Abstract: A television receiver is connected to a multi-directional antenna having multiple receiving directions for receiving a television signal by making one receiving direction active, and comprises a clock, a tuner, a memory for storing a receiving direction table having content containing channel numbers and a best receiving direction, and a microprocessor for controlling the receiver. Based on the time measured by the clock, the microprocessor renews the content of the table at a preset time, and outputs, to the antenna, a control signal to command a receiving direction for receiving one channel based on the renewed content of the table. The receiver can properly adapt to the variations in time of the receiving conditions of terrestrial broadcasts based on the renewed content of the table, and can automatically renew the content of the table in a time zone when a user does not view a television program.

Abstract: A television receiver is connected to a multi-directional antenna, and stores, in a memory, a receiving direction table containing: channel numbers; best receiving directions of the multi-directional antenna for receiving the respective channels; and register channel information indicating whether the channels are registered as selectable or non-selectable. The receiving direction table is used for selecting each channel. Based on the operation of a user interface by a user (S42), the register channel information of the receiving direction table can be changed (S44, S45), so that the user can optionally set selectable channels. Thus, the user can preliminarily delete channels in bad receiving conditions from candidates of selectable channels.

Abstract: Each of a semi-reflective film or reflective film for an optical information recording medium, and a Ag based alloy sputtering target includes a Ag based alloy containing 0.01 to 10 atomic percent of Li. The Ag based alloy exhibits high cohesion resistance, high light resistance, high heat resistance, high reflectivity, high transmissivity, low absorptivity, and high thermal conductivity of the level which had not been realized by the pure Ag or by the conventional Ag alloys. The resulting semi-reflective film and reflective film for an optical information recording medium containing the Ag based alloy exhibit excellent writing/reading properties and long term reliability. The sputtering target for an optical information recording medium is used in depositing the semi-reflective film and the reflective film. Using the semi-reflective film and/or the reflective film, an optical information recording medium is manufactured.

Abstract: Drive means for performing a behavior based on a behavioral model prescribing a behavior is controlled, and the behavioral model is changed depending on a predetermined stimulus. Therefore, by giving the stimulus, the behavioral model can be freely changed, and a mechanical device, etc. having an improved amusing element can be realized.

Abstract: An image observation system includes a pair of image observation devices for the left and right eyes of an observer. Each of the image observation devices includes an image pickup system which forms an image on a image pickup device using an image pickup optical system, and a display system which guides the light from the image acquired by the image pickup system to an observers eye by a display optical system. Each of the image observation devices is arranged so that the outside optical axis of the image pickup optical system is approximately aligned with an extension line of the eye-side optical axis of the display optical system. In the image observation system, the image pickup device included in the image pickup system of each image observation device is shifted horizontally by a predetermined distance relative to the optical axis of the image pickup optical system, and the display element is shifted horizontally by a predetermined distance relative to the optical axis of the display optical system.

Abstract: The present invention relates a fiber optical module. A first filter 5 transmits a light with a first predetermined wavelength (?A ), and reflects lights with a second predetermined wavelength (?B) and a third predetermined wavelength (?C). A second filter 6 transmits the light with wavelength ?B and reflects the light with wavelength ?C. A first light-receiving device 2 receives the light with wavelength ?A, and a second light-receiving device 3 receives the light with wavelength ?B, A light-emitting device 4 emits the light with wavelength ?C. A first optical fiber 1a leads the lights with wavelengths ?A and ?B to the first filter 5. A second optical fiber 1b leads the light with wavelength ?B reflected by the first filter 1a. A third optical fiber 1c leads the light with wavelength ?C emitted by the light-emitting device 4 to the second filter 6.

Abstract: In a wireless communication system having a wireless base station, wireless terminal stations belonging to a first group which performs wireless communication while sharing different frequency channels, and wireless terminal stations belonging to a second group which performs wireless communication by using one frequency channel, a first communication period and a second communication period is alternately repeated. In this system, a wireless terminal station belonging to the first or the second group communicates with the wireless base station by using a first frequency channel in the first communication period. Direct communication between two wireless terminal stations belonging to the first group by using a second frequency channel without through the wireless base station is performed in the first communication period. Then, a wireless terminal station belonging to the first group communicates with the wireless base station by using both the first and the second frequency channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fixing device and a digital photocopier which can shorten the time from an instruction of starting image formation to end of fixing. The fixing device is provided in a cylinder made of metal and having a small thickness, and includes a magnetic excitation coil. When the power source is turned on, all the electric power defined by subtracting an electric power amount consumed by components other than the fixing device is supplied to the magnetic excitation coil to perform heating. As the structural components of the photocopier and auxiliary devices added to the photocopier operate, the electric power defined by subtracting, from the maximum input electric power, the electric power consumed by the structural components of the photocopier and the auxiliary devices is supplied to perform heating. In this manner, the heat roller of the fixing device is heated, in a short time, to a temperature which enables fixing, so that the time required for first copying can be shortened.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus for performing wireless communication using at least one of the first channel having the first frequency band, and the second channel having the second frequency band which is wider than the first frequency band includes a channel search device which executes the first channel search for the bandwidth of the first frequency band and the second channel search for the bandwidth of the second frequency band, and obtains a search result indicating an idle channel, and a determination device which determines a channel to be used on the basis of the search result obtained by the channel search device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is connected to a sound output device for outputting sound based on digital audio data. The information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A first receiver receives setting data for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being set by a function implemented by a first computer executing a first program. A second receiver receives a setting signal for setting a volume of sound output from the sound output device, the volume being supplied from a setting unit provided for the sound output device. A calculator calculates first volume control data that controls the volume of sound output from the sound output device based on the setting data and the setting signal, the volume being controlled by a second computer executing a second program. A first output unit outputs the first volume control data to the sound output device.

Abstract: When a user commands a microprocessor, using a remote control, to output information about a video and audio signal output device itself to a monitor device, the microprocessor superimposes, on video signals decoded by a decoder, video signals of a terminal connection information image for displaying, on the monitor device, color images corresponding to output signals from respective output terminals of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in a VGA terminal or a BNC terminal so as to form and output combined video signals to the monitor device. Thus, e.g. if the monitor device has multiple video signal input terminals for inputting output signals from the respective output terminals of R, G and B, and if no signal is input from one of the input terminals, the user can confirm the input terminal, from which no signal is input, by just watching the screen of the monitor device without confirming the actual connection of the input terminals.

Abstract: A method for measuring polyamines in erythrocytes in which a polyamine oxidase having a substrate specificity to spermine and spermidine or a polyamine oxidase having a substrate specificity to spermine only is used, an eluate in erythrocytes separated and purified from blood is reacted with these enzymes, and hydrogen peroxide formed is determined with a highly sensitive chromogen such as a diphenylamine-based chromogen. There is provided a method for measuring amounts of polyamines in erythrocytes easily with high precision. The method is effective for diagnosis of certain disease conditions or physiological conditions or the like of subjects.

Abstract: In order to make maintenance of an ink jet printer less time-consuming, when ink is to be purged from ink jet heads 1, a unit conveying mechanism 30 moves a feeding plane 11a of a feeding sheet 11 to a retreated position that is inclined with respect to ink jet faces 4a of the ink jet heads 1. An ink receiving sheet 21 is then moved to an ink receiving position that is between the ink jet faces 4a and the feeding plane 11a and that extends along this feeding plane 11a. Ink that is jetted onto the ink receiving sheet 21 from the ink jet faces 4a of the ink jet heads 1 runs down the ink receiving sheet 21, and is collected in an ink tank 72.

Abstract: An X-ray CT apparatus having X-ray irradiator for irradiating an X-ray to an object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor for detecting an X-ray passed through the object to be inspected, an X-ray sensor signal processing circuit for processing an output signal from the X-ray sensor, and a CT control apparatus for reconstructing an image of the object to be inspected on the basis of an output signal of the X-ray sensor processed by the X-ray sensor signal processing circuit. The X-ray sensor signal processing circuit includes a filter for removing a DC component from the output signal of the X-ray sensor, and an integration circuit for integrating the output signal of the X-ray sensor from which the DC component is removed by the filter.

Abstract: An efficient undeniable digital signature scheme based on a quadratic field is disclosed. Public keys (D, P, k, t) and secret keys (D1, q) are defined by generating two primes p, q (p, q>4, p=3 mod 4, ?{square root over (p/3)}<q), computing D1=?p and D=D1q2, obtaining a bit length k of ?{square root over (|D1|)}/4 and a bit length t of q?(D1/q) where (D1/q) denotes Kronecker symbol, and generating a kernel element P of a map from a class group Cl(D) to a class group Cl(D1).

Abstract: An object is to accurately measure the Stokes parameters, without the occurrence of polarization fluctuations or PDL during the splitting of the incident light. When the incident light is made incident on a first-stage prism, the light is split into two first splitting light rays. Next, the first split light rays are respectively incident on a pair of prisms of a second stage. Each of the pair of first split light rays is split into two rays by a second-stage prism, to obtain four second split light rays.

Abstract: A TV program distribution system comprises: a TV broadcast signal distribution device for distributing a scrambled pay TV program provided by a TV program provider; an auction management device for managing selling, by auction, of the viewing right of the pay TV program; an account management device for charging winning bidders of the pay TV program determined by the auction; and a conditional access management device for managing conditional access information to make it possible for each STB of each winning bidder of the pay TV program to descramble the scrambled pay TV program. The TV program distribute system sells the pay TV program by auction, limiting the number of STBs allowed to access the pay TV program, so that the TV program distribution system makes it possible for the TV program provider to collect fees of the pay TV program according to market value of the pay TV program.

Abstract: At least one belt layer in which one or plural rubber-coated belt codes are arranged to be spirally wound almost in parallel with a tire circumferential direction on the outer circumference of a body ply. The belt code is small in the increase rate of tensile load to stretch rate in the range of a predetermined stretch rate or less, but becomes large in the increase rate of the tensile load in another range exceeding the predetermined stretch rate. Therefore, during a vulcanizing and forming process, the belt code is expanded together with unvulcanized compounded rubber under a small tensile load, and it does not occur to prevent body ply codes from being expanded, so that a green tire is vulcanized and formed with respective parts thereof being adhered as a result of being expanded to keep a correct shape.

Abstract: A measurement method for measuring a distortion of a projection optical system that projects a pattern, used by an exposure apparatus that exposes the reticle pattern onto an object to be exposed, the measurement method includes the steps of a first exposing step for exposing a mark pattern onto the object to be exposed, the mark pattern having a mark on or near an optical axis of the projection optical system and a mark beside the optical axis, and being arranged at a position of the reticle, a second exposing step for only exposing a mark on or near the optical axis of the projection optical system in the mark pattern, measuring step for measuring a shape of the mark formed on the object to be exposed via the first and second exposing steps, and calculating step for calculating the distortion of the projection optical system from the shape of the mark measured by the measuring step.

Abstract: When die machining including machining processes from a rough machining process to a finish machining process is carried out on the same workpiece along a closed machining path, each of the points equally dividing a length of the closed machining path by the repetition number of machining processes is defined as an approach point, so that the approach points are different from each other for each machining process. This makes it possible to avoid a concentration of the approach points at one points thereby preventing a dent from being formed at the approach point.