Abstract: A program information acquisition apparatus includes a program information acquisition unit, a program information accumulation unit, and a program information acquisition determining unit. In this configuration, a start of an acquisition operation by the program information acquisition unit is determined based on an information accumulation status of the program information accumulation unit. Thus, program information distributed from a desired reception target can be accumulated as the latest information as much as possible. Since unneeded program information is not acquired, program information acquisition with high energy saving effects is made possible.

Abstract: A PDP driving apparatus having a resonance driver of a PDP electrode for shortening a time required to display an image since the power-up. A power collecting capacitor included in each electrode resonance driver is charged rapidly to a predetermined potential upon power-up of the PDP driving apparatus by allowing each electrode resonance driver to drive electrodes by means of excitation. Also, while the power collecting capacitor included in the row electrode pair driver is charged, charge driving pulses in-phase and of the same polarity are applied respectively to corresponding two electrodes to drive these electrodes by means of excitation.

Abstract: This invention comprises electricity transmission and hydrogen production and its transportation from ocean and/or tidal current power generation apparatus, as well as control and moorage of ocean and/or tidal current power generation apparatus. Concretely speaking, the invention comprises interconnection of electricity from multiple detachable ocean and/or tidal current power generation apparatuss, via weights attached to the seabed, electricity transmission to land and/or sea surface, and hydrogen production and its transportation. Hydrogen can be temporarily stored. Surplus electricity can be used as it is. Propellered ocean and/or tidal current power generation apparatus comprises stabilizing function, submergible function for control, and detachable function to weight attached to the seabed.

Abstract: A method of and a system for controlling a brightness of a picture displayed on a plasma display panel are provided which are capable of determining whether a video signal to be fed to the plasma display panel is a signal indicating a stationary picture, reducing the brightness of a picture displayed on the plasma display panel if it is determined that a video signal to be fed to the plasma display panel is a signal indicating a stationary picture.

Abstract: A PDP driving apparatus having a resonance driver of a PDP electrode for shortening a time required to display an image since the power-up. A power collecting capacitor included in each electrode resonance driver is charged rapidly to a predetermined potential upon power-up of the PDP driving apparatus by allowing each electrode resonance driver to drive electrodes by means of excitation. Also, while the power collecting capacitor included in the row electrode pair driver is charged, charge driving pulses in-phase and of the same polarity are applied respectively to corresponding two electrodes to drive these electrodes by means of excitation.

Abstract: A method of and a system for controlling a brightness of a picture displayed on a plasma display panel are provided which are capable of determining whether a video signal to be fed to the plasma display panel is a signal indicating a stationary picture, reducing the brightness of a picture displayed on the plasma display panel if it is determined that a video signal to be fed to the plasma display panel is a signal indicating a stationary picture.

Abstract: In a plasma display having a charge recovery type of pulse generator for generating a driving pulse, the charge recovery type of pulse generator is prevented from short-circuiting due to a malfunction of a switch controller in a driving apparatus. A protection gate circuit is provided between the charge recovery type of pulse generator and the switch controller to block an undesirable signal generated due to a malfunction of switch controller for turning on an undesirable switch.

Abstract: A brightness controlling apparatus adjusts a brightness level of a video signal inputted thereto and outputting the video signal having the adjusted brightness level to a display apparatus so that the display apparatus displays a video image corresponding to the video signal on the basis of the video signal having the adjusted brightness level.

Abstract: A video signal processing circuit in which nearly 100% of a largest possible dynamic range can be used, desired contrast is obtained, and desired brightness characteristics are obtained by an increasing in luminance of a screen. The circuit has an RGB amplifier which amplifies three primary color video signals R, G, and B by a predetermined gain and in which the gain is controlled by a gain control signal, A/D converters for converting analog three primary color video signals which are generated from the RGB amplifier into digital signals respectively, inverse gamma correcting circuits for effecting an inverse gamma correction to the three primary color digital video signals respectively, an OR circuit and a peak holding circuit for detecting peak levels of the analog three primary color signals, and a gain control signal generator for generating a gain control signal in accordance with the peak levels.

Abstract: A stereoscopic image display system has a left/right stereoscopic image signal generator for alternately generating left-eye and right-eye image signals at every field, a screen for projecting image light, a liquid crystal shutter. The liquid crystal shutter has a response speed of 1 ms or less, and a contrast between black and white of 100 to 1 or more at a central wavelength of an emission spectrum of a CRT in both parallel and crossing modes of the polarizing plates of the shutter, and a cell gap of 3 .mu.m or less. The screen comprises a Fresnel lens and a lenticular sheet, and the lenticular sheet is disposed in a direction so that a polarizing condition does not generate a phase difference based on the lenticular sheet.

Abstract: A reflection mirror of a projection display unit which displays a stereoscopic image through a light polarization glasses, reflects a linearly polarized light emitted from a projection source through a polarizing plate toward a screen. The reflection mirror includes: a glass substrate; a metal film provided on the glass substrate; a first dielectric film provided on the metal film; and a second dielectric film provided on the first dielectric film, wherein each of the first and second dielectric films includes a predetermined thickness and a predetermined refractive index so that a phase difference between a p-polarized light of a reflected light and a s-polarized light of the reflected light is within a range from -45 degree to 45 degree in case of an incident angle of the linearly polarized light being varied from 0 degree to 45 degree.

Abstract: A bending sensor of the invention is formed of a flexible segment, a pressure-sensitive electrically-conductive resin film formed on the flexible segment, and a pair of electrodes to be attached to the resin film. The resin film is made of pressure-sensitive electroconductive ink and coated on the segment. The resin film has a characteristic such that an electric resistance value is reduced as a pressure on the resin film increases. When the segment is bend-formed at an inflection point by receiving an outer force, the segment provides a pressure to the resin film at the inflection point to produce an inner stress in the resin film. When the segment is bent-deformed, the electrodes output a resistance change of the resin film to thereby detect bending of the flexible segment.