Abstract: Focus control is performed for an optical disc having at least two data layers. One data layer is located closer than the other to a beam-incident surface of the disc. Maximum levels in positive and negative sides on a characteristic curve of a focus error signal obtained from the disc are obtained for both data layers. First and second focus balance values are obtained based on the maximum levels for the data layers, respectively. It is determined whether a difference between the first and second focus balance values satisfies at least either a first requirement or a second requirement. The first requirement requires that the difference exceed a predetermined threshold value. The second requirement requires that the second focus balance value be smaller than a predetermined threshold value. A focus balance value is selected depending on a result of the determination, for focus control.

Abstract: Detection is made as to at least one of a ratio between a tracking error and a focus error, and a duty cycle of an off-track signal with respect to an optical disc. A decision is made as to whether or not the optical disc is playable on the basis of the detected at least one of the ratio and the duty cycle. The ratio is a ratio of the focus error to the tracking error or a ratio of the tracking error to the focus error.

Abstract: A speaker diaphragm with a circular opening in a center zone thereof has a pattern of concave and convex sections formed on a front surface or a rear surface thereof. A plurality of concave and convex sections are formed in each of regions provided at a regular interval with a specific angle in a circumferential direction of the diaphragm. The concave and convex sections formed in each region have different sizes in a radial direction of the diaphragm. The concave and convex sections formed in adjacent regions are displaced from each other in the radial direction. The concave and convex sections formed on the diaphragm are aligned on at least a first and a second imaginary curved line, respectively, each imaginary curved line passing regions and approaching an inner periphery of the circular opening from an outer periphery of the diaphragm.

Abstract: Focus control is performed for an optical disc having at least two data layers. One data layer is located closer than the other to a beam-incident surface of the disc. Maximum levels in positive and negative sides on a characteristic curve of a focus error signal obtained from the disc are obtained for both data layers. First and second focus balance values are obtained based on the maximum levels for the data layers, respectively. It is determined whether a difference between the first and second focus balance values satisfies at least either a first requirement or a second requirement. The first requirement requires that the difference exceed a predetermined threshold value. The second requirement requires that the second focus balance value be smaller than a predetermined threshold value. A focus balance value is selected depending on a result of the determination, for focus control.

Abstract: A radio receiver includes a position detecting unit, a broadcasting tower extracting portion, a reception determining portion and an information notifying portion. The position detecting unit detects a plane position of the radio receiver. The broadcasting tower extracting portion calculates a relative distance between the radio receiver and each of broadcasting towers which exist within a relative region, based on the plane position of the radio receiver and plan positions of the broadcasting towers indicated by plural pieces of position information on broadcasting towers, and extracts the predetermined number of broadcasting towers or less in order of increasing relative distance. The reception determining portion determines whether or not the radio receiver can receive a radio broadcast signal from each extracted broadcasting tower. If a radio broadcast signal is received, the information notifying portion notifies a user of information included in the received radio broadcast signal.

Abstract: A disc transfer mechanism includes a feed roller provided between a drive unit incorporated in a drive apparatus main body and an insert slot formed in the apparatus main body; a roller supporting member pivotably supporting the feed roller between a disc transfer position and an evacuated position; a drive cam for pivoting the feed roller between the disc transfer position and the evacuated position; and a driven cam moving in cooperation with pivoting of the feed roller. The drive cam engages with a rotation shaft of the feed roller and moves rectilinearly along one peripheral end of the drive unit, and the driven cam moves rectilinearly along the other peripheral end of the drive unit.

Abstract: A disc identifying device has sliders moving relatively in a direction such that a gap therebetween widens, one sensing switch switching-operated when a large diameter disc or a small diameter disc is inserted, the other sensing switch switching-operated only when the large diameter disc is inserted, and an actuating plate permitting the slider to move from an the initial position via a first position corresponding to the sensing switch to a second position corresponding to the sensing switch only when the large diameter disc is inserted. One end portion of the actuating plate has a stopper portion for preventing the slider from moving to the second position. The other end portion thereof is engaged with the slider.

Abstract: A disc transfer guide apparatus includes a guide plate for transferring a disc by clamping the disc in cooperation with a feed roller and a mount base to which the guide plate is mounted. The guide plate has a pair of plate portions coupled by a coupling portion that can be expandable and shrinkable in an axial direction of the feed roller. Each plate portion has a protruding piece at the outer end and the mount base has a slit engaged with the protruding piece for restraining the guide plate from moving in the axial direction of the feed roller. Each plate portion has inclined protruding threads having a protruding amount from the obverse face gradually increasing from the inner end toward the outer end.

Abstract: A simplified dist-clamping mechanism is provided to decrease the number of parts and processes of the assembly of a disc-clamping mechanism. The disc-clamping mechanism has a clamping plate sandwiching a disc by cooperating with a turntable, and a clamp base rotatably holding the clamping plate. The clamping plate has a surface plate pressing a disc toward the turntable, a small-radius body portion having an outer diameter smaller than that of the surface plate portion, and a flange portion protruding more than an end portion in an axial direction of the small-radius body portion and being parallel to the surface plate portion. The clamp base is integrally formed while including a thin-plate shaped holding portion, a stopper piece, and a bent portion which extends from the holding portion.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a touch panel, a position detecting portion, an operating control portion and a detection sensitivity control portion. The position detecting portion detects a close coordinate when sensing that a pointing means comes close to a position on a close plane away from the touch panel by a first distance, and detects a contact coordinate when sensing that the pointing means comes close to a position on a contact plane lying closer to the touch panel than the position on the close plane. The operating control portion controls an operation of a controlled unit based on the close coordinate and the contact coordinate. The detection sensitivity control portion switches detection sensitivity of the position detecting portion from close detection sensitivity to contact detection sensitivity when the position detecting portion senses that the pointing means comes close to the position on the close plane.

Abstract: Detection is made as to at least one of a ratio between a tracking error and a focus error, and a duty cycle of an off-track signal with respect to an optical disc. A decision is made as to whether or not the optical disc is playable on the basis of the detected at least one of the ratio and the duty cycle. The ratio is a ratio of the focus error to the tracking error or a ratio of the tracking error to the focus error.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a main substrate, a top board, a daughter substrate and a storage case. The main substrate is provided with an electronic part. The top board is arranged above the main substrate. The daughter substrate is electronically connected to the main substrate. The storage case accommodates the daughter substrate and is mounted to the top board at an inner surface side of the top board.

Abstract: An on-board equipment 1 includes a main body 2 arranged in a vehicle and an operation panel 3 detachably attached to the main body 2. The on-board equipment 1 further includes a sensor 34 for detecting whether or not the operation panel 3 has been detached from the main body 2, an indicator L1 arranged in the main body 2, a driver 22 for lighting the indicator L1 and a controller 21 for controlling the driver 22 so as to light the indicator L1 when it is detected that the operation panel 3 has been detected from the main body 2 by the sensor 34.

Abstract: A speaker diaphragm with a circular opening in a center zone thereof has a pattern of concave and convex sections formed on a front surface or a rear surface thereof. A plurality of concave and convex sections are formed in each of regions provided at a regular interval with a specific angle in a circumferential direction of the diaphragm. The concave and convex sections formed in each region have different sizes in a radial direction of the diaphragm. The concave and convex sections formed in adjacent regions are displaced from each other in the radial direction. The concave and convex sections formed on the diaphragm are aligned on at least a first and a second imaginary curved line, respectively, each imaginary curved line passing regions and approaching an inner periphery of the circular opening from an outer periphery of the diaphragm.

Abstract: There is provided an optical disc reproducing method capable of reproducing a non-finalized DVD+R. When a seek operation is performed from a present address on the non-finalized DVD+R to an outer circumferential side target address, the outer circumferential direction total jump number of tracks is calculated from a difference between the present address and the target address. When a first condition is satisfied in which the present address is in an inner circumferential zone, the target address is in a second outer circumferential zone, and the outer circumferential direction total jump number is 701 to 2500, the jump number of tracks is set to 340 smaller than the outer circumferential direction total jump number, and a traverse seek using a moving mechanism to move an optical pickup in a radius direction by 340 is performed.