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A voice recognizer for automotive application which controls hands-free car telephone using voice has been developed. To ensure high recognition performance in noisy environments, a pitch synchronous analysis method and utterance detection method adaptable to noisy environments have been adapted to the voice recognizer. A digital signal processor (DSP) for pitch synchronous spectrum analysis and a micro processor for pattern matching and controlling the system have been used as the main components, and the recognizer has been compactly designed for automobile use.

This paper profiles the North American retrofit fleets (vehicle types and run conditions), and describes the results seen with these trials. After two cooling seasons in both Australia and North America, we have begun to remove vehicles from the fleet, and examine them for durability and system chemistries. To date, there have been no systematic performance or durability issues. The service requirements of the fleet have been typical of those seen with equivalent CFC-12 vehicles, as shown by specific examples. Results indicate that OEM rubber hoses likely provide sufficient containment for HFC-134a in retrofit situations, and that adequate compressor durability may be expected with the lubricants used. Bench testing with molecular sieve and silica type desiccants at least suggest that existing desiccants may be sufficiently stable to be used in retrofit conditions.

Anodizing is applied to improve the durability and the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy parts of engines and car bodies. Generally, anodic oxide film is formed using direct current anodizing (DCA). However, in the case of anodizing high silicon aluminum alloy cast parts, it is difficult to derive uniform film thickness distribution. Furthermore, it takes a long treatment time which causes low productivity. In this study, the authors have developed an anodizing method by using high-frequency switching anodizing (HSA) to solve these problems. The growth process of anodic oxide film is susceptible to the metallographic structure. Thus, the typical DCA application to the high silicon aluminum alloy produces a non-uniform film thickness, while HSA has the potential to form uniform film without being affected by metallographic structure. Moreover, the current density of HSA is higher than that of DCA which reduces treatment time to 1/5 as the film formation enhances.