Abstract: The VCR (video cassette recorder) inserts an index signal into a video signal at the time of recording, when information which will later become inaccurate at the time of playback is included in the video signal. The index signal prevents the VCR from using the inaccurate data at the time of playback. Further, tile VCR displays a message automatically when the broadcast signal selected by the user has no second audio signal, thereby allowing the user to grasp the reason why the receiver is producing no sound. Further, the main audio signal may be selected automatically, instead of the second audio signal, allowing the VCR to produce the sound.

Abstract: In order to assure the assembly steps of a tape cartridge, a base plate of the cartridge has a rough surface. The rough surface is possessed by a plastic layer coated on the base plate. For producing the rough surface, fine particles and/or fibrous members are embedded in the plastic layer.

Abstract: (M-N) 0 data are inserted for every N data of the f.sub.SL input data by an interpolation circuit 20 for generating f.sub.SH rate data, while filter coefficients are sequentially generated by M coefficient generators 30A to 30D at the f.sub.SH rate. A register postfix type transversal filter 40 effectuates up rate conversion of N:M (N<M) of generating f.sub.SH rate output data from f.sub.SL rate input data. The transversal filter 40 includes M multipliers 41A to 41D for multiplying the f.sub.SH rate data generated by the interpolation circuit 20 with the filter coefficients sequentially applied by the coefficient generators 30A to 30D and each (M-1) delay circuits 42A to 42C and additive units 43A to 43C for delaying product outputs of the multipliers 41A to 41D by unit time delay and summing the delayed product output together.

Abstract: A motion picture film capable of reproducing the sound field full of ambience in the reproducing system. The digital sound tracks 5L and 5R, on which digital audio data have been recorded, are recorded so that temporally same digital audio signals are recorded with a spatial shift by a preset distance along the film running direction.

Abstract: By merely using one reproducing head, an overwriting operation and an ATF operation can be performed, thereby reducing a crosstalk obstruction and modulation noises. Recording heads 7 and 8 having different azimuth angles and a reproducing head 9 having the same azimuth angle as that of the recording head 7 are provided for a drum 3. An (A) track constructed by a data region and an ATF pilot region is recorded to a magnetic tape 1 by the recording head 7. A (B) track constructed by a data region in which a single signal of a short wavelength is recorded and an ATF pilot region is recorded to the magnetic tape 1 by the recording head 8. Upon reproduction, the (A) track is reproduced by the reproducing head 9. Although the (B) track is not reproduced, the single signal is recorded as a (B) track, so that the overwriting operation and the ATF operation of an area method can be performed and, further, an excellent signal can be reproduced from the (A) track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for reproducing encoded data recorded on a disk and decoding the reproduced encoded data. The data reproduced from the disk in encoded form are stored in a buffer and read from the buffer for carrying out error correction. Once the data have been error-corrected, the error corrected encoded data are again stored in the buffer. Then the data are read from the buffer for decoding.

Abstract: A motion picture film capable of reproducing the sound field full of ambience in the reproducing system. The digital sound tracks 5L and 5R, on which digital audio data have been recorded, are recorded so that temporally same digital audio signals are recorded with a spatial shift by a preset distance along the film running direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording digital video signals in which digital video signals in the form of DCT coefficients, obtained by e.g., discrete cosine transform, are quantized and compressed so as to be recorded on a recording medium. A first quantization step decision unit determines a quantization step in terms of a video segment made up of plural macro-blocks as a unit so that the quantity of quantized data is less than a pre-set data quantity. A second quantization step decision unit determines a quantization step in terms of the macro-blocks as a unit so that the quantity of quantized data is less than the pre-set data quantity. A quantization unit quantizes the digital video signals with the quantization steps determined by the first quantization step decision unit and the second quantization step decision unit. This enables efficient encoding and improved picture quality.

Abstract: An amplifier comprises a variable gain analog amplifier for amplifying an input analog signal to generate an intermediate analog signal, the gain of the analog amplifier being switchable between two or more discrete gain values. An analog to digital converter converts the intermediate analog signal into a corresponding intermediate digital signal and a variable gain digital amplifier amplifies the intermediate digital signal. A gain control circuit, responsive to a required gain, selects one of the discrete gain values of the analog amplifier and a gain value of the digital amplifier so that the sum of the selected gain values is substantially equal to the required gain; and whether the required gain is increasing or decreasing is detected.

Abstract: An audio rate converter converts a sampling rate for audio data into a fixed rate. In the audio rate converter, an input audio data DAin at a sampling rate of PFS (48 kHz.+-.x%) are stored in the memory in accordance with a write address WAD which is synchronized with the rate PFS. Audio data are read from the memory in accordance with a read address RAD which is synchronized with a rate FS (48 kHz), and coefficient data determined based on a sampling point in output audio data are read from a ROM table in accordance with a read address Coef.AD which is synchronized with the rate FS. A data arithmetic and logic circuit performs multiplying and adding operations using these data in order to produce the output audio data DAout. If the sampling rate PFS at which the input audio data are provided changes, the audio rate converter can provide the output audio data DAout at the fixed sampling rate FS.

Abstract: A high-efficiency encoding method and apparatus assuring a higher data compression ratio than with known encoding method and apparatus. The multi-channel signals including bandwidth-limited signals of at least one channel are encoded by the same encoding technique by an encoding unit. The bandwidth-limited signals of at least one channel, resulting from encoding by the encoding unit, are re-encoded by a re-encoding unit for eliminating the redundant information produced by the bandwidth limitation.

Abstract: Method of recording on a record medium by receiving a series of data elements, adding error detection and error correction data to each data element, moving some of the data in each data element to an adjacent data element to produce arranged data elements, and recording the arranged data elements in different sectors on a record medium. Upon reproduction of the arranged data elements from a record medium, some of the data in each arranged data element are moved to an adjacent data element to produce rearranged data elements. Errors in each rearranged data element are detected and corrected using data contained therein. A record medium having concentric tracks on which a plurality of sectors are located stores data in each of the sectors. The data in each sector pertains to two different sectors so that the affect of a burst error on a particular sector is minimized.

Abstract: A feedome is disposed on the side of an opening of a radiator main body, and comprises a dielectric board having a thickness sufficiently smaller than the wavelength of radio wave, and a dielectric protrusion fixedly mounted to the dielectric board substantially in the center of the inner side thereof, and having a height approximately equal to integral number times (1/2).multidot..lambda. where the wavelength of radio wave is .lambda., and a diameter approximately equal to the height of the dielectric protrusion.

Abstract: A volatile storage device including a nonvolatile storage block. The nonvolatile storage block includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in the form of matrix at the intersections of bit lines and word lines. Each memory cell includes an address selecting transistor and a capacitor connected in series between each bit line and a cell plate line. Accordingly, additional information including production history, test results, and product information can be nonvolatily stored in the volatile storage device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for encoding moving picture signals. A plurality of encoding picture groups, each consisting of a pre-set number of encoding pictures freed of redundant pictures from a plurality of original pictures represented by the input moving picture signals, are formed, and the number of original pictures used for forming the encoding picture groups and the group-based target bit amount are calculated. The moving picture signals of the encoding pictures are encoded from one picture group to another based upon the target bit amount. Even if the encoding picture rate is changed from one picture group to another, the target bit amount can be adaptively controlled with these changes in the encoding picture rate. Consequently, there is no risk of the output bit rate significantly surpassing the target value.

Abstract: An image data value storage system is described comprising a plurality of tiled memories which are fed with a single set of read addresses from a read address generator. The data stored within each of the tiled memories is offset relative to each other by the action of a delay unit upon writing of the data into the memory units. Thus, a single set of read addresses accesses a larger contiguous array of image data values than is individually addressed within each of the memory units.

Abstract: An orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) modulation apparatus which can transmit just one of single side bands by a simple circuit and an OFDM demodulation apparatus superior in the ratio of the signal power to noise power ratio, wherein a serial/parallel converter converts the input signal from the serial to parallel format, inputs the results to the 1 to N-1 stage of an inverse discrete Fourier transformation (IDFT) circuit, and inputs a fixed value to the other stages (0 stage and N stage to 2N-1 stage). The IDFT circuit is a 2N input IDFT circuit which performs IDFT processing on the input signal converted to the parallel format by the serial/parallel converter and inputs the real number portion of the transformation result to a parallel/serial converter and the imaginary number portion to a parallel/serial converter. The imaginary number portion of the output signal of the IDFT circuit becomes the Hilbert transformation of the real number portion.

Abstract: Digital image data are compressed in a first iteration of orthogonally transforming a predetermined amount of the original image data, such as index data for a splite pattern, and quantizing the transform coefficients. Then the quantized data are locally decoded, and the decoded data are compared with the original image data. If there are no errors, that is, the decoded data matches the original image data, the quantized data are variable length encoded to form compressed data for output, such as recording on a CD-ROM recording medium. If there are errors, then a next iteration is performed, in which the original image data are bit shifted and then orthogonally transformed, the transform coefficients are quantized, and the quantized data are locally decoded. As before, the decoded data are compared with the original image data. If there are no errors, the quantized data are variable length encoded to form compressed data for output.

Abstract: An improvement in solving the problem of the wraparound state. A moving image is coded in an encoder. The resulting coded data is supplied to a buffer through a multiplexor and stored in the buffer. The address used for storing the coded data in the buffer is generated in an address controller. The coded data supplied from the encoder is combined with the address in the multiplexor in a multiplexing manner.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus records and reproduces video signals which include video information and copy protection information for restricting the number of times the video information may be copied. Original video information is recorded onto a recording medium with updated copy protection information that indicates that the video information has been copied and is also transmitted with the original copy protection information so that more than one copy of the video information may be generated from the original. The transmitted video information is outputted and/or recorded onto a recording medium with the updated copy protection information.