Abstract: An optical scanning device (1) for scanning an information layer (4) of an optical record carrier (2), the device including a radiation source (11) for generating a radiation beam (12) and an objective system (18) for converging the radiation beam (12) on the information layer, the objective system (18) being characterized in that the ratio of the root mean square of the optical path difference's (OPD's) generated by the objective system at oblique beam entrance to the system satisfies the condition of formula (I) within the field of the objective system, where OPD(A31) is the contribution of the third order Zernike coma to the root mean square wavefront aberration and OPD(A51) is the contribution of the fifth order Zernike coma to the root mean square wavefront aberration.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a mood based virtual photo album which provides photos based upon a sensed mood the viewer. The method may include the steps of capturing a first image of a facial expression of a viewer by a camera, providing the image to a pattern recognition module of a processor, determine a mood of the viewer by comparing the facial expression with a plurality of previously stored images of facial expressions having an associated emotional identifier that indicates a mood of each of the plurality of previously stored images, retrieving a set of photos from storage for transmission to the viewer based on the emotional identifier associated with the determined mood, and transmitting the set of photos in the form of an electronic photo album.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop includes an input terminal (1) for receiving a binary signal, a phase comparator (3) having a first input (2) coupled to the input terminal (1), having a second input (4), and having an output (5) coupled to an input (9) of a control-signal-controlled oscillator (10) via a control-signal generator unit (7). An output (11) of the oscillator is coupled to the second input of the phase comparator. The phase comparator derives a first pulse (P.sub.1) and a second pulse (P.sub.2) in response to a signal transition from a first value to a second value in the binary signal applied to the first input and an oscillation signal applied to the second input, the first pulse having a pulse width which is a measure of the phase difference between the binary signal and the oscillation signal, and the second pulse having a pulse width proportional to 1/2.f.sub.o, where f.sub.o is the frequency of the oscillation signal.