This paper is concerned with the continuous relation between models of the plant and the predicted performances of the system designed based on the models. To state the problem more precisely, let P be the transfer matrix of a plant model, and let A be the transfer matrix of interest of the designed system, which is regarded as a performance measure for evaluating the designed responses. A depends upon P and is written as A=A(P). From the practical point of view, it is necessary that the function A(P) should be continuous with respect to P. In this paper we consider the linear quadratic optimal servosystem with integrators (LQI) scheme as the design methodology, and prove that A(P) depends continuously on the plant transfer matrix P if the topology of the family of plants models is the graph topology. A numerical example is given for illustrating the result.

For systems in which the probability that an incorrect output is observed differs with input values, we adopt the redundant usage of n copies of identical systems which we call the n-redundant system. This paper presents a method to find the optimal redundancy of systems for minimizing the probability of dangerous errors. First, it is proved that a k-out-of-n redundancy or a mixture of two kinds of k-out-of-n redundancies minimizes the probability of D-errors under the condition that the probability of output errors including both dangerous errors and safe errors is below a specified value. Next, an algorithm is given to find the optimal series-parallel redundancy of systems by using the properties of the distance between two structure functions.

Beam-steering devices are attractive for spatial optical interconnections. Those devices are essential not only for fixed connecting routed optical interconnections, but for flexible connecting routed optical interconnections. The flexible connecting routed optical interconections are more powerful than the conventional fixed connecting routed ones. Structures and characteristics of beam-steering devices, a beam-scanning laser diode and a fringe-shifting laser diode, are reported for those interconnections. Using these lasers, the configurations of several optical interconnections, such as optical buses and optical data switching links as examples of fixed and flexible connecting routed optical interconnections are discussed.

In this paper, we present some novel concepts and photonic devices for use in optical interconnects. First, we review the progress of surface emitting lasers while featuring materials and performances including thresholds, power output, RIN, linewidth, and so on. Advanced technology for aiming at spontaneous emission control, photon recycling, polarization control, wavelength tuning, integration etc. will be considered. Then we touch on some other possible devices for optical interconnects. Lastly, we discuss on lightwave subsystems applying these devices and concepts.

This paper proposes a high-speed VP bandwidth control scheme for ATM networks that utilizes a distributed control mechanism. First, the characteristics of VPs are compared with those of digital paths in STM networks. A distributed control scheme is adopted for rapid control. The basic elements and the necessary distributed function, the control algorithm, and the message transmission mechanism, are elucidated. The bandwidth alteration time with the proposed algorithm is estimated by considering network element processing and queuing delay. The proposed VP bandwidth control scheme can be applied to both public networks and leased line services. Finally, this paper focuses on its application to leased line services, and discusses the resource reduction effects of the proposed scheme.

New focused ion beam (FIB) methods for microscopic cross-sectioning and observation, microscopic crosssectioning and elemental analysis, and aluminum film microstructure observation are presented. The new methods are compared to the conventional methods and the conventional FIB methods, from the four viewpoints such as easiness of analysis, analysis time, spatial resolution, and pinpointing precision. The new FIB methods, as a result, are shown to be the best ones totally judging from the viewpoints shown above.

This paper describes an error-correcting parser (ec-parser) for context-free languages that is an extension of the Leiss's parser. Since the ec-parser uses precomputed informations and a pruning technique by lookahead, the ec-parser is always faster than the Lyon's parser. Several examples are shown.

The relation between the radiation pattern and the dimension of the conducting box for a portable telephone is illustrated both theoretically and experimentally. The Galerkin-moment method using the Fourier series expansion for the surface current of the conducting box, which has a great advantage of having a high accuracy, is employed to obtain the radiation pattern. As an example of antennas, a quarter-wavelength monopole antenna having a sinusoidal current distribution is used. As a result, it is pointed out that the radiation pattern of a monopole antenna mounted on the box tends to tilt in a lower direction both in theory and in experiment as well. The relation between the radiation pattern and the location of the monopole antenna is also described. An asymmetrical, or distorted pattern is observed when the monopole antenna moves away from the center of the top plane.

In order to develop silicon ICs operating up to above 450, Integrated Injection Logic (IIL) was chosen. A new structure for IIL was designed through experimental and theoretical studies of pn junctions, transistors, and IIL at high temperatures. A 5-µm design rule was used. The new IIL was fabricated by a specially developed combined process of ion implantation and low temperature epitaxy. The IIL was fully operational from room temperature to 454, and the output amplitude of a nine-stage ring oscillator was about 30 mV at 454. The minimum delay time of the IIL was 22 nsec at 454. The minimum power-delay product was 11 pJ and was one-third of that for IILs fabricated by 10-µm rule at 50.

In this paper, we propose a polynomial time algorithm for computing the expected maximum number of vertex-disjoint s-t paths in a probabilistic basically series-parallel directed graph and a probabilistic series-parallel undirected graph with distinguished source s and sink t(st), where each edge has a mutually independent failure probability and each vertex is assumed to be failure-free.

This paper reports on broad-range wavelength tuning characteristics of DBR lasers which make use of a newly proposed multiple-phase-shift super structure grating (SSG). The reflection characteristics of the SSG reflector are analyzed theoretically. We found that the SSG reflector has periodic sharp reflection peaks each with high reflectivities thus making it a suitable wavelength selective reflector for single-mode lasers. The expected characteristics were evident in multiple-phase-shift SSGs fabricated using a new method which involves multiple-phase-shift insertion. DBR lasers with multiple-phase-shift SSGs were fabricated and their wavelength tuning characteristics were studied. The maximum tuning range is 105 nm in the single longitudinal mode under a CW condition. Dynamic single mode operation was also observed throughout the tuning range.

256 MbDRAM chips have been fabricated by mix-and-match method using high NA KrF excimer laser stepper and i-line stepper. In the case of KrF stepper, the negative siloxane resist is used for rectangular and wiring patterns and the positive novolak-resin resist is used for hole patterns. Both of these two kinds of resist produce accurate pattern shape, allow-able pattern profile, satisfactory depth of focus and sufficient overlay accuracy for device fabrication in 0.25 µm design rule.

A new automated main distributing frame (AMDF) system is developed that reduces operating costs in metallic-cable main distributing frames (MDFs) used for communication networks. In this AMDF system, a robot inserts connecting-pins into the crosspoint holes of matrix-boards. This process allows jumpering to be completed within three minutes and the route-setting for line testing within one minute. The AMDF system provides approximately 2,100 office equipment cable-terminals. Parallel installation of several AMDF systems allows larger MDF systems to be constructed. This system reduces costs and achieves high reliability through three new technologies: high-density matrix-board, precision pin-handling, and a highly reliable system control. Test results for a prototype AMDF system confirm their effectiveness.

As in other fields, the automatization of railway maintenance work is a firm requirement. The authors have developed a system detecting obstacles around a railway for practical railway inspection. The system is based on an original laser-sectioning method and characterized by high accuracy with wide view and in-motion operation. It was confirmed that a static calibration was performed at an accuracy of within 5 mm. Furthermore, a theoretical estimation predicted that dynamic errors can be eliminated within a resolution of 4 mm by means of rail movement detection. In field tests on the Chuo Line, facilities were successfully inspected at speeds up to 40km/h.

We often use data flow diagrams or state transition diagrams to design software systems with concurrency. We call those diagrams as nets in this paper. Semantics of any methods to describe such software systems should be defined in some formal ways. There would be no doubts that any nets should be supported by appropriate theoretical frameworks. In this paper, we use CCS as a typical algebraic approach of using formulas to express concurrent behaviors and point out the different features of CCS from Petri nets. Any approaches should be not only theoretically beautiful but also practically useful. We use a specification language LOTOS as such example which has two features, CCS and ADT, and is designed to specify practical communication protocols. Algebraic approaches of using formulas, like LOTOS, can be considered as a compact way to express concurrent behaviors. We explore our discussions of net-oriented approaches into UIMS research fields. After mentioning state transition models of UIMS, we exemplify a practically used example, VIA-UIMS, which has been developed by one of authors. VIA-UIMS employs a net-oriented architecture. It has been designed to reconstuct tools which have already been widely used in many sites.

This paper presents a collision warning system that uses laser radar to measure the distance to a preceding vehicle and issues an audible warning to alert the driver if a safe headway is not maintained. The laser radar system is of the cooperative type in that it detects light reflected from a reflex reflector attached at the rear of other vehicles. With a 10-watt pulsed laser, a maximum detection range of over 100m is obtained. The construction and operation of the collision warning system are described along with the configuration of the optical system used in the laser radar head and the results of detection performance evaluations.

In the future, it will be necessary that robot technology or environmental technology has an auditory function of recognizing sound expect for speech. In this letter, we propose a recognition system for the species of birds receiving birdcalls, based on network technology. We show the first step of a recognition system for the species of birds, as an application of a recognition system for environmental sound.

The scattering of electromagnetic waves by a dielectric grating with planar slanted-fringe is analyzed using the improved Fourier series expansion method. In the analysis, the slanted grating region is divided into layers to make an assembly of stratified thin modulated index layers. This method can be applied to a wide range of periodic structures and is especially effective in the case of planar slanted grating, because the electromagnetic fields in the each layer can easily be obtained by shifting the solution in the first layer. In this paper, the numerical results are given for grating with rectangular and sinusoidal dielectric profiles, and for TM and TE cases of arbitrary incident angle. The diffraction efficiencies obtained by the presented method are compared with the results by the coupled-wave approach; the influences of the slant angle on the diffraction efficiencies at the Wood's anomaly and at the coupling resonance frequency are also discussed.

Knowledge-based Database Assistant is an expert system designed to help novice users formulate correct and complete database queries. This paper describes a knowledge-based database assistant with advanced facilities such as (1) a menu-based querymaking guidance, (2) a menu-based natural-language user-interface, and (3) database-commands generator which formulates formal database queries with SQL language. The system works as an intelligent front-end to an SQL database system or a computer-aided SQL tutorial-system. In this paper, we also discuss a semantic-network model, named S-Net, which is used to represent the knowledge for formal database-query formulating processes. The menu-based English user-interface allows end-users to make a query by filling a certain query pattern with appropriate words. The query-pattern filling process is guided by pop-up menus provided by the system. The query-pattern instances thus obtained are then translated into formal database queries. The translation is carried out by evaluating operations on S-Net knowledge-base which conveys knowledge about application domain, and the underlying database schema.

In this study, an expression of the regression relationship with less information loss is concretely derived in the form suitable to the existence of amplitude constraint of the observed data and the prediction of response probability distribution. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed experimentally by applying it to the actual acoustic data.