Abstract: After serial signals output from a CCD sensor are amplified, a peak value of white levels corresponding to the space portions of bar codes is held by a peak hold circuit, and then the held peak value is converted into a digital value by an analog-to-digital conversion circuit. The value obtained by multiplying accumulation time data from the CCD sensor by the target value of the white level peak value is divided by the digital value. The next accumulation time of the CCD sensor is set on the basis of the result of this division. In this way, the sensitivity of the scanner is adjusted.

Abstract: A luminous key top having display sections comprises: a display member having a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the respective external configurations of the display sections and formed of a transparent or a translucent synthetic resin; an external member consisting of an opaque synthetic resin and formed integrally on the display member except for the respective top surfaces of the protrusions; first light-transmitting color layers formed by printing on the respective top surfaces of the protrusions; and second light-transmitting color layers formed by printing on the first light-transmitting color layers.

Abstract: A magnetic unit according to the present invention has a recess formed in a plate which is capable of accomodating terminals, FPC and conductive joining member, thus preventing the terminals, the conductive joining member, and the like from projecting out in the direction of thickness of a magnetic head, and consistently preventing short circuits in the terminal portion from occuring by preventing contact of the terminals and a base, as well as allowing thinner magnetic head units and FDDs to be produced. A ground circuit pattern portion formed on the FPC and the core are directly connected, such that even when a carriage having a gimbal plate mounted thereto is formed from a metal, no insulating sheets are required, which allows grounding of a magnetic core to be appropriately carried out at an electrical potential different from that of a chassis.

Abstract: A circuit for adjusting the sensitivity of an optical character reader in which light is applied to an information-recorded material by an LED array and the information is read by a line sensor. The optical character reader is switched to a sensitivity adjusting mode. It reads a reference material having uniform reflectivity on the surface. The read signal is A/D converted and the microcomputer 10 detects a discrepancy between the amounts of light depending on the different portions of the line sensor. Based upon the detection, the microcomputer sets the applying time of driving currents to the respective LEDs so that the light is uniformly applied to the reference material. The set value is stored in a memory. Thereafter, since the amounts of light from the LEDs of the LED array are adjusted according to the set value, the amount of the reflected light to the line sensor 5 can be uniform. Thus, a series analog voltage accurately responding to the darkness and brightness of the information can be obtained.

Abstract: A housing 1 made of a synthetic resin is placed on a printed circuit board 8 on which a control circuit, a static electricity releasing pattern 10 and so on are formed, and a retainer 7 is mounted on the upper end of the housing 1 to prevent detachment of a ball 3. A conductive ring 15 is fixed to the rear surface of the retainer 7, and a conductive connection pin 16 is fixed to the housing 1 to connect the conductive ring 15 to the static electricity releasing pattern 10. When the static electricity charged on the operator is discharged to the ball 3, it enters the coordinate input device from a gap between the ball 3 and an open portion of the retainer 7, and then is grounded through the conductive ring 15 provided on the rear surface of the retainer 7, the connection pin 16 connected to the conductive ring 15 and then the static electricity releasing pattern 10 on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A remote control device is designed such that it enables an object to be remotely controlled to execute an operation only by the user approaching the object to be remotely controlled. When the user who carries the transmitter 1 depresses an operation button A at a position distant from an automobile 2, the transmitter intermittently transmits a signal containing identification information and command information corresponding to the operation button A. As the user comes closer to the automobile 2 and enters an automatic operation area, the reception level of a receiver 3 exceeds a predetermined value, and the transmission signal is thereby received. The identification information and the command information of the reception signal are decoded, and an operation corresponding to the command information, e.g., door unlocking, is executed by an execution portion 4.

Abstract: A thermal transfer printer in which printing is performed by melting ink from an ink ribbon and transferring the molten ink to a printing sheet, and which is capable of erasing printed characters as desired by attaching the transferred ink to the ink ribbon and drawing the ink ribbon to separate the ink from the printing sheet. At least one ribbon feed roller having its surface formed of a material of a large friction coefficient is provided in a ribbon cassette housing the ink ribbon. The ribbon feed roller is rotated by a drive shaft provided on a carriage to assist in separating the ink ribbon from the printing sheet, thereby enabling the ink ribbon to be separated and wound up constantly with stability during each of the printing and correction operations.

Abstract: A wear resistance layer is formed on a surface of a portion of a sliding contact part adapted to contact with a recording medium and slide relative thereto. The wear resistance layer is formed of a material mainly composed of chromium oxide and at least one of conductive nitride and conductive carbide. Accordingly, the wear resistance of the sliding contact part can be greatly improved to thereby extend the service life.

Abstract: A spring-return switch comprises: a case; a common contact embedded in the inner surface of one of the opposite side walls of the case; a transfer contact embedded in the inner surface of the other side wall opposite to the common contact; a slider supported for vertical movement within the case and integrally provided with an operating rod; a movable contact held by the slider and having a base portion held by the slider, a first contact arm in continuous contact with the common contact and a second contact arm to be brought into contact with or to be separated from the transfer contact; and a return spring biasing the slider upward so that the slider is pressed resiliently against the inner surface of the upper wall of the case. The operating rod is dislocated from the center of the slider toward the transfer contact so that most part of pressure applied to the operating rod to depress the slider is exerted on the second contact arm of the movable contact.

Abstract: An IBM PC compatible keyboard is provided which, on power-up, does not access the keyboard LEDs until receiving a command from the host computer. When the keyboard controller performs a Basic Assurance Test (BAT) on power-up before receiving a host command, the controller does not turn on the LEDs. Upon receiving a Reset command from the host, the controller: (1) turns on the LEDs and performs a BAT with LEDs on; and (2) flashes the LEDs a second time to be compatible with the IBM PCs. Another feature of the invention is a non-destructive test of the controller RAM during BATs. The RAM is tested non-destructively both for the "stuck-at-1" and the "stuck-at-0" conditions. Still another feature is that the controller determines the state of the keyboard LEDs without reading a hardware port. The controller keeps track of the LED state by flags in the controller memory, and the controller determines the LED state by reading the flags.

Abstract: A floating magnetic head of the type in which a slider is joined to the free end of a magnetic head support device includes wings provided in the free end section of the magnetic head support device and engaged with notches provided in slider sections excluding the ABS surface thereof, thereby providing a high level of resistance to impacts and vibrations.

Abstract: In a handy type image scanner, information of an original is observed through an window formed on a case of the image scanner. The handy type image scanner includes a case which encloses a light source for illuminating an original, a reflecting mirror for conducting light reflected from the original to a predetermined direction, and an image sensor for receiving the light from the reflecting mirror so as to input information of the illuminated original. The case includes an upper surface which has a window for observing the information displayed on the original which is being optically read out by the image sensor.

Abstract: A data transfer method of a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus which makes it unnecessary to repeatedly stop and start a recording operation or a reproducing operation in spite of changes in transfer interval and density of data transmitted between a host computer and the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, and which shortens the waiting time of the host computer to a minimum. When data transferred from a host computer is stored in a buffer memory and then transmitted to a rotary head, the number of revolutions of the rotary head and the feeding speed of a magnetic tape are changed by a switch control portion based on the amount of data stored in the buffer memory and the rate at which the amount of data increases or decreases. It is thereby possible to perform continuous recording regardless of the amount and density of the transferred data.

Abstract: Graphite intercalation compound interposing at least PbCl.sub.2 interlaminarly among graphite, synthesized by mixing a raw material graphite, PbCl.sub.2, and a metal halide other than PbCl.sub.2 and heating the mixture.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided a rotary head type magnetic recording/reproducing unit comprising a drum for receiving in close contact a magnetic tape on its periphery and a pair of magnetic heads arranged on the drum for running slantly on the magnetic tape for recording or reproduction of signals, wherein the span of contact of the drum's periphery and the magnetic tape is greater than that of a signal recording or reproducing operation on the magnetic tape by either of the magnetic heads. With such an arrangement, signal recording or reproducing operations of the unit can be conducted under a condition where the tape and the magnetic head are stably in contact with each other and therefore any distorted or deformed envelope waveforms may be eliminated.

Abstract: A light emitting diode driving circuit for supplying a driving pulse to a light emitting diode to thereby cause the light emitting diode to intermittently emit light is disclosed which comprises a clamping circuit, a photodiode disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting diode for detecting the optical output power of the light emitting diode, an AC amplifier having its DC operating point stabilized by means of a DC feedback circuit for AC amplifying the detected output from the photodiode, a shaping circuit for shaping the output amplified signal from the AC amplifier, and a comparison circuit for comparing for voltage the output shaped signal from the shaping circuit and a reference voltage, in which the clamping voltage of the clamping circuit is controlled by the output of the comparison circuit and, thereby, the optical output power of the light emitting diode is maintained constant.

Abstract: A variable resistor device including a casing and a shaft slidably connected to the casing along its axis. The casing houses a resistive substrate and a slider which is movable along a surface of the resistive substrate. The casing also defines a pair of guide grooves for receiving protrusions extending from the slider, thereby restraining the slider to slide along a path defined by the guide grooves. One side of the slider contacts an end of the shaft, and an opposite side of the slider is pressed by a spring. The spring force is parallel to but spaced away from the axis of the shaft; therefore, the forces acting on the slider create a torque. Because the slider is not connected to the shaft, the slider pivots within a small clearance provided by the guide groove in response to the torque, thereby causing the projections of the slider to press against the walls of the guide groove and thereby preventing vibration of the slider relative to the casing.

Abstract: A push-button switch which has a comparatively small overall thickness or height and rattling of a stem upon movement is eliminated or minimized. The push-button switch includes a stem having a flat plate and a plurality of legs each having a protruded portion at an end thereof. The flat plate of the stem is placed on a click rubber element accommodated in an insulating case while upper portions of the protruded portions of the stem are resiliently engaged with an open end of the insulating case to position the protruded portions within the insulating case. The insulating case has a plurality of relief grooves formed at a plurality of corner portions thereof, and when the stem is depressed, the protruded portions thereof are inserted into the relief grooves. Sliding surfaces for the protruded portions of the stem are formed at the corner portions of the insulating case between the open end of the insulating case and an inner bottom face of the relief grooves 25.

Abstract: An amplifier for a radio transceiver overcomes the problem of gain being dependent on ambient temperature. Transmission power is matched to strength of a received signal by providing matched dual gate FET amplifier stages in both the transmitter and receiver portions of the transceiver. Changes in gain due to temperature are compensated for by detecting changes in the FET drain current by measuring the source voltage of the amplifier. The FET source voltage is compared to a reference voltage, and the output signal resulting from the comparison is provided as a control signal to one of the FET gates.

Abstract: A bar code reader includes a line sensor having a scanning range large enough to scan two or more bar codes. A portion of the scanning range having a size corresponding to a single bar code is determined as a reading range. A reading range comparator 35 determines when a bar code is positioned within the reading range, so that no other bar code within the scanning range will be read. The reader also has error detection to determine whether counted numbers of bars fall within a permissible range for a given bar code symbology.