Abstract: In digital signal recording apparatus using I-NRZI modulation for recording, the need for intermittently reading or intermittently writing buffer storage is eliminated by using parallel-bit preceding to generate the channel words that are selected between for recording. The precoders perform precoding on an accelerated basis using ripple-through integration of the alternate successive bits used to form each channel word. Two precoders generate (n+1)-parallel-bit channel words at a channel word rate slower by a factor of (n+1) than the rate of a system clock for the I-NRZI modulation. This leaves additional time during each channel word interval to carry out a decision procedure, which determines which of the channel words generated by the two precoders is to be selected for recording.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording/reproducing an ATV or DVB signal are provided. During recording, normal- and trick-play data are extracted from the signal transmitted with a transport packet structure. The extracted normal-play data are mapped into five sync blocks for every two transport packets and the normal-play data are then outer-error-correction-encoded after replacing the trick-play data having an SD-ECC structure with data of a predetermined pattern. The extracted trick-play data is then arranged in a video data region having the SD-ECC structure and the trick-play data are outer-error-correction-encoded by replacing the video auxiliary data having the SD-ECC structure with data of a predetermined pattern and mapping the result into a five-sync-block unit. The outer-error-correction-encoded normal- and trick-play data are rearranged in the video data region having the SD-ECC structure and then are inner-error-correction-encoded.

Abstract: A method of adjusting hue in color video signals partitions the region of all available hues into subregions in accordance with the signs of U and V components of input color video signals, which U and V signals are respectively proportional to blue-minus-luminance and red-minus luminance color-difference signals. The hue in each subregion is adjusted independently of the hues in the other subregions. Within each subregion, each of the U and V components of the input color video signals that fall therein is gain-adjusted by prescribed factors according to the subregion. A hue adjustment device determines from the signs U and V components of input color video signals which of the subregions they fall into, and adjusts the hue in each subregion to facilitate more accurate hue adjustment.

Abstract: A digital image stabilization device receives correlation data generated from a plurality of local motion estimation areas and adaptively decides a motion vector according to irregular image environment. To do this, statistical variables and local motion vector are generated to check reliability by checking correlation values generated from each local motion estimation area. Then, it is determined that there is irregular image data deteriorating reliability of local motion vector, by analyzing statistical variables. Here, the irregular image environment can be in an image signal with low contrast, an image signal with a moving object, an image signal with repeated motion, etc. Also, isolativity and stability are obtained by analyzing local motion vector and a weight signal is generated with a predefined rate according to a computed result.

Abstract: In digital signal recording apparatus using I-NRZI modulation for recording, the need for intermittently reading or intermittently writing buffer storage is eliminated by using parallel-bit precoding to generate the channel words that are selected between for recording. The precoders perform preceding on an accelerated basis using ripple-through integration of the alternate successive bits used to form each channel word. Two precoders generate (n+1)-parallel-bit channel words at a channel word rate slower by a factor of (n+1) than the rate of a system clock for the I-NRZI modulation. This leaves additional time during each channel word interval to carry out a decision procedure, which determines which of the channel words generated by the two precoders is to be selected for recording.

Abstract: The error-correction coding function of an SD-VCR for recording and reproducing an ATV signal is modified to exclude trick-play data from outer error-correction coding in two-dimensional Reed-Solomon coding of normal play data, to improve error-correcting capability for the normal-play data. The same error-correction coding used as inner error-correction coding in the two-dimensional Reed-Solomon coding of normal play data is performed on the trick-play data as well as on the outer error-correction coded normal-play data. The resulting inner codes are preferably diagonal-scan interleaved before recording, at least for the normal-play data. During reproduction, after de-interleaving when interleaving was performed during recording, the inner error-correction coded data are decoded and separated into trick-play data and outer error-correction coded normal-play data. Outer error-correction coded normal-play data are decoded during normal play.

Abstract: A start-up circuit for a sensorless, brushless DC motor modifies a conventional start-up circuit to include an intermittently-accelerated-rate clock generator for supplying a clock signal intermittently accelerated in rate to a shift register that is connected as a ring counter for selectively generating three-phase commutation signals during start-up and six-phase phase commutation signals during running. The intermittently-accelerated-rate clock generator facilitates the start-up circuit increasing the magnitude of a back electromotive force by adjusting the rate of a starting clock during start-up of the motor, so as to be capable of both a normal start-up with a normal-rate clock signal and an accelerating start-up with an accelerated-rate clock signal. This permits a stable and rapid start-up without need for a microprocessor or complicated circuitry.

Abstract: A photo mask and method for manufacturing the same increase the capacitance of a capacitor by improving the proximity effect of a mask pattern. The photo mask includes a transparent substrate, an opaque mask pattern for defining an optical transmission area on the substrate, and an optical transmittance control film pattern for suppressing proximity effect in the optical transmission area. The proximity effect is suppressed by forming an optical transmittance control film pattern in the transmission area between the individual portions of the opaque mask pattern, so that the mask pattern shape can be exactly transferred onto a substrate.

Abstract: During start-up a telegraph-start circuit for a DC motor withholds exciting current from the stator field coils during alternative ones of the polyphase commutation signals used when the motor is running. This produces a high starting torque at an initial time overcoming dead-point, head-sticking and insufficient-initial-starting-torque problems in motor drive applications, while avoiding rail-to-rail short-through problems in the driver circuitry. Commutation-stop and power-OFF time control lowers dissipation required of field coil driver circuitry by periodically interrupting starting current flow into the DC motor field coils. The telegraph-start circuit includes an adjustable-rate clock generator, a commutation-stop and power-OFF time controller, a ring counter, a dual-mode commutation circuit, field coil driver circuitry, a zero-crossing reference generator, a phase selector, a zero-crossing detector, and a condition-of-rotation detector.

Abstract: A side-by-side capacitor structure in which the side-by-side capacitors are formed using a common dielectric layer, with a capacitor plate electrode shaped as an electrostatic shield for preventing stray capacitance between the side-by-side capacitors. More particularly, a substrate of semiconductive material has first and second contact areas on its top surface. First and second electrodes are located parallel to the top surface of the substrate of semiconductive material, but spaced therefrom by an electrically insulating layer that has first and second contact holes extending therethrough from the first and second contact areas to the first and second electrodes respectively. These contact holes are each filled with a respective conductive plug. The electrically insulating layer has a trench in its surface with first and second sides respectively aligned with an edge of the first electrode and with an edge of the second electrode.

Abstract: A controller for a switching mode power supply has connections for receiving direct operating potential, a voltage comparator for comparing a fraction of the direct operating potential to a first direct reference potential for developing a voltage comparator output signal, an oscillator for generating oscillations of a prescribed frequency, a pulse width modulator for supplying pulses at a rate determined by those oscillations and with a width controlled by the comparator output signal, and an under-voltage lock-out circuit producing a controlling signal to selectively disable the output pulse signal. The controller is included in a switching mode power supply receiving input power having a direct input potential.

Abstract: Disclosed is a DC voltage generating circuit for reducing an electric power consumption in a semiconductor memory device. The DC voltage generating circuit comprises: a refresh counter for setting a refresh cycle; a power source supply controller for logically combining a counting value supplied from the refresh counter and a self-refresh timer driving signal, thereby to generate a power source supply control signal in a refresh section; and a DC voltage generator for generating and supplying a DC voltage through an output terminal of the DC voltage generator, as controlled by the power source supply control signal supplied from the power source supply controller.

Abstract: A reproduction error correction circuit for a video reproduction system includes a line-storage memory for temporarily storing composite video signal samples, which memory is operated to provide both for time-base correction and for drop-out compensation. The memory is cyclically supplied sequential write addresses descriptive of pixel locations along a horizontal scan line, generated at a rate that tracks any jitter in the input video signal selectively used for writing over the previous contents of the memory. The memory is cyclically supplied sequential read addresses offset 1/2 scan line from the write addresses, generated at a stable rate equal to an average over several scan lines of the rate at which write addresses are generated. This provides for time-base error correction. When a drop-out is detected, overwriting of video signal samples already stored in the single line-storage memory is prohibited.

Abstract: A projection method uses a modified illumination method for a lithography process of semiconductor device, and a projection system and mask use the projection method. An object is exposed by removing the vertical incident component of light passed through a condenser lens. Zero-order diffracted light interferes destructively and the oblique component of .-+. first-order diffracted light, interferes constructively. The obliquely incident component light illuminates a mask having a pattern formed thereon. The vertical incident component of the light is removed by a phase difference of light due to a grating mask or a grating pattern formed on the back surface of the conventional mask. The resolution of a lithography process is improved due to the increased contrast, and the depth of focus is also increased. Thus, patterns for 64 Mb DRAMs can be formed using a conventional projection exposure system.

Abstract: Switching loss in push-pull switching transistors in a resonant inverter or the like, is minimized by assuring the switching of each of the transistors into conduction occurs when the voltage across its principal conduction path is zero-valued, or substantially so. This is done responsive to sensing the flow of forward currents through clamp diodes connected across the principal conduction paths of each of the transistors. This sensing is done so as to avoid the need for an additional coupling transformer. More particularly, the current flow to or from either of the terminals of the primary direct voltage supply, which current flow is in a first direction when either of the switching transistors is conductive and is in a second direction opposite to the first direction when the clamp diodes are conductive, is sensed for determining the times when the switching transistors are to begin to be conditioned for conduction.

Abstract: A lone precoder of 2T type generates interleaved non-return to-zero, invert-on-ONEs (I-NRZI) modulation for digital signal recording apparatus used for recording in parallel tracks on a record medium, the interleaved codes providing for the inclusion of pilot signals in selected sets of recording tracks. A first set of NRZI codes is generated directly by the precoder, and a second set of NRZI codes is generated by bit-complementing odd bit places of the first set of NRZI codes. Preferably the lone 2T precoder is one that performs its coding of each information word on a parallel-bit basis, to implement pipeline processing of the generation of I-NRZI modulation, and to avoid the need for intermittently written or intermittently read buffer storage. The digital signal recording apparatus is suited for the recording of television signals, with pilot signals being included on the tracks when sync and run-up data are recorded, as well as when video and audio data are recorded.

Abstract: A roulette-type disc changer includes a tray, a roulette rotatably mounted on the tray, on the upper surface of which a plurality of discs are loaded, and a pickup portion installed below the tray and having a deck on which an optical pickup for emitting a laser beam moves, for reproducing information from the discs, wherein a plurality of throughhole groups are formed in a predetermined pattern along a circumference of the roulette, a light throughhole is formed in the tray at a position corresponding to that of the throughholes of the roulette, the deck of the pickup portion is extended such that the optical pickup can sufficiently move to the position of the light throughhole, and a reflecting device is installed such that the laser beam emitted from the optical pickup can pass through the light throughhole and the throughholes of the roulette and be reflected from the reflection means.

Abstract: The error-correction coding function of an SD-VCR for recording and reproducing an ATV signal is modified to exclude trick-play data from outer error-correction coding in two-dimensional Reed-Solomon coding of normal play data, to improve error-correcting capability for the normal-play data. The same error-correction coding used as inner error-correction coding in the two-dimensional Reed-Solomon coding of normal play data is performed on the trick-play data as well as on the outer error-correction coded normal-play data. The resulting inner codes are preferably diagonal-scan interleaved before recording, at least for the normal-play data. During reproduction, after de-interleaving when interleaving was performed during recording, the inner error-correction coded data are decoded and separated into trick-play data and outer error-correction coded normal-play data. Outer error-correction coded normal-play data are decoded during normal play.

Abstract: A dual port memory device having a plurality of memory blocks which are divided from a memory cell array formed on same semiconductor substrate comprises a first memory block which shares a RAM port with a second memory block adjacent to one part thereof and also shares a SAM port with a third memory block adjacent to the other part thereof.

Abstract: A side-by-side capacitor structure in which the side-by-side capacitors are formed using a common dielectric layer, with a capacitor plate electrode shaped as an electrostatic shield for preventing stray capacitance between the side-by-side capacitors. More particularly, a substrate of semiconductive material has first and second contact areas on its top surface. First and second electrodes are located parallel to the top surface of the substrate of semiconductive material, but spaced therefrom by an electrically insulating layer that has first and second contact holes extending therethrough from the first and second contact areas to the first and second electrodes respectively. These contact holes are each filled with a respective conductive plug. The electrically insulating layer has a trench in its surface with first and second sides respectively aligned with an edge of the first electrode and with an edge of the second electrode.