Abstract: A power supply for illumination includes a detection circuit and a control circuit. The detection circuit compares an AC voltage whose phase is controlled with a first threshold voltage so as to detect a variation in a conduction state of phase control in the AC voltage, and compares the AC voltage with a second threshold voltage lower than the first threshold voltage so as to detect a zero-cross point of the AC voltage, thereby detecting a conduction period of the phase control. The control circuit outputs an output current according to the duration of the conduction period.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a control section receives supply of control power from a control power supply section through a capacitive element and divides, a period of each half cycle of an alternating-current voltage into a first section, a second section, and a third section. In the first section, the control section subjects a switch section to conduction control to supply electric power to a load and stops a converting action of the control power supply section. In the second section, the control section subjects the switch section to non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and stops the converting action of the control power supply section. In the third section, the control section subjects the switch section to the non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and causes the converting action of the control power supply to operate.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus includes retroreflecting units at two opposite sides of a rectangular-shaped coordinate input effective region, and a plurality of sensor units provided at the two sides. Each of the sensor units includes a light receiving unit for receiving light that reaches the light receiving unit, a light projecting unit for projecting light toward a retroreflecting unit provided at one of the two sides, which opposes the light projecting unit, and a surface light emitting unit for emitting even diffused light from a band-shaped surface. Each of the sensor units simultaneously detects, by the light receiving unit, light that has been projected by the light projecting unit and reflected back by the retroreflecting unit at the side opposing the light projecting unit, and light that has been emitted by surface light emitting units of a plurality of sensor units at the side opposing the light projecting unit.

Abstract: A user interface technique with excellent operability for displaying an object to be selected upright for an operator who operates a display screen of a display device from any direction. For this purpose, when the operator touches the display screen with his/her index finger, menu icons are displayed on a circumference with the touch position as a center, and with the central position of the circle as a lower position, at equal intervals. At this time, when the operator touches the display screen with his/her thumb while touching the display screen with his/her index finger, it is determined that the operator exists on an extension line on the thumb touch position side defined with the two touch positions. Then the respective menu icons are rearranged so as to be displayed upright from the operator.

Abstract: According to the present invention, even if a plurality of operators perform gesture operations in three-dimensional space, the three-dimensional spatial gesture of each operator is accurately associated with the target object of the three-dimensional spatial gesture. For this, a projector displays at least one selection-target object on an upper surface of a table. When a pointer operated by an operator comes in contact with the upper surface of the table, a two-dimensional coordinate detecting apparatus detects the contact position, and determines which object has been designated by the operator. In this stage, among pointers detected by a three-dimensional coordinate detecting apparatus, a pointer having a position closest to the contact position is determined, and the pointer determined to be the closest is decided as a tracking target. Thereafter, the tracking-target pointer is tracked by the three-dimensional coordinate detecting apparatus to determine the operator's gesture pattern.

Abstract: A light receiving unit of a coordinate input apparatus includes a light receiving element, a light receiving lens, an adjusting unit for adjusting the positional relationship between the light receiving element and light receiving lens, and a light transmissive plate which is arranged between the light receiving element and light receiving lens, and defines the focal length of the light receiving lens. The light transmissive plate is arranged between the light receiving element and light receiving lens in a state in which the optical axis between the light receiving element and light receiving lens is adjusted by the adjusting unit with the light transmissive plate being removed.

Abstract: A coordinate detection apparatus has a light projecting unit and light receiving unit, detects abnormal light based on the output from the light receiving unit in a state in which the light projecting unit does not project any light, and detects the coordinates of a light-shielded position based on the output from the light receiving unit in a state in which the light projecting unit projects light.

Abstract: A self-ballasted fluorescent lamp capable of achieving a similar appearance to that of an electric light bulb for general illumination includes a base that is attached to a bottom end of a cover and a luminous tube that is supported at a top end of the cover. Electronic components forming a lighting circuit are mounted on a substrate. The substrate is formed to have such a width dimension that allows the substrate to be inserted into the base. The substrate is vertically disposed along a center axis of the base at a position offset from the center axis. Large electronic components are disposed on a first face of the substrate, which faces a large component area in the base formed by the offset substrate.

Abstract: An elastic restriction section (15g), formed in a substantially cylindrical configuration and having the vertical axis is provided to protrude on one side of a rear end section of a chassis (15) formed of a synthetic resin. The chassis constitutes a case body for housing a main body that performs processing of reading or recording of an optical disk. The elastic restriction section (15g) is divided into three elastic members that are elastically deformable into a diameter-reduced state, and provided to protrude at a position substantially diagonally opposite to an engagement position of a movement gear (63) of an open/close drive unit (60), the open/close drive unit (60) advancing/retreating a disk tray (50) carrying the optical disk. In the disk tray (50), an engaging recess (51e) is provided to be engaged with the elastic restriction section (15g) at a home position.

Abstract: A self-ballasted fluorescent lamp capable of achieving a similar appearance to that of an electric light bulb for general illumination includes a base that is attached to a bottom end of a cover and a luminous tube that is supported at a top end of the cover. Electronic components forming a lighting circuit are mounted on a substrate. The substrate is formed to have such a width dimension that allows the substrate to be inserted into the base. The substrate is vertically disposed along a center axis of the base at a position offset from the center axis. Large electronic components are disposed on a first face of the substrate, which faces a large component area in the base formed by the offset substrate.

Abstract: Position coordinates in a space defined by the first to third axes of a coordinate input pointing tool are calculated. A coordinate output form includes at least an absolute coordinate output form in which calculated coordinate values are directly output, and a relative coordinate output form in which the differential values between the calculated coordinate values and predetermined coordinate values are output. The value of the first axis of the calculated coordinate values is compared with a predetermined value. It is determined whether the coordinate values of the second and third axes of the calculated coordinate values fall within a predetermined range. The calculated coordinate values are output in a coordinate output form determined on the basis of the comparison result and determination result.

Abstract: A coordinate detection apparatus has a light projecting unit and light receiving unit, detects abnormal light based on the output from the light receiving unit in a state in which the light projecting unit does not project any light, and detects the coordinates of a light-shielded position based on the output from the light receiving unit in a state in which the light projecting unit projects light.

Abstract: A signal change range, which is generated due to a pointing operation of a pointer on a coordinate input region, with respect to an initial detection signal distribution of a detection unit in an initial state in which no pointing operation is made on the coordinate input region, is specified. End portion information of the specified signal change range is detected. Coordinates of the pointed position of the pointer are calculated using at least one of a plurality of pieces of detected end portion information.

Abstract: Angle information corresponding to a specified point is calculated on the basis of a change in light amount distribution obtained from at least two sensor units which are arranged on the corner portions of a coordinate input region and receive incoming light. The coordinates of a pointed position on the coordinate input region are calculated on the basis of the calculated angle information. Each of the at least two sensor units includes two light-receiving units being first and second light-receiving units.

Abstract: An elastic restriction section (15g), formed in a substantially cylindrical configuration and having the vertical axis is provided to protrude on one side of a rear end section of a chassis (15) formed of a synthetic resin. The chassis constitutes a case body for housing a main body that performs processing of reading or recording of an optical disk. The elastic restriction section (15g) is divided into three elastic members that are elastically deformable into a diameter-reduced state, and provided to protrude at a position substantially diagonally opposite to an engagement position of a movement gear (63) of an open/close drive unit (60), the open/close drive unit (60) advancing/retreating a disk tray (50) carrying the optical disk. In the disk tray (50), an engaging recess (51e) is provided to be engaged with the elastic restriction section (15g) at a home position.

Abstract: A receiver includes a light-receiving portion which receives an infrared remote control signal from a transmitter, an A/D converter which converts a signal received by the light-receiving portion into a digital signal at a frequency much higher than a carrier wave, and a digital filter having the band-pass function of a pass band containing the carrier band of the infrared remote control signal for the digital signal output from the A/D converter. The digital filter reduces the influence of variations in argon spectrum intensity over time.

Abstract: A recess (16a3) is provided to be continuous with the circumferential edge of a tray recess (16a2) of a disk tray (16) housing an optical disc (28) to allow a pickup (45) to move without contacting anything. A cover section (17c) having a substantially tongue-like shape adapted to the recess (16a3) is projected integrally from a rotor support member (17) covering the tray recess (16a2) from above and defining a substantially cylindrical housing space (18) for coaxially housing the optical disc (28), the cover section continuously covering the recess (16a3) of the disk tray (16) and the housing space (18). Even when the optical disc (28) is rotated at a high speed, flutter attributable to airflow or a difference between pressures on both sides of the optical disc (28) can be reduced to allow the optical disc (28) to rotate with stability.

Abstract: The position coordinates of a coordinate input pen are calculated. The position coordinates are changed on the basis of, of the calculated position coordinates, predetermined coordinates related to the distance between the coordinate input surface and the coordinate input pen. The changed position coordinates are output.

Abstract: Position coordinates in a space defined by the first to third axes of a coordinate input pointing tool are calculated. A coordinate output form includes at least an absolute coordinate output form in which calculated coordinate values are directly output, and a relative coordinate output form in which the differential values between the calculated coordinate values and predetermined coordinate values are output. The value of the first axis of the calculated coordinate values is compared with a predetermined value. It is determined whether the coordinate values of the second and third axes of the calculated coordinate values fall within a predetermined range. The calculated coordinate values are output in a coordinate output form determined on the basis of the comparison result and determination result.

Abstract: Position coordinates in a space defined by the first to third axes of a coordinate input pointing tool are calculated. A coordinate output form includes at least an absolute coordinate output form in which calculated coordinate values are directly output, and a relative coordinate output form in which the differential values between the calculated coordinate values and predetermined coordinate values are output. The value of the first axis of the calculated coordinate values is compared with a predetermined value. It is determined whether the coordinate values of the second and third axes of the calculated coordinate values fall within a predetermined range. The calculated coordinate values are output in a coordinate output form determined on the basis of the comparison result and determination result.