Abstract: An apparatus for inputting and/or outputting information includes a plurality of probes arranged at positions respectively facing each of the plural blocks which carry information, a device for enabling the plurality of probes to respectively perform tracking independently, and a device for inputting information to and/or outputting information from the information carrier by the use of the aforesaid probes.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device comprising a wiring to be connected to the source region or the drain region of a thin film transistor, at least a portion of the wiring comprising a wiring part having the same cross-sectional structure as said source region or said drain region, and said wiring part being formed continuously with said source region or said drain region simultaneously with the respective end portions of said wiring portions, said source region and said drain region formed in such a manner that the edge thereof is set back from the end of the semiconductor layer constituting the thin film transistor.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information recording/reproducing apparatus utilizing a probe electrode and a recording medium, based on the principle of scanning tunnel microscope. When a track groove on the recording medium is detected, the distance control between the probe electrode and the recording medium is suspended. Consequently, the tip of the probe electrode does not enter the track groove, and is prevented from collision with the recording medium. The scanning speed of the probe electrode can, therefore, be increased without the danger of such collision.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided with a plurality of probes facing a sample, a signal detection circuit, a selection circuit and a memory circuit. The signal detection circuit is selectively connected to the plurality of probes by the selection circuit. A compensation value for compensating for a variation in a detection signal detected by the signal detection circuit when the selection circuit connects one of the plurality of probes to the detection circuit is stored in the memory circuit. The compensation value is provided for the respective probe.

Abstract: A recorder comprises a recording device housing for housing a device for forming a record on record medium at a record position and a relatively movable stacker for stacking record media recorded by the recording device and having an open side for removing the stacked media. A convex area on the bottom of the stacker extends othogonally to the length of the stacker at a position spaced from the lengthwise center of the stacker toward the open side. The convex portion inhibits movement of the stacked media which could occur through shocks received by the recorder.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction of information is effected using a probe electrode arranged to oppose a recording medium. A distance between the probe electrode and the recording medium is controlled by applying a voltage therebetween. A current flowing through the probe electrode upon application of the voltage is detected while the scanning is performed with the probe electrode over the recording medium. A correlation between a signal output according to the current detection and a reference signal is obtained to produce a reproduction signal from which a noise component due to an influence of an atomic step present on a surface of the recording medium is removed. The reproduction of information is effected in accordance with the generated reproduction signal.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes first, second and third upper electrodes provided on a first substrate, and first, second and third lower electrodes provided on a second substrate opposed to the first, second and third upper electrodes, respectively. Also provided are first, second and third detectors for detecting a first capacitance between the first upper and lower electrodes, a second capacitance between the second upper and lower electrodes and a third capacitance between the third upper and lower electrodes.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope is used to observe a sample. The same portion of a surface of the sample is scanned forward and backward using a probe. A first signal corresponding to a structure of the sample is detected from the probe during a period in which the probe scans the surface of the sample forward. A second signal corresponding to the structure of the sample is detected from the probe during a period in which the probe scans the surface of the sample backward. When a difference is caused in at least a portion between the first and second signals, the portion of one of the first and the second signals is replaced by a portion of the other signal to generate a corrected signal. An image of the sample is formed using the corrected signal.

Abstract: Information recording/reproducing apparatus and method by use of probe electrodes are disclosed. In this method, information to be recorded on a recording medium is encoded. The encoded information is distributed to a plurality of probe electrodes. The plurality of probe electrodes are driven on the basis of the distributed information so as to record the information on the recording medium. In reproduction, the information recorded on the recording medium is read out from the recording medium by use of the plurality of probe electrodes. The information read out from the recording medium is stored by use of the plurality of probe electrodes. The stored information is decoded to reproduce the information recorded on the recording medium. The encoding is performed by changing the information to be recorded to information added with an error correction code.

Abstract: In order to effect the reading-out of a signal from a recording medium at a high speed and without the collision of a probe electrode, the control of the spacing between the probe electrode and the signal recording layer of the recording medium is effected by sampling a tunnel current detected by the probe electrode at the timing of a reproduction clock, and reproduction is effected with this sampled value as a reference. Also, in order to effect information recording with good reproducibility and at high density, the control variable of a servo control circuit for controlling the spacing between the probe electrode and the recording layer is changed over during the periods before and after a writing pulse is applied to the probe electrode. Also, in order to effect re-recording reliably, the prior recorded state at the re-writing position is detected, and from the result of this detection, an optimal servo control variable, the waveform of a pulse voltage applied, etc. are set.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus effects at least one of recording, reproduction and erasure of information on a recording medium having a track groove by use of a probe electrode. Relative movement between the probe electrode and the recording medium is effected by the moving mechanism. A predetermined driving signal is inputted to the moving mechanism so that a predetermined movement of the probe electrode to the groove track is effected. The physical phenomenon caused between the probe electrode and the recording medium is detected, so that the track groove is detected and a correction value for correcting the movement of the probe electrode from the driving signal on the basis of the timing of the detection. The moving mechanism is controlled on the basis of the driving signal and the correction value.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing apparatus effects recording of information by moving a probe close to a recording medium and scanning a surface of the medium parallelly with the probe, reading out information by using a micro signal obtained from a physical phenomenon occurring in the scan. The apparatus is provided with plate electrodes and a capacity detecting device. One of the plate electrodes is formed on a substrate which supports the probe. The other plate electrode is formed on a substrate which supports the recording medium. A capacity between the plate electrodes is detected by the capacity detecting device. A gap between the probe and the recording medium is controlled in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A recorder has a recording apparatus housing and a feeding apparatus housing hinged together for assuming open and closed positions. The recording apparatus housing holds recording apparatus and the feeding apparatus housing holds only feeding apparatus. When the housings are in the closed position, the feeding apparatus feeds paper past the recording apparatus. When they are in the open position, the recording and feeding apparatus are both exposed for easy access.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having a photoelectric conversion section and a transistor for transferring or amplification of the photoelectric conversion signal or an accumulating section of a photo carrier. The photoelectric conversion section and the transistor or the accumulating section have common semiconductor layer.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for effecting recording of information on and/or reproduction of information from a recording medium is provided with a probe electrode, a cantilever piezo-electric member, a controller and a detector. The probe electrode is relatively displaced to the recording medium by the cantilever piezo-electric member. The controller applies a control signal to the cantilever piezo-electric member to control the cantilever piezo-electric member. The detector detects a minute signal obtained on the tunnel effect caused between the probe electrode and the recording medium. A switch element is further provided on the apparatus so as to electrically disconnect between the cantilever piezo-electric member and the controller during the minute signal being detected by the detector.

Abstract: A cantilever type probe comprising a piezoelectric bimorph cantilever containing a piezoelectric material provided between driving electrodes for driving a cantilever, a probe formed thereon and a drawing electrode for a probe provided along the surface where a probe is formed, wherein there is provided a shielding electrode for electrically isolating the probe and the drawing electrode from the driving electrodes.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having a photoelectric conversion section and a transistor for transferring or amplification of the photoelectric conversion signal or an accumulating section of a photo carrier. The photoelectric conversion section and the transistor or the accumulating section have common semiconductor layer.

Abstract: There is disclosed an information recording/ reproducing apparatus utilizing a probe electrode and a recording medium, based on the principle of scanning tunnel microscope. When a track groove on the recording medium is detected, the distance control between the probe electrode and the recording medium is suspended. Consequently, the tip of the probe electrode does not enter the track groove, and is prevented from collision with the recording medium. The scanning speed of the probe electrode can, therefore, be increased without the danger of such collision.

Abstract: In a reproducing operation, scanning information is detected while scanning an information string with a probe such that a density of the scan lines is higher than a density of the recorded information, and a logical-sum signal of the plurality of scanning information is used as a reproduced signal. It is thereby possible to prevent deterioration during information processing of the S/N ratio and the like produced due to a positional error of a recording-medium control mechanism caused by various factors.

Abstract: A cantilever unit comprises a cantilever for supporting a probe and a displacement amount detecting means, the displacement amount detecting means being integrated with the cantilever. An information processing apparatus comprises the cantilever unit and optionally an information recording medium stationed in close vicinity to the unit, wherein an information in the medium is reproduced at a signal on the basis of an displacement amount of the cantilever. An atomic force microscope and magnetic force microscope comprise the cantilever unit, respectively.