Abstract: A heating cooking apparatus includes a heating cooking chamber (100A) and an air sending unit (14). The heating cooking chamber (100A) accommodates an object to be heated. The air sending unit (14) supplies hot air (F1) to the heating cooking chamber (100A). The air sending unit (14) includes a suction hole portion (14D) positioned on a predetermined side of the heating cooking chamber (100A) and a blow-out hole portion (14C) positioned on the predetermined side. The air sending unit (14) suctions air inside the heating cooking chamber (100A) through the suction hole portion (14D) and blows air into the heating cooking chamber (100A) through the blow-out hole portion (14C).

Abstract: A flush water tank apparatus has a reservoir tank, a discharge valve, a discharge valve hydraulic drive portion configured to drive the discharge valve, and a discharge/vacuum break valve device configured to supply the water supplied from the upstream side to the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion on a downstream side. The discharge valve hydraulic drive portion includes a cylinder, and a piston configured to be moved by a pressure of the water flowing into the cylinder to move the discharge valve. The discharge/vacuum break valve device includes a valve body that operates to discharge the water flowing backward from the discharge valve hydraulic drive portion while opening the upstream side to an atmosphere when the supply of the water from the upstream side is stopped.

Abstract: An electronic appliance has a video camera for picking up an image of a user of the electronic appliance. The user's image is displayed on a display of the electronic appliance. To adjust the size of the user's image on the display, a measurement zone having a first area is defined on the display. The user holds his or her hand so that the hand is displayed on the measurement zone. A control information determination unit or a CPU generates information indicative of the ratio of the area of the hand in the measurement zone to the area of the measurement zone. According to the generated information, the CPU controls an image adjuster that optimizes the size and position of the user's image on the display.

Abstract: An apparatus includes sound sensors for converting sounds into electric signals. An angular position of a sound source of a first sound wave as seen from the apparatus is determined on the basis of moments of arrival of the first sound wave at the respective sound sensors which are represented by the electric signals. An angular position of a sound source of a second sound wave as seen from the apparatus is determined on the basis of moments of arrival of the second sound wave at the respective sound sensors which are represented by the electric signals. Calculation is given of a relative angle between the determined angular position of the sound source of the first sound wave and the determined angular position of the sound source of the second sound wave. A condition of the apparatus is controlled in response to the calculated relative angle.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes detectors that are assigned to detection zones defined on a display. The detection zones correspond to push buttons that are arranged in an operation menu displayed on the display. Each of the detectors includes a temporal difference filter. The temporal difference filter includes a detection zone image memory, a peripheral zone image memory, a subtracter, and a motion quantity calculator. The detection zone image memory stores an image of the corresponding detection zone. The peripheral zone image memory stores an image of a peripheral detection zone defined around the corresponding detection zone. The subtracter finds a difference between the image stored in the peripheral zone image memory and a present image of the peripheral detection zone. According to the difference, the motion quantity calculator calculates first data representative of the size of an object that is present in the peripheral detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electronic appliance having a display is provided. A plurality of control buttons are displayed on the display. An operator in front of the display is photographed with a video camera and is displayed on the display. The operator holds his or her hand to specify one of the control buttons on the display. The control buttons are provided with numbers or marks according to the order of priority. A feature detector of the apparatus detects various features from the photographed image. According to the features, a controller of the apparatus selects one of the control buttons on which the hand of the operator is superimposed and carries out an operation corresponding to the selected control button with respect to the electronic appliance.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes a microphone which detects a clapping sound, an edge signal extractor, an edge pulse generator and a judgment processing circuit. The judgment processing circuit generates a first gate having a first time width to detect whether or not a second clapping sound has been generated after elapse of a first predetermined time from a first time when the microphone detects a first clapping sound and the edge pulse generator generates the first edge pulse corresponding to the first clapping sound. Subsequently, the judgment processing circuit generates a second gate having a second time width to detect whether or not a third clapping sound has been generated after elapse of a second predetermined time from a second time when the edge pulse generator generates the second edge pulse corresponding to the second clapping sound.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes a display. A screen of the display on which an image from a video camera is displayed is divided horizontally by N and vertically by M, to define a plurality of detection zones. A detection unit of the electronic appliance includes detectors assigned to the detection zones, respectively. In response to a motion conducted by an operator, the detectors generate first detection signals. From the first detection signals, a signal generator of the electronic appliance generates second detection signals. Each of the second detection signals is accumulated. If any one of the cumulative values exceeds a threshold, a flag is set. A plurality of detectors including the detector related to the flag-set cumulative value are chosen to receive timing pulses from a timing pulse generator.

Abstract: An edge signal extractor generates an edge signal according to a sound wave generated for controlling the electronic appliance. According to the edge signal, an edge pulse generator generates an edge pulse. If a predetermined number of such edge signals are generated, a controller displays, on a display of the electronic appliance, one of menu images associated with control operations of the electronic appliance in an active state. The controller alternately displays, in an active state, the menu images on the display at predetermined intervals. When the edge pulse is generated, the controller carries out the control operation associated with the presently displayed menu image with respect to an electronic appliance.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes a speaker which outputs a first sound wave based on a first voice signal generated from the electronic appliance, and a microphone to detect a second sound wave on which a sound wave generated for control of the electronic appliance is superimposed to output a second voice signal. A first waveform generator generates a first waveform signal based on the first voice signal, and a second waveform generator generates a second waveform signal based on the second voice signal. A waveform shaping unit outputs a third waveform signal in which the first waveform signal is enlarged in a time axis direction, and a subtracter subtracts the third waveform signal from the second waveform signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes sound sensors for converting sounds into electric signals. An angular position of a sound source of a first sound wave as seen from the apparatus is determined on the basis of moments of arrival of the first sound wave at the respective sound sensors which are represented by the electric signals. An angular position of a sound source of a second sound wave as seen from the apparatus is determined on the basis of moments of arrival of the second sound wave at the respective sound sensors which are represented by the electric signals. Calculation is given of a relative angle between the determined angular position of the sound source of the first sound wave and the determined angular position of the sound source of the second sound wave. A condition of the apparatus is controlled in response to the calculated relative angle.

Abstract: A video camera picks up an image of an operator. The picked-up image is subjected to a mirror image conversion. An image for operation, including operation buttons and the operator's image that is subjected to the mirror image conversion are mixed and displayed on a screen of a television receiver. The operator selects a desired operation button by using a universal remote controller with light emitting portions, and executes the operation on the screen. A detecting portion in the television receiver detects which operation button is operated, and executes a control operation corresponding to the operated operation button.

Abstract: A controller controls an electronic appliance. The electronic appliance has a display. The controller employs a video camera to photograph an image of a user and converts the image into a mirror image. The controller generates an operational image including operation buttons, overlays the operational image on the user's image, and displays the images on the display. In the displayed images, the user moves his or her hand onto one of the displayed operation buttons and bends the fingers of the hand to select the operation button. This selecting operation is detected by a detector of the controller, and information about the selected operation button is supplied to a processing unit, which outputs control signals corresponding to the selected operation button.

Abstract: An edge signal extractor generates an edge signal according to a sound wave generated for controlling the electronic appliance. According to the edge signal, an edge pulse generator generates an edge pulse. If a predetermined number of such edge signals are generated, a controller displays, on a display of the electronic appliance, one of menu images associated with control operations of the electronic appliance in an active state. The controller alternately displays, in an active state, the menu images on the display at predetermined intervals. When the edge pulse is generated, the controller carries out the control operation associated with the presently displayed menu image with respect to an electronic appliance.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes a microphone which detects a clapping sound, an edge signal extractor, an edge pulse generator and a judgment processing circuit. The judgment processing circuit generates a first gate having a first time width to detect whether or not a second clapping sound has been generated after elapse of a first predetermined time from a first time when the microphone detects a first clapping sound and the edge pulse generator generates the first edge pulse corresponding to the first clapping sound. Subsequently, the judgment processing circuit generates a second gate having a second time width to detect whether or not a third clapping sound has been generated after elapse of a second predetermined time from a second time when the edge pulse generator generates the second edge pulse corresponding to the second clapping sound.

Abstract: An electronic appliance has a video camera for picking up an image of a user of the electronic appliance. The user's image is displayed on a display of the electronic appliance. To adjust the size of the user's image on the display, a measurement zone having a first area is defined on the display. The user holds his or her hand so that the hand is displayed on the measurement zone. A control information determination unit or a CPU generates information indicative of the ratio of the area of the hand in the measurement zone to the area of the measurement zone. According to the generated information, the CPU controls an image adjuster that optimizes the size and position of the user's image on the display.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an electronic appliance having a display is provided. A plurality of control buttons are displayed on the display. An operator in front of the display is photographed with a video camera and is displayed on the display. The operator holds his or her hand to specify one of the control buttons on the display. The control buttons are provided with numbers or marks according to the order of priority. A feature detector of the apparatus detects various features from the photographed image. According to the features, a controller of the apparatus selects one of the control buttons on which the hand of the operator is superimposed and carries out an operation corresponding to the selected control button with respect to the electronic appliance.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes detectors that are assigned to detection zones defined on a display. The detection zones correspond to push buttons that are arranged in an operation menu displayed on the display. Each of the detectors includes a temporal difference filter. The temporal difference filter includes a detection zone image memory, a peripheral zone image memory, a subtracter, and a motion quantity calculator. The detection zone image memory stores an image of the corresponding detection zone. The peripheral zone image memory stores an image of a peripheral detection zone defined around the corresponding detection zone. The subtracter finds a difference between the image stored in the peripheral zone image memory and a present image of the peripheral detection zone. According to the difference, the motion quantity calculator calculates first data representative of the size of an object that is present in the peripheral detection zone.

Abstract: An electronic appliance includes a speaker which outputs a first sound wave based on a first voice signal generated from the electronic appliance, and a microphone to detect a second sound wave on which a sound wave generated for control of the electronic appliance is superimposed to output a second voice signal. A first waveform generator generates a first waveform signal based on the first voice signal, and a second waveform generator generates a second waveform signal based on the second voice signal. A waveform shaping unit outputs a third waveform signal in which the first waveform signal is enlarged in a time axis direction, and a subtracter subtracts the third waveform signal from the second waveform signal.

Abstract: A high-definition luminance signal Y1 is converted into a luminance signal Y2 of a rate (subpixel sampling rate) corresponding to the number of subpixels in the horizontal direction on a display by a subpixel number-of-pixel converter. The luminance signal Y1 is converted into a luminance signal Y3 of a sampling rate of the display by a number-of-pixels-in-pixel-units converter. The luminance signal Y2 and the luminance signal Y3 are mixed by a mixer, and a luminance signal having a frequency characteristic located between a frequency characteristic of the luminance signal Y2 and a frequency characteristic of the luminance signal Y3 is output. A mixing rate of the mixer is controlled according to a control value that is generated by an image feature detecting portion.