Abstract: A signal for designating a portion of information regions of a recording medium is sent from an external apparatus to an information processing apparatus so as to cause the information processing apparatus to record information on the designated portion of the information regions or to reproduce information from the designated portion of the information regions. The information regions of the recording medium consist of a specific region and a remaining region. It is determined whether the designated portion of the information regions falls within the specific region or the remaining region. When the designated portion of the information regions is determined to fall within the specific region, the recording of information is interrupted or the reproduction of information is interrupted.

Abstract: An image recognition method is conducted by extracting characteristic points of the pattern of an image formed by video signals from an image pickup device, within the whole or a limited area of a frame of a display, and measuring the distribution of the characteristic points of the image pattern. With this method, images can be recognized with minimal image processing time and with reduced influence of noises.

Abstract: An optical information recording-reproducing apparatus includes a scanning device for scanning a recording medium by a light beam and effecting the recording and/or reproduction of information, controller for effecting the auto focusing control and/or the auto tracking control of the light beam, an error signal detecting circuit for detecting an error signal for driving the controller, a plurality of sample hold circuits for periodically sampling the error signal at different times, an abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality of in the behavior of the error signal, a circuit for discontinuing the sampling when the sampling starting time of the sample hold circuits comes within a period during which the abnormality is being detected by the abnormality detecting circuit, a selecting circuit for selecting one of the plurality of sample hold circuits and supplying the output of the selected circuit to the controller, and an instructing circuit for instructing the selecting circuit to select the

Abstract: In apparatus for successively inspecting an article, for example a telephone cable connector having a plurality of two dimensionally arranged connecting pins, the article is successively conveyed to and mounted on an inspecting table, an image pick-up camera is stepwisely moved for photographing all portions of the connector, and the direction of movement of the camera is alternately reversed.

Abstract: A characteristic point such as an image contrast of a target image in an image screen of an object produced by an image sensor is counted, a correlation between counts at two points in time is determined. A drive means for preventing vibration of an imaging lens is controlled in accordance with the correlation signal and imaging information such as in-focus or out-of-focus information.

Abstract: An imaging device has detection means for detecting an image vibration of the imaging device and drive means for driving at least one of a photoelectric conversion device for converting a light of an object transmitted through a lens system of the imaging device to an electrical signal and the imaging device itself in a direction to cancel the vibration. For a high frequency image vibration, the vibration is compensated by using a piezoelectric device.

Abstract: A record confirmation apparatus comprises a recording device for recording information on a disc-like record bearing member rotated at a predetermined angular speed, in accordance with a writing signal, a reproducing device disposed at a predetermined distance from the recording device in the tangential direction of the record bearing member for reproducing the recorded information as a read-out signal, and a comparing device for delaying the writing signal and comparing it with the read-out signal, the comparing device having a variable delay circuit for varying the delay time in conformity with the relative position of the recording device and the reproducing device relative to the record bearing member in the radial direction of the record bearing member.

Abstract: An information recording-reproducing apparatus provided with a first light beam for recording information on a recording medium and a monitoring second light beam for reproducing the recorded information simultaneously with the recording is characterized in that when only the reproduction of already recorded information is effected, a focus control signal or a tracking control signal is obtained by the use of the first light beam.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical disk apparatus provided with an optical pickup for recording or reproducing information by irradiating an optical disk with a light beam, a tracking device for causing the light beam to exactly follow a track formed on the optical disk, a driving mechanism for moving the optical pickup in the radial direction of the disk for track access, a circuit for outputting a signal representing the rotational position of the disk at the start and end of the track access, and regulating device for starting or terminating the track tracing operation of the tracking device in synchronization with a signal from the signal output circuit, and is also disclosed a track access method for enabling high-speed, precise track access without the influence of track eccentricity.

Abstract: An in-focus state detection device having a light source for emitting a near-infrared light for detecting an in-focus state of an object lens by sensing the light of the light source reflected by an object by a sensor through the object lens is disclosed. The in-focus state of the object lens to a visible light is exactly detected by correcting a relation between the light of the light source transmitted through the object lens and the sensor in accordance with a change in chromatic aberration information of the object lens to the light of the light source.

Abstract: An optical device in which the projecting beam from beam projector is projected to outside through a part area of an imaging optical system and, of the reflected beam reflected by the outside and entering the imaging optical system, the reflected beam passing through another area of the imaging optical system is received by photoelectric light-receiving element and wherein the beam projecting optical axis of the beam projector and the light-receiving optical axis of the photoelectric light-receiving element are set so that the point of intersection between each of the optical axes and the principal plane of the imaging optical system does not satisfy, on the principal plane, a point-symmetrical relationship with respect to the point of intersection between the principal plane and the optical axis of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: This specification discloses a distance detecting device in a camera for detecting the relative positional relation between two detection images of an object obtained by two optical systems spaced apart from each other by a predetermined base length, to thereby enable the distance from the camera to the object to be known, characterized in that the picture-taking optical system of the camera is used also as one of the optical systems.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting an incident position of radiation beam, particularly, its center or center of gravity. The detecting device is provided with a scanning type radiation beam sensing device having a plurality of radiation sensing elements in a linear arrangement, and the sensing device is disposed in such a manner that its radiation receiving surface may be substantially coincided with an incident surface of the radiation beam to be detected. When reading an output from the sensing device, the time sequential output signals from the sensing device are split into predetermined sections, and the signal quantities among the sections are compared. In this way, the position of the center or the center of gravity of the radiation beam on the incident surface is detected with the position corresponding to a split point of the signals as the reference.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus for mask and wafer each having alignment marks provided in a narrow strip like area between circuit patterns is disclosed, which mask and wafer are used in manufacturing semiconductor circuit elements. In the apparatus, the mask and wafer are scanned to obtain scan signals by means of which the amount of relative deviation between the alignment marks on mask and wafer is detected. By means of the detected signal, an alignment is effected between the mask and wafer in the apparatus. For this type of alignment apparatus, there is a problem that since the alignment marks are provided in the narrow strip like area, no coincidence between the scanning position and the strip area is attainable with pre-alignment accuracy. Improvement in the alignment apparatus according to the invention lies in that a reading of alignment marks is initiated after the coincidence is photoelectrically detected.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus by which two points on a first standard line on a first workpiece may be aligned in two regions having as the centers two standard points on a second standard line on a second workpiece optically opposed to the first workpiece and having predetermined areas. The two regions are diamond-shaped. By this, it is possible to reduce the alignment error of the first and second workpieces.

Abstract: An alignment apparatus in which alignment marks on a mask and a wafer for producing a semiconductor circuit element are photoelectrically read and the positional deviation between the two alignment marks is detected and one of the mask and the wafer is parallel-moved in accordance with the detected amount to align the mask and wafer into a predetermined positional relation. This apparatus has the function of correcting any interval error which may be present between the alignment marks.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photo-electrical detecting apparatus for forming a dark-field image of an object on a one-dimensional image sensor and reading said image photo-electrically. The apparatus includes a telecentric objective lens, and a light source image is formed on the clear aperture plane of said lens, said image being in focus in a direction on said plane and out of focus in a perpendicular direction. A line- or band-shaped area of the object is illuminated by the light from said light source image. Thus a dark-field image of the object is formed on said one-dimensional image sensor by providing, on a plane equivalent to said aperture plane, a filter which intercepts the normal reflected light from said object and transmits the scattered light therefrom.

Abstract: An improved photoelectric detecting apparatus is disclosed in which a subject surface containing a pattern which diffracts light in a predetermined direction is scanned with spotlight and the diffracted light coming from the pattern is detected by means of photoelectric element so as to read out information of the pattern. The apparatus comprises a first photoelectric element for detecting the light diffracted in the predetermined direction, a second photoelectric element adapted for detecting light diffracted in directions other than the predetermined direction and an operational circuit for operating the signal derived from the first photoelectric element and that derived from the second one. Thus, when there is any diffractive matter such as flaw, dust and the like on the subject surface, diffracted light from the diffractive matter is detected by both the first and second photoelectric elements whereas diffracted light from the pattern is detected only by the first photoelectric element.