Abstract: A driving circuit to drive a vibration member comprising an electro-mechanical energy conversion element includes a transformer connected in parallel to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element. The transformer includes a primary coil configured such that an alternating voltage is applied to the primary coil, and a secondary coil connected to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element in parallel, and an inductor connected to the primary coil in series, Parameters of the driving circuit are set such that, when a frequency of a peak voltage applied to the electro-mechanical energy conversion element is denoted by fe and a driving frequency of the vibration member is denoted by fd, a condition fe<1.5·fd is satisfied.

Abstract: An apparatus for suitable for obtaining an image of a dental structure has an illuminator member placed proximate the area to be imaged. The illuminator member has a support structure (30) for retaining the illuminator member in position proximate the area to be imaged. A reference (22) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member and disposed within the area to be imaged. At least one light source (24) is coupled to the support structure (30) of the illuminator member for directing imaging illumination toward the area to be imaged. A camera (12) records an image from within the area to be imaged using the imaging illumination from the illuminator member, wherein the image comprises the reference (22).

Abstract: A rewritable optical recording medium includes a segmented groove area in which the groove track is segmented along a rotating direction of the recording medium by groove non-forming portions to form a plurality of groove portions; and a continuous groove area in which a continuous groove is formed, the continuous groove having a groove width smaller than a groove width in the segmented groove area.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical disk barcode forming method wherein, as information to be barcoded, position information for piracy prevention, which is a form of ID, is coded as a barcode and is recorded by laser trimming on a reflective film in a PCA area of an optical disk. When playing back the thus manufactured optical disk on a reproduction apparatus, the barcode data can be played back using the same optical pickup.

Abstract: Proposed is a playback device (1), especially a compact disc changer, which enables a random selection of data groups of recording media to be reproduced in succession. The playback device (1) comprises an input unit (5) and a random generator (10) for random selection of data groups which are stored on recording media, especially compact discs, that can be loaded into the playback device (1) from a magazine (15). The probability that a data group which is selected by the random generator (10) to be reproduced following a data group reproduced by the playback device (1) on a recording medium inserted in the drive (25) of the playback device (1) is stored on the same recording medium can be predetermined.

Abstract: The optical data-storage card includes an optical data-storage medium layer supported on the card. The data-storage medium layer includes a plurality of data storage tracks for storing data therein. Each of the tracks having at least an arc-segment wherein each of the data storage tracks being substantially parallel to a neighboring track.

Abstract: A master recording apparatus includes a revolving base (31) for revolving a substrate (1) coated with resist thereon, an irradiating mechanism (32), an elevator mechanism (33) for making the irradiating mechanism (32) capable of moving in a vertical direction and in a surface direction which is perpendicular to the vertical direction relative to the revolving base (31) and a height position displacement mechanism (35) interposing between the irradiating mechanism (32) and the elevator mechanism (33), and in which the irradiating mechanism (32) is connected with the elevator mechanism (33) through the height position displacement mechanism (35) and the irradiating mechanism (32) has such a structure in which at least a converging lens system (36) and a displacement driving mechanism (37) for adjusting a focus are supported by a gas static pressure pad housing (38), in the gas static pressure pad housing (38) a gas feeding pad (39) is disposed facing a bottom surface opposing the substrate and gas is made to be

Abstract: A master optical disk recording apparatus forms a train of pits on a recording layer of a master optical disk by a laser beam which is emitted from the laser light source and is modulated by an acousto-optic modulator. An objective lens in the recording apparatus consists of a finite conjugate type lens and a convergence point on the acousto-optic modulation element where the laser beam is converged by a convergence lens is positioned outside of the focal point of the objective lens at the incidence side thereof.

Abstract: A disc-shaped recording medium is used in a recording/reproducing apparatus in which a light beam is arranged to scan along a groove formed as a concentrical or spiral recording track, to record or reproduce data. Additional data which has preeviously been recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium in the shape of irregularities, such as address data indicating each recording track, is previously recorded within the groove in the shape of substantially sinusoidal irregularities of an amplitude which is smaller than the depth of the groove. Thus, if new data is recorded over the additional data, it is possible to easily separate the additional data and the newly-recorded data from each other during reproduction, so that the recording density can be improved.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus are specified for recording a digital signal onto a recording carrier (4), in particular a signal for recording in compact disc data format, in which an engraving or cutting stylus (2) is pressed substantially by dead weight alone against the recording carrier (4) and, in operating mode, describes a path which lies beneath the undeformed surface of the recording carrier (4) during an indentation to be engraved and on or above the undistorted surface of the recording carrier (4) between two indentations, the common center of gravity position of the engraving stylus (2) and positioning element (1) connected rigidly to it remaining substantially stable in position.

Abstract: Optical recording media for storing information on which bits are formed by applying radiant energy to a polydiacetylene thin film supported by a substrate, so that the main chain structure of the polydiacetylene is transformed into another form or forms. The optical recording media has the advantages of allowing high-speed recording both with small amounts of energy for recording and with high recording density.

Abstract: Coded information bearing elements such as video discs may be produced from multilayered articles. The articles comprise a base having a thermoplastic, radiation curable resin on one surface and an embossable electrically conductive or radiation reflective layer over said resin.