Abstract: An optical information reproduction apparatus is provided that, even when spherical aberration has occurred because of a thickness error in a transmissive substrate of an optical disk, is capable of improving the information reading accuracy by correcting the spherical aberration. The spherical aberration of an optical system is corrected while changing the amount of correction in a state where an objective lens is retained at a position on a focus adjusting orbit where the amplitude level of a reading signal read from an optical recording medium reaches a maximum. The spherical aberration is then corrected by using the amount of correction, which is defined as the final amount of spherical aberration correction, where the amplitude level of a tracking error signal obtained during this time reaches the maximum.

Abstract: The panoramic radiographic apparatus of the present invention has a cassette holder capable of accommodating both a conventional film cassette and a digital sensor cassette loaded with an electric X-ray image detector, one at a time, in a rotary arm, wherein when a film cassette is mounted, the cassette holder is mechanically moved in accordance with the rotation of the rotary arm so as to carry out panoramic radiographing, and when a digital sensor cassette is mounted, without moving the cassette holder, the electric X-ray image detector is driven by supplying control signals corresponding to the rotation of the rotary arm to the digital sensor cassette to obtain image signals required for generating a panoramic X-ray image. Therefore, both the film cassette and the digital sensor cassette can easily be mounted, one at a time, whereby required panoramic X-ray images can be obtained by fully using the features of each type of cassette.

Abstract: A low pass filter is provided for limiting a frequency band of an oscillating signal. A CPU is provided for producing a control signal for setting a cutoff frequency of the low pass filter so as to change an amplitude of the output signal of the low pass filter in accordance with a refractive index at each of the unit electrode of the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: The panoramic radiographic apparatus of the present invention has a cassette holder capable of accommodating both a conventional film cassette and a digital sensor cassette loaded with an electric X-ray image detector, one at a time, in a rotary arm, wherein when a film cassette is mounted, the cassette holder is mechanically moved in accordance with the rotation of the rotary arm so as to carry out panoramic radiographing, and when a digital sensor cassette is mounted, without moving the cassette holder, the electric X-ray image detector is driven by supplying control signals corresponding to the rotation of the rotary arm to the digital sensor cassette to obtain image signals required for generating a panoramic X-ray image. Therefore, both the film cassette and the digital sensor cassette can easily be mounted, one at a time, whereby required panoramic X-ray images can be obtained by fully using the features of each type of cassette.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes: a light source, an object lens, and an aberration correction unit for correcting aberration by giving a phase difference to a light beam. The aberration correction unit corrects astigmatism caused by an optical system of the optical pickup.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a disk having a plurality of tracks includes a spindle motor for rotating the disk, N reading components (N being a positive integer greater than one) for respectively producing N analog reading signals representing data recorded on the disk, N data reproduction circuits for converting the N analog reading signals to N serial digital signals, N memories for storing the N serial digital signals, a track jump device for moving the N reading means over adjacent N+1 tracks of the plurality of tracks, and a central processing unit for controlling operations of the N reading components, the N data reproduction circuits, the N memories, and the track jump device, and for rearranging the N serial digital signals so as to output a reproduction signal corresponding to the data recorded on the disk.

Abstract: A searching method for an information record medium has: an initial value data preparing process of (i) performing a search for a plurality of sampling positions arranged in a radial direction on the information record medium, (ii) actuating a tilt servo to correct an error due to a tilt of an optical axis of a light beam emitted onto the information record medium from a normal line of a surface of the information record medium at each of the sampling positions, (iii) extracting a tilt correction amount after the tilt servo is stabilized for each of the sampling positions and (iv) storing the extracted tilt correction amount in relation to respective one of the sampling positions corresponding to the extracted tilt correction amount into a memory as initial value data of the tilt correction amount in advance; an initial value determining process for determining an initial value of the tilt correction amount at a search target position of the search when the search is to be performed, on the basis of a content

Abstract: A recorded information reading method and a recorded information reproducing apparatus capable of reproducing information from a recording medium at a high speed. A reading operation by a pickup for one rotation of a disk and a (N-1)-track jump operation are repetitively executed in alternation when a relatively small amount of read errors is included in information data read by the pickup for simultaneously reading recorded information from each of N recording tracks (N is an integer larger than two).

Abstract: A CPU is provided for producing a control signal. In accordance with the control signal, a modulated signal modulated in pulse width by the control signal is produced. The modulated signal has a predetermined duty ratio based on the control signal. A liquid crystal driving signal having the duty ratio based on the modulated signal is produced. The CPU is for producing the control signal for setting the duty ratio in accordance with a refractive index at each of the unit electrode of the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: A data reproduction method and apparatus reads the tracks of an optical disk by means of a read unit having a plurality of optical beams. The method includes a first reproduction step for simultaneously playing back a first plurality of tracks on a disk using the plurality of optical beams; a first jump step for jumping a greater number of tracks than the number of optical beams in a forward direction; a second reproduction step for simultaneously playing back a second plurality of tracks on the optical disk using the plurality of beams after the first jump step; a second jump step for jumping a greater number of tracks than the number of optical beams in a backward direction opposite to the forward direction; and a third reproduction step for simultaneously playing back a third plurality of tracks on the optical disk using the plurality of optical beams after the second jump step.

Abstract: A CCD solid state imaging device can reduce a smear component. This CCD solid state imaging device comprises a plurality of photosensor sections (10) arranged in a matrix fashion, a vertical transfer register (5) having a transfer electrode (16) disposed at every column of the photosensor sections, a shunt line layer (33) connected to the transfer electrode (16) on the vertical transfer register (5), and a photo-shield layer (38) formed so as to surround the photosensor section 10 through an interlayer insulating layer (37) which covers the shunt layer (33), in which the interlayer insulating layer (37) is formed under an overhang portion (38a) of the photo-shield layer (38) to the photosensor section (10).

Abstract: A tilt servo system for performing a servo control in order to compensate an aberration caused by a tilt of an optical disc, having: a pickup for radiating a laser beam onto each track of the optical disc, the pickup having a laser light source for emitting the laser beam, an objective lens for converging the emitted laser beam on the optical disc, and a liquid crystal panel positioned on an optical axis of the emitted laser beam in order to compensate the aberration; a tilt sensor for detecting the tilt of the optical disc, and for outputting a detection signal corresponding to the tilt of the optical disc; a storage device for storing the detection signal corresponding to the tilt of an (N-.alpha.).sup.th track of the optical disc outputted from the tilt sensor; a controller for controlling the liquid crystal panel on the basis of the detection signal corresponding to the tilt of the (N-.alpha.).sup.th track of the optical disc stored in the storage device when the pickup radiates the laser beam onto an N.

Abstract: A tilt servo controlling apparatus is provided with: an optical pickup for emitting a light beam onto an optical record medium and detecting a reflection light from the optical record medium to thereby output a detection signal; a level detecting device for detecting a level of the detection signal outputted by the optical pickup; a tilt error correcting device for correcting a tilt error due to an aberration, which is generated by a tilt angle between (i) a normal line of a surface of the optical record medium at a position irradiated with the light beam and (ii) an optical axis of the light beam; and a tilt error correction controlling device for outputting a control signal to control a correction amount of the tilt error correcting device, by giving a variation to the control signal on a time base and adjusting the control signal so that the level detected by the level detecting device be optimized with respect to the variation of the control signal.

Abstract: A spindle servo system roughly adjusts a rotational speed of a spindle motor for rotationally driving an optical disk at a specified speed in an optical disk player for reproducing digital data composed of run length limited codes and synchronizing signals, wherein the run length limited codes are restricted between a minimum run length and a maximum run length, and wherein the synchronizing signals are composed of a maximum bit pattern with a run length longer than the maximum run length and an additional bit pattern disposed just before or after the maximum bit pattern with a run length longer than the minimum run length and shorter than the maximum run length, the spindle servo system.

Abstract: A CCD solid state imaging device can reduce a smear component. This CCD solid state imaging device comprises a plurality of photosensor sections (10) arranged in a matrix fashion, a vertical transfer register (5) having a transfer electrode (16) disposed at every column of the photosensor sections, a shunt line layer (33) connected to the transfer electrode (16) on the vertical transfer register (5), and a photo-shield layer (38) formed so as to surround the photosensor section 10 through an interlayer insulating layer (37) which covers the shunt layer (33), in which the interlayer insulating layer (37) is formed under an overhang portion (38a) of the photo-shield layer (38) to the photosensor section (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a laser diode driving apparatus in a optical information recording and reproducing apparatus by which the bottom power of a laser beam for the information recording and reproducing may be maintained stably at a target value. A bottom power corrected value is obtained by multiplying the peak power of a laser beam for the information recording by a predetermined coefficient. Then, the bottom power corrected value is added with a target bottom power to set the summed value as a corrected target bottom power. The bottom level of an optical power detection signal is subtracted from the corrected target bottom power to provide the remaining value as an error signal. The bottom power of the laser beam is adjusted on the basis of the error signal.

Abstract: A spindle servo apparatus for an optical disk player, which detects a maximum inversion interval or a maximum period from a read signal acquired from an optical disk by pickup means, compares the detected maximum inversion interval or maximum period with a reference value, and drives a spindle motor in accordance with the comparison result. When a tracking servo apparatus is inactive, the spindle servo apparatus sets the reference value greater than the one set when the tracking servo apparatus is active. It is therefore possible to cope with the case where the maximum inversion interval or maximum period which is detected from the read signal is erroneously determined longer than the actual length.

Abstract: An optical recording medium discriminating apparatus discriminates at least two types of optical recording media having pits of different depths carrying recorded information. A light beam of a predetermined wavelength is caused to be incident to an optical recording medium, the amount of returning light therefrom is detected, and a read signal according to the detected amount of returning light is produced. The amounts of light in two areas, line-symmetrical to each other in the tangential direction of a track consisting of a sequence of pits, are detected from the amount of returning light, and a push-pull signal corresponding to a difference between the amounts of light in the two areas is produced. A phase difference between the read signal and the push-pull signal is detected, to discriminate the type of the optical recording medium is discriminated.

Abstract: A CCD solid state imaging device can reduce a smear component. This CCD solid state imaging device comprises a plurality of photosensor sections (10) arranged in a matrix fashion, a vertical transfer register (5) having a transfer electrode (16) disposed at every column of the photosensor sections, a shunt line layer (33) connected to the transfer electrode (16) on the vertical transfer register (5), and a photo-shield layer (38) formed so as to surround the photosensor section 10 through an interlayer insulating layer (37) which covers the shunt layer (33), in which the interlayer insulating layer (37) is not formed under an overhang portion (38a) of the photo-shield layer (38) to the photosensor section (10).

Abstract: A charge coupled device (CCD) of a frame interline transfer type comprises a plurality of picture elements aligned in the vertical direction. Rows of aligned picture elements are arranged parallel and adjacent to each other. Polysilicon electrodes extending in the horizontal direction are arranged on a substrate covered with an insulating layer and used as electrodes for vertical transfer of signal charges. Metal wiring films extending in the vertical direction are arranged parallel and traverse the polysilicon electrodes covered with the insulating layer. The metal wiring films are used as electrodes for applying a clock pulse for vertical transfer of signal charges to the polysilicon electrodes. First, second and third openings are formed through the insulating layer such that the metal wiring films may contact the first, second and third polysilicon electrodes, respectively.