Abstract: A surface light source device includes a light-emitting element which generates light, and a light guide plate which, causes light emitted from the light-emitting element to be incident from an end face, causes the light to be reflected between opposite plate surfaces to guide the light along the plate surfaces and make the light emerge from the plate surfaces, and transmits light incident from one plate surface toward the other plate surface. A first optical element is placed on one plate surface side of the light guide plate, transmits part of light emerging from one plate surface of the light guide plate toward a front side, and returns the remaining light to a rear side. A second optical element is placed on the other plate surface side and transmits at least part of light emerging from the other plate surface side.

Abstract: A light source unit comprising a lamp and a reflector for reflecting rays of light emitted by a light emitting element of the lamp and for focusing the reflected rays of light. In order to focus on a predetermined focal point the rays of light emitted by the light emitting element of the lamp and refracted by a cross-sectional shape of the lamp, the reflector has a concave reflective shape formed so as to satisfy a predetermined calculation expression.

Abstract: An image data processing system includes a PDA (2), an image data processing unit (3) for editing image data created by the PDA, and a personal computer. The above units include communication units (16, 35, 47) which can communicate with one another via a communication line a. The PDA includes an image input unit (12) for creating the image data of a subject, image data-related information creating means (20) for creating information related to the image data, and an input unit (14) for determining an output format of image data and the like. The image data processing unit (3) includes a data storage unit (34) for storing received image data and the like, a CPU (31) for editing image data based on an input of output format information, and a printer (5) for outputting the edited image data. The personal computer (4) includes a CPU (41) for editing received image data.

Abstract: A method of installing a program or renewing a file. A first program or file stored on a first memory area is copied to a second memory area. Position-information memory area is updated with position information indicating a location on the second memory area where the first program or file is copied or stored. Then, a second program or file is written into the first memory area, and the position-information memory area is updated again with position information indicating a location on the first memory area where the second program or file is written.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising an optical lens system (12) that picks up an image of an object, a CCD (13), a sample and hold circuit (16), an AID converter (17), a color process circuit (18), a timer (32) that records the present time or counts down a set time, a key-in unit (27) that sets an alarm time, a display (26) comprising a plurality of information means capable of selecting information with or without sound, a vibrator (30), an LED display (33), a speaker (35), and a controller (22) that selects at least one from the plurality of information means depending upon the pickup of an image being carried out when the timing operation by the timer (32) has ended, and causes the selected information means to inform the user that the set time has come or run out.

Abstract: Each image print apparatus is connected to a nearest base station by radio, and a plurality of base stations are connected to a public communication network. A server apparatus is connected to the public communication network. The server apparatus sends an image of advertisement information to a plurality of image print apparatuses via the public communication network and base stations, and each image print apparatus additionally prints the image of advertisement information received from the server apparatus on a photo image to be printed, which is designated by the customer.

Abstract: A system extracts a member who matches with search option given by a target member who searches the other members. The target member is informed of URL indicating an open profile web page of the extracted member. The target member refers to the open profile of the introduced member, and sends a message to the introduced member. The target member is charged for the message transmission if the target member sends the message to the introduced member concerned first time. The introduction member refers to the message posted to his/her bulletin board, and refers to an open profile of the message sender. If the introduced member decides to send a reply to the target member after referring to the message and the open profile, the introduced member post a message to a bulletin board of the target member. The introduced member is not charged for the reply transmission.

Abstract: An electronic watch comprising: a watch case with a containing concavity which is formed in a peripheral portion thereof; an antenna contained in the containing concavity; a covering member mounted to the containing concavity, to cover the antenna; and a casing member provided with a supporting member which is attached to a periphery of the watch case to hold the covering member, covering at least a portion of the covering member. The supporting member undertakes a portion of the impact caused by dropping or the like to some extent, and accordingly, the covering member is protected by the supporting member so that the welding portion of the covering member is not cracked nor destroyed.

Abstract: A portable data processing device with a data communication function is provided which includes an antenna, a receiver, a decoder, a RAM for storing a plurality of data items, and a CPU. The CPU retrieves, on the basis of identification data added to received data, associated data corresponding to the received data from among the data items stored in the RAM. The received data and the identification data are displayed on a display, and the associated data is then controlled to be displayed on the display in place of the received data. Accordingly, a message and other data relating to the contents of the message can be displayed by a simple input operation.

Abstract: Original YC data is converted to Bayer data, and the converted Bayer data is inversely gamma-converted. Picked-up YC data which is a synthesis object is also converted to the Bayer data, and the converted Bayer data is inversely gamma-converted. These inversely gamma-converted original Bayer data and picked-up image data (Bayer data) are added together, and an upper limit value of the added Bayer data is clipped. The added Bayer data whose upper limit value is clipped is subjected to pixel interpolation and gamma conversion, and the gamma-converted Bayer data is converted to the YC data.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises a flash unit. When the electric camera takes a picture using the flash unit, the electronic camera determines a first optimum flash exposure for a central area of the object to be taken and a second optimum flash exposure for a background area of the object to be taken. Further, the camera produces first image data corresponding to a picture taken under the first optimum flash exposure and second image data corresponding to a picture taken under the second optimum flash exposure. The central area of the first image data is cut out from the first image data and written over the second image data.

Abstract: An active matrix substrate includes a line layer formed of an Al-based metal layer and a part of which is exposed through a contact hole formed in an insulating film. In the active matrix substrate, pixel electrodes are formed of an ITO film on the insulating film, and a jumper line for connecting a disconnected portion of a protect ring, a surface layer of a data line connecting pad, and a line protecting film are formed at the same time as the pixel electrodes are formed. This reduces the number of fabrication steps. The ITO film is patterned by dry etching due to reactive ion etching using a mixed gas of a hydrogen halide gas and an inert gas, with the temperatures of the center portion and peripheral portion of the substrate substantially equalized to each other.

Abstract: An automatic music performing apparatus comprises a performance memory for storing music performance data of a relative time format including an event group including at least note-on events indicating the note generation start, note-off events indicating the end of the note generation, volume events indicating the volumes of the tone, and tone color events indicating the tone color with the respective events arranged in a music proceeding sequence, and an interval of time interposed between respective two events, wherein the apparatus sequentially reads out the stored music performance data, converts it into note data representing the note generation properties of each note, and stores the note data in a conversion data memory, so that automatic music performance is executed by reading out the stored note data and forming tones corresponding to the note generation properties represented by the read note data.

Abstract: A mouse device for use as an input device of a computer is provided that includes a housing in which recording paper is loadable, and a printer unit provided within the housing for printing on the recording paper print information received from the computer. The printer unit includes a paper loading section in which the recording paper is loaded, a platen roller for feeding the recording paper loaded in the loading section, a print head for printing on the recording paper fed by the platen roller, and a discharge port through which the recording paper is discharged after printing by the platen roller out of the housing while taking a substantially vertical attitude.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes first and second display units for controlling transmission and interception of a light incident upon a front side on an observation side of display, whose rear surfaces are disposed to face each other in reverse directions, and an irradiation member. The member including an illumination device for generating a light from opposite surfaces is disposed between two polarized-light split elements between the display units and which reflects a light of a polarized-light components transmitted through one of the polarized-light split elements by the other polarized-light split element and reflects a light of the polarized-light component transmitted through the other polarized-light split element by the one reflective polarized-light split element to irradiate the first and second display units with the light.

Abstract: A rental system contains a plurality of rental digital cameras, and comprises a rental-item providing machine which provides users with digital cameras, respectively, and a management center which manages the digital cameras. The rental-item providing machine makes a credit inquiry about the users. The rental-item providing machine provides the users with the respective digital cameras, in accordance with a result of the credit inquiry. The rental-item providing machine sends identification information for identifying each of the contained digital cameras, to the management center. The management center manages the digital cameras, using the identification information sent from the rental-item providing machine.

Abstract: There is provided a system for selecting advertisement contents which are suitable or ad-user attributes, and for distributing the advertisement contents data and its corresponding advertisement attribute information through a computer communications network. Of a plurality of advertisements provided by an advertisement provider, a server computer selects a suitable advertisement for each advertisement user, in accordance with advertisement providing condition based on advertisement attribute information and advertisement user condition based on ad-user attributes of each ad user. The server computer transmits the selected advertisement data to each ad user through the communications network. Upon reception of the advertisement data form the server computer, the advertisement user print and issues the received advertisement on a receipt which is to be given to customer after each business transaction.

Abstract: A digital camera stores captured picture data and E-mail address data inputted from a key entry unit in a flash memory so that they are associated with each other and then transfers the picture data and the E-mail address data to a personal computer via an I/O port or an infrared communication unit. The personal computer receives the picture data and the E-mail address data transferred from the digital camera via an I/O port or an infrared communication unit. The received picture data is then transmitted to a destination terminal on a computer network on the basis of the received E-mail address data.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image pickup apparatus having a lens barrel which is sinkable into the apparatus body, and is controlled, if necessary, not to sink into the body even when the power is switched off The image pickup apparatus has a power key which switches on/off the power in accordance with a key operation, an instruction key which instructs a power source off state in which the lens barrel does not sink into the body, a storage unit which stores positions of lenses constituting a lens optical system when an instruction is given by the instruction key, and a control unit which switches off the power without sinking the lens barrel into the body in accordance with an instruction by the instruction key, and checks or adjusts positions of the lenses based on the positions stored in the storage unit when the power is switched on.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate on which a circuit element forming region and a plurality of connection pads are formed, a first columnar electrode which is formed on a first connection pad so as to be electrically connected to the first connection pad, a first conductive layer which is formed on a second connection pad so as to be electrically connected to the second connection pad, an encapsulating film which is formed at least around the first columnar electrode, on the semiconductor substrate and on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer which is formed on the encapsulating film so as to face the first conductive layer. A passive element is formed from the first and second conductive layers.