Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for magnetoresistive asymmetry compensation using a hybrid analog and digital compensation scheme. In certain embodiments, a method may comprise receiving an analog signal at a continuous-time front end (CTFE) circuit, and performing, via the CTFE circuit, first magnetoresistive asymmetry (MRA) compensation on the analog signal to adjust the dynamic range of the analog signal based on an input range of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The method may further comprise converting the analog signal to a digital sample sequence via the ADC, and performing, via a digital MRA compensation circuit, second MRA compensation to correct residual MRA in the digital sample sequence. Offset compensation may also be performed in both the analog and digital domains.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium for automatically generating a combined display of measurement data representing a combined measurement, such as a multiphase parameter, includes establishing, by a mobile computing device, communication connections with a plurality of measurement devices configured to generate measurement data. The mobile computing device receives the measurement data generated by the plurality of measurement devices, and in response to information indicative of the measurement data representing related parts of a combined measurement, the mobile computing device automatically groups the measurement data received from the measurement devices and automatically displays the grouped measurement data in a combined display that shares at least one axis of measurement.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a roadway by comparing captured images to image inconsistencies caused by lost or unnecessary motion and for minimizing lost or unnecessary motion of an axle of a vehicle and filtering erroneous pulses of an electrical signal to generate a trigger signal to capture images is presented. The system enables the minimization of image artifacts causing distortion in an image. The system can take images of a target, compute an object pixel size of the image to ensure calibration of longitudinal measurements, and calibrate the rotary encoder with the camera of the machine vision system. The system can enable calibration of the locomotive components in the field to compensate for the misalignment of the machine vision system and provide safe travels.

Abstract: A wireless communication device and a wireless communication method are provided. When a master mode is set in a mode memory, a mode setting notification is transmitted to a different wireless communication device. When a mode setting permission notification for the mode setting notification is received from the different wireless communication device, the master mode is settled as a communication mode, and the master mode is set in the mode memory. When a slave mode is set in the mode memory and when a mode setting notification is received from the different wireless communication device, the slave mode is settled as the communication mode, the slave mode is set in the mode memory, and a mode setting permission notification is transmitted to the different wireless communication device. Thus, the communication mode can be automatically set in a pair of wireless communication devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for decoding video data, the apparatus comprising an entropy decoder configured to separate at least motion information, a quantization parameter and a quantized coefficient sequence from a coded bit stream by decoding the coded bit stream; an inverse quantizer/inverse transformer configured to convert the quantized coefficient sequence to a quantization block using a scan pattern, inversely quantize coefficients of the quantization block using the quantization parameter to generate a transform block, and inversely transform the transform block to generate a residual block; and a motion compensation predictor configured to generate a prediction block of a current prediction unit using a reference index and a motion vector derived from the motion information, wherein the inverse quantizer/inverse transformer inversely quantizes the coefficients of the quantization block by selecting two effective quantization parameters that are available and exist among left, upper, and previous quantization para

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a see-though display providing both eyes of a user with a view of a physical object, a processor, and a non-volatile storage device holding instructions executable by the processor to: display an image that corresponds to the physical object to a first eye of the user at an offset to the physical object; display blocking light to a second eye of the user; in response to alignment user input, move a position of the image relative to the physical object; in response to completion user input, determine the inter-pupillary distance of the user; and calibrate the head-mounted display device based on the inter-pupillary distance.

Abstract: A wireless communication device and a wireless communication method capable of curbing occurrence of latency even when performing wireless communication at predetermined time intervals are provided. MIDI data is transmitted and received by communication (B) performed through a wireless module during an intermission between communications (A) performed at predetermined time intervals through the wireless module. Accordingly, a communication speed for wireless communication is improved. Therefore, compared to a case in which wireless communication is performed by only the communication (A), MIDI data can be quickly transmitted and received, and thus occurrence of latency can be curbed.

Abstract: Data can be transmitted and represented by signal gaps in a transmission, the gaps having various attributes. In various examples, data points are encoded and represented by the attributes of said signal gaps. Various attributes of such gaps, including duration, pattern, quantity, time, and/or coordination with a gap in another signal can represent data.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus configured to: access blocks having a fixed size provided such that, among magnetic tapes having a redundant configuration, reverse time of one of the magnetic tapes and read time of the other magnetic tapes are identical; insert into each of the magnetic tapes a single first dummy block immediately after reversal of a first wrap; and insert one or more second dummy blocks into each of the other magnetic tapes immediately before the reversal of the first wrap such that different numbers of the one or more second dummy blocks are inserted into the different other magnetic tapes and inserting into each of the other magnetic tapes immediately after the reversal of the first wrap one or more third dummy blocks a number of which is equal to a number of the one or more second dummy blocks in each of the other magnetic tapes.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a roadway by comparing captured images to image inconsistencies caused by lost or unnecessary motion and for minimizing lost or unnecessary motion of an axle of a vehicle and filtering erroneous pulses of an electrical signal to generate a trigger signal to capture images is presented. The system enables the minimization of image artifacts causing distortion in an image. The system can take images of a target, compute an object pixel size of the image to ensure calibration of longitudinal measurements, and calibrate the rotary encoder with the camera of the machine vision system. The system can enable calibration of the locomotive components in the field to compensate for the misalignment of the machine vision system and provide safe travels.

Abstract: An error protection key generation method and system are provided, the method being used to generate a key for use in computing an error protection code for an input data value according to a chosen error protection scheme. The method comprises inputting a plurality of desired data value sizes, and then applying a key generation algorithm to generate a key for use in computing the error protection code for a maximum data value size amongst the plurality of data value sizes. The key generation algorithm is arranged so that it generates the key so as to comprise a plurality of sub-keys, where each sub-key is associated with one of the input data value sizes, and where each sub-key conforms to a key requirement of the error protection scheme. As a result, a generic key is produced containing a plurality of sub-keys, where each sub-key is associated with a particular desired data value size, and can be extracted and used independently given that each sub-key conforms to the error protection scheme requirements.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device is disclosed that includes an at least partially see-though display, a processor, and a non-volatile storage device holding instructions executable by the processor to: select an image that corresponds to a physical object viewable by the user; display the image at a perceived offset to the physical object; in response to alignment user input, move a perceived position of the image relative to the physical object; output an instruction to provide completion user input when the image appears to align with the physical object; when the completion user input is received, determine the inter-pupillary distance of the user; and calibrate the head mounted display device based on the inter-pupillary distance.

Abstract: A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU. The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus and method that are capable of enhancing encoding efficiency while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of encoding processing. The image processing apparatus includes an encoding mode setter that sets, in units of coding units having a hierarchical structure, whether a non-compression mode is to be selected as an encoding mode for encoding image data, the non-compression mode being an encoding mode in which the image data is output as encoded data, and an encoder that encodes the image data in units of the coding units in accordance with a mode set by the encoding mode setter. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus.

Abstract: Data can be transmitted and represented by signal gaps in a transmission, the gaps having various attributes. In various examples, data points are encoded and represented by the attributes of said signal gaps. Various attributes of such gaps, including duration, pattern, quantity, time, and/or coordination with a gap in another signal can represent data.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed to a companding method and system for reducing coding noise in an audio codec. A method of processing an audio signal comprises receiving an audio signal, classifying the audio signal as one of pure sinusoidal, hybrid, or pure transient signal using two defined threshold values, and selectively applying a companding operation by switching between a companding off mode, a companding on mode, and an average companding mode, comprising selecting between the companding on mode and the average companding mode for a classified hybrid signal using a companding rule that uses a temporal sharpness measure in a frequency domain.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for a first user to create intellectual property, in the form of digital media, then sell it to a second user. Users can collaborate to create intellectual property in an efficient manner by following a preferred procedure. The intellectual property can be distributed in an encrypted form which allows the intellectual property owner to specify the conditions of use that must be met for a specified intellectual property user to use the intellectual property. The user can authenticate the intellectual property in a distributed secure platform before final payment. The intellectual property owner can tag each copy of the intellectual property to trace the source of unauthorized copies.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence-based cross-language speech transcription method and apparatus, a device and a readable medium. The method includes pre-processing to-be-transcribed speech data to obtain multiple acoustic features, the to-be-transcribed speech data being represented in a first language; predicting a corresponding translation text after transcription of the speech data according to the multiple acoustic features and a pre-trained cross-language transcription model; wherein the translation text is represented in a second language which is different from the first language. According to the technical solution, it is unnecessary, upon cross-language speech transcription, to perform speech recognition first and then perform machine translation, but to directly perform cross-language transcription according to the pre-trained cross-language transcription model.

Abstract: A magnetic tape reading apparatus includes a reading element unit which includes: a plurality of reading elements which are disposed in a state of being adjacent to each other and each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in a magnetic tape; and an extraction unit which performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

Abstract: A magnetic tape apparatus includes a magnetic tape, a reading element unit and an extraction unit, in which a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.35, the reading element unit includes a plurality of reading elements each of which reads data by a linear scanning method from a specific track region including a reading target track in a track region included in the magnetic tape, and the extraction unit performs a waveform equalization process according to a deviation amount between positions of the magnetic tape and the reading element unit, with respect to each reading result for each reading element, to extract data derived from the reading target track from the reading result.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hair clipping device (10) comprising: a housing (14), a cutting assembly (16) for clipping hairs, a comb attachment (12) which is attachable to the housing (14), a drive unit (38) for moving the comb attachment (12) relative to the cutting assembly (16) between different comb positions in order to set a hair cut-length, a control unit (36) for controlling the drive unit (38), a memory unit (40), and a user interface (34).

Abstract: A method for execution by a processing system of a dispersed storage and task (DST) processing unit comprises: receiving one or more encoded data slices for storage; storing the one or more encoded data slices in one or more memories of a set of memories; determining a level redundancy for the one or more encoded data slices; generating redundancy information for the one or more encoded data slices in accordance with the level redundancy; storing the redundancy information in another one or more memories of the set of memories; determining to update the level of redundancy; determining an updated level of redundancy based on one or more of a storage utilization level and a storage reliability level; updating the redundancy information based on the updated level of redundancy and updating storage of the redundancy information based on the updated redundancy information.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field; a diagnostic circuit configured to generate a diagnostic signal, wherein the diagnostic signal is not dependent on a measured magnetic field; a signal path comprising an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during a measured time period and for processing the diagnostic signal during a diagnostic time period; and a switch coupled to receive the measured magnetic field signal and the diagnostic signal and direct the measured magnetic field signal to the signal path during the measured time period and direct the diagnostic signal to the signal path during the diagnostic time period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a signal comprise at least one circuit configured to generate a measured signal during a measured time period and a reference signal during a reference time period. Also included is at least one dual- or multi-path analog-to-digital converter comprising at least a first processing circuit configured to process the measured signal, at least a second processing circuit configured to process the reference signal, and a third processing circuit configured to process both the measured signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: There are provided portable recording/reproducing apparatus and a recording/reproducing system that have a wireless LAN function capable of setting sound record parameters and playback parameters by remote operation. The recording/reproducing apparatus has a Wi-Fi module and establishes Wi-Fi connection with a smartphone, and the like. Having established the Wi-Fi connection with the smartphone, the recording/reproducing apparatus receives setting values of the sound record parameters and those of the playback parameters from the smartphone, and reproduces the audio signal by use of the setting values. The smartphone acquires the setting values of the sound record parameters and the playback parameters by way of the Internet, and transmits the setting values to the recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: An image encoding apparatus is presented. A differential quantization parameter is generated by subtracting a quantization parameter predictor from a quantization parameter, and is entropy-coded. If two or more quantization parameters are available among a left quantization parameter, an above quantization parameter and a previous quantization parameter of a current coding unit, the quantization parameter predictor is generated using two available quantization parameters determined according a predetermined order, and if only one quantization parameter is available, the available quantization parameter is set as the quantization parameter predictor. A transform type for inversely transforming the residual signals is selected among a discrete cosine transform (DCT)-based integer transform and a discrete sign transform (DST)-based integer transform based on a prediction mode and a size of a transform unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for using a storlet erasure code object storage architecture for image processing. In one embodiment, an object is received, the object being represented as erasure coded bits. A storage location associated with the erasure coded bits is identified. A virtual machine (VM) is invoked, where the VM is configured to compute a modification to the erasure coded bits and replace the original erasure coded bits with the modified erasure coded bits.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a streaming media application. Media blocks of a media stream may be buffered at a quality level determined by an amount of available bandwidth. When excess bandwidth is made available, a higher quality replacement for a buffered media block may be obtained concurrent to streaming the media blocks. The replacement media block then replaces the lower quality media block in the buffer such that the higher quality replacement media block is rendered.

Abstract: An acoustic system comprises an output unit, a communication unit, a first output control unit, and a second output control unit. The output unit is configured to be capable of outputting a sound and an image. The communication unit is configured to be capable of communicating with an external device. The first output control unit is configured to receive, from a communication device that transmits a reproduction signal for acoustic data, the reproduction signal via the communication unit and to cause the output unit to output a sound based on the reproduction signal, to thereby perform reproduction of a series of sounds represented by the acoustic data. The second output control unit is configured to cause the output unit to output, as the image, a word corresponding to the sound outputted by the output unit among the series of sounds represented by the acoustic data.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide methods and systems for tracking performance of a storage system including one or more system resources. One or more threads may be generated to operate the storage system. Each of the one or more threads may be associated with one of a plurality of tasks of the storage system. When an operating state of one of the one or more threads is changed, one or more performance counters of the storage system may be updated. A performance snapshot may be generated by capturing a state of the tasks associated with the threads and the performance counters.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for state change in systems having devices coupled in a chained configuration. A number of embodiments include a host and a number of devices coupled to the host in a chained configuration. The chained configuration includes at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host. The at least one device that is not directly coupled to the host is configured to change from a first communication state to a second communication state responsive to receipt of a command from the host.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transposing signals in time and/or frequency and in particular to coding of audio signals. More particular, the present invention relates to high frequency reconstruction (HFR) methods including a frequency domain harmonic transposer. A method and system for generating a transposed output signal from an input signal using a transposition factor T is described. The system comprises an analysis window of length La, extracting a frame of the input signal, and an analysis transformation unit of order M transforming the samples into M complex coefficients. M is a function of the transposition factor T. The system further comprises a nonlinear processing unit altering the phase of the complex coefficients by using the transposition factor T, a synthesis transformation unit of order M transforming the altered coefficients into M altered samples, and a synthesis window of length Ls, generating a frame of the output signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes one or more processors and logic integrated with and/or executable by the one or more processors. The logic is configured to cause at least one of the processors to detect positive peak amplitudes and negative peak amplitudes of an unequalized readback signal that exhibits imperfect or bi-modal waveform peaks using a peak tracking threshold module positioned at an input to an equalizer. Also, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to track the positive peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes of the unequalized readback signal in a record. Moreover, the logic is configured to cause the at least one of the processors to provide, as an input to an asymmetry compensator, the record of the peak amplitudes and the negative peak amplitudes determined from the unequalized readback signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic tape device includes a read control configured to sequentially read records included in data sets from a tape medium into a buffer, and send the records included in the data sets to a host in response to determining that there is no C2 error during reading of the data sets. The read control is also configured to skip a predetermined error recovery process in accordance with a video special mode in response to detecting a C2 error during reading of the data sets.

Abstract: A method for writing a file from an application of a host onto a tape includes sequentially receiving records forming the file from the application, adding a predetermined number of segments of dummy data (dummy records) subsequently to the plurality of records forming the file such that the records of the file and records of a subsequent file are not included in the same data set, interposing the dummy records between a final record of the file and a head record of the subsequent (next) file, to thereby construct at least one data set that is adjacent to one data set and does not include the records of the file, and writing a data set including the records of the file, a data set (dummy data set) including the final record of the file and the dummy records, and a data set including the subsequent file, onto the tape.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for systems, devices and methods effective to detect a potential attack on a memory of a memory device. In some examples, a processor may send a request to the memory device. The request may include a request for information that relates to memory writes to the memory of the memory device. The processor may receive a response from the memory device. The response may include the information that relates to the memory writes. The processor may determine, based on the response, an amount of memory of the memory device written to during an interval of time. The processor may detect the potential attack based on the amount of memory written to and based on the interval of time. The processor may then generate an alert based on the detection of the potential attack.

Abstract: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) is enhanced by encoding at least a subset of control signals before the control signals are transmitted over a bus (e.g., a bus internal to a SoC) from a controller to an embedded nonvolatile memory (NVM). The error-detection code used causes an EMC event to introduce errors into the transmitted codewords with relatively high probability. In response to an error being detected in the transmitted codeword, a set of safeguarding operations are performed to prevent the data stored in the NVM from being uncontrollably changed.

Abstract: A memory device includes a controller, a multiplexer, a deserializer, a data modifier, a memory cell array and an error detector. The controller is configured to generate signals in response to an address signal and a command signal. The multiplexer is configured to output a clock signal as internal data signals when the test mode signal is activated. The deserializer is configured to deserialize N bit values included in the internal data signals to generate deserialized signals. The data modifier is configured to invert the deserialized signals to generate bit line signals in response to an inversion control signal and the data modifying signals. The memory cell array is configured to store the bit line signals to memory cells corresponding to the address signal. The error detector is configured to determine if an error exists in signals read from the memory cells and to output an error detecting signal.

Abstract: System and method for persistency free management of media storage including, during routine operation: continuously receiving streams of data; storing the streams of data in corresponding files in a non-volatile storage; including in the files a tag indicating whether the file is categorized as active or inactive; and when recovering from a crash: generating a list of active files by scanning the files and identifying active files. System and method for recovering after controller crash may include: during routine operation: continuously handling by the controller processes related to media metadata, by sending commands to a controlled device; sending state parameters related to the processes to the controlled device; and when recovering from the crash: retrieving the state parameters from the controlled device.

Abstract: An information processor includes a generator that is adapted to generate original sound data indicating an original sound as a basis for a processed sound to be heard by a user and a parameter indicating a content of processing on the original sound data, an original sound data output section that is adapted to output the original sound data generated by the generator from any channel of a plurality of channels, and a control signal output section that is adapted to output a control signal including the parameter and a correspondence relationship between the parameter and the channel for the original sound data to be processed by means of the parameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a reproduction apparatus. The reproduction apparatus may comprise an optical filter and electric filters. The optical filter may be configured to provide electrical signals corresponding to regions of an optical beam returning from an optical medium, the optical beam being incident on the optical filter, the regions of the optical beam corresponding to different bands in a line density direction and/or a track density direction. The electric filters may be configured to provide outputs based, at least in part, on the electrical signals provided by the optical filter, wherein the reproduction apparatus is configured to obtain a reproduced signal by combining the outputs of the electric filters.

Abstract: A media rendering system includes a controller device and a media rendering device in communication via a communication network. The media rendering device is configured to render a media recording. The controller device includes a sensor configured to detect and receive an audio portion of the rendered media recording. The controller device is configured to identify the rendered media recording, and to determine a location of the controller device within a proximity of the media rendering device.

Abstract: A method of communicating musical sound control data over a wireless network that includes receiving a plurality of data commands formatted according to a MIDI protocol; assigning a packet sequence number to each of the data commands to form a plurality of historical data payload packets; storing the historical data payload packets in a buffer; receiving at a wireless interface device an acknowledgment message having a feedback sequence number; removing from the buffer selected historical payload packets of the plurality of stored historical data payload packets, each of the selected historical data payload packets having a packet sequence number that is the same as or less than the feedback sequence number, such that the buffer stores non-selected data commands, each of the non-selected data commands associated with a packet sequence number greater than the feedback sequence number; and transmitting the non-selected historical payload packets over a wireless network.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a streaming media application. Media blocks of a media stream may be buffered at a quality level determined by an amount of available bandwidth. When excess bandwidth is made available, a higher quality replacement for a buffered media block may be obtained concurrent to streaming the media blocks. The replacement media block then replaces the lower quality media block in the buffer such that the higher quality replacement media block is rendered.

Abstract: A method for operating a memory includes receiving an input data set, saving a first level error correcting code ECC for the data in the input data set, saving second level ECCs for a plurality of second level groups of the data in the data set, storing the data set in the memory, and testing the data set to determine whether to use the first level ECC or the second level ECCs. The method includes, if the first level ECC is used, storing a flag enabling use of the first level ECC, else if the second level ECCs are used, storing a flag enabling use of the second level ECCs. The method includes storing the second level ECCs in a replacement ECC memory, and storing a pointer indicating locations of the second level ECCs in the replacement ECC memory.

Abstract: A method for dividing and displaying a content unit includes: extracting a sub-content unit which is generated by dividing an original content unit by a preset time interval; displaying the entire sub-content unit when receiving a sub-content unit display command; receiving a jump command that selects a replay time point for an arbitrary sub-content unit among the above sub-content units; and replaying and displaying the original content unit from the replay time point.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are related to current generators. A device may include a first integration path for charging a first integration capacitor during a first phase and a second integration path for charging a second integration capacitor during a second phase. The first integration capacitor may be configured for charging a capacitor coupled to an amplifier during the second phase and the second integration capacitor may be configured for charging the capacitor during the first phase.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from the host a video special mode for reading video data, and sequentially reading the records included in data sets from the tape medium into segments of a buffer. When there is a C2 error during reading of the data sets, a predetermined error recovery process is skipped in accordance with the video special mode. When management information (DSIT) for the data set having the C2 error is available for reading, sending of the record(s) included in the data set having the C2 error to the host is skipped. For the data set having the C2 error, the number of records to be skipped included in the data set having the C2 error based on and from the DSIT is obtained and indicated to the host.

Abstract: A device for predistortion and pulse shaping filtering in a communication system includes input scaling means arranged for scaling an applied transmit symbol with an adaptable input gain scaling factor, and a pulse shaping filter and a predistortion unit arranged for applying on the input gain scaled transmit symbol in either order a filtering operation and a non-linear predistortion operation to obtain a predistorted signal. The non-linear predistortion operation is represented by a set of parameter values selectable among a plurality of given sets of parameter values. The predistortion unit is arranged for selecting the set of parameter values exploiting a given performance measure. The device includes output scaling means arranged for scaling the predistorted signal with an output gain scaling factor to obtain a transmit signal. The adaptable input gain scaling factor and the output gain scaling factor are precalculated values corresponding to the selected set of parameter values.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes a differential amplifier and a logic circuit. The differential amplifier is adapted to receive differential signals having been differentially converted to single-ended convert the received differential signals into a single-ended signal. The logic circuit is adapted to: ternary discriminate an amplitude level of the single-ended signal at a first ternary discrimination timing; ternary discriminate an amplitude level of the single-ended signal at a second ternary discrimination timing; binary discriminate an amplitude level of the single-ended signal at the first binary discrimination timing, by using results of the ternary discriminations of the amplitude level of the single-ended signal at the first ternary discrimination timing and the second ternary discrimination timing; and output a binary signal corresponding to the binary discrimination.