Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and method, a reproducing apparatus and method, and a program that make it possible to photograph and record a still image and moving images before and after the still image as well. In step S1, when a still-image-with-moving-image photographing mode is set, moving image temporary storage is started. When a shutter is depressed in step S2, in step S3, a photographed still image is recorded and one moving image is generated from the moving image before the still image stored in step S1, a moving image obtained by converting the photographed still image, and a moving image photographed after the depression of the shutter and the one moving image generated is recorded. Therefore, the moving images before and after the still image are recorded together with a high-definition still image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing systems, an information processing apparatus, and method. A camcorder establishes a connection to a network system through a Bluetooth adapter and a public network, performs user registration into the network system and receives provision of an ID and a password from the network system. The ID and the password are transmitted to and registered into a customer database of an Internet service provider, and also transmitted to and registered into a camcorder image station of a network service business center. After the camcorder connects to the network system, the Internet service provider, and the network service business center, the common ID and password can be used.

Abstract: A failure detection device for detecting a failure of a rotation angle detection sensor, which sensor detects a rotational angle through which a rotary member has rotated, the failure detection device including a first detection element which has an output which increases as the rotational angle of the rotary member increases, a second detection element which has an output that decreases as the rotational angle of the rotary member increases, and a detecting unit that detects the failure of either the first detection element or the second detection element by comparing a calculated value, based on the outputs of both of the first and second detection elements, with at least one predetermined value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus to record data in a recording medium. The apparatus includes: an input portion to input moving picture data; an encode portion to encode the moving picture data input by the input portion; a storage portion which uses a first storage area to store frame image data, i.e., data for any frame image contained in the moving picture data encoded by the encode portion and uses a second storage area to store the moving picture data except the frame image data; a recording portion to record the moving picture data stored by the storage portion in the recording medium; a decode portion to decode the moving pictured at a encoded by the encode portion; and a thumbnail image generation portion to generate a thumbnail image based on the frame image data.

Abstract: A sensor generates a continuous signal in response to operation of a shift lever, and a range is determined for each of the various control operations by comparing the output value of the signal with a range determination pattern set arbitrarily for each of the control operations. Accordingly, each of the control operations can be performed appropriately by using optimal range information.

Abstract: A failure detection device for detecting a failure of a rotation angle detection sensor, which sensor detects a rotational angle through which a rotary member has rotated, the failure detection device including a first detection element which has an output which increases as the rotational angle of the rotary member increases, a second detection element which has an output that decreases as the rotational angle of the rotary member increases, and a detecting unit that detects the failure of either the first detection element or the second detection element by comparing a calculated value, based on the outputs of both of the first and second detection elements, with at least one predetermined value.

Abstract: A sensor generates a continuous signal in response to operation of a shift lever, and a range is determined for each of the various control operations by comparing the output value of the signal with a range determination pattern set arbitrarily for each of the control operations. Accordingly, each of the control operations can be performed appropriately by using optimal range information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing apparatus and method by which the operability in connection to a network can be improved. A camcorder 11 establishes a connection to a network system 14 through a Bluetooth adapter 12 and a public network 13, performs user registration into the network system 14 and receives provision of an ID and a password from the network system 14. The ID and the password are transmitted to and registered into a customer database 52 of an Internet service provider A 17, and also transmitted to and registered into a camcorder image station 41 of a network service business center 15. When the camcorder 11 establishes a connection to the network system 14, when the camcorder 11 establishes a connection to the Internet service provider A 17 and when the camcorder 11 establishes a connection to the network service business center 15, the common ID and password can be used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus by which image data can be downloaded simply. A video camera 11 receives thumbnail images corresponding to one or more images included in an album from a video camera image station 41 and displays the thumbnail images on an LCD unit. If one or more images to be downloaded are selected, then the video camera 11 acquires image information of the selected image or images from a video camera image station 41, analyzes the image information and discriminates it one by one image whether or not the selected image data are downloadable. Every time one image is discriminated to be downloadable, the video camera 11 accesses a corresponding URL designated for each image, downloads the image from the URL and records the image onto a recording medium. The video camera 11 successively downloads the selected images in this manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an information processing system and an information processing apparatus and method by which image data can be transmitted readily from a portable terminal apparatus, with which it is not comparatively easy to input a name, to a different apparatus through a network so that the image data may be managed by the different apparatus. A camcorder image station 41 has a folder for each user of a camcorder 11 and has, in each of the folders, 10 sub folders of album 1 to album 10 to each of which a name is applied in advance. The user of the camcorder 11 transmits images picked up by the user himself/herself to the camcorder image station 41 so that the images are registered into a predetermined album. The camcorder 11 has an album list of 10 albums of album 1 to album 10 in advance and selects an album of one of the names from within the list to designate an album into which image data should be uploaded. The present invention can be applied to a service providing system.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission having a torque converter interposed between an engine and a transmission mechanism, the torque converter includes a lock-up clutch capable of directly coupling an output shaft of the engine and an input shaft of the transmission mechanism. A speed difference detector is provided for detecting a difference between engine rotational speed and input shaft rotational speed. An engine speed controller means is also provided for controlling the engine speed to cause the speed difference to converge within a predetermined range. By detecting the speed difference, it is possible to precisely detect the actual vehicle state, and to reliably and smoothly engage the lock-up clutch without generating shift shock in any vehicle state. With this structure, the lock-up clutch can be reliably engaged and the engine brake can be secured.

Abstract: In an automatic transmission having a torque converter interposed between an engine and a transmission mechanism, the torque converter includes a lock-up clutch capable of directly coupling an output shaft of the engine and an input shaft of the transmission mechanism. A speed difference detector is provided for detecting a difference between engine rotational speed and input shaft rotational speed. An engine speed controller means is also provided for controlling the engine speed to cause the speed difference to converge within a predetermined range. By detecting the speed difference, it is possible to precisely detect the actual vehicle state, and to reliably and smoothly engage the lock-up clutch without generating shift shock in any vehicle state. With this structure, the lock-up clutch can be reliably engaged and the engine brake can be secured.

Abstract: Machining apparatus for machining a workpiece with a machining tool, including a work holder for holding the workpiece, and a cold gas stream supply device including a cooling gas nozzle through which a cold gas stream is supplied to a machining point, and wherein the cooling gas nozzle is provided on the work holder, and the cold gas stream has a temperature lower than an ambient temperature of the apparatus. The apparatus may be a centerless grinding apparatus including a regulating wheel for rotating the workpiece, and a work rest blade cooperating with the regulating wheel to rotatably support the workpiece so that the workpiece is ground by a grinding wheel while the workpiece is held by the work holder between the regulating and grinding wheels. The cooling gas nozzle is desirably positioned such that a distance between the exit end of the cooling gas nozzle and the grinding point is not larger than a diameter of the workpiece.

Abstract: A hydraulic control unit of an automatic transmission calculates deceleration during a coasting downshift, and calculates a piston play offsetting time, that is, the lag time that elapses between a shift decision and the start of the shift, on the basis of a correction value determined in accordance with the lag time learned from the previous shift. Based on the rate of deceleration and the piston play offsetting time, the downshift line in the speed shift map is corrected, that is, advanced in timing. Using this timing-advanced shift line, the control unit makes an earlier shift decision such that the shift starts in a proper state of operation, thus reducing shift shock during a coasting downshift and preventing excessive engine speed during a high-speed upshift.

Abstract: In a photoelectric type measuring method and device wherein a workpiece to be measured is scanned by parallel scanning ray beams for scanning in one direction, aforesaid ray beams after the scanning are received by light receiving elements and a time length of a dark portion or a bright portion generated due to the obstruction of a portion of the ray beams by workpiece to be measured in response to output signals from the light receiving elements is detected so as to obtain the dimension in the scanning direction of the workpiece to be measured, the aforesaid ray beams are split into ray beams polarized in directions different from each other, the workpiece to be measured is scanned in such a condition that the two ray beams are relatively shifted so that the two ray beam may be partially overlapped in the scanning directions thereof and light receiving signals corresponding to the two ray beams after the scanning are processed to detect and edge of the workpiece to be measured.

Abstract: An optical measuring device comprising a parallel scanning ray beam generator, condensing means for condensing said parallel scanning ray beams after said parallel scanning ray beams have passed through a workpiece being measured, and a single light receiving element for sensing the brightness of said scanning ray beams condensed by said condensing means to convert the same into an electric signal, whereby the dimensions of the workpiece being measured are measured from the time length of a dark portion or a bright portion generated due to the obstruction of said parallel scanning ray beams by the workpiece being measured, which has been interposed between the parallel scanning ray beam generator and said light receiving element, a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in opposed relations to the scanning scope of the parallel scanning ray beams, an output from the light receiving element during a single scanning time is time-shorn in accordance with the number of the light emitting elements to th