Abstract: An optical switch, wherein the first and second output ports (optical fibers) are disposed on the opposite sides of the input port (optical fiber) so as to form acute angles with respect to the input port, the input port and the first output port are optically coupled to each other through a first mirror surface, and the input port and the second output port are optically coupled to each other through a second mirror surface. The incident angles of an incident light beam with respect to the mirror surfaces are equalized, and optical path lengths between the input port and the first and second output ports are equalized. The actuator inserts and withdraws the second mirror surface on a position at the front of the first mirror surface.

Abstract: In order to implement an MEMS device which monitors a mechanical response characteristic of a moving part to detect a precursor of a fatal failure without needing correction of an existing control input and without adding any components, there are provided vibration detecting means 80 for detecting a micro vibration excited in a moving part 60 in one of binary switching states, a dynamic-characteristic analyzing unit which analyzes a dynamic characteristic of the moving part 60 on the basis of an output from the detection, a memory 100 which stores the analyzed data, an operation unit 110 which retrieves the stored data, compares two temporally successive pieces of data and calculates difference information between the two pieces of data, and a failure diagnosis unit 120 which performs failure diagnosis based on the difference information.

Abstract: A method for time aligning audio signal, wherein one signal has been derived from the other or both have been derived from another signal, comprises deriving reduced-information characterizations of the audio signals, auditory scene analysis. The time offset of one characterization with respect to the other characterization is calculated and the temporal relationship of the audio signals with respect to each other is modified in response to the time offset such that the audio signals are coicident with each other. These principles may also be applied to a method for time aligning a video signal and an audio signal that will be subjected to differential time offsets.

Abstract: Mechanisms are known that allow receivers to control loudness of speech in broadcast signals but these mechanisms require an estimate of speech loudness be inserted into the signal. Disclosed techniques provide improved estimates of loudness. According to one implementation, an indication of the loudness of an audio signal containing speech and other types of audio material is obtained by classifying segments of audio information as either speech or non-speech. The loudness of the speech segments is estimated and this estimate is used to derive the indication of loudness. The indication of loudness maybe used to control audio signal levels so that variations in loudness of speech between different programs is reduced. A preferred method for classifying speech segments is described.

Abstract: A photonic structure has rods arranged with periodicity which is of a non-translational symmetry and defined in a polar coordinate system, which uses a distance in a radial direction and an angle in a circumferential direction, and has a center of the polar coordinate system used as a reference. A heterointerface is provided between adjoining areas of the plurality of areas. The positions of the centers of the polar coordinate systems of the plurality of areas are different. Lines of rods are smoothly connected between adjoining areas of the plurality of areas at the heterointerfaces. Rods are removed in a spiral shape or in a curve whose radius of curvature changes, to form an optical waveguide in the spiral shape or in the curve.

Abstract: The loss of packets in a communication system can be minimized in an optimal manner by adapting a set of error correction (EC) parameters in response to a calculated probability of packet loss. The calculated probability is obtained from derived algorithms that are applied to a set of communication parameters. Algorithms are derived from Bernoulli-distributed traffic models and constant bit rate (CBR) traffic models of the communication system. A collapsed-state model is used to derive a very efficient algorithm that calculates an approximate probability of packet loss. Alternate applications for the algorithms are also disclosed.

Abstract: Audio coding processes like quantization can cause spectral components of an encoded audio signal to be set to zero, creating spectral holes in the signal. These spectral holes can degrade the perceived quality of audio signals that are reproduced by audio coding systems. An improved decoder avoids or reduces the degradation by filling the spectral holes with synthesized spectral components. An improved encoder may also be used to realize further improvements in the decoder.

Abstract: In a digital cinema network of NTP-timekeeping devices in which one of the devices decodes video information, the scheduling of future instructions takes into account the differences between the nominal and actual frame rates of the video decoding device and the network's NTP latency.

Abstract: A disaster recovery technique for computer systems obtains backup copies of data by arranging recording devices like direct-access disk devices into copy pairs of primary and secondary devices. Management of the device copy pairs within a single system and across multiple systems is facilitated by constructing maps of device information that provide a cross-reference between I/O subsystem device numbers and hardware addresses. Information structures are constructed from the maps and used to facilitate defining and managing groups of device copy pairs.

Abstract: A signal splitter includes a low-pass filter circuit for permitting a low-frequency component of an incoming signal in an incoming telephone line coupled to a first connecting port to pass therethrough to a second connecting port, and a coupling circuit including a capacitor coupled between a first terminal of the first connecting port and a second terminal of the second connecting port, and a coupling transformer having a primary winding that interconnects the first terminal of the first connecting port and a first input end of the low-pass filter circuit, and a secondary winding that interconnects the second terminal of the second connecting port and a second output end of the low-pass filter circuit.

Abstract: The time needed to encode an input audio stream is reduced by dividing the stream into two or more overlapping segments of audio information blocks, applying an encoding process to each segment to generate encoded segments in parallel, and appending the encoded segments to form an encoded output signal. The encoding process is responsive to one or more control parameters. Some of the control parameters, which apply to a given block, are calculated from audio information in one or more previous blocks. The length of the overlap between adjacent segments is chosen such that the differences between control parameter values and corresponding reference values at the end of the overlap interval are small enough to avoid producing audible artifacts in a signal that is obtained by decoding the encoded output signal.

Abstract: A process that allocates bits for quantizing spectral components in a perceptual coding system is performed more efficiently by obtaining an accurate estimate of the optimal value for one or more coding parameters that are used in the bit allocation process. In one implementation for a perceptual audio coding system, an accurate estimate of an offset from a calculated psychoacoustic masking curve is derived by selecting an initial value for the offset, calculating the number of bits that would be allocated if the initial offset were used for coding, and estimating the optimum value of the offset from a difference between this calculated number and the number of bits that are actually available for allocation.

Abstract: There is provided a controller that prevents any external power source from supplying its power if a host device and a monitoring device are not connected exactly through optical extension cables based on DVI standard, and that prevents a sequence for digital transmission of a video signal from being started if the external power source remains off. Only when the proper (DDC+5V) signal is generated from the host device and the external power source has been turned on, the (DDC+5V) signal is transmitted to the monitoring device, and when it is detected in the monitoring device that the transmitted signal is the proper (DDC+5V) signal, the (DDC+5V) signal is transmitted to the monitoring device.

Abstract: A playback system in a digital cinema network synchronizes the presentation of visual and aural content by deriving timing information for packets of information that are conveyed in video and audio data streams, examining the timing information to determine if any misalignment between the two data streams is likely to be perceptible and, if the misalignment is deemed to be perceptible, introducing delays into one or both data streams to correct the misalignment. If the audio data stream precedes the video data stream, the audio data stream is delayed by an integer number of audio sample periods. If the video data stream precedes the audio data stream, the video data stream is delayed by an integer number of video frames and the audio data stream is delayed by an integer number of audio sample periods.

Abstract: In a wiring substrate having a metal wiring pattern that is formed on a substrate and includes a contact portion for providing connection to an external element, an organic thin film containing silane is formed to cover the metal wiring pattern and the contact portion is electrically connected to the external element through the organic thing film. Unlike conventional wiring substrates in which a contact portion is uncovered by ripping open or cutting away a protective resin film formed on the contact portion, the wiring substrate can be electrically connected with an external element having a low contact pressure, for example.

Abstract: A method of modifying the operation of the encoder function and/or the decoder function of a perceptual coding system in accordance with supplemental information, such as a watermark, so that the supplemental information may be detectable in the output of the decoder function. One or more parameters are modulated in the encoder function and/or the decoder function in response to the supplemental information.

Abstract: A pliers-type hand tool includes first and second arms, a pivot joint, and a locking member. The first arm is formed with a threaded blind hole. The second arm is formed with a through hole. The pivot joint extends through the through-hole in the second arm and threadedly engages the threaded blind hole in the first arm, and is formed with a threaded through-hole. The locking member threadedly engages and extends through the threaded through hole in the pivot joint, and abuts against the first arm.

Abstract: There is provided a testing apparatus for testing a device under test, wherein the testing apparatus is provided with a timing generator for generating a timing signal indicating the timing at which a test signal is applied; a plurality of timing delay units for delaying the timing signal; a plurality of drivers for applying the delayed test signals; a sampler for sampling the test signal and outputting a sample voltage; a comparator for outputting a comparison result indicating whether the sample voltage is higher than the reference voltage; a determination part for determining whether the sample voltage matches the reference voltage; and a timing calibration part for calibrating the delay time caused in the timing signal by the plurality of timing delay units in order to synchronize the timing at which the test signals are applied to the device under test.