Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a laminate of recording layers on and from which an information signal can be optically recorded and reproduced from one side of the medium. Data areas are provided in the recording layers, respectively. The information signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the data areas while a laser beam emitted from an optical pickup is applied to the data areas. Optical recording test areas are provided in the recording layers, respectively. A test signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the optical recording test areas to decide optimum power values of the laser beam for signal recording. The test areas are out of overlap as viewed in a direction of propagation of the laser beam.

Abstract: A headphone set has at least one speaker section. The speaker section includes a baffle having at least one sound emitting hole, a surrounding wall formed on the baffle so that the surrounding wall protrudes from the baffle and surrounds the sound emitting hole, a speaker unit installed within the surrounding wall and having a first surface to face the sound emitting hole and an opposite second surface, a unit case provided as touching the surrounding wall and covering the second surface of the speaker unit, a first cavity existing as enclosed by the unit case and the second surface of the speaker unit, and a housing provided as touching the baffle and covering the unit case, a second cavity existing as enclosed by the housing, the unit case, and the baffle.

Abstract: A laminating apparatus is composed of a transporting device for transporting a card, a film supplying device for supplying a film, a compression bonding device for thermally compression bonding a laminate material on the film onto the card, a driving device for shifting the compression bonding device from a standby location to a compression bonding location, a film taking-up device for taking up the film, a first guide for guiding the film in a supply side of the film, a second guide for guiding the film in a take-up side of the film, and a third guide for guiding the film in an upstream side of the second guide and in a downstream side of the compression bonding device, wherein the third guide moves in conjunction with the compression bonding device.

Abstract: Video data pieces are classified into groups according to prescribed rules. A cut number assigned to each of the groups is decided on the basis of the length or lengths of a video data piece or pieces in each of the groups and the number of the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. A cut or cuts are extracted from the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. Regarding each of the groups, the number of the extracted cut or cuts is equal to the decided cut number. Digest data is generated from the extracted cuts for all the groups.

Abstract: A plurality of basic depth models indicate depth values of a plurality of basic scene structures. Statistical amounts of pixel values in predetermined areas in a non-3D image are calculated to generate first evaluation values. A statistical amount of pixel values in a whole of the non-3D image is calculated to generate a second evaluation value. The basic depth models are combined into a combination result according to a combination ratio depending on the generated first evaluation values. Depth estimation data is generated from the combination result and the non-3D image. A texture of the non-3D image is shifted in response to the generated depth estimation data and the generated second evaluation value to generate a different-viewpoint picture signal. The generated different-viewpoint picture signal and a picture signal representative of the non-3D image make a stereo pair representing a pseudo 3D image.

Abstract: Every extreme value in an audio waveform represented by a digital audio signal having a sequence of samples is detected. A number of samples between samples corresponding to the first and second latest extreme values is detected. A corrective value is generated in response to the detected sample number and a difference between the first and second latest extreme values. Ones are designated among samples in response to the detected sample number. The designated samples include at least (1) a sample adjacently following the sample corresponding to the second latest extreme value, (2) a sample adjacently preceding the sample corresponding to the first latest extreme value, and (3) one of the sample corresponding to the first latest extreme value and the sample corresponding to the second latest extreme value. The designated samples are corrected in response to at least one of current, previous, and feature corrective values.

Abstract: A calculation is made as to first and second differences in level represented by an input video signal at first and second inter-block boundaries adjoining opposite edges of every rectangular block respectively. A corrective value at every pixel in the rectangular block is calculated from a position of the pixel and the first and second differences according to a predetermined equation. The corrective value is added to a level represented by the input video signal to get an output video signal. The predetermined equation is designed so that levels represented by the output video signal at respective pixels in the rectangular block will be on a line given by a predetermined function of pixel position and connecting a first point in a range corresponding to the first difference and a second point in a range corresponding to the second difference.

Abstract: A disc-shaped information recording medium includes a laminate of recording layers on and from which an information signal can be optically recorded and reproduced from one side of the medium. Data areas are provided in the recording layers, respectively. The information signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the data areas while a laser beam emitted from an optical pickup is applied to the data areas. Optical recording test areas are provided in the recording layers, respectively. A test signal can be recorded on and reproduced from the optical recording test areas to decide optimum power values of the laser beam for signal recording. The test areas are out of overlap as viewed in a direction of propagation of the laser beam.

Abstract: Audio data representative of a music piece is converted into data components in respective different frequency bands for every unit time interval to generate time frequency data pieces assigned to the respective different frequency bands. From the generated time frequency data pieces, detection is made as to each sustain region in which an effective data component in one of the frequency bands continues to occur during a reference time interval or longer. A feature quantity is calculated from at least one of (1) a number of the detected sustain regions and (2) magnitudes of the effective data components in the detected sustain regions. The music piece is classified in response to the calculated feature quantity.

Abstract: Audio data representative of a music piece is converted into data components in respective different frequency bands for every unit time interval to generate time frequency data pieces assigned to the respective different frequency bands. From the generated time frequency data pieces, detection is made as to each sustain region in which an effective data component in one of the frequency bands continues to occur during a reference time interval or longer. A feature quantity is calculated from at least one of (1) a number of the detected sustain regions and (2) magnitudes of the effective data components in the detected sustain regions. The music piece is classified in response to the calculated feature quantity.

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a lead-in area and a data area for storing contents information. The lead-in area includes a first lead-in information area and a second lead-in information area. The first lead-in information area corresponds to a first playback mode. The second lead-in information area corresponds to a second playback mode different from the first playback mode. The first lead-in information area has a first depth and is designed for storing lead-in information related to the contents information stored in the data area. The second lead-in information area includes pre-pits having a second depth greater than the first depth. The pre-pits represent predetermined information, such as information of copyright protection, related to the contents information stored in the data area.

Abstract: Video data pieces are classified into groups according to prescribed rules. A cut number assigned to each of the groups is decided on the basis of the length or lengths of a video data piece or pieces in each of the groups and the number of the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. A cut or cuts are extracted from the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. Regarding each of the groups, the number of the extracted cut or cuts is equal to the decided cut number. Digest data is generated from the extracted cuts for all the groups.

Abstract: A linear motion device includes a guide shaft. A to-be-moved member is supported on the guide shaft, and is linearly movable along the guide shaft. A lead screw extends parallel to the guide shaft. A clamper meshes with the lead screw. The clamper moves as the lead screw rotates. An intermediate member is provided between the to-be-moved member and the clamper. An urging member operates for urging the to-be-moved member toward the clamper and enabling the intermediate member to be seated between the to-be-moved member and the clamper in a manner such that an axis of the intermediate member is nonparallel to the guide shaft.

Abstract: A focus-adjustment signal generating apparatus includes a filter to extract a high-frequency component at a specific frequency or higher from a luminance signal of an input video signal, a comparator to compare an absolute value of the high-frequency component with a specific reference value, to output a first detection signal when the absolute value is equal to or larger than the reference value whereas a second detection signal when the absolute value is smaller than the reference value, an extender to extend an output period of the first detection signal according to a period indicated by a period-length setting signal, to output an extended first detection signal, and a selector to select a first chrominance difference signal indicating a specific color in response to the extended first detection signal whereas a second chrominance difference signal indicating an achromatic color in response to the second detection signal, the first or the second chrominance difference signal being output as a focus-adjus

Abstract: An information recording medium includes a lead-in area and a data area for storing contents information. The lead-in area includes a first lead-in information area and a second lead-in information area. The first lead-in information area corresponds to a first playback mode. The second lead-in information area corresponds to a second playback mode different from the first playback mode. The first lead-in information area has a first depth and is designed for storing lead-in information related to the contents information stored in the data area. The second lead-in information area includes pre-pits having a second depth greater than the first depth. The pre-pits represent predetermined information, such as information of copyright protection, related to the contents information stored in the data area.

Abstract: There is a sequence of samples having values representative of a waveform. Samples corresponding to extrema including maximums and minimums in the waveform are detected. A decision is made as to whether values of successive samples between every two extremum-corresponding samples are in an upward slope or a downward slope. The number of these successive samples is detected. One is selected from coefficients in response to the detected sample number. A first group has one or more samples adjacently preceding a maximum-corresponding sample. A second group has one or more samples adjacently following the maximum-corresponding sample. A third group has one or more samples adjacently preceding a minimum-corresponding sample. A fourth group has one or more samples adjacently following the minimum-corresponding sample. Each of specified samples among the samples in the first to fourth groups is corrected in response to the slope decision result and the selected coefficient.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus has a touch sensor provided with a first touching zone including at least a second touching zone and a third touching zone, the second and third touching zones being allocated with different functions. The electronic apparatus is controlled to perform a specific function assigned to a specific touching zone that is the second or the third touching zone when there is a first touch input at first through the specific touching zone and continuously perform the specific function even if there is a second touch input that follows the first touch input, through either the second or the third touching zone that is not the specific touching zone, as long as there is a continuous touch input through the first touching zone from the first to the second touch input with no intermission.

Abstract: Video data pieces are classified into groups according to prescribed rules. A cut number assigned to each of the groups is decided on the basis of the length or lengths of a video data piece or pieces in each of the groups and the number of the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. A cut or cuts are extracted from the video data piece or pieces in each of the groups. Regarding each of the groups, the number of the extracted cut or cuts is equal to the decided cut number. Digest data is generated from the extracted cuts for all the groups.