Abstract: An information processing apparatus and method for enabling efficient content download and transfer processing operations are provided. In downloading content, a content identifier thereof is acquired, a particular piece of content subject to transfer to an external device is identified on the basis of the acquired content identifier, the identified content is retrieved from a data storage block, and the retrieved content is transferred to the external device or written to an information recording medium, so that the processing of content downloading, the processing of content transfer to an external device and content writing to an information recording medium such as CD can be executed as a sequence of processing operations, thereby providing significantly efficient content download and content transfer or content write processing operations.

Abstract: Recording peripheral image information by an electronic apparatus only when illegal use of the apparatus is determined to minimize resources and simplifying recording. The electronic apparatus includes a first memory storing a parameter representing at least one condition for the illegal use of the apparatus and a control unit for storing in a second memory image information by a photographing device that photographed a user of the apparatus after the conditions are satisfied. The control unit controls the output of the image information stored in the second memory through an output direction and directs a BIOS setup program to read out the parameter in the first memory and record the image information into the second memory and directs an operating system or an application program running on the apparatus to set and alter the parameter in the first memory via an interface in the BIOS program.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an information-processing apparatus including an event-log acquisition section acquiring an event log provided by a content reproduction apparatus capable of reproducing a content as an event log including at least information identifying the content and information indicating a reproduction start date/time and reproduction end date/time of the content, an event-log analysis section deriving a reproduction start date/time and reproduction end date/time of a content reproduced by the content reproduction apparatus from the event log, a playlist generation section generating a playlist, which is to serve as a set of pieces of information each used for identifying a content reproduced during a specific period of time, on the basis of the reproduction start date/time and reproduction end date/time of the content, and a playlist transfer section transmitting the playlist to the content reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A content transferring apparatus is disclosed which includes: a source ID list reception unit for receiving a source ID list from a content reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing contents furnished with source IDs included in the source ID list; a first extraction unit for extracting from either one or a plurality of transfer-destined contents a content furnished with a source ID included in the source ID list; and a content transmission unit for transmitting the content extracted by the first extraction unit to the content reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes photoelectric conversion elements having a complementary or Bayer color filter array. The solid-state imaging element adds together electric charges stored in nine photoelectric conversion elements having color filters of one of multiple colors in each portion of six rows and six columns, to obtain a resulting electric charge, and outputs the resulting electric charge as one pixel. A portion for one of the colors deviates from a portion for each of the other colors by three rows and/or three columns. This pixel-addition operation produces an effect of a spatial low pass filter, thereby reducing signal components exceeding a Nyquist frequency corresponding to a target resolution. Consequently, aliasing noise in an image with the target resolution is reduced, and therefore higher image quality can be achieved, when compared with a conventional resolution reduction technique.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an information processing apparatus and authentication program storage medium which can prevent unauthorized use reliably at low costs. The information processing apparatus has a connection section to which a device is removably connected and performs information processing using the device connected to the connection section. It is equipped with a condition setting section which establishes insertion/removal conditions for a device inserted into the connection section; and an authentication section which determines upon start-up of the information processing apparatus whether insertion/removal of a device satisfies the insertion/removal conditions established by the condition setting sections, and permits the information processing apparatus to perform information processing if it is determined that the insertion/removal satisfies the established insertion/removal conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable information processing apparatus such as a notebook personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a “notebook PC”) which reduces the risk of information theft.

Abstract: There is provided a printer comprising: a fixed cutting edge; and a movable cutting edge that moves toward the fixed cutting edge over a predetermined cut moving range from a cut starting position to a cut ending position, thereby to cut paper in cooperation with the fixed cutting edge. In this printer, the fixed cutting edge can move between a fixed-cutting edge mount position at which it is possible to cut the paper in cooperation with the movable cutting edge and a fixed-cutting edge dismount position at which it is not possible to cut the paper in cooperation with the movable cutting edge. When the fixed cutting edge is at the fixed-cutting edge mount position, the movable cutting edge can move between a movable-cutting edge cut position, at which movement of the fixed cutting edge toward the fixed-cutting edge dismount position is not permitted, and a movable-cutting edge non-cut position, at which movement of the fixed cutting edge toward the fixed-cutting edge dismount position is permitted.

Abstract: Before stopper members (25) of a skew correcting mechanism (10) are evacuated from a sheet conveyor path, sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) rotate a set angle in a direction opposite to the sheet feeding direction such that a sheet is separated from the stopper members (25). The sheet conveyor roller pairs (8) are arranged so that at least one of the rollers of each pair is independently pressed against the other with a force corresponding to the type of the sheet.

Abstract: The invention comprises an information processing apparatus equipped with a first communication module having a wireless data communication capability, and a portable information apparatus equipped with a second communication module capable of forming a wireless communication link with the first communication module, and the information processing apparatus is configured so as to present a password entry screen only when the communication link is formed between the first and the second communication module. The first and second communication modules are Bluetooth-compatible communication modules. Unless the preregistered portable information apparatus is located near the information processing apparatus, and unless the correct password is entered, the information processing apparatus does not start up the OS. The invention can thus provide a security system, for an information processing apparatus, equipped with a double check mechanism.

Abstract: By providing a nitrogen-doped low carrier concentration layer 13 having both of a donor concentration and an acceptor concentration controlled below 1×1016/cm3 at a p-n junction portion between an n-type GaP layer 12 and a p-type GaP layer 14, the luminance of the GaP light emitting device can be improved by as much as 20 to 30% over the conventional one. Suppressing the donor concentration and the acceptor concentration in the low carrier concentration layer 13 below 1×1016/cm3 inevitably gives a carrier concentration, which is expressed as a difference between both concentrations, lower than 1×1016/cm3 accordingly. The emission efficiency upon injection of electrons or holes can be improved by suppressing the concentration of the donor which serves as non-emissive center below 1×1016/cm3 to thereby extend the carrier lifetime; and by concomitantly suppressing the carrier concentration at a level significantly lower than that in the adjacent layers 12 and 14.

Abstract: There is provided a printer comprising: a fixed cutting edge; and a movable cutting edge that moves toward the fixed cutting edge over a predetermined cut moving range from a cut starting position to a cut ending position, thereby to cut paper in cooperation with the fixed cutting edge. In this printer, the fixed cutting edge can move between a fixed-cutting edge mount position at which it is possible to cut the paper in cooperation with the movable cutting edge and a fixed-cutting edge dismount position at which it is not possible to cut the paper in cooperation with the movable cutting edge. When the fixed cutting edge is at the fixed-cutting edge mount position, the movable cutting edge can move between a movable-cutting edge cut position, at which movement of the fixed cutting edge toward the fixed-cutting edge dismount position is not permitted, and a movable-cutting edge non-cut position, at which movement of the fixed cutting edge toward the fixed-cutting edge dismount position is permitted.

Abstract: Recording of peripheral image information by an electronic apparatus is designed to be conducted only at a time when an illegal use of the apparatus is determined, whereby the consumption of the resource for the apparatus is reduced, thereby making it possible to simplify the recording.

Abstract: A disk control apparatus according to the present invention comprising a disk controller for controlling a circuit which controls read operation for reading data from a disk and a CPU for controlling the circuit and the disk controller. The disk controller comprises a buffer memory for storing data being for transferred between a host and the disk controller and a notification section for notifying the CPU that a first state in which an all buffer region of the buffer memory is stored with data to be transferred to the host transits to a second state in which a predetermined space occurs in the buffer region of the buffer memory as a result of transferring data to the host. The CPU comprises a main control section for stopping power supply to the circuit during the first state and for supplying power to the circuit in response to a notification from the notification section.

Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor includes an iron core members formed of a first core bent in a U-shape, and a second L-shaped core contacting the first core. A coil is wound around a spool disposed on an upper arm of the first core and the second core to form a main leg while a lower arm of the first core constitutes a yoke. Thus, the iron core members can be processed by a press machine operating at a normal cutting speed, and welding and polishing operations can be eliminated to thereby reduce the number of processing steps required.

Abstract: A terminal device for an electric equipment is formed of a frame having a terminal housing, a fixed terminal situated in the terminal housing, and a terminal screw having a male screw to be coupled to a tapped hole of the fixed terminal and an inverse L-shaped washer. The inverse L-shaped washer includes one side for rotatably holding the male screw and a guide plate section bent relative to the one side. A guide groove is formed in the terminal housing for receiving the guide plate section therein to vertically guide the same. Also, the terminal device includes an engagement section having a first engaging part formed on the guide plate section and a second engaging part formed at a portion facing the guide groove and engaging the first engaging part to temporarily hold the guide plate section in the guide groove. Thus, the terminal screw can be held directly above the tapped hole, which enables the male screw to be stably and easily inserted into the tapped hole, and which facilitates simple rewiring.

Abstract: A light emitting device with higher luminance than that of a conventional light emitting device is provided.

Abstract: A terminal device for connecting contacts to terminal strips fixed on respective terminal housing portions of an electrical apparatus, each of the terminal strips having a screw hole, the terminal housing portions being separated by insulating walls from one another.

Abstract: A cutter device includes, in addition to one solenoid 17, two pairs of assemblies disposed in parallel with each other in a direction of movement of a cutter 2, the first pair having a rack 5, a pinion 10, and a clutch 49 to control rotation of the pinion, and the second pair having another rack 6, another pinion 11, and another clutch 50 to control rotation of the pinion. In partial-cutting operation, the cutter 2 is moved by engaging the rack 5 in the first pair with the pinion 10 in the first pair rotated through power from the clutch 49 in the first pair. In full-cutting operation, the cutter 2 is moved by engaging the pinions 10,11 in the first and second pairs concurrently rotated through power from the clutches 49,50 in the first and second pairs with the racks 5,6 in the first and second pairs. The pinion 10 in the first pair causes the full-cutting first half movement of the cutter, and the pinion 11 in the second pair causes the full-cutting latter half movement thereof.

Abstract: A printer having a validation paper feeding mechanism in which the validation paper feed is controlled by a single solenoid and only the validation paper feed can be effected even when a cut or continuous paper is set. A ratchet wheel and a validation roller are mounted on the rotatable shaft via a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch selectively transmits a torque of the rotatable shaft to the validation roller in the direction of the validation paper feed. The validation roller has an arcuate circumferential surface for feeding the validation paper and a chord flat surface for inserting the validation paper. The armature is angularly moved between a first position where it engages the positioning projection of the ratchet wheel for determining an initial position of the validation roller and a second position where it engages the pawls of the ratchet wheel for stopping the validation roller at a plurality of predetermined positions.