Abstract: This invention relates to a recording medium, data transmission apparatus, data receiver, and optical disk unit, and particularly applies to a system which transmits video data and other data or records them on an optical disk in a predetermined block unit, and permits each frame to be easily and correctly located by low volumes of identification data. At least contiguous synchronization patterns or/and contiguous synchronization patterns with one synchronization pattern interleaved therebetween are assigned with unique combinations.

Abstract: A method for forming an electrically-programmable read-only-memory (EPROM) or a flash memory cell is disclosed. The EPROM or flash memory cell provides both source-side and drain-side injection, along with a reduced cell size, by forming the memory cell in a trench. The drain is formed in the top surface of the substrate, the source is formed in the bottom surface of the trench, and the stacked gate is formed over the sidewall of the trench.

Abstract: The invention intends to precisely measure the distance to an object. A CCD opens an electronic shutter for a proper period of time under control of a timing generator to receive a laser beam reflected by an object, converts the amount of light entering the CCD during that period of time, after passing a corresponding beam splitter, into an electric signal (voltage), and then outputs the electric signal to a distance calculating circuit. The distance calculating circuit calculates the distance from a laser telemeter to the object using a dark voltage VD, a reflection voltage VR and a total voltage VA inputted from the CCD.

Abstract: A metal surface having optimized reflectance is created utilizing the following process steps alone or in combination: 1) performing alloy/sintering of the metal-silicon interface prior to a chemical mechanical polish of the intermetal dielectric before the reflective metal electrode is formed; 2) chemical-mechanical polishing the intermetal dielectric layer again after vias are formed; 3) forming a metal adhesion layer composed of collimated titanium over the underlying dielectric; 4) depositing metal upon the adhesion layer at as low a temperature as feasible to maintain small grain size; 5) depositing at least the first layer of the reflectance enhancing coating on top of the freshly deposited metal prior to etching the metal; and 6) depositing the initial layer of the reflective enhancing coating at a temperature as close as possible to the temperature of formation of the metal electrode layer in order to suppress hillock formation in the metal. Deposition of the REC serves two distinct purposes.

Abstract: A device for occlusion of a body passageway and subsequent perfusion of the body passageway with arterial return blood, cardioplegia and other fluid is disclosed. The device of the present invention is an expandable cannula comprising a flexible, expandable tubular elongate body having a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the expandable cannula is inserted having a first diameter and then expanded to a second diameter to provide perfusion flow to the body passageway through at least one arterial return aperture provided on the distal end of the expandable tubular elongate body in fluid communication with a perfusion lumen provided within the cannula. The device may be further provided with one or more additional lumens for providing additional functions to the vessel lumen and may also include an expandable occluding member fixed at the distal end of the cannula for isolating the surgical area from the rest of the arterial system.

Abstract: An anastomosis is performed using a mounting structure mounted on the outside of at least one vessels. The mounting structure includes a flexible mounting structure that is attached to the vessel by a special instrument. A graft vessel is attached to the mounting structure either directly or by means of another mounting structure attached to the graft vessel. Tools for attaching a mounting structure to a vessel are disclosed, and a tool for attaching two mounting structures together is also disclosed. Methods for carrying out the anastomosis according to the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A soft output decoding method and apparatus are provided for provided convolutional codes. After computing the number of states times I&bgr; (&bgr;t˜&bgr;t−D+1) for a truncated length, the soft output outside the truncated length is sequentially computed, as next following I&bgr; (&bgr;t−D˜&bgr;t−2D+1) outside the next following truncated length is computed, at the same time as I&bgr; of the next truncated length is sequentially computed. In this manner, a decoder performs computation of I&bgr; within the truncated length and computation of I&bgr; retrogressive by not less than the truncated length, in parallel processing, as a result of which the computation of I&bgr; per clock is the number of states x2. This apparatus and method thereby reduces the volume of computation and expedites the decoding.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provides is configured such that a decoded image can be provided that is almost identical to the original image being encoded. In particular, corrected data of fewer pixels than the number of pixels for an original image is calculated by carrying out prescribed calculations using a pixel value for pixels of each block of the image and mapping coefficients that correspond to the class of the block. A predicted value for the original image is then estimated at a local decoder based on the corrected data. Then, at an error calculator, a prediction error for the original image for the predicted value is detected. At a mapping setting unit, a mapping coefficient corresponding to the class of the block is changed based on this prediction error. By repeating this process, mapping coefficients occurring when the prediction error is less than a prescribed threshold value are obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for characterizing multilayer samples is disclosed. An intensity modulated pump beam is focused onto the sample surface to periodically excite the sample. A probe beam is focused onto the sample surface within the periodically excited area. The power of the reflected probe beam is measured by a photodetector. The output of the photodetector is filtered and processed to derive the modulated optical reflectivity of the sample. Measurements are taken at a plurality of pump beam modulation frequencies. In addition, measurements are taken as the lateral separation between the pump and probe beam spots on the sample surface is varied. The measurements at multiple modulation frequencies and at different lateral beam spot spacings are used to help characterize complex multilayer samples. In the preferred embodiment, a spectrometer is also included to provide additional data for characterizing the sample.

Abstract: In a Viterbi decoder, an SMU is used instead of a PMU. The SMU has four status memories that process a status data value composed of a plurality of bits that represent a status at a time. The status memories generate a sequence of four status data values. A merge block generates decoded data corresponding to the four status data values, detects mismatches of four status data values, and generates a mismatch detection signal NM. The number of mismatches is counted corresponding to the mismatch detecting signal NM. The quality of decoded data and reproduced signal are evaluated corresponding to the count value.

Abstract: A RAKE receiver includes an arithmetic circuit for weighting coefficients. The arithmetic circuit obtains the signal power for each path from the reception amplitude on the path which is detected by a transmission path characteristics detector, and also obtains the interference powers from the reception amplitudes on two other paths which are respectively detected by transmission path characteristics detectors. The arithmetic circuit then calculates the weighting coefficients on the basis of the these signal powers and interference powers. The weighting coefficients are respectively supplied to weighting multipliers, thereby weighting the reception signals from the respective paths. A symbol synthesizer performs symbol synthesis of the resultant signals.

Abstract: An optical pickup device capable of irradiating laser beams on a signal recording surface of a magneto-optical disk is provided. The optical pickup device so provided includes a separate optical system whose moveable portion is reduced in weight in order to cope with high-speed access.

Abstract: An information input apparatus, an information input method, and an information input sheet which a user can easily operate without directly having to become aware of hardware are provided. An information input sheet includes a display area having an input information area and an identification area in which an identification code of the input information is provided. The identification code of the input information is provided in the display area as a target pattern having a rotation mode in which a code is defined by a directional orientation of the target pattern. An image pickup unit generates imaging information from imaging the information input sheet. The imaging information includes imaging information of the identification area of the information input sheet. Based on this imaging information of the identification area, the rotation mode of the target pattern, as recognized by an image recognition unit, is determined. The rotation mode specifies the identification code of the information input sheet.

Abstract: An encoded signal signal transmission method and apparatus is disclosed which performs stable signal reproduction without causing any breakage of a buffer on the side of a decoder system even when the transmission bit rate is changed. In encoding and transmitting a digital signal at a variable bit rate, an encoder buffer for temporarily storing an encoded signal on the side of an encoder system has a code buffer used by the encoder system for rate control, with the size of the code buffer being constant, and after a predetermined delay time from when the encoding bit rate is altered, an output bit rate from the encoder buffer is altered to a new value of the encoding bit rate.

Abstract: Hydrothermal synthesis of the natural, alkaline earth zeolites via the alteration of Y-zeolite is presented. Synthetic versions of the zeolites harmotome, heulandite, brewsterite and gmelinite are synthesized from Y-zeolite using alkaline earth cations containing solutions. The effect of the composition of the starting zeolite, the composition of the solution phase, the presence or absence of seeds and the experimental conditions are discussed.

Abstract: There is provided a recording apparatus to perform the recording operation to a recording medium by receiving audio information as the main data and character information as subdata transmitted from a broadcasting station in view of extracting the partitioning code formed of the predetermined code included in the subdata, storing in memory an address recorded in a recording medium when the partitioning code is extracted, automatically performing the editing process based on the address stored in the memory when the audio information as the main data and character information as the subdata are recorded to the recording mediums and easily performing the searching operation during the reproducing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a data display apparatus by which data transmission between different image display portions can be performed by natural, easy and simple operations.

Abstract: A transmission optical signal emitted from a laser diode is introduced in an S-polarized state to a polarization-reflection film formed on an inclined surface of a prism. This transmission optical signal is in a light quantity that is reflected by the polarization-reflection film to enter an optical fiber. With this configuration, an optical transmission-reception apparatus for a single-core bi-directional optical communication circuit enables an enhancement of the efficiency of introduction of the transmission optical signal into the optical fiber constituting the optical communication circuit so that a sufficient performance and reliability of the optical communication circuit is realized without increasing the light quantity emitted from the laser diode which outputs the transmission optical signal.

Abstract: An aquatic autosampler device for frequent collection of discrete samples of microorganisms at various locations and depths. The aquatic autosampler device moves a filter disk within a filter housing from a filter carousel into a filter housing holder. The filter housing holder, slidably mounted on a linear shuttle, moves the filter housing into a process position, where a syringe draws fluid in through a valve manifold and through the filter disk to collect samples on the filter disk. Reagents may then be passed over the filter disk to enable image-based identification and quantification of the cells on the filter disk. An imaging system on the autosampler may capture a fluorescent image of the microorganisms on the filter disk and store the image in a control computer. The filter housing may then be returned to the filter carousel for storage and further lab processing.