Abstract: A method for the production of an esterified product which can prevent the occurrence of a gel-like substance during the separation and removal of the water formed by the reaction in the esterification reaction or during the expulsion of a dehydrating solvent by distillation after the esterification reaction by causing an antigelling agent to act on the distillate and consequently permits efficient production of the esterified product of high quality, and an apparatus therefor are to be provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the difficulty in a video game are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a role playing video game is allowed to progress by clearing a plurality of stages for which individual difficulties are set. A control method for such a video game includes selecting one stage from said plurality of stages in response to a command provided by a game player. The difficulty of the selected stage is adjusted substantially each time an event that is voluntarily challengeable on the selected stage is cleared by the game player during execution of the game, and the difficulties of at least one of the plurality of stages is adjusted in accordance with the difficulty of the selected stage at a clearing time when the selected stage is cleared by the game player's operation during execution of the game.

Abstract: A cumulative point value and a comparative point value are set for the player character and the enemy character. After execution of a player character action, the cumulative point value is updated on the basis of a set point value previously correlated with the executed action. After execution of an enemy character action, the comparative point value of the enemy character is updated on the basis of a reference point value previously correlated with the enemy character having executed the action. Upon completing the update of the cumulative point value, it is compared to the comparative point value. If the cumulative point value is smaller, a manual input for the player character is received. An action is set accordingly, and the set action is executed. If the comparative point value is smaller, an action for the enemy character is set on the basis of an artificial intelligence algorithm for the enemy character and executed.

Abstract: A color image pickup apparatus includes a photo-to-electric conversion section subjected to progressive scanning. A first delay circuit defers an output signal of the photo-to-electric conversion section. A first adder combines the output signal of the photo-to-electric conversion section and an output signal of the first delay circuit. A second delay circuit defers the output signal of the first delay circuit. A second adder combines the output signal of the photo-to-electric conversion section and an output signal of the second delay circuit. A third delay circuit defers an output signal of the first adder. A first subtracter implements subtraction between the output signal of the first adder and an output signal of the third delay circuit. A fourth delay circuit defers an output signal of the second adder. A second subtracter implements subtraction between the output signal of the second adder and an output signal of the fourth delay circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cement additive which can achieve excellent fluid retainability and has excellent mortar kneadability. The cement additive comprises copolymer (A) having polyalkylene glycol ester unit (I) and carboxylic unit (II) as repeating units, wherein polyalkylene glycol ester unit (I) has an oxyalkylene group with 3 to 7 carbon atoms on an ester bonding moiety.

Abstract: The photo-curable liquid solder resist ink composition of the present invention mainly comprises a photo-polymerizable resin having sufficient molecular weight and (meth)acryloyl groups which are imparted by both of introduction of (meth)acryloyl groups into a novolak-type epoxy resin having 4 or more of benzene nuclei and polymerization using a chain-extension agent. The composition is useful for a photo-curable type resist, since it can produce a coated film excellent in tack free characteristic and resolution, and can produce a cured film excellent in heat resistance, adhesiveness, and chemical resistance. In addition, by reacting with an acid anhydride, development with alkalis becomes possible.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns pyrimidine derivatives represented by the following general formulas [I] and [I'] and having antiviral activity, particularly antiretroviral activity such as anti-HIV activity: ##STR1## and pharmaceutical compositions having antiviral activity and comprising the above-described derivative(s) as an active ingredient.

Abstract: A pyrimidine nucleoside derivative and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof specified by the presence of ethyl group or isopropyl group at 5-position of the pyrimidine ring and the presence of a (substituted) phenylthio or a (substituted) benzyl group at 6-position of the pyrimidine ring is provided. The pyrimidine nucleoside derivative and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof show a markedly higher anti-retroviral activity than conventional analogous compounds and have a relatively low toxicity against the host cells, and therefore, are useful as an active ingredient of antiviral agent.

Abstract: 6-substitutted acyclopyrimidine nucleoside derivatives represented by the following general formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a group of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkylcarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, arylcarbonylalkyl, arylthio or aralkyl; R.sup.2 represents a group of arylthio, alkylthio, cycloalkylthio, aryl sulfoxide, alkyl sulfoxide, cycloalkyl sulfoxide, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, arylcarbonyl, arylcarbonylalkyl or aryloxy; R.sup.3 represents a hydroxyalkyl group of which alkyl portion may contain an oxygen atom; X represents an oxygen or sulfur atom or amino group; Y represents an oxygen or sulfur atom; and A represents .dbd.N-- or --NH-- or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for their preparation and antiviral agents containing them as active ingredients.

Abstract: A PCM signal processing apparatus for recording or reproducing a PCM signal. The PCM signal reproducing apparatus of the invention is constituted by: a data addition circuit for receiving a first signal composed of n bits per word (n being an integer) and a second signal composed of n' bits per word (n' being an integer) as mode inputs different from each other, and for adding fixed data of (n-n') bits to every word of the second signal to thereby generate a third signal; a first switch device for receiving the first and third signals and for selectively outputting one of the first and third signals; a symbol generation circuit for converting every word of the output of the first switch device into symbol data of m.times.

Abstract: A semiconductor light position detector for a rangefinder which projects a light beam onto an object and receives a reflected light beam from the object to measure a distance to the object. A portion of the light-receiving surface of the detector on which the reflected beam will not form a light spot is partially covered with a member that blocks unwanted light. Thus, the malfunctions caused by the flare component of the light from the light projector and the malfunctions due to increases in the shot noise under a high illuminance are reduced greatly.

Abstract: A solid state color imaging apparatus includes a solid state image sensor having a plurality of picture elements regularly disposed in a two dimensional pattern along a plurality of horizontal lines. Each horizontal line includes a plurality of picture elements disposed in repetition at a predetermined pitch wherein light incident thereon is converted to a proportional electrical signal. A color filter placed over the picture elements has a plurality of filter elements disposed in regular repetition in horizontal rows and vertical columns. The filter elements are the same kind in each horizontal row scanned sequentially and only the combination is different. When the electric signals are read out from the imaging sensor, each horizontal row of filter elements spatially modulate at least two primary color lights. The mean value of the read out signals is equal and the modulated color signal is the color difference signal.

Abstract: A digital-to-analog converter device for PCM signals at different sampling frequencies comprises a signal converter which expands the frequency distance between a PCM signal band and a side band by converting the sampling frequencies associated with the PCM signals to be reproduced into higher frequencies. With this signal converter, a single low-pass filter can be simplified, having a gradual ramp cut-off characteristic for removal of the side band wherein a pass band cut-off frequency and a stop band cut-off frequency can be adapted for low pass filtering of the PCM signals at different sampling frequencies.

Abstract: Solid state imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of photoelectric elements disposed in arrays, where picture elements of odd number horizontal lines and those of even number horizontal lines are disposed shifted each other by half picture element pitch, and substantially vertical stripe shaped color filter elements are disposed repeating in horizontal direction with 11/2 pitches of the picture element, thus spatial phase of the color filter elements between neighboring horizontal lines of the picture elements differs by 180.degree., thereby enabling more effective utilization of the vertical correlation of the image.

Abstract: In a pulse width detector circuit, a high-level pulse width and a low-level pulse width of a digital signal derived by slicing an analog signal reproduced from a disc at a predetermined level are independently measured and maximum or minimum values thereof in a predetermined time interval are stored, and an average value, sum or difference of the maximum or minimum high-level pulse width and the maximum or minimum low-level pulse width is calculated to detect a correct pulse width of original data recorded on the disc.

Abstract: A PCM recorder includes an A/D converter for converting an analog signal to a digital signal, an interleave unit for pseudo-randomizing the digital signal by rearranging on time base, a video tape recorder for recording the pseudo-randomized digital signal on a video tape, and a control circuit for controlling the interleave unit and the video tape recorder in a synchronized manner. Since the video tape recorder and the interleave unit are synchronously controlled, discontinuity of data at the joint of recording can be prevented even if recording is paused and restarted.

Abstract: Solid state area imaging apparatus consisting of a X-Y addressed photodiode array, a p-s conversion area and an output CCD register. In this apparatus, stored signal charges in the photodiode array are read out a line at a time into column lines during a horizontal blanking period. Then, signal charges or charges corresponding to the signal charges are transferred into the corresponding positions of the output CCD register and read out therefrom during a horizontal scanning period to produce a video signal.

Abstract: Digital data units representative of analog audio signal are constructed into a data unit sequence with an error detection code being added to each of the data units for detecting coding errors within the data unit, and data synchronizing signals are inserted one for every predetermined interval of the data unit sequence to constitute a PCM data sequence, which is recorded and reproduced. The number of times of coding errors detected within the data unit by the error detection code during the time period between one data synchronizing signal and the next following data synchronizing signal is monitored and when the number exceeds a first predetermined count, the audio output is muted, and when the number decreases below a second predetermined count which is much smaller than the first predetermined count, the muting mode of the audio output is released to prevent the noise output.

Abstract: Three sets of light receivers are arranged on the turn table of a phonograph record player. The light radiated on the turn table is received and introduced to light receiving elements for conversion into a pulse signal. When a 30-cm record is placed on the turn table, the three sets of light receivers are all converted and fail to produce a pluse signal. When a 25-cm record is placed on the turn table, the first set of light receivers are exposed; while when a 17-cm record is placed on the turn table, the first and second sets of light receivers are exposed. The number of pulses produced from the light receiving elements is counted, thus determining the size of the record placed on the turn table.

Abstract: Novel 1-phthalazone derivatives of the following formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are as defined in claim 1, and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof; a process for production thereof; a pharmaceutical composition containing said compound; and a method for treating a thrombotic disease using said compound.