Abstract: The present invention relates to a plasma display apparatus. The plasma display apparatus includes an upper substrate; first and second electrodes formed on the upper substrate; a lower substrate disposed opposite to the upper substrate; and a third electrode formed on the lower substrate. At least one of the first and second electrodes is formed as one layer, and includes first and second electrode lines formed in a direction intersecting the third electrode and a connecting electrode that connects the first and second electrode lines. The distance between the first and second electrode lines has a value of 2 or more in one discharge cell. Accordingly, manufacturing cost of a plasma display panel can be saved by removing a transparent electrode made from ITO. Further, a discharge firing voltage can be reduced and the luminance of a display image can also be improved by variably adjusting the distance between two electrode lines constituting a scan or sustain electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a signal and method thereof are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes a payload part having at least one of data coding information including pilot coding information per a frame and entropy coding information and a header part having main configuration information for the payload part.

Abstract: Disclosed is a steam generator, in which connection units are respectively formed on first and second cases. The connection units comprise connection pieces extended from the circumferential surface of the first case and connection pieces extended from the circumferential surface of the second case. Screw holes are respectively formed through the connection pieces so that the connection pieces of the first case and the connection pieces of the second case are connected using screws inserted into the screw holes. A sealing member is interposed between contact portions of the first case and the second case, thus maximizing contact between the first case and the second case. Thereby, since the, contact portions of first and second cases are smooth when the first case and the second case are connected to each other, the steam generator has a neat external appearance and does not require a separate process for smoothing the contact portions, thereby increasing in efficiency and productivity.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal are provided. In the encoding method, spatial information that is calculated based on a multi-channel audio signal and a downmix signal is encoded, and additional configuration information is generated based on information that is selected from the encoded spatial information. The downmix signal is encoded, and then, a bitstream is generated by combining the encoded downmix signal with the encoded spatial information. Thereafter, the additional configuration information is inserted into the bitstream. Therefore, it is possible to configure an optimum bitstream according to the circumstances by retransmitting all or part of information included in a header.

Abstract: A method and device for securely sending a bootstrap message from a server (i.e., a device management (DM )server) to a device in a device management system, the method comprising acquiring first information by the device, receiving, by the device, a bootstrap message from the server, acquiring, by the device, second information from the received bootstrap message, and verifying the bootstrap message by the device, whereby it is effective to securely send the bootstrap message from the server to the device by checking up whether the first information is identical to the second information.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a signal and method thereof are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes the steps of obtaining data corresponding to a plurality of data coding schemes and deciding an entropy table for at least one of a pilot reference value and a pilot difference value included in the data using an entropy table identifier unique to the data coding scheme and entropy-decoding at least one of the pilot reference value and the pilot difference value using the entropy table.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine, in which wrinkles are removed from laundry using steam. The method includes supplying steam of a high temperature to a drum containing laundry; and supplying air to the drum. The method facilitates the refreshing of the laundry, such as clothes, thus allowing a user to wear the clothes just after the refreshing of the clothes.

Abstract: An apparatus for clothes, more particularly, a new clothes refresher for de-wrinkling and sterilizing clothes is disclosed. The clothes refresher includes a body (400) configured to receive clothes therein, and a stem supply device (200) to supply steam into the body (400) in order to supply the steam to the clothes.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a signal and method thereof are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes the steps of obtaining a number of data corresponding to a pilot reference value and if a number of data bands meets a predetermined condition, obtaining the pilot reference value and a pilot difference value corresponding to the pilot reference value and obtaining the data using the pilot reference value and the pilot difference value. The number of the data is obtained using the number of the data bands in which the data are included. The present invention includes the steps of deciding one of a plurality of data coding schemes using a number of data and decoding the data according to the decided data coding scheme, wherein a plurality of the data coding schemes include a pilot coding scheme at least.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a data processing method for network layer in a home network system (1) based on a living network control protocol. The data processing method for network layer based on a protocol, that is composed of at least a physical layer, a data link layer, a network and an application layer, includes the steps of: receiving a message sending primitive (MsgSend) in application layer protocol data unit (APDU) frp, the application layer; according to the message sending primitive (MsgSend), generating a communication cycle description; according to the message sending primitive (MsgSend) and/or the communication cycle description, generating a packet sending primitive (PktSend) in network layer protocol data unit (NPDU); and transmitting the packet sending primitive (PktSend) to the data link layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a signal and method thereof are disclosed. Data coding and entropy coding are performed with interconnection, and grouping is used to enhance coding efficiency. The present invention includes the steps of obtaining a difference value and index information and entropy-decoding the index information and identifying an entropy table corresponding to the entropy-decoded index information and entropy-decoding the difference value using the identified entropy table and obtaining data using a reference value corresponding to a plurality of data and the decoded difference value.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding a multi-channel audio signal are provided. In the encoding method, spatial information is calculated based on a multi-channel audio signal and a down-mix signal, and a compensation parameter that compensates for the down-mix signal is calculated based on the multi-channel audio signal and the down-mix signal. Thereafter, a bitstream is generated by encoding the spatial information, the compensation parameter, and the down-mix signal and combining the results of the encoding. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the quality of sound regarding a multi-channel audio signal by compensating for the multi-channel audio signal using a compensation parameter that compensates for a down-mix signal.

Abstract: A heating body is provided. The heating body includes a tube and a heating member disposed in the tube. When a radius from a center of the heating body to an outer circumference of the heating member is “r,” a radius of the tube is equal to or greater than 1.6r.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting dummy video sync and audio signals in an optical disc player, which are capable of generating a dummy video sync signal when the optical disc player plays an audio-only optical disc. The method and apparatus transmit to a television the dummy video sync signal along with an audio signal read/reproduced from the optical disc. Accordingly, the invention prevents the television from being automatically turned off or switched to an audio mute state when only audio signals are reproduced from the disc without any reproduction of associated video signals. As a result, the user can hear audio sound through speakers equipped in the television even though only audio signals are reproduced from the disc.

Abstract: A timing recovery apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus includes: a symbol synchronizer for determining a bandwidth of a timing recovery loop by a lock step control signal, which is outputted depending on a convergence degree; a timing lock detector for judging the convergence degree to generate the lock step control signal; and a timing deviation detector for receiving a timing frequency signal outputted from the symbol synchronizer to detect the timing deviation.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, the invention discusses techniques of encoding image data and decoding the encoded image data in an effective manner. As a result, recording and reproduction of data is optimized by compressing an image signal based on whether or not there exists a significant difference between two adjacent frames or units of image data.

Abstract: A connecting rod for a hermetic compressor is provided. The connecting rod includes a piston connecting portion, a body having an end connected to the piston connecting portion, a crankshaft connecting portion connected to a different end of the body and extending a predetermined length so that a curved surface is formed, an inner peripheral surface of the crankshaft connecting portion making surface contact with an outer peripheral surface of a sleeve fitted to an off-center pin of a crankshaft, and a clamp fastened to both ends of the crankshaft connecting portion and exerting elastic force to retain the sleeve on the inner peripheral surface of the crankshaft connecting portion. The sleeve does not deform, even when retained on the crankshaft connecting portion, and makes uniform surface contact with the off-center pin, which is inserted into the sleeve. This substantially reduces the abrasion of the sleeve and the off-center pin and improves the compressor's efficiency.

Abstract: A hybrid induction motor comprises a stator fixedly installed in a casing, an induction rotor rotatably inserted into a center of the stator and having a shaft at a center thereof, a first synchronous rotor installed between the stator and the induction rotor in a circumferential direction of the shaft so as to be freely rotatable, and a second synchronous rotor facing the first synchronous rotor in a longitudinal direction of the shaft and installed between the stator and the induction rotor so as to be freely rotatable.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording medium and apparatus and method for managing a defective area of the recording medium. According to an embodiment, the method includes (a) determining whether there is an available replacement block in a spare area and a found defective block is controlled by a linear replacement algorithm; (b) managing a defective data block based on the determination, such that the defective data block is replaced with the replacement block of the spare area if there is the available replacement block and the found defective data block is controlled by the linear replacement algorithm; and (c) recording a defect list to the recording medium, wherein the defect list includes first position information specifying the location of defective data block, second position information specifying the location of replacement block and identification information specifying that the defective data block is replaced.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for managing map data for a vehicle using a navigation system, wherein upon display of the map data, memory loading for the display of the map data can be quickly performed by reducing the number of access to a physical storage medium with an entire map stored therein. To this end, when a travel guide map is generated again based on a new location as the position of a vehicle varies, only a certain number of map segments are retrieved from a physical storage medium such as a CD-ROM to generate the travel guide map, thereby making map-displaying speed faster. Further, when the travel guide map is generated again based on the new location as the position of the vehicle varies, map data loading speed can be faster by preventing reusable map segments among map segments loaded on an operation memory from being unnecessarily deleted, retrieved again from the physical storage medium and inserted into the operation memory.