, and conducting heat-sintering simultaneously with the molding or after the molding in an atmosphere comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of a vacuum, an inert gas, a reducing gas, and a hydrucoarbon gas at a temperature of 1,700.degree. to 2,200.degree. C.

Abstract: A gear backlash adjusting mechanism includes a worm wheel having a gear tooth that engages the gear tooth of a worm. The gear tooth of the worm wheel is curved or tapered upwardly in the axial direction toward one end of the worm wheel. An adjusting apparatus permits the distance between the gear tooth of the worm wheel and the gear tooth of the worm to be adjusted so that the amount of backlash between the gear tooth of the worm wheel and the worm can be adjusted.

Abstract: A fiber and fibrous material for producing composite materials, fiber-reinforced metals, fiber-reinforced plastics and fiber-reinforced ceramics, in which short fibers, whiskers or powders made of heat resistant material are deposited on continuous fibers made of heat resistant material.The composite materials, such as fiber-reinforced metals, plastics, and ceramics, contain the fibrous material in a matrix, and have improved control of the fiber volume ratio and mechanical characteristics. Processes for producing the fiber, fibrous materials and composite materials are also disclosed.

Abstract: A calcium-phosphate type hydroxyapatite for chromatographic separation is in the form of spherulites having a mean particle diameter of 0.5 to 50 .mu.m, preferably 1 to 10 .mu.m. The spherulites are each an aggregate mainly of acicular crystallites belonging to a series of hexagonal systems and having unit lattice constants of 9.58.+-.0.08 .ANG. for the a axis and 7.00.+-.0.05 .ANG. for the c axis. The hydroxyapatite is produced by granulating a calcium-phosphate type hydroxyapatite in the form of a gel and then firing the granular apatite at 400.degree. to 700.degree. C., preferably at 500.degree. to 600.degree. C. The firing is performed by heating the granules in the presence of oxygen or air for a given period of time.

Abstract: A reinforcing inorganic fiber composed of an internal layer and a surface layer, whereinsaid internal layer is composed of an inorganic material containing silicon, either titanium or zirconium, carbon and oxygen which is(i) an amorphous material consisting substantially of Si, M, C and O, or(ii) an aggregate consisting substantially of ultrafine crystalline particles with a particle diameter of not more than 500 .ANG. of .beta.-SiC, MC, a solid solution of .beta.-SiC and MC and MC.sub.1-x, wherein M represents titanium or zirconium, and x is a number represented by 0<x<1, or(iii) a mixture of the amorphous material (i) and the aggregate (ii), andsaid surface layer is composed of an inorganic material consisting of silicon, either titanium or zirconium, and oxygen and optionally not more than 5% by weight of carbon which is(iv) an amorphous material consisting substantially of Si, M and O,(v) an aggregate composed of crystalline SiO.sub.2 and MO.sub.

Abstract: An inorganic fibrous material for reinforcing composite materials, said fibrous material composed of a central layer and a surface layer, whereinthe surface layer is formed of an inorganic material composed of(i) an amorphous material consisting substantially of Si, M, C and O, wherein M is Ti or Zr, or(ii) an aggregate consisting substantially of ultrafine crystalline particles of beta-SiC, MC, a solid solution of beta-SiC and MC, and MC.sub.1-x having a particle diameter of not more than 500 .ANG. wherein M is as defined above and x is a number represented by 0<x<1, and optionally containing amorphous SiO.sub.2 and MO.sub.2, or(iii) a mixture of the amorphous material (i) and the aggregate (2), andthe central layer is formed of an inorganic material other than said inorganic material; and a process for production thereof.

Abstract: A control device for a car wiper apparatus is disclosed, in which the wiper apparatus is driven in forward or reverse directions by the function of an electronic circuit. The control electronic circuit is so configured as to minimize the number of connection brushes for controlling the forward and reverse operations of the wiper motor which reciprocates the wiper blade. The reduced number of the connection brushes, which are arranged in the wiper motor, realizes a compact shape of the wiper motor as a whole. The electronic circuit functions to drive the wiper motor in forward and reverse directions within a predetermined angle thereby to rotate the crank arm connected with the wiper motor and the wiper blade with a small predetermined angle for reciprocal wiping operating, thus making it possible to mount the wiper apparatus in the small internal space of the car.