Abstract: Access point pictures designated as randomly accessible positions are I pictures or P pictures. Information indicating the decoding sequence (I1, P1, B1, B2, B3, B4, P2, . . . ) of pictures functioning as access points and attribute information (picture_type) indicating whether a picture functions as an access point or is necessary for decoding of the access point following a given access point are recorded on the video information recording medium. Random access is possible even if the GOP interval is lengthened.

Abstract: During a soft start period at the time of startup, a PWM control is carried out. After the soft start period ends, the PWM control is converted into a frequency control, so that stress of a switching element is suppressed and the audible oscillation frequency is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a switching power supply device having high power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A recording medium (100) for a reservation of video recording of a program holds encoded compressed video information (1531) related to the program, a reservation set command (331) for setting a reservation of the program, and program attribute information (323) including at least a video recording reservation start date and time. When a viewer makes a selection to set a reservation of video recording while watching a preview video (200) based on the encoded compressed video information of the recording medium in a video recording/reproducing apparatus, the video recording/reproducing apparatus acquires the program attribute information (332) in accordance with the reservation set command (331) in the recording medium (100), thereby setting a reservation of video recording.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing device in which energy saving characteristics and responsiveness are balanced. An image reproducing device according to this invention includes an operation-state-information acquisition unit for obtaining operation-state information of a display device for displaying the reproduced image signal, an operation input unit for inputting an operation command to operate the image reproducing device, and a mode setting unit for setting a mode for supplying electric power to the image reproducing device according to the operation-state information.

Abstract: A stereoscopic video viewing limiter extracts factor information related to different factors affecting a viewer of a stereoscopic video display from a video signal, generates corresponding effect coefficients representing the degree of effect on the viewer, integrates the effect coefficients as the viewer watches the stereoscopic video image, compares the integrated values with respective thresholds determined according to the viewer's tolerances for each of the factors, and generates a viewing limitation signal when the tolerances are exceeded. The viewing limitation signal is used to limit viewing to a two-dimensional video image instead of the stereoscopic video image. When several viewers watch the same stereoscopic video display, separate viewing limitation signals are generated, tailored to the viewers' individual stereoscopic viewing tolerances, permitting each viewer to enjoy the stereoscopic video display as long as possible without adverse effects.

Abstract: In a reproducing apparatus capable of displaying text subtitles in synchronization with an AV stream, before the AV stream is reproduced, text subtitle streams and font information are read into a preload buffer section (122, 123) in a sequence determined by a priority language setting section (131), and subtitle images are generated from the text subtitle streams and font information and displayed overlaid on the image information of the AV stream. Even if a preload buffer section with a small memory size is used, when the text subtitle language is switched, the text subtitle display can be switched smoothly, with little likelihood of interrupting the audio-video display.

Abstract: During a soft start period at the time of startup, a PWM control is carried out. After the soft start period ends, the PWM control is converted into a frequency control, so that stress of a switching element is suppressed and the audible oscillation frequency is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a switching power supply device having high power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: During a soft start period at the time of startup, a PWM control is carried out. After the soft start period ends, the PWM control is converted into a frequency control, so that stress of a switching element is suppressed and the audible oscillation frequency is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a switching power supply device having high power conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A constant current power supply apparatus is provided which can drive a load with a constant current, even if the circuit configuration is such that a time delay is generated in the feedback control of a converter, or the like. An FB period restricting circuit including an ON generation circuit, OR circuit, inverter, and PMOS restricts the period during which an FB signal is fed back, to the logical sum of the ON period of an SW signal for driving an LED array on and a replenishment period generated by the OR circuit based on the SW signal. An FB signal generation circuit including a differential amplifier, NMOS, reference voltage, capacitor, and shunt regulator generates, in the replenishment period other than the ON period of the SW signal, an FB signal corresponding to an output current having flown through the LED array during the ON period of the SW signal.

Abstract: To play back an optical disk requiring network connection, a playback device is provided, which has a function by which the network condition is evaluated before playing back a title. The playback device plays back the optical disk including programs connecting through the network to data-supplying sources; the playback device determines whether or not the network circuit is available; and when the network connection is not available depending on a network connection status or its memory amount, the playback device plays back with a non-network-ready mode.

Abstract: A portable recording medium (100) stores video contents and icon information relating to an icon picture associated with the video contents and indicative of an operation mode corresponding to user operation of the recording medium reproducing apparatus (1). The recording medium reproducing apparatus (1) includes an image display plane (8) which is a frame memory area used for displaying video data of the video contents stored in the portable recording medium (100); a memory (15, 16) which stores the icon information stored in the portable recording medium (100); an OSD plane (18) which is a frame memory area used for displaying the icon picture on the basis of the icon information stored in the memory (15, 16); and a synthesizing device (10) which synthesizes the data held in the video display plane (8) and the data held in the information display plane (18), thereby outputting a superimposed video signal.

Abstract: A switching power source apparatus has a controller generating a drive signal that controls an ON/OFF period of a switching element 3. The controller includes a load tester for testing the switching power source apparatus when detecting an edge of the drive signal after the switching element is switched from ON to OFF, a bottom detector of the switching element during an OFF period thereof, a bottom skip state tester, and a bottom skip operation tester carrying out a pseudo resonant operation that turns on the switching element at a first minimum voltage point if the apparatus is in a heavy load state, and if the apparatus is in the light load state and if the bottom skip state has continued for a first predetermined time, shift the pseudo resonant operation to a bottom skip operation.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a transformer that has a primary winding and a secondary winding; a switching element connected to the primary winding of the transformer; a control circuit that controls the switching element to be turned on/off in a case where a voltage is inputted to the primary winding of the transformer, and thereby induces a voltage in the secondary winding of the transformer; and a rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes the voltage induced in the secondary winding of the transformer, and outputs the rectified and smoothed voltage to a load.

Abstract: A switching power supply device includes: a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding; a switching element connected to the primary winding of the transformer; a control circuit that performs an ON/OFF control for the switching element in a case where a voltage is inputted to the primary winding of the transformer, thereby induces voltages in the secondary winding and auxiliary winding of the transformer; a rectifying/smoothing circuit for rectifying and smoothing the voltage induced in the secondary winding of the transformer and outputting the voltage to a load; an auxiliary power supply circuit that rectifies and smoothes the voltage induced in the auxiliary winding of the transformer, and charges a capacitor owned by the auxiliary power supply circuit with the voltage to thereby supply power to the control circuit; and a starting circuit that supplies a current to the capacitor of the auxiliary power supply circuit in a case of starting the control circuit and in a

Abstract: To play back an optical disk requiring network connection, a playback device is provided, which has a function by which the network condition is evaluated before playing back a title. The playback device plays back the optical disk including programs connecting through the network to data-supplying sources; the playback device determines whether or not the network circuit is available; and when the network connection is not available depending on a network connection status or its memory amount, the playback device plays back with a non-network-ready mode.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide an image reproducing device in which energy saving characteristics and responsiveness are balanced. An image reproducing device according to this invention includes an operation-state-information acquisition unit for obtaining operation-state information of a display device for displaying the reproduced image signal, an operation input unit for inputting an operation command to operate the image reproducing device, and a mode setting unit for setting a mode for supplying electric power to the image reproducing device according to the operation-state information.

Abstract: In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream (231) including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.

Abstract: In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream (231) including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.

Abstract: In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream (231) including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed.

Abstract: A differential signal generator circuit includes: a first amplifier for comparing an input signal with a threshold voltage and outputting differential signals; and a second amplifier for adjusting the threshold voltage in response to the differential signals. The second amplifier includes: a first transistor and a second transistor forming a differential pair, the gate of each transistor receiving a respective one of the differential signals; a third transistor and a fourth transistor forming a current mirror, the third transistor being connected between the drain of the first transistor and a reference potential point, the fourth transistor being connected between the drain of the second transistor and the reference potential point; a current source connected to the sources of the first and second transistors; and an adjusting section for adjusting drain current of the first transistor in response to an externally applied current or voltage.