Abstract:
An information processing apparatus and method is disclosed wherein slideshow images can be reproduced for an arbitrary period of time. A scaling coefficient calculation section divides a slideshow reproduction time period by a selected effect total time period to calculate the ratio between them as a scaling coefficient and supplies the calculated scaling coefficient to a correction section. The correction section corrects the reproduction time period of each effect of a deletion result supplied from a deletion candidate deletion section or each selected effect supplied from an effect selection section using the scaling coefficient supplied from the scaling coefficient calculation section so as to make the total reproduction time period of the selected effects coincide with a slideshow reproduction time period. The invention can be applied to a personal computer or the like which can handle still pictures.
Abstract:
An optical pickup includes a diffraction grating partitioned into three areas, in which the phase of periodic grating groove structure in an area is successively shifted from that in the adjacent area by 90°. In the generation of a differential push-pull signal, an amplification factor K for sub push-pull signals is varied depending on the type of the optical disk. By such composition of the optical pickup, amplitude deterioration of the tracking error signal accompanying displacement of the object lens is reduced.
Abstract:
Time required for setting a print mode in a print standby state is shortened, in performing recovering operation. In an attachment state of consumable units on an image forming apparatus, information of the consumable unit memorized in nonvolatile memories of consumable units is memorized in a second nonvolatile memory, and after the print mode is set in an unprintable state, recovering operation having possibility of replacing the consumable units is performed. Thereafter, whether the same consumable units as those before the unprintable state are attached to the image forming apparatus is determined. At this time, a signal based on the information of the consumable units memorized in the nonvolatile memory is transmitted to a bus connected to a plurality of nonvolatile memories, and when there is a reply of a part of the information in the nonvolatile memories to this transmission, it is determined that the same consumable units as those before the unprintable state are attached to the image forming apparatus.
Abstract:
When the amount of a loan of the user of an IC card is written to a personal information storage provided in a center and when the IC card is inserted into the slot of an electronic purse terminal at the time of a current transaction, the amount of the loan stored in the personal information storage is cleared and this loan is paid. The balance stored in the sum information storage of the IC card is updated by this payment and is stored as the current balance in the sum information storage. If the balance is more than the charge for a transaction, the transaction is carried out and if the balance is less than the charge for the transaction, the transaction is performed by obtaining a new loan. The amount of this new loan is stored in the personal information storage.
Abstract:
A video recorder for recording a program video in a built-in HDD (hard disk drive) or the like on the basis of EPG data is easily put in a reserve-recording mode. To this end, reserve-recording candidate data is generated from the EPG data with use of recorded program information to facilitate selection of the reserve-recording mode. In a method for reserve-recording a broadcast program, similar program information is extracted from the EPG data on the basis of recorded title data held as the recorded program information, the extracted similar program data is converted to a data format usable for the reserve-recording, and is stored as reserve-recording candidate data upon reserve-recording.
Abstract:
A driving support apparatus includes an imaging member taking an image corresponding to a vehicle peripheral area; a steering angle detecting member detecting a steering-wheel steering angle; a display member disposed in a vehicle interior to display the image; and a control member predicting a driving course of the vehicle according to the detected steering-wheel angle. The control member synthesizes a predicted driving course image relating to the predicted driving course. The control member superposes the predicted driving course image at a corresponding position of the image. The control member displays on the display member the image where at least one image, on which an index is marked at least at one height position, is superposed at least on the predicted driving course image and onto a side of the predicted driving course image while the control member displays the superposed image on the display member.
Abstract:
A processor automatically sets a direction of transferring electronic money information depending on the existence of IC cards connected to IC connecting portions and the existence of an external device connected to an external device connecting terminal, thus making instructing operations for transferring electronic money information easier.
Abstract:
An optical pickup has a semiconductor laser having two laser sources of different wavelengths disposed in the same package, one diffraction grating and one optical detector. A plurality of light reception areas each having four divisional light reception planes of a -character shape are disposed at positions where light beams reflected from an optical disc are applied. A focus error signal is generated by an astigmatism method by using independently these light reception areas and a tracking error signal is generated by a differential phase detection method by using one or both the light reception areas.
Abstract:
An IC card automated transaction terminal is provided to operate in conjunction with an IC card capable of storing a plurality of different balances relating to commercial transactions. For example, the IC card can provide separate storage for electronic money information and bonus point information. IC card reading/writing means are provided in the terminal for reading and writing such information stored in said IC card along with input means for inputting transacted sum information and information storage means for storing electronic money information equivalent to transacted sum information. In another embodiment, small sum and large sum balances can be separately stored on the IC card, with only the large sum balance being locked and requiring a security code to carry out a transaction.
Abstract:
A method for personalizing a product at the point of sale by a consumer. The method may include the steps of selecting a product, purchasing the product, selecting a shrink-wrap sleeve to be applied to the product, placing the sleeve on the product, and affixing the sleeve on the product.