Abstract: A small and thin pressing direction sensor that can continually detect pressing directions in the angle range of 360 degrees is provided. This pressing direction sensor includes a ring-like resistive film pattern, a first electrode pattern, and a conductive member that electrically connects the resistive film pattern and the first electrode pattern when pressed. The voltage of the first electrode pattern represents the pressing direction. This pressing direction sensor may further include a second electrode pattern. A signal representing the pressing force can be obtained from the second electrode pattern when the pressed conductive member is brought into contact with the second electrode pattern.

Abstract: An acceleration detection device for detecting an acceleration applied in a certain direction based on detection signals corresponding to the acceleration, is provided with a waveform detection part detecting waveforms of the detection signals and an acceleration determination part determining whether to make valid or invalid the acceleration based on the waveforms detected in the waveform detection part.

Abstract: A small and thin pressing direction sensor that can continually detect pressing directions in the angle range of 360 degrees is provided. This pressing direction sensor includes a ring-like resistive film pattern, a first electrode pattern, and a conductive member that electrically connects the resistive film pattern and the first electrode pattern when pressed. The voltage of the first electrode pattern represents the pressing direction. This pressing direction sensor may further include a second electrode pattern. A signal representing the pressing force can be obtained from the second electrode pattern when the pressed conductive member is brought into contact with the second electrode pattern.

Abstract: An input device that transmits, to a host device having a display displaying a pointer, information relating to the pointer and includes a sensor detecting contact information, and further includes an area extracting part and a control part. The area extracting part extracts a contact area of the sensor and a finger based on the contact information detected by the sensor. The control part controls the pointer based on the contact area extracted by the area extracting part.

Abstract: A touch screen unit including a touch-sensitive panel outputting voltage signals concerning a position of a contact made thereon and a control unit generating coordinate information and operation information of the contact based on said voltage signals is provided. The operation information corresponds to operations of two or more switches.

Abstract: An encryption method includes the steps of (a) generating random data including a first part and a second part, the first part specifying an operation to be performed on plain text data and the second part being used in the operation, (b) performing the specified operation on the plain text data using the second part of the random data, and (c) transmitting a result of the operation together with the random data.

Abstract: A laser-marking medium comprises at least a base layer and a masking layer formed on one side of a support element in the stated order. The base layer has laser light absorptivity, and the masking layer contains metal powder and a white pigment. A laser beam applied to the laser-marking medium is absorbed by the base layer having laser light absorptivity, and the base layer heats and breaks, whereby the masking layer in the laser applied region is removed, and a lightness difference is generated between a laser beam non-applied region of the masking layer and the laser beam applied region with the masking layer removed so as to make marks in the laser beam applied region distinctly visible.

Abstract: An input system includes an information generation part which generates input information based on a given input operation, a transmission part which transmits signals generated by having a plurality of different carrier frequencies modulated with the input information, and a reception part which receives the transmitted signals and demodulates the signals into the input information.

Abstract: A data processing equipment including a housing for a keyboard and a display, and a pointing device detachably mounted in the housing for instructing the processing equipment on coordinate data by manually entering analog information. The pointing device includes a casing, an analog information entering section arranged in the casing and capable of being operated by two modes of different entering operations, a processing section arranged in the casing in association with the analog information entering section to convert analog information into digital coordinate data, and a light emitting section arranged in the casing in association with the processing section to emit light signals representing the digital coordinate data.

Abstract: An acceleration detection device for detecting an acceleration applied in a certain direction based on detection signals corresponding to the acceleration, is provided with a waveform detection part detecting waveforms of the detection signals and an acceleration determination part determining whether to make valid or invalid the acceleration based on the waveforms detected in the waveform detection part.

Abstract: A data converter is provided, which data converter includes a data conversion unit, a timer unit which counts time, and a lock system which locks a data conversion function of the data conversion unit in a disabled state based on the time counted by the timer unit.

Abstract: A keyswitch includes a keytop, a base, an elastic actuator between the keytop and the base, a switch actuated by the actuator, and a link mechanism disposed between the base and the keytop, the link mechanism including first and second link members engaged with each other mechanically at respective first ends thereof, wherein the first and second link members further establish a slide engagement with a rear surface of the keytop at respective second ends thereof.

Abstract: A keyswitch includes a keytop, a base, an elastic actuator between the keytop and the base, a switch actuated by the actuator, and a link mechanism disposed between the base and the keytop, the link mechanism including first and second link members engaged with each other mechanically at respective first ends thereof, wherein the first and second link members further establish a slide engagement with a rear surface of the keytop at respective second ends thereof.

Abstract: The label printing apparatus has a structure including: a label feed means for successively feeding plural labels, each having an information printing area including a heat-sensitive color developing ink layer, to predetermined printing positions; a laser printing device which is provided with a sensor and a light source, said sensor serving to discriminate between presence and absence of the label in the predetermined printing position and to output a label detection signal, said light source serving to release a laser beam, and which receives the label detection signal directly from the sensor, prints information on the label by means of the laser beam when the presence of the label on the predetermined printing position is confirmed by the label detection signal, and outputs a shot signal; and a controller to discriminate whether the output interval between the shot signals is within a given period of time or not and to output an error signal when the output interval between the shot signals is not within

Abstract: A non-destructive laser marking method including irradiating laser light on a thermosensitive color-forming layer formed by printing with a printing ink containing a leuco dye as a color former and an acidic substance as a color developer, and at least one background color formation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble amino acid, an ammonium salt of an inorganic acid, a pH buffer, and water. Laser marking can be achieved with low energy and at high speed while minimizing background color formation to provide a high-contrast color image.

Abstract: An idling controller for a variable displacement engine which is capable of operating either in a partial-cylinder or an all-cylinder mode by varying the number of cylinders in operation. When the engine runs at idle, the idling controller assures optimum operation for either cylinder operating mode by varying the quantity of air intake according to the number of cylinders in operation, providing an improvement in both fuel mileage and strating performance, one or the other of which has had to be sacrified conventionally.

Abstract: In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders which are supplied with air via one common throttle valve and a control unit for regulating the number of operating cylinders which suspends the operation of an arbitrary number of cylinders by intercepting the air supply to said cylinders, it is noted at a point the output of the engine under Z.sub.1 -cylinder operation coincides with the output under Z.sub.2 -cylinder operation at the same degree of opening of the throttle valve at a given constant rate of engine rotation. Based on such a fact, the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is made capable of shifting to and from Z.sub.1 -cylinder operation and Z.sub.2 -cylinder operation in the proximity of said point where these outputs coincide. This way, there will be no fluctuation in the output nor shock at the time of switching, and the control unit for this purpose can be made simple in construction.

Abstract: A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device having a gate insulating film with a memory function. An impurity layer having the same conductivity type as that of the substrate region is formed in that substrate region, underlying the gate insulating film having a memory function, in which a channel is formed. The impurity layer has an impurity profile in which a peak of an impurity concentration is in the region distanced by 500 .ANG. or less from the surface of the substrate region and the impurity concentration is 1.times.10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3 or less in the region at the depth of 500 .ANG. or more.

Abstract: A suction air volume detecting means to be provided in a suction system in an engine, in particular an automotive engine to electrically detect the air volume to be sucked into the engine is mounted within a suction air expansion chamber of the suction system provided to reduce the pulsation of the suctioned air for the purpose that the electrical circuit elements of the suction air volume detecting means, in particular, transistors, etc. are protected from being heated by heat radiated from the engine and from being caused to misoperate by external electrical waves.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the measure precision of patterns such as photoresist and etched ones, and a photomask therefor. The photomask according to the present invention has a mask pattern corresponding to a pattern desired to be formed in a substrate, and also has a measure precision evaluating pattern formed at an area different from where the mask pattern is present. The measure precision evaluating pattern comprises a first measure precision evaluating pattern which has a plurality of pairs of pattern elements opposite to each other with a predetermined distance interposed therebetween, and a second measure precision evaluating pattern which has a plurality of pairs of pattern elements overlapped each other in a predetermined measure and arranged opposite to each other to form a constricted portion. The distance or the measure of overlapped area between paired pattern elements is varied with every pair of pattern elements.