Abstract: A computer-based apparatus for creating subsurface models having a graphical display device, a user input device, means for selecting a region of the world to be modeled; means for providing geophysical and geographical data corresponding to the selected region of the world; means for providing an archive of known geological structures; and means for providing an interface which permits a user to create a subsurface model of the identified region. The invention further involves related computer-based apparatuses for interactive creation of geological subsurface models, for managing geological hypotheses, and for providing information for creation of a geological model.

Abstract: A method for vocalizing information from an electronic brokerage system (EBS) used in international currency exchange incorporates a specialized grammar to emulate the interpersonal trading style and vernacular used by foreign currency brokers catering to the international banking industry. Used in conjunction with the screen display of an EBS, the vocalizing method makes the system easier for a trader to use by emphasizing information content. The vocalizing method optimizes redundancy of data available to the user to minimize both the ambiguity of data to and the cognitive effort of the user. The vocalizing method chooses what data should be vocalized, when the data should be vocalized, and, in what manner the data should be vocalized. For example, a long form of the offer and bid prices is initially vocalized which includes both figure and pips data, but thereafter only the pips are vocalized. Three categories of messages each provide different data to the system user.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for processing errors in a computer system. The present invention scans information, generates an error unit for each error detected, provides an intuitive interface for communication of errors, and facilitates correction of errors. A data processing computer system of the present invention provides a proofreading capability for addressing errors such as spelling, grammar, usage, punctuation, broken words, doubled words, and capitalization. An error unit is created for each error detected during the proofreading scan of a document. An error unit uniquely identifies each error detected. Further, an error unit retains other information about an error including the error type, location, length, and correction status. The error unit is used to create a list of errors, or Error List. The Error List provides the ability to view errors in one location, and facilitates the error correction and proofreading process. Errors can be addressed in any order.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for the recording of distortion product emission (DPE) levels in human beings. At least one microphone and a sound-delivery system is inserted in the external ear canal in a manner similar to that required to position a small hearing aid. Two primary tones T.sub.f1, T.sub.f2 are applied simultaneously to the ear. The cochlea of the inner ear produces a DPE tone which is sensed by the microphone. DPE levels are sensed as a function of input frequencies f.sub.1 and f.sub.2. Such DPE frequency is equal to 2f.sub.1 -f.sub.2. Such DPE frequencies are collected in 100 Hz steps by adjusting f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 and maintaining a substantially constant ratio between f.sub.1 and f.sub.2. Two output forms are created: an DPE audiogram and a DPE input/output function. Noise picked up by the microphone is reduced by averaging the DPE signal many times, yet causing each of the DPE signals that is averaged to be of the same phase as every other DPE signal.

Abstract: A system facilitates a search operation and managing work on video signals having a numerous amount of information such as signals for moving images by removably mounting, on a video camera or a video signal recording device, a storage device for storing a specified picture or pictures included in the moving images. The system is arranged to extract the specified picture from the moving images for every given period of time, so that a video signal having a numerous amount of information can be searched without any difficulty.

Abstract: An enhancement and retrieval method for natural language data using a computer is disclosed. The method includes executing linguistic analysis upon a text corpus file to derive morphological, part-of-speech information as well as lexical variants corresponding to respective corpus words. The derived linguistic information is then used to construct an enhanced text corpus file. A query text file is linguistically analyzed to construct a plurality of trigger token morphemes which are then used to construct a search mask stream which is correlated with the enhanced text corpus file. A match between the search mask stream and the enhanced corpus file allows a user to retrieve selected portions of the enhanced text corpus.

Abstract: An optical recording disc on which an analog audio signal and a digital audio signal are recorded is tested. The analog audio signal results from FM-modulating 2-channel audio signals, and the digital audio signal results from modulating the same 2-channel audio signals in a digital fashion, in order to perform the test, a signal mixed with 2-channel audio signals resulting demodulating an analog audio signal and a signal mixed with 2-channel audio signals resulting from demodulating a digital audio signal are simultaneously reproduced by an electroacoustic transducer and evaluated.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing timing generating apparatus records a preamble signal constructed by a predetermined bit pattern in which there is no recording pit before and after at least one clock before recording data. The generating apparatus controls a delay time of a sampling clock signal based on differential data of reproducing data sampled at timings before and after the recording pit of the preamble signal. The generating apparatus also controls the delay time of the sampling clock signal based on differential data of the reproducing data sampled at timings before and after the clock mark.

Abstract: A disk drive zone access method for recovering from a zone miss of a disk drive head(s) is used with media that has a plurality of zones each having different data recording frequencies. Data is read with a variable reference synchronizing frequency that can be set to match any one of the data recording frequencies. The method comprises 1) defining a memory space to stores zone miss history in alternative memory spaces according to the head seek direction at the time of a zone miss; 2) referencing the one zone miss history that corresponds to the present head seek direction; 3) estimating a candidate zone where the head is/are most likely to be, based on the zone miss history; 4) setting the variable reference synchronizing frequency to the data recording frequency of the candidate zone; and 5) updating zone miss history in the memory space with the present zone miss data according to the head seek direction at the time of the zone miss.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction system performs high precision drop-out processing and compensation in the reproduction mode from a disk-shaped recording medium by using a recording format in which a video signal is divided alternately in units of one horizontal scan line into two channels, and the timing of the recorded video signal on one channel is displaced relative to that of the other channel, so as to record the divided signals on a pair of parallel spiral tracks forming the two channels on the disk. A mean value interpolation circuit is provided in each channel for drop-out compensation, and a portion of a reproduced signal of one channel is compensated by a compensation signal produced by the interpolation circuit of the other channel.

Abstract: An optical recording and reproducing apparatus comprising an erroneous recording prevention component which prevents this apparatus from making an erroneous recording or erasing operation while it records data on a writable disk. The apparatus is arranged such that, while it is performing a recording or erasing operation, a state of its beam of light just about to go off the control point of tracking and a state of its beam of light just about to go off the control point of focusing are each monitored and, when either of the states is detected, the recording or erasing operation is canceled. Hence, laser power of the beam of light can be controlled before the beam of light completely goes off the control point of tracking, thereby preventing the beam of light from affecting data having been recorded along other tracks.

Abstract: A spindle control apparatuses for a disk player allows a quick search of recorded data on a disk carrying a plurality of types of data that should be read out at different reading velocities. A spindle servo loop is rendered open in response to a command and a normal rotational velocity of the disk necessary to read out recorded data at a specific address is computed. Then the disk's rotational velocity is accelerated or decelerated in a single step until it coincides with the designated rotational velocity and the servo loop is closed when these velocities coincide with each other. This allows quick and stable locking of the spindle servo loop during the searching period, so that the searching velocity is raised considerably.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recording and reproducing data with respect to closely spaced magnetically recording areas or tracks of a magnetic recording member such as a card, tape or magnetic disc wherein scanning, tracking and reproduction functions are controlled by electro-optically scanning markers or indicia which are predeterminately recorded with respect to the magnetic recordings of the record member. Signals generated when such electro-optically scannable markers are detected are employed to control either or both the functions of selectively tracking and locating a magnetic transducer with respect to a select recording area or track of the magnetic record member and selectively controlling magnetic reproduction of information from the select recording area by either controlling the driving of the magnetic transducer mount and/or the operation of the transducer as it scans a select portion of the recording area or track along which it scans.

Abstract: An optical unit actuator for an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus includes an electromagnetic drive mechanism composed of a coil and a magnet cooperative to drive an objective lens mounted on an optical unit. One of the coil and the magnet is secured to the optical unit. The other of the coil and the magnet is held on a fixed unit with an elastic support member disposed therebetween, the fixed unit being immovable as against the movable optical unit. The elastic support member substantially dampens or takes up vibration caused by a reaction force creased as a result of acceleration of the objective lens when the objective lens is driven to follow a dynamic radial runout and an axial deflection of an optical disk. With the elastic support member thus provided, an optical component, a photo-electric transducer or the optical disk which is disposed on the side of the fixed unit is isolated from vibration.

Abstract: An optical data storage medium having a continuous tracking guide strip defining a single spiral recording track, or concentric tracking guide rings defining concentric recording tracks. The tracking guide strip or rings provide(s) tracking servo information which is optically read to position an optical head relative to the data storage medium, for centering a read/write beam on a desired recording track. The tracking guide strip or rings is/are formed of a material which has a higher light absorption coefficient than that of a material of the recording track(s). A method for fabricating the storage medium, and a tracking system for the storage medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: An optical head apparatus applicable to an optical disc apparatus having an optical disc comprises a light source emitting a light beam, and an optical system transmitting the light beam emitted from the light source onto a surface of the optical disc and transmitting a light beam reflected on the surface of the optical disc to a first optical detector and to a second optical detector. The optical system includes a beam splitter splitting the light beam reflected by the surface of the optical disc into a first light beam traveling toward the first optical detector and a second light beam traveling toward the second optical detector, and a transparent member fixed to the beam splitter, through which the second light beam passes and causing astigmatic difference in the second light beam.

Abstract: A video-signal output apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for outputting a black-and-white video signal. The video-signal output apparatus is arranged to generate a black-and-white video signal, add a burst signal to the black-and-white video signal, and output the black-and-white video signal with the burst signal added thereto. Accordingly, a black-and-white picture with no cross color can be displayed on a color monitor device.

Abstract: A signal switching method of a TV-VCR combination having two tuners is disclosed which enables two channel simultaneous receiving for recording one channel and displaying another channel, or the same channel, and which is capable at the same time of switching the screen of monitor separately and independently providing increased convenience to users. The method includes the steps of scanning the state of key input using a microcomputer and displaying the key information on a digitron or display, thereby controlling respectively the TV tuner, VCR tuner and shifting switches. In response to the respective control signals for the tuners, a recording/playback signal, a VCR tuner/line input signal, a VCR-line/playback signal and a TV/VCR signal is generated by the microcomputer. The respective shifting switches are selectively connected for executing various functions including two channel simultaneous receiving for recording and displaying channels separately concurrently or independently.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk apparatus applied to a data writing/reproducing operation of a sample-servo formatted optical disk having a clock pit and two wobbled pits in each of servo regions. A photodetector receives reflected light of a light beam from the optical disk to produce a reflected light signal. A clock detection unit detects a change in intensity of reflected light components from the clock pit in response to the reflected light signal to produce a binary clock pit detection signal. A tracking error detection unit detects a change in peak intensity of reflected light components from the wobbled pits in each servo region in response to the reflected light signal to produce a binary tracking error signal representing the detected intensity difference. A determination unit is connected to the clock detection unit and the tracking error detection unit.

Abstract: A dual light source optical recording and playback system which comprises a first light source which is a semiconductor laser for irradiating tracks of a recording medium with recording spot light to record pits as information units, a second light source for irradiating the tracts with playback spot light, detection means for detecting the output of the semiconductor laser which changes in response to return light available as the recording spot light is reflected on the track of the recording medium and returned to the semiconductor laser, and a timing signal generator for generating a timing signal for the recording of the next pit on the track in response to a detection output from the detection means which corresponds to the return light due to reflection by the recorded pit.