Abstract: Ultraviolet light incident from the side of a surface layer 5 passes through the surface layer 5 to reach an optical absorption layer 4. Light which reaches the optical absorption layer 4 is absorbed within the optical absorption layer 4, and photoelectrons are generated within the optical absorption layer 4. Photoelectrons diffuse within the optical absorption layer 4, and reach the interface between the optical absorption layer 4 and the surface layer 5. Because the energy band is curved in the vicinity of the interface between the optical absorption layer 4 and surface layer 5, the energy of the photoelectrons is larger than the electron affinity in the surface layer 5, and so photoelectrons are easily ejected to the outside. Here, the optical absorption layer 4 is formed from an Al0.3Ga0.

Abstract: In a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which performs the recording for recording a signal on the recording medium DISK and the playback for playing back the recorded signal from the recording medium DISK at the same time, the recording position and the playback position are set independently and arbitrarily. Record starting position information PREC on the recording medium DISK for starting the recording is stored, playback starting position information PPB on the recording medium DISK for starting the playback is stored, and the recording based on the record starting position information PREC and the playback based on the playback starting position information PPB are independently performed, so as to realize a signal record/playback apparatus and its method which can set the record starting position PREC and the playback starting position PPB arbitrarily.

Abstract: To perform non-normal speed reproduction without preventing a user from understanding of the program content. The audio data which has been blocked into blocks of a predetermined time unit is stored in a buffer. Blocks having the level equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value are treated as silence data, and the block numbers are stored in a silence pointer buffer. A read out address generating unit does not read out blocks which is stored in the silence pointer buffer when the read out address buffer reads out audio data blocks from the buffer. The audio data from which silence data blocks have been excluded is subjected to connection processing in a waveform connection processing unit so that noise is not generated. A skip pattern generating unit controls a video data processing unit so that the video data is sent out with skipping some video data corresponding to blocks treated as silence block stored in the silence pointer buffer.

Abstract: A video signal recording/reproduction apparatus utilizes time division writing and reading to implement simultaneous recording and reproduction of different video signals to and from a common recording medium. In one operating mode, a first video signal being recorded and a second video signal being reproduced are simultaneously displayed in separate windows on a display. In other operating modes, two or more video signals are simultaneously recorded or reproduced to/from a common recording medium, and simultaneously displayed in separate windows.

Abstract: The invention provides a synchronizing conversion apparatus wherein outpacing compensation can be executed with a circuit construction including a comparatively small number of components. A read control circuit produces a read control signal including a read address and a read timing based on an outpacing detection signal from a phase comparison circuit, which is generated taking a time required for processing of a memory access arbitration circuit into consideration, and a scene change detection signal from a scene change detection circuit. The read control signal is outputted to the memory access arbitration circuit. The memory access arbitration circuit arbitrates requests from a write control circuit and the read control circuit to control writing into and reading out from a frame memory.

Abstract: The invention provides an information processing apparatus and method as well as a providing medium by which a period for reproduction of reproduction data at fixed intervals can be calculated to reproduce the reproduction data in a fixed period. First, a TOC of reproduction data is read out and a frame number of the reproduction data is calculated. Then, a readout time within which the reproduction data for one frame are read out from a recording medium is calculated. Thereafter, a sum total of reading position movement times when the reproduction data for L frames are read out is calculated. Then, a sum total of reproduction processing waiting times when the reproduction data for the L frames are read out is calculated. Then, the sum totals of the readout times, reading position movement times and reproduction processing waiting times are added to calculate a total time.

Abstract: A commercial candidate section detector detects a commercial candidate section on the basis of a quiet section and a scene change point. A commercial characteristic quantity detector judges whether the commercial candidate section has various characteristics of commercials, and adds a predetermined value to an commercial characteristic value on the basis of the judgment result. The commercial characteristic quantity detector compares the final commercial characteristic value with a predetermined threshold value, and judges on the basis of the comparison result whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial section.

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 information processing apparatus capable of accurately detecting one or more commercials included in a television broadcast. A commercial candidate segment detector detects a commercial candidate segment on the basis of silent segments and scene change points. A commercial block detector detects a commercial block, which is composed of a plurality of commercial segments and is interposed between one program portion and another, in conformity with numbers of frames of the individual commercial candidate segments detected by the commercial candidate segment detector, and then outputs to a switch a control signal based on the result of such commercial block detection.

Abstract: A signal reproducing apparatus is disclosed with which time is not required from a moment at which a user has started a reproducing operation to a moment at which the user is able to actually confirm required information. An audio-and-video-signal reproducing apparatus incorporates a head for recording an audio and video signal recorded on a recording medium; a RAM on which the audio and video signal read by the head is temporarily stored; and a control circuit having a control function for controlling the head to read the audio and video signal recorded on the recording medium and controlling writing of the audio and video signal temporarily stored in the RAM.

Abstract: A signal recorder/reproducer comprising an integrated buffer memory 22 having a memory area for a recording system and a memory area for a reproduction system, the allocation of the memory areas being variable, and a system controller 5 to control, via a recording control signal input unit 2 or reproduction control signal input unit 4, the allocation of the memory areas in the integrated buffer memory 22 depending upon which is designated by the user, a recording or reproduction mode.

Abstract: A commercial candidate section detector detects a commercial candidate section on the basis of a quiet section and a scene change point. A commercial characteristic quantity detector judges whether the commercial candidate section has various characteristics of commercials, and adds a predetermined value to an commercial characteristic value on the basis of the judgment result. The commercial characteristic quantity detector compares the final commercial characteristic value with a predetermined threshold value, and judges on the basis of the comparison result whether the commercial candidate section is a commercial section.

Abstract: A system for recording an input video signal input to an A/D conversion processing section on a recording medium in accordance with a recording clock generated by a recording system synchronous control section, and for outputting the video signal recorded on the recording medium to outside in accordance with a reproducing system synchronous control section. When switching and outputting a recording video signal input to the A/D conversion processing section and a reproduction video signal recorded on the recording medium and then decoded and output by an MPEG AV decoder, the recording video signal is temporarily stored in a frame synchronizer, and the recording video signal stored in the frame synchronizer and the reproduction video signal decoded by the MPEG AV decoder are switched and output in accordance with a reproduction clock generated by the reproducing system synchronous control section.

Abstract: Images of reproduced video data of plural channels are displayed on main small screens arrayed in a central horizontal row on an index picture. Time-serially anterior images of reproduced video data are displayed on two upper small screens above the main small screens, while time-serially posterior images of reproduced video data are displayed on two lower small screens below the main small screens. In a forward reproduction mode, the images displayed on the respective small screens are altered, with a lapse of time, to the lower adjacent images while being cross faded. And in a reverse reproduction mode, the images are altered, with a lapse of time, to the upper adjacent images while being cross faded. A normal reproducing operation is started from a desired image when the main small screen, where the desired image is being displayed, is selected by means of a cursor. Thus, any image of video data can be indexed efficiently.

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 recording apparatus configured to receive analog video and audio signals, digitize and compress the same, and record the compressed audio and video signals on a digital recording medium such as an optical disk. As the audio and video signals are received and recorded, time segments of the audio signals are analyzed for certain features such as whether the time segment corresponds to instrumental music, vocal music or conversational speech. A table of contents is then generated corresponding to the feature analysis and digitally stored on the storage medium. As a result, the recorded audio is characterized over time, e.g., on a frame by frame basis. A high degree of versatility is thereby provided in the playback process, such as the ability to skip portions having certain audio types or to quickly scroll to desired portions of the recorded audio programs. Reproducing apparatuses enable the user to selectively reproduce segments of the recorded audio and video.

Abstract: The invention provides a broadcast signal recording and playback apparatus and method which can detect a CM included in a television broadcast signal with certainty without an error. A CM candidate period detection section detects a CM using an audio mode signal outputted from a tuner, a sound absence discrimination output from a sound absence detection section and a scene change detection output from a scene change detection section as basic materials. A detection operation discrimination section limits operation of the CM candidate period detection section when it is known that the broadcast signal includes no CM or when the electric field is weak.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recording and reproducing a TV broadcasting signal includes a CM detecting unit, a write data processing circuit, a recording system control circuit, and a recording medium. The CM detecting unit operates to detect if a TV broadcasting signal composed of a RF signal inputted through an antenna is now a CM. The write data processing circuit operates to generate CM information accompanied with the CM detected by the CM detecting unit. The recording system control circuit operates to record on the recording medium the CM information generated by the write data processing circuit together with a video signal and an audio signal.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing device has an NTSC decoder which receives a video signal and outputs a video signal, an MPEG audio encoder which receives an audio signal and outputs an audio signal, and a synchronous control circuit which detects a synchronizing signal from the video signal input to the NTSC decoder and uses that signal to generate an output synchronizing signal that is different from the input synchronizing signal. The output synchronizing signal is used to output the video signal from the NTSC decoder. In the recording/reproducing device, the NTSC decoder and the MPEG audio encoder provide a delay to the input video signal and audio signal, respectively, and output the video signal and audio signal in accordance with the output synchronizing signal generated by the synchronous control circuit.

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.