Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Bruno Polito
  • Patent number: 6498893
    Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus by which optimum playback pictures can be produced eve in case of parallel recording/reproduction. A storage unit 123 transiently stores video signals obtained from an overwrite type disc-shaped recording medium 102. A signal processing unit 122 decodes video signals stored in the storage unit 123. A holding unit 124 holds video signals decoded by the signal decoding unit 122. A control unit 101 performs control of the entire apparatus and also performs control for address management and data transfer of the disc-shaped recording medium 102 so that, if the apparatus is set to a mode of performing a playback operation while the recording operation is going on, the storage means 123 stores plural fields of the video signals and the holding unit 124 interpolates the video signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Suenaga, Kosuke Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6495989
    Abstract: A battery control apparatus of this invention comprises charge detecting circuit for detecting change of charge of a battery based on current of the battery, first residual charge amount detecting circuit coupled to the charge detecting circuit for detecting a first residual charge amount of the battery by compensating a predetermined reference residual charge amount based on the detected result of the change of charge of the battery. The battery control apparatus further comprises second residual charge amount detecting circuit for detecting a second residual charge amount of the battery based on al terminal voltage of the battery and reference residual charge amount updating circuit for updating the reference residual charge amount by detected result of the second residual charge amount of the battery, wherein the second residual charge amount of the battery is detected at a predetermined timing where the current of the battery is zero or almost zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhito Eguchi
  • Patent number: 6483789
    Abstract: A method for detecting a defective sector on a recording medium in a method for recording and/or reproducing data for the signal recording medium. A read gate is opened to reproduce data from a data field at a pre-set timing derived from a timing reference signal obtained on detecting a servo timing mark recorded in a servo field. If the timing reference signal has not been detected with success, the read gate is opened at a timing obtained based on a detection signal of a previously detected servo timing mark to reproduce the data from the data field. In detecting the defective sector, the state of deviation between the timing of opening the read gate and the data field is detected to detect the defective sector of the disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Kubota, Takayuki Sugawara, Takahiro Kawauchi
  • Patent number: 6466267
    Abstract: An adaptive peak value detector, wherein the peak value for a peak hold section is detected, the peak hold section being selected by a peak hold control circuit. A solid-state imaging sensor generates pixel signals representative of an image and the peak value of portions of the pixel signals is detected. The exposure time of the sensor is adjusted as a function of the detected peak value and auto-focusing of the image for the camera is carried out on the basis of the image received during the adjusted exposure time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Yoshida, Yasuhito Maki
  • Patent number: 6463179
    Abstract: An encoding apparatus whereby image signals provided in units of frames, each having a plurality of pixels, are divided into macro groups, and the pixels in each macro group are combined, forming a group. The pixels of the group are encoded on the basis of the level data representing the signal level of the representative pixel in the group, the position data concerning all pixels of the group and the data representing the number of the pixels existing in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsujiro Kondo, Takashi Horishi
  • Patent number: 6452960
    Abstract: An audio data transmission and recording system and a recording medium according to the system. Gaps in the audio data are used to control the addition of spectrum-diffused data to the audio data. The gaps are also used to control demodulation of the spectrum-diffused data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Sato
  • Patent number: 6445811
    Abstract: A fingerprint image processing device and fingerprint image processing method used for instance in fingerprint check devices which reliably processes the fingerprint image by detecting the ripple DM of the brightness level of the fingerprint image and starts the processing of a fingerprint image based on the ripple DM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Wada
  • Patent number: 6437712
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a data stream conversion apparatus and method, a variable length coded data stream generation apparatus and method, and a camera system, the data stream conversion apparatus, comprises a first data combining means for successively combining an input variable length data and a data portion not extracted as output data portion in already input data, a data extracting means for successively extracting predetermined data portions of the predetermined data length from said successively combined data as the output data portions, and an output means for successively outputting output data of a predetermined data length based on the successively extracted output data portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6438607
    Abstract: An electronic network system for implementing ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) and RARP (Reverse Address Resolution Protocol) type communication. ARP type communication is facilitated by including within the ARP response packet an offset address indicating the memory location of the software application that is the subject of the ARP type communication. RARP type communication is facilitated by providing each network node with a network unique ID and using the unique ID when generating RARP requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Fujimori, Makoto Sato, Tomoko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6433833
    Abstract: A system for generating a variety of solid signals and key signals. The system includes a multiple of solid generators, a multiple of key signal generators and a cross-point switch. Each of the solid generators includes a multiple of solid mixers, and each of the key signal generators includes a multiple of key signal mixers. The cross-point switch is arranged to connect any of the solid generators and key signal generators to any of the switch's main outputs, and to connect any of the solid generators to any of the key generators. The system provides for selection of preset delays to compensate for different signal routings. A timing control controls routing and delay selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Jonathan Mark Greenwood, James Hendrie McIntyre, Andrew Garrett
  • Patent number: 6434324
    Abstract: Video data controllers and disk array units are connected with an independent input serial transmission line and an independent output serial transmission line. Data is serially transmitted between the video data controllers and the disk array units. Data of the video data controllers is sent with time slots assigned thereto. Data has a synchronous signal at the beginning thereof. The synchronous signal synchronizes with time slots. The synchronous signal is followed by commands/status and video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Iwasaki, Satoshi Yoneya, Masakazu Yoshimoto, Satoshi Yutani
  • Patent number: 6430225
    Abstract: There is provided a converting processing block 3 for carrying out a processing to convert an arbitration signal into code data of 5 bits and for carrying out 4 bit/5 bit converting processing with respect to packet data to thereby carry out transmission/reception of arbitration signal and packet data as code data of 5 bits through transmitting blocks 6A, 6B and receiving blocks 7A, 7B. Thus, there is realized an interface apparatus for digital serial data which realizes extension of cable length between nodes in the digital serial data interface (e.g., IEEE 1394 high performance serial bus standard) adapted for carrying out arbitration of bus use right prior to transfer of data, thus to permit long distance transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Sumihiro Okawa, Akira Nakamura, Hiroshi Takizuka, Takahiro Fujimori
  • Patent number: 6430122
    Abstract: When the user enters a command to eject an optical disc from an optical-disc apparatus by operating an input unit, a CPU records information such as an operating mode and a location accessed immediately prior to ejection of the disc into a RAM unit as resume-function related information. The resume-function related information is then supplied to the optical disc to be recorded thereon by way of a write-in channel buffer, a switch, an ECC circuit, an RF & demodulation/modulation circuit and an optical head. Accordingly it is possible to make an access to a location on an optical disc accessed immediately prior to ejection of the disc from an optical-disc apparatus when the disc is reinserted into the optical-disc apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Hamada, Yasushi Fujinami
  • Patent number: 6424374
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a hue adjusting device and a hue adjusting method that adjust finely the hue of a color image signal. The CPU calculates an off set matrix B that is in a pair with an off set matrix A to a central matrix X when the matrix X and the off set matrix A are inputted from an operating part. Then the CPU carries out the following operation when a parameter a is inputted from the operating part. X′=(a·A+(1−a)B)/2 It is possible to execute matrix conversion to adjust the hue by setting a matrix coefficient of each component of the matrix X′ the multiplication circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Itakura
  • Patent number: 6414714
    Abstract: A picture pickup block (12) of an optical head body (1) is detachably attached to a camera body (2). The picture pickup block (12) includes an EEPROM (129), which stores data in association with a picture pickup element, such as shading correction data, and setup data for the video camera, including signal-use location data. When the power is turned on, a microcomputer (201) in the camera body (2) reads setup data from the ROM (129), and sets up the video camera by controlling each circuit of the picture pickup block (12) and the camera body (2). For example, based on shading correction data, setup is performed so that a video signal for which shading correction has been performed is output. Also, based on signal-use location data, setup is performed so that a video signal in accordance with the appropriate signal standards of a particular signal-use location is output by controlling a level conversion circuit (206) and a setup level signal adding circuit (207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tadamasa Kurashige, Katsumi Kaneko, Masahiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6415055
    Abstract: A moving image signal encoding and decoding method to enhance coding efficiency. In motion compensation predictive coding a moving image signal, in an inter picture distance calculation circuit 10, a distance for a time preceding past reference picture and a distance for a time following future reference picture are calculated by the video signal of a predetermined picture unit, and in a predictive mode determination circuit 8, motion compensation predictive coding, which is applied to the video signal of a predetermined picture unit, is selected in accordance with the calculated distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Motoki Kato
  • Patent number: 6413167
    Abstract: A golf overswing alerting mechanism is provided which produces a visual and/or audible indicator for the purpose of alerting a golfer to an improper swinging movement of a golf club. The overswing alerting mechanism is housed entirely within the hollow opening of the golf club shaft or is accommodated in a housing that is detachably affixed to the golf club. In a preferred configuration, the alerting mechanism includes a sound generation assembly for generating an audible sound upon occurrence of the overswing condition; an energy generation member to provide electrical energy to the sound generation assembly, and a circuit closing member or accelerometer(s) detecting the occurrence of an overswing condition. The preferred mechanism further includes an LCD readout provided in the grip butt of the golf club grip which indicates to the golfer the speed of the golf club shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas J. Burke
  • Patent number: 6411585
    Abstract: In an optical disk, serial data representative of positional information is preformatted by using a groove, and this groove is wobbled. When this preformatted optical disk is applied to an optical disk apparatus, a laser beam irradiation position can be controlled in high precision. A method for manufacturing this preformatted optical disk is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shoei Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6411572
    Abstract: A motor constant Km of a sled mechanism of an optical disc drive is to be measured. To this end, a parameter measurement device 1 for the sled mechanism includes an oscilloscope 8 for detecting the back-electromotive force Eb of a sled motor 5, a laser Doppler meter 7 for detecting the movement velocity v0 of the pickup 4 and a computer 9. The computer calculates an equation Eb=KmRmv0, where Rm is the resistance of a motor, to find the motor constant Km.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Precision Engineering Center (Singapore) PTE Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai Meng Hock
  • Patent number: 6404926
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method of processing an image data, a transmission medium, as well as a recording medium. In detail, in an image data processing of processing an image data in which an accompany information is embedded as a watermark, having a memory which stores the patterns of the watermark, setting a phase of a pattern of the watermark being stored in the memory, to a first phase or a second phase, calculating a first evaluation value corresponding to a pattern of the watermark of the first phase, of the image data inputted, and a second evaluation value corresponding to a pattern of the watermark of the second phase, and comparing the first evaluation value, and a value corresponding to the second evaluation value. As a result, it makes possible to read the accompany information more securely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyoshi Miyahara, Yoichi Yagasaki