Abstract: An optical head for a laser memory disk in accordance with the present invention containing a substrate (1); a waveguide layer (3) formed over a main surface of the substrate; a semiconductor laser (4) provided at an end of the waveguide layer for injecting laser beams into the waveguide; a focusing grating coupler (6) formed on the waveguide layer for focusing the injected laser beams on the disk and introducing beams reflected back from the disk into the waveguide; beam splitters (5) formed on the waveguide layer between the semiconductor laser and the focusing grating coupler, for bisecting each of the reflected beams at a prescribed acute angle; photodetectors (10) for converting the bisected beams into electrical signals; optical isolators (17, 18) formed between the semiconductor laser and the photodetectors.

Abstract: A door message apparatus has a control unit which responds to operation of a doorbell switch to connect a door speaker/microphone to an automatic telephone answering and recording machine. The control unit applies a ring signal to the answering machine so that the machine then plays back a prerecorded message which is broadcast to the door caller. After the playback, the door caller may talk into the door speaker/microphone to produce a message which is recorded by the answering machine.

Abstract: A telephone answering machine which records and displays the date and time of each recorded incoming message and, if required, displays the duration of each message. The telephone answering machine is microcomputer controlled, and when a call is received, the random access memory of the microcomputer stores a number equivalent to the time and date on which the telephone line was seized. The telephone answering machine then records the call in normal manner. At the end of the call, a second number representing the time at which the call terminated may also be stored in the random access memory. At that time, the microcomputer causes the message tape to rewind to a point past the beginning of the recorded message and causes the data and time at which the message was received to be recorded on a blank portion of the tape just before the beginning of the message. The microcomputer then causes the tape to move forward to the end of the message in preparation for taking the next call.

Abstract: An audio device for automotive use is disclosed in which radio transmissions can be received and directly recorded on magnetic tapes, cassettes or discs. The device includes an in-dash combination AM-FM radio receiver and tape or cassette deck which is specially adapted to permit direct recording of radio transmissions on blank tape cartridges or cassettes.

Abstract: A tracking error signal is detected by irradiating an information pattern recorded on an information carrying member with first and second light beams, the second light beam being incident on the information carrying member at a position which is spaced from the incidence position of the first light beam at least in the direction orthogonal to the tracing direction of the information pattern, the light beams modulated by the information pattern being independently photoelectrically converted, an envelope-detection being effected with respect to the outputs obtained by the conversion, and on the basis of the output signals formed by the envelope-detection, the tracking error signal being produced.

Abstract: A method, and its associated system, for maintaining a close and accurate security surveillance of both the passengers and their baggage on a public conveyance, to insure that, before departure, baggage is not loaded aboard the conveyance without a prior, positive indication that the owner or the passenger has, in fact, been properly boarded.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing information on a recording member having a recording film capable of recording and erasing information in accordance with the change of a magnetizing direction, by utilizing a light induced thermo-magnetic effect, in which before the intensity of the laser light is switched at the high level eliminating the magnetization of the recording film in order to effect the recording and erasing operations by focusing the laser light on the recording film as a light spot, a magnetic field with the predetermined direction according to the recording and erasing operations is previously applied on the recording film, whereby the recording and erasing operations of the magnetized information can be effected with high speed and stably by applying the normal magnetic field in the direction according to the recording and erasing operations respectively.

Abstract: A first recording medium of automatic telephone answering apparatus records an OGM (Outgoing Message) and a second recording medium records ICMs (Incoming Messages). Immediately after the first ICM is recorded, a first muting portion and a first cue signal (control signal) are sequentially recorded on the second recording medium. Then, the second recording medium is rewound to a position intermediate the length of the first cue signal and the automatic answering mode is reset. Before recording of the second ICM, a second muting portion of a predetermined duration is recorded on the second recording medium, so as to modify the first cue signal to form a second cue signal shorter than the first cue signal. The second ICM is then recorded on the second recording medium. This process is repeated for subsequent ICMs so that a short (second) cue signal marks the separation between each pair of successive ICMs and a long (first) cue signal marks the end of all the ICMs.

Abstract: A tracking system for a rotary magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic head for sensing signals on a plurality of tracks formed on the recording medium such that a beginning and an end of recording align with each other, a head feeding unit for transporting the magnetic head to a position where a desired one of the tracks is located, and a control unit for controlling the head feeding unit to effect tracking. The control unit includes an operational unit for sampling a signal sensed by the head in response to a rotation of the recording medium at a plurality of sampling points, and adds the sampled values with predetermined weights. Based on a result of the weighted addition, the control unit performs a tracking control.

Abstract: Apparatus for compensating for physical deviations due to warp and surface deflections in optical discs during optical recording and reproducing operations. Focus error signals are developed corresponding to the individual addresses of the physical deviations and the extent of deviation from the in-focus position of the focusing lens by moving a light pickup under control of a microcomputer radially of the disc so that N given radial pitch intervals are defined relative to the record surface of the optical discs and M circumferential address positions of each rotation of the disc. The detector detects the focus error signal values at M.sub.x N.sub.x address locations which are memorized in a memory storing M.times.

Abstract: A power control device for a disk apparatus has first and second flip-flops respectively constituted by monostable multivibrators for latching STEP and MOTORON signals supplied from a floppy disk controller during execution of a seek instruction of a main processor. An output from the second flip-flop is disabled before the STEP signal is supplied thereto. A period of time T2 for which a final STEP signal is supplied to the second flip-flop and then the output from the first flip-flop is disabled is longer than a pulse width of the STEP signal. Q outputs from the first and second flip-flops are supplied to first and second transistors through a NOR gate. Collector outputs of the first and second transistors are supplied to the bases of third and fourth transistor whose emitters respectively receive voltages of +12 V and +5 V.

Abstract: A composite wobbled tracking servo system uses a rotary optical disc which has a header field and a data field alternately arranged along the direction of rotation, and which includes pregrooves formed in at least the data field and at least one pair of wobbled track marks disposed in each of the header fields in a relation wobbled relative to the center of a track. A light spot is directed toward and onto the optical disc to detect a push-pull tracking error signal from the reflection of the light spot diffracted from the pregroove, and a wobbled tracking error signal is detected from the reflection of the light spot passing the wobbled track marks. After attenuating the gain of the wobbled tracking error signal by a low-pass filter so that the gain of the wobbled tracking error signal becomes equal to that of the push-pull tracking error signal at a frequency fe satisfying the relation1/50.multidot.N.multidot.fd<fe<1/5.multidot.N.multidot.

Abstract: An improved unitary, self-contained consumer transaction card having an outer support frame, an internally positioned printed circuit board, and top and bottom label sheets. The outer support frame provides structural support to the card and minimizes the flow of adhesives located under the top and bottom sheets out from the card. Backfill material inserted on the underside of the bottom label sheet and into the embossed consumer information provides structural strength to the embossed consumer information to prevent damage when the card is used.

Abstract: A head swtiching signal producing circuit produces a head switching signal by electrically compensating for a phase error on a rotational plane of a rotary drum between a mounting position of a rotary head on the rotary drum and a mounting position of a rotational phase detector which is used to detect a rotational phase of the rotary drum, so as to produce an accurate head switching signal without controlling the mounting position of the rotational phase detector within a small tolerance.

Abstract: The optical recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a magnetic field applying section, a movable mechanism for moving the magnetic field applying section, a distance detecting section for detecting a distance between magnetic poles of the magnetic field applying section and the surface of a recording medium, and a distance control section for maintaining the above distance constant in response to an output of the distance detecting section. The distance between two magnetic pole ends of the magnetic field applying section can be minimized. Further, on the basis of the tracking control of either one of the recording and erasing light beams, it is possible to enable a high-precision tracking control to the other of the two light beams.

Abstract: A video recording apparatus of one-inch helical scan type including rotary and stationary drums arranged coaxially, reproducing, recording and erasing magnetic heads arranged equidistantly around the rotary drum in this order viewed in a rotational direction of the rotary drum, and a magnetic tape feeding mechanism for feeding a magnetic tape around the drums along a helical path. By means of the recording head a video signal is recorded on the magnetic tape in such a manner that a video signal of one field is recorded as a single inclined track. The reproducing head is shifted in an axial direction of the drums with respect to the recording head by such an amount that the reproducing and recording heads scan adjacent tracks simultaneously. The apparatus further includes a delay circuit for delaying a video signal reproduced by the reproducing head by 2/3 field period and a mixing amplifier for selectively supplying a delayed video signal to the recording head.

Abstract: A message playback control system for a telephone answering machine of the type in which a user, in order to recover his messages, by operation of a manually operated local switch, causes the message tape in the machine to rewind to a particular position, and then causes the message tape to move in the forward direction and play back the messages recorded on the tape, and then automatically causes the message tape to stop when all the messages have been played back. In the system of the present invention, provision is made so that if the local switch is subsequently operated further control operations may be effectuated.

Abstract: A magnetic tape reproducing apparatus comprises a tape guide drum spirally wrapped with a magnetic tape on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a first mechanism for pivotally supporting the drum, and second mechanism for varying the inclination angle of the drum in a special reproduction mode of the reproducing apparatus, which special reproduction mode is a reproduction mode in which the tape moves with a tape moving speed and/or a tape moving direction different from a tape moving speed and/or a tape moving direction in a normal reproduction mode (or recording mode). The second mechanism varies the inclination angle of the drum in the special reproduction mode in one of two mutually opposite directions with respect to a reference inclination angle of the drum at the time of the normal reproduction mode.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an improvement for a tracking servo circuit which controls the tracking of an optical pickup on an optical disc in an apparatus for reproducing a sound or image recorded on the optical disc. The present invention is characterized by the provision of a circuit for detecting modulation of an RF signal from the optical pickup caused when the optical pickup encounters a defect such as a flaw in the disc or dust adhering thereon, a circuit for detecting modulation of the RF signal caused when an impact is externally applied to the optical pickup, and an adjusting circuit which decreases the loop gain of the tracking servo circuit when the former modulation is detected and which increases the loop gain when the latter modulation is detected, whereby the responsiveness of the optical pickup is improved and track jumping prevented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for choosing a random group of musical selections which are housed in a prerecorded disk library and creating an individual customized tape cassette from the selections chosen. Through use of the present invention, a multiplicity of selections from a selection music library are chosen and electrically transmitted to a selection duplicating center where they are duplicated at high speed onto a blank recording tape cassette in the desired order selected. The duplication process is performed at high speed in order to enable the cassette to be made in only a few minutes from the selections chosen.