Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a display device for suppressing a motion blur during a panning operation and displaying a picture with high simultaneity. The imaging apparatus also includes: an imaging unit including a lens and an imaging element; a display device including a pixel whose light emission period is adjustable, for displaying an image of a target object to be imaged; an angular velocity sensor for detecting a movement of the imaging element; a panning speed detection unit for detecting a panning speed based on an output from the angular velocity sensor; a light emission period ratio determination unit for determining a light emission period ratio of the pixel based on the panning speed; and a display device driving unit for driving the display device by using the light emission period ratio determined by the light emission period ratio determination unit.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including a display device for suppressing a motion blur during a panning operation and displaying a picture with high simultaneity. An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit including a lens and an imaging element; a display device including a pixel whose light emission period is adjustable, for displaying an image of a target object to be imaged; an angular velocity sensor for detecting a movement of the imaging element; a panning speed detection unit for detecting a panning speed based on an output from the angular velocity sensor; a light emission period ratio determination unit for determining a light emission period ratio of the pixel based on the panning speed; and a display device driving unit for driving the display device by using the light emission period ratio determined by the light emission period ratio determination unit.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises: a display screen including pixels, each displaying a natural image and a pattern of a predetermined character, a sign, a graphic or a combination thereof; a pattern memory unit 102 for storing a shape, a display position, a size and a gradation of the pattern, and for storing an accumulated display time of the pattern; a characteristic memory unit 103 for storing a characteristic of luminance lowering of a light emitting element; an accumulated quantity calculating unit 104 for calculating an accumulated quantity of luminance lowering of the pixels constituting the pattern; a correction quantity calculating unit 105 for calculating a correction quantity for each of the pixels constituting the pattern, based on the accumulated quantity of luminance lowering; and an image generating unit 106 for correcting an input image based on the correction quantity, to display a corrected image on the display screen.

Abstract: A display apparatus including an image display unit in which a plurality of pixels have self light-emitting elements is arranged, a first unit configured to accumulate a luminance decrease amount per unit time for each of the pixels, and to set the accumulated amount as a first luminance decrease amount, a second unit configured to detect a current flowing in the self light-emitting element or a voltage value of the self light-emitting element for each of the pixels, and to calculate a second luminance decrease amount from a detected current value or voltage value, and a correction unit configured to correct input image data using one of the first luminance decrease amount or the second luminance decrease amount.

Abstract: In order to permit stable gradation display or high-speed display, when predetermined voltages are applied to a collection electrode 1 and a display electrode 2, respectively, to move particles between the collection electrode 1 and the display electrode 2, a voltage is applied to a pressing electrode 4 to press the particles against the display electrode 2 so that they are stabilized on the display electrode 2 with a uniform spacing therebetween.

Abstract: In order to permit stable gradation display or high-speed display, when predetermined voltages are applied to a collection electrode 1 and a display electrode 2, respectively, to move particles between the collection electrode 1 and the display electrode 2, a voltage is applied to a pressing electrode 4 to press the particles against the display electrode 2 so that they are stabilized on the display electrode 2 with a uniform spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A signal detector comprises a frequency changing circuit adapted to receive an electric signal having a frequency modulated from a first reference frequency f1 with a modulation width &Dgr;f as input, convert the received electric signal to an electric signal having a second reference frequency f2 lower than the first reference frequency f1 and output the converted electric signal and a frequency/voltage conversion circuit adapted to receive the output of the frequency changing circuit as input and output a voltage corresponding to the ratio of the modulation width &Dgr;f to the second reference frequency f2 and an electric signal having a frequency modulated from a reference frequency Nf2 with a modulation width of N&Dgr;f (N: integer).

Abstract: A non-contact-type atomic microscope including a plurality of probes differing in resonance frequency, an actuator for vibrating the plurality of probes simultaneously, and a drive signal generating circuit for generating a drive signal for the actuator. The drive signal contains a predetermined frequency for vibrating each of the plurality probes. Also, there is a method for observing a surface shape of a sample by using a plurality of probes. The method includes a step of vibrating the plurality of probes simultaneously with a common actuator in a vicinity of their resonance frequencies. A signal for driving the actuator contains a predetermined frequency for vibrating each of the probes.

Abstract: A signal output apparatus comprises a vibration applying unit that contacts with and applies a vibration to a sheet, and a detection unit that outputs a signal by the vibration. An apparatus for determining a type of a sheet comprises a vibration applying unit that contacts with and applies a vibration to a sheet, and a detection unit that outputs a signal by the vibration, wherein a type of the sheet is determined on the basis of the signal from said detection unit. An image forming apparatus comprises a vibration applying unit that contacts with and applies a vibration to a sheet, and a detection unit that outputs a signal by the vibration.

Abstract: A signal detector comprises a frequency changing circuit adapted to receive an electric signal having a frequency modulated from a first reference frequency f1 with a modulation width &Dgr;f as input, convert the received electric signal to an electric signal having a second reference frequency f2 lower than the first reference frequency f1 and output the converted electric signal and a frequency/voltage conversion circuit adapted to receive the output of the frequency changing circuit as input and output a voltage corresponding to the ratio of the modulation width &Dgr;f to the second reference frequency f2 and an electric signal having a frequency modulated from a reference frequency Nf2 with a modulation width of N&Dgr;f (N: integer).

Abstract: A drive stage comprises a support body, a plurality of movable parts movably supported relative to the support body, and an actuator for driving the plurality of movable parts to move. The plurality of movable parts are driven by the actuator to move in directions selected to mutually offset the inertial forces generated in the respective movable parts. The drive stage is suitably used as incorporated into a scanning probe microscope or an information recording/reproducing apparatus for driving a probe or a mechanical stage supporting a specimen or a recording medium.

Abstract: A scanning probe having a piezo resistance cantilever section is used with a signal detector comprising a signal detection circuit for detecting a change in the piezo resistance and a circuit for removing an offset component from the signal. Such a scanning probe is used for a scanning probe microscope, in particular an atomic force microscope to obtain a high resolution surface image.

Abstract: A detection apparatus for detecting the surface of a specimen by means of a cantilever having a probe and a piezo resistance element, which comprises a first circuit for detecting an electric current flowing through the piezo resistance element and a second circuit for detecting an electric current flowing through the probe. The electric current flowing through the piezo resistance element and the electric current flowing through the probe are detected by way of a common current path.

Abstract: A non-contact type atomic microscope comprises a plurality of probes differing in resonance frequency; an actuator for vibrating the plurality of probes simultaneously; and a drive signal generating circuit for generating a drive signal for the actuator containing a resonance frequency of each of the plurality of probes.

Abstract: A tracking mechanism for an apparatus which records and/or reproduces data on and/or from a medium through a relative scan of the medium with probes, the medium being formed with a plurality of tracking bit trains disposed in parallel at a predetermined distance between trains, the tracking mechanism having: a plurality of probes disposed at a predetermined distance between probes; and a tracking controller for performing a tracking control in accordance with outputs from the plurality of probes, the outputs being obtained when the plurality of tracking bit trains are scanned with the plurality of probes. A tracking method for such an apparatus includes the steps of: scanning the plurality of tracking bit trains with a plurality of probes disposed at a predetermined distance between probes; and performing a tracking control in accordance with outputs from the plurality of probes, the outputs being obtained when the plurality of tracking bit trains are scanned with the plurality of probes.

Abstract: In an information recording/reproducing apparatus for effecting recording/reproduction of information using a probe, a recording bias is applied to between a recording medium and the probe to record information on the recording medium. A current flowing through the recording medium and the probe is detected. The detected current is determined whether it exceeds a predetermined value. When the detected current exceeds the predetermined value, the application of the recording bias is stopped after a predetermined time.

Abstract: A torsion type probe for scanning probe microscopes, especially for atomic force microscopes, includes a supporting block, a torsion beam device arranged on the supporting block, a thin-film plane plate rotatably supported by the torsion beam means, and a tip formed on the thin-film plane plate. The torsion beam device include a piezoresistor, which is preferably formed in the surface or lateral walls of the torsion beam device, to detect torsion of the torsion beam device as the probe scans the surface of a sample.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is used for recording and/or reproducing information on a recording medium by means of a plurality of probes. The apparatus comprises a substrate carrying thereon a plurality of probes arranged two-dimensionally in a plane, at least three sensors at three different points on the substrate for detecting the distance between the substrate and the recording medium, a switching circuit for selecting a parallel connection or a serial connection for the sensors, and a regulating system for regulating the relative inclination and the distance between the probe plane and the recording medium surface plane according to the output of the sensors connected in series and that of the sensors connected in parallel.

Abstract: In recording of information, a voltage is applied to between a probe and a recording medium. A capacitor stores charges from a DC power supply. A switch is provided so as to disconnect the capacitor and the DC power supply. When information is to be recorded, the capacitor and the DC power supply are disconnected from each other by the switch and the charges stored in the capacitor are output to the probe or recording medium.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus for scanning a recording medium by means of a probe and recording and reading information by means of a physical interaction occurring between the recording medium and the probe, including, a device for generating a plurality of sets of image information with different resolutions from input image information, a device for successively recording the sets of of image information in a predetermined order on the medium, and a device for reading only a reproduction-necessary region on the recording medium, according to a resolution demanded, upon reproduction of the image information.