Abstract: An antenna interface of a contactless device including a current source configured to provide a current signal which is dependent on a radio frequency field; and a pause detector coupled to the current source and configured to detect a field pause from the current signal and output a field pause signal.

Abstract: An optical recording medium has a multi-layer structure recording layer structure recording layer portion including plural recording layers provided with tracks for guiding a recording light and being adapted to record data, where recording condition information and recording layer identification information for the recording layers are recorded on the tracks as information signals. Test writing is conducted on a recording layer that is subject to recording to derive a suitable recording condition based on recording condition information that is recorded on the recording layer, and direct recording is conducted according to a direct recording condition.

Abstract: A variable resistance memory element and method of forming the same. The memory element includes a first electrode, a resistivity interfacial layer having a first surface coupled to said first electrode; a resistance changing material, e.g, a phase change material, having a first surface coupled to a second surface of said resistivity interfacial layer, and a second electrode coupled to a second surface of said resistance changing material.

Abstract: A method for reading and writing a memory having n rows and A columns includes a first step of writing data in 0th to (n?2)th rows by a first technique; a second step of writing data in (n?1)th row per column and reading data in the 0th section by a second technique; a third step of writing data in 0th to (n?2)th sections by a third technique and reading data in 1st to (n?1)th sections by the second technique, a fourth step of writing data in the (n?1)th section by the third technique and reading data in 0th row by a fourth technique; a fifth step of writing data in 0th to (n?2)th rows by the first technique and reading data in 1st to (n?1)th rows by the fourth technique; and a sixth step of returning to the second step.

Abstract: A configurable processor architecture uses a common simulation database for multiple processor configurations to reduce the cost of producing customized processor configurations. An unchanging core portion is used in each processor configuration. To support different memory modules, identification signals are provided from the memory modules or an identification module to configure the core portion.

Abstract: A sound source localization system includes a plurality of microphones for receiving a signal as an input from a sound source; a time-difference extraction unit for decomposing the signal inputted through the plurality of microphones into time, frequency and amplitude using a sparse coding and then extracting a sparse interaural time difference (SITD) inputted through the plurality of microphones for each frequency; and a sound source localization unit for localizing the sound source using the SITDs. A sound source localization method includes receiving a signal as an input from a sound source; decomposing the signal into time, frequency and amplitude using a sparse coding; extracting an SITD for each frequency; and localizing the sound source using the SITDs.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an imaging method which can obtain an image in which a dynamic range is expanded at one shooting are provided. In a case where a pixel output of a pixel where a specific color separation filter is placed is equal to or more than a predetermined saturation level, based on a pixel output of a pixel which is placed in the vicinity of the pixel where the specific color separation filter is placed, a pixel output for brightness, where the pixel output becomes equal to or more than the predetermined saturation level, of the pixel where the color separation filter of the specific color is placed and the pixel output is equal to or more than the predetermined saturation level is compensated, and thereby a dynamic range of an image sensor is expanded.

Abstract: An inserting type earphone device is broken down into a signal-to-sound converter, an ear pad to be inserted into an acoustic meatus of user, a sound tube provided between the signal-to-sound converter and the ear pad and a switching mechanism provided in association with the sound tube and ear pad, and a sound hole, which is formed in the sound tube for connecting a sound propagation hole to the outside, is open to and closed with the switching mechanism; the switching mechanism makes the sound hole open and closed through rotation thereof around the sound tube so that the ear pad is not inclined in the acoustic meatus during the rotation, whereby the ear pad is not dropped off from the acoustic meatus.

Abstract: A method of attaching an object to be measured to a structure causing a diffraction phenomenon; irradiating the structure to which the object to be measured is attached and which causes the diffraction phenomenon with an electromagnetic wave; detecting the electromagnetic wave scattered by the structure causing the diffraction phenomenon; and measuring a characteristic of the object to be measured from the frequency characteristic of the detected electromagnetic wave. The object to be measured is attached directly to the surface of the structure causing the diffraction phenomenon. Thus, the method for measuring the characteristic of an object to be measured exhibits an improved measurement sensitivity and high reproducibility. A structure causing a diffraction phenomenon and used for the method, and a measuring device are provided.

Abstract: A holding mechanism for a long length optical element, which extends in a main scanning direction that is a movement direction of a deflected luminous flux by an optical deflector, and leads the deflected luminous flux to a scanned surface, includes; a holding member which is placed in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction and holds the long length optical element in at least two places. The holding member has, an adjusting section which deflects the long length optical element in the sub-scanning direction and controls a tilt of the long length optical element in a sub-scanning cross-section and/or occurrences of a tilt distribution in a longitudinal direction in the sub-scanning cross-section.

Abstract: A write control circuit includes a first data switching circuit that sets a correspondence relationship between signals from line buffers and input signals to a delay circuitry, based on a signal from a CPU; and a second data switching circuit that sets a correspondence relationship between output signals of the delay circuitry and drive signals, based on a signal from the CPU. This enables a plurality of light emitting sections to be driven properly, regardless of a main scanning direction and an arrangement of a plurality of light spots being in any of CASE-1 to CASE-4 in an optical scanning device.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup device, a device that obtains an image from the image pickup device, a sensor that detects a roll angle of the sensor, wherein the sensor detects a reference roll angle of the sensor when the imaging apparatus is disposed at a predetermined roll angle, a device that calculates a reference roll angle of the image pickup device by using a reference image from the image pickup device when the imaging apparatus is disposed at the predetermined roll angle and a device that corrects a roll angle of the sensor by calculating a relative roll angle from the reference roll angle of the image pickup device and the reference roll angle of the sensor.

Abstract: A multithreaded processor includes multiple level-1 program caches and multiple level-1 data caches to decrease the likelihood of cache misses after thread switches. By using multiple level-1 caches, execution of a first thread does not cause instructions or data cached for a second thread to be replaced. Thus, when the second thread is being executed the occurrence of cache misses is reduced.

Abstract: An upholstered recliner chair includes a base, a seat unit disposed on the base, a backrest frame pivotably mounted on the base and hingedly mounted to the seat unit to be displaceable between upright and tilted positions, a sidewise fixed lever extending radially from the backrest frame to be movable with the backrest frame, a backrest padding disposed to be slidable relative to the backrest frame in a lengthwise direction, and a pulling unit coupled to the backrest padding, the backrest frame, the sidewise fixed lever, and the seat unit such that the backrest padding is moved with the sidewise fixed lever during displacement of the backrest frame between the upright and tilted position to thereby vary a distance between the backrest padding and the seat unit.

Abstract: The invention is related to methods and apparatus for providing a resistance variable memory element with improved data retention and switching characteristics. According to one embodiment of the invention, a resistance variable memory element is provided having at least one silver-selenide layer in between two glass layers, wherein at least one of the glass layers is a chalcogenide glass, preferably having a GexSe100?x composition. According to another embodiment of the invention, a resistance variable memory element is provided having at least one silver-selenide layer in between chalcogenide glass layers and further having a silver layer above at least one of said chalcogenide glass layers and a conductive adhesion layer above said silver layer.

Abstract: An inverted variable resistance memory cell and a method of fabricating the same. The memory cell is fabricated by forming an opening in an insulating layer deposited over a semiconductor substrate, etching the top portion of the opening to have a substantially hemispherical-shape, forming a metal layer in the opening, and overlying a variable resistance material over the metal layer.

Abstract: Described herein are code-modulated multi-signal systems. In one embodiment, a multi-signal system receives multiple input signals and code-modulates each input signal with a unique code to distinguish the input signal from the other input signals. The input signals may come from multiple antennas, multiple sensors, multiple channels, etc. The code-modulated signals are then combined into a combined signal that is sent through shared blocks and/or transmitted across a shared medium in a shared path. After shared processing and/or shared transmission, the individual signals are recovered using matched filters. Each matched filter contains a code corresponding to one of the unique codes for recovering the corresponding signal from the combined signal. The recovered signals may then be inputted to additional processors for further processing.

Abstract: A remote control system and method comprising a television and a light pointing apparatus adapted, in a first embodiment, to transmit a first narrow beam having a first frequency corresponding to visible light, which is used to give an indication of where the pointer is pointed, and a second expanded beam surrounding the first beam and comprising a second frequency corresponding to infrared light. In a second embodiment, the pointer transmits a single frequency modulated light beam. In operation, the beam of light is shown on the television screen to activate an on screen menu based user interface via a photo sensor, microprocessor and onscreen display controller. Screen menu items appear on the screen positioned around the periphery of the screen. The user then moves the beam of light on the screen to the periphery of the screen to optically engage one of the plurality of photo conductors, which triggers an appropriate menu sequence or the performance of a television function such as, e.g., channel up.