Abstract: An optical disk apparatus driving an optical disk includes a tilt-angle adjusting unit configured to adjust a tilt angle indicating the tilt of an optical axis of laser light emitted from a pickup to detect an optimal tilt angle at which a traverse signal has the maximum amplitude and a storing unit configured to store information about the optimal tilt angle. When the optical disk has multiple recording layers on one side, the tilt-angle adjusting unit adjusts the tilt angle with respect to each of the multiple recording layers to detect the optimal tilt angle and the storing unit stores information about the optimal tilt angle with respect to each of the multiple recording layers. The tilt angle with respect to each of the multiple recording layers is controlled in accordance with the information about the optimal tilt angle with respect to each of the multiple recording layers.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid supply method in which, when preparing a solution that can be used as washing water and the like by supplying a minute amount of chemicals and the like to ultrapure water, the amount of supply solution that is supplied can be accurately determined. In this liquid supply method, a solution is prepared by supplying a supply liquid to a primary fluid that is circulating in a primary fluid circulation tube (2). This liquid supply method uses a liquid supply apparatus (1) that includes: a supply section (3) that delivers the supply liquid; and a supply liquid circulation tube (4) that causes the supply liquid to flow from the supply section (3) to the primary fluid circulation tube (2), the internal diameter of the supply liquid circulation tube (4) being between 0.01 and 1 mm.

Abstract: In mode transfer control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle, in a state in which the vehicle is in at least one of a start state and a travel state and in one steady-state mode of a continuously variable transmission gear ratio mode and a fixed transmission gear ratio mode, a mode transfer to the other steady-state mode of the continuously variable transmission gear ratio mode and the fixed transmission gear ratio mode is inhibited in a case where a driving point of the vehicle determined according to a detection value of a vehicle speed and a calculation value of a target driving force is present within an overlap area on a steady-state mode area map in which both of a continuously variable transmission gear ratio mode and a fixed transmission gear ratio mode are selectable.

Abstract: In mode transfer control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle, in a state in which the vehicle is in at least one of a start state and a travel state and in one steady-state mode of a continuously variable transmission gear ratio mode and a fixed transmission gear ratio mode, a mode transfer to the other steady-state mode of the continuously variable transmission gear ratio mode and the fixed transmission gear ratio mode is inhibited in a case where a driving point of the vehicle determined according to a detection value of a vehicle speed and a calculation value of a target driving force is present within an overlap area on a steady-state mode area map in which both of a continuously variable transmission gear ratio mode and a fixed transmission gear ratio mode are selectable.

Abstract: An operation support system is arranged to effectively provide an operator of an energy supply facility for supplying a plurality of energies in different forms with a hint of an operating method in which energy safety supply and operation cost reduction are both realized. The operation support system takes the steps of deriving demand prediction upper limit value and lower value for each energy form based on recorded demand data; deriving target operation pattern upper and lower limit values of each energy supply device based on the demand prediction upper and lower values; and displaying the target operation pattern upper and lower limit values.

Abstract: An image data processing unit in a visual inspection device includes a central area data extractor tracing two-dimensional image data to extract a average central brightness, a peripheral area data extractor tracing the two-dimensional image data to extract average central brightness data, a difference calculator for calculating differences between the central brightness data and the peripheral brightness data to create emphasized two-dimensional image data, and an unevenness detection section for detecting an uneven area in the two-dimensional image data based on the emphasized two-dimensional image data.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium having a rotary shaft and a driving pin provided at an offset position relative to this driving shaft, the rotary shaft being passed through a rotary shaft inserting opening formed in the disc-shaped recording medium and the driving pin being engaged in a driving pin engagement opening bored in the disc-shaped recording medium to set the rotational position of the disc-shaped recording medium run in rotation to record and/or reproduce information signals.

Abstract: An operation support system is arranged to effectively provide an operator of an energy supply facility for supplying a plurality of energies in different forms with a hint of an operating method in which energy safety supply and operation cost reduction are both realized. The operation support system takes the steps of deriving demand prediction upper limit value and lower value for each energy form based on recorded demand data; deriving target operation pattern upper and lower limit values of each energy supply device based on the demand prediction upper and lower values; and displaying the target operation pattern upper and lower limit values.

Abstract: An operation support system is arranged to effectively provide an operator of an energy supply facility for supplying a plurality of energies in different forms with guide information of an operating method in which energy safety supply and operation cost reduction are both realized. The operation support system takes the steps of deriving demand prediction upper limit value and lower value for each energy form based on recorded demand data; deriving target operation pattern upper and lower limit values of each energy supply device based on the demand prediction upper and lower values; and displaying the target operation pattern upper and lower limit values.

Abstract: An electric power demand prediction service method and a system therefor may derive an estimated value and/or predicted value of electric power demand of an arbitrary customer group and provide the derived information to electric power suppliers.

Abstract: An advertisement providing method is capable of providing information from an advertiser by selecting information adapting to the customer in response to a demand for information from the customer from the customer, efficiently. The method comprises checking whether a customer on access has a contract for using the information, permitting access to the information when the customer holds contract for using the information, for permitting retrieval of information registered as advertisement information by an advertiser depending upon the demand of the customer, optionally demanding additional information to the advertiser, delivering resultant information to the customer, and performing billing process for the customer and/or advertiser depending upon access record and delivery record of the customer.

Abstract: A disc includes a disc substrate having a major surface operating as a signal recording portion and having a substantially circular center opening in the major surface, and a hub mounted on the disc substrate for closing the center opening in the disc substrate. The hub includes an inner rim portion having a spindle opening at its center and an outer rim portion connected to an outer side of the inner rim portion for extending from the inner rim portion via a step difference towards the side of insertion in the spindle opening. When the hub is set on a disc table, the outer rim portion protruded on the side from which the spindle is inserted into the spindle opening with a step difference approaches a magnet provided on the disc table to increase the force of suction by the magnet so that the magnetic disc is chucked with respect to the disc table solely by the force of the magnet.

Abstract: A disc includes a disc substrate having a major surface operating as a signal recording portion and having a substantially circular center opening in said major surface, and a hub mounted on the disc substrate for closing the center opening in the disc substrate. The hub includes an inner rim portion having the spindle opening at its center and an outer rim portion connected to an outer side of the inner rim portion for extending from the inner rim portion via a step difference towards the side of insertion in the spindle opening. When the hub is set on the disc table, the outer rim portion protruded on the side from which the spindle is inserted into said spindle opening with a step difference approaches to a magnet provided on the disc table to increase the force of suction by the magnet so that the magnetic disc is chucked with respect to the disc table solely by the force of suction by the magnet.

Abstract: A signal recording medium capable of being strongly secured to a rotation part such as a disc table even during high-speed rotation includes a floppy disc with a hub at its center portion and a disc substrate having a disc-shaped main portion with a circular opening operating as a mounting portion for the hub. The disc substrate has also a signal recording surface on the disc-shaped main portion. The hub includes an abutment surface abutted against the disc table and rotated in unison with the floppy disc and a facing suction surface spaced apart from a suction magnet mounted on a rim portion of the disc table when the abutment surface is abutted against a hub setting surface of the disc table.

Abstract: A whitening embellisher includes, as an active ingredient, teprenone (chemical name: geranylgeranyl-acetone). A whitening and beautifying composition includes teprenone and one or more substances selected from kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid and the like.The whitening embellisher, and whitening and beautifying composition prevent the skin from pigmenting and darkening due to sunburn and/or aging, and quicken fading, and hence make spots and freckles inconspicuous when the preparations are used for external application as a cream or milky lotion.

Abstract: A whitening embellisher includes, as an active ingredient, teprenone (chemical name: geranylgeranylacetone). A whitening and beautifying composition includes teprenone and one or more substances selected from kojic acid, L-ascorbic acid and the like. The whitening embellisher, and whitening and beautifying composition prevent the skin from pigmenting and darkening due to sunburn and/or aging, and quicken fading, and hence make spots and freckles inconspicuous when the preparations are used for external application as a cream or milky lotion.