Abstract: The present invention relates to processes for producing ethanol comprising saccharifying cellulosic or starch-containing material and fermenting the saccharified material with a fermenting microorganism to produce ethanol. The fermenting organism is Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain MBG5151 (deposited under Accession No. Y-67971 at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (NRRL), Illinois 61604 U.S.A.), Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain MBG5248 (deposited under Accession No. Y-68015 at the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection (NRRL), Illinois 61604 U.S.A.) or a fermenting organism that has properties that the same or about the same as that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae MBG5151 or MBG5248.

Abstract: A rewritable optical disk apparatus, optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like is allowed to automatically and properly adjust the optical system to the optimum focal condition regardless of the readout signal detector's positional error and the residual aberration in the optical system. The spherical aberration and defocus are coarsely adjusted using the amplitude (PP amplitude) of the tracking error signal and then finely adjusted using the amplitude (RF amplitude) of the readout signal. Since the spherical aberration can properly be adjusted, it is possible to raise the reliability of the readout signal.

Abstract: The process of the present invention is based on the microbial production of enzymes from the growth of the fungus Penicillium funiculosum in a suitable culture medium with a cellulosic substrate. The process of the invention comprises in particular the fermentative treatment of a lignocellulosic substrate by means of a specially adapted fungus, for obtaining an enzymatic preparation capable of hydrolysing cellulose and hemicellulose for the production of ethanol.

Abstract: An optical pickup and an optical information recording and reproducing device in which spherical aberration correction control after a disc is loaded can be efficiently made in a short time. Before an information recording medium is loaded into a drive, an optical axis direction position of a concave lens is preset to a state so as to optimize a converging spot on a recording surface of a single-layered medium of as a first recording medium or a predetermined layer (first layer having a substrate thickness of 0.1 mm) of a medium having two or more layers to which the recording/reproduction is executed by a laser light source. After the information recording medium is loaded, if it is determined to be a second (third) recording medium to which the recording/reproduction is executed by a laser light source, setting of the optical axis direction position of the concave lens is changed.

Abstract: An optical pickup and an optical information recording and reproducing device in which spherical aberration correction control after a disc is loaded can be efficiently made in a short time. Before an information recording medium is loaded into a drive, an optical axis direction position of a concave lens is preset to a state so as to optimize a converging spot on a recording surface of a single-layered medium of as a first recording medium or a predetermined layer (first layer having a substrate thickness of 0.1 mm) of a medium having two or more layers to which the recording/reproduction is executed by a laser light source. After the information recording medium is loaded, if it is determined to be a second (third) recording medium to which the recording/reproduction is executed by a laser light source, setting of the optical axis direction position of the concave lens is changed.

Abstract: A rewritable optical disk apparatus, optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like is allowed to automatically and properly adjust the optical system to the optimum focal condition regardless of the readout signal detector's positional error and the residual aberration in the optical system. The spherical aberration and defocus are coarsely adjusted using the amplitude (PP amplitude) of the tracking error signal and then finely adjusted using the amplitude (RF amplitude) of the readout signal. Since the spherical aberration can properly be adjusted, it is possible to raise the reliability of the readout signal.

Abstract: An optical pickup device includes an optical system unit, a circuit board to control the optical system unit, and send and receive signals, a housing to place the optical system unit and the circuit board, and a flexible printed circuit board to connect electrically with the circuit board, extend to an outside from the housing, and fold back an extended portion, an extended direction of which is changed, in which the flexible printed circuit board is folded back so as to be faced to a side surface of the housing positioned at an extended proximal portion of the flexible printed circuit board, and a dead space of an optical disc apparatus to be mounted with the optical pickup device can be effectively used without making the apparatus large and thick, taking an inner space widely.

Abstract: A rewritable optical disk apparatus, optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like is allowed to automatically and properly adjust the optical system to the optimum focal condition regardless of the readout signal detector's positional error and the residual aberration in the optical system. The spherical aberration and defocus are coarsely adjusted using the amplitude (PP amplitude) of the tracking error signal and then finely adjusted using the amplitude (RF amplitude) of the readout signal. Since the spherical aberration can properly be adjusted, it is possible to raise the reliability of the readout signal.

Abstract: An optical head includes semiconductor lasers for 455 nm, 655 nm, and 785 nm bands; a polarization change element and a polarizing beam splitter for luminous flux with a wavelength of 455 nm band, a first collimation lens for converting luminous flux having passed through the polarizing beam splitter into parallel flux, a first quarter-wave plate, a BD objective for focusing the flux onto a signal recording surface of BD, a first photo-detector for receiving light reflected by BD, a composite prism for reflecting flux reflected by the splitter and transmitting most of flux from the lasers for 655 nm and 785 nm bands, a second collimation lens for converting flux emitted from the composite lens into parallel flux, a second quarter-wave plate, an objective compatible with HD DVD, DVD, and CD; and a second photo-detector for receiving light reflected by HD DVD, DVD, and CD.

Abstract: A method and an optical disk apparatus that can accurately and stably correct the spherical aberration even for a blank write-once optical disk and can detect a spherical aberration error signal with a simple construction of parts in real time. In a blank write-once disk 20, the tracking servo is switched to an inoperative state, push-pull signals from outputs of the photodetector 12 are detected in a state of “in focus” and in a state of “out focus,” respectively, by a push-pull signal generation circuit 34, and.the amplitudes of these push-pull signals are subjected to difference calculation in a spherical aberration error detector 31 to obtain a spherical aberration error signal A.

Abstract: An optical pickup and an optical information recording and reproducing device in which spherical aberration correction control after a disc is loaded can be efficiently made in a short time. Before an information recording medium is loaded into a drive, an optical axis direction position of a concave lens is preset to a state so as to optimize a converging spot on a recording surface of a single-layered medium of as a first recording medium or a predetermined layer (first layer having a substrate thickness of 0.1 mm) of a medium having two or more layers to which the recording/reproduction is executed by a laser light source. After the information recording medium is loaded, if it is determined to be a second (third) recording medium to which the recording/reproduction is executed by a laser light source, setting of the optical axis direction position of the concave lens is changed.

Abstract: A rewritable optical disk apparatus, optical information recording and reproducing apparatus or the like is allowed to automatically and properly adjust the optical system to the optimum focal condition regardless of the readout signal detector's positional error and the residual aberration in the optical system. The spherical aberration and defocus are coarsely adjusted using the amplitude (PP amplitude) of the tracking error signal and then finely adjusted using the amplitude (RF amplitude) of the readout signal. Since the spherical aberration can properly be adjusted, it is possible to raise the reliability of the readout signal.

Abstract: A method and an optical disk apparatus that can accurately and stably correct the spherical aberration even for a blank write-once optical disk and can detect a spherical aberration error signal with a simple construction of parts in real time. In a blank write-once disk 20, the tracking servo is switched to an inoperative state, push-pull signals from outputs of the photodetector 12 are detected in a state of “in focus” and in a state of “out focus,” respectively, by a push-pull signal generation circuit 34, and the amplitudes of these push-pull signals are subjected to difference calculation in a spherical aberration error detector 31 to obtain a spherical aberration error signal A.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for minimizing power consumption in optical disk drives. Embodiments according to the present invention can provide disk drives with optimal positioning of a fixing part of an objective lens driving unit incorporated therein. Spatial location of magnets can also be determined in order to reduce the power consumption and the torsion of the lens.

Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording medium is composed of a support, and a thermofusible ink layer formed on the support, the thermofusible ink layer containing a thermofusible material with a loaded needle penetration of 2 or less at 25.degree. C., and a coloring agent, and having a shearing strength of 8 to 20 gf/cm at 20.degree. C., and an adhesion strength of 1.0 to 2.0 gf/cm with respect to the support. The thermofusible ink layer can be composed of a first ink layer formed thereon, comprising finely-divided particles of a thermofusible material with a loaded needle penetration of 2 or less at 25.degree. C. and an average particle diameter in the range of 0.5 to 3.0 .mu.m, with a voidage of 5 to 30 vol. %, and a second ink layer formed on the first ink layer, composed of a thermofusible material with a loaded needle penetration of 2 or less at 25.degree. C., which may be in the form of finely-divided particles, and a coloring agent.

Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording medium is composed of a support and a thermofusible ink layer formed on the support, with the water-content ratio of the recording medium excluding the support being in the range of 0.3 to 4.0 wt. % of the total weight of the recording medium excluding the support.

Abstract: A thermal image transfer recording medium is composed of a support and a thermofusible ink layer formed thereon, and the thermofusible ink layer contains as the main components a coloring agent, a wax component and a rubber elastomer component which is discontinuously dispersed in the form of layers in the thermofusible ink layer, or is composed of a first ink layer containing a wax component and a rubber elastomer and a second ink layer containing a coloring agent, a wax component and a binder resin, which is overlaid on the first ink layer.