Abstract: A noise reduction circuit in which a first signal (S .sub.h2) is obtained by passing the input video signal (S .sub.I ) through a low frequency shut-off filter (10) and another a limiter (11), a second before signal (S .sub.H21) is obtained by passing the above obtained signal (S .sub.H2) through a field or frame delay circuit (5) and the difference between the two signals (S .sub.H2 - S.sub.H21) is subtracted from the above input video signal (S .sub.I ) so as not to lower the definition of image, the noise reduction circuit being capable of application in a television receiver etc.

Abstract: An objective lens (3) of an optical pick up head (10) is moved in a direction of the optical axis, and a signal level of the output detected by the optical pick up head (10) before and after a focussed state is compared with predetermined reference levels (Vref.sub.1) and (Vref.sub.2) level comparators (32) and (33), In order to discriminate the reproduction-only disk from the recording disk by utilizing a difference in the reflection factor on the recording surface on the optical disk (20). Operation of the optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus is automatically switched over depending upon the kind of the optical disk.

Abstract: A method of detecting failure to tighten screws against works includes steps of detecting every screw tightening operation against a work after start of a screw tightening step, counting the number of times of the screw tightening operations detected in the previous step, detecting the completion of the screw tightening step, and comparing a counted value at the time of the completion of the screw tightening step with a predetermined value, thereby informing of a result of comparison.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of heater lamps supported by a frame having an opening so that light is radiated from the heater lamps through the opening toward a light-transmissible top plate disposed so as to cover the opening of the frame, and a protector for protecting the heater lamps against excessive increase of the ambient temperature of the heater lamps.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a step-up transformer having primary and secondary windings, an inverter inducing a high frequency oscillating current at the primary winding of the transformer by an on-off operation of a switching element, a magnetron to which a DC voltage is applied by the transformer, a current transformer detecting an input current to the inverter, a control circuit for controlling "on" and "off" periods of the switching element so that a magnetron anode current is controlled, and a detecting winding arranged in the transformer so as to be magnetically connected to the primary winding. The detecting winding detects an induced voltage which indicates either a short-circuit or open-circuit in the secondary circuit of the transformer. The control circuit detects an abnormal condition of the secondary circuit of the transformer based on the induced voltage detected by the detecting winding.

Abstract: A display is attached to a reclining seat back by an arm pivotally fixed at a first end thereof to the seat back with the display being attached to the second end of the arm by a pivot mechanism having multiple degrees of freedom, and wherein a recess for stowing the display is formed in the seat back either on its side, its top or behind the head rest.

Abstract: A central air conditioning system includes an air conditioning apparatus having a system controller and a variable air volume controller having a damper which controls the amount of conditioned air fed from the air conditioning apparatus into each room to be air-conditioned. Each room is provided with a room remote controller for controlling the operation of the air volume controller. The room remote controller outputs a start/stop command signal to control the operation of both the air conditioning apparatus and the air volume controller. The temperature of conditioned air fed from the air conditioning apparatus is maintained at a prescribed value determined on the basis of the desired room temperature in each room.

Abstract: A cassette reel in use for a video tape cassette including a hub and an upper flange made of a transparent plate which is provided with an annular groove on one side surface of the upper flange and a foil deposited on the surface of the upper flange which is surrounded by the annular groove, so that the foil can be cut clearly and then deposited on the face of the upper flange which is surrounded by the annular groove by hot stamp with a clear outer profile, whereby decorative effects can be obtained by the foil covering the internal construction of the hub and when the cassette reel is used for a video tape cassette, the commercial value of the video tape cassette can be elevated.

Abstract: An automatic focus control apparatus that makes effective use of the chromatic aberration of a lens to detect focus position information on the basis of amplitude values of color signals, whereby the apparatus can be simplified in arrangement and which can prevent the image quality from being deteriorated.

Abstract: A method of processing original still picture data representing an original still image and stored in a video memory and storing processed still picture data representing a processed still image in a predetermined location of the video memory comprising the steps of setting an XY orthogonal coordinate system on the video memory, setting a reference line parallel to one of the X and Y axes of the orthogonal coordinate system and passing through a point of intersection of lines, each of which connects corresponding pixels of the original and processed still images, moving multiples the pixel data on a line of the original still image parallel to the reference line and furthest from the reference line to addresses of the video memory forming a line of the processed still image, and repeating the preceding step for pixel data on lines of the still image parallel to the reference line and second furthest from the reference line and succeeding lines, to thereby store the processed still picture data representing th

Abstract: An auto-ejector incorporated in a disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus is driven by a disk driving motor and a head driving motor which are requisite for the apparatus. That is, the ejector is triggered under the power of the head driving motor, and a disk cartridge in which a disk is accommodated is ejected under the power of the disk driving motor. Thus, any device, such as an electromagnetic device, a motor or the like used only for the ejector is not needed.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is provided with a center positioning pin engageable with a center positioning aperture of a magnetic disk, and a drive pin establishing positioning and driving engagement with a driving and positioning opening formed in the disk. The drive pin is supported by a resilient member which is resiliently deformable and is pivotable retative to a turntable. The resilient member is preferably so arranged to cause pivotal movement of the drive pin to have substantially greater radial motion component in comparison with peripheral motion component, or to permit inclination of the drive pin relative to a vertical axis at least in a direction different from the direction of rotation of the turntable by the resilience. With this arrangement, the disk drive apparatus is capable of exerting higher rotational torque with an accuracy in centering of a magnetic disk to be driven and can minimize shifting of chucking point so as not to cause offset of indexes recorded in the disk.

Abstract: An adjusting apparatus for cathode ray tube equipment for convergence and/or image distortion adjustment which includes a pattern generator connected to a cathode ray tube to be measured and which generates a predetermined pattern having a plurality of bars and a white area, a probe attached to a front face of the cathode ray tube to be measured, and which includes a photo detector and a switch for starting measurement, an analog-to-digital converter connected to the probe, a measured data memory connected to an analog-to-digital converter for storing data received by the probe, a processor for controlling the pattern generator, receiving data from the measured data memory, and calculating the data according to various measurement routines.

Abstract: A tape cassette of the type in which a tape having a transparent predetermined portion is housed between an upper cassette half and a lower cassette half in such a manner that the tape intersects a light path connecting a light emitting element insertion portion and a light receiving window formed through a side wall of the tape cassette, a light emitting element is inserted into the light emitting element insertion portion and a light receiving element is located outside of the light receiving window, thereby detecting the predetermined portion of the magnetic tape, and wherein the tape cassette has a rib formed on the upper cassette half, a rib formed on the lower cassette half, and an optical fiber bundle provided along the light path and near the light receiving window, whereby even when the tape cassette is a color other than black, a photoelectric type start sensor or end sensor can be prevented from malfunctioning.

Abstract: A home-bus-information display system arranged such that the control status of each of a plurality of home apparatus can be monitored via home bus-lines and additively displayed over a video program on the picture screen of a television receiver to allow a viewer to monitor the control status of each of other home electric apparatus, a security system and so on in a centralized-control fashion.

Abstract: In a high frequency cooking apparatus including a magnetron, a fan motor, turntable motor, a plurality of relays for controlling them and a microcomputer controlling the relays, the microcomputer is provided with a relay test program. The relay test program is executed when specific two cooking menu selecting keys are simultaneously depressed. Consequently, pulses are sequentially supplied to all the relays and simultaneously, relay identification marks are sequentially displayed on a display unit. Based on the mechanical operation sound from each relay and the displayed content, an operator determines whether or not each relay is normal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing copying of an optical disk. A software program and the basic data necessary for executing the program, as well as an erasing program are nonrewritably recorded in advance on a predetermined region of the disk. The erasing program attempts to erase the non-rewritable portion, which has no effect on the original disk, but will erase that portion of a disk which is copied. Thus, if the software program and the basic data for executing the program are copied without authorization, the copy disk is prevented from being used.

Abstract: A data transmission and reception apparatus and method capable of selecting either of two modes having the same sampling frequency in which the bit numbers of one data unit are either m or n (which are integral numbers and m>n), while using the same error correction encoder and decoder for the two modes, by inserting m-n bits of dummy data bits into the n-bit data so as to handle it as m-bit data during the processes of error correction encoding and decoding.

Abstract: A magnetic disc apparatus wherein off-track quantities are stored with regard to reference servo tracks formed circularly in divided data areas on a magnetic disc and, at the time of displacing the magnetic head, the head is shifted an extent of the stored off-track quantity after being once positioned by a head position detector. Gradients of the off-track quantities corresponding to tracks at individual temperatures in the apparatus are previously stored and, after the actual temperature is detected by means of a temperature sensor, the off-track quantity relative to the reference servo track is corrected in accordance with the gradient of the off-track quantity to the relevant track at the detected temperature, whereby just tracking is achieved. The magnetic head can be positioned exactly with respect to a desired data track while the head displacement time is shortened.

Abstract: A data transmission and reception apparatus and method capable of selecting either of two modes having the same sampling frequency in which the bit number of one data unit are either m or n (which are integral numbers and m>n), while using the same error correction encoder and decoder for the two modes, by inserting m-n bits of dummy data bits into the n-bit data so as to handle it as m-bit data during the processes of error correction encoding and decoding and eliminating from the error correction encoded data the dummy data and a redundant code of the error correction code formed by the dummy data so that the data transmission rate can be lowered.