Abstract: The present invention provides a single information recording and reproducing apparatus that is used to record data to multiple disks that are to be recorded on using different wavelengths. More specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus that accurately discriminates disk types while preventing disk damage and accidental recording of data during the disk type discrimination operation. The disk type is determined using the intensity of light reflected from the disk. Information is encoded using an encoder corresponding to the disk type. The resulting signal is used to drive a laser corresponding to the disk type, and information is recorded.

Abstract: The apparatus for converting a differential input voltage to two fully balanced output currents is achieved by providing a common mode control circuit of a simplified circuit construction to an operational transconductance amplifier. The apparatus includes an operational transconductance amplifier that is comprised of an OTA input section for converting two input voltages of the differential input voltage to a pair of interim output currents and an OTA output section for converting the interim output currents to the output currents, and a common mode controlling circuit for providing a control voltage to the OTA.

Abstract: A bending angle detection system capable of detecting a bending angle of a workpiece with high accuracy, wherein taking into account the fact that the brightness of a linear image formed on a surface of a workpiece is higher than that of a linear image formed on other areas than the workpiece, linear images picked up from the workpiece are automatically sorted out from linear images picked up from other areas according to differences in the brightness values of the linear images so that only the data representative of the linear images formed on the workpiece can be extracted.A linear projected light image formed on the workpiece surface is picked up by a CCD camera, a representative pixel of each scanning line on the picked up, multi-valued linear image is calculated by a representative pixel detecting unit.

Abstract: In an operational amplifier constituted by a differential stage which receives two input signals IN- and IN+ and outputs a signal NGP corresponding to the potential difference, a level shift stage which receives the signal NGP and outputs a level-shifted signal NGN, and an output stage which receives the signals NGP and NGN and outputs a signal OUT obtained by amplifying the potential difference between the two input signals, the level shift stage is formed from a DDA. Letting A1, A2, and A3 be the gains of the DDA, the input signal NGP, output signal NGN, and bias voltages VBP and VBN have a linear relation given by A3{A1(VBN-NGN)-A2(VBP-NGP)}=NGN. This maximizes the current drivability of a transistor TN1 on the output stage and controls the punch-through current flowing between transistors TP1 and TN1.

Abstract: For the purpose of making it possible to estimate the spring back angle and/or final driving position of the driving die with good accuracy even if there are some variations from lot to lot in the material characteristics values, and thereby achieve bending with extremely high angle accuracy, the actual bending angle is directed at no less than two provisional driving positions of the driving die during the bending of a workpiece. Based on the relationship of the amount of change in the driving amount to the amount of change in the actual bending angle relating to those provisional driving positions, a determination is made of the relationship of the spring back angle to the target bending angle of the workpiece for the respective working conditions of the bending concerned which are stored in advance. From this relationship, a determination is made for the final driving position of the driving die, and the driving die is driven to that determined final driving position.

Abstract: In a comparator circuit comprised of a feedback amplifier and a differential amplifier AMP1, the feedback amplifier includes input transistors Tr1 to Tr4. Gates of the transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are respectively inputted with first and second inverted inputs, and gates of the transistors Tr3 and Tr4 are inputted with first and second non-inverted inputs. First ends of current paths of the transistors Tr3 and Tr4 are connected in common, and ends of current paths of transistors Tr1 and Tr2 are connected in common. Second ends of the current paths of the transistors Tr1 to Tr4 are connected in common to a constant current source. The first and second inverted inputs are supplied with a reference voltage, and the first and second non-inverted inputs are respectively supplied with the non-inverted and inverted outputs of the differential amplifier AMP1.

Abstract: An method to prevent excessive heat generation of the pickup actuator from occurring when a disk has a large eccentricity or planar vibration in a high-speed disk reproducing apparatus using an optical pickup. The disk reproducing apparatus has a status determining arrangement for monitoring a present actuator drive state, an analyzing arrangement for analyzing an output signal of the status determining arrangement, and disk rotational speed switching control arrangement for selecting disk reproducing speeds according to a control signal of the identification means, thereby lowering the reproducing speed when the eccentricity or planar vibration is large. Such invention prevents heat generation of the pickup actuator from occurring because high-speed reproduction can be performed when the eccentricity or planar vibration is small, and reproduction speed can be automatically reduced when the eccentricity or planar vibration is large.

Abstract: The present invention provides a D/A converter which has a small area in the chip, a linear current output and a high-speed operation. Each of resistors R.sub.11 -R.sub.n1 in a resistor train 11a is composed of four MOS transistors which are connected in parallel with each other and each of resistors R.sub.12 -R.sub.n2 in a resistor train 11b is composed of four MOS transistors which are connected in parallel with each other. Between the connecting nodes of the resistor trains 11a, 11b, MOS transistors ST.sub.11, ST.sub.12, ST.sub.13, ST.sub.14 -ST.sub.n1, ST.sub.n2, ST.sub.n3 and ST.sub.n4 which serve as switches and resistors are connected. All the MOS transistors have the same conductive type and size. Gate control signals C.sub.11 -C.sub.n1 ; C.sub.12 -C.sub.n2 turn MOS transistors ON but each of them has a different voltage value. A current difference between the output terminals Za and Zb is converted into a voltage difference by an operational amplifier or the like.

Abstract: In a leg apparatus with which a supporting wheel for the magnetically levitated vehicle can be lifted up and down freely, a supporting wheel is positioned and hung by a swing arm and a lifting actuator. Usage of only the lifting actuator flat spring having a damper and coil spring or a combination thereof offer a buffer-supporting to enhance better comfortable feeling of riding. The leg can be completely retracted with a short stroke by a contracting action of the lifting actuator having the internal lock. Moreover the vehicle height can be adjusted. The leg apparatus is also designed and constructed in such a way that a damper or spring is installed inside the preventive wall against fire or foreign obstacles.

Abstract: According to this invention, wheels are pivotally supported by a fork arm comprising a lever-type supporting component, an expandable lifting actuator having damper serially arranged to buffer and support thereof at other end end of arm of said supporting component. With this structure, a complete retraction of wheels can be achieved. Hence the supporting component can be used both as the supporting leg apparatus to vertically support the magnetically levitated vehicle and the guide leg apparatus to mechanically guide the vehicle along the guideway side wall. It is, therefore, characterized with the simple structure, light weight, small storage space, and easy to perform maintenance.

Abstract: A rolling-stock bogie frame has a ladder-shaped frame structure comprising side beams and cross beams, each of which has a trough-shaped part with an open upper part and a reinforcing member secured to the trough-shaped part to cover and close the open upper part thereby to form a closed box beam with a utilizable hollow interior. Each of the trough-shaped part and reinforcing member comprises spaced apart inner and outer sheathings of fiber-reinforced plastic material and honey-comb members inserted between and bonded to the inner and outer sheathings. The bogie frame affords high strength with low weight. The hollow interior of the beam provides an equipment space for accommodating an air reservoir and piping for the pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

Abstract: In a tire for a levitation-type vehicle for supporting a load which varies depending upon a change in speed of the levitation-type vehicle at landing and during subsequent traveling thereof, a configuration of a crown and rigidity of the crown are set so as to have a ground-contact configuration in which, when a load of the levitation-type vehicle is equal to or less than 45% at its full load, a ratio of a ground-contact length of a pair of shoulders in a circumferential direction of the tire with respect to a ground-contact length, in the circumferential direction of the tire, of a central portion of the crown in the widthwise direction is 0.6.about.1.5. Accordingly, the tire for the levitation-type vehicle has a wide ground-contact area at an initial stage of landing and traveling.

Abstract: An ink jet printing apparatus of the impulse type which has an ejection failure detector. The detector has electrode means for charging ejected droplets, a reception electrode for receiving the charged droplets, and a circuit for detecting the approach and arrival of the charged droplets at the reception electrode. An ejection failure detection causes a nozzle purging operation.