Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus having a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory, input device, and a controller. The analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the output signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. The input device at least carry out input of a record start and a record end. The controller, according to the input from the input device, carries out operation control for start and stop of writing into the semiconductor memory a digital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller controls to start writing the digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit into the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to make it possible to move data that is coded and managed for copyright protection after evaluating an encryption key and permitting its movement based on a result of the evaluation, as well as to make it possible to copy data that is recorded in a server to a terminal apparatus and cause the terminal apparatus itself to reproduce the data and, where a terminal apparatus is connected to the server, render data on the server reproducible.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor optical modulator capable of performing a stable operation and having an excellent voltage-current characteristic to an electric field while exhibiting the characteristic of a semiconductor optical modulator with an n-i-n structure. The semiconductor optical modulator includes a waveguide structure that is formed by sequentially growing an n-type InP clad layer (11), a semiconductor core layer (13) having an electro-optic effect, a p-InAlAs layer (15), and an n-type InP clad layer (16). An electron affinity of the p-InAlAs layer (15) is smaller than an electron affinity of the n-type InP clad layer (16). In the waveguide structure having such a configuration, a non-dope InP clad layer (12) and a non-dope InP clad layer (14) may be respectively provided between the n-type InP clad layer (11) and the semiconductor core layer (13), and between the semiconductor core layer (13) and the p-InAlAs layer (15).

Abstract: A sound collector includes a first microphone unit and a second microphone unit having a single directivity and being pivotally supported in a manner that directions of directional axes of the units are changeable in an identical flat plane and a switch to be controlled in conjunction with the rotations of the first and the second microphone units. Output signals of the first and the second microphone units are outputted with channels of the signals being exchanged or non-exchanged by the switch in accordance with an angle formed by the directional axes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus having a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory, input device, and a controller. The analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the output signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. The input device at least carry out input of a record start and a record end. The controller, according to the input from the input device, carries out operation control for start and stop of writing into the semiconductor memory a digital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller controls to start writing the digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit into the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an AGC circuit, a AGC circuit gain control method, and a program for the AGC circuit gain control method, and may be applied to IC recorders, for example, as a portable recording/reproducing device, in order to ameliorate problems of listening to talk, music and the like during playback from IC recorders. In the invention, a signal level L1cyc is detected in units of the period of an input signal, and a recovery time constant r is switched on the basis of a decision as to the signal level L1cyc based on an average shift Lavg of the signal level L1cyc.

Abstract: A knee-protecting airbag device is located below a steering column in front of a driver and, at a lower side of a key cylinder into which an ignition key with accessories is inserted. The airbag device includes a housing located below the steering column for housing an airbag and an airbag. The airbag is folded and housed in the housing in undeployed condition, and upon inflow of inflation gas, protrudes rearward from the housing to deploy upward to protect knees of the driver. The airbag is provided in its upper edge in completely deployed condition with a cover portion for covering vehicle's rearward of an area proximate to the key cylinder. The airbag is further provided with a flexible reinforcing cloth to be located in a part of the cover portion to contact the key accessories as the key is inserted into the key cylinder. The airbag is protected by the reinforcing cloth even if it contacts with the key accessories upon deployment.

Abstract: A digital recording device includes a microphone configured to convert collected sound into an analog audio signal; a first analog to digital converter configured to convert the signal converted by the microphone into a digital audio signal; a first memory configured to store the digital audio signal of the first analog to digital converter; an attenuator configured to attenuate the analog audio signal with a predetermined attenuation factor; a second analog to digital converter configured to convert the attenuated signal into a digital audio signal; a second memory configured to store the digital audio signal of the second analog to digital converter; an audio signal generating unit configured to extract the digital audio signal in one of the first memory and the second memory for a required time range according to an amplitude maximum value of the signal, and generate a new digital audio signal; and an audio signal memory for storing the generated digital audio signal.

Abstract: A polishing composition contains a compound represented by the general formula (1) below and abrasive grains. In the general formula (1), X represents a residue of polyether polyol (having a polyether chain containing an oxyethylene group in an amount of 20 to 90% by mass) derived from a compound having an active hydrogen atom and an alkylene oxide; m represents an integer of 2 to 8, which is equal to the number of hydroxy groups contained in a single polyether polyol molecule; Y and Z represent a lower alcohol residue to which ethylene oxide or propylene oxide is added by addition polymerization, an alkyl group or an alkylene group, respectively; and n is an integer of 3 or more.

Abstract: An apparatus has a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory, an input device, and a controller. The analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the digital signal. The input device at least carries out input of a record start instruction and a record end instruction. The controller, according to the instruction input from the input device, controls the start and stop of writing the digital signal into the semiconductor memory. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller controls to start writing the digital signal from the analog/digital converting circuit into the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: There is provided a WDM optical transmission system and transmission method that have excellent spectral efficiency. The WDM optical transmission system is provided with: an optical transmitting section having an optical transmitter that generates N wave (wherein N is an integer of 2 or greater) optical signals with an optical frequency spacing ?f [Hz] and modulated by a modulation bit rate B [bit/s] (wherein B/?f?1 [bit/s/Hz]) using a modulation device, and having a coupler that couples the optical signals; an optical receiving section provided with an optical DFT circuit of a sampling frequency ?f [Hz] that is equal to the optical frequency spacing; and a bit phase adjustor that makes bit phases of respective wavelength division multiplexed signals synchronous at an input of the optical DFT circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus having a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory, input device, and a controller. The analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the output signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. The input device at least carry out input of a record start and a record end. The controller, according to the input from the input device, carries out operation control for start and stop of writing into the semiconductor memory a digital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller controls to start writing the digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit into the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a record medium having a program area and a management area, the program area being used for recording a plurality of files, the management area being used for managing forging prohibition information against a particular file recorded in the program area is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a calculating means for calculating the forging prohibition information managed in the management area of the record medium whenever a file recorded in the recorde medium is reproduced, a comparing means for comparing a value calculated by the calculating means corresponding to a former reproduction command with a value calculated by the calculating means corresponding to a current reproduction command, and a controlling means for permitting the file corresponding to the current reproduction command to be reproduced when the value calculated corresponding to the former reproduction command is the same as the value calculated corresponding to the current reproduction comm

Abstract: A reproducing apparatus for reproducing data from a record medium having a program area and a management area, the program area being used for recording a plurality of files, the management area being used for managing forging prohibition information against a particular file recorded in the program area is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a calculating means for calculating the forging prohibition information managed in the management area of the record medium whenever a file recorded in the recorde medium is reproduced, a comparing means for comparing a value calculated by the calculating means corresponding to a former reproduction command with a value calculated by the calculating means corresponding to a current reproduction command, and a controlling means for permitting the file corresponding to the current reproduction command to be reproduced when the value calculated corresponding to the former reproduction command is the same as the value calculated corresponding to the current reproduction comm

Abstract: A knee protection apparatus includes an airbag (11) and an airbag support (15) that is attached to the airbag. Upon deployment of the airbag (11), the airbag support together expands so as to cover the instrument panel and thus help the airbag smoothly expand.

Abstract: In an ultrahigh-speed clock extraction circuit wherein a local pulse generating light source 22 for generating a local optical pulse stream synchronized in bit phase with an input optical signal pulse stream is placed in a phase-locked loop, when repetition frequencies of the input optical signal pulse stream and the local optical pulse stream bear a particular relationship, a frequency demultiplier 32 and multipliers 43 and 52 are set so that the frequency of a modulation signal for an optical modulator 41 and a frequency which is a natural-number multiple of the modulation signal frequency, and the frequency of a down-converted version of an optical pulse stream output from a photodetector 42 differ from each other.

Abstract: A portable type recording and reproducing device including recording means for converting sound information obtained by collecting external sound to files in message units and recording the files on a predetermined recording medium, and recording image information obtained by photographing an outside on the recording medium in association with a corresponding file of sound information in response to a predetermined first external operation, display means for displaying images based on image information associated with respective files of sound information, and reproducing means for reproducing a file of sound information associated with an image selected by a predetermined second external operation among the images displayed by the display means.

Abstract: A portable type recording and reproducing device including recording means for converting sound information output from sound collecting means to files in message units and recording the files on a predetermined recording medium, and recording image information output from photographing means on the recording medium in association with a corresponding file of sound information in response to a first external operation, display means for displaying images based on image information associated with respective files of sound information, and reproducing means for reproducing a file of sound information associated with an image selected by a predetermined second external operation among the images displayed by the display means.

Abstract: A software program of a flash memory loaded into an IC recorder is read and executed by a PC connected to the IC recorder via an external interface and an input-and-output end, so that an information signal, such as audio data held by the PC, is transferred from the PC to the flash memory. Management information about the information signal that is transferred and stored in the flash memory is generated by the software program executed by the PC and stored in the flash memory, so that the IC recorder can use the management information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an AGC circuit, a AGC circuit gain control method, and a program for the AGC circuit gain control method, and may be applied to IC recorders, for example, as a portable recording/reproducing device, in order to ameliorate problems of listening to talk, music and the like during playback from IC recorders. In the invention, a signal level L1cyc is detected in units of the period of an input signal, and a recovery time constant r is switched on the basis of a decision as to the signal level L1cyc based on an average shift Lavg of the signal level L1cyc.