Abstract: A light spot detects a focus offset amount based on an amount of variation of a focus error signal when a light spot passes a boundary between a land section and a groove section adjacent to the land section on an optical disk. Specifically, an amount of variations in the focus error signal at a center of a land section at a time the light spot passes the boundary between the land and the groove adjacent to the land is detected as a focus offset amount, and an amount of variation in the focus error signal at a center of the groove section is detected as a focus offset amount for the groove sections, thereby providing an optical information recording/reproducing device which permits recording/reproducing information on and from a tracking area of an optical disk under just-in-focus conditions without increasing a cost of the device nor being affected by an error due to changes over time or variations in optical disks.

Abstract: A reproducing light quantity control method for an optical memory device includes the steps of (1) recording test data on an optical recording medium; (2) reproducing the test data recorded on the optical recording medium by changing a reproducing light quantity in a plurality of light quantity values; (3) measuring a quality value and a signal quantity of each of a plurality of reproducing signals from the test data; (4) selecting an optimum reproducing signal quantity from a plurality of reproducing signal quantities in accordance with quality values of the plurality of reproducing signals so as to decide a target value of reproducing signal quantity; and (5) recording the target value on a target value recording region of the optical recording medium. This method reduces the time required to obtain a target value of a reproducing signal quantity and speeds up an operation from installing of the optical recording medium to finishing of preparation for recording and reproducing.

Abstract: In an optical recording medium, a groove G and/or a land L composing a recording track includes an interrupted portion of a predetermined length in a direction of the recording track, and the interrupted portion is a clock mark to obtain a clock signal. When (clock mark length C1)/(beam spot size D1)=CM, CM≦1.0. This reduces a region to record the control signal, thereby enabling high-density recording and reproduction, reproducing a control signal having a waveform free from distortion, and generating a clock signal in a state of little jitter.

Abstract: A flavoring solution for making pickles having a flavor of foods pickled in rice bran paste, a clear bran pickles flavoring solution, processes for producing the flavoring solutions, a process for producing lactones which are essential components of the flavoring solutions, and a bacterium belonging to the genus Corynebacterium which is useful for producing a lactone are disclosed. The bacterium is preferably Corynebacterium sp. NK-1 (FERM BP-6329). The lactone is preferably a &ggr; lactone.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention is arranged such that respective information recorded on lands and grooves are reproducible by either of a light beam of a first wavelength &lgr;1 and a light beam of a second wavelength &lgr;2 which is shorter than the first wavelength &lgr;1. The groove depth d of the optical recording medium is such that tracking error signals of not less than a predetermined level can be ensured for respective wavelengths &lgr;1 and &lgr;2 without generating distortion in waveform, irrespectively of differences in receiving light sensitivity of a photodetector provided in an optical pickup devices for use in recording and reproducing information on and from such optical recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing a flavoring agent, which includes treating milk or milk products with lipase, and in the presence of an alcohol, with an animal-derived enzyme which has the activity of forming an ester from an organic acid and an alcohol (hereinafter referred to as an ester-synthesizing enzyme). A flavoring agent having a rich fruity flavor can be produced by using, as the ester-synthesizing enzyme, an enzyme which has the ethyl butyrate-synthesizing activity of 0.1 unit/mg protein or above when 0.5% (w/w) ethanol and 2.6% (w/w) butyric acid are used as substrates. The flavoring agent according to the present invention is useful in processing not only milk products but also various foods.

Abstract: In an optical information recording-reproduction apparatus, a focus servo control circuit generates a focus error signal and a light beam is accurately converged on a surface of an optical disk according to a focus servo control signal based upon the focus error signal. In accordance with the present invention, the focus error signal is compensated by selecting a land section focus offset amount by a switch when land sections are tracked, and it is compensated by selecting a groove section focus offset amount when groove sections are tracked. As a result, since the land sections and the groove sections are controlled by different focus servo control signals, recording and reproducing operations are carried out at the most optimal focusing positions respectively obtainable, thereby making it possible to significantly improve the quality of a reproduced signal.

Abstract: An optical disk having thereon intermittent spiral guiding grooves composed of a pit array, wherein each guiding groove has a wobbling side wall at either side, so that the pit array is used as a data reproduce-only area and spaces between adjacent guiding grooves are used as a data recordable area, thereby realizing a high-density optical disk having both the data reproduce-only area and data recordable area.

Abstract: A process is presented for producing a stable carboxylesterase in dry form wherein a saccharide selected from maltose, maltotriose, maltotetrose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, maltoheptaose and maltitol is added to the solution of carboxylesterase to be spray dried. The dry enzyme composition is added to food and drink (e.g., bread, brewed seasonings, liquors, processed meat products) during the production process to thereby impart thereto a good aroma (ester aromas).

Abstract: First, a recording magnetic field is generated by a magnetic head using a coil drive current a.sub.1, and a first data signal is recorded on a groove of a recording layer of a magneto-optical disk. Thereafter, similarly, a second data signal is recorded on the same groove as above by a coil drive current a.sub.2. In this case, the first and second data signals have different signal frequencies which do not overlap each other. The amplitude A.sub.1 of the coil drive current a.sub.1, is set greater than the amplitude A.sub.2 of the coil drive current a.sub.2. This arrangement permits multiple recording and increases the recording capacity of the magneto-optical disk.

Abstract: A light radiated from a light source is divided by a grating into a main beam for detecting information signals and sub-beams for tracking, and thus irradiates a mini disk. The beams reflected by the mini disk are converged through a concave cylindrical mirror on a second light detector composed of adjacently disposed divided light receiving elements H (light receiving parts A and B) and J (light receiving parts C and D) and light receiving elements E1, F1, E2 and F2. The concave cylindrical mirror shapes the reflected beams so that spots of the reflected beams converged on the second light detector take elliptic shapes that are flattened in a direction in which the main beam for detecting the information signals and the sub-beams for tracking are arranged. In this manner, reliability of an optical head can be improved without increasing the size of the light receiving elements and without causing interference between a main spot and sub-spots.

Abstract: A light sensor is divided into two light receiving sections which receive light reflected by an optical disk. A first intermediate address signal is generated from a difference signal of outputs of the light receiving sections. A second intermediate address signal is generated from a sum signal of outputs of the light receiving sections. An address generating circuit generates an address signal by using the first and second intermediate address signals. An optical disk device stably generating an address signal regardless of a displacement of an objective lens and a change in reflectance of the optical disk is thus provided.

Abstract: An optical pickup for irradiating a first recording medium and a second recording medium with light, at least one of the substrate thickness and the refractive index of the first recording medium being different from that of the second recording medium, where the optical pickup includes: a light source for emitting the light; a polarized beam splitter for receiving the light and for transmitting at least a portion of the light while reflecting the remaining portion of the light depending on the polarization direction of the light; a first objective lens for focusing the portion of the light reflected by the polarized beam splitter onto the first recording medium; and a second objective lens for focusing the portion of the light transmitted through the polarized beam splitter onto the second recording medium.

Abstract: An information recording-reproduction method wherein: upon reproducing, recorded information corresponding to a predetermined number of sectors from the leading sector of each of a plurality of information tracks on an optical disk is preliminarily stored on a buffer memory, and during a period in which the optical pickup is shifted to another information track, the recording information, stored in the buffer memory, is reproduced; and upon recording, during a period in which the optical pickup is shifted to another information track, recording information is temporarily stored in the buffer memory, and after completion of the recording, the recording information is recorded on the optical disk. In this method, information tracks, which are formed on the optical disk discontinuously with one .another, are regarded as if they were continuous tracks, and the apparent recording and reproducing operation is carried out continuously.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing foods and beverages having a desirable flavor which comprises bringing an animal-derived, ethyl butyrate-synthesizing enzyme having a potency in the range of 0.1 unit/mg protein or higher under the conditions that ethyl butyrate is formed by reacting 0.5% (w/w) ethanol with 2.6% (w/w) butyric acid, or a substance containing the enzyme into contact with the foods and beverages during their production process.

Abstract: In an objective lens driving apparatus used in an optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like, a vibration is suppressed and a resonance peak on transfer function is suppressed when movable portions are moved in focusing and tracking directions and when these portions are turned around focusing and tracking directions. An elastic body which supports the movable portions movably in two directions, i.e., focusing direction and tracking direction to a fixed portion includes a bent portion in an intermediate portion between the side of movable portion and the side of fixed portion. A damper member is adhered to bridge a gap between a branched arm portion branching from a linear portion extending from the side of movable portion, and a fixed portion. The bent portion couples two linear portions and which are not on the same line.

Abstract: A diffraction element is positionally adjusted on a substitute optical head arrangement while an objective lens is positionally adjusted so as to maximize a total signal calculated in a photodetector, whereby predetermined focusing error signal and tracking error signal are obtained. The thus adjusted diffraction element is adhesively secured on a package housing a light source and a photodetector to form a light source unit. The thus prepared light source unit is positioned on and assembled into an optical head by angularly adjusting the light source and an objective lens on the optical head individually so that both the optical axis of the light, emitted from the light source, and incident on a recording medium and the axis of the objective lens are aligned normal to the recording medium and by coinciding the optical axis of the objective lens with the center of intensity distribution of the incident light on the objective lens.

Abstract: An optical information recording and reproducing device is provided. The device includes a light source for emitting a light beam, a first diffraction element for splitting the light beam into at least three diffracted beams, an optical system guiding the diffracted beams to a recording medium, and a second diffraction element including at least one division line and a diffraction surface from which the diffracted beams are diffracted. The diffraction surface is divided into at least two regions by the division line or lines. One of the division lines is at a predetermined angle against the direction of a track on the recording medium, and the regions split each of the diffracted beams into at least two parts to diffract the parts in different directions. The device also includes an optical detecting element for detecting the light beams diffracted with the second diffraction element.

Abstract: An optical head, for an optical disk recording/reproducing apparatus, for irradiating a recording medium by a light beam emitted from a light source and introducing an information light formed by a light beam reflected from the recording medium to a photo detector, a shift of an optical axis of the information light being minimized. The optical head includes a unit for receiving the information light which is reflected from the recording medium, a first reflecting unit for reflecting such information light, a second reflecting unit for reflecting the information light reflected by the first reflecting unit and for directing the reflected information light toward the photo detecting system, and a unit for emerging the information light reflected by the second reflecting unit to the photo detecting system.

Abstract: An optical element comprises a polarization diffraction element that is provided with diffraction gratings that are respectively mounted on different faces of a transparent substrate of a flat plate shape, which grating pitches are equal to each other and approximately equal to the wavelength of an incident light, and which grating lines are parallel. The thickness of the substrate is set such that the difference that occurs between the phases of the P and S polarizations of a light due to the grating, and the difference that occurs between the phases of the two polarizations when the light propagates through the substrate cancel out.