Showing papers by "Sony Broadcast & Professional Research Laboratories published in 2016"

An Overview of the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer Specification

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the physical layer specification of Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0, the next-generation digital terrestrial broadcasting standard. ATSC 3.0 does not have any backwards-compatibility constraint with existing ATSC standards, and it uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-based waveforms along with powerful low-density parity check (LDPC) forward error correction codes similar to existing state-of-the-art. However, it introduces many new technological features such as 2-D non-uniform constellations, improved and ultra-robust LDPC codes, power-based layered division multiplexing to efficiently provide mobile and fixed services in the same radio frequency (RF) channel, as well as a novel frequency pre-distortion multiple-input single-output antenna scheme. ATSC 3.0 also allows bonding of two RF channels to increase the service peak data rate and to exploit inter-RF channel frequency diversity, and to employ dual-polarized multiple-input multiple-output antenna system. Furthermore, ATSC 3.0 provides great flexibility in terms of configuration parameters (e.g., 12 coding rates, 6 modulation orders, 16 pilot patterns, 12 guard intervals, and 2 time interleavers), and also a very flexible data multiplexing scheme using time, frequency, and power dimensions. As a consequence, ATSC 3.0 not only improves the spectral efficiency and robustness well beyond the first generation ATSC broadcast television standard, but also it is positioned to become the reference terrestrial broadcasting technology worldwide due to its unprecedented performance and flexibility. Another key aspect of ATSC 3.0 is its extensible signaling, which will allow including new technologies in the future without disrupting ATSC 3.0 services. This paper provides an overview of the physical layer technologies of ATSC 3.0, covering the ATSC A/321 standard that describes the so-called bootstrap, which is the universal entry point to an ATSC 3.0 signal, and the ATSC A/322 standard that describes the physical layer downlink signals after the bootstrap. A summary comparison between ATSC 3.0 and DVB-T2 is also provided.

Evaluating the Energy Efficiency of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks on CPUs and GPUs

Abstract: In recent years convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been successfully applied to various applications that are appropriate for deep learning, from image and video processing to speech recognition The advancements in both hardware (eg more powerful GPUs) and software (eg deep learning models, open-source frameworks and supporting libraries) have significantly improved the accuracy and training time of CNNs However, the high speed and accuracy are at the cost of energy consumption, which has been largely ignored in previous CNN design With the size of data sets grows exponentially, the energy demand for training such data sets increases rapidly It is highly desirable to design deep learning frameworks and algorithms that are both accurate and energy efficient In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive study on the power behavior and energy efficiency of numerous well-known CNNs and training frameworks on CPUs and GPUs, and we provide a detailed workload characterization to facilitate the design of energy efficient deep learning solutions

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a calculation unit that calculates a charge for a service used by a user based on a charge schedule, and a changing unit that, when a period starts, changes the charge schedule from a first charge schedule to a second charge schedule of at least one second charge schedule, and that, when the period ends, changes the charge schedule from the second charge schedule to the first charge schedule.

Semiconductor apparatus, method of manufacturing semiconductor apparatus, method of designing semiconductor apparatus, and electronic apparatus

Abstract: A semiconductor device including a first material layer adjacent to a second material layer, a first via passing through the first material layer and extending into the second material layer, and a second via extending into the first material layer, where along a common cross section parallel to an interface between the two material layers, the first via has a cross section larger than that of the second via.

Low-Density Parity-Check Codes for ATSC 3.0

Abstract: In this paper, we introduce the overview and detailed structure of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, which are adopted for the physical layer standard of Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0. As one of the features to mitigate channel errors efficiently, LDPC codes are used as a main part of forward error correction scheme within the bit interleaved coded modulation chain. This paper presents two different structures of LDPC codes in the ATSC 3.0 standard: 1) irregular repeat accumulate structure and 2) multi-edge type structure. After the detailed encoding methods for the two structures are introduced, the performance results including comparison studies with other broadcasting standards such as DVB-T2 and DVB-S2 are shown.

Bit-Interleaved Coded Modulation (BICM) for ATSC 3.0

Abstract: In this paper, we summarize and expound upon the choices made for the bit-interleaved coded modulation (BICM) part of the next-generation terrestrial broadcast standard known as ATSC 3.0. The structure of the ATSC 3.0 BICM consists of a forward error correcting code, bit interleaver, and constellation mapper. In order to achieve high efficiency over a wide range of reception conditions and carrier-to-noise (C/N) ratio values, several notable new elements have been standardized. First, 24 original low-density parity check (LDPC) codes have been designed, with coding rates from 2/15 (0.13) up to 13/15 (0.87) for two code sizes: 16 200 bits and 64 800 bits. Two different LDPC structures have been adopted; one structure more suited to medium and high coding rates and another structure suited to very low coding rates. Second, in addition to quaternary phase shift keying, non-uniform constellations (NUCs) have been chosen for constellation sizes from 16QAM to 4096QAM to bridge the gap to the Shannon theoretical limit. Two different types of NUCs have been proposed: 1-D NUCs for 1024- and 4096-point constellations, and 2-D-NUCs for 16-, 64-, and 256-point constellations. 2-D-NUCs achieve a better performance than 1-D-NUCs but with a higher complexity since they cannot be separated into two independent I/Q components. NUCs have been optimized for each coding rate for the 64 800 bits LPDCs. The same constellations are used for 16 200 bits LDPCs, although they have been limited up to 256QAM. Finally, a bit interleaver, optimized for each NUC/coding rate combination, has been designed to maximize the performance. The result is a BICM that provides the largest operating range (more than 30 dB, with the most robust mode operating below -5 dB C/N) and the highest spectral efficiency compared to any digital terrestrial broadcast system today, outperforming the current state-of-the-art DVB-T2 standard BICM by as much as 1 dB in some cases. ATSC 3.0 will also provide a considerable increase in the maximum transmission capacity when using the high-order NUCs such as 1024QAM and 4096QAM, which will represent a major milestone for terrestrial broadcasting since the highest order constellation currently available is uniform 256QAM. This paper describes the coding, modulation, and bit interleaving modules of the BICM block of ATSC 3.0 and compares its performance with other DTT standards such as ATSC A/53 and DVB-T2.

DeepBach: a Steerable Model for Bach Chorales Generation

Abstract: This paper introduces DeepBach, a graphical model aimed at modeling polyphonic music and specifically hymn-like pieces. We claim that, after being trained on the chorale harmonizations by Johann Sebastian Bach, our model is capable of generating highly convincing chorales in the style of Bach. DeepBach's strength comes from the use of pseudo-Gibbs sampling coupled with an adapted representation of musical data. This is in contrast with many automatic music composition approaches which tend to compose music sequentially. Our model is also steerable in the sense that a user can constrain the generation by imposing positional constraints such as notes, rhythms or cadences in the generated score. We also provide a plugin on top of the MuseScore music editor making the interaction with DeepBach easy to use.

Milliwatt-class GaN-based blue vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers fabricated by epitaxial lateral overgrowth

Abstract: We have achieved continuous-wave (CW) operation of gallium nitride (GaN)-based vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) fabricated by epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELO) using dielectric distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) as masks for selective growth. The GaN VCSELs exhibited CW operation at a wavelength of 453.9 nm, and the maximum output power was 1.1 mW, which is the highest value reported to date. GaN-based materials have presented challenges for obtaining DBRs with high reflectivity and a wide stopband, precise control of the cavity length and a lateral confinement structure to provide laser operation. The proposed VCSEL is immune to these concerns. Its two dielectric DBRs were obtained free from cracks. A high reflectance of more than 99.9% and a stopband with a width of 80–97 nm were obtained for both DBRs. The cavity length was controlled by epitaxial growth to as short as 4.5 µm. An ITO contact electrode on p-type GaN, which is required for a lateral confinement structure, showed electrical reliability under a high current density of 59.6 kA cm−2. The present data demonstrate that the fabrication process adopted here overcomes the shortcomings that have prevented the widespread use of GaN-based VCSELs.

Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium

Abstract: The present invention comprises an input part for inputting image data, a receiving part for receiving production information relating to production transmitted from another apparatus, a recording part for recording the production information received by the receiving part and image data input by the input part, a detection part for detecting a recording position on a recording medium at an editing point of image data recorded by the recording part, and a transmission part for transmitting information of the recording position detected by the detection part, whereby identification information for identifying image data and voice data is recorded in a recording medium or a recording device, this relieving a burden on a photographer and an editor and facilitating extraction of image data and voice data.

Midori: A Block Cipher for Low Energy

Abstract: In the past few years, lightweight cryptography has become a popular research discipline with a number of ciphers and hash functions proposed. The designers' focus has been predominantly to minimize the hardware area, while other goals such as low latency have been addressed rather recently only. However, the optimization goal of low energy for block cipher design has not been explicitly addressed so far. At the same time, it is a crucial measure of goodness for an algorithm. Indeed, a cipher optimized with respect to energy has wide applications, especially in constrained environments running on a tight power/energy budget such as medical implants. This paper presents the block cipher Midorii¾?The name of the cipher is the Japanese translation for the word Green. that is optimized with respect to the energy consumed by the circuit per bt in encryption or decryption operation. We deliberate on the design choices that lead to low energy consumption in an electrical circuit, and try to optimize each component of the circuit as well as its entire architecture for energy. An added motivation is to make both encryption and decryption functionalities available by small tweak in the circuit that would not incur significant area or energy overheads. We propose two energy-efficient block ciphers Midori128i¾?and Midori64i¾?with block sizes equal to 128 and 64 bits respectively. These ciphers have the added property that a circuit that provides both the functionalities of encryption and decryption can be designed with very little overhead in terms of area and energy. We compare our results with other ciphers with similar characteristics: it was found that the energy consumptions ofi¾?Midori64i¾? and Midori128i¾? are by far better when compared ciphers like PRINCE and NOEKEON.

Illumination device and image display apparatus

Abstract: An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; and a fluorescent member that includes a fluorescent substance that, when it is irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength, transmits a part of the excitation light and reflects another part of the excitation light, and a first reflective film provided at a side of the fluorescent substance, which is opposite to an excitation light incidence side, the fluorescent member emitting multiplexed light including an excitation light component reflected from the fluorescent substance and the first reflective film and a light component emitted from the fluorescent substance.

Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method of solid-state imaging device, and electronic device

Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method of a solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device, which can provide a solid-state imaging device having further improved features such as reduced optical color mixing and the like. Also, an electronic device using the solid-state imaging device thereof is provided. According to a solid-state imaging device having a substrate and multiple photoelectric converters that are formed on the substrate, an insulating film forms an embedded element separating unit. The element separating unit is configured of an insulating film having a fixed charge that is formed so as to coat the inner wall face of a groove portion, within the groove portion which is formed in the depth direction from the light input side of the substrate.

DisCo: Display-Camera Communication Using Rolling Shutter Sensors

Abstract: We present DisCo, a novel display-camera communication system. DisCo enables displays and cameras to communicate with each other while also displaying and capturing images for human consumption. Messages are transmitted by temporally modulating the display brightness at high frequencies so that they are imperceptible to humans. Messages are received by a rolling shutter camera that converts the temporally modulated incident light into a spatial flicker pattern. In the captured image, the flicker pattern is superimposed on the pattern shown on the display. The flicker and the display pattern are separated by capturing two images with different exposures. The proposed system performs robustly in challenging real-world situations such as occlusion, variable display size, defocus blur, perspective distortion, and camera rotation. Unlike several existing visible light communication methods, DisCo works with off-the-shelf image sensors. It is compatible with a variety of sources (including displays, single LEDs), as well as reflective surfaces illuminated with light sources. We have built hardware prototypes that demonstrate DisCo’s performance in several scenarios. Because of its robustness, speed, ease of use, and generality, DisCo can be widely deployed in several applications, such as advertising, pairing of displays with cell phones, tagging objects in stores and museums, and indoor navigation.

Electrostatic capacitance-type input device and input device-attached electro-optical apparatus

Abstract: An electrostatic capacitance-type input device in which input position detecting electrodes are disposed in an input area of a substrate, includes a lower layer-side conductive film, an interlayer insulating film, and an upper layer-side conductive film, which are stacked on the substrate in order from the substrate side. A first input position detecting electrode and a second input position detecting electrode are formed as the input position detecting electrodes by a first conductive film out of the lower and upper layer-side conductive films. A relay electrode overlaps with the first input position detecting electrode in the intersection portion to be electrically connected to the discontinued portion of the second input position detecting electrode. An input area shield electrode that overlaps with the first and second input position detecting electrodes are formed by a second conductive film out of the lower and upper layer-side conductive films.

Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions each provided in a semiconductor substrate and receives incident light through a light sensing surface, and a pixel separation portion provided to electrically separate a plurality of pixels. At least a pinning layer and a light shielding layer are provided in an inner portion of a trench provided on a side portion of each of the photoelectric conversion portions in an incident surface side, the trench includes a first trench and a second trench formed to be wider than the first trench in a portion shallower than the first trench, the pinning layer is formed in an inner portion of the first trench to cover an inside surface of the second trench, and the light shielding layer is formed to bury an inner portion of the second trench at least via the pinning layer.

Affinity CNN: Learning Pixel-Centric Pairwise Relations for Figure/Ground Embedding

Abstract: Spectral embedding provides a framework for solving perceptual organization problems, including image segmentation and figure/ground organization. From an affinity matrix describing pairwise relationships between pixels, it clusters pixels into regions, and, using a complex-valued extension, orders pixels according to layer. We train a convolutional neural network (CNN) to directly predict the pair-wise relationships that define this affinity matrix. Spectral embedding then resolves these predictions into a globally-consistent segmentation and figure/ground organization of the scene. Experiments demonstrate significant benefit to this direct coupling compared to prior works which use explicit intermediate stages, such as edge detection, on the pathway from image to affinities. Our results suggest spectral embedding as a powerful alternative to the conditional random field (CRF)-based globalization schemes typically coupled to deep neural networks.

Telecommunications apparatuses and methods

Abstract: A method for use in a mobile telecommunications network, the mobile telecommunications network comprising a base station providing wireless connectivity within a base station cell, a mobile node providing wireless connectivity within a local cell and configured to communicate with the base station and a terminal configured to communicate wirelessly with the base station and configured to communicate wirelessly with the mobile node. The method comprises activating a limited base station radio connection between the terminal and the base station; and activating one of a full local radio connection and a limited local radio connection between the terminal and the mobile node.

Communication system, transmission device, reception device, communication method, program, and communication cable

Abstract: The present invention relates to a communication system, a transmission device, a reception device, a communication method, a program, and a communication cable, whereby high-speed communication can be executed while maintaining compatibility. In the event that an HDMI(R) source 71 and an HDMI(R) sink 72 execute two-way IP communication using a CEC line 84 and a signal line 141 , a switching control unit 121 controls a switch 133 to select a partial signal making up the differential signal from a conversion unit 131 at the time of transmitting data, and controls the switch 133 to select a partial signal making up a differential signal from a receiver 82 at the time of transmitting data, and in the case of executing two-way communication using the CEC line 84 alone, the switching control unit 121 controls the switch 133 to select the CEC signal from the HDMI(R) source 71 or receiver 82 with the switch 133 . The present invention may be applied to HDMI(R), for example.

Mobile client device, operation method, recording medium, and operation system

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that detects an input operation to a touch panel based on an output of the touch panel; creates an operation command to change content displayed on a display apparatus based on a detected input operation to the touch panel; and controls a wireless interface to transmit the operation command to the display apparatus controlling the display apparatus to change the content displayed on the display apparatus.

System and method for smoke detection during anatomical surgery

Abstract: Various aspects of a system and method for smoke detection during an anatomical surgery are disclosed herein. In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the method is implementable in a surgical scene analysis engine (208), which is communicatively coupled to an image-capturing device (218) that captures one or more video frames. The method includes the estimation (604) of a partially visible region in a current video frame, based on a temporal difference between the current video frame and a previous video frame from the one or more video frames. Thereafter, one or more candidate pixels are detected (610) in the estimated partially visible region in the current video frame. Further, a smoke region is determined (616) in the partially visible region, based on pruning of one or more candidate pixels.

Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing semiconductor device, and antenna switch module

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device having a radio frequency switch. Also disclosed are an antenna switch module and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a metal wiring insulating film bonded to a silicon substrate. In the semiconductor device, a crystal defect layer extends into the silicon substrate from a surface of the silicon substrate. Crystal defects are throughout the crystal defect layer. The semiconductor device and an integrated circuit are in the antenna switch module. The integrated circuit in the antenna switch module is mounted with the radio-frequency switch device and the silicon substrate. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device includes a step of forming crystal defects throughout a silicon substrate. Radiation or a diffusion is used to form the crystal defects. After the step of forming the crystal defects, the method includes a step of implanting ions into a surface of the silicon substrate to form a crystal defect layer.

Illumination device and image display apparatus

Abstract: An illumination device includes: an excitation light source that emits excitation light having a first wavelength; a fluorescent substance that, when irradiated with the excitation light, emits light having a second wavelength longer than the first wavelength and transmits a part of the excitation light, and thereby multiplexes and emits the transmitted excitation light having the first wavelength and the emitted excitation light having the second wavelength; and a driving unit that moves an irradiation position of the excitation light in the fluorescent substance with the passage of time.

Semiconductor device, solid-state image sensor and camera system

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a solid-state image sensor and a camera system capable of reducing the influence of noise at a connection between chips without a special circuit for communication and reducing the cost as a result. The semiconductor device includes: a first chip; and a second chip, wherein the first chip and the second chip are bonded to have a stacked structure, the first chip has a high-voltage transistor circuit mounted thereon, the second chip has mounted thereon a low-voltage transistor circuit having lower breakdown voltage than the high-voltage transistor circuit, and wiring between the first chip and the second chip is connected through a via formed in the first chip.

Playback system, headphones, playback apparatus and method, and recording medium and program for controlling playback apparatus and method

Abstract: A playback system includes headphones worn on a user's body and converting an electrical signal into sound and a playback apparatus supplying the electrical signal to the headphones. The headphones include first and second electrodes provided in first and second converters, respectively, so as to be in contact with the user's body. The first converter converts the electrical signal in a right channel into sound. The second converter converts the electrical signal in a left channel into sound. The playback apparatus includes measuring means for measuring a resistance or a capacitance between the first and second electrodes, determination means for determining whether or not the headphones are being worn on the user's body in accordance with the resistance or the capacitance measured by the measuring means, and control means for controlling a state of the playback apparatus in accordance with the determination result of the determination means.

Electro-optical device and electronic equipment

Abstract: An electro-optical devices includes: a first substrate; a second substrate having one surface opposite to the first substrate; a support member configured to hold the first and second substrates with the second substrate located outside the first substrate, and to include a frame portion surrounding the first and second substrates; a first conductive film formed on the other surface of the second substrate; and a conductor layer placed between the frame portion and the first and second substrates, and electrically connected to the first conductive film. The first conductive film is held at a constant potential via the conductor layer.

Light-emitting device and display device

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light-emitting device including a plurality of first light-emitting elements mounted in a matrix form on a common wiring board Each of the first light-emitting elements has a single crystal semiconductor multilayer structure and is a semiconductor element in the form of a chip that emits light in a given band of wavelengths When attention is focused on the plurality of first light-emitting elements that belong in a given area of all the plurality of first light-emitting elements, the orientations of the common crystal axes of the first light-emitting elements adjacent to each other at least in one of the row and column directions differ

Slow sleep spindle and procedural memory consolidation in patients with major depressive disorder

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Evidence has accumulated, which indicates that, in healthy individuals, sleep enhances procedural memory consolidation, and that sleep spindle activity modulates this process. However, whether sleep-dependent procedural memory consolidation occurs in patients medicated for major depressive disorder remains unclear, as are the pharmacological and physiological mechanisms that underlie this process. METHODS: Healthy control participants (n=17) and patients medicated for major depressive disorder (n=11) were recruited and subjected to a finger-tapping motor sequence test (MST; nondominant hand) paradigm to compare the averaged scores of different learning phases (presleep, postsleep, and overnight improvement). Participants' brain activity was recorded during sleep with 16 electroencephalography channels (between MSTs). Sleep scoring and frequency analyses were performed on the electroencephalography data. Additionally, we evaluated sleep spindle activity, which divided the spindles into fast-frequency spindle activity (12.5-16 Hz) and slow-frequency spindle activity (10.5-12.5 Hz). RESULT: Sleep-dependent motor memory consolidation in patients with depression was impaired in comparison with that in control participants. In patients with depression, age correlated negatively with overnight improvement. The duration of slow-wave sleep correlated with the magnitude of motor memory consolidation in patients with depression, but not in healthy controls. Slow-frequency spindle activity was associated with reduction in the magnitude of motor memory consolidation in both groups. CONCLUSION: Because the changes in slow-frequency spindle activity affected the thalamocortical network dysfunction in patients medicated for depression, dysregulated spindle generation may impair sleep-dependent memory consolidation. Our findings may help to elucidate the cognitive deficits that occur in patients with major depression both in the waking state and during sleep. Language: en

Receiver and method of receiving

Abstract: A receiver for detecting and recovering payload data from a received signal, the receiver comprising: a radio frequency demodulation circuit configured to detect and to recover the received signal, the received signal having been formed and transmitted by a transmitter relative to which the receiver is moving at a speed less than or equal to a predetermined maximum speed, the received signal having been formed and transmitted by the transmitter to carry the payload data as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbols in one or more of a plurality of time divided frames, each frame including a preamble including a plurality of bootstrap OFDM symbols, one or more of the bootstrap OFDM symbols of the preamble carrying a signature sequence, and each of the one or more of the bootstrap OFDM symbols carrying a signature sequence carrying signalling data represented as a relative cyclic shift of the bootstrap OFDM symbol, wherein the signature sequence carried by each of the one or more of the bootstrap OFDM symbols comprises a combination of a Zadoff-chu sequence and a pseudorandom-noise sequence, a detector circuit configured to detect and to convert a useful part of the bootstrap OFDM symbols into the frequency domain, a bootstrap processor configured to detect the signalling data from the one or more of the bootstrap OFDM symbols in the frequency domain, and a demodulator circuit configured to recover the payload data from the payload OFDM symbols using the signalling data, wherein the bootstrap processor comprises: a divider configured to divide a first bootstrap OFDM symbol in the frequency domain by a second bootstrap OFDM symbol in the frequency domain, the first and second bootstrap OFDM symbols being adjacent OFDM bootstrap symbols in the received signal, and one of the first and second bootstrap OFDM symbols being a subject bootstrap OFDM symbol which is one of the bootstrap OFDM symbols carrying signalling data; a divider and multiplier unit configured to divide the output of the divider by the pseudorandom-noise sequence of the signature sequence of the first bootstrap OFDM symbol and multiply the output of the divider by the pseudorandom-noise sequence of the signature sequence of the second bootstrap OFDM symbol; a phase change estimator configured to detect an average change in phase between adjacent sub-carriers of the subject bootstrap OFDM symbol on the basis of the output of the divider and multiplier unit, and a signalling data detector configured to identify the signalling data of the subject bootstrap OFDM symbol based on the detected average change in phase which is representative of the cyclic shift applied to the subject bootstrap OFDM symbol.