Abstract: Provided is a noise eliminating device that includes: a signal calculator that calculates a difference signal between a signal of one channel out of a plurality of signals input from a plurality of channels and a signal of another channel; a variable filter unit that processes and outputs the signals of channels; an adaptive filter unit that operates by receiving a composite signal of the difference signal and another signal as an input signal; and a unit that calculates an error signal between an output signal of the adaptive filter unit and a signal having correlation with the another signal being set as a desired signal. Characteristics of the adaptive filter are changed by using the error signal. Further, characteristics of the variable filter are changed in accordance with a change in the characteristics of the adaptive filter.

Abstract: Provided is a noise eliminating device that includes: a signal calculator that calculates a difference signal between a signal of one channel out of a plurality of signals input from a plurality of channels and a signal of another channel; a variable filter unit that processes and outputs the signals of channels; an adaptive filter unit that operates by receiving a composite signal of the difference signal and another signal as an input signal; and a unit that calculates an error signal between an output signal of the adaptive filter unit and a signal having correlation with the another signal being set as a desired signal. Characteristics of the adaptive filter are changed by using the error signal. Further, characteristics of the variable filter are changed in accordance with a change in the characteristics of the adaptive filter.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided that comprises: an image acquisition unit that acquires an image; a position specification unit that specifies one facial image from the image; a face correlation unit that correlates the specified facial image with face information obtained by compiling one or more stored feature values stored in a storage unit, thereby identifying one or more correlated feature values; a feature value extraction unit that extracts an extracted feature value of the specified facial image; and a storage control unit that compares the extracted feature value with the one or more correlated feature values of the face information correlated with the specified facial image, and causes the storage unit to additionally store the extracted feature value, as a storable feature value, as the face information when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

Abstract: In cases where forthcoming recording of information on a multi-layer optical disc is first time one, test signals are recorded on trial write areas in first and second recording layers before being reproduced. First-time optimum recording powers of the laser beam for the respective first and second recording layers are decided in response to the reproduced test signals. In cases where forthcoming recording is not first time one, the test signals are recorded on only the trial write area in the first recording layer before being reproduced. A new optimum recording power for the first recording layer is described in response to the reproduced test signals. Thereafter, a new optimum recording power for the second recording layer is calculated from (1) the new optimum recording power for the first recording layer and (2) the ratio between the first-time optimum recording powers for the first and second recording layers.

Abstract: An optical disc of a recordable type or a rewritable type has a plurality of recording layers including first and second recording layers. A laser beam is applied to the second recording layer through a used area in the first recording layer to record arbitrary information on at least a part of the second recording layer. The used area in the first recording layer has been used for at least one of information recording and data recording. Positional information is generated. The generated positional information is of a blank area in the second recording layer which occurs due to the presence of an unused area in the first recording layer. The blank area adjoins the unused area. The generated positional information is recorded on a predetermined area in the optical disc.

Abstract: Test signals are recorded on a prescribed area in an optical disc. The prescribed area is scanned by a laser beam while the power of the laser beam is changed among different DC erasing values. The different DC erasing values are assigned to the recorded test signals, respectively. The recorded test signals are reproduced from the prescribed area to obtain reproduced signals. Parameter values of the respective reproduced signals are detected. The detected parameter values correspond to the different DC erasing values, respectively. Among the detected parameter values, a detected parameter value is decided which matches a target. One corresponding to the decided parameter value is selected from the different DC erasing values. A prescribed coefficient and the selected DC erasing value are multiplied to calculate an optimum level of an erasing power of the laser beam.

Abstract: A first data-recorded region is formed in one of multiple recording layers of a rewritable optical disc before a second data-recorded region is formed therein. A first on-disc position is related to an innermost position within the second data-recorded region. Information is reproduced from a recording management area of the disc. A second on-disc position is derived from the reproduced information. The second on-disc position is in substantial coincidence with an outermost position within the first data-recorded region. The first on-disc position and the second on-disc position are compared to decide whether an unused portion is present in or absent from a region therebetween. When the unused portion is present, padding data is recorded thereon. The second on-disc position is updated into substantial coincidence with an outermost position within the second data-recorded region. The information in the recording management area is updated to reflect the updated second on-disc position.

Abstract: An optical disc of a recordable type or a rewritable type has a plurality of recording layers including first and second recording layers. A laser beam is applied to the second recording layer through a used area in the first recording layer to record arbitrary information on at least a part of the second recording layer. The used area in the first recording layer has been used for at least one of information recording and data recording. Positional information is generated. The generated positional information is of a blank area in the second recording layer which occurs due to the presence of an unused area in the first recording layer. The blank area adjoins the unused area. The generated positional information is recorded on a predetermined area in the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical disc of a recordable type or a rewritable type has a plurality of recording layers including first and second recording layers. A laser beam is applied to the second recording layer through a used area in the first recording layer to record arbitrary information on at least a part of the second recording layer. The used area in the first recording layer has been used for at least one of information recording and data recording. Positional information is generated. The generated positional information is of a blank area in the second recording layer which occurs due to the presence of an unused area in the first recording layer. The blank area adjoins the unused area. The generated positional information is recorded on a predetermined area in the optical disc.

Abstract: Test signals are recorded on a prescribed area in an optical disc. The prescribed area is scanned by a laser beam while the power of the laser beam is changed among different DC erasing values. The different DC erasing values are assigned to the recorded test signals, respectively. The recorded test signals are reproduced from the prescribed area to obtain reproduced signals. Parameter values of the respective reproduced signals are detected. The detected parameter values correspond to the different DC erasing values, respectively. Among the detected parameter values, a detected parameter value is decided which matches a target. One corresponding to the decided parameter value is selected from the different DC erasing values. A prescribed coefficient and the selected DC erasing value are multiplied to calculate an optimum level of an erasing power of the laser beam.

Abstract: A first data-recorded region is formed in one of multiple recording layers of a rewritable optical disc before a second data-recorded region is formed therein. A first on-disc position is related to an innermost position within the second data-recorded region. Information is reproduced from a recording management area of the disc. A second on-disc position is derived from the reproduced information. The second on-disc position is in substantial coincidence with an outermost position within the first data-recorded region. The first on-disc position and the second on-disc position are compared to decide whether an unused portion is present in or absent from a region therebetween. When the unused portion is present, padding data is recorded thereon. The second on-disc position is updated into substantial coincidence with an outermost position within the second data-recorded region. The information in the recording management area is updated to reflect the updated second on-disc position.

Abstract: A rewritable optical disc has a laminate of first and second recording layers with first and second trial write areas respectively. Sections of the first trial write area are sequentially used in an order accorded with a direction from an outer disc edge toward an inner disc edge. Sections of the second trial write area are sequentially used in an order accorded with a direction from the inner disc edge toward the outer disc edge. The distance between an innermost used section of the first trial write area and an outermost used section of the second trial write area is calculated. A decision is made as to whether or not the calculated distance is greater than a threshold value. All the used sections in the first and second trial write areas are subjected to signal erasure when the calculated distance is not greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: In cases where forthcoming recording of information on a multi-layer optical disc is first time one, test signals are recorded on trial write areas in first and second recording layers before being reproduced. First-time optimum recording powers of the laser beam for the respective first and second recording layers are decided in response to the reproduced test signals. In cases where forthcoming recording is not first time one, the test signals are recorded on only the trial write area in the first recording layer before being reproduced. A new optimum recording power for the first recording layer is decided in response to the reproduced test signals. Thereafter, a new optimum recording power for the second recording layer is calculated from (1) the new optimum recording power for the first recording layer and (2) the ratio between the first-time optimum recording powers for the first and second recording layers.

Abstract: An optical disc of a recordable type or a rewritable type has a plurality of recording layers including first and second recording layers. A laser beam is applied to the second recording layer through a used area in the first recording layer to record arbitrary information on at least a part of the second recording layer. The used area in the first recording layer has been used for at least one of information recording and data recording. Positional information is generated. The generated positional information is of a blank area in the second recording layer which occurs due to the presence of an unused area in the first recording layer. The blank area adjoins the unused area. The generated positional information is recorded on a predetermined area in the optical disc.

Abstract: Code words, which correspond to orthogonal-transform-resultant coefficients having order numbers equal to or higher than an order number “n+1”, are deleted from code words composing each 1-intra-frame segment of an input digital picture signal to generate special picture data with a frame period NS on the basis of the input digital picture signal. Estimation is made as to a code amount CF(nmin) of special picture data generated by deleting code words, which correspond to orthogonal-transform-resultant coefficients having order numbers equal to or higher than an order number “nmin+1”, from code words composing a 1-intra-frame segment of the input digital picture signal, where “nmin” denotes a lower limit of an order number “n”. The frame period NS of the special picture data and a target code amount C are decided so that the estimated code amount CF(nmin) will be equal to or smaller than the target code amount C.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus for recording information signals on a recording medium as a track pattern having two tracks adjacent to each other, and for reproducing the information signals recorded on the recording medium. The apparatus comprises pre-reproduction device for reproducing the information signal recorded on one of the two tracks adjacent to each other on the recording medium upon rewriting for a renewal of the information signal recorded on another of the two tracks; and re-recording device for re-recording the information signal reproduced by the pre-reproduction device on an identical position as being initially recorded on the one of the two tracks in the recording medium.

Abstract: An image information compression and decompression device produces a low frequency band signal suitable for reproduction of a standard definition (SD) image and a combined high frequency band signal which, when processed together with the low frequency band signal, can reproduce a high definition (HD) image. These signals are derived from a high definition (HD) image signal and are subjected to motion compensation prediction coding. An I picture of the HD image is divided into a plurality of band signals which are coded and quantized by a coding/quantizing circuit. Thus, an intra-plane coding of the divided image signal is performed for the I picture. For a P picture of the HD image, a low frequency band signal is derived and a combined high frequency band signal excluding the low frequency band signal is produced. The low frequency band signal and the combined high frequency band signal are subjected to motion compensation prediction coding by a motion compensation prediction coding circuit.

Abstract: A standard definition (SD) corresponding image is derived from a high definition (HD) image by performing a vertical line sub-sampling for every field with a ratio of an N:1, where N is an odd number greater than 1. One of the simple sub-sampling methods, the pyramidal coding method and the sub-band coding method may be used. For first fields, every third line is derived. For the remaining fields, every third line positioned at the center of the lines derived from the first field is derived by taking positional relation thereof on a reproduced image screen into consideration. As a result, it is possible to obtain an SD corresponding image having an unbroken interlace structure.