Abstract: A swallowing movement measuring device measures an examinee's swallowing movement. The device measures a movement of the examinee's larynx when the examinee swallows a food bolus. This device has a capacitive sensor to be brought into contact with a body skin of the examinee's laryngeal part, and a measuring unit that measures a change of the capacitive sensor in capacitance. This capacitive sensor includes a sensor body comprising sheet-like dielectric layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The first and the second electrode layers are formed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the dielectric layer respectively, and are at least partially opposed to each other across the dielectric layer. The partially opposed portions of the electrode layers constitute a detection portion. The sensor body is reversibly deformable to change areas of the top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus may include a decoder that decodes a compressed audio stream encoded by a predetermined codec, a signal processing unit that applies predetermined signal processing to an audio stream obtained by decoding the compressed audio stream with the decoder, a first acquisition unit that acquires at least one of information described in a header of the compressed audio stream and management information for contents including the compressed audio stream, a setting unit that discriminates, on the basis of the information, a type of the codec used for the encode of the compressed audio stream and sets a codec used for encode of the audio stream, and an encoder that encodes, in accordance with the setting by the setting unit, the audio stream subjected to the signal processing by the signal processing unit and outputs the audio stream to an external apparatus that has a decoder.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device having a compact structure. A recovery unit (17) is configured such that dust collection boxes (76, 77) are disposed with respect to a cleaning brush (6) and a metallic roller (7), respectively. A cleaning blade (9) is fixed to a blade holder (79) via a bolt (78). When the recovery unit (17) is incorporated in a frame unit, the recovery unit (17) is moved in a predetermined direction so as to be brought into contact with a positioning section (14Bbb) of a side plate 14B of the frame unit (11). When the recovery unit (17) is moved, a fixing bolt (85) is loosened so that a straight portion (86a) of a fixed washer (86) is aligned with the vertical direction, and then, the fixing bolt (85) is tightened so that the recovery unit is fixed.

Abstract: Provided is a cleaning device having a compact structure. A recovery unit (17) is configured such that dust collection boxes (76, 77) are disposed with respect to a cleaning brush (6) and a metallic roller (7), respectively. A cleaning blade (9) is fixed to a blade holder (79) via a bolt (78). When the recovery unit (17) is incorporated in a frame unit, the recovery unit (17) is moved in a predetermined direction so as to be brought into contact with a positioning section (14Bbb) of a side plate 14B of the frame unit (11). When the recovery unit (17) is moved, a fixing bolt (85) is loosened so that a straight portion (86a) of a fixed washer (86) is aligned with the vertical direction, and then, the fixing bolt (85) is tightened so that the recovery unit is fixed.

Abstract: The invention provides a 1,3,5-tris(diarylamino)benzene represented by the general formula (I) in which R1 to R6 are each independently a group which is represented by the general formula (II) wherein R is independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group of 5 or 6 carbon atoms, m is 2, 3, 4 or 5, and n is 0, 1 or 2, provided that at least one of R1 to R6 is independently a group represented by the general formula (II) wherein R is an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group of 5 or 6 carbon atoms, m is 2, 3, 4 or 5, and n is 0, 1 or 2.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus capable of accurately detecting commercials included in a television broadcast. A commercial candidate section detector detects a commercial candidate section based on the characteristics of transitions between a program and a commercial and based on the characteristics of commercials. Transitional criteria include quiet sections, scene change points and changes in the audio multiplex mode. A commercial block detector detects a commercial block, which is composed of a plurality of commercial sections and is interposed between program portions, in conformity with the number of frames of the individual commercial candidate sections detected by the commercial candidate section detector, and then outputs to a switch a control signal based on the result of such commercial block detection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique relating to a PDP and capable of canceling or reducing luminance unevenness due to voltage drop or the like. In a structure of the PDP, for example, two types of cells different in discharge timing are arranged in a zigzag manner on a screen. For example, the two types of cells have different discharge gap lengths because of a difference in areas and lengths of projections of electrodes of the respective cells. By the dispersion of discharge timings of cells, the voltage drop or the like is reduced. The design characteristic obtained by the arrangement pattern is superimposed on panel manufacture characteristic, whereby luminance unevenness is cancelled or reduced in display characteristic.

Abstract: A PDP comprises an X electrode and a Y electrode forming a display electrode pair, and an address electrode. Upon a reset discharge for forming charges to all of a plurality of cells, the X electrode becomes a cathode and the Y electrode becomes an anode. On the other hand, upon a sustain discharge for forming a display image, the X electrode and the Y electrode alternately becomes the cathode or the anode so as to repeatedly perform discharges. Here, a distribution of visible light transmissivity inside a cell of a front surface substrate structure has a first region and a second region having a higher visible light transmissivity than the first region, and the first region includes a region superposed with an X transparent electrode in the thickness direction, and the second region includes a region superposed with a Y transparent electrode in the thickness direction.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus may include a decoder that decodes a compressed audio stream encoded by a predetermined codec, a signal processing unit that applies predetermined signal processing to an audio stream obtained by decoding the compressed audio stream with the decoder, a first acquisition unit that acquires at least one of information described in a header of the compressed audio stream and management information for contents including the compressed audio stream, a setting unit that discriminates, on the basis of the information, a type of the codec used for the encode of the compressed audio stream and sets a codec used for encode of the audio stream, and an encoder that encodes, in accordance with the setting by the setting unit, the audio stream subjected to the signal processing by the signal processing unit and outputs the audio stream to an external apparatus that has a decoder.

Abstract: A plasma display panel includes: a front substrate having a sustain electrode and a scan electrode for causing surface discharge, and a first dielectric layer which covers the sustain electrode and the scan electrode; a rear substrate having an address electrode extending across the sustain electrode and the scan electrode, and a second dielectric layer which covers the address electrode; a partition wall disposed in a discharge space defined between the front substrate and the rear substrate combined together and partitioning the discharge space; and a fluorescent layer covering a side surface of the partition wall and the second dielectric layer; wherein the second dielectric layer has a light absorbing function, and the partition wall has a light transmitting function. The plasma display panel ensures higher brightness and higher contrast.

Abstract: By reducing the number of seek operations in an operation to play back a signal from a recording medium, the amount of data temporarily stored in a read buffer memory employed in a signal recording/playback apparatus is large enough to be output as a playback signal during a seek operation, allowing a continuous playback operation to be carried out. In order to reduce the number of seek operations, a signal is always recorded onto the recording medium in continuous free areas each having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined recording/playback time length which is typically set at 1 minute. If it is necessary to insert an additional signal having a length smaller than the predetermined recording/playback time length into a point of insertion in an area already occupied by an existing signal, a continuous free area with a size equal to or larger than the predetermined recording/playback time length is newly allocated to the additional signal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for encoding input moving picture signals using a 2-pass variable bit rate system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording & playback apparatus and method for recording and playing back a video signal of a television-broadcast program and a recording medium for storing a computer-readable program for controlling the video-signal recording & playback apparatus. A video-signal recording & playback apparatus includes a detection element for detecting relevant information related to a program being recorded and a modification element for automatically modifying an algorithm of detecting a program-representing picture in dependence of the relevant information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video-signal recording and playback apparatus for recording or playing back a video signal, the video-signal recording and playback apparatus comprising: extracting means for extracting a static picture from a sequence of video signals with a predetermined timing; judgment means for forming a judgment as to whether or not a static picture extracted by the extracting means can be used as a representative picture; and setting means for setting the static picture as a representative picture in accordance with an outcome of a judgment formed by the judgment means.

Abstract: A data processing device includes a video input/output circuit for inputting an input video signal and outputting an output video signal. A detection circuit detects a first synchronizing signal in the input video signal input. Using a second synchronizing signal different from the first synchronizing signal, the video input/output circuit outputs the output video signal. The data processing device further includes a storage medium, a controller and an audio input circuit for inputting an audio signal using the second synchronizing signal. The controller controls recording of the inputted audio signal through the audio input circuit and recording of the output video signal onto the storage medium, such that the inputted audio signal and the output video signal are synchronized by the second synchronizing signal.

Abstract: By reducing the number of seek operations in an operation to play back a signal from a recording medium, the amount of data temporarily stored in a read buffer memory employed in a signal recording/playback apparatus is large enough to be output as a playback signal during a seek operation, allowing a continuous playback operation to be carried out. In order to reduce the number of seek operations, a signal is always recorded onto the recording medium in continuous free areas each having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined recording/playback time length which is typically set at 1 minute. If it is necessary to insert an additional signal having a length smaller than the predetermined recording/playback time length into a point of insertion in an area already occupied by an existing signal, a continuous free area with a size equal to or larger than the predetermined recording/playback time length is newly allocated to the additional signal.

Abstract: By reducing the number of seek operations in an operation to play back a signal from a recording medium, the amount of data temporarily stored in a read buffer memory employed in a signal recording/playback apparatus is large enough to be output as a playback signal during a seek operation, allowing a continuous playback operation to be carried out. In order to reduce the number of seek operations, a signal is always recorded onto the recording medium in continuous free areas each having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined recording/playback time length which is typically set at 1 minute. If it is necessary to insert an additional signal having a length smaller than the predetermined recording/playback time length into a point of insertion in an area already occupied by an existing signal, a continuous free area with a size equal to or larger than the predetermined recording/playback time length is newly allocated to the additional signal.

Abstract: By reducing the number of seek operations in an operation to play back a signal from a recording medium, the amount of data temporarily stored in a read buffer memory employed in a signal recording/playback apparatus is large enough to be output as a playback signal during a seek operation, allowing a continuous playback operation to be carried out. In order to reduce the number of seek operations, a signal is always recorded onto the recording medium in continuous free areas each having a size equal to or larger than a predetermined recording/playback time length which is typically set at 1 minute. If it is necessary to insert an additional signal having a length smaller than the predetermined recording/playback time length into a point of insertion in an area already occupied by an existing signal, a continuous free area with a size equal to or larger than the predetermined recording/playback time length is newly allocated to the additional signal.