Abstract: A method for setting the clamp level of a television signal in which the signal is converted by an A/D converter and quantized with a plurality of quantizers, comprises taking into account the quantization characteristics of the various quantizers in addition to the dynamic range of the A/D converter. The television signal is level shifted so that it is within the dynamic range of the A/D converter and is clamped to a level which minimizes the quantization error of that quantizer which has the largest quantization step size of all the quantizers.

Abstract: A location detecting method for detecting the location of a vehicle within a predetermined area, comprising the steps of: outputting distance data at every predetermined interval, the distance data being representative of the distance that a vehicle has travelled; outputting heading angle data at every predetermined interval, the heading angle data being representative of the heading angle change of vehicle travel; storing road map data representative of roads; computing a present location data from the distance data and the heading angle data; computing a first limit error (E1) and a second limit error (E2) of the present location data which are determined on the basis of errors in the distance data, in the heading angle data and in the road map data; registering locations on the roads, which roads are located within the first limit error (E1) of the present location data, as estimate locations; computing correlation coefficients respectively corresponding to the registered estimate locations; selecting a co

Abstract: For increasing a retaining time period of a data bit, there is disclosed a semiconductor memory cell comprising a switching transistor and a storage capacitor fabricated in a semiconductor substrate formed with a heavily doped layer and a lightly doped layer, a transition layer graded in impurity atom concentration is produced between the heavily doped layer and the lightly doped layer, and the storage capacitor comprises (a) a first electrode formed by a first side wall portion of the lightly doped layer, a second side wall portion of the heavily doped layer and a bottom wall portion of the heavily doped layer, (b) a dielectric film formed in the first and second side wall portions and the bottom wall portion and defining a trench and (c) a second electrode formed on the trench and contacting the dielectric film, wherein the dielectric film has a relatively thin portion and a relatively thick portion which covers the transition layer so as to reduce in strength of electric field around the transition layer.

Abstract: In a location detecting apparatus which detects the location of a moving body on the basis of the heading signal from a terrestrial magnetism heading sensor attached to the moving body and the rotational angle signal from a rotational angle sensor attached to the moving body, a correcting method for correcting errors in a terrestrial magnetism heading sensor, comprising the steps of: detecting the amount of a heading change of the moving body that is made when the moving body turns a curve, and detecting a magnetized amount of the moving body on the basis of the detected amount of a heading change, an output from the terrestrial magnetism heading sensor before the heading change is made and an output from the terrestrial magnetism heading sensor after the heading change is made.

Abstract: A vehicle location detecting method for detecting the location of a vehicle within a predetermined area, comprising the steps of: outputting distance data at every predetermined interval, the distance data being representative of the distance that a vehicle has traveled, outputting heading angle data at every predetermined interval, the heading angle data being representative of the heading angle change of vehicle travel, storing road map data representative of roadways, computing a present location data from the distance data and the heading angle data, and a limit error of the present location data which is determined by errors in the distance data, in the heading angle data and in the road map data, and registering locations on the roadways, which roadways are located within the limit error of the present location data, as estimate locations, computing correlation coefficients corresponding to the registered estimate locations, and selecting a correlation coefficient whose error is smallest with respect to

Abstract: A bottle cap inspection apparatus having a circular shaped light source which is placed to irradiate a cap on a bottle mouth from above; a photoelectric conversion sensor above the cap for receiving the light reflected from the cap; and, an electronic processor for processing an electrical signal from the photoelectric conversion sensor to detect defects in the cap. The bottle is placed under the photoelectric conversion sensor in a manner such that the center axis of the bottle coincides with the optical axis of the photoelectric conversion sensor, and the center of the circular light source coincides with the optical axis. An optical mask is located between the light source and the cap on the bottle mouth such that it defines an outer peripheral surface of a visual field of the photoelectric conversion sensor looking at the bottle mouth as well as an inner peripheral surface of the irradiation range onto the bottle mouth from the circular light source as different conical shapes.

Abstract: A method of detecting an electrode potential in a Karl Fischer moisture meter comprises the step of subtracting an electrode potential which is caused by a liquid resistance of a liquid sample from an electrode potential which is generated in an end point detecting electrode in the Karl Fischer moisture meter, to thereby obtain a true polarization potential.

Abstract: An information signal processing system for use with a pattern recognition system which includes a converting device for converting information signals of an object or pattern to be recognized into electric signals including a sampling circuit for sampling the electric signal from the converting device, a circuit receiving the electric signal and producing a signal to be supplied to the sampling circuit to determine the sampling time, and a computer receiving the output signals from said sampling circuit and sequentially comparing them with reference signals stored therein. In this case, the information signal processing system includes a circuit which receives the electric signal from the converting device and produces a signal which approximates the electric signal. This approximated signal is supplied to the sampling circuit.