Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: An alpha-map encoding apparatus includes a first down-sampling circuit (21) for down-sampling an alpha-map signal which represents the shape of an object and the position in the frame of the object at a down-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information, an up-sampling circuit (23) for up-sampling the alpha-map signal at an up-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information given to restore the down-sampled alpha-map signal to an original size, and outputting a local decoded alpha-map signal, a motion estimation/compensation circuit (25) for generating a motion estimation/compensation signal on the basis of the previous decoded video signal and a motion vector signal, a second down-sampling circuit (26) for down-sampling the motion estimation/compensation signal at the down-sampling ratio, a binary image encoder for encoding the alpha-map signal down-sampled by the first down-sampling circuit to a binary image in accordance with the motion estimation/compensation signal down-sampled by t

Abstract: There is provided a cancer therapeutic instrument for use in treatment of cancer and tumor. According to such an instrument, the affected part is irradiated effectively with activation light thereby obtaining an effect of the light treatment. The cancer therapeutic instrument is equipped with a tube of which a tip is closed, a tip end of the tube being adapted to be inserted into a subject to be treated, and an optical fiber of which a tip end is adapted to be disposed slidably inside the tube.

Abstract: A contents transmission system comprising a first terminal which receives a first code stream produced by compression-encoding contents and has a converter section converting the first code stream into a second code stream having a data size smaller than that of the first code stream, a transmission section transmitting the second code stream, and a second terminal which receives the second code stream transmitted from the first terminal and has a reconstruction section reconstructing the contents by decoding the second code stream.

Abstract: The disclosed circuit breaker comprises a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal, a heat generating part having conductivity and disposed between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal, an igniting part igniting depending on a cut-off signal, an expandable elastic member capable of applying a force to the heat generating part so as to be departed from between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal, a container accommodating the heat generating part, igniting part and elastic member, and a retaining part for retaining the elastic member in compressed state.

Abstract: The circuit breaker disclosed in the invention comprises a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal, a heat generating part having conductivity disposed between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal, an igniting part igniting depending on a cut-off signal, an expandable elastic member capable of applying a force to the heat generating part so as to be departed from between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal, and a holding part for holding the elastic member in compressed state. Herein, as the igniting part ignites depending on the cut-off signal and the heat generating part generates heat, when the holding part releases the elastic member, the elastic member applies force to the heat generating part, and the heat generating part is departed from between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal, the conductive state between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal is cut off.

Abstract: In a soldering method for soldering a thermit case 26 and a pair of bus bars 11a, 19a to be electrically connected to the thermit case 26, a portion to be heated P of the thermit case 26 which is spaced from the respective bus bars 11a, 19a by an approximately equal distance is heated by a gas burner 71, and solders are simultaneously supplied from solder wire supply portions 75a, 75b to a pair of solder joining faces 22 for joining the thermit case 26 and the pair of bus bars 11a, 19a, after the portion to be heated P has been heated. The temperatures of the pair of solder joining faces 22 are made substantially equal to each other by heating the portion to be heated P so that solders are simultaneously supplied to the pair of solder joining faces 22.

Abstract: The circuit breaker disclosed in the invention comprises a first connection terminal, a second connection terminal, a rotatable conducting part disposed between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal, a heat generating part, an igniting part igniting depending on a cut-off signal, an elastic member capable of producing a rotating force, and a holding part for holding the conducting part while resisting the rotating force of the elastic member. Herein, when the holding part releases holding of the conducting part as the igniting part ignites depending on the cut-off signal and the heat generating part generates heat, the conducing part is rotated by the rotating force of the elastic member, and the conductive state between the first connection terminal and second connection terminal is cut off.

Abstract: A remotely installed transmitter capable of clearly picking up only the voice of a person who is talking despite being installed away from the speaker's mouth and without causing feedback despite increased sensitivity, and a hands-free two-way voice terminal device using such a transmitter.

Abstract: An alpha-map encoding apparatus includes a first down-sampling circuit (21) for down-sampling an alpha-map signal which represents the shape of an object and the position in the frame of the object at a down-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information, an up-sampling circuit (23) for up-sampling the alpha-map signal at an up-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information given to restore the down-sampled alpha-map signal to an original size, and outputting a local decoded alpha-map signal, a motion estimation/compensation circuit (25) for generating a motion estimation/compensation signal on the basis of the previous decoded video signal and a motion vector signal, a second down-sampling circuit (26) for down-sampling the motion estimation/compensation signal at the down-sampling ratio, a binary image encoder for encoding the alpha-map signal down-sampled by the first down-sampling circuit to a binary image in accordance with the motion estimation/compensation signal down-sampled by t

Abstract: An encoding apparatus includes an encoder for encoding an alpha-map signal for discriminating a background from an object of an input picture in motion compensation prediction (MV)+transform encoding which uses MV in a domain of each of N×N transform coefficients (n), a transform circuit for transforming Pf into n in accordance with the alpha-map signal, an inverse transform circuit for reconstructing Pf by inversely transforming n in accordance with the alpha-map signal, a selector for obtaining a motion compensation prediction value (p) in the mth layer (m=2 to M) by switching p in the mth layer and p in the (m−1)th layer for each n, the selector selecting p in the mth layer for n by which a quantized output (Q) in the (m−1)th layer is 0 and selecting p in the (m−1)th layer for n by which Q=1 or more, an adder for calculating a difference df between a prediction error signal in the mth layer and a dequantized output in the (m−1)th layer, and an encoder for en

Abstract: A current interrupting apparatus including a battery terminal adapted to be attached to a battery, a load conductor wire adapted to be connected to a load, a connecting member electrically connecting the load conductor wire and the battery terminal, and a cutting device configured to cut the connecting member when an interruption control signal is input thereto. The cutting of the connecting member by the cutting device interrupts the supply of electric current from the battery to the load by way of the battery terminal and the load conductor wire.

Abstract: A video coding/decoding apparatus comprises a prediction circuit that divides an input video signal into large regions and small regions in a hierarchical fashion and produces a prediction signal by performing prediction region by region, a subtracter for generating a prediction error signal for a prediction signal at the lowest level, a DCT circuit for coding a prediction error signal, a quantization circuit and a variable-length encoder, a variable-length encoder for coding the prediction mode and motion vector information obtained at each level from the prediction circuit, and a multiplexer for multiplexing the code strings obtained from the variable-length encoder and dividing them into the upper-layer and lower-layer code strings to output the code strings obtained at the variable-length encoder particularly as upper-layer code strings.

Abstract: A connecting terminal and a circuit breaking device having the connecting terminal are provided. A plate-shaped second bus-bar 19 welded to a conductive thermit casing 26 through a low melting point metal 23. The bus-bar 19 has an orifice 20 formed to fix a wire with a terminal body by thread fastening and a thin part 51 formed between the orifice 20 and the metal 23 to have a plate thickness smaller than that of the other portion of the bus-bar 19. The thin part 51 is provided with wedge-shaped notches 53. When fastening a screw inserted into the orifice 20 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, a stress resulting from the rotation is absorbed by the thin plate 51 and the notches 53 in pairs. Consequently, owing to the absorption, it is possible to restrict the stress from being transmitted to the welding part of the low melting point metal 23.

Abstract: An alpha-map encoding apparatus includes a first down-sampling circuit (21) for down-sampling an alpha-map signal which represents the shape of an object and the position in the frame of the object at a down-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information, an up-sampling circuit (23) for up-sampling the alpha-map signal at an up-sampling ratio based on size conversion ratio information given to restore the down-sampled alpha-map signal to an original size, and outputting a local decoded alpha-map signal, a motion estimation/compensation circuit (25) for generating a motion estimation/compensation signal on the basis of the previous decoded video signal and a motion vector signal, a second down-sampling circuit (26) for down-sampling the motion estimation/compensation signal at the down-sampling ratio, a binary image encoder for encoding the alpha-map signal down-sampled by the first down-sampling circuit to a binary image in accordance with the motion estimation/compensation signal down-sampled by t

Abstract: A fusion apparatus is equipped with a fuse, a solid combustion agent, an igniting device, and a spring. The solid combustion agent and the igniting device are accommodated within an inner casing. The inner casing is disposed in the vicinity of, or in contact with, the fuse. The inner casing and the fuse are covered by an outer casing. The spring is disposed between the outer casing and the inner casing and urges the inner casing containing the solid combustion agent therein toward the fuse. When the igniting device receives a current supplied from the outside, the solid combustion agent is combusted by the ignition made by the igniting device and the resulting combustion heat softens the fuse. At this time, since the inner casing is pressing the fuse by means of the spring, the fuse is easily broken.

Abstract: A marine fender has high bonding strength between a high-slip synthetic resin plate such as an ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene plate and a rubber fender member, and quite long life-time of the high-slip synthetic resin plate . The high-slip synthetic resin plate and a rubber layer are previously welded to each other. The high-slip synthetic resin with the rubber layer and the rubber fender member are welded to each other by vulcanization. In this way, the marine fender is made.

Abstract: An current breaking device is interposed between a battery for a vehicle and an electric load. When a circuit cut-off signal is generated from a control unit due to an automobile's collision, the current breaking device allows respective capsules 40 in a power distributing box to be heated to melt a conductive resin plate 2. Therefore, it is possible to stop the power supply from a battery to an electric load.

Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.

Abstract: There is provided a method of treating cancer. According to such a method, the affected tissue is irradiated effectively with activation light thereby obtaining an effect of the light treatment. The cancer therapeutic instrument used in the treatment method is equipped with a tube of which a tip is closed, a tip end of the tube being adapted to be inserted into a subject to be treated, and an optical fiber of which a tip end is adapted to be disposed slidably inside the tube.