Abstract: A stereoscopic endoscope includes an imaging optical system including a diaphragm which adjusts light intensity and a pupil splitting polarizing element that has a pair of polarizers which are disposed to line up along a splitting line as a boundary; a scope holder in which at least the pupil splitting polarizing element is disposed in an inner portion thereof; and an imaging device on which light is incident via the imaging optical system. Light which is incident on the pupil splitting polarizing element is polarized by the pair of polarizers in order to generate a right eye image and a left eye image, respectively. A direction that is perpendicular to both the splitting line and an optical axis is a positioning direction. Positioning portions are provided to position the pupil splitting polarizing element in relation to a conjugate position of the diaphragm, or a proximity thereof, in the positioning direction.

Abstract: A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid discharging head having liquid discharging nozzles; a platen that retains a recording sheet; a liquid detection unit which can move between the liquid discharging head and the platen and detects liquid discharge states from the liquid discharging nozzles; and a unit driving mechanism which moves the liquid detection unit, wherein the liquid detection unit moves from a detection start end to a detection termination end at the time of detection of the liquid discharge states, and at the time of movement of the liquid detection unit, liquid discharge operations from nozzle orifices in a certain area located at a certain distance from a detection position are performed ahead of detection by the liquid detection unit, and at the time of detection by the liquid detection unit, a liquid discharge operation from the nozzle orifice that becomes a detection target is performed again.

Abstract: A rotary drum includes a plurality of reproducing heads each having a plus azimuth angle (+azimuth angle), which heads are collectively arranged at a location in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum in such a manner as to be in close proximity to each other, to be taken as a +azimuth reproducing head group, and a plurality of reproducing heads each having a minus azimuth angle (?azimuth angle), which heads are collectively arranged at a location in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum in such a manner as to be in close proximity to each other, to be taken as a ?azimuth reproducing head group, wherein the +azimuth reproducing head group and the ?azimuth reproducing head group are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum. With this rotary drum, signals can be certainly reproduced from recording tracks with narrowed widths by using the multiple reproducing heads arranged on the rotary drum.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head apparatus which can be formed into a smaller size in which signals of a plurality of recording tracks which are recorded on a tape-like information recording medium are reproduced by using a plurality of reproduction heads without depending on the arrangement of the recording tracks in the information recording medium. The rotary magnetic head apparatus includes a rotary drum, a fixed drum, a reproduction signal selection device, a rotor reproduction signal wiring section, and a stator reproduction signal wiring section.

Abstract: In a helical scan type magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, input data is encoded into n-channel (e.g., n=4) signals for recording by first to fourth recording heads, and the recorded signal is reproduced by 2n reproducing heads, subjected to a non-tracking process and decoded. In the apparatus, the first to fourth recording heads are configured as a single multi-gap head having four gaps. Each of the heads is made of a lower magnetic pole and an upper magnetic pole through a gap. The core width of the second to fourth heads is formed as a track pitch TP+&agr;1 so as to overlap by &agr;1 with a track pitch TP of the first to third heads to attain a predetermined recording width. The core width of the first head is formed as a track pitch TP+&agr;2 (&agr;2 >&agr;1) . As a result, high-density recording can be implemented.

Abstract: A rotary drum includes a plurality of reproducing heads each having a plus azimuth angle (+azimuth angle), which heads are collectively arranged at a location in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum in such a manner as to be in close proximity to each other, to be taken as a +azimuth reproducing head group, and a plurality of reproducing heads each having a minus azimuth angle (−azimuth angle), which heads are collectively arranged at a location in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum in such a manner as to be in close proximity to each other, to be taken as a −azimuth reproducing head group, wherein the +azimuth reproducing head group and the −azimuth reproducing head group are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum. With this rotary drum, signals can be certainly reproduced from recording tracks with narrowed widths by using the multiple reproducing heads arranged on the rotary drum.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary drum which is capable of increasing recording density of a magnetic tape by changing tape/head relative speed and by solving problems which occur in increasing the tape/head relative speed. The inventive rotary drum includes a pair of recording heads having different azimuth angles and disposed separately with 180° of central angle and a second recording head disposed at the same position in the circumferential direction with one recording head among the pair of recording heads while separating by 5.5 &mgr;m in the direction of height of the rotary drum and having a different azimuth angle from the one recording head. A first mode is created by the pair of recording heads separated by 180° of central angle and a second mode is created by the two recording heads at the same position in the circumferential position.

Abstract: A rotating drum assembly, and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus including the rotating drum assembly, are provided. The rotating drum assembly comprises a cylindrical rotating drum; a magneto-resistive head installed on the rotating drum to project at least a part thereof from the outer surface of the rotating drum; and a tape-contact piece installed on the rotating drum so as to project from the outer surface of the rotating drum and to be in contact with the surface of a magnetic tape; the tape-contact piece being formed to have a larger tape-contact width than that of the magneto-resistive head and disposed to be in earlier contact with the magnetic tape than the magneto-resistive head.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect type magnetic head (12) has a head width Wh greater than the track width Wt of a magnetic tape (5), as measured in the width direction of the tape (5). The head (12) has a magneto-resistive effect element, which has a magnetism-detecting section arranged at the prescribed azimuth angle. A signal reproduced from the magnetic tape as the head (12) is moved while off-tracked in the widthwise direction Wh of the recording track T1. The signal has a specific characteristic that falls within a predetermined range for a reference value, provided that it has been generated from the magnetism the head (12) has detected over its effective width We.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head unit has a non-contact type transmission device capable of reliably performing non-contact transmission both in signal and power supply systems and designed so as to be smaller in size. The non-contact type transmission device is formed of a rotating member and a fixed member each having a power supply wiring section for transmitting a power supply, a signal wiring section for transmitting a signal, and a crosstalk prevention section positioned between the power supply wiring section and the signal wiring section to prevent crosstalk between these sections.

Abstract: When a magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is used as a magnetic tape reproducing head, a contact noise which occurs when a magnetic tape contacts with a magneto-resistance effect element poses a problem. The invention provides a magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head which hardly causes such contact noise and a magnetic signal reproducing apparatus comprising such magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head. A part where a magneto-resistance effect element is formed in a magnetic tape sliding face of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is formed to be a concave of 3 to 30 nm in depth. The contact noise hardly occurs even when the magnetic tape is slid by forming the part where the magneto-resistance effect element is formed into the concave. Still more, almost no output drops due to a spacing loss and a fully large reproduced output may be obtained by defining the depth t1 of the concave within a range of 3 to 30 nm.

Abstract: A magnetic signal reproducing method and apparatus of the helical scan system employing an MR head. The apparatus includes a substantially cylindrically-shaped rotary drum, an inductive magnetic head loaded on the rotary drum, a magneto-resistive effect magnetic head having an amount of protrusion from the rotary drum smaller than that of the inductive magnetic head, a tape sort detection unit, and a tape tension control unit. If information signals are reproduced by the inductive magnetic head, the tape tension of the magnetic tape is decreased by the tape tension control unit and, if information signals are reproduced by the magneto-resistive effect magnetic head, the tape tension of the magnetic tape is increased by the tape tension control unit.

Abstract: A rotary drum device and a helical scan magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus employing an MR head as a playback magnetic head. The rotary drum device and the helical scan magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus each include a cylindrically-shaped rotary drum, an inductive magnetic head loaded on the rotary drum so that its portion is protruded from the outer periphery of the rotary drum and a magneto-resistive effect magnetic head loaded on the rotary drum so that its portion is protruded from the outer periphery of the rotary drum. An amount of protrusion from the outer periphery of the rotary drum of the magneto-resistive effect magnetic head is smaller than an amount of protrusion from the outer periphery of the rotary drum of the inductive magnetic head.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head apparatus is provided which can be formed into a small size even if a plurality of reproduction heads are provided.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect type magnetic head (12) has a head width Wh greater than the track width Wt of a magnetic tape (5), as measured in the width direction of the tape (5). The head (12) has a magneto-resistive effect element, which has a magnetism-detecting section arranged at the prescribed azimuth angle. A signal reproduced from the magnetic tape as the head (12) is moved while off-tracked in the widthwise direction Wh of the recording track T1. The signal has a specific characteristic that falls within a predetermined range for a reference value, provided that it has been generated from the magnetism the head (12) has detected over its effective width We.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head apparatus is provided which can be formed into a small size even if a plurality of reproduction heads are provided.

Abstract: A helical scan magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus incorporating an MR head to serve as a reproducing magnetic head is arranged to convert data which is recorded on a magnetic tape into data in the form of DC-free code trains. The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus is provided with a high-pass filter for attenuating low-frequency components of a reproduced signal detected by the MR head. Moreover, a demodulating circuit is provided which demodulates data in a state before data is converted into the DC-free code trains from the reproduced signal, in which the low-frequency components have been attenuated by said high-pass filter. As a result, noise (thermal asperities) in a low-frequency region caused when the magnetic tape and the MR head are brought into contact with each other is removed so that a reproduced output free from excessive noise is obtained. The high-pass filter is, for example, a rotary transformer mounted on rotational drum.

Abstract: A magnetic signal reproducing apparatus which can lessen fluctuation of reproduced outputs in reproducing magnetic signals recorded in a magnetic tape by a magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head even if a magnetic tape sliding face of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is abraded. A current value of a sense current when a voltage fluctuation level of the sense current caused when a magnetic field in the normal direction is applied to a magneto-resistance effect element of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is equal with a voltage fluctuation level of the sense current caused when a magnetic field in the opposite direction is applied thereto is set to a predetermined value I0. Then, the current value of the sense current supplied to the magneto-resistance effect element of the magneto-resistance effect type magnetic head is set to be greater than I0 in reproducing the magnetic signals recorded in the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head apparatus which can be formed into a smaller size is provided in a case in which signals of a plurality of recording tracks which are recorded on a tape-like information recording medium are reproduced by using a plurality of reproduction heads without depending on the arrangement of the recording tracks in the information recording medium.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head unit has a non-contact type transmission device capable of reliably performing non-contact transmission both in signal and power supply systems and designed so as to be smaller in size. The non-contact type transmission device is formed of a rotating member and a fixed member each having a power supply wiring section for transmitting a power supply, a signal wiring section for transmitting a signal, and a crosstalk prevention section positioned between the power supply wiring section and the signal wiring section to prevent crosstalk between these sections. If a reproducing head formed of a magnetoresistive element is used by being supplied with a bias current from the power supply transmitted by the power supply wiring sections of the rotary and fixed members, the rotary magnetic head unit uses bias current control means to change the bias current supplied to the reproducing head according to the amount of wear of the recording head during reproduction from signals from magnetic tapes.