Abstract: An audio processing apparatus has a converter for converting n-channel (positive integral number: n?1) audio signals input from at least one sound source into two-channel signals, a pair of correcting filters to which a pair of two-channel signals converted by converter are supplied and which correct a difference of the sense of hearing due to a difference of headphone characteristics, and an output section for supplying a pair of output signals from the pair of correcting filters to right and left speaker units of a headphone.

Abstract: A double-rate signal achieved by subjecting a video signal to double-rate conversion is supplied to a scan line number converter, wherein the portion of the effective scan lines of the double-rate signal is written into a frame memory based on a signal achieved by multiplying horizontal and vertical synchronous signals of the double-rate signal. In the effective scan line section of an HDTV signal, the video signal written in the frame memory is read out based on horizontal and vertical reference signals of the HDTV signal. Out of the effective scan line section of the HDTV signal, a pedestal level signal written in a memory is read out based on the horizontal and vertical reference signals of the HDTV signal, thereby achieving an HDTV signal whose vertical scan line number is equal to 1125 lines.

Abstract: Battery information is transmitted from a recording and playback apparatus to a host computer. In the host computer, based on the time for which operation can be continued, corresponding to the current operating status and the remaining battery level, which is stored in battery information, a warning is output, the data of a cache memory is written, data writing prohibition is set, and a forced closing process is performed. With this construction, in a system formed of a recording and playback apparatus, such as a CD-R/RW drive unit and a personal computer, a proper system operation corresponding to the remaining battery level of the recording and playback apparatus is obtained, and the data recorded in the recording medium is prevented from being destroyed as a result of operation stopping due to, for example, the remaining battery level becoming zero.

Abstract: An encoding method for encoding information bits into a codeword by a linear code is provided. The information bits appear in the codeword as a part of the codeword. The linear code is a code in which a codeword resulting from cyclically shifting an arbitrary codeword by p bit positions is also a codeword. A code polynomial having the codeword in which the information bits appear as a part thereof is computed by executing an arithmetic operation of p polynomials G0(x), . . . , Gp?1(x) and a polynomial having the information bits as coefficients. Accordingly, a quasi-cyclic (QC) code can be encoded by only polynomial operations, and an encoder can be simplified.

Abstract: A loudspeaker protective unit for protecting a loudspeaker device against an excessive input current includes a lamp connected in series with the loudspeaker unit. The lamp is housed in a casing exhibiting light-sealing properties formed of an electrically conductive material, and is sealed with a sealant exhibiting a predetermined electrical conductivity. The spacing between lead lines of the lamp housed in the casing is of a preset value. An inert gas is sealed within a main lamp body unit and a preset voltage is applied to the main lamp body unit. When the voltage is applied across the lead lines, an electrical discharge is produced to interrupt the current flowing through the filament so as to prohibit a temperature rise in the lamp.

Abstract: An apparatus having a microphone, an analog to digital converting circuit, a semiconductor memory an, input device, and a controller, wherein the analog to digital converting circuit converts an output signal from the microphone into a digital signal. The semiconductor memory stores the output signal from the analog to digital converting circuit, and the input device carries out input of a record start and a record end. The controller, according to the input from the input device, carries out control to start and stop writing into the semiconductor memory a digital signal from the analog to digital converting circuit. When the input device is operated and a predetermined time interval has passed, the controller starts writing the digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit into the semiconductor memory.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus and transmitting apparatus capable of transmitting and receiving a high speed optical signal and a communication system using the same, including a transmitting apparatus having a conversion circuit for converting serially input data to a plurality of bits of parallel data given predetermined information and an LED array having a number of LED units corresponding to the number of bits of the parallel data from the conversion circuit arranged in an array, wherein the LED units are controlled in light emission in parallel based on bit information of corresponding parallel data to emit optical information signals dispersed in a spatially predetermined range, and of a receiving apparatus having a plurality of photo-diodes arranged in an array for emitting electric signals of levels in accordance with amounts of light received, wherein the photo-diodes output electric signals in parallel, for selecting information in accordance with the optical information signal based on the electric signals

Abstract: An operating device having a rotary knob capable of rotation operations exhibits compatibility between speed and precision in operation and does not require use of a plurality of rotary knobs includes a rotation detecting device for detecting the rotated angle of the rotary knob. The rotary knob includes a small-diameter component for operating the rotary knob quickly, and a large-diameter component for operating the rotary knob slowly or for fine adjustment. A determining unit is provided for determining the rotated position of the rotary knob when the rotary knob is operated.

Abstract: A packing cushion material located between a packing article and a packing box to buffer shocks applied from the outside to protect electronic appliances such as audio apparatus and speaker apparatus and other articles housed and packed in the packing box is formed by pulp mold. The packing cushion material is characterized by upper and lower cushion portions contacting with the packed article from the lower direction or the upper direction and side cushion portions contacting with the packed article from the lateral direction to receive force acting from the lateral direction, wherein the side cushion portions include protrusion portions protruding in the upper and lower directions and including contact surfaces expanded in the upper and lower directions to surface-contact the packed article and reinforcement portions formed at the rear sides of the protrusion portions and having concave and convex portions.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystal display device that can prevent a battery effect causing asymmetry in a liquid crystal, display can reduce an offset voltage applied to a driving voltage, and can secure high reliability even during long term driving. A pixel electrode is covered with a metal film, which has a standard electrode potential, with a sign opposite to that of a metallic material constituting the pixel electrode. The metal film prevents a battery effect between the opposing electrodes, unlike conventional devices which do not have the metal film. Thereby, the asymmetry in the liquid crystal display responses can be prevented and the reduction of the offset voltage, which is required for the driving voltage, can be accomplished unlike the conventional ones. A circuit for applying the offset voltage is simplified or unnecessary, and improvement of long term reliability during the driving can be accomplished.

Abstract: A modulation apparatus and method for more accurately determining a value of a control bit to be inserted into a data sequence and digital sum value (DSV) control bit generating method in which a data conversion unit supplies modulation-delimiter information including information regarding delimiters of modulation of a data sequence based on a conversion table to a modulation-delimiter detecting unit and supplies to a valid-delimiter detecting unit a DSV-segment-delimiter signal including information regarding a delimiter position of a DSV segment of the data sequence having the DSV control bit. The modulation-delimiter detecting unit detects modulation-delimiter positions based on the modulation-delimiter information supplied thereto and supplies a modulation-delimiter signal to the valid-delimiter detecting unit.

Abstract: A photographic image is divided into a central area and a surrounding area and video signals for the central and surrounding areas are integrated by an area integrator circuit. When an operator of video camera attached to a notebook personal computer photographs himself or herself with an imager of the video camera pointing toward the operator, a control microcomputer causes an integration result for the central area to be multiplied by a larger weighting before both are summed. The control microcomputer generates exposure information according to a result and compares the exposure level indicated by this information with a reference level to control an electronic shutter of an imaging device and a gain of an amplifier circuit so that the exposure level matches the reference level, whereby the exposure of the video camera is adjusted to an appropriate level. When the imager points towards an object on the opposite side of the operator exposure control is performed as usual.

Abstract: A feature extraction and pattern recognition system in which an observation vector forming input data, which represents a certain point in the observation vector space, is mapped to a distribution having a spread in the feature vector space, and a feature distribution parameter representing the distribution is determined. Pattern recognition of the input data is performed based on the feature distribution parameter.

Abstract: A lens held by a lens holding member is centered easily and correctly by a mechanism in which a guide pin is inserted into a guide hole for positioning the lens holding member with respect to the main body unit of the lens barrel in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens and for mounting the lens holding member for movement in a direction along the optical axis. Adjustment pins are rotationally mounted on at least three sites on the outer peripheral surface of the main body unit of the lens barrel. If each adjustment pin is rotated, an offset portion of the adjustment pin which is relative to the center of rotation of the adjustment pin, is rotated, as the offset portion is engaged in an engagement hole of the lens holding member. In this way the lens holding member on each site is displaced in the direction along the optical axis to adjust the tilt of the lens held by the lens holding member.

Abstract: When a base station and a plurality of terminal stations communicate with each other by radio, power control information for controlling electric power of a signal transmitted to the base station is multiplexed at the base station and transmission energy is adjusted such that total transmission energy of the multiplexed power control information becomes substantially a predetermined value if the total transmission energy of the multiplexed power control information is lower than a predetermined value. Therefore, information such as power control information that should be individually instructed to respective terminal stations can satisfactorily be transmitted by a simple arrangement and a simple processing.

Abstract: In a print order receiving system, a first output receiving server receives an order to print all captured image data obtained by imaging apparatus, an image storing server stores the captured image data, a first print-out apparatus prints out the initial printed matter, and the first print-out apparatus supplies the initial printed matter to a shipping terminal. An order receiving server receives a reorder of the printed matter from a user terminal, a charging and settlement server performs the charging and settlement of the printed matter, the first print-out apparatus prints the image data to generate later printed matter when a reorder is received, and the first print-out apparatus supplies the later printed matter to the shipping terminal.

Abstract: A network system connects with a number of individual processes that can mutually send and receive a broadcast message specified with no destination and a message specified with a specific process and that can change their states to parent or child processes. When a first process is a parent process and second through fourth processes are child processes, the four processes constitute a group, in which each of child processes stores the parent process, and the parent process stores each of child processes that store the parent process itself. When a new process that is in another group is connected to this group, the parent process exchanges a message with the new process for negotiation to determine either whether to be a parent process or to change to a child process.

Abstract: Coupling between a unit main body and a front panel is detachably carried out by a catch and a device coupling device. The coupling includes a slide provided with a slide plate that slides with respect to a bracket embedded in the unit main body, and a holder is provided at a front face of the slide plate for holding the front panel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording data wherein the amount of light reflected from a disk is detected, and it is determined according to the amount of reflected light whether the disk is a recordable disk or a rewritable disk. The disk is controlled according to the result of determination such that it is rotated at a constant angular velocity (CAV) or at a constant linear velocity (CLV) and recording is executed. Further, rotation driving control of the disk is selected according to factors other than the type of the disk, such as according to whether random recording is allowed or not, according to a recording state in the disk, according to whether an alternative area is provided or not, according to a recording start position, or according to whether initialization is required or not. CLV control or CAV control is appropriately selected for a disk at recording to suppress a reduction in accessibility and a reduction in data transmission rate.

Abstract: In an electromagnetic induction type speaker apparatus, individual constants are set in such a manner that the following formula is satisfied N×(R1×R2)1/2/{2 ?×L1×(1?k2)1/2}?20000 where R1 is the DC resistance of a primary coil 15: L1 is the inductance of the primary coil 15; N is the number of turns of the primary coil 15; R2 is the DC resistance of the secondary coil 18; L2 is the inductance of the secondary coil 18; and k is the coupling coefficient of the primary coil 15 and the secondary coil 18. In addition, the constants L1 and L2 are selected in such a manner that the ratio of the inductance L1 and the inductance L2 becomes equal to in the ratio of the DC resistance R1 and the DC resistance R2.