Abstract: A backup power supply 7 is connected to a load via a switching circuit. When the supply of electric power from a main power supply is stopped, the backup power supply 7 supplies electric power to the load 8. When a given manual operation is performed, the switching circuit disconnects the backup power supply 7 from the load 8. When electric power is supplied form the main power supply 6 to the load 8, the switching circuit connects the preliminary power supply 7 to the load 8. The switching circuit is powered by the backup power supply 7.

Abstract: A distance measuring device for an automatic focusing camera includes a light receiving lens and a multilayer printed circuit board mounted on a holder. A potting frame is provided on the lens-facing side surface of the printed circuit board. An optical sensor and an IC are both mounted within a space enclosed by the potting frame and simultaneously sealed by a protecting resin. Resistors and capacitors of a distance measuring circuit are mounted on the opposite surface of the printed circuit board. The two surfaces of the printed circuit board are connected to each other via a through hole to construct the distance measuring circuit. The protecting resin transmits light having specified wavelengths. The light reflected from a subject to be photographed is received by the optical sensor after passing through the protecting resin, and the distance to the subject is calculated on the basis of the received light data.

Abstract: A timepiece has movable indicator hands for the analog display of current time. An ambient state, such as ambient light intensity, presence of a person in a room, or infrared radiation is sensed. Whether or not time indication is necessary is determined depending on the ambient state. If it is determined that the ambient state indicates that time indication is not necessary, then the movement of the indicator hands is stopped to conserve energy and reduce noise. When the ambient state indicates that time indication is necessary, the position of the indicator hands is adjusted from a stop position to a position indicative of current time.

Abstract: A font pattern to be stored is created by sequentially forming exclusive logical sums neighboring first bit patterns A1-A20 to form a plurality of second neighboring bit patterns B1-B20; designating at least one or more than one bit pattern which appears most frequently in the plurality of second bit patterns as a reference bit pattern, comprising and storing the difference of each bit pattern of the plurality of second bit patterns and the reference bit pattern per each bit pattern, and storing only the bit patterns which differ from the reference bit pattern in the plurality of second bit patterns.

Abstract: A structure for an ink jet head comprising: an ink passage adapted to be supplied with ink; a nozzle communicating with the ink passage and positioned to have exit deep from the end face of the ink jet head; a hollow portion formed in the head end face to communicate with the nozzle exit and to have a larger diameter than the nozzle; and ink ejecting means disposed to correspond to the ink passage and energized electrically to eject the ink in the ink passage out of the nozzle end face through the hollow portion. As a result, the ink droplets can always be ejected in a correct direction by suppressing the fluctuation of their flowing direction, which might otherwise be caused by the breakage in the periphery of the opening in the head end face or by the ooze of the ink. Thus, the ejection characteristics are uniformed by absorbing the errors due to the cutting or grinding step.

Abstract: Melodies are changed over sequentially in accordance with hours at each of which an alarm melody is to be played as a time signal so that predetermined melodies are always played at predetermined hours, respectively. In addition, even if the hours and the melodies become discordant with each other as a result, for example, of the correction of the time made during the timekeeping operation of the timepiece, the melodies are automatically reset at a predetermined time so as to be coincident with the corresponding hours.A switch S2 for detecting a correct hour is on-off controlled by a cam 6a provided as an integral part of a minute pipe 6 that makes one revolution per hour. A reset switch S3 is on-off controlled through a reset lever 5 pivoted by an hour wheel 4 that makes one revolution per twelve hours. An alarm control circuit in an IC 3 incorporates a plurality of melodies.

Abstract: A distance measuring device may be constructed utilizing a reduced number of components by calculating distance on the basis of the duration of an integration. Pulsed light is projected toward an object. A selecting circuit selectively outputs one of a pair of output voltages from two current-voltage converting circuits, each of which is connected to a position sensitive device which is configured to receive light reflected from the object. A variable-gain amplifying circuit is used for amplifying the selected output voltage and for producing an amplified output voltage. The output voltage of the amplifying circuit is integrated by an integrating circuit. Reference voltage generating circuitry generates two reference voltages having different levels and a comparing circuit compares the output voltage of the integrating circuit with one of a pair of reference voltages.

Abstract: A light-emitting element drive circuit for a camera comprises a diode and a light-emitting element connected in series with each other between a power source and ground, a first switching element switchable between on and off states for driving the light-emitting element, second and third switching elements connected in series with each other between the power source and ground, and a capacitor connected between a junction point of the diode and light-emitting element and a junction point of the second and third switching elements. The second and third switching elements also constitute switching elements of a drive circuit for driving a DC motor, whereby the light-emitting element can be driven with a voltage which is approximately twice as high as the power source voltage. Since the light-emitting element is driven by a capacitor charge/discharge operation instead of using a boosted power source, the consumption of current is reduced and the light-emitting period is shortened.

Abstract: A method for approximately representing a first curve having anchor points and a control point, wherein the first curve is subdivided into a plurality of segments and an approximate curve is constructed by joining the points corresponding to the ends of the segments with straight lines. The number of segments is a function of the difference between the lengths of lines joining the anchor points and control point, and a line joining the anchor points.

Abstract: A drive unit for a rotary decoration has a transmission gear train configured to include a damper such as a coil spring and is capable of imparting a visually elegant swing motion to the rotary decoration. A reciprocating stepping motor is capable of rotating or turning in both the forward and reverse directions to drive a rotary decoration in such a manner that the rotary decoration exhibits a reciprocative swing motion over a specified angular displacement. A memory circuit stores data for determining the drive timing of the stepping motor. A control circuit controls the stepping motor in accordance with the data stored in the memory circuit. The data represents the interval between drive pulses supplied to the stepping motor so as to cause the rotational speed of the rotary decoration to vary according to a sine curve.