Abstract: An on-vehicle information terminal that conducts communication with a road side communication device (base station) located on a road includes a transmitter/receiver section that communicates with the road side communication device, a voice output section that outputs data from the road side communication device which is received by the transmitter/receiver section through a voice or images, and a control section having a priority table that stores information on categories representative of the type of data that is added with the data and transmitted from the road side communication device and priorities for determining orders in which the voice output section outputs the data in association with each other. The priority of the priority table is variable, and is changed on the basis of a signal from a priority setting switch due to the operation of a user or an instruction signal from the road side communication device.

Abstract: A tone step detector detects whether the tone of n-bit input image data varies gradually, and generates a tone processing control signal indicating that a tone step is contained. A bit shifter bit-shifts the n-bit input image data to the left by ? bits, to generate (n+?)-bit image data. A tone processor smoothes the image data of the (n+?)-bit image data generated by the bit shifter, in the region where the tone processing control signal indicates that a tone step is contained, to generate (n+?)-bit image data having been smoothed in the above-mentioned region. Because of the selective smoothing, degradation in the image quality due to quantization is reduced even when an analog image signal whose tone varies gradually is input.

Abstract: In an OFDM receiver, a synchronisation pulse for defining a Fast Fourier Transform window is generated by examining the output of a correlator to find a sub-interval within which there is maximum correlation between samples of the symbol separated by the length of the useful part of the symbol. The synchronisation pulse is generated during this sub-interval (102). Adjustments to the timing of the synchronisation pulse are made only if the current error is significant and persistent. A signal representing the amount of adjustment is used to determine phase rotations applied to the output of the FFT circuit.

Abstract: Responsive to image data of three colors, six hue data are obtained, and then first comparison-result data and second-order terms each relating to one of the six hues, and second comparison-result data each relating to one of the six inter-hue areas are obtained. Matrix calculation is performed on the first comparison-result data, the second comparison-result data, and the second-order terms, using coefficients. By varying the coefficients, adjustment can be made to only the target hue or inter-hue area, without affecting other hues and inter-hue areas. Thus, the six hues and six inter-hue areas can be varied independently, and the large-capacity memory is not required. In addition, gray scale conversion is applied to the result of the matrix calculation, so as to compensate for the non-linearity of the output device.

Abstract: When carrying out program recommendation between friends and acquaintances, only information necessary for identifying a recommendation program rather than the program content itself is transmitted from a program recommending terminal to a program recommended terminal. This enables recommendation of the program without using a wide communication band. Besides, a problem of copyright involved in transmitting the program contents can be circumvented.

Abstract: A read amplifier circuit includes an equalize start circuit. Based on a preamp enable signal PAE and an equalize signal IOEQ, the equalize start circuit generates an equalize start signal EQ for starting equalization at the timing when the preamp enable signal PAE is activated. Simultaneously with activation of a preamplifier by the preamp enable signal PAE, a pair of read lines GIOR and /GIOR is cut off from the preamplifier, and a P channel MOS transistor starts equalization of the pair of read lines GIOR and /GIOR. In this way, it is possible to start equalization of the paired read lines at the same time that the output signal is supplied to the preamplifier.

Abstract: A pseudo-plastic water based ink for a ball point pen which causes less scattering in a viscosity depending on a production lot and has good stability with the passage of time whatever coloring materials are used and which provides a good writing feeling and is excellent in cap-off resistance. The ink described above comprises at least a colorant, water and a polyglycerin isostearic acid ester represented by the following Formula (1): wherein n represents an integer of 1 to 8; R1 to R4 each independently and R5's, which may be the same or different, represent an isostearoyl group or a hydrogen atom; and the number of the isostearoyl group is 1 to 4.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device according to the present invention comprises, in general, a memory cell array, a plurality of first-layer and second-layer bit lines. The memory cell array includes a matrix of memory cells arranged along a line and row directions, each memory cell being formed within a memory cell region. Each of first-layer bit lines is extending along the row direction, and provided on a plurality of the memory cell regions. Each of second-layer bit lines is connected with the first-layer bit line via a connecting hole. The memory cell regions include first and second memory cell regions, the first memory cell region is provided with the connecting hole, the second memory cell region is not provided with the connecting hole. Also, at least one of the memory cells formed within the first memory cell regions is a dummy cell incapable of electrically serving as the normal memory cell.

Abstract: An object is to obtain a voltage comparator capable of high-accuracy voltage comparison. An input voltage (VIN) and a reference voltage (VREF) are connected to one electrode of a capacitor (C1) through switches (S1) and (S2), respectively. The other electrode of the capacitor (C1) is connected to the input portion of an inverter (INV1). The output portion of the inverter (INV1) is connected to the input portion of an inverter (INV3) and is also fed back to the input through a switch (S3). An inverter (INV11) is further connected in parallel with the inverter (INV1), wherein the input/output characteristics of the inverters (INV1, INV3 and INV11) are set equal.