Abstract: In an optical line tracer sudden changes of velocity can cause instability and vibration. Means are provided to limit acceleration or deceleration to a specific rate of change. Speed change signals are processed through a ramp circuit which converts the step function signal to a ramp function before application.

Abstract: In a method for aligning first and second objects relative to each other, according to this invention, the first and second objects are arranged opposite to each other, and are aligned in a direction perpendicular to their opposing direction. A grating pattern is formed, as an alignment mark, on the first object, and a checkerboard-like grating pattern is formed, also as an alignment mark, on the second object. A light beam emitted from an alignment light source is radiated onto the checkerboard-like grating pattern of the second object. The light beam diffracted by the checkerboard-like grating pattern is guided onto the grating pattern of the first object. The light beam diffracted by the grating pattern of the first object is detected by a detector. Since the light beam emitted from the light source is diffracted by the checkerboard-like grating pattern, a relative position of the first and second objects can be detected, irrespective of the distance therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information on an optically inscribable and readable disc-shaped record carrier with a previously formed track pattern containing a first track modulation, in order to obtain a clock signal, and a second track modulation formed by a radial wobble, in order to obtain a tracking signal. A reference signal for generating a tracking signal via synchronous detection is derived from the clock signal by frequency synthesis.

Abstract: In reproducing recorded information from a track on an optical disc by the use of a light beam, a tracking servo is employed for enabling the light beam to follow up the track. When there occurs any tracking deviation due to some flaw or the like on the track, the tracking servo is switched off if the number of times of such tracking deviation has exceeded a predetermined value within a preset time, and simultaenously a braking action is executed to impede the movement of the light beam. The braking force is adjustable in accordance with the velocity of the light beam movement.

Abstract: A disc comprises a recording surface which is divided into a plurality of equiangular sectoral regions and a guide track formed on the recording surface. Each track turn of the guide track is constituted by a row of pits formed in every other equiangular sectoral regions, and the pit is only formed in one of two mutually adjacent track turns of the guide track in each equiangular sectoral region so that the pits are formed in every other track turns in a radial direction of the disc in each equiangular sectoral region.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium in the form of a card having tracking tracks for obtaining a tracking signal and clock tracks for obtaining a clock signal arranged alternately and record zones for recording information between each of the tracking tracks and each of the clock tracks, and apparatus for recording/reproducing information using the recording medium.

Abstract: An error signal detecting device is composed of means for irradiating an object with a concentrated light beam, a photosensor having a photoreceptor face divided into plural portions and adapted to receive the light reflected or transmitted by the object, a device for respectively dividing a first output and a second output obtained respectively from the first and second portions of the photoreceptor face of the photosensor, a first comparator for respectively comparing the outputs divided from the first output with the second output, a second comparator for respectively comparing the outputs divided from the second output with the first output, and a device for deriving a positional error signal indicating the positional error of the light beam spot with respect to the surface of the object, at least in one of the direction of optical axis and a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: An optical storage apparatus for storing and reading information on an optical disk with an optical beam, including a tracking servo system having an objective lens, which is driven in a focusing direction F and a tracking direction T by a lens actuator, and a tilting mirror, which is rotated by a mirror actuator. The tracking servo system eliminates beam shift by controlling the lens actuator and the mirror actuator to position the lens and the mirror so that the laser beam always passes through a back focal point of the lens located on the opposite side of the lens from the optical disk. As a result, the laser beam proceeds from the lens to the disk along a path which is parallel with the optical axis of the lens and strikes the disk perpendicularly. Accordingly, the return path of the laser beam reflected by the surface of the disk coincides with the incident path of the laser beam, and no beam shaft is experienced.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding a piece of sheet material to a tool utilizes a set of grippers on telescoping arms of a mean trajectory control system for displacing the sheet material in accordance with a predetermined trajectory. Local correction is effected by passing the piece of sheet material between two discs, one of which is rotatable about a horizontal axis but swingable about a vertical axis while the other, on the opposite side of the sheet, is rotatable about a vertical axis coincident with the first vertical axis. A line is marked on the sheet material with a substance stimulated by ultraviolet and emits a wavelength to which photodetectors are responsive to control the local correction device.

Abstract: An optical system for guiding a read beam and a magneto-optical storage which utilizes a single beam splitter inserted in the beam path of a linearly polarized light beam directed onto a storage disk for splitting the reflected beam into a deflected beam path and onto photo detectors. This optical arrangement includes a polarizer and an astigmatic imaging system. One of the two photo detectors is a four-quadrant detector and the other of the two detectors can be split into two regions with each of these detectors being positioned in one of the two sub-beams. Data signals derived from the intensity differences between the sub-beams and control signals for both a focusing control and for tracking control are derived from the detectors. Preferably, the photo detectors and the integrated circuits are part of an integrated circuit which also includes electrical circuits for the arrangements for obtaining the raw data, the tracking signal and the focusing signal.

Abstract: An electro-optical apparatus comprising an objective (7) scans an optical disc (3) having a transparent protective layer (5) by means of a radiation beam (10) which, through the transparent layer, is focussed on a reflecting recording surface (4). The objective moves along the optical axis (19) for focussing the radiation beam on the recording layer and moreover performs limited pivotal movements. The position of the optical axis of the objective is corrected for obliquity of the surface of the optical disc, correction means (22A, B) being provided to tilt the objective through a correction angle, so that the angle between the optical axis and the normal to the disc surface is reduced.

Abstract: In a photoelectric apparatus for tracing a scanning head (8) along a pattern track (13), a constant arrangement (17) of tightly spaced light-sensitive elements (16) is provided in the scanning head forming together with an addressing device (25) scanning patterns (14) which can be sampled. On the arrangement of the light-sensitive elements, a section of a pattern plane for scanning including an essential transversal component of the scanning pattern is imaged. From illumination state signals of the sampled light-sensitive elements, control signals are generated by means of an evaluation device (28, 31, 32), controlling the tracing movement of the scanning head in two movement directions (4, 5) rectangularly oriented relative to each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a grating adjustment apparatus of 3-beam type optical pick-up for the compact disk player and, more particularly, to an apparatus automatically and readily adjusting a grating to the angle where the target value of a tracking error signal is obtainable. Sub-beam currents from the optical pick-up is, through current-voltage transducing amplifiers, converted into voltage signals, which are applied to a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier puts out the tracking error signal mixed with noise, which passes through a band pass filter removing said noise. So only pure tracking error signal is obtained, which is, after its phase is compensated by the low frequency lag compensator, applied to a differentiator. This signal is applied to a discriminator.

Abstract: An optical disk having V-shaped grooves with depths periodically varied at a frequency f for every two grooves, thus realizing a large recording area on each slant of the grooves. A tracking method for the optical disk in which two laser spots irradiate two adjoining slants of a V-shape groove, and pilot signals are made of components of the frequency f which are detected from the reflected beams of the respective two laser spots on the optical disk, and whereby the tracking is performed by controlling so as to make the magnitudes of the two pilot signals become equal to each other.

Abstract: An optical information read apparatus for optically reading information recorded on a recording medium includes an optical head for producing two detected signals whose phases vary according to a tracking error of the head, and a tracking error detecting circuit for producing a tracking error signal corresponding to a phase difference between the two detected signals, and a tracking controller for controlling the optical head in response to the tracking error signal. The tracking error detecting circuit has a correlation test circuit for checking a correlation between the states of the two detected signals, and for making the tracking error signal substantially invalid when there is no correlation between the states of the two detected signals. Thus, a stable tracking control can be performed.

Abstract: Dual light beams directed onto adjacent surface elements defining a seam therebetween produce reflected light images which contact an electro-optic linear array sensor which in turn generates light spot position information for determining seam location via triangulation calculations.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading and/or recording a trackwise arranged optical structure in a record carrier including a tracking-error detection system with a beam-splitting element and four detectors. The first detector and the second detector cooperate with a first of two sub-beams formed by the beam-splitting element, and the third detector and the fourth detector cooperate with the second sub-beam. It is demonstrated that for larger phase depths of the information details a very suitable tracking signal is obtained by adding the difference between the signals from the first and the second detector to the difference between the signals from the third and the fourth detector.

Abstract: An optical head in which the light emitted from a light source is narrowed to a minute spot of light and applied to a recording medium such as a disk thereby to effect recording and reproduction, or reproduction alone. A focusing plate or prism is provided in the optical path for forming the image of the light reflected from the recording medium. The focusing plate or prism has a first surface which reflects and transmits the reflected light and a second surface which is located closer to the image-forming position than the first surface and reflects the reflected light which is transmitted or reflected by the first surface. The optical head is further provided with a photodetector which is divided into at least two portions which individually receive the light rays which are respectively reflected from the first and second surfaces. A focusing servo control signal is obtained from the difference between the respective outputs of the divided photodetector portions.

Abstract: In an optical pattern follower, of the rotating scanning type, in which co-ordinated drive signals are produced by sampling two co-ordinate sinusoids, an adjustable kerf off-set is provided by selectably delaying the sampling pulse.

Abstract: An optical head assembly for recording information on an optical disc or for taking out information already recorded, the optical head assembly including a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric light conducting layer formed on the substrate, the light conducting layer being internally formed with optical elements for converging laser beam from a laser beam source onto the optical disc and directing the reflected beam from the optical disc surface toward a photo detector. Output signal from the photo detector is used for reading information and also for allowing the optical head assembly to trace a track on the optical disc.

Abstract: A vehicle guidance system for a tractor has a horizontal scanning laser on the tractor and a target arranged to return the laser beam along its path. When returned laser light is detected, indicating alignment of the beam with the target, the angle of the beam relative to the tractor axis illustrates the steering correction required. The target has an array of beam reflecting elements patterned to define a target datum. Continuous low amplitude and relative high frequency scanning of the laser in a vertical direction provides a detector output which is indicative of the error between beam orientation and target datum.

Abstract: A driverless vehicle is guided along a guideline which is detected on a floor by an optical sensor having a plurality of light receiving elements. A value representing the amount of light received by each of the light receiving elements is composed with a value representing the amount of light received by one or more neighbouring light receiving elements and smoothed to an appropriately large value so that the detection of the guideline may be based on the smoothed value.

Abstract: A video signal play back device derives video signals from successive tracks formed as a continuous spiral on a video disc using a light source and a lens system, which is carried by a rotatable element at a predetermined spacing from the surface of the disc and which defines a folded optical path. The rotatable element translates the lens system in the radial direction relative to the disc for "coarse" steering of the light beam along the information tracks as the disc is rotated by a turntable. The optical path includes a mirror which is articulated for rotational motion about an axis which shifts the point of impingement of the transmitted light beam upon the disc in the radial direction. The returned beam is directed to a photosensitive pick-up which provides input signals to a circuit which generates a "fine" servo control signal to drive the articulated mirror.

Abstract: A semiconductor focusing exposure apparatus in which an opposite face of a mask to a face to be illuminated by exposure light is illuminated with alignment light so that the light reflected from said opposite face may be used for alignment and which is equipped with a second moving arrangement which is separate from a moving arrangement for an x-y moving table supporting a wafer, for aligning the mask and the wafer in an orthogonal direction with respect to the optical axis of a focusing lens.Moreover, the center of the flux of alignment pattern light for illuminating the wafer is made incident upon a line of intersection on which a plane containing the optical axis of an alignment optical system and the optical axis of said focusing lens and the incident plane of said focusing lens intersect with each other.

Abstract: In an optical recording and playback disc apparatus, two light beams (l, m) are focused by a common focusing lens (108) onto an information track (51) of the optical recording disc, and the focused light means (l, m) form two light spots (L, M), the position thereof being controlled by a first tracking servo loop (115, 116 and 117), and furthermore, one (M) of the light spots is independently controlled from the other light spot (L) by a second tracking servo loop (120, 121 and 122).

Abstract: A tracking servo device for controlling the relative position in the radial direction of a recorded disc between an information reading point of a pick-up and a recorded track having an improved accuracy in performing track-jumping operations. In accordance with the invention, the track jumping operations are performed only in response to a tracking error signal, that is, without the use of a jump drive signal or brake signal, whereby fine control and adjustment of various signals within the circuit are made unnecessary and accurate and quick track jumping operations are ensured. To achieve this, an in-phase and an out-of-phase signal with respect to the tracking error signal are produced and alternately selected through a switch. The levels of the signals applied to the switch may be clamped to prevent them from passing through zero.

Abstract: Information stored in a medium as multiple machine readable record entries arranged in frames which are themselves arranged in one or more channels may be read by observing each frame in turn with a substantially known array of detector elements, each having a limited field of observation, producing a set of observed values for each frame. Modified values, indicative of the record entries of the frame, may be generated utilizing both the limitations on the range of the possible values of the record entries and predetermined manipulations of the observed values. As a result, any fractional misregistration between the record entries and the detector elements may be corrected. Position markers may be employed to determine where reading should occur. To distinguish local faults in the position markers, the markers may be observed in turn and values indicating marker position may be stored for a predetermined number of preceding markers.

Abstract: A lawn mower, having an engine for driving the mower itself, is provided with a memory unit of a paper-tape type for storing a route of travel for the mower and an optical reading unit for reading the stored route of travel. The paper tape is operable with a lead wheel which guides the movement of the mower, so that the paper tape is advanced when the lead wheel rotates and the route of travel of the mower is recorded on the paper tape with a writing member when the mower moves. The optical reading unit is installed in place of the writing member for operating the mower automatically. The optical reading unit reads the recorded route of travel and delivers a signal to control the direction of the lead wheel.

Abstract: A series of independent parallel pairs of light emitting and detecting diodes for a linear pixel array, which is laterally positioned over an edge-like discontinuity in a workpiece to be scanned, is disclosed. These independent pairs of light emitters and detectors sense along intersecting pairs of separate optical axes. A discontinuity, such as an edge in the sensed workpiece, reflects a detectable difference in the amount of light from that discontinuity in comparison to the amount of light that is reflected on either side of the discontinuity. A sequentially sychronized clamping and sampling circuit detects that difference as an electrical signal which is recovered by circuitry that exhibits an improved signal-to-noise capability for the system.

Abstract: The method of reading data from a data record carrier on which data has been recorded in arcuately nested, equal radii data rows which are equally spaced apart along a common centerline that is coextensive with a radius for each data row, comprises the steps of: incrementally moving the data record carrier in steps transversely of the data rows; projecting a light beam onto the plane in which the data record carrier moves; rotating the light beam about an axis parallel to the axis of said light beam to rotate said light beam in an arcuate path across the data record carrier, the radius of the arcuate path being the same or approximately the same radius of each data row; detecting scattered light outside the cone of specular reflection from the light beam impinging on the data record carrier, or the lack of scattered light, as the light beam traverses each data row; and sensing, and correcting for, difference between the arcuate path of said light beam and the arcuate path of the data row being traversed by sa

Abstract: A subaperture optical system for preventing interference between light inadvertently reflected from the protective overcoat of an optical recording disk from disruptively interfering with light reflected from the active layer of the optical recording disk, thereby causing coarse servo tracking errors as the coarse servo actuator carriage translates over the coarse servo tracks on the disk service. The optical system is comprised of a laser light source, a collimating lens system, an astigmatizing lens system, a subaperture mirror, a carriage actuator, a beam relaying telescope, an objective lens, an objective lens focus actuator, a reflected coarse servo beam focusing lens, and a coarse servo detector. The laser issues a beam which follows a first subaperture path that is parallel to, but off center from, the optical axis of an objective lens of the optical system. The beam is formed into a line focused spot which is focused on the disk surface at a non normal angle.

Abstract: An optical storage system employing a laser beam which is directed and focused onto an optical disk for reading and/or writing data in a track of the disk. Positioning control is achieved by providing for track following and track seeking using a plurality of interactive servo-loops. Proper focusing is maintained using focusing control circuitry which produces a focus error signal that is applied to a focus motor. This focusing control circuitry is able to return the objective lens assembly to its in-focus position so long as the objective lens assembly remains within a predetermined capture range. In the event that the objective lens assembly is outside of this capture range, a waveform generator is enabled which produces a correction signal that causes the focus motor to move the objective lens assembly back within the capture range with a velocity and for a time period sufficient to permit the focusing control circuitry to regain control and return the objective lens assembly to its in-focus position.

Abstract: A line following system comprising a matrix generating optical scanning device which produces a matrix representing a portion of a line being followed and a computer which locates points on said line from said matrixes and directs the optical scanning device to proceed along the line based on a course indicated by vectors between previously located points.

Abstract: An accurate alignment system for positioning at a required position an object to be worked which has on its surface straight-line areas whose image density changes relatively abruptly at their both side edges.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus comprises a light source, a mask plate having an exposure pattern area section and an alignment/reflection area section, a projection lens, a movable stage for holding a workpiece having a workpiece alignment mark, an alignment control and a driver for the movable stage. Before the exposure pattern area section is illuminated by the light source to be projected through the projection lens onto the workpiece, the workpiece is properly aligned with the mask. Alignment between the mask plate and the workpiece is performed by the effective use of the alignment/reflection area section specifically arranged and having a specific structure.

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: An apparatus is described for reading optically coded discs. In this apparatus the photodiode signals are amplified by current amplifiers which are biased by the unipolar photodiode signal currents, so that offset-free class-B operation is obtained.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus for recording and/or reading information in or from a track of a radiation-reflecting record carrier by means of a light beam includes an objective system for focusing the light beam so as to form a light spot on the record carrier in dependence on a control signal (S.sub.f). The control signal is generated by a focusing-error detection system having an astigmatic element and four detectors (D.sub.1 to D.sub.4). The output signals S.sub.1 to S.sub.4 of the four detectors are combined in an electric circuit arranged to produce a control signal satisfying the formula: ##EQU1## This control signal drastically reduces the influence on the focusing of offset of the light spot on the four detectors.

Abstract: In a circular scanning pattern tracing system, a dual scanning pattern is provided to detect pattern changes in advance of the system steering axis. Pattern detection pulses from both the scanning patterns are adjustable in length and the overlap of the pulses is used to determine whether the system should slow down.

Abstract: An electrically controlled pattern tracer selectively uses stored detected pattern information from a sensor differently depending upon the value of a selected entered kerf entered to control the tracing element to follow a pattern turn. The tracer also distinguishes one type of pattern turn from another and delays use of stored pattern information for control of the tracing element by different amounts depending upon the type of turn detected and the entered kerf.

Abstract: An edge detecting device in an optical measuring instrument for detecting a transmitted or a reflected light to directly or indirectly measure a dimension of an object to be measured is disclosed. The edge detecting device comprisesA sensor including two light receiving elements disposed coaxially with each other and the two light receiving elements so as to produce phase shift signals in response to a bright or a dark portion during the relative movement. Levels of sensor output signals appearing at sensor output terminals in response to outputs of the light receiving elements become equal in value to each other each time the bright or dark portion is generated during the relative movement.

Abstract: It is necessary to photographically measure the density of an original film or to measure the size of a film manually or automatically for input in photographic printing system in order to determine printing exposure amount or correction amount therefor. Image sensors are usually used as a means in such measurement, but image information should be detected always under the same conditions irrespective of the size of negative film frames. This invention method allows effective detection of the whole frame of an original film with substantially the whole area of an image sensor as the method can make the sizes of light receiving areas on the image sensor constantly substantially identical to each other.

Abstract: A pattern tracer with circuitry for electronically adjusting the lateral offset of the tracing element for kerf compensation, that produces a control signal based on a temporal relationship between a reference signal and a pattern detection signal associated with a preselected kerf compensation. The pattern is traced with the selected lateral offset in accordance with a control signal. The control signal is developed in response to both a line width compensation signal and a kerf compensation signal. A photometric detector is calibrated by electronically adding a compensation angle to a pattern detection angle to compensate for any physical misalignment of the detector.

Abstract: A robotic vehicle is guided along a predetermined path which is to be traversed autonomously by the vehicle. As the vehicle is guided along the path, the area before the vehicle is scanned and discontinuities in the scan scene are reduced to a series of time separated pulses. The pulse series at selected locations along the path are stored such that the vehicle can autonomously retrace the predetermined path by matching pulse series generated by current scanning with stored pulse series. A scanner mirror receives and directs a laser beam through an area before the vehicle along the path to be traversed and receives reflected return signals from the scanned area. Optical detection means receive the return signals from the scanner mirror and generate raw scene signals which are doubly differentiated to generate pulse series representative of the discontinuities of the scanned area.

Abstract: In a circular scanning pattern tracing system having a sample and hold circuit, the width of the sample pulse is made adjustable. This variable width is equivalent to a variable low pass filter in the system. The effective cut off frequency of the filter is made dependent on the system tangential tracing velocity.

Abstract: A sensing and regulating apparatus for use with a tool such as a welding torch guided along a bevel, an oxygen cutting head, a chisel, a milling cutter, or a nibbling machine, comprises an optical apparatus projecting a light ray on a reference line where it delineates a spot which is diffused particularly toward a receiver consisting of elements sensitive to light. The spot of light falling on the receiver supplies two adjustment signals according to its position and its width. These signals are used to control elements carrying the optical apparatus so that the apparatus continually follows the reference line and so that it always remains at the same distance from the reference line. The movements of the optical apparatus control the associated working tool so that its path is equal, or homothetic, to that of the optical apparatus as a result of the reference line.

Abstract: The present invention applies to a circular scanning optical pattern tracer of the non-steering type. The scanner includes the normal circular scanning mirror and sensor and in addition a further circular scanning mirror and sensor to produce a scan of greater diameter than the normal scan. The signal from the second scan is used to indicate rapid changes of direction of the pattern by gating the produced signal through a gate produced from the normal scan.

Abstract: A beam access apparatus for an optical disc system. The apparatus includes a lens position detector for generating a lens position signal indicating a position of the objective lens in a radial direction of the disc with respect to the optical head which is movable relative to the disc. The apparatus is operated in a head access mode in which the optical head is moved in the radial direction of the disc and the objective lens is caused to follow the movement of the optical head such that the objective lens is positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the optical head. The apparatus is also operable in a lens access mode wherein the objective lens is moved in the radial direction and the optical head is caused to follow the objective lens such that the objective lens is located at a predetermined position with respect to the optical head.

Abstract: An optical pattern follower uses a photo matrix to scan a pattern. The scan pattern is determined by generating a series of point addresses storing such addresses and interrogating the matrix only when the point address in the matrix being scanned corresponds to an address in the store. The resulting signals are processed to produce direction velocity signals which cause the follower to follow the pattern at a predetermined tangential velocity.

Abstract: A video disc player is described for use with a video disc having frequency modulated video information recorded thereon in the form of a plurality of concentric circles or a single spiral. The information track comprises successively positioned light reflective and light non-reflective regions. A focused light beam is caused to be positioned over the center of an information track and the light reflected from the information track is gathered by an objective lens for application to electronic circuitry for recovering the recorded frequency modulated video signals. Radial tracking means are described for maintaining the focused light spot to impinge upon the center of an information track. Lens focusing means are described for positioning the objective lens at the optimum focused position above the information track for gathering the maximum amount of reflected light from the information track.