Abstract: When the low bit rate coding is effected in a recording system 1A, a signal is coded and recorded in a hierarchical structure. On the reproduction side, the type of a recorded signal (the low bit rate coded signal of the hierarchical structure, non-hierarchical structure, conventional analog recording or the like) is determined by a determination system 1E and the operation modes of a digital signal processing system 1G and an analog signal processing system 1F are set. The analog signal processing system processes a reproduced signal when it is analog signal. The digital signal processing system processes a reproduced signal when it is a digital signal or when a reproduced output from the analog signal processing system is processed in a digital manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfonated water-soluble melamine-formaldehyde resin, to a method of manufacturing the resin, and to insulation products prepared using the resin. The resin is particularly useful for making thermal insulation having low moisture adsorption, high tensile strength and low formaldehyde emissions.

Abstract: An apparatus for a digital video tape recorder for detecting a sync signal in digital data includes: a data restoring device for producing serial data and a serial clock signal received from a reproducing head of the digital video tape device; a servo device for producing a head switching pulse and a super-video home system (S-VHS)/video home system (VHS) discriminating signal; an identification detecting device for producing a signal indicative of an end of reading one segment of tracks; and a sync signal detecting device, responsive to each signal produced by the aforementioned devices, for determining correspondence in sync patterns even in a case where not all corresponding bits coincide with one another, for removing erroneously detected sync patterns using a window situated around a position at which a sync signal is produced, and for detecting a sync signal.

Abstract: During recording of a television signal on a VCR, data are accumulated with respect to the time of occurrence and duration of detectable events, such as blank frames, in the television signal, and such data are stored. Timing reference data are written onto the tape as it is recorded. At a time subsequent to the recording process, the stored data are analyzed to classify the content of the television signal between the detectable events and a playback map is constructed for the recorded signal. During playback, the stored playback map is retrieved and stored timing data are compared to the timing reference data read from the tape. The VCR is automatically commanded into a fast scan mode when the tape reaches the beginning time of a portion of the video signal that has been classified for elimination during playback. The VCR is then automatically commanded to return to the normal "play" mode when the tape reaches the ending time of that portion of the video signal.

Abstract: A multiple readout of digital video data, capable of realizing the fast forward and fast reverse modes even under the logically multiplexed circumstances, and reducing a time required for the playback mode switching. A cycle for a readout operation is formed by a plurality of slots, each slot representing a unit time for reading a unit amount of the digital video data for each channel assigned to each user terminal; at least one of the plurality of slots forming each cycle is allocated to each channel and at least one of the plurality of slots not yet used for any channel in each cycle is additionally allocated to a user terminal which is requesting a playback mode switching; and the readout operation to read the digital video data for each channel from the storage device is carried out at every slot allocated to each channel in each cycle, by cyclically repeating the cycle for the readout operation. The requested playback mode switching can be a switching to a fast forward/reverse mode.

Abstract: An index print includes a recording sheet having a plurality of imagettes representing images stored on a motion picture image recording medium such as a video tape. The plurality of imagettes are less in number than an entire number of images stored on the video tape. An indicator, such as a time or count from the beginning of the video tape, is provided on the recording sheet adjacent the imagettes for indicating substantially where images, corresponding to the imagettes, are stored on the video tape.

Abstract: A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a magnetic tape (4) into which video signals are recorded. A preemphasis circuit (35) modifies the video signals prior to the recording into the magnetic tape (4), so as to increase magnitude of high-frequency components with respect to magnitude of low-frequency components on time base. A record start or end ID signal is generated in response to a record start or end signal in an ID signal recording circuit (36) which memorizes this ID signal into a corresponding portion of the magnetic tape (4). A mute circuit (46) resets the preemphasis circuit (35) in response to the record start or end signal. There is further provided a deemphasis circuit (37) for modifying the video signals after reproducing from the magnetic tape (4) in a complementary manner with respect to the preemphasis circuit (35), so as to decrease magnitude of high-frequency components with respect to magnitude of low-frequency components on time base.

Abstract: An image signal processing device generates first image data and second image data based on the same optical image. Each pixel of the second image data is offset from the corresponding pixel of the first image data by half the distance between the centers of two adjacent pixels. The first image data is then subjected to a discrete cosine transformation (DCT), quantization, and Huffman encoding, and is recorded to an IC memory card. High resolution image data is generated based on the first and second image data. Expanded image data is obtained based on the first image data, and supplementary data is generated based on the high resolution image data and the expanded image data. The supplementary data is subjected to DCT, quantization and Huffman encoding, and is recorded to the same IC memory card.

Abstract: A signal recording apparatus is arranged to record main information in a first area provided in each of a multiplicity of parallel tracks formed on a tape-shaped recording medium, and an index signal in a second area of each of a predetermined number of continuous tracks, the second area being provided separately from the first area within each of the multiplicity of parallel tracks. The apparatus records, as the index signal, first index information in a first section within the second area of each of the predetermined number of continuous tracks, with either one of binary data being repeated continuously during a period corresponding to the first section, and second index information in a second section within the second area of each of the predetermined number of continuous tracks, the second index information including track data indicative of relation to a specific track among the predetermined number of continuous tracks.

Abstract: An electronic video camera which picks up an object image and records on a recording medium an image signal corresponding to the object image picked up is arranged to record an information signal indicative of an image pickup sensitivity along with the image signal when the latter is recorded, to reproduce the image signal and the information signal recorded on the recording medium and to control the characteristic of a signal processing action on the reproduced image signal according to the reproduced information signal. The arrangement enables the electronic video camera to effectively prevents image quality deterioration, so that the image signal can be reproduced with a high image quality.

Abstract: A television signal format converter is provided for converting without loss of picture information a television format or a motion picture film image format to or from a given recorder/player format. An interface converts between RGB and luminance/chrominance inputs and between analog and digital inputs. The interface couples a source signal format to a plurality of pairs of memories. A clock and control circuit controls addressing of the memories for reading and writing so that conversion is performed between a source format and the format required for a given high definition digital video tape recorder or any other comparable recorder.

Abstract: An optical disk containing PG-rated and R-rated versions of the same motion picture. To minimize redundant storage of data, three types of video data blocks are provided in the same track, in an interleaved fashion - - - A-type blocks which contain material unique to version A, B-type blocks which contain material unique to version B, and C-type blocks which contain material common to both. A series of codes and pointers included in each block allow play of all common blocks, play of all A or B blocks depending on which version has been selected, and skipping over of the blocks which contain data unique to the unselected version. Play of adult-rated versions are automatically prevented if a parental lock option in the player has been keyed on. The disk may contain special software for identifying multiple versions of the same material where the selection criterion is one other than a rating.

Abstract: A video recorder for recording a video signal having one frame period and having a high resolution such as a high definition television signal. The video signal in a frame period is divided into two groups for corresponding to a respective field period of the video signal. The two groups are encoded efficiently and independently of each other. After encoding the respective data as respective variable length data signals, pseudo data is added to either one of the variable length data signals having a smaller amount of variable length data than the other variable length data signal so that the amount of variable length data in the divided signals is substantially equal for a designated period. The encoded data is then recorded on an optical disk by a recording mechanism using two respective channels. When reproducing a video signal having lower resolution, such as is used for a standard television system, the video signal is reproduced by decoding the encoded data for one channel.

Abstract: A system for reproducing a luminance signal from a medium containing a previously recorded luminance signal with a high-frequency portion thereof compressed in dynamic range includes a circuit for recovering that luminance signal from the medium. Filtering is done to separate the low-frequency and compressed-in-dynamic-range high-frequency portions of the recovered luminance signal from each other. A corer responds to the separated compressed-in-dynamic-range high-frequency portion of the recovered luminance signal to provide a cored high-frequency portion with expanded dynamic range and reduced noise.

Abstract: A recording apparatus for recording digital data comprised of a plurality of recording blocks on a recording medium includes a grouping circuit which makes a group of the digital data according to a predetermined time-based interval, A sequence number generator divides the group into "N" sequences. "N" is an integer. A data block generator divides the input data in each sequence into a plurality of data blocks. A sequence number generator generates a sequence number for each data blocks associated with each recording blocks, An ID block generator generates an ID information of each data block based on the sequence number. A recording block generator generates the recording block based on the ID information and the data block.

Abstract: A method and device for automatic time setting utilizing broadcasting signal which can set the present time automatically utilizing broadcasting signals of teletext and video program system. The automatic time setting device includes a tuner and demodulation means for synchronizing, receiving and demodulating broadcasting signals, a data slicer for slicing teletext data in package units of the data received from the tuner and demodulation means, a teletext processor for converting the teletext data received from the data slicer into character data, and a first microcomputer for controlling the teletext processor and setting the present time with the character data received from the teletext processor.

Abstract: A video camera has a time setting portion for setting a shot-time of one cut and a display member for displaying the information indicative of elapsed time. Further the video camera has a auto-stop mode which automatically stops the recording operation of the video camera stopped when the recording time exceeds the shot-time of one cut set by the time-set portion.

Abstract: A karaoke system includes a plurality of terminal systems respectively reproducing music and video images of music pieces, and a center system connected to the plurality of terminal systems. The center system includes a musical performance information storage unit for storing digital performance information relating to music pieces to be reproduced and video image control information relating to video images to be reproduced simultaneously with the music, a plurality of music information generators for generating music information of the music piece on the basis of the digital performance information, video image storage unit for storing a plurality of video images, video image generator for generating a video image from the video image storage unit in accordance with the video image control information, and information transmitter for transmitting the digital performance information and the reproduced video image to the plurality of terminal systems.

Abstract: Fast speed playback is performed with a reduced error-correcting capability as compared with that for normal speed playback. Information of K symbols is encoded with a first error-correcting code C1 and appended with (N-K) check symbols. After that, m symbols out of the check symbols are punctured, and the information of K symbols is divided into a block of K.sub.1 symbols and a block of K.sub.2 symbols, the block of K.sub.1 symbols being further encoded with a second error-correcting code Cm and appended with m.sub.1 check symbols for error correction. For efficient error-correction coding of auxiliary data which is usually not used but which becomes necessary on occasions, the presence or absence of auxiliary data is written in ID information, and the number of error-correcting check symbols is changed accordingly.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for recording and/or reproducing image signals compressed according to different compressing methods. This recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a compressing circuit for compressing first image data according to a first image data compressing method, a selecting circuit supplied with the first image data thus compressed and encoded by the compressing circuit and second image data compressed and encoded according to a second image data compressing method and selecting any one of the first and second compressed image data, and a first error correction encoding circuit for error correction encoding the selected compressed image data.