Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for image complexity estimation and selective complexity-based image processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for processing image data of an optical mouse. In the method for processing image data of an optical mouse, direction and size values of motion vectors which are image data consecutively inputted from an image pixel array are filtered with respect to X and Y axes by a filter. A predetermined number of motion vectors converted by and outputted from the filter are accumulated, and the accumulated values are mapped to conversion values to attenuate noise components and amplify directionality of the motion vectors depending on a speed of the optical mouse by a mapper. The values mapped by the mapper in a plurality of pipes are stored, and a value obtained by adding the plural stored values to each other and dividing the added result value by a conversion factor is transmitted to a personal computer (PC) interface such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or PS/2.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for expanding the frequency band of enhancement to increase the effect of improvement of the image quality and realizing enhancement in two dimensions for an image signal by a simple circuit configuration, provided with a vertical high-pass filter, a vertical low-pass filter, a horizontal high-pass filter, and a horizontal low-pass filter as enhancers which extract high frequency components and low frequency components in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively and switches for appropriately selecting a signal of predetermined frequency components in the vertical and horizontal directions to enhance a signal of a predetermined frequency band. Accordingly, two-dimensional filtering is able to be achieved using one-dimensional filters in the vertical and horizontal directions and the enhancement effect can be improved by appropriately selecting the enhancement mode in accordance with the characteristic of the image signal.

Abstract: When a CG object is overlapped onto a photographed real scenery image as a background and an image of a photographed real photographic subject is synthesized in front of the overlapped image, an image in which the photographed real background and the photographic subject are imaged simultaneously without imaging the photographed real background and the photographic subject independently, is synthesized with CG. A photographed real image including a specific image is acquired, and area information representing an area of the specific image from the photographed real image, and an area other than the area of the specific image of the photographed real image is synthesized with a computer graphics image using the area information so detected.

Abstract: A method of transferring a representation of an image to a surface (12) of a building (14). The method comprising receiving the image as an image file, converting the image file to a raster file comprising a series of dots, scaling the raster file to the surface and dividing the raster file into a plurality of sub-components, associating the dots with markings (26), and transferring the markings (26) onto a plurality of metal sheets (24). The markings (26) may be indentations, holes, and/or bumps. The dots may be manipulated to accommodate features (20) of the surface (12), such as windows, doors, indicia (22), and edges of the sheets (24). The markings (26) are preferably transferred to the sheets (24) by a metal working machine (28). Thus, the method may include generating one or more control files that may be used by the machine (28).

Abstract: Image interpolation is becoming an increasingly important topic in digital image processing, especially as consumer digital photography is becoming ever more popular. From enlarging consumer images to creating large artistic prints, interpolation is at the heart of it all. This invention present a new method for image interpolation, which produces high quality results, yet it's speed is comparable to polynomial interpolation (i.e. cubic interpolation).

Abstract: An image reading device is provided which can read an image at a wide dynamic range and which can be constructed at low cost. Film images which are recorded on a photographic film undergo a preliminary reading by an area CCD. On the basis of the image data obtained from the reading, the density of each LCD cell of an LCD when performing the main scanning of the image can be calculated so that the amount of incident light on the area CCD is as great as possible without saturation of the accumulated charge in each photoelectric conversion cell occurring. The film image then undergoes the main reading with the density of each LCD cell of the LCD controlled so as to be the above calculated density.

Abstract: A polarization-shaped duobinary optical transmission apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a light source that generates light having a continuous wave, an optical intensity modulator that converts the light into an optical intensity signal based upon an input electric signal and a differential encoder that encodes the input electric signal. The apparatus also includes a delay element that delays the encoded electric signal and a polarization-shaped modulator that polarization-modulates the signal modulated optical intensity by using the delayed signal.

Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide based surface plasmon resonance biosensor is formed by detecting amplitude and phase of electromagnetic waves utilizing interferometry and/or optical delay configurations.

Abstract: A portable waveguide sensor having one or more gratings. In one embodiment, the sensor has a waveguide, wherein a plurality of grooves imprinted onto the waveguide form a Bragg grating. The surface of the grooves has a functional layer adapted to bind a substance of interest, e.g., a biological pathogen. When the pathogen binds to the functional layer, the binding shifts the spectral reflection band corresponding to the Bragg grating such that a probe light previously reflected by the grating now passes through the grating, thereby indicating the presence of the pathogen. In another embodiment, the sensor has a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), one arm of which has a resonator formed by two Bragg gratings. The surface of the resonator between the gratings has a functional layer whereas the Bragg gratings themselves do not have such a layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a fiber-optic sensing system for measuring a curvature in a small and elongated cavity of an object. The system includes a light source, an optical fiber and a light signal reflecting device disposed at a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical source emits a light signal into the optical fiber. The distal section of the optical fiber is inserted into the cavity of the object which curvature is to be measured. The curvature of the cavity bends the distal section of the optical fiber so that attenuation of light signal transmitting through the distal section occurs. This attenuated signal is reflected by a reflecting device and coupled into a measuring device. Thereby the curvature is deduced in accordance with the amount of energy attenuation in the reflected light signal.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a variable optical delay line with a large continuous tuning range comprises an incremental variable delay line to provide delay selected from a sequence of incrementally differing delays and a continuous variable delay line to provide a continuously variable delay over a range encompassing a delay increment in the first variable delay line. In a preferred embodiment, the first variable delay line comprises an array of delay paths where each path is curved differently from the others to provide an incrementally different delay. The second variable delay line is a tunable delay path continuously tunable over the delay increment of the first.

Abstract: An optical fiber wound onto an exterior surface of a composite structure in a two-dimensional pattern and adhered thereto to detect damage to the structure caused by impacts to or handling of the composite structure.

Abstract: The invention relates a planar optical circuit having at least one functional layer with structures for guidance, changing, regulation, control, production and/or detection of optical signals, a carrier substrate on which the at least one functional layer is formed, and at least two physically separate functional units which are formed in the at least one functional layer on the carrier substrate. According to the invention, the at least two functional units (2, 3) are thermally separated from one another by at least one trench structure (4) in the functional layer (11) and/or in the carrier substrate (11).

Abstract: Techniques for circuit board processing are provided. In one aspect, a method of processing a circuit board having one or more optical waveguides associated therewith is provided. The method comprises the following steps. One or more etch stop layers in proximity to the one or more waveguides are provided, at least one of the etch stop layers comprising one or more fiducials therein. From a surface of the circuit board, the one or more etch stop layers are used to selectively remove material to provide openings having a defined positioning and depth in the circuit board. A circuit board having one or more optical waveguides associated therewith is also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes forming an array of recesses in a substrate, depositing spacer material in the recesses, forming photonic elements on the spacer material, and separating the structure previously formed into individual dies that each include a photonic element, spacer material and substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides an electro-optic hybrid circuit board having an optical waveguide superposed on a wiring circuit board, the electro-optic hybrid circuit board comprising: an insulating layer; a conductor pattern formed on the insulating layer; an undercladding layer formed on the conductor pattern-having insulating layer so as to surround the conductor pattern; a core layer formed on the undercladding layer; and an overcladding layer formed to cover the core layer and the undercladding layer.

Abstract: A method for measuring the optical absorbance of a sample medium with a microfluidic chip that includes a substrate defining a microfluidic channel, a microresonator positioned within the microfluidic channel, and at least one waveguide or coupling surface evanescently coupled to the microresonator such that only supported Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) resonance frequencies are transmitted from the waveguide or coupling surface into the microresonator. A sample medium is disposed into the microfluidic channel to substantially envelop the microresonator and a reader is provided to measure at least a portion of the WGM frequencies transmitted out of the microresonator.

Abstract: An optoelectric converting substrate includes a substrate, at least one honeycomb-shaped micro-structured optical waveguide embedded in the substrate and having two ends exposed through the substrate, a plurality of optoelectronic elements disposed on the substrate and coupled with the two ends of the honeycomb-shaped micro-structured optical waveguide, and a plurality of IC driving elements disposed on the substrate and electrically connected with the optoelectronic elements by conductive wires to drive the optoelectronic elements such that optical signals are transmitted through the honeycomb-shaped micro-structured optical waveguide. The optoelectric converting substrate can be easily fabricated at a low cost and effectively increases the displacement tolerance of the optoelectronic elements in substrate packaging.

Abstract: A system and method of optically routing wavelength channels from within a plurality of optical inputs to any of a plurality of optical outputs. An optical wavelength-selective cross connect (WSXC) switch is described with a first stage of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) routers which support an optical input and a plurality of optical outputs, which are interconnected to a second stage of WDM routers having a plurality of optical inputs and an optical output. The wavelength channel is routed in two stages from one of the input stage routers to an output stage router for output. It should be appreciated that the WSXC switch of the invention can be utilized for passing optical signals in either direction. In a preferred implementation integrated circuit router chips are stacked into cubes to form the routers stages which are cross coupled using a twisted butt joint to form a WSXC switch.

Abstract: A wavelength selective switch is provided with a multiplexer such that both colourless (wavelength non-specific) and coloured (wavelength specific) ports are available. A waveguide device is employed with dispersive elements having different characteristics to realize the colourless and coloured ports within one waveguide device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical system for decoding, switching, demultiplexing, and routing of optical encoded data signals, including: at least first and second layers, each layer including at least one demultiplexing system having an input and a plurality of outputs, each of the outputs including a decoding device, wherein each of the demultiplexing systems is capable of performing a function selected from a group of functions including decoding, switching, demultiplexing, and routing for producing decoded signals at the outputs in response to the encoded data symbols received at the input; and a coupling mechanism for optically coupling one or more demultiplexing systems of the first layer with one or more demultiplexing systems of the second layer, by respectively coupling one of the plurality of outputs of the demultiplexing system of the first layer with the input of the demultiplexing system of the second layer.

Abstract: An optical transceiver antenna has a pair of cartridges supported by a pan/tilt mount. A lens at forward end of a cartridge interfaces light between an end of a light relay element retained by an axial deflection device and free space. The forward end of a cartridge also terminates first ends of actuator wires that are mutually rotationally displaced a distance of 90° from one another in a plane normal to a boresight axis of the antenna. The actuator wires have second wire terminations at the axial deflection device which are mutually rotationally displaced a distance of 90° from one another in a plane passing through the axial deflection device normal to the boresight axis. Heating currents are supplied to the actuator wires, causing their lengths to change, thereby flexing the axial deflection device and light relay element off boresight.

Abstract: A passive temperature-compensated optical grating arrangement includes a housing of low CTE material, with the optical grating stretched across the housing between a first, fixed sidewall and a lever arm, the lever arm also being formed of a low CTE material. An expansion element of high CTE material is attached to the frame and disposed to contact the lever arm, resulting in rotating the lever arm as changes in temperature change the dimensions of the expansion element. By properly sizing the lever arm and the expansion element, changes in grating wavelength as a function of temperature can be compensated for by adjusting the strain applied to the grating as it is pulled or compressed as the lever arm is moved.

Abstract: In an optical grating device, a grating arrangement receives different wavelength output signals from a plurality of radiation sources at input ports thereof, and generates therefrom a multiplexed wavelength output signal at a zero diffraction order output port of the grating arrangement. Additionally, the gating arrangement generates at least one predetermined wavelength output signal at one of a group consisting of a separate predetermined location in an at least one of a symmetric non-zero diffraction order of the grating arrangement, within the grating arrangement itself, and a combination thereof. A separate power tap is coupled to detect the power of a separate one of the at least one predetermined wavelength output signal from the grating arrangement.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical waveguide device and an optical waveguide module having the function to multiplex/demultiplex or couple/decouple optical signals and particularly to provide an optical waveguide device and an optical waveguide module for realizing low optical loss, reducing wavelength dependence and ensuring easier shape management in the manufacturing and inspection processes. The optical waveguide device and optical waveguide module are provided with a substrate, one or more first waveguides, a plurality of second waveguides, and a slab waveguide for connecting the first waveguides and the second waveguides. At a region where the second waveguides are connected to the slab waveguide, a plurality of waveguide paths are provided for respectively connecting the second waveguides. Width of the waveguide paths is constant. The width of the separation gap between waveguide paths progressively increases as it becomes further away from the slab waveguide.

Abstract: A fiber optic module is provided that effectively reduces a returned light and is manufactured by a low time and cost consuming process and electronic equipment. The fiber optic transceiver module includes a block that includes an optical waveguide and a guide that is provided to one end of the optical waveguide and is a concave portion into which an optical fiber is inserted, and a micro tile-like element that includes a light emitting element or a light receiving element is attached to the block. A light emitting part of the light emitting element or a light receiving part of the light receiving element is disposed so as to face the other end of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide includes a branch having a blind end.

Abstract: A coupler-multiplexer permutation switch (CMPS) integrates multiplexng and switching functions on a single substrate. It has a single-mode/multi-mode backward coupler followed by a digital optical switch (DOS). In the CMPS, the single-mode waveguide channels are phase-matched through a grating with the corresponding, backward-propagating modes of a multi-mode waveguide. The different modes are subsequently separated in a digital optical switch. Different permutations are obtained by electronically controlling an effective-index distribution of DOS output waveguides.

Abstract: Provided is an optical transmission substrate including: a first substrate; an optical waveguide which has clad covering a core and a periphery of the core and extends on an upper surface of the first substrate; a second substrate provided parallel to the first substrate so that a lower surface thereof contacts an upper surface of the optical waveguide; a reflection surface which is provided on a cross section of the core at an end of the optical waveguide and reflects light, which travels through the core of the optical waveguide, toward the second substrate; and a light guide which is provided in the second substrate and guides the light, which is reflected toward the second substrate, toward an upper surface of the second substrate from a position closer to the core than an upper surface of the clad.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns optical components such as optical signal transmitter ports. One example of an optical signal transmitter port includes a nose body of single piece construction that has a bendable portion configured to facilitate alignment of an optical axis of the nose body with an optical axis of an optical signal associated with the optical signal transmitter port. The optical signal transmitter port further includes an optical source assembly having an optical signal housing within which is disposed an optical emitter such as a laser. The optical signal housing is partially received within the nose body.

Abstract: A cable element and a method of making the same, in which the cable element has a central strength member, a plurality of buffer tubes are disposed on the central strength member, each of the plurality of buffer tubes encloses at least one signal transmission element, and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is provided on the central strength member. The pressure sensitive adhesive is a repositionable adhesive and releasably couples the plurality of buffer tubes to the central strength member such that the plurality of buffer tubes can be coupled and uncoupled repeatedly from the central strength member.

Abstract: An intermediate polymer preform of elongated shape for manufacturing a microstructured optical fibre is made from a mould with a tubular par containing a pattern of hole generating elements (wires, rods or tubes) extending along it. The hole generating elements are releasably attached to an upper and to a lower base of the mould. The mould is cleaned by circulating a filtered solvent in it. The mould is filled with a fluid polymer optical material or polymer precursor. The polymer material or precursor is consolidated so that it cannot change its shape under operating stress conditions at ambient temperature. The hole generating elements are released from the upper and lower base. The consolidated core preform is extracted from the mould. The process can further include calibrating the intermediate preform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber having a configuration which enables utilization of nonlinear phenomena in the near-infrared region. The optical fiber is directed to a holey fiber having a core region extending along a predetermined axis and a cladding region with plural holes arranged along the core region. The plural holes are arranged to constitute plural layers about the core region in the cross-section orthogonal to the predetermined axis. The three holes constituting the first layer (the innermost layer) closest to the core region correspond to three vertexes from among the six vertexes of a regular hexagon and are placed such that the arrangement of the three holes has three-fold rotational symmetry. The optical fiber enables utilization of nonlinear phenomena in the near-infrared region, by properly adjusting the hole diameter d and the pitch L between adjacent holes from among the holes constituting a single layer.

Abstract: A heat-treatment apparatus according to the present invention comprises a sheet-like heating body, which is bent like a letter “U”, and a heat equalizing plate constituted by a metal plate bonded to a heat generating part of the sheet-like heating body. The heat equalizing plate is bonded to the inner surface of the sheet-like heating body bent like a letter “U”. Alternatively, a fluorocarbon resin is coated on the surface of the heat equalizing plate.

Abstract: An optical connector cleaning tool includes a tool body, a driving mechanism that moves a cleaning member, an insertion portion that protrudes from the tool body, with a cleaning member disposed at the projected distal end from the tool body and able, by insertion in a connector housing, to cause the portion of the cleaning member disposed at the projected distal end to abut against the connection end face of the optical connector housed in the connector housing, and a connector cleaning guide that positions an optical connector outside the connector housing and the insertion portion and causes the cleaning member and the connection end face of the optical connector to abut, a connector cleaning guide having a first port in which the optical connector can be inserted and a second port in which the insertion portion can be inserted.

Abstract: In a method for producing a termination of an optical fiber bundle, the optical fiber bundle is combined at one end in a crimping sleeve, and the crimping sleeve is introduced with the end of the optical fiber bundle into a compression device having a crimping tool which matches the end geometry of the optical fiber bundle. Advantageous effects are achieved by the fact that the crimping sleeve is compression molded over the end of the optical fiber bundle with a predetermined crimping force by the crimping tool, and in that the crimping force is regulated during the compression molding process depending on the material of the crimping sleeve. In this case, the compression molding process is begun, carried out and ended depending on the distance, time and/or force by a regulating unit.

Abstract: Two mirrors (15) and (16) making an angle of 90 degrees are formed on a front face of a mirror member (17). An optical fiber for input (12) and an optical fiber for output (13) are held in a fiber array (14) with a predetermined interval, and an emission lens (23) and an injection lens (24) are provided on a front face of the fiber array (14) in a way that they are opposed to end faces of the optical fiber for input (12) and the optical fiber for output (13) respectively. According to the variable optical attenuator, when the mirror member (17) is straightly moved by an actuator (18), light attenuation can be varied thereby.

Abstract: A backlight unit that makes it sure to assemble many optical members in a casing in a right order with their right attitude in its assembly stage is provided. Each of the optical members to be assembled in a predetermined order has a protruding part including at least one protrusion. A count of the protrusions of each member is increased according to the predetermined assembly order. The casing has a depressed part for receiving the protrusions of the members, the depressed part including notches or depressions corresponding to the protrusions of the optical members. Each of the notches or depressions has a depth in a stacking direction that varies according to stacking state of the optical members. The notches or depressions may be formed to penetrate through the casing to thereby confirm easily the order and attitude of the assembled members after the assembly operation.

Abstract: A waveguide array is fabricated by providing a photoreactive material and generating an optical intensity pattern corresponding to a geometry of the waveguide array. A relative translation of the photoreactive material is effected through the optical intensity pattern. Thereafter, the photoreactive material is rendered substantially unreactive to light at at least a wavelength of the optical intensity pattern.

Abstract: A jitter correcting apparatus and method for a video signal in a video signal reproduction system includes a digital video decoder for demodulating an externally-applied video signal and a phase-locked loop for generating a first clock signal synchronized with the video signal. The system includes an address generator, a comparator and a dual port memory device. The address generator generates a write address for writing the video signal in response to the first clock signal, generates a read address for reading the video signal in response to a second clock signal having a fixed frequency, and corrects the write and read addresses in response to a head switching signal and first and second comparison signals. The comparator compares the write address with the read address and generates the first comparison signal and the second comparison signal according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: The remaining capacity of a recording medium is calculated when picture recording reservation is made so as to permit the user to easily understand the reservation status and whether the reservation recording is possible or not. An apparatus of this invention can record and reproduce compressed video information on a contained hard disk in a format of the same DVD standard and can record and reproduce compressed video information on a removable DVD. Further, it is possible to specify a disk and make picture recording reservation and a reservation table thereof is stored in a memory. Then, picture recording reservation time information and the remaining capacity of the disk are calculated and whether or not reservation picture recording can be made can be displayed in a list form.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for automatic insertion of a compressed GOP offset table within a previously encoded MPEG video file, for frame accurate random access of each individual video frame in play-from-offset mode. The method creates a compressed GOP offset table having an entry for each GOP header of every video packet of the MPEG video file, and modifies the MPEG video file by inserting the compressed GOP offset table before the MPEG video file as at least one padding packet, thereby preserving the MPEG compliance and compressed audio/video data of the MPEG video file. The method further has a step for estimating a number of padding packets needed for the GOP offset table, thereby limiting the MPEG video file reading to a single read.

Abstract: When trick play modes are implemented using a lookup table cross-referencing content divided into sectors of specific size with content encoding unit information, an accurate playback start time code cannot be detected because the total content playback time is not clear. A trick play method for digital storage media used to record and reproduce multimedia content resolves this problem and enables random access playback, fast-forward play, fast-reverse play and other trick play modes from any desired position in the content by recording program content segmented into media object units, each recorded as a separate file; recording a program manager file containing a media object information table; recording a media object information file containing playback time information and entry points at a specific time interval for each media object, and recording a playlist manager file containing a table of user-specified playback start program IDs and playback start time and end time information.

Abstract: In a video disk recording/playback device for converting a digital video signal or the like into high-efficiency coded data and recording the coded data on a video disk, or for restoring high-efficiency coded data recorded on the video disk and reproducing an output image, wherein said digital video signal is composed of a succession of video signals of a plurality of frames and including an I picture encoded within a frame, a P picture interframe coded by forward motion compensation with reference to said I picture and/or another P picture, and a B picture interframe coded by motion compensation in both directions with reference to said I and/or P pictures temporally preceding and succeeding the B picture, there are further provided a means for recording in an image information table set up on said video disk all of the start addresses of coded data representing selected images such as images to be retrieved and the start addresses of data containing information required for reproducing the coded data.

Abstract: The invention provides an information recording apparatus and method by which unattended recording can be executed in accordance with a set condition. If a hard disk recorder recognizes that unattended recording set by a user cannot be executed because of insufficient free capacity of a built-in hard disk, then it transmits a notification of the insufficient capacity from a communication antenna to a mobile phone of the user. The notification transmitted from the hard disk recorder is converted by a management server into data of a data format which can be output by the mobile phone, and then transmitted to the mobile phone. The user will confirm the notification of the insufficient capacity on the mobile phone and issue a request for data of the programs already stored on the hard disk recorder. The user will select a program to be erased based on the program data stored in the hard disk recorder and erase the selected program to assure the sufficient free capacity of the hard disk recorder.

Abstract: A system and method provides a detailed edit schedule for a user's recording device, such as a digital video recorder. The detailed edit schedule can be provided over a network by the user's DVR service provider, or can be provided from a third party. The detailed edit schedule describes various segments that occur within the program. This information is used by a digital video recorder to identify program segments of interest to the user. When program segments are identified, the individual segments are recorded rather than recording the entire program. The program segments can also include commercials matching the user's interests. The DVR keeps track of scenes that the user records and sends the information, along with the user's demographic information, back to the DVR service provider for creating reports for sponsors showing which commercials and program segments were watched or recorded by different groups of people.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproduction apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data onto and/or from a storage medium is disclosed. The recording and/or reproduction apparatus includes a recording and/or reproduction section for recording and/or reproducing data onto and/or from the storage medium, a communication section for communicating with an external apparatus, a memory for storing operation screen information corresponding to the recording and/or reproduction section, a transmission controller for controlling the communication section to transmit the operation screen information to the external apparatus, and a controller operable when the communication section receives operation information to the operation screen information displayed on the external apparatus for controlling the recording and/or reproduction section in accordance with the operation information.

Abstract: An information recording method for recording information on a recording medium, including providing a recording medium having first and second areas, the first area for recording ands reproducing video information, the second area for recording manager information, the manager information being referred to when the video information in the first area is reproduced, the video information including an object file for storing movie and/or still video objects, the manager information including video manager information containing information related to the movie and/or still video objects stored in the object file, the object file including manufacturer's information, the manufacturer's information including manufacturer ID and manufacturer's data, recording the movie and/or still video objects in the object file, recording the video manager information in a third area in the second area, and recording the manufacturer ID and manufacturer's data of a specific manufacturer in a fourth area in the object file.

Abstract: A phase standard position signal generator generates a phase standard position signal of a predetermined period indicating the phase standard position of an image signal of 24 frames/second format, for recordation into a recording reproducing medium. In reproducing from the recording reproducing medium, a phase standard position sensor senses the phase standard position signal. A counter performs frequency quintuplication of the phase standard position signal and counts the period of the frequency-quintupled signal. A time code reader reads a 24 Hz time code value from the recording reproducing medium. A time code generator calculates a 30 Hz time code with the use of the counted value given by the counter and the 24 Hz time code value. Thus, the time code of 24 Hz period is converted into the 30 Hz time code with high precision even in variable-speed reproduction.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating carbon monoxide comprising an enclosure (6) having an inlet and an outlet at least one of which is provided with means (8) restricting air flow from the inlet to the outlet, a container (1) located within the enclosure (6) arranged to receive carbon material (2) in intimate contact with an electrical heating element (3), and means (5) for causing air to move from the inlet to the outlet.