Abstract: Disclosed herein is an encoding apparatus which combines an RLL code word and an error correction code word, with an interleaving technique when encoding, including: an error correction encoding section; an interleaving section; and an RLL encoding section, wherein, if an address i (i is an integer satisfying relations 0?i<k×m) is assigned to each symbol of k×m error correction code words and xij is denoting the number of symbols included in n symbols of a jth (j is an integer satisfying relations 0?j<m) code word of m error correction code words to serve as symbols corresponding to the address i of an information word of an RLL code, for any j, the interleaving section interleaves a series inside an information word of the RLL code word so that the following relations are satisfied: ? i ? x ij = n ? ? and ? ? x ij > 0.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a light-receiving portion, an optical filter layer, and quantum dots. The light receiving portion, where a photoelectric conversion is carried out, is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The optical filter layer is directly formed on or formed through another layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in which the light-receiving portion is formed. Quantum dots having substantially equal diameters are formed in the optical filter layer. The quantum dots have higher refractive indexes than the refractive index of the optical filter layer in which the quantum dots are embedded.

Abstract: A functional device which is composed of a nanometer-sized functional structure, which can reduce connection resistance in connecting the functional structure to an external electrode, and which includes a wiring section capable of minimizing constraints given to structural designs of various functional structures, and a method of manufacturing it are provided. A functional device in which a functional structure having contained sections in positions spaced from each other is retained by a carbon nanotube. A gap is formed in the carbon nanotube, and the carbon nanotube is segmented into a first carbon nanotube and a second carbon nanotube by the gap. One of the contained sections is contained in the first carbon nanotube at an opening of the first carbon nanotube facing the gap, and the other of the contained sections is contained in the second carbon nanotube at an opening of the second carbon nanotube facing the gap.

Abstract: At the time of call arrival, when the user of a telephone terminal depresses a response key or performs some other tentative responding manipulation instead of lifting up a handset, the telephone terminal transmits a self-introduction request message to the caller. A self-introduction voice transmitted from the caller in response is emitted from a speaker. Listening to the self-introduction voice, the user identifies the caller. If the user wants to talk to the caller, he depresses a communication key or lifts up the handset as a true responding manipulation and then starts a communication with the caller. On the other hand, if the user does not want to talk to the caller, he depresses an automatic answering mode setting key or a disconnection key.