Abstract: In a data management method for supervising a non-volatile memory having a plurality of blocks erasable in a lump, each of the blocks being formed by a plurality of pages, each of the pages including a redundant area, the aggregate management information is used for data management to enable prompt booting. The distributed management information, as the management information for the respective blocks, is stored in the redundant area of each page, and the aggregate management information supervises data stored in each block, in a lump, in association with the distributed management information. It is verified, at the time of booting, whether the aggregate management information is effective. The data is supervised based on the aggregate management information when the aggregate management information is effective and, when the aggregate management information is not effective, the data is supervised based on the distributed management information.

Abstract: The record condition extraction system (1) of a dielectric recording medium is intended to obtain an applied voltage and an applied time length to be recorded when recording information in the dielectric recording medium. The record condition extraction system (1) is provided with: an applied voltage setting device (11); an applied time length setting device (12); a record control device (13); an applied voltage/applied time length record device (14); a record device (15); a dot radius measurement device (16); a dot radius record device (17); an optimum dot radius detection device (18); a record condition determination device (19); and an output device (20). The applied voltage setting device (11) and the applied time length setting device (12) set a voltage and a time applied to a probe (31) of the record device (15), respectively.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing head for performing at least one of a record operation of recording information onto a dielectric recording medium and a reproduction operation of reproducing the information from the dielectric recording medium, the recording/reproducing head provided with: a support member which extends in a longitudinal direction of the recording/reproducing head; and a projection portion which is mounted on the support member such that a tip of the projection portion faces the dielectric recording medium, the projection portion having a ridge-line on the tip, the projection portion being capable of contacting the dielectric recording medium at one point on the ridge-line.

Abstract: A transmitter, a communication system, and a communication method of the same capable of realizing communication of more than a set bandwidth with respect to packet communication with a bandwidth guarantee set therefor by using the set bandwidth as the minimum guaranteed bandwidth, wherein when a transmitter transmits packet data, it decides whether or not packet communication guarantees a bandwidth based on a guaranteed bandwidth set in advance and, when guaranteeing the bandwidth, adds a first identifier to the packet data, while when not guaranteeing the bandwidth, adds a second identifier to the packet data and transmits the same to the network and wherein a relay unit connected to the network decides, in accordance with identifiers registered in advance and guaranteed bandwidths corresponding to same, whether or not the received packet data are bandwidth guaranteed, adds the first or second identifier to the packet data in accordance with the result of the decision, and transfers them to the next relay u

Abstract: The scan range of each probe of a probe array is increased so that two or more recording areas formed on a recording surface of a recording medium can be scanned by using one probe. Moreover, displacement control information is recorded in advance between the recording areas which are mutually adjacent on the recording surface of the recording medium. On the basis of the displacement control information, the displacement of the probes are stabilized at a constant speed, and then the recording areas are scanned.

Abstract: The dielectric recording medium is provided with a dielectric material, a conductive thin film, and a substrate. The conductive thin film and the substrate are bonded by a resin adhesive. The dielectric material is constructed of a ferroelectric single crystal having a uniform thickness, and its one surface is used for a recording and/or reproducing surface, on the order of mm on a side and about 5000 ? thick. The conductive thin film, about 1000 to 2000 ? thick, is placed on a surrounding portion and a back surface of the recording and/or reproducing surface of the dielectric material. The substrate is intended to preserve the thin dielectric material and maintain the planarity, and concave portions are formed on the adhesive surface. The concave portions absorb excessive resin adhesive when the dielectric material is bonded onto the substrate, which makes the adhesive surface uniform and flat.

Abstract: A transmitter, a communication system, and a communication method capable of realizing communication of more than a set bandwidth with respect to a packet communication with a bandwidth guarantee set therefore by using a set bandwidth as the minimum guaranteed bandwidth, wherein when a transmitter transmits packet data, it decides whether or not packet communication guarantees a bandwidth based on a guaranteed bandwidth set in advance, and adds a first identifier to the packet data when guaranteeing bandwidth, and adds a second identifier when not guaranteeing the bandwidth.

Abstract: Position information is formed on a recording surface 11 of a recording medium 10. The position information is constructed from first line segments, which are parallel to each other, and a second line segment, which crosses the first line segments. On the basis of a distance between (i) an intersection C1 of one of the first line segment and a scan line and (ii) an intersection C2 of another of the first line segments and the scan line, the intersection C2 and an intersection C3 of the second line segment and the scan line are measured or calculated. By this, a position of a head in a Y direction is recognized.

Abstract: In order to easily and promptly make a connection to a station which a user desires and in a good communication condition, there is provided a communication apparatus applicable to a PDA having a wireless communication function, which includes setting means for setting a priority order of wireless communication stations, acquisition control means for controlling acquisition of RSSI (Receive Signal Strength Indication) of each of the stations, and connection control means for controlling a connection to one of the station having a highest priority order among the stations whose RSSI exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The dielectric recording medium is provided with a dielectric material, a conductive thin film, and a substrate. The conductive thin film and the substrate are bonded by a resin adhesive. The dielectric material is constructed of a ferroelectric single crystal having a uniform thickness, and its one surface is used for a recording and/or reproducing surface, on the order of mm on a side and about 5000 ? thick. The conductive thin film, about 1000 to 2000 ? thick, is placed on a surrounding portion and a back surface of the recording and/or reproducing surface of the dielectric material. The substrate is intended to preserve the thin dielectric material and maintain the planarity, and concave portions are formed on the adhesive surface. The concave portions absorb excessive resin adhesive when the dielectric material is bonded onto the substrate, which makes the adhesive surface uniform and flat.

Abstract: A dielectric constant measuring apparatus for measuring a dielectric constant of a dielectric substance is provided with: a cantilever having a small projection on a tip side of a cantilevered electric conductor; an electrode which is placed around the cantilever and is earthed; an inductor (L) placed so as to constitute a resonance circuit together with a capacitance (Cs) in a small area of the dielectric substance that the cantilever contacts; an oscillating device connected to the resonance circuit; a demodulating device for demodulating an oscillation frequency of the oscillating device; and a dielectric constant detecting device for detecting a dielectric constant information from a demodulation signal of the demodulating. The dielectric constant measuring apparatus can be applied to an information recording/reproducing apparatus using a dielectric record medium.

Abstract: The data to be recorded onto a recording medium is directly spread and then recorded onto the recording medium through a needle-shaped member, such as a probe. Upon reproducing the data, the data read from the recording medium is de-spread and reproduced.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing head is provided with: a substrate which has a predetermined width and a predetermined thickness and which is long in one direction; a probe disposed on one end in the longitudinal direction of the substrate; a lead wire disposed on a surface of the substrate provided with the probe thereon, i.e. the lead wire disposed on a surface facing to the dielectric recording medium; and an electric conductor, i.e. a return electrode, disposed so as to surround the probe and the lead wire. The probe is covered with a conductive film as well as connected with the lead wire. Via the lead wire, a signal for recording is inputted from an external device or a signal for reproducing is led to an external device.

Abstract: A dielectric recording/reproducing head is provided with: a probe; a return electrode for returning a high-frequency component of an electric field applied from the probe; and bias electrodes, which are placed under the return electrode. By applying a voltage stronger than a coercive electric field between the probe and each of the bias electrodes, polarization domains are formed which have polarization directions parallel to a surface of a dielectric recording medium. The polarization directions are determined by selecting the bias electrode to which the voltage is applied, and four types of data are recorded on a predetermined site of the dielectric recording medium, which allows multivalued recording. Moreover, the polarization directions of the polarization domains are detected by an electric field which is formed by applying a voltage between the bias electrodes and which is parallel to the surface of the dielectric recording medium, causing data to be read out.

Abstract: There is provided a circular guard so as to surround the vicinity of a tip portion of a probe mounted on an information recording/reading head, in order to prevent dusts from touching and colliding with the probe.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical IC including a photo-detector formed on a substrate, at least one light-blocking film layer formed in a portion of the main surface of the substrate other than the portion where the light-detector is formed, at least two insulator film layers formed so as to cover the light-blocking film layer, a clad layer formed consecutively over the photo-detector and the insulator film layers, and an optical wave-guide path layer formed on the clad layers, in which the insulator film layers are formed so as to form a plurality of staircase-like steps toward the photo-detector.

Abstract: A dielectric recording/reproducing apparatus is provided with: a probe for applying an electric field to a dielectric material; a return electrode for returning the high frequency electric field for data reproduction; an inductor placed between the probe and the return electrode; an oscillator which oscillates at a resonance frequency determined according to the inductor and a capacitance formed in the dielectric material just under the probe; a switch for switching circuit connections depending on whether data recording is performed and data reproducing is performed; a recording signal input device for converting data to be recorded to generate a recording signal; a direct current voltage generation device for generating a direct current bias voltage to be applied to the dielectric material; a frequency-amplitude demodulator for demodulating an oscillation signal of the oscillator having the frequency that is changed depending on the capacitance owned by the dielectric material just under the probe; and a si

Abstract: A dielectric reproducing apparatus is provided with: a probe for applying an electric field to a dielectric material of a dielectric recording medium; a return electrode for returning the electric field applied from the probe; an inductor placed between the probe and the return electrode; an oscillator which oscillates at a resonance frequency determined from the inductor and a capacitance formed in the dielectric material just under the probe; an alternating current (AC) signal generation device for generating an AC signal which is applied to the probe; a frequency modulation (FM) demodulator for demodulating a FM modulation signal modulated by the capacitance corresponding to the polarization state owned by the dielectric material just under the probe; and a phase-shift keying (PSK) demodulator for reproducing data from the demodulated signal.

Abstract: A dielectric recording medium in a disc form is provided with: a center hole; an inner area; a recording area; and an outer area, arranged concentrically from the inside in this order. The inner area, the recording area, and the outer area contain a uniform and flat dielectric material and are polarized with the polarization direction of the recording area opposite to that of the inner area and the outer area in their initial condition. The recording area in which data is recorded has tracks and spaces, each of which is between two of the tracks, and is provided with areas in which control information about the recording/reproducing is recorded, in the track and the space.

Abstract: A dielectric recording/reproducing head (40a) is provided with: a probe (11) for recording/reproducing data in/from a dielectric recording medium (1); and a slider (12) placed so as to surround the probe (11) and containing an electric conductor. It may be provided with a probe supporting device (14) containing an insulating member such as resin materials in the gap between the probe (11) and the slider (12). The probe (11) has a longitudinal shape with a longer length in the width direction of the track (5), and covers the track (5) and one portion of adjacent spaces. The slider (12) can be used, by earthing it, as a return electrode for returning a high-frequency electric field applied from the probe (11) to the dielectric recording medium (1) in order to reproduce a signal. The probe (11) is set not to project from a surface of the slider (12) facing to the dielectric recording medium (1).