Abstract: A method of assessing a probe by measuring a known sample whose shape is known with the probe in an electronic microscope, the known sample having a projection part on a surface thereof, and the projection part having a shape tapered toward a vertex thereof, the method comprising a step of measuring circle equivalent radius of the projection part, a step of comparing the circle equivalent radius with a first threshold value, and a step of determining that the probe is satisfactory when the width is less than the first threshold value, and a step of determining that the probe is unsatisfactory when the width is equal to or greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: A storage battery device includes: a cell unit including a plurality of battery cells; an electric flow path material that forms a current path through which electric power is supplied from or to the battery cells; and a radiator thermally coupled to the current-path member.

Abstract: The power supply device of an embodiment includes a first storage battery connected between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal; a second storage battery connected in parallel with the first storage battery; a first switch that switches connection between a positive electrode of the first storage battery and the positive electrode terminal; a second switch that switches connection between a positive electrode of the second storage battery and the positive electrode terminal; and a battery management device that controls opening and closing of the first switch and the second switch, wherein energy density of the first storage battery is equal to or greater than energy density of the second storage battery, and wherein the first switch is normally closed and the second switch is normally open.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a battery control device has a current detector, a storage, and a state determiner. The current detector detects a current value of a current which flows into a second battery which is connected in parallel to a first battery. The first battery and the second battery are charged with a fixed current. The storage stores an initial value of the current which flows into the second battery if the second battery is charged with the fixed current in an initial use stage of the second battery. The state determiner determines a state of the first battery based on the current value detected by the current detector and the initial value stored in the storage.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a battery control device has a current detector, a storage, and a state determiner. The current detector detects a current value of a current which flows into a second battery which is connected in parallel to a first battery. The first battery and the second battery are charged with a fixed current. The storage stores an initial value of the current which flows into the second battery if the second battery is charged with the fixed current in an initial use stage of the second battery. The state determiner determines a state of the first battery based on the current value detected by the current detector and the initial value stored in the storage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an optical head moving control apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention includes a stepping motor configured to be rotationally driven by a two-phase excitation scheme to move an optical head in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a motor driver configured to control stop and resumption of rotational driving of the stepping motor at a plurality of electrical angles different from a plurality of electrical angles corresponding to a plurality of two-phase excitation points at which the absolute values of driving voltages of two phases supplied to the stepping motor are equal.

Abstract: An optical disk drive includes a motor base, a rotational shaft that is rotatably held on the motor base, a rotor that is fixed to the rotational shaft and is rotated when supplied with a magnetic field, a stator that is provided in a space between the rotor and the motor base and is capable of applying a magnetic field to the rotor, and a drive circuit that is provided on a region on the motor base, which is outside a region defined by projection of the rotor, and causes a magnetic field to be produced from the stator.

Abstract: In a clock frequency controlling method and method, a plurality of clock output selectors are provided to respectively provide output clock signals based on input clock signals with different frequencies at respective selector inputs. One of the plurality of clock output selectors is controlled in response to an operating clock request to provide a selected clock signal among the output clock signals in accordance with an indication of the request. When the first indication of the request is changed to a second indication, the selected clock signal is deactivated in synchronism with a corresponding one of the input clock signals. After the selected clock signal is deactivated, a second selected clock signal is activated in response to the second indication of the request in synchronism with a corresponding one of the input clock signals.

Abstract: In a clock frequency controlling method and method, a plurality of clock output selectors are provided to respectively provide output clock signals based on input clock signals with different frequencies at respective selector inputs. One of the plurality of clock output selectors is controlled in response to an operating clock request to provide a selected clock signal among the output clock signals in accordance with an indication of the request. When the first indication of the request is changed to a second indication, the selected clock signal is deactivated in synchronism with a corresponding one of the input clock signals. After the selected clock signal is deactivated, a second selected clock signal is activated in response to the second indication of the request in synchronism with a corresponding one of the input clock signals.

Abstract: In an optical head which comprises a focusing unit section for moving an objective lens, used to focus a light beam on a recording medium, in a direction perpendicular to the recording medium, and a tracking unit section for moving the focusing unit section in a direction perpendicular to an information track on the recording medium, a lens holder for supporting the objective lens is fixed to two leaf springs, and a carriage body is disposed between the two leaf springs. The leaf springs and the central portion of a tracking coil are fixed to the carriage body. The tracking coil has stepped portions at its central portion, and its whole structure except the central portion is flat.

Abstract: An optical head comprises a laser beam source, a photo-detector device for receiving a laser beam emitted from the laser beam source and reflected at a data recording medium, an optical system for sending the laser beam from the data recording medium to the photo-detector device, and a base member for fixing the photo-detector device and the optical system. The photo-detector device has a photo-detector element, a mount member on which the photo-detector element is mounted, a block for fixing one end of the mount member, a spring member for applying elastic force to the mount member, a screw member for moving the photo-detector element along one direction against elastic force of the spring member and fixing the element to an arbitrary position, and a hinge portion formed in the fixing end of the mount member.

Abstract: A viscoelastic substance which is useful in an objective lens driving apparatus has magnetic particles dispersed therein for generating a force for restoring deformation of the viscoelastic substance when an external force acts upon the viscoelastic substance in the presence of an external magnetic field.

Abstract: In an electro-magnetic actuator, a pair of magnetic circuits are separately arranged in a tracking direction and a carriage is located between the magnetic circuits and is movably supported or guide rails extending along the tracking direction. On the carriage, a lens holder for holding an objective lens is movably suspended and focusing coils are fixed on side surfaces of the lens holder. A tracking coil is fixed in the carriage and is extended in the magnetic circuit. Focusing permanent magnets of the magnetic circuits are so extended along the tracking direction as to produce, focusing magnetic fluxes penetrating the focusing coil and leakage magnetic fluxes penetrating the tracking coil. A focus drive force is generated by an interaction between a current supplied to the focusing coil and the focusing magnetic fluxes and a biasing track drive force is generated by an interaction between a current supplied to the tracking coil and the leakage magnetic fluxes.

Abstract: In an electro-magnetic actuator, an objective lens is mounted on a lens holder which is elastically supported by two leaf springs and a focusing coil is wound around the lens holder. The lead springs is fixed on a carriage to which tracking coil is also fixed. Guide roller mechanisms are provided on the both sides of the tracking coil and are slidably mounted on guide rails, respectively. The tracking coil are so arranged as to be extended in magnetic gaps of magnetic circuits disposed between the carrier and the guide rails. In each of the magnetic circuit, first and second yokes are so faced to each other as to defined the magnetic gap, a pair of permanent magnets are interposed between the first and second yokes, a third yoke also so faced to the second yoke as to defined the magnetic gap, a pair of permanent magnets are also interposed between the second and third yokes, and a permanent magnet is provide at the first yoke to apply a magnetic flux to the focusing coil.

Abstract: In an optical head, a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser is guided to a carrier through a collimator lens and a beam splitter. An objective lens movable along an optical axis and a mirror having a oval reflecting surface are mounted on a carrier which is movable along a radial direction of an optical disk. The guided light beam is reflected from the mirror to the objective lens and is converged on the optical disk by the objective lens. The rear surface of the mirror is bonded to an adjusting member on a straight line which pass through the center gravity of the mirror and extends along the movable direction of the carrier.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus has a light source, light focusing means for focusing the light beam to a recording film of an optical disk light reception means for receiving a reflected light beam from the recording film, and optical axis adjustment means arranged in an optical path between the light source and the light focusing means and for adjusting a dislocation of the optical axis of the light beam from the optical center axis of the light focusing means. The optical axis adjustment means has an light transmissive flat plate having parallel surfaces which are installed diagonally to the optical axis, or with the light transmissive flat plate and means which supports the light transmissive flat plate and inclines rotatably the direction of the light transmissive flat plate around two axes by turning a curved surface seat thereof.

Abstract: An objective lens driving apparatus includes an objective lens held by a movable member. The movable member is supported on a base by a support mechanism to be movable in a predetermined direction. Magnetic field forming unit is fixed to the base so as to apply a magnetic field to the movable member. Focusing coils and tracking coils are fixed to the movable member to drive the movable member in the predetermined direction in cooperation with the magnetic field. Viscoelastic substances for absorbing vibration of the movable member are arranged between the focusing coils and the magnetic unit and between the tracking coils and the unit. The viscoelastic substance has a viscoelastic material and magnetic material dispersed therein.

Abstract: An objective lens driving apparatus is provided which can restrain hysteresis phenomena in the relationship between semi-static displacements and forces in a focusing direction of the objective lens. The apparatus can also maintain the balance of force even when the objective lens is shifted in a focusing or tracking direction. Thus, the objective lens can be readily prevented from tilting. The apparatus also has a simplified configuration that can readily start up control operations in servomechanism. Thus, stable control characteristics of the apparatus can be achieved.