Abstract: A large volume of digital media home information output from each of audio, visual, computer and communication (AVCC) apparatuses is transmitted to a digital media home information network at a high data speed and is received by one AVCC apparatus. Also, a small volume of digital environment home information output from each of self-management apparatuses such as an energy sensor, a security sensor and a health care sensor is transmitted to a digital environment home information network at a low data speed and is received by a digital information transmitting/receiving and protocol converting unit. In this unit, a protocol of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is converted into that in the digital media home information network, and the data speed of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is changed to that in the digital media home information network.

Abstract: A large volume of digital media home information output from each of audio, visual, computer and communication (AVCC) apparatuses is transmitted to a digital media home information network at a high data speed and is received by one AVCC apparatus. Also, a small volume of digital environment home information output from each of self-management apparatuses such as an energy sensor, a security sensor and a health case sensor is transmitted to a digital environment home information network at a low data speed and is received by a digital information transmitting/receiving and protocol converting unit. In this unit, A protocol of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is converted into that in the digital media home information network, and the data speed of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is changed to that in the digital media home information network.

Abstract: A large volume of digital media home information output from each of audio, visual, computer and communication (AVCC) apparatuses is transmitted to a digital media home information network at a high data speed and is received by one AVCC apparatus. Also, a small volume of digital environment home information output from each of self-management apparatuses such as an energy sensor, a security sensor and a health care sensor is transmitted to a digital environment home information network at a low data speed and is received by a digital information transmitting/receiving and protocol converting unit. In this unit, a protocol of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is converted into that in the digital media home information network, and the data speed of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is changed to that in the digital media home information network.

Abstract: A large volume of digital media home information output from each of audio, visual, computer and communication (AVCC) apparatuses is transmitted to a digital media home information network at a high data speed and is received by one AVCC apparatus. Also, a small volume of digital environment home information output from each of self-management apparatuses such as an energy sensor, a security sensor and a health case sensor is transmitted to a digital environment home information network at a low data speed and is received by a digital information transmitting/receiving and protocol converting unit. In this unit, A protocol of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is converted into that in the digital media home information network, and the data speed of the digital environment home information in the digital environment home information network is changed to that in the digital media home information network.

Abstract: A laser beam generated between a total reflector and an output coupler is turned back by plural reflectors which are mounted in a discharge region along two main electrodes at 45.degree., and the discharge region is divided into plural divided discharge regions, thus, a diameter of an output laser beam is reduced to a diameter of the divided discharge regions.

Abstract: A thermally insulating casing accommodates an infrared ray sensing element. The casing has a window which conducts infrared ray to the sensing element. The window is covered with heat absorption gas. An infrared ray emitting element may be accommodated within the casing. The casing may have a second window which passes infrared ray generated by the emitting element. The second window may be covered with the heat absorption gas.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring a distance to an object includes directing first and second laser beams having frequencies .omega..sub.11 and .omega..sub.12 toward the object. A first reference signal is derived having a beat frequency .omega..sub.1 =.omega..sub.11 -.omega..sub.12. A first reflected light beam reflected from the object is detected and has the beat frequency .omega..sub.1 and a first phase difference with respect to the first reference signal. The first phase difference is then extracted from the first reference signal and the first reflected light beam and a first plurality of distance nodes is calculated from the first phase difference. Then, the frequency of the second laser beam is changed to .omega..sub.13. A second reference signal having a beat frequency of .omega..sub.2 =.omega..sub.11 -.omega..sub.13 is then derived. A second reflected light beam reflected from the target is detected and has the beat frequency of .omega..sub.

Abstract: In a laser resonator having a gas-introducing portion at one end of a laser tube, where the gas introducing portion comprises an inner tube communicating with the laser tube and an outer tube covering the inner tube. The inner tube has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart flow passages so that a gas mixture fed from a gas source to an annular chamber defined between the inner surface of the outer tube and the outer surface of the inner tube, is led into the inside of the inner tube via the flow passages. As a result, turbulence occurs within the inner tube so that radial distribution of gas flow speed in the laser tube is made uniform, thereby increasing the maximum output and stability. The flow passages may be slits, oval or circular openings, triangular openings or the like.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide laser oscillator comprises a discharge tube, total reflecting mirrors and partially reflecting mirrors arranged at opposite ends of the discharge tube, a pair of electrodes for causing electrical discharge to occur in the discharge tube and means for flowing laser gas through the discharge tube so that the gas flows at a rate that satisfies the condition in which the Reynolds number is equal to or smaller than 1.times.10.sup.4.

Abstract: A coaxial-type carbon dioxide gas laser includes an oscillator comprising a gas inlet for introducing gas into a discharge tube through a gas supply chamber having a hollow cylindrical body which serves to disturb the gas flow and orientate the gas toward the discharge tube via a space defined between the discharge tube and the hollow cylindrical body. The gas which has been subjected to an electrical discharge is drawn out of the discharge tube through a chamber and a gas outlet connected therewith. A pair of anode and cathode electrodes are disposed adjacent to the ends of the discharge tube. One of the electrodes is mounted on the gas supply chamber and is annular in shape. The gas supply chamber and the hollow cylindrical body jointly define a gap for passage therethrough of the gas fed from the gas inlet toward the discharge tube via the space. The space is large in cross section than the gap.

Abstract: In a gas laser in which a mixture of gases is excited under the influence of an electric field, a first constituent gas of the mixture is introduced into a laser tube to allow a discharge to occur in the introduced gas at predetermined partial pressure. A second constituent gas of the mixture is then introduced into the laser tube until the combined gases reach the normally operating pressure of the mixture to allow a discharge to occur in the later introduced gas.

Abstract: A film coated with a dispersion of an N-vinyl compound, an organic halogen compound and a sensitizer in gelatin is preheated at 60.degree.-120.degree.C before an imagewise exposure to sensitize the film and to destroy fog-nuclei. After the imagewise exposure the film is subjected to a red light flood exposure for intensifying latent image, heating for development and flood light exposure for fixing to give a negative image of high contrast. The preheating may be applied to a film once exposed to extinguish the resulting latent image and thereby to be subjected to another exposure.

Abstract: A light and heat sensitive composition useful particularly in photographic reproduction, the composition comprising a combination of an electron donative material, such as a .pi.-base and an electron acceptive material such as a .pi.-acid both dispersed in an aqueous dispersion medium in the form of discrete particles, at least one of the electron donative and electron acceptive materials being capable of polymerization upon irradiation by actinic light or an actinic corpuscular ray and the materials producing a colored charge transfer complex under predetermined heating conditions.