Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus for an input encoded data stream having two different bit rates N.sub.1 and N.sub.2, where N.sub.1 <N.sub.2. The recording and reproducing apparatus includes: an input interface for outputting the input encoded data stream to two channels; recording processors, connected to the outputs of the input interface, for converting the input encoded data stream into a signal suitable for writing onto a magnetic tape by a recording head; a tape speed controller for varying the speed of the magnetic tape in accordance with the bit rates of the input encoded data stream; a reproducing head for reading the signal from the magnetic tape; reproducing processors for processing a reproduced signal; and an output interface. The input interface divides and outputs the input encoded data stream to both of the two channels when the bit rate of the input encoded data stream is N.sub.

Abstract: A 3D volume measuring apparatus using an optical measuring technique performs an accurate measurement by using a common master clock signal to move a slit beam and to perform a measuring operation using the slit beam. An optical sensor has a slit beam source which projects the slit beam onto a surface of an object. A video camera receives an image of the optical cutting line. A master clock pulse generating unit is provided for generating master clock pulses. The slit beam is scanned on the object in synchronization with the master clock pulses. Information of the image of the optical cutting line is obtained in synchronization with the master clock pulses, so that the contour of the vertical section corresponding to the optical cutting line is obtained. A chamber volume correcting method using the 3D volume measuring apparatus is provided in which method an exact cutting depth for a cylinder head can be calculated so that a chamber of the cylinder head has an exact target volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a video signal onto tracks of a recording tape includes circuitry for producing a first time-base reference signal which is a color burst signal composed of a first predetermined number of sinewave cycles and a second time-base reference signal which is a burst signal composed of a second predetermined number of sinewave signals. The second predetermined number of cycles is larger than the first predetermined number of cycles. The apparatus further includes superimposing circuitry for superimposing the first time base reference signal on an input video signal at intervals of a horizontal scanning period of the video signal and for superimposing the second time base reference signal on the input video signal at intervals of a predetermined number of horizontal scanning periods of the video signal.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for changing the frequency characteristics of an input signal, e.g.--a video or audio signal, allows a signal to pass through a transmission circuit in a positive time sequence and then, allows the signal to be transmitted through another transmission circuit having the same transmission characteristics in a reverse time sequence with respect to the positive time sequence. Also, while the transmission circuit is arranged to have a zero-phase characteristic, each segment of a continuous signal is processed throughout a period which is equal to at least two times a duration of an impulse response direction of the transmission circuit. Accordingly, unwanted wave errors appearing at discontinuous regions of the signals are eliminated.

Abstract: A tracking error detecting circuit in which tracking error detecting pilot signals having different frequencies are added to a main signal every track and recorded onto a magnetic recording medium, and upon reproduction, reproduction output levels of the pilot signals reproduced as crosstalks from both of adjacent tracks are compared, and a tracking error is detected. n signals having the same frequencies as those of the pilot signals and whose phases are different are generated and multiplied to the reproduction signal. Unnecessary components are eliminated by n LPFs (Lowpass filters). The amplitude values of the reproduced pilot signals are vector separated and detected. Further, the vector separated amplitude values are vector synthesized and detected. Therefore, by multiplying the signals having the same frequencies as those of the pilot signals, the synchronous detection is performed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic motor which has a viration mode of progressive wave with a large vibrational amplitude of an elastic member and which provides a high torque, comprises: at least one vibrator including a disk-shaped elastic member having a driving force transmitting portion, disk-shaped piezoelectric ceramics attached to both surfaces of the elastic member and a plurality of projections provided on both sides of the driving force transmitting portion; and at least one rotor that is in press contact with the driving force transmitting portion of the vibrator. The thickness of the elastic member at a portion between the piezoelectric ceramics is substantially equal to the thickness thereof at the driving force transmitting portion.

Abstract: A radial tire is comprised of a belt, disposed between a carcass and a tread, having metal cord plies including a first belt ply, a second belt ply, a third belt ply and a fourth belt ply which are arranged radially outwardly in that order, wherein the second belt ply has a curvature concentric with the curvature of a radially outer surface of the tread and a width (B2) of at least 93% of the tread width (W), and the third belt ply has a width (B3) smaller than the width (B2) and is provided at both ends with spaced parts 1.5 to 4.5 mm distance apart from the second belt ply, the third belt ply, in a central part having a width (CR) of 60 to 70% of the width (B3) and both end parts each having a width (b) of 5 to 15% of the width, the third belt ply having a curvature concentric with the curvature of the radially outer surface of the tread.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for driving and controlling a thermal printer. In the thermal printer provided with a carriage driving mechanism for moving a carriage including a thermal head forward and backward along a platen; a mechanism for moving upward and downward the thermal head to bring it into contact with and detach it from said platen; and a sheet forwarding mechanism for forwarding a print sheet in the direction perpendicular to the sheet forwarding direction; the time required for the printing operation by the printer is shortened as a whole and thus it is possible to raise the effective printing speed by controlling the drive of the printer so that the upward movement and/or the downward movement of the thermal head and the moving operation of the carriage or the sheet forwarding operation are effected, overlapped with each other.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire for heavy load vehicles which is constructed to effectively suppress railway wear, and which has a tire tread provided with at least one circumferential groove to divide a tread in the widthwise direction and a carcass comprising at least one carcass ply of substantially radially extending rubber coated steel cords and a belt layer for reinforcing a crown portion of said carcass ply; wherein the zigzag angle of the main circumferential grooves with respect to an equatorial line of the tire increases in angle as the tread wears out.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting a wide screen television signal to a desired normal screen television signal includes an extraction circuit for selectively extracting a portion of the wide screen television signal corresponding to a normal screen television picture to obtain the desired normal television signal, a motion detector for detecting a motion of a picture produced by the wide screen television signal, and a control circuit for controlling the extracting circuit to extract the portion of the wide screen television signal according to a motion detection result of the motion detector. A plurality of candidate areas to be extracted from the wide screen television picture are predetermined. The motion detector detects from among the plurality areas an area in which the motion of the picture is the largest. The control circuit controls the extracting circuit to extract a portion of the wide screen television signal corresponding to the area in which the motion of the picture is the largest.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having a new carcass profile, which is characterized in that a radius TR1 of the radially expansive tread surface produced when the tire is mounted on the rim officially specified for use and inflated with air having 5% pressure of the specified maximum pressure, and another radius TR2 of curvature produced when the tire is inflated with air of the specified maximum pressure always satisfy the relation of 1.2.ltoreq.TR2/TR1.ltoreq.1.5. An above-mentioned radius of curvature increase with increasing air pressure.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire, in which stone entrapment in the tread groove is prevented and the wet grip property is maintained, comprising: a tread provided with a central longitudinal groove on the central part thereof; the central longitudinal groove extending continuously zigzag in the circumferential direction of the tire along the equator of the tire to form a plurality of angled portions of the central longitudinal groove, and the groove provided in each zigzag edge portion with a platform; the platform in each zigzag edge portion being formed on one side of the sidewalls which is located more closely to the tire equator than the other side.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus comprises a recording signal processing section, a head section, and a reproduced signal processing section. The recording signal processing section comprises a plurality of recording signal processing circuits each for converting a video signal to one or more recordable signals, and a first switch circuit for selectively connecting one of the recording signal processing circuits to the head section. The head section has a plurality of magnetic heads mounted on a single rotary cylinder for recording the recordable signals on a magnetic tape and reproducing the recorded signals from the magnetic tape.

Abstract: In a system for connecting a video signal recording/reproducing apparatus and a color TV receiver, two component signals--a luminace signal and a carrier chrominance signal--are transmitted separately from each other from the video signal recording/reproducing apparatus to the TV receiver. The video signal recording/reproducing apparatus has first and second output terminals for respectively outputting luminance and carrier chrominance signals obtained from a color video signal reproduced from a recording medium. The color TV receiver has first and second input terminals adapted to be respectively connected to the first and second output terminals of the video signal recording/reproducing apparatus for receiving the luminace and carrier chrominance signals. The color TV receiver may be provided with a switching circuit for selecting a composite video signal received in the conventional manner or the separately received two component signals.

Abstract: In a video signal recording/reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing two-channel component signals, input two-channel component signals are processed separately from each other by two recording signal processing circuits to be recordable two-channel component signals. The recordable two-channel component signals are exchanged at predetermined intervals by a first switching circuit to be two combined signal each containing the recordable two-channel component signals which appear at periods corresponding to the exchanging invervals. The two combined signals are recorded on a recording medium via recording heads and reproduced from the recording medium via reproducing heads. The reproduced two combined signals are exchanged at the predetermined intervals by a second switching circuit to be the recordable two-channel component signals, which are thereafter processed separately from each other by two reproduced signal processing circuit to be the original two-channel component signals.

Abstract: A tread pattern for a pneumatic tire having a plurality of circumferentially extending zig-zag and straight longitudinal grooves and a multiplicity of transverse grooves extending generally axially and joining the longitudinal grooves to define a block pattern.The tread pattern will change from a block pattern to a rib pattern as it wears because the transverse grooves extend to a shallower depth than the longitudinal grooves. The bottom of the longitudinal grooves, which are at a greater depth, preferably have a different zig-zag pattern than the part of the longitudinal groove which contact the road when the tire is new.

Abstract: A PLL circuit for a phase comparator, a low-pass filter (LPF), a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and a frequency divider. A first control circuit is responsive to a discontinuous phase change of a reference signal of the PLL circuit for inhibiting the operation of the phase comparator or disconnecting the LPF from the phase comparator during a predetermined period so that the discontinuous phase change information is not transmitted through the LPF to the VCO. At the same time, a second control circuit resets the frequency divider by a pulse of the reference signal after the discontinuous phase change or applies a voltage corresponding to the discontinuous phase change to the VCO so that the output signal of the frequency divider is locked in phase to the reference signal after the discontinuous phase change. With the cooperation of the first and second control circuits, the PLL circuit quickly recovers its stable state after the discontinuous phase change of the reference signal.

Abstract: A magnetic tape recording/reproducing apparatus for recording video signals on a magnetic tape without providing a guard band between each two adjacent signal tracks. The apparatus comprises a first switching circuit for exchanging 2-channel component signals every nH period to obtain two combined signals each composed of the 2-channel signals which alternate every nH period, two modulators for modulating the two combined signals, a head section having two pairs of rotarty magnetic heads for recording the modulated signals on the magnetic tape so that each two adjacent blocks contain a same channel component signal and for reproducing the recorded signals from the magnetic tape, two demodulators for demodulating the reproduced signals, and a second switching circuit for exchanging the demodulated signals every nH to obtain the 2-channel component signals. With this arrangement, the recording density is remarkably increased and the cross talk interference hardly occur.