Abstract: An image encoding device and corresponding decoding device are disclosed for achieving a high rate of compression. The encoding device includes an image conversion module that converts the direction of the images using right-left symmetry mode convention or up-down symmetry mode conversion. Encoding modules are used to encode both the unconverted and converted images. A mode selector module compares the quantity of codes in the encoded unconverted images and the quantity of codes in the encoded converted images, and selects codes that are smaller in the quantity of codes for output.

Abstract: An image encoding device and corresponding decoding device are disclosed for achieving a high rate of compression. The encoding device includes an image conversion module that converts the direction of the images using right-left symmetry mode convention or up-down symmetry mode conversion. Encoding modules are used to encode both the unconverted and converted images. A mode selector module compares the quantity of codes in the encoded unconverted images and the quantity of codes in the encoded converted images, and selects codes that are smaller in the quantity of codes for output.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image display device capable of recognizing a hand of a user and predefining an operating region. Image recognition means recognizes the position of a hand of the user. Operating region setup means predefines the operating region, on an imaging region plane of imaging means and around a position on which the user's hand is projected, for the purpose of enabling the user to issue instructions to the image display device. When the position on which the user's hand is projected moves and comes close to the periphery of the operating region, the operating region setup means moves the operating region in the direction of the movement of the position on which the user's hand is projected. Further, the image recognition means recognizes a hand-waving motion of the user, whereas the operating region setup means sets the size of the operating region in accordance with the magnitude of the user's hand-waving motion.

Abstract: A light source device includes an excitation light source that generates excitation light, a phosphor wheel including a phosphor segment that generates fluorescent light by excitation of the excitation light, and a mirror that guides the excitation light from the excitation light source to the phosphor wheel and emits the fluorescent light from the phosphor wheel as illumination light. The phosphor wheel further includes an anisotropic diffusion and reflection unit that diffuses and reflects incident excitation light such that an optical path for the incident excitation light and an optical path for the diffused excitation light after incidence of the excitation light are not overlapped. The mirror includes a first region that reflects the excitation light and transmits the fluorescent light and a second region that transmits the fluorescent light and the diffused excitation light which the anisotropic diffusion and reflection unit has diffused and reflected.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to permit both real-time display of a picture represented by a non-compressed video signal on a television and display of a picture represented by a compressed video signal at any desired time by simultaneously transmitting the compressed video signal and non-compressed video signal via one interface. An STB packetizes a compressed video signal, and multiplexes the compressed video signal and a blanking signal combined with a non-compressed video signal. Thus, both the video signals are transmitted simultaneously. A picture represented by the non-compressed video signal is displayed on a television in real time. The compressed video signal is stored in a storage medium incorporated in the television, read at any user's desired time, and decoded so that a picture represented by the compressed video signal can be viewed at the user's desired time.

Abstract: A battery pack (1) includes: a battery stack (20) in which a plurality of laminar battery cells (10) are connected in series; a voltage monitoring unit (3) that monitors the voltage of each battery cell; a power unit (4) that has power lines (41p, 41n) for connecting the battery stack (20) and external connection terminals (42p, 42n), a current monitoring unit (44) for monitoring the current of the power lines, and a switch (43) for disconnecting the power lines; and a control unit (5) that receives signals from the voltage monitoring unit and the current monitoring unit, and outputs to the switch a signal for shutting off the power line. The power unit (4) is provided on a power board (74) separately from boards (73, 75) on which the voltage monitoring unit (3) and the control unit (5) are provided. Wiring formed on the power board (74) is thicker than that formed on the boards (73, 75) on which the voltage monitoring unit and the control unit are provided.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a projection type image display apparatus enables control of a large amount of light masking through a light-masking unit while maintaining a uniform illumination distribution in an area to be illuminated by the illumination light. The apparatus uses two array lenses on which lens cells are arranged in matrix form, where light-masking unit masks the array lens installed on the light source side in their particular area. The light-masking unit adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source. The light-masking area of lens cells adjacent to lens cells closest to an optical axis is made smaller than the light-masking area of other cells.

Abstract: In order to provide a recording and reproducing device that allows a user to select and manage arbitrary play lists, a unit of management for managing all registered play list information and an upper management hierarchical level are added. The unit of management is adapted to be handled on the same level with unified information that indicates a reproduction range of all AV data. User-defined unified information is adapted to be handled on the added management hierarchical level. The user-defined unified information is formed to allow arbitrary reproduction ranges contained on a lower hierarchical level to be registered.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium of the present invention is a magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate; a non-magnetic layer that is formed on one of principal surfaces of the non-magnetic substrate and contains a non-magnetic powder, a binder, and a lubricant; and a magnetic layer that is formed on a principal surface of the non-magnetic layer opposite to the non-magnetic substrate and contains a magnetic powder and a binder. The magnetic powder has an average particle size between 10 nm and 35 nm inclusive. The lubricant is migratable to the magnetic layer and forms a lubricant layer on a surface of the magnetic layer when a pressure is applied to the magnetic layer. When spacing of the surface of the magnetic layer before and after washing the lubricant with n-hexane is measured with a TSA (Tape Spacing Analyzer), the value of the spacing after washing is 3 to 10 nm, and the value of the spacing before washing is 1 to 5 nm smaller than the value of the spacing after washing.

Abstract: A display device includes a first interface, a second interface and a display circuit. The display device transmits a first connection confirmation signal to confirm connection, via the first interface to a playback device and receives a response signal in reply to the first connection confirmation signal, transmits a second connection confirmation signal to confirm connection, via the second interface to the playback device and receives a response signal in reply to the second connection confirmation signal, and makes a function to use the first and second interfaces between the display device and the playback device available if both response signals in reply to the first and second connection confirmation signals are received.

Abstract: An operation detection device includes: first and second illuminations that irradiate illumination light from different positions onto an operation surface on which a user performs an operation; a camera that captures the operation surface together with an operation part (finger) of the user; a shadow region extraction unit that extracts first and second shadows of the operation part of the user from a captured image obtained by the camera; a contour detection unit that detects contours of each of the first and second shadows extracted; and a touch point detection unit that detects a touch point of the operation part of the user on the operation surface from the distance between the contours.

Abstract: An information display terminal achieves a suitable display of types of electronic content such as electronic books with a display unit, an operation unit for receiving an operation instruction directed to the information display terminal, and a scroll control unit for controlling the operation for automatic scroll processing of the electronic content displayed on the display unit. An operation instruction instructing initiation of the automatic scroll processing is input to the operation unit, the scroll control unit performs control to initiate automatic scroll processing by which the electronic content displayed on the display unit is displayed in such a manner that the electronic content is moved a predetermined distance per predetermined time period; and when an operation instruction instructing interruption of the automatic scroll processing is input to the operation unit, the scroll control unit performs control to interrupt the automatic scroll processing.

Abstract: An imaging lens is provided with: a first lens with negative power; a second lens with negative power; a third lens with positive power; and a fourth lens with positive power. The cemented fourth lens is formed from an object side lens with negative power and an image side lens with positive power. The thickness of a resin adhesive layer that bonds the object side lens and the image side lens is 20 ?m or greater on the optical axis, and when Sg1H is the amount of sag in the image side lens surface of the object side lens and Sg2H is the amount of sag in the object side lens surface of the image side lens. The bonding operation is easy without damage occurring to the cemented surfaces, with a design that takes into account thickness of the resin adhesive layer; therefore various forms of aberration can be corrected.

Abstract: Portable information recording/play-back arrangements, wherein a controller judges whether a mode, controlling a first recording/play-back module and second recording/play-back module, is an imaging mode or a dubbing mode, and wherein when the controller judges that the mode is the imaging mode, the controller controls so that the imaging module and the first or second recording/play-back module operate on battery or a power supply from an external power source; and when the controller judges that the mode is the dubbing mode and the first and second recording/play-back module operate on the power supply from the external power source, the controller controls so that the dubbing operation is permitted.

Abstract: There is provided a projection apparatus using an oblique projection optical system, which generates little reflection loss by providing a linear Fresnel lens at an incident surface in the case where the apparatus is used as a linear system, wherein said linear Fresnel lens makes total reflection of image light, and is capable of obtaining total surface property with good brightness in a region with small incident angle onto a screen, by using a total reflection Fresnel lens and a refraction Fresnel lens in combination. In addition, total surface property with further good brightness can be obtained by using a plurality of projection image display apparatuses in the same projection apparatus.

Abstract: Cooling air conveyed through a cooling duct 3 is supplied to a discharge lamp 10 via a cooling air exit 21 having a plurality of flow paths 23a to 23c partitioned by a partition plate 22. An air flow direction changeover section 24 changes a flow path through which the discharge lamp is supplied with the cooling air from the cooling air exit. An air flow blocking ball 25 in the air flow direction changeover section moves by its own weight through a guide portion 26 to thereby block the flow path of the cooling air exit. This allows the cooling air to be directed specifically toward an upper side 11a in a direction of gravity of a lamp bulb of the discharge lamp to eliminate a temperature difference, even if a mounting style of the discharge lamp is varied among desk mounting, ceiling mounting, and vertical mounting.

Abstract: A nonaqueous secondary battery having a positive electrode having a positive electrode mixture layer, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, in which the positive electrode contains, as an active material, a lithium-containing transition metal oxide containing a metal element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Zr, Ge, Nb, Al and Sn, the positive electrode mixture layer has a density of 3.5 g/cm3 or larger, and the nonaqueous electrolyte contains a compound having two or more nitrile groups in the molecule.

Abstract: A projection image display apparatus capable of maintaining the positional accuracy of an integrator optical system even when subjected to an external force is provided.

Abstract: An interface is realized that can prevent video signals from being copied easily and which uses a luminance/color difference signal transmission scheme with an excellent harmony with a television circuit. In a video transmission using a digital interface, colorimetry information for defining the conversion from the luminance/color difference signal into a primary color signal and video aspect ratio information are transmitted along with the luminance/color difference type video signal. This allows reproduction of video with high quality and high resolution and also realizes a copyright protection which allows only the users authorized by key information to use the content of the video. With this transmission scheme, it is possible to provide a transmitting apparatus, a receiving apparatus and an interface which highly harmonize with a rationalized television-based circuit.

Abstract: There is provided a light source device which, when a light source which excites a phosphor with excitation light and emits fluorescent light is used, reduces incidence of the excitation light to an excitation light source to increase an output of the excitation light and extend the life. The light source device is provided with a plurality of excitation light sources emitting excitation light and a phosphor changing excitation light to fluorescent light, and the excitation light sources are arranged so that each excitation light emitted from each of the excitation light sources asymmetrically enters an excitation light irradiation region on a phosphor. A mirror is installed on an optical path of unconverted excitation light reflected from the phosphor and returns the unconverted excitation light to the phosphor side, whereby the unconverted excitation light can be utilized as excitation light again.