Abstract: A thin film resistor for a strain gauge prepared by physical or chemical vapor deposition. The resistor contains 60 to 98 atomic % of chromium, 2 to 30 atomic % of oxygen, and 0 to 10 atomic % of a metal or semiconductor. These constituents are uniformly distributed. The thickness of the film is between 0.01 and 10 .mu.m. The metal is at least one of Al, Ti, Ta, Zr and In, and the semiconductor is at least one of silicon, germanium and boron. The thin film resistor has excellent resistance-strain characteristics and resistance-temperature characteristics, as well as high sensitivity and mechanical strength.

Abstract: A 1-bit microcomputer driven by a clock signal has first and second output ports. The signals from these output ports control first and second transistors whose output signals are supplied to step-up transformers. The output signals from these transformers drive the sounding devices constructed of piezoelectric elements to produce a chord sound. The memory of the microcomputer stores a program by which first and second square-wave pulse-train signals formed of a combination of a plurality of square wave pulses and in which each unit pulse train has a mutually different basic frequency are output from the first and second output ports.

Abstract: A sound generating apparatus using piezoelectric elements includes first and second sounding plates arrayed in parallel with each other. The first and second sounding plates respectively include first and second diaphragms, and first and second thin plate-like piezoelectric elements laminated onto the first and second diaphragms. The first and second sounding plates are coupled together at the outer peripheral portions by a ring, thereby forming a hermetically sealed internal air chamber. The first and second sounding plates coupled together by the ring, and containing the internal air chamber cooperate to form a sounding member. The sounding member is supported by means of four resilient supporting members made of, for example, rubber, in a housing. In the housing, a front air layer and a rear air layer are formed on both sides of the sounding member, respectively. The front and rear air layers communicate with each other through a ringlike sound path.

Abstract: A humidity sensitive element, which comprises a sintered humidity sensitive resistor composed of 70 to 20 mole % of ZnFe.sub.2 O.sub.4 and 30 to 80 mole % of a member selected from the group consisting of SiO.sub.2 and MnO.sub.2 and can detect humidity as electrical signals due to the nature of the element that its electrical resistance varies with the change of the humidity to be detected.

Abstract: An electronic cash register including a printing member comprising a means for presetting a validation printing operation request when said cash register is needed to produce a desired validation print of a predetermined processed data, a means for generating an enable signal by which said cash register is compelled to perform the validation print, the enable signal being generated when the validation printing operation request has been preset with said presetting means and a predetermined cash register function corresponding to the predetermined processed data has been completed in said cash register, receiving means for receiving a validation paper, a detecting means coupled to the receiving means for detecting if said validation paper is present in the receiving means, and an instructing means for instructing said printing member to print said predetermined processed data on the validation paper, wherein when said validation printing request has been preset, said printing member performs printing said pred