Showing papers by "Sony Broadcast & Professional Research Laboratories published in 2007"

Communication system and communication apparatus

Abstract: A communication system includes the following elements: a transmitter including a transmission circuit unit configured to generate an RF signal for transmitting data and an electric-field-coupling antenna configured to transmit the RF signal as an electrostatic field; a receiver including an electric-field-coupling antenna and a reception circuit unit configured to receive and process the RF signal received by the electric-field-coupling antenna; and a surface-wave propagation medium configured to provide a surface-wave transmission line to transmit a surface wave emanating from the electric-field-coupling antenna of the transmitter with low propagation loss.

The 128-Bit Blockcipher CLEFIA (Extended Abstract)

Abstract: We propose a new 128-bit blockcipher CLEFIA supporting key lengths of 128, 192 and 256 bits, which is compatible with AES. CLEFIA achieves enough immunity against known attacks and flexibility for efficient implementation in both hardware and software by adopting several novel and state-of-the-art design techniques. CLEFIA achieves a good performance profile both in hardware and software. In hardware using a 0.09 μm CMOS ASIC library, about 1.60 Gbps with less than 6 Kgates, and in software, about 13 cycles/byte, 1.48 Gbps on 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon 64 is achieved. CLEFIA is a highly efficient blockcipher, especially in hardware.

Apparatus and method for touch screen interaction based on tactile feedback and pressure measurement

Abstract: An apparatus includes a display section with a touch screen, and the touch screen is adapted to display at least one graphical user interface object and detect a touch position on the touch screen. The apparatus has a haptic feedback generating unit attached to the touch screen and is adapted to generating haptic feedback. A pressure sensing unit is attached to the touch screen and adapted to detect pressure applied to the touch screen. A controller section is adapted to control and drive the display section. The graphical user interface object displayed on the touch screen has a plurality of logical states. The controller section determines a current logical state of the graphical user interface object and a form of the haptic feedback to be generated depending on the detected touch position.

Storage element and memory

Abstract: A storage element including a storage layer configured to hold information by use of a magnetization state of a magnetic material, with a pinned magnetization layer being provided on one side of the storage layer, with a tunnel insulation layer, and with the direction of magnetization of the storage layer being changed through injection of spin polarized electrons by passing a current in the lamination direction, so as to record information in the storage layer, wherein a spin barrier layer configured to restrain diffusion of the spin polarized electrons is provided on the side, opposite to the pinned magnetization layer, of the storage layer; and the spin barrier layer includes at least one material selected from the group composing of oxides, nitrides, and fluorides.

System and method of selective media content access through a recommednation engine

Abstract: A personalized entertainment and information platform (Sphere) which provides personalized content delivery across different platforms and modes of delivery. A personal media device (e.g., PC, television, and so forth) interacts with a control server configured for accessing media content and metadata over the Internet. In response to input from the user and the history of user media selection and viewing, a prioritized recommendation list is generated and queued for downloading. The associated content is then downloaded automatically to the personal media device, without the need of user interaction. At this time the user can access the downloaded content immediately without a lengthy delay in waiting for content downloading. It will be appreciated that content such as shows and movies in HD format are of significant size (e.g., up to 50 GB) which would require significant download time, and tie up network and system resources.

Rendering for an interactive 360° light field display

Abstract: We describe a set of rendering techniques for an autostereoscopic light field display able to present interactive 3D graphics to multiple simultaneous viewers 360 degrees around the display The display consists of a high-speed video projector, a spinning mirror covered by a holographic diffuser, and FPGA circuitry to decode specially rendered DVI video signals The display uses a standard programmable graphics card to render over 5,000 images per second of interactive 3D graphics, projecting 360-degree views with 125 degree separation up to 20 updates per second We describe the system's projection geometry and its calibration process, and we present a multiple-center-of-projection rendering technique for creating perspective-correct images from arbitrary viewpoints around the display Our projection technique allows correct vertical perspective and parallax to be rendered for any height and distance when these parameters are known, and we demonstrate this effect with interactive raster graphics using a tracking system to measure the viewer's height and distance We further apply our projection technique to the display of photographed light fields with accurate horizontal and vertical parallax We conclude with a discussion of the display's visual accommodation performance and discuss techniques for displaying color imagery

Anode and battery

Abstract: The invention provides an anode capable of relaxing stress due to expansion and shrinkage of an anode active material layer associated with charge and discharge, or an anode capable of reducing structural destruction of the anode active material layer and reactivity between the anode active material layer and an electrolyte associated with charge and discharge, and a battery using it. The anode active material layer contains an element capable of forming an alloy with Li, for example, at least one from the group consisting of simple substances, alloys, and compounds of Si or Ge. An interlayer containing a material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is provided between an anode current collector and the anode active material layer. Otherwise, the anode current collector is made of the material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect. Otherwise, a thin film layer containing the material having superelasticity or shape-memory effect is formed on the anode active material layer.

Display device and display method

Abstract: Disclosed is a display device capable of compensating unevenness in brightness caused by physical restrictions of a display device or degradation in image quality caused by a partial reduction in contrast occurring in the local dimming technology using human visual characteristics. A liquid crystal panel ( 101 ) modulates illuminating light in accordance with the transmittance, and displays images on a screen. A backlight ( 102 ) emits the illuminating light to the liquid crystal panel ( 101 ) such that amounts of the illuminating light differ for each light emitting area of the screen. A backlight control unit ( 106 ) controls emission brightness of the backlight ( 102 ) for each light emitting area. A local gradation converting unit ( 104 ) performs gradation conversion on an image signal, and acquires a brightness value for each pixel after the conversion. A backlight driving unit ( 107 ) controls the transmittance for each pixel on the basis of the acquired brightness values after the conversion. The local gradation converting unit sets conversion characteristics for pixels to be processed in the image signal such that the brightness values of the pixels to be processed are low as the lightness of the periphery of the pixels to be processed is high, and performs gradation conversion using the set conversion characteristics.

The bag-of-frames approach to audio pattern recognition: a sufficient model for urban soundscapes but not for polyphonic music.

Abstract: The "bag-of-frames" approach (BOF) to audio pattern recognition represents signals as the long-term statistical distribution of their local spectral features. This approach has proved nearly optimal for simulating the auditory perception of natural and human environments (or soundscapes), and is also the most predominent paradigm to extract high-level descriptions from music signals. However, recent studies show that, contrary to its application to soundscape signals, BOF only provides limited performance when applied to polyphonic music signals. This paper proposes to explicitly examine the difference between urban soundscapes and polyphonic music with respect to their modeling with the BOF approach. First, the application of the same measure of acoustic similarity on both soundscape and music data sets confirms that the BOF approach can model soundscapes to near-perfect precision, and exhibits none of the limitations observed in the music data set. Second, the modification of this measure by two custom homogeneity transforms reveals critical differences in the temporal and statistical structure of the typical frame distribution of each type of signal. Such differences may explain the uneven performance of BOF algorithms on soundscapes and music signals, and suggest that their human perception rely on cognitive processes of a different nature.

System and methods of streamlining media files from a dispersed peer network to maintain quality of service

Abstract: Media content, including content suitable for streaming, is distributed to and accessible over a communications network by computer nodes within a peer storage network of computer nodes hosting respective content stores. Discrete portions of a content file are multiply distributed to and persisted in a distributed set of the content stores existing within the storage network such that various content stores persist subsets of the content file portions. A computer node retrieves the discrete portions of the content file from the various distributed content stores, depending on node availability, the particular discrete portions there available, and node and network performance factors sufficient to maintain a minimum quality of service, thereby enabling streaming presentation of the content file on the requesting computer node.

Pixel circuit, active matrix apparatus and display apparatus

Abstract: A pixel circuit having a function of compensating for characteristic variation of an electro-optical element and threshold voltage variation of a transistor is formed from a reduced number of component elements. An input signal is sampled from a signal line so as to be held in a holding capacitor. The threshold voltage of the drive transistor is imparted to the holding capacitor in order to cancel an influence of the threshold voltage.

Battery pack, electronic appliance, and method of detecting remaining amount of battery

Abstract: A battery pack has a charge and discharge count measuring part ( 131 ) configured to measure the number of times of charges and discharges of a secondary battery based on the summed value of the charge current for the secondary battery, and a decay rate output part ( 132 ) configured to compute a decay rate that indicates a degree of decay of the secondary battery based on the number of times of charges and discharges measured by the charge and discharge count measuring part ( 131 ) and to output it to a device being a discharge load. For example, the charge and discharge count measuring part ( 131 ) repeatedly sums the detected values of the charge current to a predetermined threshold, and counts up the number of times of charges and discharges every time when the summed value reaches the threshold. Accordingly, even though charges and discharges are repeated at finer steps in a relatively narrow voltage range, the number of times of charges and discharges can be counted accurately, and the computing accuracy of the decay rate is improved. In the battery pack in which the secondary battery is accommodated, parameters for detecting the remaining amount of the battery are detected more accurately.

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program thereof

Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing apparatus that can make the user easily search for desired data. By mutually superposing and displaying icons of respective plural files and folders, and carrying out the flipping operation for thus superposed and displayed icons, an arbitrary icon is shifted and displayed such that the icon is spread. Accordingly, the operation of searching for a desired icon from among the plural icons can be made more intuitive and comprehensible with a sense of flipping a page of a book. Furthermore, since plural icons indicative of the contents of files and folders corresponding to the respective plural icons are displayed such that the icons are not superposed one another, the user can visually confirm the contents of the respective icons, which makes it possible to easily search for an icon of a desired file or folder, and easily search for desired data consequently.

Display device and electronic equipment

Abstract: A display device is disclosed. The display device includes: a pixel array unit and a driving unit which drives the pixel array unit. The pixel array unit includes rows of first scanning lines and second scanning lines, columns of signals, pixels in a matrix state arranged at portions where the scanning lines and the signal lines cross each other and power supply lines and ground lines supplying power to respective pixels. The driving unit includes a first scanner performing line-sequential scanning to pixels by each row by supplying a first control signal to each first scanning line sequentially, a second scanner supplying a second control signal to each second scanning line sequentially so as to correspond to the line-sequential scanning and a signal selector supplying a video signal to rows of signal lines so as to correspond to the line-sequential scanning.

Imaging apparatus and imaging method

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including: imaging means for imaging a scene that is in a direction in which a user sees to obtain image data of the scene; temporary storage means for storing the image data obtained by imaging by the imaging means; and control means for controlling the temporary storage means to store the image data obtained by imaging by the imaging means, and, when a predetermined storage condition has been satisfied, extracting image data to be stored from the temporary storage means and adding metadata to the extracted image data to perform a storage process.

Method of manufacturing semiconductor device

Abstract: The invention aims at enabling leakage current characteristics and a step coverage property to be improved by depositing a hafnium silicate film by utilizing an atomic layer evaporation method using a hafnium raw material, a silicon raw material and an oxidizing agent Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a trench capacitor including a first electrode formed on an inner surface of a trench, a capacitor insulating film formed on a surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on a surface of the capacitor insulating film The method includes the step of depositing the capacitor insulating film in a form of a hafnium silicate film by utilizing an atomic layer deposition method using a hafnium raw material, a silicon raw material and an oxidizing agent

A Novel Resistance Memory with High Scalability and Nanosecond Switching

Abstract: We report a novel nonvolatile dual-layered electrolytic resistance memory composed of a conductive Cu ion activated layer and a thin insulator for the first time An ON/OFF mechanism of this new type memory is postulated as follows: Cu ions pierce through the insulator layer by applied electric field, the ions form a Cu conductive bridge in the insulator layer, and this bridge dissolves back to the ion activated layer when the field is reversed The 4 kbit memory array with 1T-1R cell structure was fabricated based on 180 nm CMOS process Set/reset pulses were 5 ns, 110 muA and 1 ns, 125 muA, respectively Those conditions provide large set/reset resistance ratio of over 2 orders of magnitude and satisfactory retention Essential characteristics for high capacity memories including superb scalability down to 20 nmphi, sufficient endurance up to 107 cycles and preliminary data for 4-level memory are also presented These characteristics promise the memory being the next generation high capacity nonvolatile memory even before the scaling limitation of flash memories is encountered

Aromatic amine derivatives and organic electroluminescent device using same

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel aromatic amine derivative having a specific structure and an organic electroluminescence device in which an organic thin film layer comprising a single layer or plural layers including at least a light emitting layer is interposed between a cathode and an anode, wherein at least one layer in the above organic thin film layer, particularly a hole injecting layer contains the aromatic amine derivative described above in the form of a single component or a mixed component. Use of the aromatic amine derivative described above materialize an organic electroluminescence device which reduces an operating voltage and makes molecules less liable to be crystallized and which enhances a yield in producing the organic EL device and has a long lifetime.

Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which a spirally coiled battery element obtained by spirally coiling an anode ( 3 ) and a cathode ( 2 ) through a separator ( 4 ) is accommodated in a battery can ( 5 ) filled with a non-aqueous electrolyte. A fluoride MFn (M indicates at least one metal selected from between Cu, Ni, Ag, Ti, Sn and Cr, and n is an integer.) is included in the anode before an initial charging operation, and assuming that the initial charging capacity of the battery is Q [mAh] and a Faraday constant is F [C/mol], an amount m [mol] of the fluoride MFn included in the anode is located within a range represented by the following expression 0.0036 Q/nF

Memory element and memory

Abstract: A memory element is provided. The memory element includes a memory layer that retains information based on a magnetization state of a magnetic material, in which a magnetization pinned layer is provided for the memory layer through an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer is formed of an insulator, spin-polarized electrons are injected in a stacking direction to change a magnetization direction of the memory layer, so that information is recorded in the memory layer, and a fine oxide is dispersed in an entire or part of a ferromagnetic layer forming the memory layer.

Imaging apparatus, control method of imaging apparatus, and computer program

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a face detecting unit detecting a face region from an input image input to the imaging apparatus and a control unit calculating a distance to a subject on the basis of the face size detected by the face detection unit and displaying distance identification information indicating a distance corresponding to the calculated distance in a display unit.

Scene collages and flexible camera arrays

Abstract: This paper presents an automatic method for creating a collage from a collection of photos of a scene taken from different viewpoints. The collage is constructed by aligning the images (in terms of their positions, rotations and scales) using a least-squares formulation. We have developed a graph-based optimization algorithm for layering the images so as to minimize the fragmentation of the collage. A collage can be displayed with opaque layers, with transparent layers, or with blended image boundaries. A scene collage can be viewed as a piece-wise perspective representation of a scene with visible seams. This representation has not only aesthetic value but also conveys scene structure and camera motion in an intuitive way. To capture live-action collages of dynamic scenes we have developed camera arrays that can be physically flexed by the user to continuously vary the composition of the scene. The design of our camera arrays enables a user to reconfigure them in terms of the spatial arrangement of the cameras in a matter of minutes. We show several still and dynamic examples that demonstrate that scene collages provide a new and interesting way to experience scenes.

Remote controller with speech recognition

Abstract: A receiver remote controller has a storage device storing electronic program guide (EPG) data that relates content to television channels containing said content. The remote controller is contained in a remote controller housing with the housing containing: a data interface that receives the EPG data provided by an EPG data source for storage in the storage device; a speech interface that receives speech input from a user and produces speech signals therefrom; a natural language speech processor engine that receives the speech signals and translating the speech signals to a query of the EPG database; and a processor that receives results of the query from the natural language speech processor, and either conveys the results of the query to a user utilizing a user interface or sends navigation commands to the receiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Remote control system

Abstract: The present embodiments provide systems and methods for use in remote controlling devices including consumer electronic devices Some embodiments provide a remote control system that comprises a processor, a display driver coupled with the processor, a touch screen display coupled with and receiving display control signals from the display driver such that the touch screen display displays one of a plurality of control views with a fixed number of function buttons displayed in each of the plurality of control views, a tactile screen cover extending over and covering the touch screen display through which selections of one or more of the function buttons is detected, and a wireless transmitter coupled with the processor that wirelessly transmits function signals in response to a detection of a selection of one of the function buttons

Video signal output device and operation input processing method

Abstract: A video signal output device is disclosed. The device includes: a video signal generation section that generates an output video signal for screen display; an operation input section that detects a physical touch position and a pressure with respect to an input surface, and in accordance with a detection result, generates information about the touch position and information about the pressure for use each as an operation signal; and a control section that controls, in accordance with the operation signals coming from the operation input section, the video signal generation section to change display contents of the output video signal. In the device, while the output video signal for list display of a plurality of images is being generated, the information about the touch position and the information about the pressure are processed as the operation signal for image selection and the operation signal related to the images, respectively.

Information Processing Apparatus, Information Processing Method, and Computer Program

Abstract: A configuration is provided in which a device in a home network receives content from a server outside the home network and plays the content. A home IMS gateway maps an external server outside the home network as a virtual home network device, and executes a process of receiving a content providing service provided by the external server by using mapping information. Furthermore, switched reception of multicast distribution content provided by the external server and unicast distribution content is executed.

Content playback system, playback device, playback control method and program

Abstract: A first playback device, upon receiving a synchronized playback command while content playback is in progress, transmits, to a second playback device, information that pertains to the playback content and a synchronized playback start time obtained by adding a predetermined additional time to an elapsed playback time for the content. The second playback device starts receiving content data that begins from the synchronized playback start time from a server. After the data that is memorized in a memory reaches a specified volume, the second playback device transmits a playback preparation completion notification to the first playback device. Once the elapsed playback time for the content reaches the synchronized playback start time, the first playback device transmits a playback start command to the second playback device. Upon receiving this command, the second playback device starts playing back content data that begins from the synchronized playback start time.

The 128-bit blockcipher CLEFIA

Abstract: We propose a new 128-bit blockcipher CLEFIA supporting key lengths of 128, 192 and 256 bits, which is compatible with AES. CLEFIA achieves enough immunity against known attacks and flexibility for efficient implementation in both hardware and software by adopting several novel and state-of-the-art design techniques. CLEFIA achieves a good performance profile both in hardware and software. In hardware using a 0.09 µm CMOS ASIC library, about 1.60 Gbps with less than 6 Kgates, and in software, about 13 cycles/byte, 1.48 Gbps on 2.4 GHz AMD Athlon 64 is achieved. CLEFIA is a highly efficient blockcipher, especially in hardware.

Mobile apparatus having tactile feedback function

Abstract: A haptic display includes at least one haptic device that can give tactile feedback instead of visible feedback. Each of the haptic devices converts a signal from a signal producing unit into force or tactile pattern. The haptic device does not require a large mass, so that it can be provided on almost any portion or part within the body of a mobile apparatus. For example, the haptic device can be embedded under a touch panel display that constitutes both input and output device. By providing the haptic devices under respective menu/function button areas displayed on the touch panel display, it is possible to stimulate the specific button in response to the user-input-operation, thereby directly providing the tactile feedback to the user's finger touching the corresponding button.

Information processing apparatus and method, and program

Abstract: An information processing apparatus may control display of a GUI image including indexes that allow a user to select the entirety or part of an image content piece. The information processing apparatus may include a controller configured to control display of a first GUI image including an index of each of at least one image content piece, and to control a display of a second GUI image including face thumbnail images, which serve as indexes that allow the user to select the entirety or part of an image content piece corresponding to an index selected from the first GUI image by the user, the face thumbnail images corresponding to faces detected from the entirety or part of the image content piece.