All The Claims

1. An audio signal processing apparatus comprising:
a harmonic overtone adder and an equalizer,
the harmonic overtone adder including:
a high-pass filter for extracting from an audio signal a first frequency component equal to or higher than a first predetermined frequency;
a filter for extracting from the audio signal a second frequency component equal to or lower than half a second predetermined frequency;
an harmonic overtone generator for generating a frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component from an output from the filter; and
a first combining unit for combining the first frequency component extracted by the high-pass filter and the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component generated by the harmonic overtone generator; and
the equalizer including:
a level detector for detecting a level of the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component contained in an output from the first combining unit;
a gain controller for controlling dynamically the level of the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component contained in the output from the first combining unit based on a detection output from the level detector; and
a second combining unit for combining the output from the first combining unit with the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component output from the gain controller.
2. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first predetermined frequency is a resonance frequency of a loudspeaker, and
wherein the second predetermined frequency is an upper frequency limit below which a signal obtained by frequency multiplying a fundamental frequency signal causes no unpleasant hearing impression.
3. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the harmonic overtone adder comprises a frequency-quadrupled harmonic overtone generator for generating a frequency-quadrupled harmonic overtone component by frequency quadrupling the output of the filter, and
wherein the frequency-quadrupled harmonic overtone component generated by the frequency-quadrupled harmonic overtone generator is supplied to the first combining unit to be combined with the first frequency component extracted by the high-pass filter.
4. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a low frequency cutoff filter for removing from an output from the second combining unit a low-frequency component lower than the first predetermined frequency.
5. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the level detector determines one cycle in response to a duration within which a polarity of a low-frequency component contained in the output of the first combining unit is reversed, and detects the level of the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component within the one cycle.
6. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one cycle is a period from a reversal of the polarity of the level of the low-frequency component from negative to positive to a next reversal of the polarity of the level from negative to positive.
7. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the level detector detects a peak level in one cycle.
8. The audio signal processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the level detector detects a mean level throughout one cycle.
9. An audio signal processing method comprising steps of:
adding a harmonic overtone; and
equalizing frequency components,
the adding step including:
high-pass filtering an audio signal by extracting from the audio signal a first frequency component equal to or higher than a first predetermined frequency;
filtering the audio signal by extracting from the audio signal a second frequency component equal to or lower than half a second predetermined frequency;
generating a frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component from an output of the filtering; and
first combining the first frequency component and the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component; and
the equalizing step including:
detecting a level of the frequency-doubled overtone component contained in an output of the first combining;
controlling dynamically the level of the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component contained of the output in the first combining based on a detection output by the detecting; and
second combining the output of the first combining with the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component output by the controlling.
10. The audio signal processing method according to claim 9, wherein the first predetermined frequency is a resonance frequency of a loudspeaker, and
wherein the second predetermined frequency is an upper frequency limit below which a signal obtained by frequency multiplying a fundamental frequency signal causes no unpleasant hearing impression.
11. The audio signal processing method according to claim 9, wherein the step of adding the harmonic overtone comprises generating a frequency-quadrupled harmonic overtone component by frequency quadrupling the output of the filtering, and
wherein the frequency-quadrupled harmonic overtone component output is combined with the first frequency component.
12. The audio signal processing method according to claim 9, further comprising removing from an output of the second combining a low-frequency component lower than the first predetermined frequency.
13. The audio signal processing method according to claim 9, wherein in the equalizing step, one cycle is determined in response to a duration within which a polarity of a low-frequency component contained in an output of the first combining is reversed, and the level of the frequency-doubled harmonic overtone component is detected within one cycle.
14. The audio signal processing method according to claim 13, wherein the one cycle is a period from a reversal of the polarity of the level of the low-frequency component from negative to positive to a next reversal of the polarity of the level from negative to positive.
15. The audio signal processing method according to claim 13, wherein the equalizing step comprises detecting a peak level in one cycle period.
16. The audio signal processing method according to claim 13, wherein the equalizing step comprises detecting a mean level throughout one cycle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Auditory ossicle prosthesis which replaces or spans at least one member or parts of one member of the ossicular chain, wherein the auditory ossicle prosthesis comprises, at one end, a substantially plate-shaped first securing element for bearing on the tympanic membrane or on the footplate of the stirrup, and, at its other end, a second securing element for mechanical connection to a member or parts of a member of the ossicular chain or to the inner ear, and also a connection element that connects the two securing elements to each other so as to conduct sound, and wherein the plate-shaped first securing element has a radially inner coupling area for mechanically coupling the first securing element to the connection element, and also a plurality of web elements for radial connection of the radially inner coupling area to radially outer portions of the first securing element,
characterized in that.
the coupling area andor the web elements andor the radially outer portions are of such a geometric configuration that they together form pieces of a jigsaw from which the plate-shaped first securing element can be assembled in its entirety, wherein the individual jigsaw pieces can be joined to one another or removed from one another, and wherein the first securing element is inherently mechanically stable in the state with the jigsaw pieces joined together.
2. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that both securing elements are plate-shaped and are constructed from jigsaw pieces, wherein the first securing element is designed as a flat headplate for mechanical connection to the tympanic membrane, and the second securing element is designed to allow the auditory ossicle prosthesis to bear on the footplate of the stirrup.
3. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one radially inner jigsaw piece is provided that contains the coupling area, and in that at least one radially outer jigsaw piece forms a ring surrounding the radially inner jigsaw piece in the assembled state.
4. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one jigsaw piece is provided that can be joined from the side onto at least one other jigsaw piece at the outer edge of the plate-shaped first securing element.
5. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 4, characterized in that the jigsaw piece that can be joined on from the side is shaped as an appendix for the hammer or the manubrium of the auditory ossicle prosthesis and, in the assembled state, protrudes radially outward from the edge of the plate-shaped first securing element.
6. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 4, characterized in that the jigsaw piece that can be joined on from the side is anchored resiliently in the first securing element.
7. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 6, characterized in that the jigsaw piece that can be joined on from the side is anchored in the first securing element by means of a clip element.
8. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 4, characterized in that the jigsaw piece that can be joined on from the side is anchored with a snap-fit action in the first securing element.
9. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the state with the jigsaw pieces joined together, the plate-shaped first securing element has apertures extending through the plane of the plate.
10. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the state with the jigsaw pieces joined together, the plate-shaped first securing element forms an inherently closed surface and has no apertures extending through the plane of the plate.
11. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that the radially outer portions of the plate-shaped first securing element form an outer ring area.
12. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 11, characterized in that the radially outer ring area of the first securing element is uninterrupted and closed.
13. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 11, characterized in that the radially outer ring area of the first securing element has at least one interruption, preferably several interruptions.
14. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 11, characterized in that the radially outer ring area of the first securing element has an oval or circular shape.
15. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 11, characterized in that the radially outer ring area of the plate-shaped first securing element has a bulge extending radially outwardly in the plane of the plate.
16. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 11, characterized in that the radially outer ring area of the first securing element has a unilateral recess for receiving the manubrium.
17. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 11, characterized in that the radially outer ring area has an undulating outer contour.
18. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that the web elements between the radially inner coupling area and the radially outer portions of the plate-shaped first securing element are uninterrupted.
19. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that at least some web elements have an interruption between the radially inner coupling area and the radially outer portions of the plate-shaped first securing element.
20. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that the web elements of the plate-shaped first securing element are not rectilinear in the plane of the plate, but instead extend along curved paths.
21. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that each web element is connected to at least two other web elements.
22. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that the radially inner coupling area is arranged centrally around the area centroid of the plate-shaped first securing element.

1. A method of production of a sweet comprising shell molding by immersing the forming cores of the molds which are cooled to the temperature less than the crystallization temperature of a chocolate mass or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze mass, into a tank with tempered chocolate mass or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze mass, holding the forming cores of the molds in the tank and extraction of the forming cores of the molds from the tank followed by their holding, with further separation of the resulted shells by compressed air and providing it with fillings of different kinds, characterized in that the cuts are made on each forming cores at its lower end which form barriers in the inner chamber of the shell.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of the shell is adjusted by the depth of immersing of the forming core into the mass.
3. The method of production of a sweet, comprising shell molding by pouring over the forming core with tempered chocolate mass or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze mass, with the forming core being cooled to the temperature less than the crystallization temperature of chocolate or a chocolate or a glaze mass, holding of the forming core, extraction of the obtained shells by compressed air and providing them with different kinds of fillings, wherein the cuts are made on each forming cores at its operative end which form barriers in the inner chamber of the shell.
4. The method of production of a sweet, comprising shell molding by dosated pouring into the mold the tempered chocolate mass or a chocolate or a glaze mass or a toffee mass or a butterscotch mass, immersing into the mold the forming core cooled to the temperature less than the crystallization temperature of the mass poured into the mold, holding and extraction of the forming core from the mold, extraction of the obtained shell from the mold, and providing it with fillings of different kinds, characterized in that the cuts are made on each forming cores at its lower end which form barriers in the inner chamber of the shell.
5. The method of production of a sweet, comprising shell molding by dosated pouring into the mold tempered chocolate mass or a chocolate or a glaze mass, immersing into the mold of the forming core made of a frozen or a hardened filling and cooled to the temperature less than the crystallization temperature of a chocolate mass or a chocolate or a glaze mass and less than the melting temperature of the filling which constitutes the forming core, holding and extraction from the mold of the forming core, wherein the lower end of the forming core has cuts forming barriers in the inner chamber of the shell with a part of the forming core being cut off after the extraction to equal the height of the chocolate shell.
6. The method of production of a sweet, comprising shell molding by dosated pouring into the mold the tempered chocolate mass or a chocolate or a glaze mass, or a toffee mass, or a butterscotch mass, immersing into the mold of the forming core the lower part of which is made of a frozen or a hardened filling and which is cooled to the temperature less than the crystallization temperature of a chocolate mass or a chocolate or a glaze mass, or a toffee mass or a butterscotch mass and the melting temperature of the filling which constitutes the forming core, holding and extraction the forming core from the mold wherein the lower end of the forming core has cuts forming barriers in the inner shell chamber with the lower part of the forming core being removed after the extraction.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the height of the lower part of the forming core substantially equals the height of the form.
8. The method according to any of claim 5, characterized in that the forming core is cooled by blowing with cold air.
9. The method of production of a sweet, comprising molding of a wafer shell or a flour confectionary mass shell by dosated filling of the mold with dough, immersing of the forming core into the mold, holding at the predetermined baking temperature of the article and extraction of the forming core from the mold followed by extraction of the obtained shell from the mold, coating of the shell with chocolate or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze and providing it with fillings of different kinds, characterized in that the cuts are made on forming core at its lower end which form barriers in the inner chamber of the shell.
10. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the depth of the cuts in the forming core substantially equals the height of the form.
11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two chambers contain different kinds of fillings.
12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that all chambers contain fillings of different kinds.
13. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the coating of the shell with chocolate or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze is carried out by immersing it into a melted chocolate mass or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze mass.
14. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the coating of the shell with chocolate or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze is carried out by spraying a melted chocolate mass or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze mass onto the shell.
15. A forming core for production of the shells of chocolate sweets, characterized in that the forming core has cuts in its operative end forming barriers in the inner chamber of the shell.
16. The forming core according to claim 15, characterized in that it is made of frozen or hardened fillings of different kinds.
17. The forming core according to claim 15, characterized in that it is composite with its part of the lower end being made of frozen or hardened fillings of different kinds.
18. A sweet, produced according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprise a shell in the form of a container divided by barriers into two or more chambers, and fillings of different kinds disposed in said chambers.
19. The sweet, according to claim 18, characterized in that at least two chamber comprise fillings of different kinds.
20. The sweet, according to claim 18, characterized in that all chambers contain fillings of different kinds.
21. The chocolate sweet, according to claim 18, characterized in that the shell and the barriers are made of chocolate or of a chocolate or a confectionary glaze or of a butter-scotch mass or of a toffee mass.
22. The chocolate sweet, according to claim 18, characterized in that the shell and the barriers are made of wafer or of a flour confectionary mass, covered with chocolate or a chocolate or a confectionary glaze.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
a dielectric substrate made of a dielectric material;
a flat-plate radiation element buried inside the dielectric substrate at its center portion;
a feeding lead connected to the radiation element and extracted outward from a rear surface of the dielectric substrate through the inside thereof; and
a conductor cover covering at least side surfaces of the dielectric substrate;
the conductor cover having a side wall portion extending in a thickness direction of the radiation element and covering all of the side surfaces of the dielectric substrate, and at least one hood portion extending from an upper edge of the side wall portion and covering a part of a front surface of the dielectric substrate.
2. An antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric substrate has a shape of a rectangularly configured body.
3. An antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the hood portion having a trapezoidal shape whose base is coincident with a peripheral side of the front surface of the dielectric substrate;
the front surface of the dielectric substrate having an exposed portion which is not covered with the hood portion, the exposed portion having a rectangular center portion and a plurality of strip-like peripheral portions extending outward from a plurality of corners of the rectangular center portion along diagonal lines.
4. An antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
the hood portion having a rectangular shape whose base is coincident with a peripheral side of the front surface of the dielectric substrate;
the front surface of the dielectric substrate having an exposed portion which is not covered with the hood portion, the exposed portion having a rectangular center portion and a plurality of rectangular peripheral portions having inner corners which overlap four corners of the rectangular center portion, respectively.
5. An antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the radiation element has a rectangular shape.
6. An antenna apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the radiation element has a six-sided shape obtained by trimming the rectangular shape by cutting off two corners opposite to each other along a diagonal line.
7. An antenna apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rectangular shape is a square shape.
8. An antenna apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric substrate, the radiation element, the feeding lead, and the conductor cover are formed into an integral structure.