Abstract: A disc-shaped optical recording medium formed by carrying out a film formation process on a disc-shaped substrate material and completed by forming a center hole at the last step is manufactured in a manner such that no eccentricity will occur when the recording medium is loaded onto a drive. At the last step of an optical disc manufacturing process, i.e., at the time of opening a hole in the center part 26 of the disc-shaped substrate material 12 formed with at least a resin layer on one side thereof, the center part 26 is removed in a manner such that the diameter of the chucking center hole 28 is larger on the disc-shaped substrate material 12 side than on the light transmitting resin layer 22 side of the disc-shaped optical recording medium 30, thereby manufacturing the disc-shaped optical recording medium 30.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical recording medium of the present invention includes the steps of forming an underlying layer having a brightness of 8 or more and a chroma of 4 or less on a label surface of a disk body by a spin coating process, and forming an ink-receiving layer on the underlying layer. In the present invention, the underlying layer having a brightness of 8 or more and a chroma of 4 or less is formed by a spin coating process, thereby significantly decreasing the surface roughness of the underlying layer. Even if the ink-receiving layer is formed by the spin coating or slit coating process in which the surface quality of the underlying layer is greatly reflected, therefore, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the ink-receiving layer can be significantly decreased. Thus, printing by an ink jet printer can produce a color and brilliance close to those of a silver salt photograph.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention includes a disk body and an ink-receiving layer disposed on a label surface of the disk body, wherein the ink-receiving layer has a brightness of 8 or more, a chroma of 4 or less, and an average surface roughness (Ra) of 0.1 ?m or less. Therefore, a colored layer of white ink need not be provided below the ink-receiving layer to simplify the manufacturing process. Furthermore, even when the ink-receiving layer is formed by a spin coating or slit coating process in which the surface quality of an underlying layer is greatly reflected, therefore, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the ink-receiving layer can be significantly decreased. Thus, printing by an ink jet printer can produce a color and brilliance close to those of a silver salt photograph.

Abstract: An optical recording medium that is a DVD includes an ink receiving layer and a white underlayer on a label surface side of a disc body. Inner circumferential ends of a reflective layer in an information area, the ink receiving layer, and the white underlayer that are closer to a center of the disc body are arranged inside an inner circumferential end of the information area in a radial direction by about 3 to about 15 mm. Thus, even if a label surface is enlarged toward a center of the optical recording medium, a level of whiteness is not lowered in an enlarged region.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is made by a step of bonding a light-transmissive substrate to a supporting substrate having a brightness of 8 or more and a saturation of 4 or less via a bonding layer composed of an epoxy resin; and a step of forming a transparent ink-receiving layer on a surface of the supporting substrate remote from the light-transmissive substrate. The bonding using the epoxy resin is conducted by a method of curing the resin by using a cationic initiator, a method of curing the resin by an addition reaction between the resin and a crosslinking agent containing an active hydrogen compound, a method of curing the resin by heating, or the like. In this invention, the bonding layer is composed of a material containing an epoxy resin instead of a radically polymerizable UV-curable resin typically used. Thus, although UV irradiation through the supporting substrate is not possible, the light-transmissive substrate can be securely bonded to the supporting substrate.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention includes a disk body and an ink-receiving layer disposed on a label surface of the disk body, wherein the ink-receiving layer has a brightness of 8 or more, a chroma of 4 or less, and an average surface roughness (Ra) of 0.1 ?m or less. Therefore, a colored layer of white ink need not be provided below the ink-receiving layer to simplify the manufacturing process. Furthermore, even when the ink-receiving layer is formed by a spin coating or slit coating process in which the surface quality of an underlying layer is greatly reflected, therefore, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the ink-receiving layer can be significantly decreased. Thus, printing by an ink jet printer can produce a color and brilliance close to those of a silver salt photograph.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical recording medium of the present invention includes the steps of forming an underlying layer having a brightness of 8 or more and a chroma of 4 or less on a label surface of a disk body by a spin coating process, and forming an ink-receiving layer on the underlying layer. In the present invention, the underlying layer having a brightness of 8 or more and a chroma of 4 or less is formed by a spin coating process, thereby significantly decreasing the surface roughness of the underlying layer. Even if the ink-receiving layer is formed by the spin coating or slit coating process in which the surface quality of the underlying layer is greatly reflected, therefore, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the ink-receiving layer can be significantly decreased. Thus, printing by an ink jet printer can produce a color and brilliance close to those of a silver salt photograph.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention includes a support substrate, a functional layer for storing data, and a transparent ink-receiving layer provided opposite to the functional layer with respect to the support substrate, wherein the support substrate has a brightness of 8 or more, and a chroma of 4 or less. Therefore, a colored layer of white ink need not be provided between the ink-receiving layer and the support substrate, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process. Also, the surface quality of the support substrate is reflected in the ink-receiving layer. For example, when the support substrate is formed by injection, therefore, the average surface roughness (Ra) of the ink-receiving layer is significantly decreased. Thus, printing by an ink jet printer can achieve a color and brilliance close to those of a silver salt photograph.

Abstract: A stamper for forming a data recording region on a recording medium substrate by means of a transfer surface thereof. The transfer surface transfers a predetermined set of data to the recording medium substrate. The stamper is fitted on at least one of metal molds that are arranged opposite one another for forming the recording medium substrate. The stamper includes a stepped portion formed as bends in the material of the stamper. The stepped portion is configured to project from the transfer surface toward the recording medium substrate.

Abstract: A disc-shaped optical recording medium formed by carrying out a film formation process on a disc-shaped substrate material and completed by forming a center hole at the last step is manufactured in a manner such that no eccentricity will occur when the recording medium is loaded onto a drive. At the last step of an optical disc manufacturing process, i.e., at the time of opening a hole in the center part 26 of the disc-shaped substrate material 12 formed with at least a resin layer on one side thereof, the center part 26 is removed in a manner such that the diameter of the chucking center hole 28 is larger on the disc-shaped substrate material 12 side than on the light transmitting resin layer 22 side of the disc-shaped optical recording medium 30, thereby manufacturing the disc-shaped optical recording medium 30.

Abstract: A stamper for forming a data recording region on a recording medium substrate by means of a transfer surface thereof. The transfer surface transfers a predetermined set of data to the recording medium substrate. The stamper is fitted on at least one of metal molds that are arranged opposite one another for forming the recording medium substrate. The stamper includes a stepped portion formed as bends in the material of the stamper. The stepped portion is configured to project from the transfer surface toward the recording medium substrate.

Abstract: Without forming a center hole, a light-transmitting resin layer is deposited and formed on a disc-shaped substrate material. A method for fabricating an optical disc includes the steps of injecting a synthetic resin from a gate into the cavity of a mold assembly 30 to mold and cure a disc-shaped substrate material 12 in conjunction with a sprue runner 14 in the gate; depositing a film 18 on the disc-shaped substrate material 12 integrated with the sprue runner 14 taken out of the mold assembly 30; forming a light-transmitting resin layer 22; and forming a center hole 28 by punching through a center portion 26 of the disc-shaped substrate material 12 in conjunction with the sprue runner 14.

Abstract: A stamper for forming a data recording region on a recording medium substrate by means of a transfer surface thereof. The transfer surface transfers a predetermined set of data to the recording medium substrate. The stamper is fitted on at least one of metal molds that are arranged opposite one another for forming the recording medium substrate. The stamper includes a stepped portion formed as bends in the material of the stamper. The stepped portion is configured to project from the transfer surface toward the recording medium substrate.

Abstract: A stamper for forming a data recording region on a recording medium substrate by means of a transfer surface thereof. The transfer surface transfers a predetermined set of data to the recording medium substrate. The stamper is fitted on at least one of metal molds that are arranged opposite one another for forming the recording medium substrate. The stamper includes a stepped portion formed as bends in the material of the stamper.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a disc-shaped substrate material for an optical disc with a center hole is provided so as to form a resin layer with a uniform thickness distribution in a simple process. A stamper 10 is held to a movable metal mold 34 by suction means 36 in a cavity 31 in a mold assembly 30. The stamper 10 includes a through hole 10A with a diameter smaller than that of a center hole of an optical disc. When a disc-shaped substrate material 12 formed by injection molding is solidified, and the movable metal mold 34 is separated from a fixed metal mold 32, release means 38 is protruded from the through hole 10A so as to push the disc-shaped substrate material 12 for release.

Abstract: A stamper for forming a data recording region on a recording medium substrate by means of a transfer surface thereof. The transfer surface transfers a predetermined set of data to the recording medium substrate. The stamper is fitted on at least one of metal molds that are arranged opposite one another for forming the recording medium substrate. The stamper includes a stepped portion formed as bends in the material of the stamper. The stepped portion is configured to project from the transfer surface toward the recording medium substrate.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element package includes a chip carrier having a shielding surface and a cavity for enclosing a piezoelectric element therein, and a cap having a central axis and a shielding material on a bottom surface of the cap, the cap shielding the piezoelectric element, enclosed in the cavity of the chip carrier, with the shielding material bonded to the shielding surface of the chip carrier. The cap is in a substantially circular shape and the shielding material of the cap and the shielding surface of the chip carrier are bonded to each other such that a bonding area between the shielding material and the shielding surface is unchanged.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of optical record disc substrates includes the steps of injecting a resin material into a plurality of disc-shaped cavities which are formed by closing a fixed mold half and a movable mold half; and cooling the injected resin material in the cavities. The cavities are grouped into a plurality of groups so that each group includes not less than one cavity, and each group is provided with a common actuation device so that each actuation device is independently operated.

Abstract: A stepping motor control device for an automobile air-conditioning system has a key-off home-position setting unit of a stepping motor for driving an air-conditioning door in response to switching of a key switch of the automobile off. The key-off home-position setting unit, responsive to switch of the key switch off, drives the stepping motor so that the air-conditioning door comes to a full-close position or a full-open position, stores data indicative of the full-close or full-open positions, as a current position of the air-conditioning door in a memory, and thereby finishes a home-position setting of the stepping motor. The key-off home-position setting unit is supplied with power from a power source under control of a timer for a prescribed time within which a home-position setting can be finished.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of optical record disc substrates includes the steps of injecting a resin material into a plurality of disc-shaped cavities which are formed by closing a fixed mold half and a movable mold half; and cooling the injected resin material in the cavities. The cavities are grouped into a plurality of groups so that each group includes not less than one cavity, and each group is provided with a common actuation device so that each actuation device is independently operated.