Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and systems for generating and processing optically tagged beads. A nucleic acid probe comprising a fluorescent tag may be hybridized to a bead to generate an optically tagged bead. The nucleic acid probe hybridized to the optically tagged bead may be detectable by one or more signals and may be substantially unreactive to one or more chemical reactions performed with, or in the presence of, the optically tagged bead.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of accurate area tracking, and a method for controlling the same are provided. An image area for extracting a feature amount is identified based on a specified position. A plurality of images are searched for an image that corresponds to the image area using the feature amount extracted from the identified image area. The image area is identified using distance information if distance information that satisfies a reliability condition has been obtained regarding an area that includes the specified position, and without using the distance information if the distance information that satisfies the reliability condition has not been obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retinoscope comprising: a refractor that has a lens module therein and is located at a predetermined distance from eyes of a person to be tested such that a line of sight of the person to be tested passes through an optometry window, wherein the lens module is configured such that a plurality of lenses necessary for correction are selectively located on the optometry window in order to obtain a correction value for correcting the eyes of the person to be tested; a main body for supporting the refractor; a retinoscope unit coupled to one surface of the main body and maintained at a predetermined distance from the refractor, wherein the retinoscope unit radiates light beams to the eyes of the person to be tested so as to be close to the line of sight of the person to be tested and rotates or reciprocates the light beams when receiving a signal of an operating unit; and the operating unit that operates driving of the refractor and the retinoscope unit.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for an image pickup unit, the method including: a step of bonding plural lens wafers, on which optical components are formed, and forming a lens unit wafer including plural lens units; a step of bonding a bending optical element wafer including plural bending optical elements to a first surface of the lens unit wafer such that the plural bending optical elements are respectively opposed to the plural lens units and forming an optical unit wafer; a step of separating and individualizing the optical unit wafer for each of the lens units and the bending optical elements and manufacturing plural optical units; and a step of respectively bonding solid-state image pickup devices to emission surfaces of lights of the bending optical elements of the optical units.

Abstract: A computer-based method controls a dynamical system in an uncertain environment within a bounded probability of failure. The dynamical system has a state space and a control space. The method includes diffusing a risk constraint corresponding to the bounded probability of failure into a martingale that represents a level of risk tolerance associated with the dynamical system over time. The state space and the control space of the dynamical system are augmented with the martingale to create an augmented model with an augmented state space and an augmented control space. The method may include iteratively constructing one or more Markov Decision Processes (MDPs), with each iterative MDP represents an incrementally refined model of the dynamical system. The method further includes computing a first solution based on the augmented model or, if additional time was available, based on one of the MDP iterations.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: an image acquirer configured to acquire a shot image of a user from an imaging device; a registered user information holder configured to hold face identification data of a registered user; a face authentication section configured to execute authentication processing of a face image in the shot image by using the face identification data held in the registered user information holder; a shooting condition controller configured to adjust a shooting condition to bring a characteristic of the face image close to a characteristic of a face image of an acquisition source of the face identification data and make the imaging device perform shooting in order to improve an authentication result in the face authentication section; and an information processing section configured to execute information processing on the basis of an authentication result of a face image obtained by adjustment.

Abstract: The invention combines several techniques applying high-resolution photosensitive emulsions for the long-term, archival storage of data, images and text. Data is stored as vertical interference patterns of multiple frequencies in a photographic emulsion. Read-out of the stored data uses a precision mechanism to locate and decode stored data.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a storage section configured to store data; a printing section configured to perform duplex printing of the data stored in the storage section, the duplex printing including printing N sheets on first sides thereof and subsequently printing M sheets on second sides thereof, wherein M is equal to or smaller than N; a detection section configured to detect a request for storing data in the storage section; and a changing section configured to change the value of N into a smaller value during the duplex printing, in response to the detection of the request for storing data based on a function which uses the storage section concurrently with an operation of the duplex printing.

Abstract: Sol-gel process for producing a photochromic composite material includes successive stages of hydrolysis, condensation, and drying, in which an alkoxysilane is selected as a precursor, and a ruthenium complex with a nitrosyl ligand is selected as a photochromic complex, and, in combination, the sol-gel process is implemented starting from the selected precursor and photochromic complex, with successive stages of hydrolysis, arrangement in a container of a selected shape, condensation, curing and aging, whereby this latter stage includes a final drying cycle, and for, the curing and aging stages, the pH, temperature and duration are selected so that in the produced xerogel, whose shape is determined by that of the container, the photochromic ruthenium complex with a nitrosyl ligand, in the crystalline state and in the form of nanoparticles, is inserted into the nanopores of the silica matrix, distributed in an at least substantially homogeneous way.

Abstract: In a system, in order to allow transfer of information relating to image data and the like to a desired directory in a directory structure in a host information processing apparatus, without performing an operation at the host information processing apparatus, in a first apparatus, a directory-information management unit acquires and manages directory information of a storage unit managed by a filing system of a second apparatus, and a display unit displays the directory information managed by the directory-information management unit. The user assigns a directory to which the image data and the like are to be transferred in the storage unit of the second apparatus, using an assignment unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recording of soundtracks onto analogue cinema film, in particular the recording of digital created and/or digital/electronically stored representations of soundtracks onto film. The method according to the invention for comprises converting sound data from the digital soundtracks to sound image data, modulating light based on the sound image data, and imaging the modulated light onto a photosensitive film. The device according to the invention comprises at least one light source, processing electronics for converting sound data from the digital soundtracks to sound image data, at least one full frame device connected to the processing electronics, adapted for modulating light from the light source according to the sound image data, imaging optics for imaging the modulated light onto a photosensitive film.

Abstract: An LPF performs low-pass filtering for a light reception signal responsive to return light received by an optical pickup. A comparator makes a comparison between the level of the signal output from the LPF and a predetermined threshold value and outputs a high or low pulse signal MIR. A system control section determines the pulse signal MIR for each predetermined dot region. If the pulse signal MIR output from the comparator is high, the system control section writes “1” into buffer memory; if the pulse signal MIR is low, the system control section writes “0” into the buffer memory. The pixel string data recorded in the buffer memory is transferred to a host and an image responsive to pixel string data is displayed on a display.

Abstract: In a method for monitoring hardware devices of the hardware devices network to detect failures, past logged jobs are analyzed to determine a pattern of past usage of hardware devices by users of the hardware devices network. A failure of a hardware device is inferred based on a deviation in usage of the hardware devices from the pattern of past usage. In some embodiments, a state model is constructed that assigns one of two or more available operational states to each hardware device of the hardware devices network based on a recent load of jobs logged to the hardware device and a stored history of logged jobs indicative of typical loading of the hardware devices. One or more failing hardware devices are identified based on the assigned operational states.

Abstract: A producing method of producing a solid state pickup device is provided. Imaging elements are formed on a wafer in a matrix form. Each of the imaging elements has a light receiving surface and plural contact points. Receiving surface border portions are formed on a glass plate to protrude therefrom in a matrix form by etching. The receiving surface border portions are attached to the wafer to surround the light receiving surface in each of the receiving surface border portions. The light receiving surface is spaced from the glass plate. The glass plate is diced outside respectively the receiving surface border portions, to form shield glass for covering the light receiving surface. The wafer is diced for each of the imaging elements, to obtain the solid state pickup device having the shield glass and one of the imaging elements.

Abstract: A producing method of producing a solid state pickup device is provided. Imaging elements are formed on a wafer in a matrix form. Each of the imaging elements has a light receiving surface and plural contact points. Receiving surface border portions are formed on a glass plate to protrude therefrom in a matrix form by etching. The receiving surface border portions are attached to the wafer to surround the light receiving surface in each of the receiving surface border portions. The light receiving surface is spaced from the glass plate. The glass plate is diced outside respectively the receiving surface border portions, to form shield glass for covering the light receiving surface. The wafer is diced for each of the imaging elements, to obtain the solid state pickup device having the shield glass and one of the imaging elements.

Abstract: An information recording medium and an optical recording system allow target information (such as an ad) to be displayed without requiring changes in hardware or physical specifications. The recording medium comprises a recording-limited area in which recording is made possible by canceling the limit after an instruction is issued for displaying the target information.

Abstract: An electron beam applying apparatus includes: a thermal field emission type electron source emitting an electron beam; an electrostatic lens disposed immediately below the electron source and acting as a condensing electrode for condensing the electron beam in a first angular aperture emitted by the electron source in a second angular aperture smaller than the first angular aperture; a condenser lens disposed on a downstream side of the electrostatic lens and condensing the electron beam condensed in the second aperture angel by the electrostatic lens in a crossover point; and an objective lens disposed on a downstream side of the condenser lens and condensing the electron beam condensed in the crossover point by the condenser lens on the surface of the material.

Abstract: An electron beam applying apparatus includes: a thermal field emission type electron source emitting an electron beam; an electrostatic lens disposed immediately below the electron source and acting as a condensing electrode for condensing the electron beam in a first angular aperture emitted by the electron source in a second angular aperture smaller than the first angular aperture; a condenser lens disposed on a downstream side of the electrostatic lens and condensing the electron beam condensed in the second aperture angel by the electrostatic lens in a crossover point; and an objective lens disposed on a downstream side of the condenser lens and condensing the electron beam condensed in the crossover point by the condenser lens on the surface of the material.

Abstract: An optical pickup with improved vibration resistance and heat dissipation is mounted astride a main shaft 101 and a secondary shaft 102. The travel of the optical pickup is adapted to be guided by the main shaft, where a secondary bearing part 3 adapted to slide relative to the secondary shaft 102 includes an overlapping sliding face 32 and an auxiliary overlapping face 36, and a clearance ? is formed between the auxiliary overlapping face 36 and the secondary shaft 102 to improve ease of assembly. A control element 41 is mounted on a printed circuit board 4 mounted on a base member 1, and the control element is overlapped with a radiator plate 5. The radiator plate 5 is provided with a pressing piece 54, and the pressing piece 54 is brought into elastic contact with the secondary shaft 102 to reliably bring the overlapping sliding face 32 into elastic contact with the secondary shaft 102.

Abstract: A method, system and non-linear optical storage medium are presented for use in at least reading data in the medium. The technique utilizes a first function corresponding to an effect of data recording in the medium and a second function corresponding to an effect of reading the recorded data, where each of the first and second functions is a function of at least a power profile of applied interacting radiation in a respective one of the recording and reading events and a duration of said event. These data is utilized to select a certain operating mode defined by ranges of said power and duration parameters during the reading process corresponding to a non-degenerate relation between the first and second functions.

Abstract: A producing method of producing a solid state pickup device is provided. Imaging elements are formed on a wafer in a matrix form. Each of the imaging elements has a light receiving surface and plural contact points. Receiving surface border portions are formed on a glass plate to protrude therefrom in a matrix form by etching. The receiving surface border portions are attached to the wafer to surround the light receiving surface in each of the receiving surface border portions. The light receiving surface is spaced from the glass plate. The glass plate is diced outside respectively the receiving surface border portions, to form shield glass for covering the light receiving surface. The wafer is diced for each of the imaging elements, to obtain the solid state pickup device having the shield glass and one of the imaging elements.

Abstract: For a reproduction of optical sound information in a double variable-area track (DZ) an optoelectronic converter device scans the optical sound track of a film. The converter device generates a digital image signal for buffer storage in the memory of a program-controlled data processing device. The data processing device derives the profile of the two edges of the double variable-area track from data values of the buffer-stored image signal. Audio data for a sound reproduction are generated using data about the edge profile determined.

Abstract: In a system, in order to allow transfer of information relating to image data and the like to a desired directory in a directory structure in a host information processing apparatus, without performing an operation at the host information processing a directory-information management unit acquires and manages directory information of a storage unit in a first apparatus managed by a filing system of a second apparatus, and a display unit displays the directory information managed by the directory-information management unit. The user assigns a directory to which the image data and the like are to be transferred in the storage unit of the second apparatus, using an assignment unit.

Abstract: A producing method of producing a solid state pickup device is provided. Imaging elements are formed on a wafer in a matrix form. Each of the imaging elements has a light receiving surface and plural contact points. Receiving surface border portions are formed on a glass plate to protrude therefrom in a matrix form by etching. The receiving surface border portions are attached to the wafer to surround the light receiving surface in each of the receiving surface border portions. The light receiving surface is spaced from the glass plate. The glass plate is diced outside respectively the receiving surface border portions, to form shield glass for covering the light receiving surface. The wafer is diced for each of the imaging elements, to obtain the solid state pickup device having the shield glass and one of the imaging elements.

Abstract: A scanning device optically scans picture information and further information provided on an original film and makes the information available as digitized data, the scanned information not being converted into the original information contents. A storage device stores the data obtained from the film scanner as digital data, and a display device separates data reproduced by the storage device in accordance with their original location on the original film and makes them available as separate data signals.

Abstract: An image pickup device, an image pickup device program and an image pickup method are disclosed, in which an image is picked up by setting the image pickup conditions suitable for an object, and the face image thus picked up can be easily corrected in accordance with the characteristics and preferences of the object. Once a shutter button is pressed halfway and a line-of-sight sensor 14 confirms that the line of sight of a photographer is set, a CPU 5 generates a preview image, and upon detection of the face image, infers the race, age and sex of the object using the feature amount of the face image. Further, image pickup parameters suitable for the inference result and the measurement of a length measuring sensor 13 are set, and the main image pickup process is executed under the image pickup conditions corresponding to the parameters.

Abstract: An integrated optical disc label scanner system can comprise a substrate configured for spinning an optical disc, wherein the optical disc has a graphic display on a first surface; an emitting device configured for reflecting energy from the graphic display; a detecting device configured to receive energy sourced from the emitting device and reflected from the graphic display while the optical disc is spinning; and a signal processor configured for converting the energy collected by the detecting device into digitized data. Further, a method of scanning a graphic display from an optical disc can comprise the steps of spinning an optical disc having a graphic display on a first surface; radiating the first surface with emitted energy resulting in graphic display reflected energy; collecting the graphic display reflected energy while the optical disc is spinning; and converting the graphic display reflected energy into digitized data.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide an optical pick-up apparatus and a semiconductor laser apparatus which can suppress reduction of optical utilization efficiency for the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser element. When a laser light which is emitted from a laser element for DVD and whose polarization direction is perpendicular to a direction of a groove of the polarization grating is incident on the polarization grating, the polarization grating does not diffract the laser light and transmits the laser light as zero-order diffraction light. Consequently, all of the laser light A emitted from the laser element for DVD can be used for reading information signal of DVD and detecting FES and TES. This enables reduction of optical utilization efficiency arising by diffracting action of a grating used for detecting TES of CD in a conventional optical pick-up apparatus to be suppressed.

Abstract: In an optical disc, a wobble signal is to be detected by a simple configuration. In the optical disc, the address information, modulated onto a sinusoidal carrier signal by adding even harmonics signals to said sinusoidal carrier signal and by changing the polarity of said harmonics signals, is formed into the wobble signal. In detecting the wobble signal from the optical disc to demodulate the address information, in a method for detecting the wobble signal, an even harmonics signal and data clocks are generated, and the even harmonics signal so generated are multiplied with the reproduced wobble signal. The resulting product signal is integrated every data clock. The sign of the digital information is verified based on the integrated value at an end edge of the data clock.

Abstract: An eight-to-fourteen modulation (EFM) data decoding method for an optical disk system is provided. The method includes the following steps: extracting 14-bit data from a serial data; looking up a modified EFM decoding table for converting the 14-bit data into a corresponding 8-bit data; and outputting the 8-bit data. The modified EFM decoding table includes transformation entries for converting 14-bit data non-conform to the standard EFM modulation rule into the most probable 8-bit one. This data-accessing reliability is effectively upgraded in the embodiment by specially processing those non-conformable 14-bit data.

Abstract: An optical disk device and a tilt correction method capable of high precision tilt correction with a smaller number of measurement positions are provided. Prior to data recording and reproduction, a number of measurement positions are set in the radial direction on an optical disk with intervals between two adjacent measurement positions shorter and shorter from the inner region to the peripheral region of the optical disk. The tilt at each of the measurement positions is measured, and the resulting tilt data are stored in a memory. The tilt data are used for making tilt corrections when recording or reproducing data on the optical disk.

Abstract: A multilayer optical disk including a plurality of information storage layers to/from which information is recorded and/or reproduced by an optical head. The plurality of information storage layers are stacked through intermediate layers and each information storage layer includes a wobbling track groove. The shape factors (amplitude of wobbling, depth of the track groove and/or slope angle of the side wall of the track groove, etc.) of the track groove of at least one information storage layer of the plurality of information storage layers are different from the shape factors of track grooves of other information storage layers. This allows a satisfactory signal to be reproduced from each information storage layer.

Abstract: Information indicative of disk-applicable recording speeds is incorporated in lead-out start time information within ATIP information that is recorded in pre-grooves located in a lead-in area of an optical disk. Once the optical disk is inserted in an optical disk recording device, the lead-out start time information is read out, so that recording is performed on the optical disk after a recording speed is automatically set to a highest settable speed value within a range specified by the read-out lead-out start time information. This arrangement can reliably prevent recording at speeds beyond predetermined limit values unique to the optical disk.

Abstract: A data recording method of modulating the power of a laser beam in accordance with a pulse pattern, projecting the laser beam onto a write-once type optical recording medium to form a record mark and recording data in the write-once type optical recording medium, wherein the pulse pattern is constituted by a pattern in which the power of the laser beam is set to a recording power Pw within a first period and a second period and the power of the laser beam is set to an intermediate power Pm lower than the recording power Pw within a third period provided between the first period and the second period, the length of the first period and the levels of the recording power Pw and the intermediate power Pw being set to satisfy 1.7T≦ttop2 and 1.4≦Pw/Pm where T is a length corresponding to one cycle of a reference pulse and ttop2 is the length of the first period.

Abstract: An optical pickup includes a diffraction grating partitioned into three areas, in which the phase of periodic grating groove structure in an area is successively shifted from that in the adjacent area by 90°. In the generation of a differential push-pull signal, an amplification factor K for sub push-pull signals is varied depending on the type of the optical disk. By such composition of the optical pickup, amplitude deterioration of the tracking error signal accompanying displacement of the object lens is reduced.

Abstract: A digital film recorder for recording a digital image on a strip of photographic film includes a light tight housing; a cartridge chamber in the housing for receiving a cartridge of unexposed photographic film; a film receiver in the housing for receiving the film strip from the cartridge, a write head located in the housing between the cartridge chamber and the film receiver, the write head including a linear array of pixels for exposing the film strip a line at a time across the width of the film strip; a film transport for moving the film from the cartridge to the film receiver a line at a time; control electronics for receiving the digital image and controlling the film transport and the write head to write the digital image on the film strip as a plurality of color separations including at least one positive human readable image.

Abstract: A disk apparatus (10) includes an optical lens (14). A seek operation is performed by moving the optical lens in a radius direction of a recording surface of a magnetooptical disk (40). When the seek operation is being operated, a TE signal detection circuit (26) generates a TE signal based on a laser beam reflected from the recording surface, and applies a generated TE signal to a DSP (34) via an A/D converter (32a). The DSP detects a peak level of the TE signal and a level change amount of the TE signal in a unit time, and generates a tracking actuator control voltage based on the detected peak level and the level change amount. A moving speed of the optical lens is controlled by a generated tracking actuator control voltage.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium in which the ranges of the refractive index and thickness of a protective layer in a case where the protective layer is constituted by a plurality of layers are newly specified and the refractive index and thickness of the protective layer are determine in these ranges, thereby ensuring that even if variation in thickness of the protective layer to ±3 &mgr;m is tolerated, spherical aberration in the optical information recording medium is substantially to within 30 m&lgr;rms.

Abstract: An optical disk reading device has a lid having a catch hole provided along an edge, and a locking element having a catch part that removably engages the catch hole, and a push rod directing part. The locking element is pivotable to cause the catch part to engage and disengage the catch hole to close and open the lid, respectively. The optical disk reading device further includes a push rod having a tab provided at the bottom end, the push rod assuming an unlocked position when the catch part disengages the catch hole, and assuming a locked position when the catch part engages the catch hole. The optical disk reading device further includes a guide track having a stop edge, with the tab traveling along the guide track and secured at the stop edge when the push rod is in the locked position. The push rod directing part contacts the tab to cause the tab to be disengaged from the stop edge when the locking element is pivoted to disengage the catch part from the catch hole.

Abstract: Lenses 1, 2, and 4 as an optical element having a power are cemented together in an optical axis direction. An optical filter 3 is sandwiched between the lenses 2 and 4. Optical elements neighboring each other are cemented together such that a positioning section which is disposed on a side surface of the optical element disposes an appropriate space in an optical axis direction and optical axes of optical elements align in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The cemented optical element arrays are cemented together and cut at a line for cutting operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical lens having a high refractive index and a low light absorption characteristic in a ultraviolet-wavelength region, a condenser lens fit for the near-field optical recording/reproducing system, an optical pickup capable of dealing with reducing a condensed light spot irradiating a recording medium and making the recording medium higher in density and greater in capacity, and an optical recording/reproducing apparatus comprising the optical pickup to enable optical recording and reproduction in high recording density to be performed.

Abstract: An optical disc manufacturing method suppresses thickness variation in intermediate layers disposed between any two data recording layers to achieve an intermediate layer of uniform thickness. A first step prepares a substrate 2 having a center hole 102 and data recording layer 1. This center hole is then plugged with a capping member 4 and a resin material 7 is dripped from above the center hole while spinning the substrate around its center hole to coat the data recording layer with the resin by a spin coating method. The capping member is then removed. Another step prepares a stamper 11 having a groove or lands and pits 10 on the surface. The groove or lands and pits side of the stamper is then pressed into the resin material on the substrate, and the resin is then cured to form an intermediate layer 17.

Abstract: An object is to determine the optimum power with consideration for the recording state of a base layer track when determining the optimum power by test recording before recording user data. After recording at a second recording power higher by a specific amount than a first recording power, recording is done at a third recording power lower by a specific amount than the first recording power, and the first recording power is set to the recording power for data recording when a specified playback signal quality is achieved.

Abstract: In an optical disc apparatus, a minimum jitter value is established from each jitter value measured in correspondence to a successively changed servo constant, and multiplied by a prescribed ratio so as to set a jitter threshold value. Servo constants corresponding to at least two jitter values substantially equal to the jitter threshold value is established, and an optimum servo constant is set based on this minimum of two servo constants. By doing this, it is possible to quickly and accurately detect the optimum servo constant, and achieve good servo adjustment.

Abstract: A producing method of producing a solid state pickup device is provided. Imaging elements are formed on a wafer in a matrix form. Each of the imaging elements has a light receiving surface and plural contact points. Receiving surface border portions are formed on a glass plate to protrude therefrom in a matrix form by etching. The receiving surface border portions are attached to the wafer to surround the light receiving surface in each of the receiving surface border portions. The light receiving surface is spaced from the glass plate. The glass plate is diced outside respectively the receiving surface border portions, to form shield glass for covering the light receiving surface. The wafer is diced for each of the imaging elements, to obtain the solid state pickup device having the shield glass and one of the imaging elements.

Abstract: An optical pickup apparatus and an optical disk apparatus are disclosed by which a land prepit signal is produced appropriately. Outputs of first and fourth light reception regions and outputs of second and third light reception regions of a light reception section are added by first and second adders, respectively. The gains of outputs of the adders are controlled with a predetermined output ratio by respective AGCs, and resulting signals are outputted to respective variable gain amplifiers. Meanwhile, the outputs of the adders are added by a further adder to produce a RF signal, and a gain control signal production section detects presence or absence of a record mark from the RF signal and varies the amplification factors of the variable gain amplifiers based on a result of the detection. A subtractor produces a difference signal from the outputs of the variable gain amplifiers, and a binarization circuit binarizes the difference signal within a predetermined level range to produce a land prepit signal.

Abstract: A lens system includes a lens, a grating and a non-periodic phase structure. The lens system is a-thermalised by a compensation of the temperature-dependence of the spherical aberration of the lens by the temperature-dependence of the spherical aberration of the non-periodic phase structure and the grating. The lens system is also a-spherochromatised by a compensation of the wavelength-dependence of the spherical aberration of the grating by the wavelength-dependence of the spherical aberration of the non-periodic phase structure.

Abstract: An integrated optical disc label scanner system can comprise a substrate configured for spinning an optical disc, wherein the optical disc has a graphic display on a first surface; an emitting device configured for reflecting energy from the graphic display; a detecting device configured to receive energy sourced from the emitting device and reflected from the graphic display while the optical disc is spinning; and a signal processor configured for converting the energy collected by the detecting device into digitized data. Further, a method of scanning a graphic display from an optical disc can comprise the steps of spinning an optical disc having a graphic display on a first surface; radiating the first surface with emitted energy resulting in graphic display reflected energy; collecting the graphic display reflected energy while the optical disc is spinning; and converting the graphic display reflected energy into digitized data.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising a first lens unit which comprises at least a negative lens element and at least a positive lens element and has negative refractive power, a second lens unit which has positive refractive power, and an optical path bending reflecting optical element which has a variable reflecting surface disposed in an airspace between a most object side lens component of the first lens unit and a most object side lens component of the second lens unit. This image pickup apparatus changes a magnification by moving the second lens unit along an optical axis and corrects a deviation of an image location by varying a shape of the variable reflecting surface of the reflecting optical element.

Abstract: DVD 1? has recording information areas VOR, AOR in which recording information is recorded and reproducing procedure information recording areas VNA, ANA in which reproducing procedure information indicating reproducing procedures of the recording information is recorded. In addition, this DVD 1? has an integrated reproducing procedure information recording area GNA in which an integrated reproducing procedure information is recorded. The integrated reproducing procedure information indicates reproducing procedures to sequentially reproduce a plurality of recording information including recording information recorded in other DVD. Upon reproducing, the recording information recorded astride a plurality of DVDs is reproduced in accordance with the integrated reproducing procedure information.