Abstract: When an emphasis setting of a next track is different from that of a current track, a silent signal having the emphasis setting of the next track written in its subcode information is output for a predetermined time prior to reproduction of the next track. The emphasis setting is changed for the next track while the silent signal is being output, so that the next track can be reproduced appropriately without involving an unwanted lack in its leading portion.

Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit board has an IC chip 20 included in a core substrate 30 in advance and a transition layer 38 provided on a pad 24 of the IC chip 20. Due to this, it is possible to electrically connect the IC chip to the multilayer printed circuit board without using lead members and a sealing resin. Also, by providing the transition layer 38 made of copper on the die pad 24, it is possible to prevent resin residues on the pad 24 and to improve connection characteristics between the pad 24 and a via hole 60 and reliability.

Abstract: A via 42 is formed by copper plating on a surface of an aluminum electrode pad 32 of a semiconductor chip 30. Since the via 42 having flexibility absorbs a stress generated due to a difference in thermal expansion between the semiconductor chip 30 and a substrate, the semiconductor chip 30 can be mounted onto the substrate 50 with high reliability and connection reliability of the semiconductor chip 30 can be enhanced.

Abstract: The present invention provides an audio data recording medium reproducer, wherein CPU 10 which writes audio data read by reader 11 into buffer memory 13 and buffer memory controller 21 which transfers the data to buffer memory 22 and inputs it into DAC 23 at a predetermined data rate are connected by a bus, and furthermore, CPU 20 for controlling a user interface is separately provided. Provision of a plurality of such simple controllers reduces costs to be lower than in the case of providing one high-performance controller. Furthermore, it also becomes possible to separately construct the respective functional parts as units.

Abstract: When a write operation is to be performed for writing digital audio data (track), stored on a hard disk, to a CDR disk in an audio-digital-signal recording apparatus, control is performed, prior to execution of the write operation, such that the digital audio data stored on the hard disk can not be accessed by any other operation than the write operation, to thereby cause the other operation to regard the digital audio data as already erased from the storage section. After completion of the writing or copying of the digital audio data to the disk-shaped storage medium, the digital audio data are actually erased from the hard disk. Thus, even when power failure or shutdown occurs immediately after the copying of the digital audio data and before initiation of the audio data erasure from the hard disk, any operation, other than the write operation, can be prevented from accessing the digital audio data, so that the copyright on the digital audio data can be protected.

Abstract: Audio data are read out, via an ATAPI interface, from an audio CD set in a CD drive. Thus, even where an inexpensive low-speed CPU is used, high-speed copying can be performed. When audio data stored on a hard disk are to be reproduced, and if copying authorization/inhibiting information indicates that coping of the audio data should be inhibited, the audio data are output, via a digital audio interface, with a copying-inhibiting subcode imparted to the data. Further, when the audio data stored on the hard disk are written to a CDR media set in the CD drive, the audio data on the hard disk are erased in correspondence with the writing of the digital audio data to the CDR media. With such a copying restricting feature, it is possible to provide a digital-audio-signal recording apparatus that can be properly used as consumer equipment.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet producing apparatus produces an optical compensatory sheet having a liquid crystal layer. In the apparatus, a rubbing unit is supplied with resin film having a first layer including resin, and subjects the first layer to a rubbing process, so as to form an orientation layer. A dust remover removes dust from the orientation layer by use of liquid such as perfluorocarbon, to which the orientation layer is insoluble. A liquid crystal layer coater is disposed downstream from the dust remover, for coating the orientation layer with coating liquid including liquid crystalline compound, so that the liquid crystal layer is formed.

Abstract: A via 42 is formed by copper plating on a surface of an aluminum electrode pad 32 of a semiconductor chip 30. Since the via 42 having flexibility absorbs a stress generated due to a difference in thermal expansion between the semiconductor chip 30 and a substrate, the semiconductor chip 30 can be mounted onto the substrate 50 with high reliability and connection reliability of the semiconductor chip 30 can be enhanced.

Abstract: A probe card including a plurality of probe blocks can be easily put together substantially in a lattice-like form, and four chips adjoining around the intersection portion of imaginary boundary lines intersecting at right angle each other form a cross-like shape to be tested simultaneously. A plurality of probe blocks with the first and second probe group including a plurality of probes are set up on a base plate substantially in the lattice-like form by a probe set-up means. The needle points of the first and second probe groups are respectively located across the imaginary line so as to oppose to each other. A probe blocks located around the lattice intersection portion are fitted to the base plate such that the needle point parts of the probes located in the vicinity of the lattice intersection portion are positioned on the same side with respect to their needle rear part.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus is constructed by various devices for collectively executing a task. The electronic apparatus uses at least one electronic circuit device containing a plurality of circuit elements which are reconfigurable into a desired connection mode so as to perform an allotted function during the course of executing the task. Further, in the electronic apparatus, a communication device operates when the allotted function of the electronic circuit device is to be altered. The communication device downloads, from a communication network, circuit design information effective to determine the connection mode of the circuit elements contained in the electronic circuit device. A control device reconfigures the connection mode of the circuit elements in accordance with the downloaded circuit design information to thereby alter the allotted function of the electronic circuit device.

Abstract: A customer holds a personal data card (personal data card) which stores data of five music pieces including music-piece codes of favorite karaoke music pieces, and the key and tempo setting of the music pieces as my-song data. The customer inserts the personal data card into a card insertion slot. The five my songs are assigned to music-piece selection switches, respectively. The music pieces can be selected only by turning on one of the music-piece selection switches. Unlike a usual music-piece selection, therefore, it is not required to input a music-piece code consisting of five to seven digits. When a start switch is turned on thereafter, the music piece is started. Prior to the start, the key and tempo stored in the personal data card are set. Therefore, the setting with which the customer sings the song in best conditions can be automatically performed.

Abstract: A developing apparatus includes a housing having a toner holding space and toner discharging aperature, a developing roller rotated in a predetermined direction in the aperature, a toner leveling member closing a gap between a periphery of the developing roller and an edge of the aperture at which the periphery of the developing roller is moved out from the aperture in its predetermined rotating direction, and slidably pressed against the periphery of the developing roller, a toner supplying roller rotated in the space and pressed against the periphery of the developing roller, and a sliding and closing member closing a gap between the periphery of the supplying roller and a portion of the inner surface of the housing corresponding to a gap between the periphery of the developing roller and an edge of the aperture at which the periphery of the developing roller is moved into the aperature in its predetermined rotating direction, and slidably pressed against the periphery of the supplying roller.

Abstract: A needle-shaped terminal, i.e., a probe tip, is brought into extremely close proximity with an object being measured. This probe tip is formed from an optically active material and in itself is electrically non-conductive, so that it has no electrical influence whatsoever on the object being measured. When optical pulses are beamed onto this probe tip, the probe tip becomes an electric conductor and a current flows between it and the object being measured, so that the electric potential of the object can be measured. This facilitates previously impossible measurements of high-speed electric waveforms. It also facilitates high spatial resolution monitoring and control of probe tip position and characterization of measurement sites, and enables highly reliable measurements to be made inexpensively.

Abstract: A disc drive for a disc including a disc rotating apparatus comprising a rotating shaft for being received within a first aperture of the disc. A spindle is affixed to the shaft. The spindle has a surface disposed in a plane perpendicular to the shaft, for supporting the disc. A disc driving means includes a position controlling member received in a second aperture of the disc, a rigid member for controlling the position of the position controlling member, and a biasing member for urging the rigid member in at least one direction so that the position controlling member engages the disc. A centering force to center the disc on the disc rotating apparatus is produced due to the action of the position controlling member on the disc. The biasing member may be configured so as to act upon the rigid member in an additional direction to produce an additional centering force component when the position controlling member engages the disc, thus urging sides of the first aperture of the disc against the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A device for measuring ultra-high speed phenomenon by using an optical beam. The ultra-high speed phenomenon can be measured at a high S/N ratio by composing either an object light or a reflected light from an object and a reference light using a polarizer, by generating a secondary higher harmonic from the composed light using a non-linear optical material, and by measuring the optical intensity of the secondary higher harmonic using a light receiving element.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding mechanism comprises feed rollers attached to a first driving shaft and spaced from each other by a predetermined distance, two of the feed rollers being end feed rollers located at both ends of the first driving shaft. A pair of end ball rollers are attached to a second driving shaft and located in correspondence to the end feed rollers. A double-structure bail roller is attached to the second driving shaft in correspondance to the feed rollers, except for the end feed rollers. The double-structure bail roller includes an inner core and an outer layer having a small friction coefficient. The iner core is elastically deformable in a direction in which the end feed rollers are pressed against the corresponding bail rollers.

Abstract: A disc drive for a disc including a disc rotating apparatus comprising a rotating shaft for being received within a first aperture of the disc. A spindle is affixed to the shaft. The spindle has a surface disposed in a plane perpendicular to the shaft, for supporting the disc. The disc drive includes a position controlling member received in a second aperture of the disc, a rigid member for controlling the position of the position controlling member, and a biasing member for urging the rigid member in at least one direction so that the position controlling member engages the disc. A centering force to center the disc on the disc rotating apparatus is produced due to the action of the position controlling member on the disc. The biasing member may be configured so as to act upon the rigid member in an additional direction to produce an additional centering force component when the position controlling member engages the disc, thus urging sides of the first aperture of the disc against the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A disc drive for a disc including a disc rotating apparatus comprising a rotating shaft for being received within a first aperture of the disc. A spindle is affixed to the shaft. The spindle has a surface disposed in a plane perpendicular to the shaft, for supporting the disc. The disc drive includes a position controlling member received in a second aperture of the disc, a rigid member for controlling the position of the position controlling member, and a biasing member for urging the rigid member in at least one direction so that the position controlling member engages the disc. A centering force to center the disc on the disc rotating apparatus is produced due to the action of the position controlling member on the disc. The biasing member may be configured so as to act upon the rigid member in an additional direction to produce an additional centering force component when the position controlling member engages the disc, thus urging sides of the first aperture of the disc against the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A carriage movement device for a magnetic memory device having a carriage with a first end and a second end, the carriage being slidably supported on a rod is provided. The carriage movement device has a capstan which is angularly rotated by a driver and a belt having an elongated slot extending form a portion of the belt having the second width, the slot being at least as wide as the first end wrapping around the capstan. A first belt connector connects the first end of the belt to the first end of the carriage. A second belt connector connects the second end of the belt to the second end of the carriage. The second end of the belt is affixed to a second belt connector which is selectively engaged to the second end of the carriage by stretching the belt about the carriage and or deflecting an elastic projection formed on the carriage. The angular rotation of the capstan is accurately converted into linear movement of the carriage.