Abstract: An optical measurement system for evaluating a reference sample that has at least a partially known composition. The optical measurement system includes a reference ellipsometer and at least one non-contact optical measurement device. The reference ellipsometer includes a light generator, an analyzer and a detector. The light generator generates a beam of quasi-monochromatic light having a known wavelength and a known polarization for interacting with the reference sample. The beam is directed at a non-normal angle of incidence relative to the reference sample to interact with the reference sample. The analyzer creates interference between the S and P polarized components in the light beam after the light beam has interacted with reference sample. The detector measures the intensity of the light beam after it has passed through the analyzer.

Abstract: Branch metric is calculated by a branch metric calculating circuit 21 on the basis of an input signal. ACS processing to select path of high likelihood on the basis of the branch metric to output state metric is carried out by an ACS circuit 22. Select information obtained by this ACS processing is stored into a path memory circuit 25. Normalization processing of all state metrics are carried out by a normalization circuit 23 on the basis of whether or not only one state metric outputted by the ACS processing is a set value determined in advance. The normalized state metrics are stored into a state metric memory circuit 24. Maximum likelihood decoding judgment processing for selecting maximum likelihood path is carried out by a maximum likelihood decoding judgment circuit 26 on the basis of select information stored in the path memory circuit 25.

Abstract: An optical measurement system is disclosed for evaluating samples with multi-layer thin film stacks. The optical measurement system includes a reference ellipsometer and one or more non-contact optical measurement devices. The reference ellipsometer is used to calibrate the other optical measurement devices. Once calibration is completed, the system can be used to analyze multi-layer thin film stacks. In particular, the reference ellipsometer provides a measurement which can be used to determine the total optical thickness of the stack. Using that information coupled with the measurements made by the other optical measurement devices, more accurate information about individual layers can be obtained.

Abstract: A motor-operated cylinder is provided, wherein the rotational movement of the output shaft of a motor is converted into a linear movement by a thread mechanism 3, with the least possible load applied to the thread mechanism 3 when an object starts to be moved. The motor-operated cylinder is equipped with a booster 14 so that propelling forces exerted by both the thread mechanism 3 and booster 14 simultaneously act on a retractable rod 6.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus having a holder for holding an inserted cartridge with a recording medium stored therein in which a recording medium is loaded or unloaded at the recording and reproducing position for recording and/or reproducing information as the holder is elevated or lowered, including a driver on which the recording medium rests at the recording and reproducing position and driving the recording medium for recording and/or reproduction and an elevator having an elevating and lowering operation cam formed on its side portion and elevating or lowering the holder when it is slid in parallel to the direction in which the cartridge is inserted.

Abstract: A transmission system which quantizes a data signal into quantized data and alternatively either transmits the quantized data while controlling a quantity of distortion to a constant value or transmits the quantized data while controlling a quantity of data generated to a constant value as a function of the quantized data which are alternatively stored in and read out from a first memory and a second memory.

Abstract: The number of light sources and the number of divided light beams are optimized, so that a light beam with sufficiently reduced speckle contrast can be used as illuminating light.

Abstract: A method for debugging an application on an embedded processor using a debug monitor service routine (debug ISR) and allowing critical interrupts to be transparently serviced is provided. The method enters and runs a debug monitor service routine transparently such that the application program being debugged is unaware of the monitor. A debug interrupt is completely transparent to the application software that runs on the embedded processor and is therefore non-maskable. In addition, when entering the debug ISR, shadow registers and the global interrupt disable bit (if they exist) are not be altered, which preserves the monitor's transparency to the application. Once the debug monitor is entered, a context save may be performed if needed and the monitor may proceed to enable interrupts if necessary.

Abstract: An integrated system generates a model of a three-dimensional object. A scanning laser device scans the three-dimensional object and generates a point cloud. The points of the point cloud each indicate a location of a corresponding point on a surface of the object. A first model is generated, responsive to the point cloud, that generates a first model representing constituent geometric shapes of the object. A data file is generated, responsive to the first model, that can be inputted to a computer-aided design system.

Abstract: An apparatus to hold open for loading a limp plastic bag, such as a grocery bag used as a trash receptacle, includes a generally rectangular and horizontal base, four upstanding legs each attached to a corner of the base, and two generally horizontal handle engaging members each spanning between the top ends of two adjacent legs. The handle engaging members protrude through the bag handles to support the bag in an open manner over the base. The handle engaging members have angled surfaces to fully extend the opening on a variety of different sized bags. The base has a recessed central portion for containing any liquids spilled from the bag.

Abstract: A servo circuit performs tracking control such that the center of scanning is positioned at the center between the track from which data is reproduced and the track immediately before. Then, the beam spot scans the track from which data is to be reproduced and the immediately preceding track at the same time, and a reproduction signal made by inter-code interference between these two tracks is output. A precoding circuit performs a subtractive calculation on first data to be stored on a first track respective to second data stored on a precedent adjacent track to derive actual data to be stored on the first track and to compensate for the second data. In this way, pits or marks are formed such that inter-code interference is canceled during reproduction.

Abstract: A receiving apparatus is disclosed which can cope with the fluctuation of input level of RF signal appropriately and has a first amplifier means wherein the amplifying and the attenuating of input signal are selectively performed and for processing the signal in a communication band handled by this apparatus, and a second amplifier means for gain-variably amplifying a signal, which is a signal converted from the output of the first amplification means 13 into the intermediate frequency signal or base band signal, the gain of the second amplifier means being set based on the detection of output level of the second amplifier means, and the selection of the amplification or attenuation in the first amplifier means, (13) being performed based on the detection level of output from the first amplifier means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical disk, an optical disk device, and an optical disk recording method. When it is applied to, for example, a compact disk. It attempts to reduce a jitter at the time of reproduction, and reproduce surely the recorded data. A change pattern of a modulation signal (S2) is detected, and the timing of a modulation signal (S1) is corrected according to this change pattern, to irradiate a laser beam L.

Abstract: CD-ROM data is received to an interface 1. When a high reliability is required, a sector segmenting circuit 4 is selected by a switching circuit 3. The input data is sector segmented to the CD-ROM sector by the circuit 4. When a large recording capacity is requested, a CD-ROM decoder 5 is selected by the switching circuit 3. After the CD-ROM data was error corrected, user bytes in the data are sector segmented into 2-kbyte sector. The data converted into the CD-ROM sector or 2-kbyte sector is integrated to a block structure by the block segmenting circuit 7 and is, further, subjected to processes such as error correction coding and digital modulation by a recording processing circuit 8. A pattern of a sync that is added by the recording processing circuit 8 is made different in accordance with a sector construction. Recording data from the recording processing circuit 8 is recorded onto an optical disc 2 by an optical pickup 10.

Abstract: A disk shaped recording medium, drive apparatus and method for driving a medium divided into at least a recordable area and a reproduction only area, are disclosed. Address conversion is carried out by a conversion table so that the leading portion of a logical block address (LBA) when an optical disc is viewed from the host computer side is caused to correspond to the leading physical block address PBA1=RAM_START of a random access memory (RAM) area of the outermost circumferential side of the optical disc. Thus, reproduction can be started from the leading portion of a RAM area disposed at the innermost circumferential side. Even if a read only memory (ROM) area is disposed at the outermost circumferential side, this optical disc can be used as boot device. In addition, since the ROM area can be disposed at the outermost circumferential side, data transfer speed of the ROM area is permitted to be high data transfer speed in an optical disc employing a zone constant angular velocity (CAV) system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling access to a disc storage device comprising a plurality of discs storing a plurality of second data obtained by dividing first data, the disc being configured such that a number of sectors included at tracks in an outer section of the disc is greater than a number of sectors included at tracks in an inner section of the disc. In particular, the method and device for controlling disc array decides the discs storing each of a plurality of the second data, and information comprising the addresses of the second data on the disc and the size of each item of a plurality of the second data in such a manner that the time required for accessing each of a plurality of the second data stored in the disc device becomes equal, with access then being carried out to the disc device on the basis of the decided information.

Abstract: Negative Group-delay-dispersion mirror (NGDD-mirror) multilayer structures include a generally-orderly arrangement of layers or groups of layers in which the function of certain individual layers or groups of layers can be recognized and defined. The structures are broadly definable as a rear group of layers which are primarily responsible for providing a desired reflection level and reflection bandwidth together with a low and smoothly varying reflection phase-dispersion, and a front group of layers which are primarily responsible for producing high reflection phase-dispersion necessary for providing a desired NGDD level and bandwidth. The front group of layers relies on multiple resonant trapping mechanisms such as two or more effective resonant-cavities, employing one or more sub-quarter-wave layers to shape the phase-dispersion for providing a substantially-constant NGDD.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for delivering a laser beam from a laser, such as an F2 laser, to a target through a sealed enclosure. The enclosure is evacuated and back-filled with an inert gas repeatedly for a number of times sufficient to adequately deplete any air, water, hydrocarbons or oxygen within the enclosure. Thereafter, an inert gas flow is established and maintained within the enclosure during operation of the laser. Propagation with significant transmittance of a sub-200 nm beam through the enclosure is particularly enabled.

Abstract: A format of a recording medium suitable for a larger capacity, a higher transfer rate, and integration of pits/lands/grooves is provided. In a first method, in a recordable and reproduceable area, a twin-track structure of lands/grooves is configured such that tracks on which lands become recording tracks and tracks on which grooves become recording tracks form a double spiral. In a read-only area, pits are arrayed such that tracks in the radial direction of the disk are formed in a data area. In a second method, in a recordable and reproduceable area, a land/groove-alternate track structure is configured such that grooves become data recording tracks in the circular track next to the circular track in which lands become data recording tracks, and lands become data recording tracks in the next circular track. In the read-only area, pits are arrayed such that tracks in the radial direction of the disk are formed in the data area.

Abstract: A preamplifier for a resistive transducer, configured to generate an amplified output indicative of potential difference across the transducer (while the transducer is biased and in the presence of a magnetic field) and to generate a resistance signal indicative of the transducer's resistance, and a method for measuring the resistance of a resistive transducer during operation of the transducer in the presence of a changing magnetic field. The preamplifier preferably includes circuitry for generating a current signal indicative of the instantaneous current through the transducer and analog divider circuitry for generating the resistance signal from a signal indicative of the potential difference across the transducer and the current signal. When the resistance signal is an analog signal, the preamplifier can include circuitry for processing the analog resistance signal to generate a word of binary data indicative of a value proportional to the transducer resistance.