Abstract: A control method and apparatus for a thermal head capable of printing two colors applies thermal history control using a simple circuit configuration. The thermal head control apparatus has a print data processing unit 40 and a drive control circuit 50. The print data processing unit 40 has a first command processing function for converting first color data to a first and second stage energizing commands, a second command processing function for converting second color data to a second stage energizing command, a first line buffer 43 for storing first stage energizing commands, and a second line buffer 44 for recording second stage energizing commands. The print data processing unit 40 selectively outputs energizing commands from the first line buffer 43 and energizing commands from the second line buffer 44.

Abstract: An internet presentation system includes an internet accessible server that permits access to a database of editable and executable presentation files to select users with a specific type of periphery device. The periphery device, or projector, includes a hardware ID used by the server to authenticate the user. The server additionally maintains an administration mode by which select administrators may create and edit template files and color scheme files required, but not editable, by the select users. The server also maintain statistic of the select users and their activities. The administrators use the statistics to target template and color scheme files for deletion and editing.

Abstract: When printing a print document for which there is a print request from an application program, printing the one or plural print documents printed by page unit where a specific paper size is one page is controlled based on plural combinations of print paper feeding and cutting.

Abstract: “A semiconductor integrated circuit can switch operation modes at proper timing and reduce a number of external terminals. By shifting to a low power consumption mode in response to an end of a printing operation by using an ink cartridge, an operation mode can be shifted without any effects on regular operations. In the low power consumption mode, a specified address can be initialized, resulting in an attempt for the reduction of power consumption. In the low power consumption mode, the power consumption can be reduced more by terminating operations of internal circuits including a sense amplifier, an address decoder, an output buffer, and a latch circuit. In addition, a chip-select terminal can be used to initialize circuit blocks and to shift to a stand-by mode, which results in a reduction of external terminals.

Abstract: A parking lot guidance system guides parking lot users to empty parking spaces in a large-scale parking lot in a way that is easy for the user to understand. The parking lot guidance system N has vehicle detection units 1 for detecting vehicles parked in parking spaces, a control unit 2 for generating parking space availability data for the parking lot based on detection results from the vehicle detection units 1, a parking lot map storage unit 3 for storing maps of the parking lot, an empty space data storage unit 4 for storing the empty parking space data generated by the control unit 2, and data transmitters 6 for sending the empty parking space data to optical beacons 5 located at various places throughout the parking lot. The parking lot is preferably divided into multiple parking blocks, and data indicating whether any of those blocks as an available parking space is sent to vehicles V.

Abstract: A pointer electronic timepiece (1) has a plurality of step motors, a plurality of pointers (11 to 18), and a plurality of external operation members of a winding crown (5) and buttons (6, 7). The pointer to be adjusted is selected from the plurality of pointers (15 to 18) by operating one of the buttons (6) while drawing out the winding crown (5) to a second stage and the other button (7) is operated to adjust the position of the selected pointer. Since the position of the pointers (15 to 18) driven by three step motors can be adjusted by the two buttons (6, 7), the number of the external operation member is not necessary to be increased even when the pointers (15 to 18), i.e. the step motors, are increased, so that the size and thickness of a movement-holder and cost thereof can be reduced and operability during adjustment can be improved.

Abstract: A gear train has a sun gear with a tooth count e, n (where n is a natural number of 2 or more) planetary gears having a first gear part with a tooth count z1 meshing with the sun gear and a second gear part with a tooth count z2, a fixed internal tooth gear with a tooth count I1 meshing with the first gear part of the planetary gears, and a movable internal tooth gear with a tooth count I2 meshing with the second gear part of the planetary gears, where tooth counts e, z1, z2, I1 and I2 are each a multiple of n. Even if the gear form of each gear has a small module, a planetary gear train mechanism can be configured without raising operating or assembly problems, and it can be miniaturized more than conventional gear trains while still have a sufficient gear reduction ratio.

Abstract: A soft alumite is produced by forming an oxide film on the surface of an aluminum substrate. Printing is performed on a porous layer formed on the surface of the soft alumite while heating the soft alumite. Alternatively, printing is performed with a dye-based ink on a porous layer formed on the surface of the soft alumite.

Abstract: A voltage conversion circuit incorporate many of what were previously discrete components into a single IC, whereby the number of externally disposed discrete components is reduced as much as possible to reduce the overall size while maintaining high power conversion efficiency. This is achieved by using multiple wells within wells, and coupling the wells to specific voltage potentials to protect the circuit from failure.

Abstract: Chip area and operating current is reduced in a chip having a write-inhibit circuit that uses a data-writing request signal WR and a write-control signal WRITE to inhibit data writing. By comparing a reference current Iref and a drive current ID, a current-mirror circuit CM can monitor the voltage of a power supply VDD. When the voltage of the power supply VDD is sufficiently high, the data-writing request signal WR is unchanged. Conversely, when the voltage of the power supply VDD is not sufficiently high, a transistor T6 producing reference-current ID and a buffer B2 cause the write-control signal to be low “L” irrespective of whether the data-writing request signal WR is at “H” or at “L”. Thus, miswriting can be prevented when the power-supply voltage decreases, since writing by the data-writing request signal WR is impossible.

Abstract: An infrared sensing element of the present invention includes a base including a thin film portion and a thick wall portion arranged around the thin film portion, and a thermopile including a plurality of thermocouples connected in series so that cold junctions are located on the thick wall portion and hot junctions are located on the thin film portion, wherein a thermosensitive portion is provided in contact with the thick wall portion so that a reference temperature with high accuracy can be used for determining temperature based on output from the thermopile. A PN junction formed on a semiconductor substrate serves as the thermosensitive portion, and it is used to provide for a compact infrared sensing element with high performance at low cost.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece charging device for charging an electronic timepiece comprising: a generator for converting external energy into electric energy; a secondary power source for storing the electric energy generated by the generator; a timepiece driving circuit for performing a time-keeping operation; and a time display circuit for displaying time information from the timepiece driving circuit, wherein, the timepiece driving circuit is connected in parallel to the secondary power source; and the secondary power source comprises an equivalent capacitive component for storing an electric charge and a resistive component formed by a part of the equivalent capacitive component.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a small portable information processing apparatus. A GPS unit (11, 300) is attachable to and detachable from a rear surface of a portable information terminal (10, 350), so that the GPS unit (11, 300) can be mounted on the rear surface of the portable information terminal (10, 350) to make it serviceable only when necessary, thus improving convenience. Power is supplied to the GPS unit (11, 300, 650) only when an antenna unit (112, 500, 613) is set in a serviceable state. This prevents the exhaustion of a battery.

Abstract: A delay unit is used to prevent writing errors due to residual charge on a bit line when changing rows to write to another bit line. By having a delay unit, a discharge time for discharging charge stored in a parasitic capacitance is reserved. An address is changed after the elapse of the reserved discharge time to assure that discharge is completed and writing errors do not occur. Charge can quickly build up in signal lines of a semiconductor integrated circuit having a charge unit for charging lines in a memory array of n rows and m columns. Write errors can therefore occur when charging a signal line corresponding to a next row after writing to all bits of one column is completed, and then sequentially writing to each bit in the column corresponding to the signal line charged by the charge unit.

Abstract: A timepiece, whose hands move by mechanical energy of a mainspring transmitted through a wheel train, includes a winding-up portion for accumulating energy in the mainspring, an addition and subtraction wheel train driven by addition and subtraction of accumulated energy corresponding to an amount by which the mainspring is wound up and unwound, respectively, an addition and subtraction wheel, disposed in the addition and subtraction wheel train, that rotates in correspondence with an amount by which the mainspring is wound up and unwound, and a lock mechanism actuated in response to the rotation of the addition and subtraction wheel to limit winding up and unwinding of the mainspring to a selected range of windings of the mainspring. This controls the torque output by the mainspring to a fixed range. The addition and subtraction wheel train allows efficient use of space, and can be incorporated in a watch.

Abstract: A multi-tasking system in which tasks are grouped and the action of the safety function is different for each group so that the control of a machine can safely and easily be performed with one control device and that the monitoring of each device can be performed at all times, and a medium and a processing device in which a program thereof is recorded. A multi-tasking system 100 for controlling a plurality of tasks has a program executing unit 11 for processing a plurality of tasks by the multi-tasking processing and a task table 21 for keeping grouping information set for each of the plurality of tasks, and the program executing unit 11 has stop units (an emergency stop unit 16, a temporary stop unit 17 as the safety function, and the stop unit obtains grouping information from the task table 21 on the basis of a stop instruction and identifies a group of each task, and performs a different control for each group.

Abstract: A thermal energy conversion device includes a heat converter composed of a medium containing portion (10) that does not substantially change in capacity and a variable portion (11) that is changeable in capacity, an operating portion composed of a piston (13), a pivot lever (15), and a driving lever (16), a first conversion and storage portion formed of a movement barrel (21), and a second conversion and storage portion formed of a power generator (30). When the ambient temperature changes, heating medium contained in the medium containing portion (10) changes in volume, and the capacity of the variable portion (11) is changed, thereby operating the piston (13). Motion of the piston (13) is stored in a mainspring disposed in the movement barrel (21) via the pivot lever (15) and the driving lever (16), and power is generated in the power generator (30).

Abstract: An ink-jet head includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles, a plurality of ink pressure chambers provided corresponding to the respective ink ejection nozzles and respectively communicated with the corresponding ink ejection nozzles, a common ink chamber for supplying an ink to the respective of the ink pressure chambers, a plurality of ink supply orifices provided corresponding to the respective ink pressure chambers and communicating the respective ink pressure chambers and the common ink chamber, and electrostatic actuators for varying volume of respective of the ink pressure chambers by an electrostatic force for ejection of ink droplets from the corresponding ink ejection nozzles. A plurality of the ink pressure chambers is arranged in a plane and the common ink chamber stacked on the plurality of ink pressure chambers for reducing the length.

Abstract: A printer and printing method suitable for high speed multicolor printing. A paper transport section (112) advances the printing medium (113), and a print head (110) prints text or graphics on the printing medium (113) by driving printing elements corresponding to a plurality of colors. A transport unit (111) moves the print head (110) orthogonally to the direction in which the printing medium (113) travels. A plurality of image buffer units (109) store information indicating where the printing elements are driven. A logic device (102) performs a logic operation on information read from image buffer units (109) to detect whether at least one of the printing elements is driven at a particular dot column position. A logic operation results memory (114) stores the logic operation results correlated to a print head (110) position.

Abstract: In the transition from a state in which charge is being transferred from a large-capacitance secondary power supply to an auxiliary capacitor through a step-up/down circuit by a step-up/down multiplying factor M′ (M′ is a positive real number excluding one) to a state in which the large-capacitance secondary power supply and the auxiliary capacitor are electrically directly coupled, the electrical energy is transferred from the large-capacitance secondary power supply to the auxiliary capacitor through the step-up/down circuit by a step-up/down multiplying factor M=1 in a non-stepping-up/down state. A potential difference between the large-capacitance secondary power supply and the auxiliary capacitor is less than a predetermined potential difference. Since a sudden variation in a power supply voltage due to changing the step-up/down multiplying factor is prevented, malfunctioning in an electronic apparatus resulting from the sudden variation in the power supply voltage is prevented.