Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Jay H. Maioli
  • Patent number: 7464030
    Abstract: Each of the M basic vectors in a noise code book 260 is multiplied by a factor ±1 in a sign adder 270 and combined in an adder 280 to create 2M noise signed vectors. The characteristic of the binary Gray code is utilized as follows. A change ?Gu obtained between a noise signed vector based on a signed word i of the binary Gray code and a noise sign vector based on a sign word u adjacent to the sign word i and different from the sign word i only in a predetermined bit position v is used in such a manner that a sign word u? which is next to reverse the bit position v on the Gray code sequence can express a change ?Gu? from the noise signed vector by utilizing the fact that the sign word u? differs from the sign word u only in one bit position w excluding the bit position V. Thus, calculation is simplified, increasing the vector search speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Maeda, Shuichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 7454330
    Abstract: A speech encoding method and apparatus in which an input speech signal is divided in terms of blocks or frames as encoding units and encoded in terms of the encoding units, whereby explosive and fricative consonants can be impeccably reproduced, while there is an attenuation of the occurrence of foreign sounds being generated at a transient portion between voiced (V) and unvoiced (UV) portions, so that the speech with high clarity devoid of “stuffed” feeling may be produced. The encoding apparatus includes a first encoding unit for finding residuals of linear predictive coding (LPC) of an input speech signal for performing harmonic coding and a second encoding unit for encoding the input speech signal by waveform coding. The first encoding unit and the second encoding unit are used for encoding a voiced (V) portion and an unvoiced (UV) portion of the input signal, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Nishiguchi, Kazuyuki Iijima, Jun Matsumoto, Shiro Omori
  • Patent number: 7394898
    Abstract: An echo removing apparatus for reducing the echo caused by sound returning from a speaker to a microphone of a small-sized communication terminal, such as a portable telephone. The echo removing apparatus includes a filter unit for outputting a pseudo echo signal estimating an echo component returning to the microphone based upon a generated sound signal supplied to the speaker, a subtractor for subtracting the pseudo echo signal supplied from the filter unit from the sound generated collection signal supplied from the microphone and a first characteristics conversion unit for converting frequency characteristics of sound generated collection signals from the microphone on the frequency axis. The characteristics of the filter unit are controlled for minimizing an error component between an output signal of the first characteristics conversion unit and an output signal of the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Inoue, Masayuki Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 7239666
    Abstract: A communication system that can satisfactorily communicate with a mobile station by a transmitter and receiver of a simple arrangement wherein a plurality of carriers having different frequencies are transmitted simultaneously and data is transmitted on the basis of a phase difference between the carriers. Also, the carriers are multiplied with a predetermined time waveform and transmitted, so that a reception side receives data by use of a time waveform narrower than the above time waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Suzuki, Makoto Natori
  • Patent number: 7202901
    Abstract: A video camera has a video camera body having a storage region in a side surface thereof, an imaging unit housed in the video camera body for imaging an object and generating a video signal, and an electronic viewfinder for monitoring the video signal generated by the imaging unit. An angularly movable support supports a side edge of the electronic viewfinder for angular movement about a first axis to move an opposite side edge of the electronic viewfinder away from the storage region. An auxiliary angularly moving mechanism angularly moves the electronic viewfinder about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, so that one of face and back sides of the electronic viewfinder can be selected for storage into the storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hattori, Tomohiro Harata, Koji Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 7127306
    Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a microphone, a semiconductor memory, an operating section and a controller. An output signal from the microphone is written in the semiconductor memory and the written signals are read out from the semiconductor memory. The operating section performs input processing for writing a digital signal outputted by an analog/digital converter, reading out the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory and for erasing the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory. The control section controls the writing of the microphone output signal in the semiconductor memory based on an input from the operating section and the readout of the digital signal stored in the semiconductor memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Iida
  • Patent number: 7109930
    Abstract: An antenna coupling apparatus, an external-antenna connecting apparatus, and an onboard external-antenna connecting apparatus which inhibits unnecessary power emissions, reduces transmission loss, and offers high durability and high ease of operation. has an electromagnetic coupling element consisting of a conductor that is not in contact with a first antenna with respect to DC components and a ground conductor element consisting of a conductor that is not in contact with the first antenna with respect to DC components and in contact with a ground conductor with respect to DC components and reflecting the power transmitted or received by the first antenna toward the electromagnetic coupling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Tsuda, Yoshiki Kanayama, Tomoya Yamaura, Shinichi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7068196
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a digital signal that generates a one-bit output signal using a delta-sigma modulation apparatus, which includes a quantizer for quantizing an integrated output of a sixth integrator to generate a one-bit output signal that is send to respective integrators through an adder under feedback processing to output the one-bit output signal to the outside of a six-order Delta-sigma modulator, and a control unit for generating a control signal that controls the feedback loop signal from the quantizer so as to change the signal level of a signal component of the audio frequency band of the one-bit output signal. The control unit receives an integrated output from a second integrator being an input side integrator of the six-order delta-sigma modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Noguchi, Gen Ichimura, Nobukazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7065023
    Abstract: A device and a method for judging the radial moving direction of light spots formed on the signal recording surface of an optical disc having grooves of two types, which are different from each other in terms of depth and which are arranged along a recording track that is a land of the optical disc. The judging section of the device judges the moving direction of the main spot on the basis of binarized data of a difference signal of the main spot and binarized data of a difference signal of one of spots on the side. With this arrangement, the moving direction of the light spots relative to a radial direction of the optical disc can be determined only by using difference signals without using any sum signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomiji Tanaka, Shinichi Nakao, Sohmei Endoh, Tamotsu Ishii
  • Patent number: 7057886
    Abstract: A display device includes a cabinet that has a liquid crystal display; a connection section that is rotatably provided relative to the cabinet about a first rotating shaft and parallel to the liquid crystal display; a cover body that is rotatably provided relative to the connection section about a second rotating shaft parallel to the first rotating shaft and that opens and closes the liquid crystal display; and spring pins that are provided in at least one of the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft and that generate frictional forces upon rotating of the connection section and/or the cover body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Yano, Keiko Yabuki, Takaaki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 7035198
    Abstract: Audio data of 20 bits is separated into first data of upper 16 bits and second data of lower 4 bits. EFM modulation data is formed from the first data. A laser beam is on/off controlled in correspondence to the logic level of channel data obtained by NRZI modulating a serial data train. The first data, therefore, is recorded in a manner similar to the case of a compact disc. Each pit is controlled so as to have a displacement in the right/left direction for the track center in accordance with the second data and the deviated pit is formed. When data is recorded by the displacement of the pit, since a high frequency component of a tracking error signal changes upon reproduction, the second data can be extracted from the tracking error signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Masanobu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7030938
    Abstract: A tuner and receiver apparatus that can output first transport stream data and second transport stream data having excellent bit error rate characteristics for two systems even when a first tuner portion and a second tuner portion are provided on one board. A first tuner portion is provided on one surface of a board, and a second tuner portion is provided on the other side of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7029122
    Abstract: A projector for projecting an image to an external screen in which an optical unit, includes rectangular liquid crystal panels disposed such that the short sides thereof are substantially parallel with a plane including principal light beams of the respective color light beams to be composited by a prism. Transmission cables are drawn out from the short sides of the respective liquid crystal panels, and a cooling fan is disposed such that the direction of cooling air is approximately parallel with the long sides of the liquid crystal panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirohisa Ishino
  • Patent number: 7027366
    Abstract: A recording method of the present invention includes a first process for recording audio data consecutively in a first recording area of a recording medium and a second process for recording audio data, which have a file format having the same file contents as audio data recorded in said first recording area, in a second recording area of said recording medium, can process audio data having a consecutive recording format and audio data having a file format, and thus makes it possible to use conveniently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichiro Sako, Tatsuya Inokuchi, Shunsuke Furukawa
  • Patent number: 7028152
    Abstract: A data processing device for taking out necessary packet data from a sector in which a plurality of packet data exist in a mixed manner includes an audio decoder unit that has, in parallel, an audio packet extraction unit for extracting an audio packet made up of audio data with respect to an input of sector data from an external memory connected to a front-end processor unit, a supplementary packet extraction unit for extracting a supplementary packet made up of supplementary data, and a frame information extraction unit. Thus, when collectively providing the front-end processor unit and the audio decoder unit on one chip, a buffer memory for the frame state can be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Deoka, Kazuaki Toba, Keisuke Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 7027100
    Abstract: This invention provides an image transmission method, image anti-duplication method, image anti-duplication device, and image recording medium in which the information for anti-duplication control is superimposed on the video signal without deterioration of the resultant video signal and the information is extracted accurately and quickly to perform anti-duplication control. The output device starts generation of PN code correspondingly to the PN code start timing signal T1 generated based on the video sync signal. One chip interval of the PN code is divided to a plurality of divided chips correspondingly to the PN code inversion timing signal HT, and the original value of the chip is inverted on alternate one divided interval to generate the PN inversion code. The anti-duplication control signal is subjected to spectral spreading using the PN inversion code and superimposed on the video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ogino, Takehiro Sugita, Takashi Usui
  • Patent number: 7028203
    Abstract: Battery information is transmitted from a recording and playback apparatus to a host computer. In the host computer, based on the time for which operation can be continued, corresponding to the current operating status and the remaining battery level that is included in stored battery information, a warning is output, the data of a cache memory is written, data writing prohibition is set, and a forced closing process is performed. With this construction, in a system formed of a portable recording and playback apparatus and a personal computer, a proper system operation corresponding to the remaining battery level of the recording and playback apparatus is obtained, and the data recorded in the recording medium is prevented from being destroyed as a result of operation stopping due to, for example, the remaining battery level becoming zero while recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Nakai
  • Patent number: 7027739
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus and transmitting apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving a high speed optical signal and a communication system using the same, including a transmitting apparatus having a conversion circuit for converting serially input data to a plurality of bits of parallel data given predetermined information and an LED array having a number of LED units corresponding to the number of bits of the parallel data from the conversion circuit arranged in an array, wherein the LED units are controlled in light emission in parallel based on bit information of corresponding parallel data to emit optical information signals dispersed in a spatially predetermined range, and of a receiving apparatus having a plurality of photo-diodes arranged in an array for emitting electric signals of levels in accordance with amounts of light received, wherein the photo-diodes output electric signals in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichiro Haruyama
  • Patent number: 7027428
    Abstract: A wireless transmitting method and a wireless transmitter capable of performing efficient wireless transmission depending on the length of asynchronous information involves forming a wireless network using a plurality of communicating devices to carry out asynchronous transmission of information and includes the steps of building a monopayload packet having one of predetermined information units of the information as a data payload, building a multipayload packet having a plurality of predetermined information units of the information as a data payload, and carrying out the asynchronous transmission by wireless packet obtained by optionally combining the monopayload packet with the multipayload packet depending on the length of the information to be asynchronously transmitted by wireless. Therefore, it is possible to carry out efficient asynchronous wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Sugaya, Hidemasa Yoshida
  • Patent number: RE39231
    Abstract: In a communication terminal equipment and in a method of controlling call incoming, unnecessary noises in a period from the start of an alert sound to carrying out of the next operation can be reduced. When a predetermined operation is effected under the condition that an alert sound is ringing, the alert sound is stopped or the volume of the alert sound is reduced at least over a duration of call incoming. Thus, such a fear that persons in the surroundings may be troubled by the continuous ringing of the alert sound can be remarkably reduced. Further, since the situation that a power supply is cut off forcibly during all origination can be avoided, the fear that a person on the call origination side may be given an unpleasant feeling can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yasuda, Morihiko Hayashi, Michihiro Kaneko, Michihito Nakagawa