Abstract: This electric artificial larynx 1 comprises a sound source generating unit 3 which is held by interposition means 2 attached directly or indirectly to the human body 10 and can be always placed near the cervical region 10a and a portable controller 4 which is separated from the sound source generating unit 3 and operates the sound source generating unit 3. The controller 4 preferably comprises a control signal generating unit which includes a sensor for detecting ID biological information or a switch 12 for supplying a signal and a control unit 16 which drives and controls the sound source generating unit 3 in response to a signal from the control signal generating unit and has a power source unit 15 for supplying power to the sound source generating unit 3.

Abstract: A granular surfactant which is obtained, for example, by simultaneous granulation and drying by spraying a solution or slurry, in which a whole or a part of a surfactant is dissolved or dispersed in water or warm water, in a fluidized bed where hot air is introduced, and then by classification of the granules obtained in the above step to remove granules having lower diameters. Typically, a weight ratio of granules having a diameter of 0.1 mm or less is 2.0 wt % or less and a median diameter is 0.17 mm or more. The granular surfactants are easily manufactured and have high water solubility, reduced powder dust, and fluidities.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter with a small number of processes and at low cost is provided, for which a transparent conductive film for liquid crystal driving need not be formed, a voltage drop during liquid crystal driving is restrained, and a black matrix is easily formed; an apparatus for fabricating the color filter; the color filter; and a liquid crystal display apparatus.

Abstract: A fabrication method of an industrial part having high-aspect-ratio through-hole sections using a punch and a die, includes: a first step of drilling a first hole section in a first sheet of sheet material with the punch; a second step of lifting the first sheet in tight contact with a stripper under a condition that the punch is not pulled out from the first hole section; a third step of lifting the punch so that a tip section of said punch is slightly drawn in from a bottom section of the lifted first sheet of sheet material; a fourth step of drilling a second hole section in a second sheet of sheet material with the punch; a fifth step of lifting the second sheet in tight contact with the first sheet under a condition that the punch is not pulled out from the second hole section; and a sixth step of lifting the punch so that a tip section of the punch is slightly drawn in from the bottom section of the lifted second sheet of sheet material.

Abstract: An image processing device and method for identifying an input image and a copier including such an image processing device and method. The image processing device forms a gradated image from the input image, determines whether the gradated image includes a specified pattern, extracts a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern, and compares the extracted portion of the input image with a reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.

Abstract: A dispersed-type testing/measuring system provides for example a simplified terminal unit to be installed at a patient's home. The dispersed-type testing/measuring system has a central controlling unit 20 and a plurality of terminal units 30 each accessible to the central controlling unit via a communication line 15. Each terminal unit 30 includes a crude data collecting portion 40, and a data transmitting means 45 for sending the data collected by the crude data collecting portion 40 to the central controlling unit 20. The central controlling unit 20 includes a measurement data calculating means 210 for generating measurement data by making calculation on the crude data sent from each terminal unit 30.

Abstract: A surfactant comprising an N-long-chain acyl amino acid or a salt thereof dried by a spray dryer, which contains 280 mesh pass particles at a ratio of 3% by weight or less, and a surfactant comprising an N-long-chain acyl amino acid or a salt thereof dried by a spray dryer, which does not substantially contain 200 mesh pass particles, preferably 140 mesh pass particles. Also provided are surfactants having improved solubility and flowability, which are used for detergents and the like.

Abstract: A method of forming a plurality of holes of fine diameter d in a brittle material at fine intervals &agr; includes the steps of forming at least two holes having a fine diameter d at intervals A in the brittle material through the use of punches. The intervals A are at least two times the fine interval &agr;. Holes are then subsequently punched between the previously punched holes at intervals A without removing the die punches used to form the previous holes. The distances between the previously punched holes and the subsequently punched holes measure at least the distance corresponding to the fine interval &agr;.

Abstract: A punch die for punching and laminating simultaneously a plural number of thin sheets is disclosed. This punch die 10 comprises: a punch 10 being provided on a upper portion of a die, a die 12 being provided on a lower portion of a die and used for punching a material to be processed, a stripper 11 for guiding the punch 10 during punching operation, a device for laminating punched materials using the punch 10 as a laminating axis, a device for adjusting a relative position between the punch 10 and the stripper 11 when the upper and the lower portions are separated, and a device for adjusting a clearance between the die 12 and the stripper 11 during punching operation. The punch die can open precisely almost straight very finer through-holes of a diameter of 100 &mgr;m or less even in a sheet of thin, soft and deformable material.

Abstract: A perforation of a multilayer board has a surface-profile precision of 8 &mgr;m or less, and the ratio of a diameter or the minimum distance between the opposing edges on the opening surface thereof to the axial length is preferably from about 1:1 to 1:15. The multilayer board is fabricated by a punching machine comprising a punch and a stripper such that a required number of plates are prepared, the first plate is perforated by the punch and is pulled up by closely attaching it to the stripper while leaving the punch in the first bore, the second plate is perforated by the punch and is pulled up together with the first plate while leaving the punch in the second bore, and subsequently, the following plates are perforated by the punch and the perforated plates are stacked along the punch serving as a stacking axis sequentially.

Abstract: A fabrication method of an industrial part having high-aspect-ratio through-hole sections using a punch and a die, includes a first step of drilling a first hole section in a first sheet of sheet material with the above punch; a second step of lifting the above first sheet in tight contact with a stripper; a third step of lifting a tip section of the above punch so as to be slightly drawn in from a bottom section of the above lifted first sheet; a fourth step of drilling a second hole section in a second sheet of sheet material with the above punch; a fifth step of lifting the above second sheet in tight contact with the above first sheet; a sixth step of lifting the tip section of the above punch so as to be slightly drawn in from the bottom section of the above lifted second sheet, and, the subsequent steps of repeating the above fourth to sixth steps for lamination of a plurality of sheets of sheet material.

Abstract: A method for removing punched fragments usable in the method wherein perforations in a workpiece 3 are conducted by using a punch 10 and a die 12; comprising lifting workpiece 3 while tightly attaching to a stripper 11 without extracting punch 10 from perforations after its formation in workpiece 3, subsequently pushing back punch 10 lifted from the die 12 so as to make it protrude slightly from the bottommost end of perforation, and performing operation for removing punched fragments in that condition. The method for removing punched fragments can be easily performed even a very narrow space is available in a counterbore of a die, and can ensure no punched fragment remained inside perforations, and therefore can improve yield of a product being fabricated. Also presented is a method for producing an article by punching inclusive of the method for removing punched fragments.

Abstract: To provide a platen structure and printer using the same that a platen in length comprises rigid members and a plurality of support parts of a recording medium are disposed in a perpendicular direction to the platen in length and constitute the platen together with relevant rigid members, thereby getting a warp due to an integrated molding of the platen or any aging change under influence of external environments free from occurrence.

Abstract: An image processing device and method for identifying an input image and a copier including such an image processing device and method. The image processing device forms a gradated image from the input image, determines whether the gradated image includes a specified pattern, extracts a portion of the input image corresponding to the specified pattern, and compares the extracted portion of the input image with a reference pattern to determine a degree of resemblance between the extracted portion of the input image and the reference pattern.

Abstract: A shape measuring system reduced in size and cost and high in the light utilization efficiency, as well as a shape measuring method, are disclosed which can measure the distance up to an object accurately without being influenced by external conditions such as a change in reflectance of the surface of the object. A semiconductor laser emits an intensity-modulated illumination light. A plane sensor detects a combined light of both a reflected light from an object and a reference light and outputs a composite light detection signal. The semiconductor laser also emits an illumination light which is a stationary light not intensity-modulated. At this time, a shutter is closed. The plane sensor detects the reflected light from the object and outputs a detection signal thereof.

Abstract: A fabrication method of an industrial part having high-aspect-ratio through-hole sections using a punch and a die, includes: a first step of drilling a first hole section in a first sheet of sheet material with said punch; a second step of lifting said first sheet in tight contact with a stripper under a condition that said punch is not pulled out from the first hole section; a third step of lifting said punch so that a tip section of said punch is slightly drawn in from a bottom section of said lifted first sheet of sheet material; a fourth step of drilling a second hole section in a second sheet of sheet material with said punch; a fifth step of lifting said second sheet in tight contact with said first sheet under a condition that said punch is not pulled out from the second hole section; and a sixth step of lifting said punch so that a tip section of said punch is slightly drawn in from the bottom section of said lifted second sheet of sheet material.

Abstract: A fabrication method of an industrial part having high-aspect-ratio through-hole sections using a punch and a die, includes a first step of drilling a first hole section in a first sheet of sheet material with the above punch; a second step of lifting the above first sheet in tight contact with a stripper; a third step of lifting a tip section of the above punch so as to be slightly drawn in from a bottom section of the above lifted first sheet; a fourth step of drilling a second hole section in a second sheet of sheet material with the above punch; a fifth step of lifting the above second sheet in tight contact with the above first sheet; a sixth step of lifting the tip section of the above punch so as to be slightly drawn in from the bottom section of the above lifted second sheet, and, the subsequent steps of repeating the above fourth to sixth steps for lamination of a plurality of sheets of sheet material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a color filter with a small number of processes and at low cost is provided, for which a transparent conductive film for liquid crystal driving need not be formed, a voltage drop during liquid crystal driving is restrained, and a black matrix is easily formed; an apparatus for fabricating the color filter; the color filter; and a liquid crystal display apparatus.

Abstract: A dispersed-type testing/measuring system provides for example a simplified terminal unit to be installed at a patient's home.

Abstract: A dispersed-type testing/measuring system provides for example a simplified terminal unit to be installed at a patient's home. The dispersed-type testing/measuring system has a central controlling unit (20) and a plurality of terminal units 30 each accessible to the central controlling unit via a communication line (15). Each terminal unit (30) includes a crude data collecting portion (40), and a data transmitting means 45 for sending the data collected by the crude data collecting portion 40 to the central controlling unit (20). The central controlling unit 20 includes a measurement data calculating means (210) for generating measurement data by making calculation on the crude data sent from each terminal unit (30).