Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for liquid cultivating Schizophyllum commune Fr. for isolation of &bgr;-1,6-branched-&bgr;-1,3-glucan and a composition for external application containing &bgr;-1,6-branched-&bgr;-1,3-glucan as an active ingredient, which can defer skin aging, impart skin whitening effect and cure skin damage effectively.

Abstract: An optical disk player, used for reproducing data recorded on a laser or compact disk, is disclosed. In the disk player, a dust cover is rotatably hinged to the top surface of a pick-up unit. The above dust cover is brought into movable contact with and is operated in conjunction with the guide surface of a cam member. The dust cover thus selectively covers or opens the objective lens of the pick-up unit. Due to the dust cover, it is possible to almost completely prevent foreign substances, such as dust, from sticking on the lens, thereby effectively protecting the lens. The dust cover precisely opens or covers the lens in conjunction with a slidable movement of a guide rod of the dust cover relative to a sectioned guide surface of the cam member. The guide surface of the cam member is formed within a range corresponding to a distance between the inside edge of the chucking place of the disk to the junction between the chucking place and the data place of the disk.

Abstract: An image enhancing method using a mean-separate histogram equalization method is disclosed. An input image signal is divided into two sub-images in a picture unit according to a mean level of the input image signal. Then, cumulative density functions for each of the sub-images are calculated. Afterwards, the input sample is mapped into two gray levels, each of which belongs to a first range and a second range, by using first and second transform functions defined by use of the cumulative density functions, respectively. Finally, one of two mapped levels is selected depending on the magnitude of the input sample. As a result, the brightness of the given image can be preserved while the contrast is enhanced.

Abstract: An interlaced-to-progressive conversion device includes a spatial interpolator for spatially interpolating an input interlaced image signal and outputting a spatially interpolated signal; a temporal interpolator for temporally interpolating the input interlaced image signal and outputting a temporally interpolated signal; a correlator for detecting a motion correlation, a vertical correlation, and a temporal-vertical correlation by using a predetermined number of sample data in a current field, a previous field and a next field; and a selector for comparing the motion correlation, the vertical correlation, and the temporal-vertical correlation with respective predetermined constants and selecting between one of the spatially interpolated signal and the temporally interpolated signal according to the results of the comparisons.

Abstract: A disk recording/reproducing apparatus has an improved structure such that a disk seated on a disk seating unit is inserted between rollers for transferring the disk to a magazine without a separate extracting lever between the rollers and the disk seating unit, thereby simplifying the structure. A tray position changing mechanism is provided which horizontally moves the tray, having the disk seating unit thereon, from a first position to a second position where the disk is inserted between the rollers.

Abstract: A disk recording/reproducing apparatus includes a stacked pair of trays each having a disk seating unit thereon and a magazine containing a plurality of disks. While a disk seated in one tray is being recorded on or reproduced from, a disk within a magazine can be removed and replaced by the other tray.

Abstract: A histogram-equalization method and circuit for enhancing an image signal represented by a predetermined number of gray levels is presented. The method calculates a cumulative density function and a mean level in a unit of a picture, and maps an input sample into a new gray level according to a transform function which is defined by use of the cumulative density function and the mean level. The method may also include a step of obtaining a compensated mean level by adding to the mean brightness level, so that the input sample is mapped into the compensated mean level according to the mean level. Thus, a brightness compensation may be carried out along with the contrast enhancement of the image.

Abstract: A histogram equalization method for enhancing an image is provided and includes the steps of: quantizing the level of input image signals; quantizing a mean level of quantized input image signals by a unit of a picture; splitting quantized input image signals into a predetermined number of quantized sub-images according to a quantized mean level; calculating a cumulative density function value of each quantized sub-image; interpolating the cumulative density function value of each sub-image according to input image signals and the cumulative density function value of each quantized sub-image; and independently histogram-equalizing each quantized sub-image according to the interpolated cumulative density function value of each quantized sub-image, to thereby enhance the contrast and preserve the overall brightness of a given image as well as simplify the circuit hardware.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus having a disk changing function is provided and includes a clutch mechanism for switching power to selectively drive a clamping mechanism for securing a selected disk and an elevating mechanism for lifting and lowering a stocker receiving a plurality of subtrays by using a single driving source. The clutch mechanism includes a motor installed on a main deck and having a motor gear, for generating power, a driving gear connected to the motor gear and which is rotated, a first connecting gear rotatably installed on the main deck and connected to the clamping mechanism, and a second connecting gear rotatably installed on the main deck, connected to the elevating mechanism, and located at a relative position lower than the first connecting gear.

Abstract: A disk transferring device for transferring a disk to be extracted from and inserted into a magazine which can contain a plurality of disks and is built in a disk changer. In particular, the disk transferring device includes structure to suppress the hanging-down of the disk while transferring the disk. The disk transferring device of the disk changer can easily ensure that hanging down of the disk is suppressed since a pair of rollers for rotatingly transferring the disk is installed so that the rollers move relative to each other, to effectively support a rear portion of the disk being transferred.

Abstract: A disk reproducing apparatus having a disk changing function is provided where non-selected disks can be exchanged with other disks which are not preloaded as a selected disk is being reproduced, and subtrays remaining on the upper side of a subtray transported from a stocker can be lifted. The lifting mechanism includes a fixing plate having a plurality of guide holes, positioned on the upper side of the stocker and fixed on first and second chassis members, a support plate slidably installed on the upper surface of the fixing plate and having a plurality of support pieces which are provided with support portions at the ends thereof, for supporting the subtrays, respectively, and combined with a plurality of guide holes, respectively, and a manipulating mechanism for transporting a support plate to move the support portions from a first position separated from the subtrays to a second position contacting the bottom surface of the subtrays.

Abstract: A disk recording/reproducing apparatus includes a stacked pair of trays having a disk seating unit thereon. While a disk of one tray is recorded or reproduced, another disk mounted within a magazine can be replaced by the other tray.