Abstract: While eliminating the need for a dedicated on-line selector switch, a printing apparatus and control method is provided to improve the processes required to replenish consumable printing materials consumed during the printing operation. Using a transport mechanism for transporting the print medium and a printing mechanism for printing to the print medium, the printing apparatus accomplishes the printing process based on data received from a host device, selectively switches between an on-line state and an off-line state and notifies the host device of the currently selected state. The printing apparatus further comprises sensors for detecting the presence of consumable products, including roll paper and ink, that are consumed by the printing process, a switch with two functional settings, and a control device.

Abstract: An ink jet printer provided with an ink jet print head having a nozzle, an ink channel that is connected to the nozzle, and an electrostatic actuator that is composed of a diaphragm that is provided in a part of the ink channel and an electrode placed outside of the ink channel opposite to the diaphragm. The diaphragm is distorted by means of an electrostatic force generated by applying voltage to the electrostatic actuator thereby performing printing with ink droplets ejected from the nozzle. The electrostatic actuator driver comprises a timing pulse generator, charge circuit and discharge circuit. The driver controls an amount of charge to be charged to the electrostatic actuator as well as charge rate thereof corresponding to the environmental operating condition of the ink jet printer.

Abstract: A multiplex driving method is provided for a liquid crystal cell device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate. The method comprises the steps of sequentially selecting a group of the plurality of row electrodes during a selection period, simultaneously selecting the row electrodes comprising the group, and dividing and separating the selection period into a plurality of intervals within one frame period.

Abstract: A multiplex driving method and driving apparatus are provided for a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate, the plurality of row electrodes being arranged in plural groups. A portion of the row electrodes are simultaneously selected a within a selection period in which the selection period is divided into a plurality of intervals. A weighted voltage is applied in accordance with desired display data in each of the plurality of intervals to achieve a gray scale display.

Abstract: A system for translating a portrait-oriented software address to a portrait-oriented yet landscape-configured display address. The system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a display device and an address translation system. The CPU generates a software address. Based on the orientation of the display device, the address translation system either passes the software address "as is" or translates the address to represent a portrait-oriented display address. The address translation system translates according to the functions L=in (H.sub.D)/in 2 and M=in (W.sub.D)/in 2, wherein H.sub.D is the landscape-oriented display device pixel height and W.sub.D is the landscape-oriented display device pixel width. L represents the number of least significant software address bits to translate as most significant physical address bits, and M represents the number of most significant software address bits to invert and translate as least significant physical address bits.

Abstract: A health management device is provided, which enables the user himself to make a determination of the quality of his state of health, without the presence of a physician or nurse specialist. However, this device may of course be employed to receive measurement directives from, or provide notification to, a third party. Pulse sensor 4 measures the user's fingertip pulse wave. Acceleration sensor calculates an acceleration value from the user's body. These outputs are converted to digital signals at sensor interface 6. CPU1 determines whether or not the user is exercising based on the acceleration value read out from sensor interface 6. Based on this result, CPU1 takes up the user's pulse waves before and after exercise, and determines the acceleration pulse wave.

Abstract: An A/D converter samples an analog video signal, having a frequency corresponding to various types of image supply apparatus, and converts the signal into a digital signal. A sampling clock signal supply circuit supplies a sampling clock signal to the A/D converter, and comprises an edge detection circuit for adjusting the phase of the sampling clock signal. The edge detection circuit subjects the video signal and a delayed video signal to subtraction processing to generate edge pulses. A processor selects a sampling clock signal of a desired phase based on edge information determined by these edge pulses. The present device can also adjust a threshold voltage that is input to the comparator, and the phase of the sampling clock signal based on a digital signal, and supply a dedicated video signal for phase adjustment from a personal computer.

Abstract: A printing device and control method that facilitates setting of waiting periods for cut-sheet paper insertion and commencement of paper transport or printing through application of waiting time control commands. By establishing a command for setting these waiting periods and incorporating apparatus in the printer for analyzing such a command, a configuration is realized in which these waiting periods are settable and adjustable by the host computer. This provides more efficient POS type printer control and allows setting of the desired time required for positioning recording paper according to operator experience. An interface unit is used to receive and interpret print data and recording paper positioning time setting commands and data from the host computer.

Abstract: A matrix-type display control device suited to large capacity displays while achieving low power consumption operation is achieved by improving the display data transfer method. The module controller 100 of a simple matrix-type liquid crystal display comprises a low frequency oscillator 110, timing signal generator 120, standby circuit (display data refresh detection circuit) 130, high frequency oscillator 140, and a direct memory access (DMA circuit) 150. This low frequency oscillator 110 constantly generates the low frequency clock f.sub.L. Timing signal generator 120 generates the scan start signal YD required for the LCD module 200, and other signals based on the low frequency clock f.sub.L. Standby circuit 130 generates the intermittent operation start control signal ST when the display data in VRAM 12 is updated as determined by monitoring the system bus 14a for communications with host MPU 10. The high frequency oscillator 140 generates the high frequency clock f.sub.

Abstract: An inkjet head comprising a nozzle, an ink passage in communication with the nozzle, a diaphragm provided at one part of the ink passage, and an electrode provided in opposition to the diaphragm whereby an electrical pulse is applied between the diaphragm and electrode to deform the diaphragm by means of electrostatic force, thereby ejecting ink droplets from the nozzle. The actuator contains at least a vibration chamber formed by the diaphragm and electrode, and is sealed or made airtight with the volume V so that the ratio between the actuator volume V and the volume .DELTA.V eliminated by a distortion of the diaphragm during ink-jet head drive is within the range 2.ltoreq.V/.DELTA.V.ltoreq.8.

Abstract: A control apparatus by which a duty ratio in consideration of how energy stored in storage cells is consumed is set to ensure a steady traveling feeling, a regeneration brake which can produce stable braking forces regardless of how storage cells are consumed, and a protective device by which a plurality of operation stop levels are set to be able to cancel the stop operation effected for the first time and to ensure reliable alarming, are provided. In the first and second embodiments, a chopper duty ratio is compensated depending on how storage cells are consumed, to provide a steady agreeable traveling feeling. In the third embodiment, regenerated electric power is consumed by a motor driving circuit to stabilize operation of a regeneration brake regardless of how storage cells are consumed, and improve performance thereof.

Abstract: In generating instructions for a printer to render a digitally represented image, addresses for a color-correction look-up table that sparsely samples the source-image color space are generated from the source image by multi-level dithering, and no interpolation is performed to generate the color-corrected image from the values thus fetched from the table, even though it samples the source-image color space only sparsely. In a system in which dithering is also used to generate display commands from the corrected image's pixel values, the effective color resolution is essentially the same as that which would have resulted from interpolation instead of table-look-up-input dithering, but the computation cost is significantly less.

Abstract: Signal management control units 47.sub.1 -47.sub.n of respective scan drivers LSI in an LCD module are cascade-connected and each have the same construction. A detected signal of the signal management control unit 47J is a data signal latch clock LP applied to a terminal CKB.sub.1. A detected signal of the signal management control unit 47.sub.2 is a frame start signal SP applied to a terminal CKB.sub.2. A detected signal of the signal management control unit 47n is an AC-transforming clock FR applied to a terminal CKBn. The signal management control unit 47.sub.1 includes a signal stop detection circuit 48 serving as a signal detection means for detecting a stop of the detected signal and a sequence processing circuit 51 consisting of a signal delay circuit 49 and a logic circuit 50. When stopping oscillations of, e. g., the frame start signal SP, outputs T.sub.1 -T.sub.n of the circuit 51 change to an L level. Hence, a display-off signal DF of the LCD module assumes the L level.

Abstract: A matrix display apparatus is provided for displaying an image in accordance with display data. The display matrix comprises a plurality of scanning electrodes and a plurality of signal electrodes arranged in a matrix. A first driving circuit applies a plurality of selection voltages to the scanning electrodes. The scanning electrodes are divided into groups of h scanning electrodes. A selection voltage is applied to each of the plurality of scanning electrodes selected from the plurality of selection voltages in accordance with the selection pattern data. The second driving circuit provides a plurality of signal voltages to the plurality of signal electrodes. The second driver circuit comprises a memory for storing the display data for at least one group of h scanning electrodes and a selecting circuit for selecting a signal voltage applied to each of the plurality of signal electrodes.

Abstract: A portable apparatus is provided which is easy to use, for measuring enviromental and biological data and is useful for health care during exercise. The apparatus includes a measuring unit for measuring biological data, such as, a pulse rate and is disposed on a portion of a side portion of a wrist watch type apparatus body. The measuring unit is pressed by the user with his finger. At least one operation button is provided to operate an electrical circuit for processing the measured biological data.

Abstract: A multiplex driving method and driving apparatus are provided for a liquid crystal display device having a liquid crystal layer disposed between a pair of substrates, a plurality of row electrodes arranged on one of the substrates and a plurality of column electrodes arranged on the other substrate, the plurality of row electrodes being arranged in plural groups. A portion of the row electrodes are simultaneously selected a within a selection period in which the selection period is divided into a plurality of intervals. A weighted voltage is applied in accordance with desired display data in each of the plurality of intervals to achieve a gray scale display.

Abstract: To provide a highly reliable and easy-to-manufacture ink jet head connection unit, in which ink supply paths are formed by gluing a substrate on which head component is formed to other components, that is free of ink ejection failure and ink leakage. A head component and case component 240 equipped with opening 241 on the bottom of which supply port 257 for supplying ink to head component 210 and concave area 243 to be filled with an adhesive are formed, are provided. Space 248 to be filled with an adhesive for joining head component 210 and case component 240 when case component 240 and head component 210 are coupled, is formed inside the joined case.

Abstract: A printing apparatus comprises a platen, a dot impact print head (23) opposite to the platen, a mask plate (40) between the platen and the print head with a paper passage between the platen and the mask plate (40), and an ink ribbon (31) between the print head and the mask plate. Transport mechanisms are provided to move the mask plate (40) in a direction substantially perpendicular to said paper passage between a first position on the print head side and a second position on the platen side, the transport mechanisms being responsive to the position of the print head along the platen. In the first position of the mask plate a relatively wide gap between the platen and the mask plate enables easy paper insertion, while in the second position a relatively wide gap between the mask plate and the print head facilitates replacement of the ink ribbon without problems.

Abstract: To provide FFT computing units, FFT computation devices, and pulse counters that can achieve computational precision using the smallest possible circuit size. FFT computing unit 602 comprises a data shift circuit for standardizing FFT computation target data to a specified bit width, adders/subtracters, multipliers, and data converters for standardizing the bit width to a certain bit width by truncating part of the output data of each computing unit, etc.

Abstract: A data recording device is provided which is capable of preventing the recording of incorrect date and time data on photographic film due to malfunction of the time counter that generates date and time data for recording. Drive IC 31A of data recording device 30 is equipped with time counter 161 that generates date and time data for recording, and the count value of the date and time data generated by this time counter is stored in storage circuit 33. At the point immediately prior to the operation that changes the count value of the time counter, the date and time data in storage circuit 33 and the counter value of the date and time data from the time counter are compared in comparison judgment circuit 34, and if the two do not agree, malfunction detection signal 34S which indicates that the time counter has malfunctioned is output to driver 162 and the recording of date and time data by liquid crystal display panel 12 is stopped.