Abstract: A biological information measuring technique with improved reliability is proposed. A method of measuring biological information using an optical element with a totally reflecting surface, which is to be brought into contact with an object to be observed, is provided. The method includes, after the optical element has been in contact with the object to be observed, acquiring an absorbance at the totally reflecting surface in a state where the optical element is not in contact with the object to be observed, and determining by an information processing apparatus whether the object to be observed needs to be cleaned, based on the absorbance.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing method includes: setting light beam power from a light source, to second power P2, which is weaker than first power P1, and detecting the number of the recording layers provided for an optical disc; controlling an objective lens to focus the light beam on one recording layer which is the closest to the objective lens, in a condition that the detected number of the recording layers ?3; setting the power of the light beam to third power P3, between P1 and P2; specifying the number of the recording layers provided for the optical disc on the basis of layer information, which is information associated with the one recording layer; and setting the power of the light beam to P1, reading the layer type information recorded in advance in the one recording layer, and specifying a disc type based on the read layer type information.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing method includes: setting light beam power from a light source, to second power P2, which is weaker than first power P1, and detecting the number of the recording layers provided for an optical disc; controlling an objective lens to focus the light beam on one recording layer which is the closest to the objective lens, in a condition that the detected number of the recording layers ?3; setting the power of the light beam to third power P3, between P1 and P2; specifying the number of the recording layers provided for the optical disc on the basis of layer information, which is information associated with the one recording layer; and setting the power of the light beam to P1, reading the layer type information recorded in advance in the one recording layer, and specifying a disc type based on the read layer type information.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a noise canceling apparatus including: a microphone configured to pick up ambient sound as noise; a first signal generator configured to receive a signal from the microphone to generate a noise cancel signal that is inverted in phase to the signal received from the microphone and has an amplitude level considered with an attenuation in accordance with a distance from the microphone to an observation point separated away from the microphone; a first loudspeaker configured to be arranged in the proximity of the microphone and output the noise cancel signal; a second signal generator configured to receive the signal from the microphone to generate a positive-phase signal that has the same phase as that of the signal from the microphone; and a second loudspeaker configured to be arranged in the proximity of the microphone and output the positive-phase signal.

Abstract: Predetermined travel locuss are set in a three-dimensional virtual space. Menu panels displaying menu items are arranged along the travel locuss assuming a display position set as a local origin so that the normal to each LCD panel will face a virtual camera. The transparency of a menu panel is raised in accordance with its distance to the virtual camera. A scroll operation moves menu panels along the travel locuss connecting display positions P until a selected specific menu panel reaches the display position P0. A display screen is drawn with the virtual camera and menu panels are three-dimensionally displayed in rolls. By sliding a stylus pen on the LCD panel, the menu screen displayed on the LCD panel scrolls at a velocity corresponding to the drag velocity. When the stylus pen is released from the LCD panel, an application program corresponding to the menu display entity (crosshatched) is activated.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a recording device (102) for recording information onto an information recording medium (100) by irradiating the information recording medium with a recording laser beam (L); a controlling device (103) for recording calibration data onto the information recording medium by using the recording laser beam in which the power is adjusted gradually; and a detecting device (107) for detecting with a push-pull signal after the recording of the calibration data, the recording of the calibration data being ended if the push-pull signal exceeds a predetermined range, an optimum power of the recording laser beam being determined from a jitter amount included in a reproduction signal.

Abstract: A digital radio receiver for receiving information on a piece of music that is identification information for specifying content of digital acoustic information, the identification information being broadcast together with the digital acoustic information, is provided. The digital radio receiver includes an internal memory configured to store the information on the piece of music; an operation unit configured to set a timing at which a flag is attached to the information on the piece of music recorded in the internal memory; and a controller configured to perform a process for storing the information on the piece of music in the internal memory.

Abstract: A digital radio receiver for receiving information on a piece of music that is identification information for specifying content of digital acoustic information, the identification information being broadcast together with the digital acoustic information is provided. The digital radio receiver includes an internal memory configured to store the information on the piece of music; an operation unit configured to set a timing at which the information on the piece of music is stored in the internal memory; a display unit configured to display the information on the piece of music; and a controller configured to perform a process for storing the information on the piece of music in the internal memory in response to the operation of the operation unit.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: an offset adding device (19-1, 19-2) for adding an offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, to a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of the read signal to which the offset value is added; and a waveform equalizing device (18) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a recording device (102) for recording information onto an information recording medium (100) by irradiating the information recording medium with a recording laser beam (L); a controlling device (103) for recording calibration data onto the information recording medium by using the recording laser beam in which the power is adjusted gradually; and a detecting device (107) for detecting degree of modulation of a reproduction signal after the recording of the calibration data, the recording of the calibration data being ended if the degree of modulation exceeds a predetermined range, an optimum power of the recording laser beam being determined from a jitter amount included in a reproduction signal.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a recording device (102) for recording information onto an information recording medium (100) by irradiating the information recording medium with a recording laser beam (L); a controlling device (103) for recording calibration data onto the information recording medium by using the recording laser beam in which the power is adjusted gradually, thereby obtaining the optimum amount of the recording laser beam; and a detecting device (107) for detecting returned light simultaneously with the recording in the recording of the calibration data, the recording of the calibration data being ended if amount of the returned light exceeds a predetermined range, an optimum power of the recording laser beam being determined from a jitter amount included in a reproduction signal.

Abstract: A carbon black having excellent conductivity-imparting ability, a method for producing the same, and a conductive composition containing the same are disclosed. The carbon black comprises a chain body comprising (1) chain parts of spherical carbon particles and (2) chain parts of rod-shaped carbon particles, the chain part (1) and the chain part (2) being connected, and is produced by supplying a raw material mixture comprising acetylene gas, hydrocarbon and a catalyst for carbon nanotube formation to a high temperature field having a temperature equal to or higher than a thermal decomposition temperature of the hydrocarbon, and heat treating the mixture, or by supplying hydrocarbon containing a catalyst for carbon nanotube formation, during pyrolysis of acetylene gas and/or in the state that acetylene gas has been pyrolyzed, and heat treating the resulting mixture at a temperature equal to or higher than a thermal decomposition temperature of the hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a judging device (20) for judging whether or not a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100) satisfies a desired reproduction property; a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of the read signal if it is judged that the read signal does not satisfy the desired reproduction property; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a waveform shaping device (14) for performing waveform shaping on a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100), on the basis of a reference amplification factor; a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to at least a long mark, of the read signal on which the waveform shaping is performed; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected, the waveform shaping device arbitrarily increases the reference amplification factor.

Abstract: An optical recording/reproducing system 1 reads a recorded signal written to a recording track of a recording medium 3 by light. The light is modulated by a drive signal on which a frequency signal is superimposed. The light is scanned along the recording track at a predetermined scan velocity. The optical recording/reproducing system 1 includes a computer 13 and an LD driver 17 that control, based on the scan velocity, a superimposed magnitude of the frequency signal on the drive signal.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); and a processing device (15) for performing a PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) process on the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected.

Abstract: An information recording apparatus (1) is provided with: a first judging device (191) for judging whether or not a tracking error signal is greater than or equal to a first threshold value; a detecting device (192) for detecting, as a detection angle, a rotation angle of an information recording medium (100) when it is judged that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value; and a second judging device (193) for judging whether or not the judgment that the tracking error signal is greater than or equal to the first threshold value is performed at the same detection angle.

Abstract: An aluminum-silicon carbide composite suitable for a base plate for power module, having an aluminum-silicon carbide composite, with a front and a rear surface plane, that is a flat plate-shaped silicon carbide porous body impregnated with a metal mainly containing aluminum, and an aluminum layer made of a metal mainly containing aluminum formed only on the front surface plane, wherein the rear surface plane of the composite is exposed to the outside, and the shape of the exposed aluminum-silicon carbide composite is rectangular, optionally having peripheral portions encompassing holes removed. Plating is imparted to the composite by providing an aluminum layer on the rear surface plane. Flatness of the composite is improved by grinding its rear surface so that the composite is exposed to the outside. Warpage after grinding the rear surface, is controlled by controlling the thickness of the aluminum layer.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: an offset adding device (19-1, 19-2) for adding a first offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, to a read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of the read signal to which the first offset value is added; an offset subtracting device (19-2, 19-3) for subtracting a second offset value (OFS) which can be set to be variable, from the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected; and a waveform equalizing device (15) for performing a waveform equalization process on the read signal in which the second offset value is subtracted.

Abstract: An information reproducing apparatus (1) is provided with: a correcting device (18) for correcting waveform distortion occurring in a read signal corresponding to a long mark, of read signal (RRF) read from a recording medium (100); an amplitude limiting device (182) for limiting an amplitude level of the read signal in which the waveform distortion is corrected, by a predetermined amplitude limit value (L, ?L), thereby obtaining an amplitude limit signal; and a filtering device (183) for performing a high-frequency emphasis filtering process on the amplitude limit signal, thereby obtaining an equalization-corrected signal.