Abstract: Multibeam optical disk record and reproduction apparatus and method, in which at least two light beams generated are concentrated in different positions of on recording tracks of a recording medium to record or reproduce data to or from the recording medium on the different positions at the same time. The light beams are moved independently of each other across the recording tracks so that any one light beam is movable during the recording or reproducing of data by another light beam. This allows parallel recording/reproducing with a plurality of light beams without producing areas unaccessed due to the jumps of the light beams.

Abstract: In playing back data in an optical disk device, to perform high-speed data playback with a low number of playback retries even if an error occur when data is being read. In reading data composed of ECC blocks, if a data error occurs during a read operation, the data from sectors for which PI error correction can be performed is left alone. Playback retries using different playback conditions are performed just on the sectors for which PI error correction can be performed. Thus, the playback retry count can be reduced.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, for equally dividing an area of an arbitrary figure by pixel units by a number of parallel lines, which includes an input element for inputting a dividing number for a figure obtaining element which obtains a total number of pixels of the figure, a calculating element for calculating an initial ideal value by dividing the total number of pixels by the dividing number, a computing element for computing an ideal value of the number of pixels of a kth divided region in the figure using the initial ideal value and a sum of determined values of the numbers of pixels of a first to a (k−1)th divided region, and a determining element for determining a determined value of the number of pixels of the kth divided region such that an error between the determined value of the number of pixels of the kth divided region and the ideal value of the number of pixels of the kth divided region is minimized.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for information storage and retrieval, information is retrieved from the storage apparatus in a manner which includes varying an operational parameter of the storage apparatus according to a property of the information being retrieved. In the same apparatus and method, information is stored onto the storage apparatus in a manner which includes varying an operational parameter of the storage apparatus according to a property of the information to be stored. In this way, the energy consumption of the storage apparatus can be kept low.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus, in which information is recorded in correspondence to the leading edge and the trailing edge of each mark and a deviation of a relative position between leading edge data and trailing edge data is corrected using each synchronization signal (sync signal), is provided with leading edge pattern A, B detector circuits and trailing edge pattern A, B detector circuits for detecting a sync signal together with data before or after the sync signal which is limited to one or a plurality of predetermined patterns due to intersymbol correlation with the sync signal.

Abstract: A switching system which includes subscriber's circuit device connected to terminals and a subscriber's circuit controlling apparatus between a host apparatus and subscriber's circuit devices for controlling the subscriber's circuit devices in accordance with a control order corresponding to control information from the host apparatus. Each of the subscriber's circuit controlling apparatuses includes an order processing unit which analyzes control information which is transmitted from the host apparatus for comparing the received control information with last received control information and transmits a control order to the subscriber's circuit devices. The order processing unit transmits control orders a number of times to the subscriber's circuit devices and accepts a fault report, from the subscriber's circuit devices to retransmit a control order. The subscriber's circuit devices receive the control order a number of times for collating the control orders and outputs a fault report when in disagreement.

Abstract: A control apparatus detects the position and velocity of an artificial satellite by sensors mounted on the satellite, computes tip velocity of a manipulator on the satellite on the basis of detected information items, with considering a variation in position and attitude of the satellite, and enables the manipulator to track a target flying in space. The control apparatus sets an approach maneuver trajectory at the flying target with the use of relative position/attitude information items between a gripper and a corresponding portion of the flying target which are obtained by a proximity sensor. When the flying target is captured by the gripper on the manipulator, the control apparatus detects a force acting upon the manipulator using a force/torque sensor. The target capturing operation is performed by sending command signals to driving motors connected between the shafts of the satellite manipulator.

Abstract: In a rotary type storage apparatus and a control method thereof, a plurality of concentric or spiral information tracks are set and also each of the plural information tracks is subdivided into a plurality of sectors along a circumferential direction, which constitute a plurality of information recording planes. Also, in this apparatus and method, there are provided a plurality of read/write heads employed at each of the information recording planes and accessible to the information tracks, and also a head drive mechanism for positioning these plural read/write heads to the information tracks. At least one of the plural information recording planes corresponds to such a recording plane where a substitution information track has been set, on which a substitution sector corresponding to a failed sector present at another information recording plane is recorded.

Abstract: When record marks are recorded on a recording medium while making a code symbol "1" of data by obtained coding write information according to a coding system having no DC free property correspond to every edge of the record marks, the recording is effected while inserting resynchronizing signals into the write information with a constant interval. For the resynchronizing signal either one selected between a first resynchronizing code pattern, in which the number of symbols "1" contained therein is even, and a second resynchronizing code pattern, in which the number of symbols "1" is odd, so that an accumulated charge obtained from the run length of the coded data approaches zero is used. Each of the first and the second resynchronizing code pattern contains at least a specified pattern, which doesn't meet the coding rule.

Abstract: In order to control an execution rate of a central processing unit which carries out a processing operation in synchronism with a clock signal supplied from a clock oscillator, an execution rate controlling device periodically supplies a hold demand signal to suspend the processing operation during reception of the hold demand signal and comprises a data holding unit for holding held data representative of the execution rate. A generating unit generates the hold demand signal in response to the held data and the clock signal so that the hold demand signal may last for a duration which is inversely proportional to the execution rate. The generating unit comprises a counter unit for counting a count in synchronism with the clock signal up to a maximum value defining a period of periodic supply of the hold demand signal, and produces counted data indicative of the count and a carry signal initializing the count to zero when the count reaches the maximum value.

Abstract: An electronic and/or electric parts assembling apparatus inserts a pin or pins of the electronic and/or electric parts with a predetermined pressure in a chuck released condition. Magnitude of motion of the electric and/or electric parts is monitored for detecting completion of insertion.

Abstract: An optical disk system. Each of data blocks supplied from a higher ranked unit is divided into a plurality of code words, each of which is added with an error correction code to be subsequently recorded on an optical disk. In reproduction, each of the data blocks read out from the optical disk is subjected to error correction on the code-word basis. Information indicative of the presence or absence of data error in each code word and the presence or absence of the error incapable of being corrected is sent to the higher ranked unit together with the reproduced data. In this way, the code word suffering the uncorrectable error is excluded from data of the other code words which can be validly utilized by the high ranked unit.