Abstract: An optical modulator having a voltage—optical output characteristic in which optical output varies periodically with respect to a voltage value of an electrical drive signal is driven by a modulator driving voltage signal, which has an amplitude of 2·V&pgr; between two light-emission culminations or two light extinction culminations of the voltage—optical output characteristic. A low-frequency superimposing unit superimposes a prescribed low-frequency signal on the modulator driving voltage signal, and an operating-point controller controls the operating point of the optical modulator by detecting operating-point drift of the optical modulator based upon the low-frequency signal component contained in an optical signal output from the optical modulator and controlling the bias voltage of the optical modulator in dependence upon the drift of the operating point of the optical modulator.

Abstract: Solely lightwaves required to be wavelength converted are filtered out from the input broadband WDM lightwaves and are wavelength converted by use of FWM. Not only the broadband simultaneous wavelength conversion that is studied by many researchers, but also more flexible, sub-band wavelength conversion is realized. Frequency interval of the input WDM lightwaves is broadened or reduced in comparison of the frequency interval of the WDM lightwaves inputted to the wavelength converter. The frequency interval variation techniques using the wavelength converter, it can be realized to transfer from a transmission lines less influenced by inter-channel crosstalk due to FWM to the different transmission lines strongly influenced by inter-channel crosstalk due to FWM, and vice versa.

Abstract: A projection surface includes scattering microparticles that are in constant motion in relation to each other and to a source of laser radiation in a laser projection system. The microparticles reduce the formation of spots that normally occur when viewing the contents of images which are uniformly illuminated by means of laser projection and which are reflected off a projection surface. The microparticles are reflective in a suspension fluid and move due to Brownian molecular motion. A mirror is placed on the back wall of the screen so that the viewer sees both the backscattered light from the incident beam as well as the forward scattered light from the reflected beam. A cellular structure is located in the suspension fluid to laterally confine the scattered light increasing the sharpness of the laser light seen by the viewer.

Abstract: In an objective lens mounted to an endoscope having an enlarging function and enabling a switch to wide-field viewing, a movable lens group is moved so as to adjust the amount of curvature of field such that the image quality at marginal parts of a picture becomes favorable according to the form of an object while keeping a substantially constant magnification.

Abstract: A wide-angle lens system includes a negative first lens group and a positive second lens group with a diaphragm, in this order from an object. Upon focusing, the positive second lens group is arranged to be moved along the optical axis.

Abstract: A plastic lens molded through a gate in a molding process has a gate-located portion on an outer peripheral surface of the plastic lens, and a concave surface provided on at least a part of the gate-located portion.

Abstract: Binoculars includes a pair of lens barrel bodies and a pair of eyepiece portions. At least one of the pair of eyepiece portions is provided with an eyepiece frame fixed on one of the lens barrel bodies, a plurality of eyepiece lenses, a diopter adjusting portion that moves all of the plurality of eyepiece lenses by the same movement amount in an optical axis direction, and a via-rotation-drawable type eye cup portion. The diopter adjusting portion includes a cam pin fixed relative to the eyepiece frame and a diopter ring that is guided by the cam pin in the optical axis direction by rotating of the diopter ring around an optical axis to move all of the plurality of eyepiece lenses in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: When a vehicle mirror assembly is assembled, a bracket is firstly set as an assembling reference member, disposed on a bracket jig and positioned with respect to the bracket jig. Next, a retracting unit, a mirror surface adjustment unit, a door mirror stay and a mirror are mounted to the bracket. Finally a door mirror visor is mounted to the bracket. The bracket is made common regardless of a vehicle type thus a fixed bracket jig can be used resulting in cost reduction. Further, as the door mirror visor is mounted in a final process, defects of the door mirror visor due to scratches can be reduced thereby improving the production efficiency.

Abstract: A recording equalizer for correcting a write timing of magnetic information when the magnetic information is recorded with a magnetic recording head on a magnetic recording medium, includes a buffer for storing a recording object bit and bits before and after the recording object bit and a calculator for calculating a precompensation parameter using the bits stored in the buffer. The calculator calculates the preconpensation parameter of the recording object bit by linearly adding influence of a transition existing at a two-previous bit of the recording object bit, influences of a transition at a one-previous bit of the recording object bit and influences of a transition existing at one-following bit of the recording object bit and further adding an offset. The offset is determined to a value such that a write timing of the magnetic information is corrected always in a delaying direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device for a magnetic disk apparatus has analog circuits such as a read/write circuit and digital circuits such as an interface driver circuit, a control circuit, and a stepping motor driver circuit, all of these circuits operating on a single supply voltage. The semiconductor integrated circuit device further has a voltage regulator whose output voltage is lower than the supply voltage and variable according to the voltage applied to an output voltage adjustment terminal. The control circuit operates on the output voltage of this regulator.

Abstract: The present compact tape drive for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges that functions to implement the tape drive in a minimum predefined volume. The compact tape drive comprises a tape threading mechanism that extracts the leader block from the magnetic tape cartridge and threads the leader block into a takeup reel that is located juxtaposed to the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. The read/write head is located adjacent to the takeup reel and the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. A separate magnetic tape wrap mechanism comprising a plurality of cooperatively operative tape wrap arms is also provided to position the magnetic tape around a set of tape guides and the read/write head. The magnetic tape wrap mechanism functions both to thread the magnetic tape around the takeup reel, spanning the space in front of the read/write head, and then to wrap the magnetic tape around the read/write head.

Abstract: In the rotary medium driving apparatus 1 equipped with the rotor 3, which can rotate freely around the shaft 18 fixed to the stator 4 by means of the ball bearings 16 and 17 and is provided with a certain diameter being capable of fitting a center hole of a rotary medium, the stator 4 is composed of the flat base 2 formed by a presswork and the stator core 15. The base 2 holds the shaft 18, which is inserted into the inner circumference surface 52 of the base 2, and has the ring shaped projection 5 for allocating the stator core 15 on the outer circumference surface 51 of the base 2.

Abstract: Provided are novel data storage devices, such as hard disk apparatuses. The devices include a clean chamber accommodating a component formed from a free cutting stainless steel. The free cutting stainless steel has a sulfur (S) content of not less than 0.25 percent by mass and a manganese-to-sulfur content ratio (Mn/S) of not greater than 1.8. The free cutting stainless steel has been subjected to: (1) an acid cleaning; (2) to a passivation treatment; (3) to a degreasing treatment and to a subsequent rust-removing, descaling chemical treatment; or (5) to a degreasing treatment and to a subsequent chromate treatment.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit comprising a substrate having a first conductivity type, a well region having a second conductivity type, a first doping region having the first conductivity type, and a second doping region having the second conductivity type. The substrate is coupled to the reference potential, the well region is formed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the node, the first doping region is electrically floated on the surface of the well region, and the second doping region is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the reference potential. Moreover, the electrostatic discharge current of the node provides a voltage with sufficient magnitude to breakdown the conjunction interface between the well region and the substrate, also triggering a BJT comprising the well region, substrate and the second doping region for dissipating the electrostatic discharge current.

Abstract: A monolithic capacitor includes a plurality of monolithic ceramic capacitor elements provided with external electrodes at both ends thereof, solder layers arranged on the entire surfaces of the external electrodes of the monolithic ceramic capacitor elements, and metal terminals electrically connected to the external electrodes of the monolithic ceramic capacitor elements. The monolithic ceramic capacitor elements are joined to each other by the solder layers and are stacked on each other. The external electrodes of the monolithic ceramic capacitor elements are electrically connected to each other by the solder layers.

Abstract: An operator workstation has a worksurface and left and right upper support members extending upward from the worksurface. Multiple flat-panel display units are mounted between the support members above the level of the worksurface. The displays are mounted above one another, between the support members. Lower support members support the workstation in connection with a base mounted between the lower support members. The base has a substantially triangular cross-section, while the lower support members have a substantially triangular shape.

Abstract: A notebook personal computer 50 of a built-in MODEM type has a printed board assembling member 57 incorporated into a notebook personal computer main body 51. A notebook personal computer 80 of a built-in LAN type has a printed board assembling member 82 incorporated into a notebook personal computer main body 51. The printed board assembling member 57 and the printed board assembling member 82 both have a printed board 60. In the printed board assembling member 57, a MODEM module-connector assembling member 61 is attached to the printed board 60. In the printed board assembling member 82, a LAN module-connector assembling member 83 is attached to the printed board.

Abstract: A portable computer docking base has incorporated therein a thermoelectric cooling system used to provide auxiliary operating heat dissipation for a portable notebook computer operatively docked to the base. The cooling system includes a thermoelectric (Peltier effect) heat pump unit disposed within the docking base housing and having opposite hot and cold sides. A finned heat sink member is secured to the hot side of the assembly and positioned in the path of fan-generated cooling air, and a heat slug member is secured to the cold side of the assembly and projects outwardly through an exterior wall of the docking base housing into its computer receiving area. When the computer is placed in the receiving area and docked, the cooling system heat slug member is brought into heat conductive contact with a similar heat slug member carried within the computer and thermally coupled to its microprocessor.

Abstract: A light emitting diode mounting structure for a light emitting diode having four leads has two metal plates fixed to wire on a housing. The leads engage the metal plates in electrical contact therewith and are supported by the metal plates, a surface part of which reflects light from the light emitting diode.

Abstract: A luminaire for projecting an image comprises a housing (1) having a light emission window (2). The housing (1) accommodates a light source (3), an optical system (4) for directing light originating from the light source (3) along a longitudinal axis (5), and an image-forming surface (6) which is positioned orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis (5). According to the invention, the light source is a LED (3), and the optical system (4) comprises a collimating element (14) for collimating the light originating from the LED (3). Preferably, the luminaire comprises only one LED (3) which, during operation, has a luminous flux of at least 5 lm. Preferably, the housing (1) also comprises a focusing lens (15) for focusing the collimated light originating from the collimating element (14) on the image-forming surface (6) and, preferably, a projection lens (7, 7′) for projecting an image of the image-forming surface (6). Preferably, parts of the collimating element show total internal reflection.

Abstract: In a method of determining the shape of reflective surface 10a of reflector 1 in the structure in which the basic shape is a free-formed surface 20 satisfying shape constraints or the like and in which reflective surface elements are assigned to an array of segments obtained by dividing the free-formed surface 20, evaluation and selection of the surface shape is carried out at two stages; i.e., evaluation and selection according to light incidence angles at the stage of creation of the free-formed surface 20 and evaluation and selection according to light reflecting regions at the stage of creation of a reflective surface consisting of a plurality of reflective surface elements. This reduces nonuniformity of in-surface light distribution during on periods of a lamp, in the reflective surface obtained, and thus improves design efficiency thereof.

Abstract: A switching power supply having two or more DC outputs comprising: a DC power supply, a transformer having a primary winding, at least two secondary windings, and a feedback winding, a main switching element having an off-state period and an on-state period, connected in series to the primary winding and to be turned on by a voltage generated in the feedback winding, the main switching element having a control terminal and a threshold voltage to turn the main switching element on; and a rectifying circuit connected to each secondary winding, a starting circuit which initially turns on the main switching element at startup of the power supply and a switching circuit provided between the two DC outputs, and wherein, when the switching circuit is turned on, a voltage generated in the feedback winding is lowered during the off-state period of the main switching element and a voltage to be applied to the control terminal of the main switching element is controlled so as to be less than the threshold voltage, and t

Abstract: A switching power supply unit comprising: a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a capacitor coupled to the transformer, a first switching circuit connected in series with a series circuit of the primary winding and an input power source, the first switching circuit comprising a parallel circuit comprising a first switching element, a first diode and a first capacitor, a second switching circuit connected in parallel with the primary winding, the second switching circuit comprising a parallel circuit comprising a second switching element, a second diode and a second capacitor, first and second switching controlling circuits connected to the first and second switching circuits, respectively for controlling the first and second switching elements so as to turn on/off alternately with a period in which the first and second switching elements turn off being interposed therebetween, a rectifying and smoothing circuit connected to the secondary winding; and voltage detection and voltage red

Abstract: A nonvolatile ferroelectric memory has a plurality of bitlines, a plurality of wordlines and plate lines formed in a direction crossing the bitlines, and a reference bitline on one side of the plurality of bitlines. A cell array has a plural repetition of the plurality of bitlines and the reference bitline on one side thereof, a sense amplifier array having a plurality of sense amplifiers for sensing data on the bitlines and the reference bitlines in the cell array, a wordline and plateline driver for selective application of driving signals to the wordlines and the platelines, and a switching unit for selective turning on/off of the bitlines, the reference bitlines, and the input/output nodes on the sense amplifier array, whereby improving chip operation performance and lifetime of the chip.

Abstract: A magnetic element comprises a first ferromagnetic layer, an insulating layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer laminated in this order. At least one of the first and second ferromagnetic layers comprises a lower ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic conductive layer, and an upper ferromagnetic layer laminated in this order. By changing kind or composition of material of the upper and lower ferromagnetic layers, the amount of magnetization of each layer can be controlled to reduce affection by magnetostatic coupling. Changeability of magnetized direction of the first or second ferromagnetic layer can be regulated thereby. This realizes an improvement of sensitivity.

Abstract: A non-volatile semiconductor memory device is capable of having its individual banks controlled separately from the outside, and a semiconductor disk device is capable of proceeding immediately to the next writing to a bank of non-volatile semiconductor memory device which has become ready. Each bank has the independent write operation of data from its data register to memory cells, enabling the transfer of data from the outside to the data register of the bank even during the write operation of other bank from the data register to memory cells thereof.

Abstract: A program and data corresponding to a flash memory which is to be the target of overwriting are read from a storage medium such as a PC card 2, and the flash memory is overwritten by executing the program which was read.

Abstract: A redundancy circuit is capable of repeatedly replacing a defective cell with redundant cells. The redundancy circuit is in a semiconductor memory device that includes memory cells and redundant cells in a memory array. The redundancy circuit includes first and second fuse blocks. The first fuse block has a first main fuse and generates a first redundancy signal according to whether the first main fuse is cut. The first redundancy signal indicates whether there is a defective memory cell for the redundancy circuit to replace. The second fuse block has a second main fuse and generates a second redundancy signal according to whether the second main fuse is cut. The second redundancy signal can stop the replacement of the defective cell with the redundant cell when the redundant cell is defective. When the replacement of the defective cell with the redundant cell is stopped, the defective cell is replaced by another redundant cell.

Abstract: An electronic memory circuit comprises a matrix of EEPROM memory cells. Each memory cell includes a MOS floating gate transistor and a selection transistor. The matrix includes a plurality of rows and columns, with each row being provided with a word line and each column comprising a bit line organized in line groups so as to group the matrix cells in bytes, each of which has an associated control gate line. A pair of cells have a common source region, and each cell symmetrically provided with respect to this common source region has a common control gate region.

Abstract: A data transfer circuit includes data lines for transferring data, interface input/output blocks connected to the data lines for input or output of data through the data lines, and a leakage current monitor and compensate circuit connected to the data lines to detect and store magnitudes of leakage currents in the data lines before input or output of data, and generate and supply to the data lines compensation currents that compensate the leakage currents upon input or output of data. An example of the data line is a bit line of a memory, and an example of the interface input/output block is a memory cell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling the refresh of a DRAM array or other memory array requiring periodic refresh operations so that the refresh does not require explicit control signaling nor handshake communication between the memory array and an external accessing client. The method and apparatus handles external accesses and refresh operations such that the refresh operations do not interfere with the external accesses under any conditions. As a result, an SRAM compatible device can be built from DRAM or 1-Transistor cells. A single-port multi-bank refresh scheme is used to cut down the number of collisions between memory refresh operations and memory data access operations. A read buffer is used to buffer read data, thereby allowing memory refresh operations to be performed when consecutive read accesses hit the address range of a particular memory bank for a long period of time.

Abstract: The column address strobe signal (CAS) which is changed in cycles as many as a plurality of times of a clock signal cycle is input to the memory block (MBK0 to MBKn). A plurality of serial data readout from the memory cell array (10) and parallel/serial converted by a parallel/serial converter circuit (21) in synchronous with a clock signal cycle are output for every cycle when the column address signal (CASADR) is changed. Parallel data input to the memory block and serial/parallel converted by a serial/parallel converter circuit (25) in synchronous with the clock signal cycle are written in the memory cell array. In this way, the access specification that the column address strobe signal is varied once per n cycles of the clock signal allows more rapid memory operation.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory blocks, and a plurality of input/output lines associated with the memory blocks, is disclosed. The input/output lines are divided into at least a first group and a second group. A first parts of the input/output lines of the first group are arranged between adjacent memory blocks while first parts of the input/output lines of the second group are arranged on circuit blocks around the adjacent memory blocks, and second parts of the input/output lines of the first group are arranged on the circuits blocks around the memory blocks while second parts of the input/output lines of the second group are arranged between the adjacent memory blocks.

Abstract: To provide a semiconductor memory device that can ensure adequate read margin by effectively utilizing a period for assigned CAS latency. CAS latency is preset before reading. An ACT command is input to activate a word line corresponding to a row address. A READ command is input at a zeroth clock pulse of an internal clock and a digit line corresponding to a column address is connected to a sense amplifier. A sense amplifier activation signal is activated independently of CAS latency to start an equalizing and sense operation. Afterwards, a sense amplifier activation signal is deactivated after two through 5 cycles depending on CAS latency, and the equalizing and sense operation are terminated. Subsequently, an output operation for transferring the sensed result from the sense amplifier to an output pin is performed, and first data is available from a fifth through the eighth clock pulse depending on CAS latency.

Abstract: A game system includes: a changing unit for changing at least one parameter representing condition of game character in accordance with a situation of game; a storage unit for storing a plurality of music data in correspondence with the parameter; and a reproducing unit for reading out the music data corresponding to the parameter from the storage unit to reproduce game music.

Abstract: A light emitting portion (1) and an objective lens (3) for collecting a light of the light emitting portion are provided. The light receiving portion (2) is provided in the vicinity of the light emitting portion (1) such that the light can be collected by the objective lens and the light reflected by an optical disk (10) to be an object can be detected. The light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are formed to get in a range of 1.22 &lgr;/NA (beam waist BW) wherein a numerical aperture of the objective lens is represented by NA and a wavelength of the light emitting portion is represented by &lgr; or the light receiving portion is multi-split such that a focal shift of a beam having an astigmatism formed thereon can be detected.

Abstract: A dubbing apparatus for inhibiting high-speed dubbing for a predetermined time period if, at a time of high-speed dubbing of a program from a first storage medium onto a second storage medium, the first storage medium is found to have been subjected to high-speed dubbing earlier by another predetermined time period. The apparatus is arranged to indicate that high-speed dubbing is being inhibited while displaying a waiting time to be observed before high-speed dubbing is again permitted.

Abstract: An information recording disc having a burst cutting area (BCA) for recording control information for a reproducing apparatus by removing a reflective layer of the disc in a striped shape and a data recording area for recording user data, wherein the burst cutting area includes at least one BCA control information area and the BCA control information area comprises: an application identifier area for identifying applications of control data; a data length area for indicating data length of the control data; and an application specific data area for recording the control data, and an information reproducing drive for reproducing data from the information recording disc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining an optimum recording power of an optical disk. The present invention is capable of improving accuracy of an OPC result by minimizing error between the optimum recording power and reference recording power due to writing method difference and manufacture difference of each manufacturer by dividing a certain region for the test recording into a power scan region for searching the optimum recording power and a compensation region for compensating the rotating elements of the optical disk when data is recorded on the optical disk, determining the optimum recording power reflected influence by the rotating elements of the optical disk, storing it on a memory and using it in the next OPC operation.

Abstract: There is provided a head of an optical data recording/reproducing device. The head is provided with a laser source, a deflector, a relay optical system and an objective lens system. The laser beam emitted by the laser source is incident on the objective lens system via the deflector and the relay optical system. The head is further provided with a rotation angle detecting system which includes a beam splitter provided between first and second relay lenses of the relay lens system, and a detector. The beam splitter divides the incident beam into a first beam directed to the second relay lens and a second beam directed to the detector. The detector has two light receiving areas, and a controller determines an amount of rotation of the deflector based on the amounts of light received by the two light receiving areas.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus includes a detector circuit for detecting a state of reflection light from the recording medium, a control circuit for calculating a radiation power used for writing the information in the recording medium, in accordance with the reflection light state, a pulse generator circuit for generating record pulse information in accordance with the radiation power, and an optical driver circuit for converting the record pulse information into optical information in accordance with the radiation power and driving the optical head to record the light information into the recording medium. Accordingly, the apparatus records information by applying light from an optical head to a record area of a recording medium and changing a state of the record area and reads the information recorded in the record area.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus of the invention is equipped with an objective lens, a light source and a variable optical element having a grating which demonstrates a piezo-electric effect by means of an electric field. The light source emits and irradiates a laser beam onto the grating to generate a 0th order diffraction beam and +/− 1st order diffraction beams in accordance with first order diffraction efficiency, and the objective lens converges the 0th diffraction beam and +/− 1st order diffraction beams which are irradiated onto an information recording medium for the purpose of information recording or information reproducing. By controlling an electric field applied to the grating, the first order diffraction efficiency of the grating is adjusted, whereby light beams are generated which have power levels appropriate for various kinds of information recording media.

Abstract: The method enables a set of services to be maintained within a private communications network even in the event of the network becoming split. It uses emergency means providing dynamic accesses that are previously defined by the user of the network. The dynamic accesses serve to carry signaling signals. Calls are routed using a method of routing that is both static and predetermined, imposing a path that is predetermined before a fault occurs, thereby making it possible for the network to react more quickly once it detects faulty operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus and system in a CDMA/TDD system in which a mobile station directs received power of data received from a surrounding base station at received power detecting circuit 12 in switching a base station for communication as moving. When received power from a base station other than a main base station in current communication becomes higher than a predetermined level, the mobile station makes the base station sub base station to transmit the same data as the main base station, and receives data from the main base station and the sub base station concurrently at correlator 5 and correlator 6. After that, when the received power from the sub base station becomes higher than the received power from the main base station, the mobile station switches a main base station and a sub base station and transmits data to a new main base station.

Abstract: A handoff technique in which system users detect transitions in service between a current service area and an adjacent service area, and request a forward link channel in the new service area when a detected signal strength for the new service area exceeds predetermined threshold levels. The forward communications link in the current service area is maintained until the strength of the new service area signal reaches a certain level and appropriate channel quality is confirmed, as based on various known criteria. Typically, service area transitions are detected using the signal strength of pilot or paging signals associated with service areas, which are used to determine a relative signal strength of new service area signals. Pilot signal level adjustments used to counter roll-off effects are detected and compensated for in comparing signal levels.

Abstract: Transmission timing of the control signal is controlled such that each transmission timing differs between at least adjacent base stations. Thus, the mobile station can reproduce the control signal using only a predetermined spreading signal for the base station which transmits the control single. Therefore the time for reproducing process of the control signal can be reduced.

Abstract: A network for communicating with a plurality of radiotelephones via respective communication channels over timeslots on a carrier, wherein the channels can operate at a first or second data rate such that a timeslot on the carrier can transmit a single communication channel operating at the first data rate or two communication channels operating at the second data rate, the network comprising a controller responsive to a predetermined condition for initiating a change in the data rate of two channels transmitted on separate timeslots from the first data rate to the second data rate.

Abstract: An IP communication interface device includes first and second connecting units (51, 52), a first processing unit ( 931, 932, 933) for coding first media-corresponding data as B-channel data inputted to the first connecting unit from the switched circuit network, decoding packet-deassembled media-corresponding data into which a packet of second media-corresponding data inputted to the second connecting unit from the LAN is deassembled, and for transmitting the decoded media-corresponding data to the first connecting unit for forwarding the same data as the first media-corresponding data to the switched circuit network, a second processing unit (941, 942, 943) for assembling the coded media-corresponding data coded by the first processing unit into a packet, deassembling the packet of the second media-corresponding data, and transmitting the same data as packet-deassembled media-corresponding data to the first processing unit, and a third processing unit (53) for generating the second media-corresponding data

Abstract: Call queuing is implemented in a telecommunications advanced intelligent network. A determination is made that the call has been queued for a determined amount of time. The caller is requested to perform an action to remain in a queue. If the caller does not perform the requested action, the call is dequeued.

Abstract: A datagram relaying apparatus includes a plurality of protocol terminating units, and a destination determining processor. The destination determining processor includes a path selecting section which determines a transfer destination route for a stream of packets received from any of the protocol terminating units. The path selecting section determines whether or not transfer of the received stream of packets to the transfer destination route is in an inhibition state, and selects another transfer destination route when the transfer of the packet to the transfer destination route is in the inhibition state.