Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image encoding device and decoding device which allows the maximum compression rate to be achieved with a visually uniform level of picture quality. The present invention has a characteristic pixel extractor 0309 which encodes input images by small region unit in accordance with an irreversible compression method, decodes the encoded data which is created, and utilizes the input image and decoded image obtained after decoding to extract characteristic pixels, a characteristic distortion calculator 0311 which utilizes characteristic pixels to calculate characteristic distortion of the decoded image in relation to the input image, and an encoding parameter controller 0312 which controls parameter values determining the degree of data compression in line with the extent of characteristic distortion.

Abstract: A touch position detection device includes a light sensor-containing LCD which informs a user, in accordance with a result of analyzing an image captured by light sensors, that it is difficult to identify where a pointing body is located.

Abstract: A data distribution system includes a plurality of data sources each capable of transmitting a data item, and a data vending machine capable of receiving the data item from the plurality of data sources and selling the received data item to a user. The data vending machine includes a data selecting apparatus operated by a user to select a desired data item, a data source selecting apparatus connected to the data selecting apparatus for selecting, among the plurality of data sources, one that holds the data item selected by the data selecting apparatus, in accordance with a specific standard, a data receiving apparatus connected to the data source selecting apparatus for receiving selected data item from the data source selected by the data source selecting apparatus, and a data updating apparatus to which an external storage device is detachably mounted, for writing the data item received by the data receiving apparatus to the external storage device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ferromagnetic metal particles having an average major axis diameter (L) of 10 to 100 nm which satisfy a relationship between the average major axis diameter (L) and a particle SFD represented by the following formula: Particle SFD?0.0001 L2?0.0217 L+1.75; a process for producing the ferromagnetic metal particles; and a magnetic recording medium using the ferromagnetic metal particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to ferromagnetic metal particles having a bulk density (?a) of not more than 0.25 g/cm3, a process for producing the above ferromagnetic metal particles and a magnetic recording medium comprising a non-magnetic substrate; a non-magnetic undercoat layer formed on the non-magnetic substrate which comprises non-magnetic particles and a binder resin; and a magnetic recording layer formed on the non-magnetic undercoat layer which comprises magnetic particles and a binder resin, wherein the above ferromagnetic metal particles were used as the magnetic particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a composite cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which is subjected to surface treatment, comprising: previously mixing the cathode active material with a surface-treating component in the form of a metal compound containing one or more metal elements selected from the group consisting of the first transition series elements and the second transition series elements; and then coating the cathode active material with the surface-treating component using an apparatus capable of effecting a high-speed shearing action.

Abstract: A contents data creating device is configured by equipping a computer with a contents creating software. In this contents creating software, a license information file stores license information containing information describing the permitted range of input data or output data. A GUI manager module displays a choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data unpermitted with the license information, in the mode different from that of the choice of options indicating the range of input data or output data permitted. The GUI manager module performs a conversion using the range of the input data or the output data inputted from the outside, as a parameter.

Abstract: An electronic book display control device capable of solving the problem of a conventional page turning method of an electronic book device that pages are turned in accordance with a value predetermined by a speed controller and hence it is difficult to turn pages flexibly in accordance with the contents of the book and the characteristics of the user. The control device is provided with a CPU (1) which controls the whole device, an image data storage unit (2) in which the contents of the book are stored as image data, an image data control unit (3) which receives the image data and performs the required control, a display preparation image data memory unit (4) in which image data of the page being displayed and the page to be displayed next are stored, and a display unit (5) on which information concerning the image data and information concerning the operation of the electronic book are displayed.

Abstract: In an image processing device, in order to display an image on a display device having nonlinear gradation characteristics, first, a contrast estimation unit (37) estimates the contrast of the image represented by the image data (51) input from an image input device. Next, a luminance correction unit (38) subjects the pixel data constituting the image data (51) to a luminance conversion process on the basis of the estimated contrast and the gradation characteristics. Furthermore, the pixel data may sometimes be subjected to a sharpening process. The level of the sharpening performed for one or a plurality of character regions in the image represented by the image data (51) is higher than that for the pixel data of the pixels in remaining regions other than the character regions in the image. The image data (52) comprising the pixel data subjected to these processes is supplied to the display device. Therefore, the visibility of the image displayed on the display device can be improved.

Abstract: Reproduction means of a general-purpose computer (1) reproduces a digital content only when a device ID included in the digital content corresponds to a device ID of a device by which it is intended to reproduce the digital content. When the device ID of the general-purpose computer (1) is altered, a recovery program for recovering an original device ID is downloaded from a recovery program generation server (2), thereby the device ID is recovered. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a communication system which is capable of recovering a device ID when, for instance, the device ID is altered on account of the reinstall of a program such as an OS or content player.

Abstract: An image automatic display device for reading automatic operation data as one of pieces of input data has a display image data generation device and a display image data generation operation processing unit. The display image data generation device generates image data to be displayed on a display device on the basis of image data read out from an image input device. The display image data generation operation processing unit controls the display image data generation device by using user operation input data inputted through a viewer operation input device and the automatic operation data. The automatic operation data has a plurality of sets of values of various parameters used for generating an image to be displayed. A user performs an operation through the viewer operation input device, so that a desired set to be applied for image generation is designated in the automatic operation data.

Abstract: A coloring composition for a color filter composed of composite particles having an average particle diameter of 0.00 1 to 1.0 ?m, and containing white inorganic particles, a glue coating layer formed on the surface of the white inorganic particle and an organic pigment coat formed on the glue. A dispersant, binder resin, monomer as a reactive diluent, a polymerization initiator and a solvent are also present. The colorant provides not only a sharp particle size distribution but also excellent light resistance.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus capable of efficiently encoding an image without causing color deviation to the eye compresses luminance element image data and two types of chrominance element image data each consisting of a plurality of blocks.

Abstract: Composite particles of the present invention comprise white inorganic particles, a surface modifier coating layer formed on surface of the respective white inorganic particles, and a dye or lake coat adhered onto the surface of the respective surface-modifier-coated white inorganic particles. The composite particles of the present invention not only exhibit excellent color-developing property and tinting strength but also suppress bleeding.

Abstract: A data distribution system includes a plurality of data sources each capable of transmitting a data item, and a data vending machine capable of receiving the data item from the plurality of data sources and selling the received data item to a user. The data vending machine includes a data selecting apparatus operated by a user to select a desired data item, a data source selecting apparatus connected to the data selecting apparatus for selecting, among the plurality of data sources, one that holds the data item selected by the data selecting apparatus, in accordance with a specific standard, a data receiving apparatus connected to the data source selecting apparatus for receiving selected data item from the data source selected by the data source selecting apparatus, and a data updating apparatus to which an external storage device is detachably mounted, for writing the data item received by the data receiving apparatus to the external storage device.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus corresponding to a standard scheme of binary image compression and having the compression efficiency of a gray scale image improved includes: a bit plane generator (303) dividing unitary image data into a plurality of bit planes determined according to the number of bits forming each pixel, an image preprocessor (305) connected to the bit plane generator (303) to arrange bit data of the same position forming a plurality of bit planes in close proximity to combine into a single bit plane, and a data compressor (306) connected to the image preprocessor (305) to compress an image of the single bit plane.

Abstract: Composite particles having an average particle diameter of 0.001 to 10.0 ?m, comprise: white inorganic particles as core particles; a gluing agent coating layer formed on surface of the white inorganic particle; and an organic pigment coat formed onto said gluing agent coating layer in an amount of from 1 to 500 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the white inorganic particles. The composite particles are substantially free from desorption of an organic pigment from the surface thereof and contain no harmful element.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an image encoding device and decoding device which allows the maximum compression rate to be achieved with a visually uniform level of picture quality. The present invention has a characteristic pixel extractor 0309 which encodes input images by small region unit in accordance with an irreversible compression method, decodes the encoded data which is created, and utilises the input image and decoded image obtained after decoding to extract characteristic pixels, a characteristic distortion calculator 0311 which utilises characteristic pixels to calculate characteristic distortion of the decoded image in relation to the input image, and an encoding parameter controller 0312 which controls parameter values determining the degree of data compression in line with the extent of characteristic distortion.

Abstract: The present invention has a characteristic pixel extractor 0309 which encodes input images by small region unit in accordance with an irreversible compression method, decodes the encoded data which is created, and utilises the input image and decoded image obtained after decoding to extract characteristic pixels, a characteristic distortion calculator 0311 which utilises characteristic pixels to calculate characteristic distortion of the decoded image in relation to the input image, and an encoding parameter controller 0312 which controls parameter values determining the degree of data compression in line with the extent of characteristic distortion. The regions of picture quality of a visually uniform level thus obtained are all compressed using an image compression method with a high compression efficiency, thus allowing the maximum compression rate to be achieved.

Abstract: A display device capable of allowing a page to be turned to give a feeling as if a page is actually turned includes a memory for storing information, a display for displaying information, a page turn instruction unit for detecting that the unit itself is tilted to output a detection signal indicating the direction of the tilt, and a display control unit for receiving an instruction from the page turn instruction unit to read information of the next or previous page from the memory according to the direction of the tilt and display the read information on the display.