Abstract: In an audiovisual system in which a TV, an AV amplifier, a DVD player and the like are combined, another device constituting the system is automatically set to an optimal operation state according to the content recorded on an optical disc. A reproduction content judging unit 406 of a DVD player 400 judges the type (a video signal and an audio signal) and the format of signals included in content that has been read from the optical disc 401. According to the results of judging by the reproduction content judging unit 406, a control unit 403 of the DVD player 400 sends an instruction signal related to the power supply state and an instruction signal related to output of at least one of video and audio to a control unit 105 of a TV 100 and a control unit 203 of an AV amplifier 200.

Abstract: An automatic transmission is provided. One embodiment of the automatic transmission may include a valve body including control valves for hydraulically controlling a friction engaging element provided within said transmission. The automatic transmission may further include an electric control unit located on said valve body for controlling gear shifting of said automatic transmission. The automatic transmission may further include a transmission case having a peripheral wall for at least partially enclosing a gear shift mechanism and an outer wall provided adjacent to said peripheral wall, wherein said electric control unit is located within a containing space surrounded by said peripheral wall, said outer wall and said valve body.

Abstract: An audiovisual system is provided in which the operability of selection by a user between internal speakers of a TV and external speakers connected to an audio amplifier has been improved, thus reducing the burdensomeness of operation. When an audio amplifier (100A) is powered on, a control part (106A) of the audio amplifier (100A) judges that use of external speakers (105) connected to the audio amplifier (100A) has been selected, and transmits a control signal for putting internal speakers (205) of a TV (200A) in a muted state to a control part (206A) of the TV (200A) via a communication means (300). Conversely, when the audio amplifier (100A) is powered off, the control part (106A) judges that use of the internal speakers (205) of the TV (200A) has been selected, and transmits a control signal for canceling the muted state of the internal speakers (205) to the control part (206A) of the TV (200A) via the communication means (300).

Abstract: In an optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus, a first read data quality determining section determines a quality of read second units of digital data. Upon determination that the quality of the second units of digital data is low, a first re-reading section re-reads the first units of digital data tracks, sectors, or data blocks in the second units at a third replay speed obtained by subtracting a first predetermined speed from a second replay speed. With this, the optical disk can be replayed at a speed higher than the normal replay speed, and reproduced data can be recorded on a writable optical disk except defective data caused by reproduction defects.

Abstract: A piezoelectric shear resonator has a substantially rectangular-column piezoelectric element that excites a shear-vibration mode and that has opposing substantially rectangular shear strain surfaces. The shear strain surfaces each have an aspect ratio at which the electromechanical coupling factor reaches substantially a maximum value. When the vertical dimension of the shear strain surfaces is D and the horizontal dimension thereof is Le, the aspect ratio Le/D is expressed by Le/D={?·(S44E/S33E)1/2+?}±0.3, where S44E and S33E are elastic compliances, ?=0.27·n+0.45, ?=1.09·n+0.31, and n is a positive integer.

Abstract: A longitudinally-coupled multi-mode piezoelectric bulk wave filter using the piezoelectric longitudinal effect includes a plurality of excitation electrodes extending substantially parallel to each other, a laminated piezoelectric body including a plurality of piezoelectric layers arranged between the excitation electrodes and polarized in a predetermined direction, an input electrode and output electrode disposed on a first side surface of the laminated piezoelectric body, and a ground electrode disposed on a second side surface of the laminated piezoelectric body. When an input signal is applied between the input electrode and the ground electrode, vibration modes of different orders of harmonic waves are excited and coupled so that an output signal is output between the output terminal and the ground terminal.

Abstract: A composite vibration device includes a piezoelectric element defining a vibrating member, which is made of a material having a first acoustical impedance, first and second reflecting layers are connected to respective end surfaces of the piezoelectric element, each of the layers are made of a material having a second acoustical impedance lower than the first acoustical impedance, and first and second supporting members. Each of the first and second supporting members is made of a material having an acoustical impedance higher than the second acoustical impedance and is connected to the outer surface of each of the first and second reflecting layers. Vibrations propagated from the piezoelectric element are reflected at the interfaces between the reflecting layers and the supporting members.

Abstract: A composite vibration device includes a piezoelectric element defining a vibrating member, which is made of a material having a first acoustical impedance, first and second reflecting layers are connected to respective end surfaces of the piezoelectric element, each of the layers are made of a material having a second acoustical impedance lower than the first acoustical impedance, and first and second supporting members. Each of the first and second supporting members is made of a material having an acoustical impedance higher than the second acoustical impedance and is connected to the outer surface of each of the first and second reflecting layers. Vibrations propagated from the piezoelectric element are reflected at the interfaces between the reflecting layers and the supporting members.

Abstract: In an optical disk high-speed replaying/recording apparatus, a first read data quality determining section 200, Sjr; 300a, S18 determines a quality of read second units of digital data Sad, Ssb. Upon determination that the quality of the second units of digital data Sad, Ssbis low, a first re-reading section 300a; S24 through S36 re-reads first units of digital data tracks, sectors, or data blocks in the second units at a third replay speed K obtained by subtracting a first predetermined speed Vp from a second replay speed N. With this, the optical disk can be replayed at a speed higher than the normal replay speed, and reproduced data can be recorded on a writable optical disk except defective data caused by reproduction defects.

Abstract: A longitudinally-coupled multi-mode piezoelectric bulk wave filter using the piezoelectric longitudinal effect incudes a plurality of excitation electrodes extending substantially parallel to each other, a laminated piezoelectric body including a plurality of piezoelectric layers arranged between the excitation electrodes and polarized in a predetermined direction, an input electrode and output electrode disposed on a first side surface of the laminated piezoelectric body, and a ground electrode disposed on a second side surface of the laminated piezoelectric body. When an input signal is applied between the input electrode and the ground electrode, vibration modes of different orders of harmonic waves are excited and coupled so that an output signal is output between the output terminal and the ground terminal.

Abstract: A piezoelectric shear resonator has a substantially rectangular-column piezoelectric element that excites a shearvibration mode and that has opposing substantially rectangular shear strain surfaces. The shear strain surfaces each have an aspect ratio at which the electromechanical coupling factor reaches substantially a maximum value. When the vertical dimension of the shear strain surfaces is D and the horizontal dimension thereof is Le, the aspect ratio Le/D is expressed by Le/D={&agr;·(S44E/S33E)1/2+&bgr;}±0.3, where S44E and S33E are elastic compliances, &agr;=0.27·n+0.45, &bgr;=1.09·n+0.31, and n is a positive integer.