Abstract: Information is recorded and reproduced by making a light beam traverse guide tracks to reach a target track. In moving the light beam to the target track, a current output circuit responds to a track jump command, and supplies a drive current to an objective lens driver. The driver current is transformed by the conversion circuit into a rapidly rising and gradually falling current, and supplied to the driver, The objective lens then moves. When the light beam reaches a track adjacent the target track, a track traverse detecting circuit supplies a track traverse detecting signal. In response to this signal, the current output circuit supplies a damping current by reversing the polarity of the drive current to the driver. The damping current is transformed by the conversion circuit into a rapidly rising and gradually falling current, and supplied to the driver.

Abstract: A write once type information recording medium having a recording format that includes sectors. Each Sector includes x pieces of p-bit frames. Each frame contains an f-bit synchronization signal region and a d-bit data region. Each bit of at least one x-bit packet in which a v-bit error correction code has been added to u-bit data, is distributed to each one of the data regions of the x pieces of frames. This makes it possible for the write once type information recording medium to have an increased data storage efficiency and an effective error correction capability for a burst error.

Abstract: A paper currency discriminating device which is improved to prevent the illegal extraction of paper currency more reliably. An impeller 10 associated in the rotating direction of timing belts 14 for transferring the paper currency is so disposed at the exit of a paper currency transfer passage 6 as to protrude upward over the paper currency transfer face of an upper transfer plate 3. Moreover, the impeller 10 at the time of introducing the paper currency is inhibited from backward rotation to prevent any illegal extraction of the paper currency once introduced. At the same time, a decision signal is outputted after it is detected by a passage detection sensor P3 that the trailing end of the paper currency being transferred reaches the impeller 10 over an extraction preventing lever 33. As a result, it is possible to prevent the illegal use of the paper currency by the extraction which is done before the end of the introduction.

Abstract: A bill identification apparatus which is hardly subject to decision errors attributable to fluctuations of detected data caused by aging or partial soiling of bills. In identifying a bill, physical properties pi for various positions i on the bill are detected in synchronism with the transportation speed of the bill, a correction value pm for making an average value for an inspection section for the detected data pi equal to an average value for an inspection section for standard pattern values pci is obtained, and the detected data pi are corrected by using the correction value pm, thereby eliminating fluctuations of the data attributable to general deterioration or soiling of the bill or detectors.

Abstract: In a vending machine for which both money and a prepaid card can be used, a writing-instruction switch is provided for controlling of amount information into the card. When the writing-instruction switch has been actuated, the amount of inserted money and the credited value of the card are added up and the sum is written into the card for renewing its credited value. In this manner, it becomes possible to additionally renew the amount recorded in the prepaid card. Further, an amount selector may be provided for selecting an amount to be added to a prepaid card. On condition that money of an amount not smaller than the amount selected by the amount selector has been inserted, the selected amount and the recorded amount of the card are added up for renewing the recorded amount of the card. Thus, it becomes possible to write a desired amount into an already issued prepaid card.

Abstract: To provide a driving device for an objective lens that has a high driving sensitivity and superior driving frequency characteristics.The present invention relates to a device for driving the objective lens (1) of an optical head that uses a device for recording information on an optical information recording medium, and for reproducing information therefrom, by irradiating a beam of light thereon while positioning and focusing the light with respect to an information track on the optical information recording medium. The device has a loose linkage member which supports an objective lens within a cylindrical member and comprises the cylindrical member (14 ) and a cylindrical hole portion (19 ) into which the cylindrical member is inserted so as to face the cylindrical hole with an air gap therebetween and with the axes thereof oriented vertically, and the driving force generated by a tracking coil (3 ) is transmitted through this loose linkage member to the objective lens.

Abstract: A first bill feeding plate 33 and a second bill feeding plate 34 cooperatively constitute a bill feeding passage 31 of a bill discrimination apparatus 1. The first bill feeding plate 33 is formed at a bottom of a casing 67, which is swingably supported on the second bill feeding plate 34 through a hinge shaft 36. An opening lever 82, having an engaging hook 83 and an operating projection 84, is swingably supported at a distal end of the casing 67. The first bill feeding plate 33 is fixed to the second feeding plate 34 when the engaging hook 83 is engaged with an engaging piece 94. Pulling up the operating projection 84 causes the opening lever 82 to start a swing motion about a bearing piece 87.This causes the engaging hook 83 to separate from the engaging piece 94, and the casing 67 rotates in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, the first bill feeding plate 33 separates from the second bill feeding plate 34 to widely open the bill feeding passage.

Abstract: Various signals are exchanged between a coin acceptor section that identifies the authenticity of deposited coins and sorts out the on the basis of their denominations, and a change control section that receives the sorted-out coins and performs control to count the coins and to deliver the coins as a change. Such a signal exchange between the two sections is achieved through optical coupling between a light emitting diode and a photo transistor, without employing any electric contacts. Further, electric power supply from the change control section to the coin acceptor section is done through spring-biased probes without employing any electric connectors, or through inductive coupling without employing any electric contacts. Such arrangements can greatly facilitate attachment and detachment of the coin acceptor section to and from the change control section.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproduction apparatus that correctly performs tracking control even when there is a step in the information recording surface in an apparatus that records and reproduces information to and from an information recording medium such as an optical card or the like. An optical information recording and reproduction apparatus which focusses a light spot from a laser onto an optical information recording medium which has a tracking track and performs the recording and reproduction of information to required positions using the tracking track as a reference. The apparatus reduces the optical output of the laser when track jumping and seeking when there is an information reproduction operation.

Abstract: Data produced from a transmission source facsimile are received by a simulated communication circuit network, and thus received data are compressed and temporarily stored into a memory. After the data have been compressed, the data stored in the memory are read out and transmitted to an other party's facsimile via an external communication circuit network. Since the data transmitted to the other party's facsimile via the external communication circuit network are compressed data, a time required for transmission can be relatively shortened. Accordingly, a rapid data transmission can be achieved without the facsimile being replaced by a rapid type facsimile which is expensive. Further, various additional functions of a facsimile can be directly enjoyed from those intrinsically owned by the transmission source facsimile.

Abstract: A linear motor having a magnetic circuit and a moving coil, the magnetic circuit comprising a linear yoke provided at the center of the circuit and a pair of linear magnets, the linear yoke and the pair of linear magnets forming a pair of linear gaps with the linear yoke interposed therebetween, the magnetic circuit applying a magnetic field to the linear gaps, the movable coil mounted on the linear yoke of the magnetic circuit being moved along the linear yoke by an electromagnetic action to the magnetic circuit when the movable coil is powered, wherein the linear magnet has a larger magnetic force at opposite end portions in the longitudinal direction of the linear magnet than at an intermediate area, the magnetic reluctance of the magnetic circuit is made large to obtain a driving current of the movable coil corresponding to the magnetic reluctance when the moving coil moves at the intermediate area of the linear magnet, or the magnetic circuit is mounted on a plate made of material having the same magneti

Abstract: In a bill discriminating apparatus, a bill stacking unit is adapted for detachable attachment to a bill discriminating unit at both an up-stacking position and a down-stacking position. At the up-stacking position the stacking unit is arranged at a position higher than the bill discriminating unit whereas at the down-stacking position the stacking unit is arranged at a position lower than the bill discriminating unit. The bill stacking unit is detachably attached by a detachable attaching mechanism to the bill discriminating unit at one of both the up-stacking position and the down-stacking position. A torque is transmitted by a torque transmitting mechanism from a drive mechanism of a bill conveyer of the bill discriminating unit to a drive pulley of the stack conveyer of the stacking unit.

Abstract: A peak detection circuit accurately detects peaks even if a noise component is included in the input signal. The peak detection circuit includes: a differentiating circuit which produces a differentiated signal of an input signal, a peak hold circuit which produces a peak value envelope of an output of said differentiating circuit, and a first comparator which compares an output of said differentiating circuit and a reference signal formed on the basis of an output of said peak hold circuit, and which detects when said input signal falls below said reference signal A second comparator detects a portion which exceeds an output of said differentiating circuit A flip-flop produces a signal which rises in accordance with an output of said second comparator and falls in accordance with an output of said first comparator, thereby to form a signal representing a peak by the rise of an output of said flip-flop.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for discriminating between true and false coins wherein a coin satisfying both the electrical success conditions at their lowest levels is regarded as a false coin, and a coin satisfying at least one of the two electrical success conditions at a high level is regarded as a true coin.According to the method discriminating apparatus is mounted relative to a predetermined passage along which a coin or the like to be discriminated passes, wherein true/false discrimination is carried out in accordance with whether or not the two or three different data detected from the coin and developed on a two- or three-dimensional coordinate system falls within a predetermined two- or three-dimensional function closed area.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus having a motion controller for an optical head capable of moving the optical head to a target position in a short time while eliminating an error to be caused by mechanical elements and without reading a present address during the motion of the optical head from a far jump to a near jump. In the information recording and reproducing apparatus for an optical information recording medium for recording and reproducing information to and from the medium by scanning a light beam from the optical head to a track, the motion of the optical head is controlled by a combination of a far jump driving the optical head and a near jump driving an objective lens assembled with the optical head. During the far jump, the optical head is controlled to move by half the motion distance in an acceleration mode, and by the remaining half in a deceleration mode.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for validating a paper-like piece are of a type having a detector which irradiates light onto a deposited paper-like piece and thereby produces a detection signal corresponding to a pattern on the paper-like piece and validating the paper-like piece by collating the detection signal produced by the detector in response to deposition of the paper-like piece with a predetermined standard pattern. Features of the apparatus and method are that a reference paper-like piece having no particular pattern is deposited and reference level data is obtained on the basis of a detection signal produced by the detector in response to this deposition, that data to be examined is provided by converting a detection signal produced by the detector in response to deposition of a paper-like piece to be validated to a ratio to or deviation from the reference level data and that validation is made by collating this data to be examined with the standard pattern.

Abstract: In an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus, the recording operation is interrupted when an information pit, dust, scratch, stain, etc. is present on an optical recording medium. However, the recording operation is resumed and kept continued when a dust, scratch, stain, etc. other than the information pit is present on the medium. The apparatus comprises a double recording detecting circuit for detecting a pseudo double recording signal generated by a dust, scratch, stain, etc.

Abstract: This card type recording medium has plural types of inks which normally exhibit the same color visually but exhibit different optical characteristics under a predetermined condition provided in blocks in a desired pattern and, by breaking the blocks block by block in accordance with the used amount or other factor, is capable of recording information corresponding to the breakage state of the blocks. First information can be recorded by a pattern of arrangement of these plural types of inks and second information can be recorded in accordance with the breakage state of the blocks. The first information is a collation pattern which indicates that the card type recording medium is a genuine one. Since the plural types of inks exhibit the same color visually, it cannot be visually discerned which type of ink is used on which block, which makes it difficult to counterfeit the card by imitating this collation pattern.

Abstract: An information recording and reproducing apparatus includes a card carriage. The card carriage is provided in the opposite sides thereof with card holding plates, respectively. The card holding plates have each a groove into which a corresponding lateral edge of an optical card is inserted. At least one of the card holding plates is supported in a cantilever fashion on a card carriage through a flexible portion thereof. The upper surface of the card carriage has an upper ridge formed at a portion close to one lateral edge of the optical card. The upper surface of the card carriage oppositely faces the rear face of the optical card. The inner edge portion of the one card holding plate is provided at a position away from the outer ridge at a predetermined distance with an inner ridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording informations in an information recording medium such as an optical card or the like and reproducing the recorded informations therefrom includes as essential components a housing, an instrument section arranged in the housing for recording/reproducing informations, a supply source duct arranged in the housing while having a supply source circuit board received therein, an air intake port formed on one side wall of the supply source duct, an air outlet port formed on another side wall of the supply source duct, an air flow passage formed between the one side wall of the supply source duct and the supply source circuit board so as to allow the air intake port to be communicated with the air outlet port, and a cooling fan disposed in the air outlet port. The supply source duct is arranged adjacent to the instrument section.