Abstract: A switch that can vary at least two controllable parameters and can vary the upper, lower and any intermediary limits of the switch. The switch has a pair of nested coaxial rotary knobs each attached by shafts to sensors that determine the radial position of a reference point on each knob. The knobs rotate with respect to each other and are constructed to allow rotation of the knobs with one hand. The sensors are attached to the controls of the parameters, such that rotation of the knobs varies the output of the parameters. The sensors are coupled to a magnetic clutch that engages and prevents rotation of one of the knobs, when the knob is rotated into a predetermined radial position. A computer can be connected to the magnetic clutch and sensors. The computer receives input signals from the sensors and produces an output signal to the clutch, to engage the clutch and prevent rotation of the knob in accordance with a computer program within the computer.

Abstract: A cassette case is constructed such that a tape cassette is supported to a lid side by utilizing guiding protrusions provided on the side portions of the tape cassette. Also, a recess portion is formed on the inner surface of the casing so as to accommodate therein a thick portion which forms a front opening portion of the tape cassette, thereby a thickness of the entirety of the cassette case being reduced. Further, in an index sheet inserted into the cassette case, a portion corresponding to the recess portion formed in the inside of the casing is formed as a recess-shaped portion, and thus this index sheet is suitably applied to the above-mentioned thin cassette case.

Abstract: A solid state imager of an amplifying type having an amplifying element for each photo receptor portion, wherein a noise cancelling unit is provided for the amplified output of each photo receptor portion at every vertical line so as to decrease noises, and further the solid state imager is configured to be the rear-illuminated structure, so that the sensitivity of the solid state imager can be improved due to the reduction of the noises and the numerical aperture thereof can be also improved.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor in which a buried collector region, a base region and an emitter region are formed in a device forming region surrounded by an isolation region and in which a base contact electrode and a collector contact electrode are arranged in symmetry with each other, and a process for preparing the transistor. The collector contact electrode is formed through an opening formed in a portion of the isolation region for connection with the buried collector region. In this manner, the collision between the base region and the collector contact region may be avoided effectively.

Abstract: To reduce the number of parts of a floppy disk drive as well as the steps required for assembling the floppy disk drive, a shielding ring for protecting a magnetic head from the influence of an external magnetic field, and an engaged portion to be engaged with a feed screw so as to drive the magnetic head, are formed integrally with a carriage for carrying the magnetic head, for example, by press working sheet metal.

Abstract: An optical disc having an aluminum reflective film is disclosed, wherein an oxide of Al in the stable oxidized state is introduced into the Al reflective film to eliminate changes with lapse of time to improve durability of the optical disc. A method for producing a reflective film on an optical disc is also disclosed, wherein a trace amount of oxygen is introduced into atmosphere in the course of formation of the reflective film.

Abstract: A digital video signal reproducing apparatus adapted for reproduction of a magnetic tape where video data of one field are recorded on a plurality of tracks by a plurality of rotary heads. Playback heads employed for such reproduction are mounted on bimorph bases or the like so that the vertical positions or heights of the playback heads are controllable and, if any of the playback heads is rendered faulty by some reason, the vertical positions thereof are controlled to select the order of the tracks from which the video data are to be reproduced, whereby required correction can be carried out with interfield concealment of the reproduced video data to consequently avert deterioration of the image quality.

Abstract: A peak value detecting circuit has a peak voltage holding circuit, a voltage comparing section, a holding voltage control circuit, and a signal output circuit. The peak voltage holding circuit holds a peak value of an input signal voltage. The voltage comparing section compares the peak voltage held by the peak voltage holding circuit with an externally input signal voltage. The holding voltage control circuit controls the level of the peak voltage in accordance with the output given by the voltage comparing section as a result of the compare operation in the latter. The signal output circuit acts as a buffer in sending to the outside the peak voltage held by the peak voltage holding circuit. The output voltage from the signal output circuit is fed back as a reference voltage to a compare input terminal of the voltage comparing section and prevents any offset that may develop in the signal output circuit from appearing in the output signal voltage of the peak value detecting circuit.

Abstract: A video apparatus of the invention relates to some function, operation or the like in sets of plural character signals related to each other. When the function or the like is executed, each character within one set is output in sequence in a time series, such that the character can be expressed as if it were in movement in animation fashion on the display picture plane.

Abstract: A lens focusing system in which predetermined signal components in a video signal are detected for focusing an image by maximizing the predetermined signal components, includes a lens for focusing an image on an image pickup device operative to convert light from the lens into electric signals; a signal processing circuit for processing the output electric signals from the image pickup device to obtain video signals; a filter which has a transfer characteristic approximating that of a lens system which is out of focus; and a subtracting circuit for eliminating video signal components which pass through the filter from the electric signals output by the image pickup device. Novel digital filters particularly adapted for use with such lens focusing systems also are provided.

Abstract: An electronic still camera is comprised of a zoom lens for magnifying an incident optical image, a focusing lens for focusing the incident optical image, a motor for driving the focusing lens, a photo-electric converting unit for converting the optical image incident thereon through the zoom lens and the focusing lens into an electrical signal, a focus detecting circuit for detecting the focused state of the incident optical image, and a zoom lens state detecting circuit for detecting the state of the zoom lens, wherein when the movement of the zoom lens is detected by the zoom lens state detecting circuit, the focusing lens is moved by the motor so as to focus the incident optical image on the basis of the detected result of the focus detecting circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a bordered split screen video display. In preferred embodiment, the invention generates a composite signal from digital signals representing reference and scanned film images, converts the composite signal to a composite video signal, and displays the composite video signal as a bordered split screen video display. The invention can be embodied in a film scanning system which includes a processor for digitally correcting a digital signal representing a digitized film image, such as by performing digital color correction on the digital signal. The film scanning system also includes field store circuitry for storing the corrected digital signal and a digital reference signal, circuitry for generating a composite signal from the stored reference and corrected signal, and circuitry for generating a composite video signal from the composite signal.

Abstract: In an information transmitting device which transmits information in a preamble portion and a plurality of data blocks as a unitary set, when a block synchronizing code in the data blocks is detected, the timing of the detection and the block synchronizing code are determined to be correct or are subjected to error correction, and are utilized to reproduce information contained in the preamble portion.

Abstract: According to the invention, control data of a predetermined number of bits are pre-recorded on the recording track of a recording medium in the form of burst-like changes of the recording track's width to provide for recording control and reproducing control based on the control data.

Abstract: A mutual division circuit includes a single mutual division unit or a plurality of cascaded mutual division units for dividing a polynomial including a first input polynomial R.sub.i-1 (X) as a factor by a second input polynomial Q.sub.i-1 (X), thereby to determine a quotient and a remainder R.sub.i (X), determining an overall quotient .lambda..sub.i (X) from the quotient and a third input polynomial .lambda..sub.i-1 (X), and producing the remainder R.sub.i (X), the first input polynomial R.sub.i-1 (X) or the second input polynomial Q.sub.i-1 (X), and the overall quotient .lambda..sub.i (X) as a first output polynomial R.sub.i (X), a second output polynomial Q.sub.i (X), and a third output polynomial .lambda..sub.i (X), respectively.

Abstract: In a cassette housing shelf for accommodating various sized cassettes in cassette auto-changers or the like, a guiding block for guiding a small-sized cassette is provided near to a cassette inlet of a cassette housing portion formed upon the shelf. When a large-sized cassette is inserted into the cassette housing portion, the guiding block is automatically removed from the cassette housing portion, and when a small-sized cassette is inserted, the guiding block securely leads the cassette to a predetermined space within the cassette housing portion, so that it is easy to insert the small-sized cassette into the cassette housing portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sputtering apparatus employed for producing an optical disc, for example, wherein a material to be processed by sputtering, such as a disc base plate, is placed in a vacuum chamber having an opening for entrance and exit of the material and a sputtering station, and is transported between the opening and the sputtering station by a rotary arm or arms, in such a manner as to simplify and reduce the size of the vacuum chamber and increase the production quantity per unit time.

Abstract: The present disclosure is relative with a recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing a tape, such as a magnetic tape, as the recording medium, and provides a mode switching mechanism for such apparatus. The mechanism includes a swing arm provided with a transmission gear selectively rotated in dependence upon the rotational drive direction of a sole reel motor, a cam gear formed with interrupted portions and cam surfaces associated with these interrupted portions and adapted for selectively switching predetermined operational modes by the cam surfaces in dependence upon its rotational angular positions, a biasing member for rotationally biasing the cam gear, and a cam gear retention member for retaining the cam gear at a predetermined angular position. The reel shaft is rotationally driven by means of the transmission gear of the swing arm by driving the reel motor in the forward direction.