Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America

Tsutomu Muraji

Satoshi Hirotsune

Mitsuru Kotaka

Toshihisa Nakano

Yasunori Ishii

Yoshito Miyatake

Akihiro Takeuchi

Keiichi Kuzumoto

Kazutaka Furuta

Masaaki Kobayashi

Hiroshi Takahara

Atsuo Ochi

Yuka Ozawa

Kazushi Nozawa

Hiroaki Satou

Shinichi Aki

A navigation device () estimates a time when a user utilizing the navigation device () comes home, and transmits the estimated expected arrival time to a control device () in association with the user identifier of the user. In response to receiving the expected arrival times from a plurality of the navigation devices (), the control device () transmits, to an air conditioner (), a reservation instruction for setting the room temperature at the home to a predetermined target temperature by the estimated arrival time of the earliest user who is supposed to come home earliest. The air conditioner () is turned on in accordance with the transmitted reservation instruction among the users.

Control method for air conditioner, air conditioning control system, navigation device, and control device

A destination setting unit () receives setting of a destination by the user when a route from a present position to the destination is guided. A user specifying unit () judges whether the user who sets the destination is the user who performs program recording reservation. When the user is judged to be the user who performs program recording reservation, a keyword extracting unit () extracts a keyword for use in performing program recording reservation based on the destination. A keyword display unit () presents the user with the extracted keyword. A keyword selecting unit () receives selection, by the user, of the presented keyword. A program selecting unit () selects a program associated with the keyword. A program reservation unit () reserves recording of the selected program.

Program recording method, program recording device, destination setting method, and destination setting device

An image processor having a frame memory for storing image data to newly generate purposed image data to be displayed by processing the image data in the frame memory, in which a processing memory for previously storing reference pixel coordinates for processing the image data is included and the data for the reference pixel coordinates in the processing memory is provided for the frame memory as an image-data read address.

Image processor and image display

Signals of odd lines in progressive scanning image signals in a first frame are extracted and displayed along odd lines on a matrix-type display device such as a liquid crystal display panel. Further, signals of even lines in progressive scanning image signals in a second frame successive to the first frame are extracted and displayed along even lines on the display device. Thus, one image of a frame is displayed on the display device in two frame periods so that one of the first and second steps is performed after the other thereof is performed. Alternatively, one of the signals of odd lines are displayed along two successive odd and even lines, while one of the signals of even lines are displayed along two successive even and odd lines. The display methods can be applied to a display panel having a larger number of scanning lines than a number of signal lines. Light leakage in a liquid crystal panel including polymer dispersion liquid crystal due to lateral electric field near pixel electrodes is prevented by providing light-shielding films on the pixel electrodes. Light leakage is also prevented by providing a polarizer above one of the two sides of the panel.

Method and device for displaying image signals and viewfinder

Where a stack projection operation is carried out using first and second projection display units, it is arranged such that the first projection display unit projects a crosshatch pattern continuously in time while on the other hand, the second projection display unit projects a pattern identical with that crosshatch pattern such that the pattern flashes at given intervals of time. Thereafter, the state of superposition between the patterns projected from the two projection display units is examined to carry out inter-set convergence adjustment between the display units.

Convergence adjusting method, signal generating apparatus, and projection display unit

To realize image conversion processing by means of filtering using a multi-tap structure without requiring that a memory to use has a high-speed capability, a merge circuit merges sampled input image signals for every plurality pieces of continuous pixel data and outputs signals, and a memory element stores approximately one frame of output data from the merge circuit The memory element outputs signals to a memory element in accordance with outputs from a memory element which stores control data which are calculated in advance. The memory element stores a larger number of input signals received from the memory element than the number of taps of a filtering circuit and outputs signals to a selection circuit The selection circuit selects signals required by the filtering circuit from input signals received from the memory element and outputs signals to the filtering circuit The filtering circuit generates output image signals, using input signals received from the selection circuit

Image conversion method and conversion device

A progressive scanning conversion apparatus for converting an interlaced scan video signal into a progressive scan video signal by performing interpolation based on original pixels which are obtained in a matrix by sampling the interlaced scan video signal in a current field, original pixels which are obtained in a matrix by sampling the interlaced scan video signal in a previous field which is immediately prior to the current field, and original pixels which are obtained in a matrix by sampling the interlaced scan video signal in a next field which is immediately following the current field. The apparatus includes a motion vector detector for detecting a motion vector between two of the current field, the previous field, and the next field; a motion estimation circuit for estimating a pixel value in the current field, from one of a pixel in the previous field and a pixel in the next field using the motion vector detected by the vector detection means; and an interpolated pixel generator for generating an interpolated pixel used for conversion by multiplying the pixel value obtained by the motion estimation means and the corresponding pixel value in the current field by a weighting factor and summating the multiplication results.

Progressive scanning conversion apparatus

A gamma correction and white balance adjustment device has a calculator for calculating brightness target values expected to produce on a screen in response to calculated input signals to be applied to a CRT. The calculated input signals are actually applied to the CRT and the actual brightness values observed on the screen are measured. A table of a list of the calculated input signals expected to produce the brightness target values and a corresponding list of measured input signals which actually produced the calculated brightness target values is formed. An amplitude conversion circuit is provided for converting the amplitude of the input signal, which is equal to the calculated input signal, to that of the measured input signal in accordance with the obtained table.

Gamma correction and white balance adjustment method and apparatus for

A projection type image display apparatus using a light modulation image display device as a light valve varies the voltage of a video signal so as to correct the nonuniformity of luminance of the optical device so that an image uniform in brightness and color even in peripheral parts can be displayed on a projection screen. A driving circuit contained with the apparatus generates three driving signals for driving three image display devices in accordance with red, green and blue color component signals of an input video signal. The driving circuit includes a correction circuit for correcting the red and blue color component signals independently of one another so that their luminance is commensurate with that of the green color component signal.

Projection type image display apparatus with circuit for correcting

A projection type image display apparatus uses an optical modulation image display device as a light valve. Notwithstanding the use of a metal vapor discharge lamp which has a long re-starting period of time as a light source, the apparatus can display images instantaneously by igniting the discharge lamp for a prescribed period of time after switching off and then on again a main power source of the apparatus. Also, the projection type image display apparatus does not generate audio noise at the time of starting the discharge lamp. Furthermore, even in case of adding an instantaneous re-ignition circuit, the frequency of use of such instantaneous re-ignition circuit can be suppressed to an utmost extent, and the useless igniting period of time of the discharge lamp can be curtailed.

Projection type image display apparatus

Two-channel signals contain information of a video signal in a video system where one frame is composed of an odd number of lines. A first switching device periodically and mutually switches the two-channel signals at periods of nH and thereby generates two converted signals which correspond periodically and alternately to the two-channel signals at periods of nH. The character 'nH' denotes a vlaue which equals a preset integer 'n' times a horizontal sync period 'H'. The first switching device is reset for each of a plurality of fields. The two converted signals are transmitted through a transmission system. A second switching device periodically and mutually switches the two converted signals, which are transmitted through the transmission system, at periods of nH and thereby reobtains two-channel signals from the two converted signals. The second switching device is reset for each of the fields.

Video signal transmission apparatus for frames with an odd number of

A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus which converts a video signal to an FM signal and records the FM signal on a magnetic recording medium has a filter which eliminates an upper sideband component of the FM signal before recording so as to thereby enhance an increase of the levels of the lower sideband components of the reproduced and thereby improve its S/N ratio FM signal.

Growing community of inventors

Nara, Japan

Tsutomu Muraji