Abstract: A timepiece includes an accumulator such as a hairspring for storing the energy provided by a step motor and a control mechanism such as a rotor immersed in a viscous fluid for controlling the energy released by the accumulator to provide a constant driving force for turning the display hands of the timepiece. The accumulator and control mechanism are constructed along a common axis and are displaced from a spindle about which the display hands rotate. The spindle is positioned substantially at the center of the watch.

Abstract: A tape printer for printing on a tape contained within a tape cassette. The tape cassette is insertable in and removable from the tape printer. The tape printer includes a housing and a printing mechanism supported on the housing for selectively printing on the tape. The printer also includes a tape conveying mechanism supported on the housing for conveying the tape across the printing mechanism. The printing mechanism and tape conveying mechanism are displaceable between first operative positions and second disengaged positions. A cover is pivotably supported on the housing. A coupling mechanism couples the cover to the printing and tape conveying mechanisms. The cover is displaceable between a first open position to actuate the coupling mechanism to move the printing and tape conveying mechanisms to their second disengaged positions and a second closed position to actuate the coupling mechanism to move the printing and tape conveying mechanisms to their first operative positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying paper in a printer adapted to convey cut-sheet and fan-fold paper bi-directionally in a paper path. The apparatus includes a pair of paper conveying rollers positioned downstream of a print head and a pair of paper conveying rollers positioned upstream of the print head. At least one roller of one of the paper conveying roller pair has projections circumferentially extending away from the roller. The projections can be pressed against the roller to reduce the diameter and speed of the roller relative to its speed and diameter before compression to convey the paper in a first direction while preventing the formation of slack across the paper. In addition, the projections can be extended away from the roller to increase the diameter and speed of the roller relative to its speed and diameter before extension to convey the paper in a second direction while preventing the formation of slack across the paper.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for an electronic timepiece includes at least one semiconductor nonvolatile memory device. Reference data can be checked across a pair of output terminals prior to being stored in at least one EPROM to check the accuracy and acceptability of the reference data for driving a motor of the timepiece. The reference data once written into the EPROM serves as control data. Both the reference data and control data are used for controlling at least one function of the timepiece. The control data also can be checked across the output terminals to determine its accuracy and acceptability for driving the motor. Testing of the reference data and control data can be performed on a faster than real time basis.

Abstract: A control system in an automatic transmission for controlling the change-over of the three speed change patterns which are a speed change pattern having a cross gear ratio on a low speed side, a speed change pattern having a cross gear ratio on a high speed side and a speed change pattern having a normal gear ratio. According to this controlling system, when one of the three speed change pattern is selected based one a throttle opening and a vehicle speed, and when it is judged that the gear shift from a speed range in the present speed change pattern to a speed range in the selected speed change pattern falls under on of prohibited conditions, e.g., requiring engagement and/or disengagement of three or more frictional engaging elements for the gear shift, the gear shift is performed using a temporary speed change pattern (including the present speed change pattern) including a speed range not falling under the prohibited conditions.

Abstract: A dilatation catheter having an outer tubular balloon portion with length-wise circumferential crimps having at either end transition portions with longitudinal crimps across the axis and an inner catheter is provided. The distal transition portion is fastened to the distal end of the inner catheter tube which extends beyond the distal end of the outer tube and the balloon portion while the proximal transition portion is connected to the distal end of the outer catheter tube. The balloon portion expands readily to a predetermined diameter while undergoing little change in length with an extension of the transition portions so that relative movement of the inner and outer catheter tubing is not required. Accordingly, minimum shear forces occur at the interface of the expanded balloon surface and the interior vessel wall.

Abstract: A novel semiconductor device and method of production of such a device are provided. Both the N and P channels of the novel semiconductor device are formed by contact self-alignment, thereby permitting high speed operation and high density integration to be realized. The formation of the channels by contact self-alignment is accomplished by depositing a P type polysilicon layer on an N well region and an N type polysilicon layer on a P well region. A silicide layer is formed over both the P and N type polysilicon layers to form a polycide.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, first insulating film carried on the substrate, first wiring layer carried on the first insulating film and an interlayer insulating film overlying the first wiring layer and first insulating film. The interlayer insulating film has a top portion overlying the first wiring layer and a pair of sidewall portions. The sidewall portions of the interlayer insulating film overlie the first insulating film and the sides of the first wiring layer. The sidewall portions have progressively increasing width in progressing towards the substrate. The device also includes a second wiring layer which extends from overlying part of the top portion of the interlayer insulating film to and in contact with an exposed portion of the substrate adjacent to the first insulating film.

Abstract: A projection-type display device for producing a synthesized symmetrical projected image. The device includes three liquid crystal light valves associated with the three primary colors producing three separate images. One of the light valves is horizontally scanned in a direction opposite to the horizontal scanning direction of the other two light valves. The two images produced by the light valves which scan in the same horizontal direction are mirror images of the image produced by the third light valve.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device capable of displaying multiple colors in response to application of different driving voltages includes a liquid crystal cell with two polarizers and the value of the product of the optical anisotropy n of the nematic liquid crystal material and the thickness d of the liquid crystal layer is in excess of 1.1 .mu.m. A second liquid crystal cell can be included between the first cell and one of the polarizers. A driver circuit drives the liquid crystal cells by the dynamic drive method by applying a selecting voltage, a non-selecting voltage, and one or more intermediate voltages to generate the different colors.

Abstract: An AND-type control valve useful in a vehicle braking system to prevent application of the vehicle brakes when only the right-hand or left-hand vehicle brakes are applied for the purpose of steering the vehicle. The control valve has two input flowpaths corresponding to the hydraulic braking circuit on different sides of the vehicle and a control output port for connection to the vehicle brake valve. Each input flowpath contains a non-return valve having associated therewith a flow sensitive device to provide a restricted flowpath which gives rise to a pressure drop which will tend to close or assist in closure of the non-return valve. A device is provided to prevent simultaneous closure of both non-return valves.

Abstract: An animated paddle includes a handle and a paddle rotationally mounted to the handle. The paddle includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. The light emitting diodes are selectively illuminated in accordance with a predetermined pattern. However, the light emitting diodes may be illuminated to transmit a message, such as a word, or they may be illuminated to produce designs, such as circles of sequentially greater and lesser size.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating character pattern signals in response to a character code and an attribute signal, in which the character has an outline which may be divided into a plurality of regions in which each region is defined by an initial point, a terminal point and a control point includes an outline storage circuit for converting the control point into an auxiliary point having coordinates on a curve of the character and for storing the initial point, terminal point and auxiliary point as data. An outline reproducing circuit converts the data into scaled down data, standard sized data or enlarged data in response to the attribute signal and produces a conic line based upon the converted data.