Abstract: An optical reception apparatus may include a variable optical attenuator, a detector, and a controller. The variable optical attenuator may adjust a loss of an output optical power of a received light. The detector may detect that the output optical power is equal to or lower than a first level. The first level may be used to determine whether the output optical power is in a light interruption state. The controller may increase, in response to the detection made by the detector, the loss of the variable optical attenuator to a loss according to a second level. The second level may be used to determine whether the light interruption state is recovered.

Abstract: An optical reception apparatus may include a variable optical attenuator, a detector, and a controller. The variable optical attenuator may adjust a loss of an output optical power of a received light. The detector may detect that the output optical power is equal to or lower than a first level. The first level may be used to determine whether the output optical power is in a light interruption state. The controller may increase, in response to the detection made by the detector, the loss of the variable optical attenuator to a loss according to a second level. The second level may be used to determine whether the light interruption state is recovered.

Abstract: A recording condition and a dubbing condition of a desired program that is to be broadcast are designated by using a remote controller. These conditions are stored in the information storage unit. In accordance with the recording condition, a controller permits a tuner to receive a program for which unattended recording is designated, and to record the program on an HDD. When a DVD is set in a dubbing unit and the dubbing operation is instructed by using the remote controller, a recorded program for which a dubbing condition stored in the information storage unit is applied can be dubbed. Then, the information for this program is displayed on a monitor so as to confirm the program and the dubbing condition, and to examine or correct CM skip if the CM skip is included in the dubbing condition. Thereafter, the dubbing operation is performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image display device that provides power consumption reduction control in an improved manner. The image display device includes an input that inputs a video signal, an output controller that reproduces the video signal entered into the input, a display that displays an image in accordance with the video signal reproduced by the output controller, an imager that picks up an image of a user of the image display device, an attentiveness decider that analyzes the image picked up by the imager and judges whether the user is watching a display screen of the display, and a controller that selects either a normal mode or a power saving mode as a processing mode for light intensity control of a light source of the display or for reproduction in the output controller in accordance with the result of decision made by the attentiveness decider.

Abstract: A movie data indexing apparatus of the present invention comprises a movie data scene character data input processing unit, a movie data genre decision processing unit, a formatted phrase keyword dictionary input processing unit for inputting a formatted phrase keyword dictionary inherent to the determined movie data genre, a movie data information input processing unit, a movie data inherent dictionary generation processing unit for generating a dictionary inherent to the movie data, a scene character string coding processing unit for encoding a character string for a scene of the movie data, a proposal keyword dictionary for formatted phrase input processing unit for inputting a dictionary prescribing keywords, and a scene indexing processing unit for performing indexing to a scene of the movie data on the basis of the scene character string coded data, the movie data inherent dictionary and the proposal keyword dictionary for formatted phrase.

Abstract: An optical communication system and method thereof include outputting a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) light to a transmission line, the WDM light being multiplexed from a plurality of signal lights, and one of the plurality of signal lights being converted from a pilot superimposed signal that has a data signal superimposed with a pilot signal and receiving the WDM light at a receiving station including a demultiplexer, a semiconductor optical amplifier, a photoelectric converter, a detection unit, and a controller. The plurality of signal lights are demultiplexed into a plurality of electric signals, respectively and the pilot signal is detected in the plurality of electric signals, with the exception of the pilot superimposed signal, and an amplification condition of the semiconductor optical amplifier is controlled based on the pilot signal detected.

Abstract: A recording condition and a dubbing condition of a desired program that is to be broadcast are designated by using a remote controller. These conditions are stored in the information storage unit. In accordance with the recording condition, a controller permits a tuner to receive a program for which unattended recording is designated, and to record the program on an HDD. When a DVD is set in a dubbing unit and the dubbing operation is instructed by using the remote controller, a recorded program for which a dubbing condition stored in the information storage unit is applied can be dubbed. Then, the information for this program is displayed on a monitor so as to confirm the program and the dubbing condition, and to examine or correct CM skip if the CM skip is included in the dubbing condition. Thereafter, the dubbing operation is performed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a center drum rotating type of rotary magnetic head drum apparatus, which improves an accuracy of alignment of an upper fixed drum, and easily executes a fine adjustment. In correspondence to the object mentioned above, a hole fitted to a shaft is provided at a position coaxial with an outer periphery of an upper fixed drum in an end surface portion of an upper portion of the upper fixed drum, the shaft is inserted to the hole, a slope of the end surface portion of the upper portion of the upper fixed drum is adjusted while being fixed by a male screw and a locking screw, and a fine adjustment is executed for aligning the upper fixed drum. In particular, an outer periphery of the upper fixed drum in an input side of the tape is slightly moved backward from an outer periphery of the upper fixed drum in an output side of the tape, with respect to an outer periphery of the lower fixed drum.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for cleaning a rotary magneto-resistive head. Embodiments according to the invention are especially useful in tape drive systems, and the like. Embodiments can provide methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant from rotary magneto-resistive heads while guarding against damage to the head from excess cleaning, and the like. Specific embodiments can control the rotational speed of a rotary magneto-resistive head in order to facilitate cleaning operations. Embodiments include a cleaning device and a control method, and are suited for use in a magneto-resistive head mounted on a rotary cylinder of a computer tape storage unit, for example, although application of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

Abstract: It is desirable to set an optimum bias current of an MR head in accordance with changes in MR head height, the wear difference of an MR element and the characteristics of the magnetic tape. In the present invention, test track 3 is provided in a beginning-of-tape position of a magnetic tape for setting a bias current for each of MR heads 11 and 12. A test signal is recorded on and reproduced from the test track before recording or reproducing data on/from data track 2. After detecting an error rate or a waveform asymmetry, the bias current is set in such a manner as to set the error rate or the waveform asymmetry in a predetermined range. The optimum current value is stored in memory 24, and the stored value is read out to set a bias current in a subsequent recording or reproduction.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for cleaning a rotary magneto-resistive head. Embodiments according to the invention are especially useful in tape drive systems, and the like. Embodiments can provide methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant from rotary magneto-resistive heads while guarding against damage to the head from excess cleaning, and the like. Specific embodiments can control the rotational speed of a rotary magneto-resistive head in order to facilitate cleaning operations. Embodiments include a cleaning device and a control method, and are suited for use in a magneto-resistive head mounted on a rotary cylinder of a computer tape storage unit, for example, although application of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for cleaning a rotary magneto-resistive head. Embodiments according to the invention are especially useful in tape drive systems, and the like. Embodiments can provide methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant from rotary magneto-resistive heads while guarding against damage to the head from excess cleaning, and the like. Specific embodiments can control the rotational speed of a rotary magneto-resistive head in order to facilitate cleaning operations. Embodiments include a cleaning device and a control method, and are suited for use in a magneto-resistive head mounted on a rotary cylinder of a computer tape storage unit, for example, although application of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

Abstract: A drum base according to he invention, on which a drum of a magnetic tape recorder is mounted, comprises a substantially annular frame having a fixing surface to which the drum is fixed; at least one through hole extending through the fixing surface for allowing a screw which is to be threadably attached to a threaded hole formed in the drum to pass therethrough; and a pair of mounting surfaces provided on the fixing surface on which the drum is mounted, the mounting surfaces being located adjacent to the at least one through hole so as to have a symmetrical relationship in a circumferential direction of the annular frame with respect to the at least one through hole and within a range of a diameter dimension of the at least one through hole in a radial direction of the annular frame.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a casing having a tape chamber defined therein for accommodating a reeled magnetic recording tape and, also, box arms protruding outwardly from a front wall section of the casing so as to leave a loading bay that opens upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly and is thus delimited by upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly oriented open areas. The casing includes a lid assembly for selectively concealing and exposing that portion of magnetic recording tape and including front, top and rear lids operatively linked together. The front and top lids are adapted to selectively open and close the frontwardly and upwardly oriented open areas of the loading bay, respectively, while the rear lid is positioned within the loading bay and adapted to selectively open and close a space delimited between the front and the rear lid.

Abstract: Disclosed in an arrangement to achieve satisfactory head contact by increasing contact face pressure at a head gap and to reduce the change in time of head contact performance in a double azimuth head. Heads in a portion in which a tape is slid are respectively constructed with each head having two different arcs with a radius of curvature R1 in a first area which includes a gap, and with a radius of curvature R2 in a second area which is adjacent to the first area. A transition portion P for transitioning an arc with the radius of curvature R1 and an arc with the radius of curvature R2 is located in the direction of its adjacent head based upon a contact point Q on R1 of a common tangent drawn from an arc forming a periphery of a rotating drum to a circle formed by R1. The relationship between the radiuses of curvature in two areas is set to R1>R2.

Abstract: In a rotary head drum of a recording/reproduction apparatus, for smoothly holding a magnetic tape over a guide step provided on a lower drum to guide the magnetic tape, part of a chamfer formed in the guide step is formed as a large chamfer in which a chamfered amount is larger than that of the remaining part of the chamfer. With the provision of the large chamfer, even if the lower edge of the magnetic tape deviates from the guide step when the tape is wound over or unwound from the drum, damages of the magnetic tape can be prevented. Therefore, the position and attitude control of tape withdrawing members can be greatly simplified and the magnetic tape can always run stably while being restricted in its position by the guide step.

Abstract: A magnetic tape cartridge includes a casing having a tape chamber defined therein for accommodating a reeled magnetic recording tape and, also, box arms protruding outwardly from a front wall section of the casing so as to leave a loading bay that opens upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly and is thus delimited by upwardly, frontwardly and downwardly oriented open areas. The casing includes a lid assembly for selectively concealing and exposing that portion of magnetic recording tape and including front, top and rear lids operatively linked together. The front and top lids are adapted to selectively open and close the frontwardly and upwardly oriented open areas of the loading bay, respectively, while the rear lid is positioned within the loading bay and adapted to selectively open and close a space delimited between the front and the rear lid.

Abstract: A cassette loading mechanism for loading either a smaller tape cassette or a larger tape cassette into a recording/reproducing apparatus, having apparatus for causing the large cassette to avoid obstructions in a cassette holder during insertion of the large cassette and of enabling the stable insertion of the larger tape cassette in the cassette holder. The cassette loading mechanism has a cassette holder provided with contact members disposed so as to engage only the larger tape cassette and so as to move members provided on the cassette holder for use with the smaller tape cassette to a retracted position. The member for use with the smaller tape cassette and the contact member are formed in an integral unit to ensure the correct operation of the cassette loading mechanism.

Abstract: A tape guide device having apertures formed in two tape-winding surfaces of non-rotatable curvature portions. A tape restriction is provided at a connecting portion of the tape guide device interconnecting the curvature portions. A flange is provided on one of the curvature portions for movement along an axis thereof to adjust the height thereof. The flange has an outer diameter greater than that of the one curvature portion. The curvature portions are integrated with each other. According this, an air film is generated between the tape and the tape-winding surfaces by discharging air from the apertures, thereby reducing the friction coefficient between the tape and the tape-winding surfaces to suppress the increase of tape tension. The tape is restricted to fluctuate in the direction of width. Further, the attitude and relative positioning between the curvature portions can be secured with high precision.

Abstract: A tape cartridge provided with a slider member slidably mounted for sliding movement in forward and backward directions at an outer side under surface on the bottom wall of a main casing for closing and opening a pocket, a front lid pivotally connected to the main casing for covering a front face of the main casing, an upper lid for closing the open upper face of the pocket, a front edge of the upper lid being pivotally connected to an upper edge of the front lid through pins, such that when the front lid is pivoted for upward opening, the upper lid is displaced for retraction to a rear side from an open upper face of the pocket in association with the movement of the front lid.