Abstract: A precharge control circuit constituted by (1) a latch circuit mounted in a precharge circuit and (2) a level shifter circuit of a current drive type controlled through an output of the latch circuit is included. The precharge control circuit changes the latch circuit to an active state to cause the level shifter circuit of a current drive type to operate only during a precharge period and also during immediately preceding and succeeding periods, and outside these periods, changes the latch circuit in a non-active state and the level shifter circuit of a current drive type in an operating state to save power consumption in the level shifter circuit. This enables a low-power-consuming precharge circuit, as well as a low-power-consuming image display device with a high quality display capability, to be offered.

Abstract: The focal point detection method detects focal point dislocation of a coupling objective lens in accordance with a light beam passing a 60% to 80% region of a light beam effective diameter, which is centered with respect to an optical axis OZ of a light beam passing through the coupling objective lens, and which is regulated by a numerical aperture of the coupling objective lens. In this manner, focal point dislocation of a converging optical system can be performed without an offset, thereby accurately forming a focal point of the converging optical system on an information recording layer of an optical recording medium.

Abstract: An exposing apparatus for a microlens array allows for easy alignment and attains high accuracy. An exposing method for a microlens array attains high accuracy and high light efficiency. The exposing apparatus for a microlens array includes a micro fly-eye lens for converting a light beam from a light source into a secondary point light source, a transmittance distribution mask for adjusting the luminance of the light of the secondary point light source, and a collimator lens for converting the light of adjusted luminance into a parallel light beam and for guiding the parallel light beam, via a first microlens array which is formed in advance, to a photosensitive resin layer to be a second microlens array. The light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the micro fly-eye lens, the transmittance distribution mask, and the collimator lens. The light is then adjusted to a desired luminance to expose the photosensitive resin of a microlens substrate.

Abstract: The present invention features devices for mounting accessories to a weapon and more particularly mounting devices that allow one or more accessories to be secured to the weapon, such as a firearm and crossbow, at the same time using the same mounting device. In more particular embodiments, one of a scent generating device, a weapon hanger, a recording device and/or an illumination device, such as a flashlight is secured to the device and thus to the weapon. The present invention also features methods related thereto including methods for masking the scent of a hunter and hunting.

Abstract: Out of a plurality of pairs of input pixels that face each other across a pixel to be interpolated, that pair which exhibits the highest correlation is selected. Assume that this pair is composed of a first and a second pixel, that the sign of the difference between the value of the input pixel lying adjacently on the left of the first pixel and the value of the first pixel is a, that the sign of the difference between the value of the input pixel lying adjacently on the left of the second pixel and the value of the second pixel is c, that the sign of the difference between the value of the input pixel lying adjacently on the right of the first pixel and the value of the first pixel is b, and that the sign of the difference between the value of the input pixel lying adjacently on the right of the second pixel and the value of the second pixel is d. If a=c or b=d, the average value of the values of the first and second pixels is determined as the value of the pixel to be interpolated.

Abstract: A mail server includes a forwarding confirmation section which notifies a mobile phone of receipt of an e-mail, and mail and address forwarding sections which send attached data separated and a user ID to a print server, respectively. Each printer is managed by the print server that includes data holding and stored data search sections for storing the attached data and user ID. The printer has an input section from which the user ID is inputted. The print server is notified of the user ID inputted from the printer so as to search for attached data corresponding to the notified user ID and transfer it to the printer for print. It is thus possible to provide a print service system capable of printing out attached data when not recognized by some mobile devices including a mobile phone, by a nearest printer connected with a broadband network, without increasing communications costs.

Abstract: Featured is a method for driving a CCD imaging device, including a plurality of photodetector columns each including a vertical array of photodetectors, a plurality of vertical CCDs, and a horizontal CCD, in a monitoring mode where only the signal charges from some of the photodetectors are used. The method includes reading a first signal charge from any one of said some photodetectors into a corresponding first packet of a corresponding one of the vertical CCDs, dividing the first signal charge in the first packet into smaller portions and placing one or more of the signal charge portions of the first signal charge into one or more second empty packets of the corresponding one of the vertical CCDs, and vertically transferring the signal charge portions in the first and the one or more second packets by the total number of the first and second packets.

Abstract: An optical reproduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a gain control circuit for controlling a gain of an amplifier circuit which amplifies a reproduction signal in accordance with amplitudes of the reproduction signal from an optical recording medium. The amplitude is sent to a power control calculation circuit which controls the reproduction power of a light beam in accordance with the amplitude. The gain control circuit has a slower response speed than that of the power control circuit at least during a period when the power control circuit controls the reproduction power. This allows to provide an optical reproduction apparatus that can realize the stable reproduction power and automatic gain control even to the unevenness of the amplitudes of the reproduction signal.

Abstract: Featured is a device for detecting electromagnetic signals, more specifically, the magnetic resonance signals from excited nuclei as well as related apparatuses, systems and methods. The detection device includes a planar strip array antenna including a plurality, and in more particular embodiments a multiplicity of parallel conductors (e.g., 4, 16, 32 or more of conductors). The length of the conductors is adjusted to substantially reduce the coupling of a signal in one conductor to an adjacent conductor(s). In a more specific embodiment the length is set so as to be equal to be about n&lgr;/4, where n is an integer≧1 and &lgr; is the wavelength of the signal to be detected (e.g., the wavelength corresponding to the NMR resonance frequency for the nuclei). The device also is configured so that the electromagnetic wave on each conductor is one of a standing wave or a traveling wave.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate having groove and land areas, in which address pits having substantially the same depth and which are formed deeper than the groove area are provided. By thus forming the address pits deeper than the groove area, address information can be reproduced accurately, and the optical recording medium can readily be manufactured by making the address pits which are respectively formed in the groove and land areas to have substantially the same depth.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate opposing the first substrate via a large number of columnar spacers therebetween, the columnar spacers being fixed on the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal display device has a display area for displaying an image, and a non-display area adjacent to the display area. In the display area of the liquid crystal display device, a plurality of display electrodes that are used when applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer are provided at an interval on one side of the first substrate that is closer to the liquid crystal layer, whereas in the non-display area, a plurality of peripheral electrodes are provided with substantially no interval therebetween on the side of the first substrate that is closer to the liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical disk recording and reproducing device, which carries out recording and reproducing for a magnetic super-resolution magneto-optical disk including a recording layer and reproducing layer, has a recording data processing circuit which records long recording marks at different positions between adjacent tracks in a radius direction, each of the long recording marks being larger in diameter than an aperture formed on the reproducing layer by projecting thereon the light beam. According to this arrangement, it is possible to continuously reproduce a data recording area with high accuracy and optimum reproducing power without being affected by adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A Jack connector includes: a retainer which holds a semiconductor optical device and an electrical connection terminals; wherein the electrical connection terminals each extend out of the retainer so as to be soldered onto a board; wherein the retainer has recesses provided in a vicinity of the respective terminals so as to accommodate a solder possibly creeping up along the terminals when the jack connector is soldered onto the board.

Abstract: An electronic device includes on a substrate: a plurality of first capacitors each including a first electrode and a second electrode opposing the first electrode via a first dielectric layer; a plurality of second capacitors each including a third electrode electrically connected to the first electrode and a fourth electrode opposing the third electrode via a second dielectric layer; a first line whose electrical connection to the first electrode and the third electrode is turned ON/OFF by a first switching element; a second line electrically connected to the second electrode at least temporarily; a third line whose electrical connection to the fourth electrode is turned ON/OFF by a second switching element; and a fourth line whose electrical connection to the fourth electrode is turned ON/OFF by a third switching element.

Abstract: Side holders 52, 52 are provided at either side in the width direction interior relative to stationary holder(s). Parallel link mechanism(s) is or are provided for causing side holders 52, 52 to move in the cartridge 40 width direction. When a cartridge 40 which is one of a plurality of types of cartridge other than a cartridge or cartridges of the type or types that is or are smallest in width is inserted therein, pressure from that inserted cartridge 40 causes actuation of parallel link mechanism(s), and respective side holders 52, 52 move outward in coupled fashion to form insertion space in agreement with width direction dimension(s) of cartridge 40.

Abstract: When a halftone image region that is below a predetermined density is to be reproduced, a processing unit controlling an exposure unit selects an exposure pattern that can represent a record dot diameter within a range based on a predetermined rule from exposure patterns prepared in advance. Accordingly, graininess is suppressed. When there are a plurality of exposure patterns that can be applied, the exposure pattern with the lowest number of dots present per 1 inch is employed. Accordingly, a halftone image is formed with the image reproducibility improved.

Abstract: A printer implements printing(printer jobs) of the data received from personal computers and printing(copier jobs) of the data scanned through a copier functional device. When a user approaches the printer, a user identifying portion identifies the ID number(user name) of this user. If a printer job of this user name has been registered in the management memory of the printer, it is determined whether the printer job of this user name is ‘allowed’ to make an interrupt and whether the priority of this printer job is higher than that of the copier job. After confirmation of these facts, the printer job of this user name is started by making an interrupt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods for notifying passengers of an approaching vehicle. Utilizing this invention, passengers can remain in a safe, controlled environment, avoiding harsh environmental conditions and excessive waiting times, instead arriving at their pick-up point just prior to a vehicle's arrival. More specifically, the present invention relates to a bus notification system wherein passengers are able know the precise location and arrival time of the transporting vehicle several minutes before its arrival at a specified location along the vehicle route.

Abstract: A plurality of signal input-output sections are connected with each other in a cascade manner. In each signal input-output section, an input latch circuit divides a data signal into 2 channels in accordance with the first clock signal, and an output latch circuit returns the data signal that has been divided into 2 channels to 1 channel in accordance with the second clock signal so as to be outputted to the signal input-output section of the next stage. The inputted first basic clock is outputted to the signal input-output section of the next stage as the second basic clock, and the inputted second basic clock is outputted to the signal input-output section of the next stage as the first basic clock. This allows to ensure the data sampling margin even when the data signal should be transferred at a faster speed, and also allows to suppress the problem of the EMI.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus and a data driver of the present invention is provided with a sampling pulse generating circuit. The sampling pulse generating circuit is provided with a shift register for shift operation having a plurality of set-reset type flip-flops, and analog switches whose opening and closing of each analog switch is controlled in response to each output of the respective flip-flops so that a clock signal is outputted during the opening as a sampling pulse. Sampling of the image signal is carried out in accordance with the sampling pulses. The pulse width of the sampling pulse varies depending on the duty ratio of the clock signal, thereby ensuring to avoid that active periods of the adjoining sampling pulses overlap with each other.