Abstract: A video/audio data coding circuit receives video/audio signals and compresses and multiplexes them. A recording signal processing circuit shuffles the audio/video data, adds ECCs, and codes them for recording. A CPU control circuit controls a control ECC block addition circuit to generate control ECC blocks and sends them to the recording signal processing circuit. At the same time, the CPU control circuit controls an optical head and a spindle motor. The data is written onto a disc by the optical head. And, after editing, the control ECC blocks are written. At playback time, the control ECC blocks are read from the disc and sent to a control ECC block playback circuit where they are played back. The CPU control circuit controls the optical head, spindle motor, and so on with the played-back control ECC blocks and commands. Video/audio data is read from the disc by the optical head. A played-back signal processing circuit decodes the data, checks for errors, and de-shuffles the data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reproducing apparatus-for a remote rental system, and in particular to a reproducing apparatus and control method for the apparatus bus which the playback permission of the video title, advertisements, and charge collection are performed remotely over a public communication network between a remote server and a reproducing apparatus. The remote rental system of the present invention comprises an information-stored medium with a unique ID code, a reproducing apparatus for playing the data on the information-stored medium, and a remote server for controlling the playback of the information-stored medium on the reproducing apparatus over the communication network. The remote rental system enables customers to keep the information-stored medium at a low cost without return, to use the information-stored medium whenever they want, and to receive useful information such as public advertisements that are provided continually over the communication network.

Abstract: A memory capacity of a memory circuit has a program data system which practices a software function and has a fixed amount corresponding to each of a series of upper rank functions to lower rank functions of the software. This program data system selects one function (of preparing kind functions) from a series of integrated ranks and incorporates those of each memory circuit corresponding to the preparing kind functions.

Abstract: Visual influence on the reproduced image by the spectrum spread additional information signal can be controlled on the reproduced image by sequentially changing the level of the spectrum spread additional information signal with the predetermined pattern in each chip section on the occasion of superimposing, on the video signal, the spectrum spread additional information signal in which the additional information such as duplication preventing control information and copy right information, etc. is spectrum spread.

Abstract: A digital recording/playback apparatus with improved error correction capability and a method thereof are provided. In the apparatus and method thereof, regardless of trick play data and stuffing data, normal play data is outer-error-corrected. To enhance the error correction capability of the normal play data, during a recording mode, a predetermined pattern data is arranged in the stuffing data region and trick play data region and an outer parity is added to the normal play data to then be outer-error-correction coded. During a playback mode, the predetermined pattern data used during error-correction coding is arranged in the stuffing data region and trick play data region and inner-error-correction decoded normal play data is outer-error-correction decoded using the outer parity.

Abstract: A pixel structure of an image sensor, the pixel structure for providing sensor signals in response to incident light is provided. The pixel structure includes light selective elements, the light selective elements having predetermined thicknesses to absorb only light having wavelengths corresponding to the visible region of the light spectrum.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a digitized analog signal read from a DVD media and provided to a digital processing system is described herein. The apparatus includes a DVD reading apparatus for providing a signal comprised of a stream of actual data read from a DVD media; and a processor for determining, based upon the comparison of actual data to the known ideal contents of the data on said DVD media, the magnitude of no more than two variables representing at least three coefficients in an impulse response equation which models the digital processing system. The magnitude of the two variables are determined by the processor so that the error rate between the first and second sets of data is minimized.

Abstract: A bit stream which is a data string including coded data of a multiplicity of channels is output from a tuner section 22, and a recording channel selection section 23 selects coded data of a desired channel from the bit stream and output by configuring the data string. The data string output from the recording channel selection section 23 is recorded to and reproduced from a magnetic tape of a recording and reproducing section 24 by a rotary head. The coded data of the data string reproduced from the recording and reproducing section 24 is discompression-encoded by an MPEG2 decoder 25 and a video signal is output.

Abstract: A properly-focused image can be constantly obtained even when a cameraman takes a picture of an object which is located within a defocusing area of a zoom lens. A video camera having a zoom lens (10) detects a distance up to an object by a microcomputer (20) on the basis of position informations (S13), (S14) of a variable power lens (12) and a focusing lens (13) of the zoom lens (10). When this distance enters the defocusing area of the zoom lens in accordance with the movement of the variable power lens (12), the variable power lens (12) is fixed under the properly-focused state, and image data representing an object in the properly-focused state is stored in a memory (34). The image data representing the object is decimated, read out from the memory (34) and also interpolated to thereby form image information corresponding to a desired zoom magnification.