Abstract: An energy management apparatus and a user interface method thereof, an electric device controlled by the energy management apparatus, and an energy management apparatus including the same are disclosed. A user interface that intuitively and simply displays a user input for controlling energy consumption of the electric device and a degree of inconvenience that a user experiences when the electric device operates according to the user input is provided to allow the user to be intuitively aware of the degree of inconvenience due to the user input, thereby enabling more intuitive user interaction.

Abstract: A power management apparatus includes a communication unit to receive power rate information from a power provider and receive power consumption information and reservation information from an electric device, and a controller to decide an operation order on the basis of power consumption information and reservation information of the electric device, perform scheduling to decide an operation start time on the basis of the power rate information and reservation information in the operation order, and control an operation time of the electric device on the basis of the scheduling result. As a result, the power management apparatus performs optimum scheduling of an electric device using power rate information provided from the power provider, and power consumption information and reservation information of the electric device, resulting in an increase in user satisfaction.

Abstract: A power management system includes a smart socket to meter power consumption of an electric device by connecting to the electric device, and be assigned a code, a power management apparatus to display a code image when a registration mode of the smart socket is performed, and a terminal to acquire a code image of the power management apparatus and a code image of the smart socket, receive information of an electric device to be coupled to the smart socket, read the acquired code images of the power management apparatus and the smart socket, pair the read power management apparatus and the smart socket code with the electric device information, and transmit the paired information to the power management apparatus. Users of all ages and dexterity can easily register, change, and release the smart socket and the electric device, such that user efficiency and accessibility are increased.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a light focusing element arranged to face a disk and to focus light emitted from a light source on the disk, an actuator to move the light focusing element towards and away from the disk according to an actuator driving voltage, a light intensity detection unit to detect an intensity of light reflected by the light focusing element and generate a gap error signal based on the detected intensity, a servo unit to generate the actuator driving voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage based on the gap error signal generated by the light intensity detection unit and to provide the actuator driving voltage to the actuator, a distance detection unit to detect a first distance at which the actuator driving voltage is maintained when the threshold voltage is detected using the gap error signal and to detect a second distance at which a gap between the light focusing element and the disk is shorter than the first distance and at which a gap servo operation is started based on the

Abstract: A power management apparatus includes an electric device including a plurality of operation algorithm information and power information for each operation level corresponding to each operation algorithm information, and a power management unit to receive power rate information from a power provider, determine an operation level of the electric device on the basis of the received power rate information and power information for each operation level of the electric device, and control an operation of the electric device at the determined operation level. As a result, the power management apparatus performs different operation algorithms according to power rate information, and controls power consumption of the electric device, such that energy efficiency at the user side can be maximized. In response to the changed power rate information, the currently-driven electric device and the electric device to be driven can be driven at the optimum operation level appropriate for their power consumption characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling operations of a controlled devices in a network including a control device and at least one controlled device are provided. The method includes: receiving information about a device usage history of a user for the at least one controlled device from the at least one controlled device; setting an optimum power consumption level corresponding to the controlled device from among a plurality of power consumption levels classified based on power consumption of the controlled device, based on the received information about the device usage history and information about time-based price; and controlling operations of the controlled device based on the set optimum power consumption level.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus, and a method of driving the same, includes a light focusing element disposed to focus light emitted from a light source onto a disc; an actuator to move the light focusing element toward or away from the disc according to a voltage applied to the actuator; a light intensity detection unit to detect the intensity of light reflected from the disc; a servo unit to generate a gap error signal and a third voltage, the third voltage being the sum of a first voltage and a second voltage, and to apply the generated third voltage to the actuator; and a control unit to control the servo unit to perform a gap pull-in operation when the light focusing element is moved toward the disc according to the gap error signal and the third voltage.

Abstract: A method of controlling operations of a participating controlled device in a network that includes a control device and the participating controlled device, the method including: receiving operation limiting information from the participating controlled device, the operation limiting information including combinations of allowed operations from among a plurality of operations that the participating controlled device is capable of performing, and power consumption levels that are relative amounts of power consumption of the combinations of allowed operations; setting a power consumption level corresponding to the participating controlled device, from among the power consumption levels, based on information regarding time-based price and the operation limiting information; and controlling the operations of the participating controlled device based on the set power consumption level.

Abstract: A gap pull-in method and an optical disc apparatus. Whether light condensed on a disc as an actuator ascends is near-field light is determined using a gap error signal. The range of an actuator driving voltage value during a section where the decrease rate of the gap error signal is constant is obtained when it is determined that the light condensed on the disc is near-field light. Gap pull-in is performed on the disc during a section where the actuator driving voltage value is within the obtained range.

Abstract: A focusing control method of an optical information storage media recording and/or reproduction apparatus controlling a focusing operation by moving an objective lens upwards or downwards in a direction towards or away from an optical information storage medium having a plurality of data layers includes receiving a focusing lead-in command signal to focus an optical beam on a target data layer, compensating for spherical aberration with respect to the target data layer, detecting a focus error signal based on an intensity of the optical beam reflected from the optical information storage medium and condensed by an optical detector, identifying the target data layer using an amplitude or a frequency of the focus error signal, and focusing the optical beam on the target data layer by moving the objective lens in an opposite direction from a direction in which the objective lens is initially moved.

Abstract: A near field optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes a light source, an objective lens to form a spot by focusing light emitted from the light source, a solid immersion lens to generate an evanescent wave by using the spot formed by the objective lens, a photodetector to measure an amplitude of a gap error signal that is totally reflected by the solid immersion lens, and an operating unit to generate a normalized gap error signal by using an amplitude of a driving signal applied to the light source and the amplitude of the gap error signal measured by the photodetector.

Abstract: A signal quality measuring apparatus includes a binary signal generating unit to generate a binary signal from an input signal; a level information extracting unit to extract level information from a relationship between the input signal and the binary signal using at least two window lengths; and a quality calculating unit to calculate a quality of the input signal based on the level information.

Abstract: In a near-field optical recording/reproducing system and a method of controlling a tilt, the near-field optical recording/reproducing system includes: a light source; an objective lens to focus light emitted from the light source to transmit near-field light to an information storage medium; a PD (photodetector) to receive a portion of the light that is transmitted from the objective lens to the information storage medium and is reflected from the information storage medium, to detect a GES (gap error signal) used for controlling an air gap formed between the objective lens and the information storage medium; a signal processor/determiner to obtain an edge voltage using the GES detected by the PD and determine a tilt control point using the edge voltage; and an adjuster to control a relative tilt between the objective lens and the information storage medium in the tilt control position.

Abstract: A near field optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes a light source, an objective lens to form a spot by focusing light emitted from the light source, a solid immersion lens to generate an evanescent wave by using the spot formed by the objective lens, a photodetector to measure an amplitude of a gap error signal that is totally reflected by the solid immersion lens, and an operating unit to generate a normalized gap error signal by using an amplitude of a driving signal applied to the light source and the amplitude of the gap error signal measured by the photodetector.

Abstract: A gap pull-in method and an optical disc apparatus. Whether light condensed on a disc as an actuator ascends is near-field light is determined using a gap error signal. The range of an actuator driving voltage value during a section where the decrease rate of the gap error signal is constant is obtained when it is determined that the light condensed on the disc is near-field light. Gap pull-in is performed on the disc during a section where the actuator driving voltage value is within the obtained range.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mouse device in which an audio signal supplied from a computer or the like is regenerated through a mouse body itself. The mouse device includes a body housing a click button positioned on an upper side thereof for operating the mouse device, and a mouse module installed therein for processing a sensing signal according to the movement thereof and a click signal generated by clicking the click button and then inputting the signals to an external computer; and an exciter attached to one side of the body housing for applying a corresponding sound wave to the body housing when an audio signal is applied thereto so that the body housing is substantially vibrated to regenerate sound. This mouse device may generate sound through the mouse body itself though there is not equipped any external speaker.

Abstract: An optical disc apparatus, and a method of driving the same, includes a light focusing element disposed to focus light emitted from a light source onto a disc; an actuator to move the light focusing element toward or away from the disc according to a voltage applied to the actuator; a light intensity detection unit to detect the intensity of light reflected from the disc ; a servo unit to generate a gap error signal and a third voltage, the third voltage being the sum of a first voltage and a second voltage, and to apply the generated third voltage to the actuator; and a control unit to control the servo unit to perform a gap pull-in operation when the light focusing element is moved toward the disc according to the gap error signal and the third voltage.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes a light focusing element arranged to face a disk and to focus light emitted from a light source on the disk, an actuator to move the light focusing element towards and away from the disk according to an actuator driving voltage, a light intensity detection unit to detect an intensity of light reflected by the light focusing element and generate a gap error signal based on the detected intensity, a servo unit to generate the actuator driving voltage and a predetermined threshold voltage based on the gap error signal generated by the light intensity detection unit and to provide the actuator driving voltage to the actuator, a distance detection unit to detect a first distance at which the actuator driving voltage is maintained when the threshold voltage is detected using the gap error signal and to detect a second distance at which a gap between the light focusing element and the disk is shorter than the first distance and at which a gap servo operation is started based on the

Abstract: A near-field optical disk apparatus, which can perform stable focus pull-in even when overshoot occurs, and a focus pull-in method, of which the method includes: raising an actuator, and monitoring and determining whether light focused on a disk is near-field light; holding or storing a driving voltage of the actuator if the light focused on the disk is the near-field light; raising the actuator, and determining a maximum driving voltage of the actuator; and performing focus pull-in while lowering the actuator in an interval where a driving voltage of the actuator is between the maximum driving voltage and the held or stored driving voltage.