Abstract: An apparatus for signal processing, wherein a disc is placed on a turntable and is provided with a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and employing a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.

Abstract: There is provided an audio playback device that prevents a user from losing an opportunity to use a content that is not playable on an AOP mode. In the case where the playback device functions on the AOP mode, when a DVD-Audio disk 1 being a subject of playback contains an ATT_GR that is not playable in the AOP mode, a navigation manager 11 of a DVD-Audio playback device displays such situation on a display device 15 via a display control unit. On the other hand, in the case where the playback device functions in a VCAP mode, when the DVD-Audio disk 1 being the subject of playback contains an ATT_GR that is playable only in the VCAP mode, the navigation manager 11 displays the ATT_GRN of the ATT_GR on the display device 15 via the display control unit to urge the user to use the ATT_GR.

Abstract: An apparatus for signal processing, wherein a disc is placed on a turntable and is provided with a groove which can be followed by the pick-up element, and employing a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.

Abstract: An optical disc reproducing apparatus includes an Internet connectable LAN module and a control unit for controlling the LAN module. In the optical disc reproducing apparatus, the operation of the LAN module is temporarily stopped for periods during which an optical disc is being reproduced and Internet connection is not necessary.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes an I/O port that connects to a port of a drive apparatus, and a storage unit that prestores manufacturing information in correspondence with device drivers. The optical disk apparatus further includes a controller that transmits a command indicating to return manufacturing information, to the drive apparatus via the I/O port. When manufacturing information is returned from the drive apparatus via the I/O port, the controller extracts a device driver corresponding to the returned manufacturing information from the device drivers in the storage unit. The controller then controls a reading operation or a recording operation of the drive apparatus on the optical disk, based on the extracted device driver.

Abstract: A system that provides location-specific information through a mobile device. During operation, the system receives coordinates for a physical location of the mobile device from a global-positioning system (GPS) receiver within the mobile device. The system then retrieves a description of a point of interest within a specified range of the coordinates received for the physical location and presents the description of the point of interest to a user through the mobile device.

Abstract: In a digital audio signal player having a simulated analogue record, a high frequency alternator is provided, which is connected to the microprocessor, and constantly sends out a high-frequency signal; the alternator has an output terminal electrically connected to a diode connected to the microprocessor; a control element is also connected to the diode. Music is played in a normal way when the microprocessor receives high-frequency signal in a non-reduced form. The control element will send an interfering signal to the diode to reduce high frequency signal passing through the diode when touched by hands, thus making the microprocessor receive high frequency signal in reduced form; music is played with speed and direction changing according to the movement of the control element when the microprocessor receives the reduced high frequency signal. Music is played normally as soon as hands are removed from the control element.

Abstract: An information storage medium for storing data structures supporting multi-angles is provided. The information storage medium includes clips as recording units of motion picture data for respective angles. As additional information for each clip, clip information is recorded on a separate storage area from the clip. The clip information includes jumping-point information for jumping into another angle. At least one clip for a desired angle can be divided and recorded in contiguous recording area of the information storage medium, or can be divided into smaller interleaved units, multiplexed, and recorded. Therefore, it is possible to easily track and reproduce motion picture data for multi-angle and also facilitate recording area arrangement when one clip is recorded in a contiguous storage area.

Abstract: A method for illuminating a liquid crystal display device, a back-light assembly for performing the same and a liquid crystal display device using the same can improve the front luminance and production yield. Lights from a lamp is incident to a LCD panel side, which are then primarily diffused for a uniformity of the luminous flux of the incident lights. The luminous flux of the primarily diffused lights is condensed with respect to a first orientation component on a plane in parallel with the LCD panel, and then partially and secondarily diffused for extending a view angle of pixels of the LCD panel. After the luminous flux of the secondarily diffused lights is condensed with respect to a second orientation component perpendicular to the first orientation on the parallel plane, the condensed lights are illuminated onto the LCD panel.

Abstract: A computerized method and apparatus for creating a scratch effect through a MIDI interface. In one form, timing signals are derived from a turntable whose direction and speed of rotation are manually controlled by a disk jockey. The timing signals are processed by a microcomputer into a MIDI protocol recognizable by a conventional MIDI instrument. Preferably, the microcomputer is coupled to control a computer which interprets the MIDI protocol output and uses the output to regulate speed and direction of playback of a musical and/or visual presentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disc for use in an apparatus for signal processing, which apparatus comprises a digital audio source and a record player with a turntable and an arm carrying a pick-up element which is arranged to play a conventional record. The disc during its use is placed on the turntable and is provided with a groove which can be lowered by the pick-up element, and which comprises a time-code signal wherein during use of the disc the said time-code signal controls the digital audio source.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disc player comprising one or more light sources that project a pulsing light onto the upper portion of a disc being played by the disc player. The pulse frequency, pulse length, pulse period, pulse interval, pulse color, pulse intensity or a combination thereof of the light source can be synchronized with the rotation of the spindle in the disc player, with the optical data stored, or with the rotation of an image precursor on the disc. When the disc is viewed through a viewing port while the disc is being played, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional discrete image is formed by the persistence of vision.

Abstract: A cartridgeless data storage disk for a data storage disk drive has a latent irradiance marker. A light source illuminates the marker and the marker emits irradiance as phosphorescence. A photosensor detects the emitted irradiance, and the decay time is determined. The decay time is checked to provide identification of different types or generations of cartridgeless data storage disks.

Abstract: A method for communicating location-specific messages includes storing a library of such messages within a portable device having a capability of randoly accessing the messages. Each location-specific message has a content that is related to a particular geographical location within a facility. At each of the geographical locations, there is a device-readable identification of an identifier for each location-specific message relating to that geographical location. In the preferred embodiment, the identifier is transmitted to the portable device wirelessly. Also in the preferred embodiment, the message library is contained on a recording medium that facilitates automated random access, such as a compact disk, and the portable device is a personal digital assistant (PDA). In an application of the method, map information may be prerecorded and supplemented or complemented with time-dependent information downloaded from a source.

Abstract: An arrangement for use in the control of electronic systems and/or equipment by an operator which enables the operator to use tactile touch and audio information to control or select facilities of the electronic systems and/or equipment under the control of the operator.

Abstract: In an audio sound recording/reproducing apparatus, instruction information related to a document is recorded in a recording region of a semiconductor memory together with the document. In the semiconductor memory, flags related to a document portion and an instruction portion, and the addresses of the document and the instruction portions are provided. At the time of reproduction, the instruction portion is reproduced prior to reproduction of the document portion. When the content of the semiconductor memory is stored in a built-in memory in the apparatus, the instruction portion is stored before the document portion is stored. Since the instruction portion is reproduced prior to the document portion at the time of reproduction, the user does not have to retrieve the instruction portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for encoding data in a text format such as ASCII or EBCDIC on a laser disc or compact disc without affecting the digitized sound by utilizing what is known as the subcode channel of the laser disc or compact disc. By storing text data in the subcode channel region as described herein, it is possible to create subtitles for movies in a number of languages such that the language in which the subtitles appear is user selectable. In this manner, it is possible to create laser discs having subtitle information in, for example, ten languages thereby avoiding the necessity of creating ten separate laser discs, each having a different language used for subtitling.

Abstract: An encoder system for providing a large number of actual positional control pulses per revolution utilizes an optical digital disc. The disc is driven by the work piece transport system. A playback unit similar in construction to audio disc players can be used. The positional control information is recorded on the disc as the disc is being driven by the transport system with which the disc is to be associated. Mechanical anomalies of the drive system are compensated for in the recording process. The accuracy of the positional information is improved. The system is especially useful for high resolution ink jet printing system.

Abstract: A technique for recording a performance of a musical work having a persistent, accented beat in which substituted for this beat are synthesized sound effects simulating those associated with arcade electronic games in a percussive format. Hence when the recording is played back, the listener receives an acoustical image in which the music is heard in an arcade-like environment. To produce this recording, a system is provided in which characteristic arcade game sound effects are simulated in a music synthesizer for audio duplication and are reduced to a single keystroke, thereby enabling an operator to generate a percussive audio pulse which is mixed in a recording with the other components of the performed work. When the recording is played back, it incorporates these arcade game sound-effects pulses which define the accented beat of the music.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to ensure that when digitally coded music is being reproduced as audio signals and lyrics are being displayed on a screen that the progress of the two operations is synchronized.To this end music reproduction data is processed for reproduction in accordance with division values calculated on the basis of tempo data contained in the said music reproduction data while synchronization with the current position in the lyrics, which are displayed on a visual display unit, is advanced in accordance with values derived through multiplication of the aforementioned division values by a constant factor, thereby ensuring the synchronization of the reproduction of the music and the display of the current lyric position on the visual display unit.

Abstract: An image/audio information recording/reproduction apparatus has a first recording device for receiving a first electrical signal representing image information and recording the image information on a dynamic recording medium of a given type, a static recording medium of a given type for storing a second electrical signal digitally representing audio information accompanying the image information, and a second recording device which is electrically connected to the static recording medium. The second recording device determines a memory address in the static recording medium of audio information accompanying the image information in a manner corresponding to a recording position of the image information on the dynamic recording medium, and records the audio information in the static recording medium in accordance with the determined memory address. The static recording medium includes a non-volatile semiconductor memory, such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

Abstract: A device for playing back a music or video source such as a digital audio tape recorder, Compact Disc, Laser Vision Disc, video tape recorder, television and FM broadcasting and analog records comprises means responsive to control information supplied from a music or video source device for controlling an externally controllable electrical or electronic musical instrument so as to perform the musical instrument automatically in synchronism with playback of the source device. An electrical or electronic musical instrument is performed automatically in synchronism with playback of a source so that a reproduction atmosphere which cannot be obtained by mere playback of the source can be created.

Abstract: Method, system and apparatus correlate an audio message of an auxiliary sound source with an audio message from a sound track of motion picture film, video tape or other picture source with accompanying audio message track. This auxiliary source contains multiple language channels (also called "translation tracks" or "translation sound channels") running synchronously with each other. One such channel is a "prime language channel" including an audio message carrying the same information (possibly higher quality) in the same language as the message in the track accompanying the motion picture. This prime channel is derived from the same "master recording" (or high quality duplicate thereof) as the track accompanying the motion picture. Consequently the audio message conveyed by the prime channel (at high quality) is the same audio message conveyed by the motion picture track, but signals carrying those two messages may be quite different from each other: digital signal versus analog signal.

Abstract: An optical disc suitable for a so-called KARAOKE equipment by which a singer sings into a microphone in accordance with a music signal recorded in a compact disc or laser disc. According to one embodiment of the present invention, in an optical disc in which a synchronizing signal, digital audio data and a sub-code signal are recorded in one frame, respective codes corresponding to a hue parameter, an intensity parameter and a fade-in or fade-out parameter are recorded in predetermined bits (user's bits) of the above-mentioned sub-code signal. Thus, it is possible to provide an optical disc which can automatically control the lighting equipment without hands by means of the reproduced output from the optical disc.

Abstract: A writing doll having a body portion, a head mounted on top of the body portion, a pair of legs protruding from the bottom of the body portion, and a pair of arms connected to the body portion. The arms include a pair of hands with one hand formed to hold a stylus. The writing doll includes a forearm motion control system mounted in at least one of the arms near the stylus hand for moving the stylus hand along an axis in a X direction. A shoulder motion control system mounted in at least one of the arms near the body portion for moving the stylus hand along an axis in a Z direction, and an elbow motion control system mounted in at least one of the arms between the forearm and shoulder motion control systems for moving the stylus along an axis in a Y direction. The doll also has a control means connected to each motion control system for providing control signals to control the movement of the motion control systems in each of the axis directions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the recording and playback of animation control signals, including voice, are disclosed. In accordance with the method, a dual track cassette recording is made, one track consisting of a voice channel and the other track consisting of a plurality of control signals for the control of animation, and in some instances for control of the speaker or speakers through which the voice channel will be played back, whereby two or more animated characters may appear to speak to each other or speak or sing in unison are disclosed. The control signals are pulse width modulated signals to provide, in general, proportional control signals to provide proportional control, through appropriate servo motors and the like, of the animated elements such as mouth, eyes, etc. of the animated character.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronizing a digital signal of an audio message at higher quality with another signal of the same audio message at lower quality. The invention synchronizes an auxiliary high quality audio digital sound signal source with the ordinary quality analog sound signal coming from a conventional analog sound track on motion picture film as the motion picture is being shown and maintains effective synchronization in spite of missing segments of the sound track due to film splices. The invention does not require synchronization tracks, markers, codes, time codes or other extrinsic data. The only requirement is that the higher qualtiy audio message recording, e.g. in a digital medium, be made from the same "master recording" (or a high quality duplicate thereof) as the sound track so that the auxiliary recording have the same informational content as the sound track.

Abstract: A digital audio disc system having a main channel in which main data consisting of audio PCM signals and codes for error correction are recorded and a subchannel in which information digital signals other than said main data are recorded is disclosed. The code signals comprising a sync signal which has a prescribed bit pattern, a display position data, a command for a computer, and a display data relating a content of said audio PCM signals are also recorded multi-times on the disc together with said main data so as to enable the error check of said code signals. Both code signals and main data are reproduced and supplied to a display unit so as to indicate the correct display information data on a display screen under control of a microcomputer provided in the playback side.