Abstract: An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal.

Abstract: An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal.

Abstract: An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal.

Abstract: Data is recorded in a phase-change optical storage medium having data layers. A first recording pulse sequence is generated for recording to a first data layer located most remote from a beam-incident surface. The first sequence has a recording pulse carrying an erasing power and a recording power rising from the erasing power, and a cooling pulse carrying a bottom power lower than the erasing power. A second recording pulse sequence is generated for recording to a second data layer. The second sequence has recording pulse carrying an erasing power and a recording power rising from the erasing power, a cooling puse carrying a bottom power lower than the erasing power, and an erasing top pulse carrying an erasing top power higher than the erasing power.

Abstract: An optical-pickup hologram element has six regions on an x-y plane, divided as follows: the first region with a first line (an x-axis) and a second line that connects points (?xa, 0) and (?xb, yb); the second region with the first and second lines and a third line connecting points (xa, 0) and (xb, yb); the third region with the first and third lines; the fourth region with the first line and a fourth line connecting the point (xa, 0) and a point (xb, ?yb); the fifth region with the first and fourth lines and a fifth line connecting the point (?xa, 0) and a point (?xb, ?yb); and the sixth region with the first and fifth lines (xa<xb and ?xb<?xa). The second and fifth, and the other regions are given astigmatism at different angles to the second line.

Abstract: An output control (OPC) information is recorded on the magnetic tape 1 in conjunction with an MPEG stream. The OPC information is composed of two bits and is extracted from a reproduced signal by the output control circuit 9 and controls the digital interface (D. I/F) 7 and the switch circuit 11. In case a first bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 makes the D. I/F 7 enabled and permits the output of a digital signal. In a case of “1”, the output control circuit 9 prohibits to output the digital signal. Further, when the second bit of the OPC information is “0”, the output control circuit 9 turns the switch circuit 11 off, preventing the output of an analog component signal. In case its “1”, the output control circuit 9 permits the output of the analog component signal.

Abstract: Playlists are generated. Each of the generated playlists instructs playback of at least a portion or portions of one or ones selected from contents-data pieces recorded on a recording medium. Playlist management tables are generated. The generated playlist management tables correspond to the contents-data pieces, respectively. Each of the playlist management tables represents a correspondence between related one of the contents-data pieces and a playlist or playlists each instructing playback of at least a portion of the related one of the contents-data pieces. The playlists and the playlist management tables are recorded on the recording medium.

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: An earphone includes a speaker unit, a housing that covers a rear surface of the speaker unit, and a bushing having a cord holding portion that holds a cord that carries an audio signal to the speaker unit and is running to the outside of the housing. The bushing also has an extended portion that is extended into the housing and spread along an inner surface of the housing. The inner surface of the housing faces the rear surface of the speaker unit.

Abstract: An earphone has a main body, a first tube portion that protrudes from the main body in a first direction, a speaker unit provided at a protruding top of the first tube portion, and a second tube portion that protrudes from the main body in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The second tube portion communicates with the first tube portion through the main body. The speaker unit is provided with a space at one side thereof. The space is formed in the first and second tube portions and extends from the protruding top of the first tube portion to a protruding top of the second tube portion through the main body.

Abstract: In an external-device control apparatus, a first section extracts a prescribed descriptor from program specific information in a transport stream. A second section analyzes information represented by the extracted prescribed descriptor to obtain an analyzation result. A third section stores information about setting of operation of an external device. A fourth section generates a signal for control of the operation of the external device in response to the obtained analyzation result according to the information stored in the third section. The fourth section sends the generated signal to the external device.

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: 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: 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: Levels of an input video signal are detected at successive pixels. An absolute level difference is produced that is an absolute value of the difference at each pixel pair. One absolute difference is applied nonlinear processing to be subtracted from an initial value to obtain a subtracted value. An absolute value of the subtracted value is set to a predetermined value if not larger than this value. The absolute difference is obtained from a pixel pair located in the middle of the pixels. The absolute value subjected to the nonlinear processing is added to the remaining absolute differences, to obtain an evaluation value. The input signal is subjected to low-pass filtering, thus video signals being output with high-frequency components attenuated depending on filter characteristics. The input signal with no filtering applied or one of the signals applied the filtering is selected for edge enhancement depending on the evaluation value.

Abstract: Every prescribed unit of video data is analyzed to estimate a degree of influence of pictures represented by every prescribed unit of video data on a viewer. For example, every prescribed unit of three-dimensional video data is analyzed to estimate a degree of influence of a depth in three-dimensional pictures represented by every prescribed unit of three-dimensional video data on a viewer. Information is generated which represents the estimated influence degree. Every prescribed unit of video data and the generated information are outputted while they are related to each other.

Abstract: An audio signal encoding apparatus includes a device for compressing multiple-channel digital audio signals into compression-resultant multiple-channel signals respectively. The multiple-channel digital audio signals relate to a sampling frequency and a quantization bit number. The compression-resultant multiple-channel signals, a signal representative of the sampling frequency, and a signal representative of the quantization bit number are formatted into a formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal contains a sub packet and a sync information portion. The sub packet contains at least portions of the compression-resultant multiple-channel signals. The sync information portion contains the signal representative of the sampling frequency and the signal representative of the quantization bit number.

Abstract: An audio signal encoding apparatus includes a device for compressing multiple-channel digital audio signals into compression-resultant multiple-channel signals respectively. The multiple-channel digital audio signals relate to a sampling frequency and a quantization bit number. The compression-resultant multiple-channel signals, a signal representative of the sampling frequency, and a signal representative of the quantization bit number are formatted into a formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal contains a sub packet and a sync information portion. The sub packet contains at least portions of the compression-resultant multiple-channel signals. The sync information portion contains the signal representative of the sampling frequency and the signal representative of the quantization bit number.

Abstract: An audio signal encoding apparatus includes a device for compressing multiple-channel digital audio signals into compression-resultant multiple-channel signals respectively. The multiple-channel digital audio signals relate to a sampling frequency and a quantization bit number. The compression-resultant multiple-channel signals, a signal representative of the sampling frequency, and a signal representative of the quantization bit number are formatted into a formatting-resultant signal. The formatting-resultant signal contains a sub packet and a sync information portion. The sub packet contains at least portions of the compression-resultant multiple-channel signals. The sync information portion contains the signal representative of the sampling frequency and the signal representative of the quantization bit number.

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.