Abstract: A surface microscope includes a device which brings a probe close to a surface of a sample to scan it therewith for producing a tunnel current between the probe and the sample to measure the superficial shape of the sample by detecting the tunnel current. A device for varying a gap between the probe and the sample, a system for detecting a variable component of the tunnel current varying, accompanied by variations in the gap by the device for varying same, a divider for calculating the ratio of the variable component of the tunnel current to the tunnel current, and a calculator for calculating tunnel barrier information, based on the quotient obtained by the divider, are combined with a display for displaying the measured superficial shape of the sample and the tunnel barrier information thus calculated.

Abstract: Playback method for use in an apparatus for playing a recording medium having a lead-in area, a first area in which only a coded information signal is recorded, and a second area in which a video format signal and a coded information signal are recorded by using a multiplexing operation. The method is characterized by the operations of reading information recorded in the lead-in area in response to a command, moving an information reading point of the pickup to the first area of the recording medium when subcode picture presence information, which indicates that a graphic code including picture information is inserted in a subcode of the coded information signal, is detected from information recovered from the lead-in area, and reproducing information of the first area preferentially to other areas of the recording medium.

Abstract: In an apparatus for measuring texture and characterization of the surface of a sample on the basis of the drive signal of a servo control circuit by allowing a probe-tip (1) to approach the sample (2) and subjecting the probe-tip (1) to servo control so that a current, which is generated by moving the probe-tip (1) on the sample surface and which flows between the probe-tip (1) and the sample (2), becomes constant, the present invention discloses a surface metrological apparatus comprising a circuit (11, 12) for correcting the texture and characterization of the sample by use of a current error of the measured value of the current described above from the set current value.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for transmitting a video signal. A two-dimensional picture formed by the video signal is divided into a plurality of extracting periods, frames, fields, and areas. A first signal portion represents a moving area. The plurality of areas for each unit extracting period corresponding to successive N (N being a natural number) frames of the video signal. An extracted video signal is formed by extracting from one field the first signal portion in a moving area, and from another field second signal portions representing nonmoving areas. A position identification signal which indicates the position of the moving area formed by the first signal portion are transmitted in combination.

Abstract: A method of recording N-channel video signals and M-channel audio signals (N, M being natural numbers) includes the steps of periodically extracting the video signal for one unit period, thereby thinning out the video signal, for each of the N-channel video signals, in turn combining the extracted video signals by a time division multiplexing operation. The method also includes the step of coding each of the M-channel audio signals to form M code trains, compressing in time each of the M code trains by a factor of 1/M or less and dividing each of the M code trains into a plurality of blocks, successively combining each block from the M code trains by a time division multiplexing operation. The video and audio signal obtained by the above multiplex operations are recorded on a single recording medium.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor is disclosed, which comprises a slider including a tabular vibrator in which a standing wave is excited, and a plurality of piezoelectric actuators securely mounted at the parts of the lower surface of the vibrator corresponding to the loop and node of the standing wave and adapted to be deformed in phase with the standing wave.

Abstract: A scanning surface microscope is disclosed which includes a unit for moving a sample, and a micro-balance whose balance bar is provided with a probe-tip and an electrode at both ends thereof, to convert the irregularities of a sample surface facing the probe-tip into the displacement of the balance bar by utilizing a force generated between the probe-tip and the sample surface. The movement of the electrode indicative of the displacement of the balance bar is detected to obtain the topography of the sample surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a piezoelectric actuator control apparatus comprising a capacitor connected in series with a piezoelectric actuator that has electrodes, and a control device that controls the voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator such that the voltage of the capacitor will reach a predetermined value, as well as a piezoelectric actuator control apparatus comprising an integrating circuit connected to one electrode of a piezoelectric actuator that has electrodes, and a control device that controls the voltage of the other electrode of the piezoelectric actuator such that the output of the integration circuit will assume a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: Positive and negative particles are emitted from the same emission portion of a charged particle source. In a charged particle optical system, the ions or electrons having a particularly energy among the emitted charged particles are selectively passed and their blanking is performed. The magnetic field strength and electric strength in the charged particle optical system are preferably controlled by an E.times.B type mass separator or quadrupole mass separator provided in the charged particle optical system.

Abstract: An electron beam recording and reproducing apparatus which radiates the electron beam emitted from a needle cathode to a disc for recording and reproduction is disclosed. The needle cathode moves on the disc. A magnetic field is applied in the axial direction of the needle cathode in order to converge and radiate the electron beam emitted from the needle cathode to the disc.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal without spontaneous polarization such as Li.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7 or quartz crystal is jointed to a cathode on the side opposite to the tip thereof to finely drive the cathode. The surface observation apparatus mounting the cathode makes it possible to observe the surface of a sample at high speeds.

Abstract: A timing signal generator for use in a system reproducing video format signals such as a video disc player, the timing signals being used to control a still-with-sound (SWS) processor operating with the video disc player. The timing signal generator includes a synchronizing signal separator circuit for extracting the vertical and composite synchronizing signals from the reproduced video signal. The extracted vertical synchronizing signal is input to a phase-locked loop which produces a system clock synchronized to the vertical synchronizing signal. A horizontal synchronizing circuit receives the system clock signal and the composite synchronizing signal to produce a timing signal in phase with the system clock within the horizontal period. A vertical synchronizing circuit receives the extracted vertical synchronizing signal and the output of the horizontal synchronizing circuit to produce a timing signal synchronous with the system clock within the vertical period.

Abstract: In a method for recording and reproducing a video format signal including audio data and a video data signal, the audio data is divided into groups of audio data, and identification codes for the groups of audio data are inserted into the video format signal as required. For reproducing the video format signal, a sound specifying instruction is compared with the identification codes to detect the group of audio data which has been specified so that the group of audio data thus detected is reproduced while the video data signal is reproduced, for instance, as a still picture.

Abstract: A system for information recording and regenerating wherein a regeneration mode control signal is included in the horizontal scan of each frame of a video signal recorded on a video disk. The control signal includes a series of frame signal components and two field signal components associated with each frame signal component. The signal values of the frame and field signal components determine whether all or only selected video disk operations can be performed.

Abstract: A pattern detector for precise position measurement of a wafer, used in a mask aligner used in manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. A positioning pattern on the wafer is magnified and projected by a magnifying optical system and the magnified projected image is precisely detected to determine a position of the positioning pattern. As a light to form the magnified projected image, plurality of monochromatic lights of different wavelengths are available through optical filters and the magnifying optical systems are arranged one for each of the monochromatic lights. By selecting one of the optical filters, the magnified projected image of the positioning pattern is formed by the monochromatic light having an optimum wavelength to the wafer and the precise position of the positioning pattern on the wafer can be detected.

Abstract: A pattern detector according to the present invention adopts a processing method wherein means is provided anew with which the intensity distribution of light reflected from or transmitted through an illuminated specimen is photoelectrically converted, and a pattern position is detected at high speed from the ratio between the primary moment and integral value of a detection signal thus derived, whereupon a symmetry calculation is executed within a narrow range around the detected value, whereby the pattern position is found fast and precisely.

Abstract: A pattern generator in which a workpiece to be machined into a desired pattern shape is held in vacuum and is irradiated with a laser beam condensed to be fine, while scanning the laser beam so as to depict the desired pattern shape, whereby the workpiece is directly machined in conformity with the desired pattern shape. As the workpiece, one in which a shading film (for example, chromium film) is deposited on a transparent glass substrate is employed, and it is irradiated with the laser beam in the vacuum, whereby the irradiated parts of the shading film are vaporized to fabricate a shading mask pattern of good quality.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pattern forming apparatus for projecting a pattern which is formed on a reticle upon a photoresist layer on a substrate which comprises an illumination system for illuminating the pattern for forming an optical image, a reduction lenses for reducing the optical pattern image at a certain reduction ratio and projecting the reduced optical pattern image upon the photoresist layer formed on the substrate for exposing the photoresist layer, and liquid sustaining means for filling a gap between at least a portion of the reduction lenses and the photoresist layer with an optically transparent liquid having a refractive index of more than 1 (one).

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus according to the present invention is constructed of a base on which a substrate is placed, detection means for detecting a pressure of air which is caused to flow out of an interspace between the substrate and an orifice by spurting the air from the orifice toward the substrate, reference pressure generation means for generating a reference pressure which is necessary for setting a standard distance between the substrate and the orifice, a pressure transducer which receives pressure signals from said detection means and said reference pressure generation means and which converts a pressure difference between these pressure signals into an electric signal, base drive means for moving the substrate in parallel with the orifice on the basis of the output signal from said pressure transducer, and offset signal generation means for generating a signal which, when superposed on the output signal from said pressure transducer, serves to shift the substrate from the standard distance.

Abstract: A laser beam scanning system for focusing a laser beam to a fine spot and for scanning precisely a large field includes an acousto-optical deflector enabled to deflect a laser beam in the direction of one axis or in the directions of two axes, while maintaining the fine spot diameter, to scan a small field, a relay lens for projecting said deflection point to the center of an objective lens, to effect the focusing of the beam to a fine spot, a high speed carriage enabled to move with high accuracy in biaxial directions, a precise position detector enabled to detect the position of the carriage, and a controller for organically controlling the aforementioned respective functions thereby to make it possible to precisely deflect the laser beam over a large field, whereby a scanning operation of a large field at a high speed and with a high accuracy is performed by the laser beam.