Abstract: A method for programming programmable logic devices (PLDs) having multiple function block types to implement a logic function, whereby the logic function is mapped into one of the function block types before being mapped into the remaining function block types. In one embodiment, a PLD containing both "fast" function blocks (FFBs) and "high density" function blocks (HDFBs) are programmed such that the FFBs are programmed prior to the HDFBs. This method maximizes the overall speed of an implemented logic function.

Abstract: Disclosed is a thermal transfer printer which makes it possible to perform both recording using an ink ribbon coated with a hot melt ink and recording using an ink ribbon coated with a hot sublimation ink. In the thermal transfer printer, a thermal head mounted on a carriage is driven to thereby effect printing on printing paper while moving the carriage with the thermal head being held in press contact with a platen through the intermediation of an ink ribbon and printing paper, wherein the thermal transfer printer further comprises a control section which makes it possible to selectively switch, in accordance with a mode signal, between a first recording mode in which printing by hot melt transfer is effected on the printing paper by using a hot melt type ink ribbon as the ink ribbon and a second recording mode in which printing by hot sublimation transfer is effected on the printing paper by using a hot sublimation type ink ribbon as the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A method for controlling heat generated by the heat-generating elements of a thermal head, the elements being successively actuated to heat the thermal head in response to an electrical current which is applied to each of the plurality elements from a control circuit for a power-on time which is n times a minimum time period.

Abstract: A reconfigurable sense amplifier in accordance with the present invention operates in either a high switching speed mode, where power consumption is a less critical consideration, or in a low power consumption mode, where switching speed is a less critical consideration. In a high speed mode, the present invention provides an additional pull-up to an amplified bitline which in combination with an existing weak pull-up still permits the signal on the amplified bitline to be affected by a change in voltage on the bitline. In a low power mode, the present invention provides a temporary pull-up on the amplified bitline if a signal on a wordline is transitioning from high to low (i.e. indicating that a low-to-high signal transition may occur on the bitline). In this manner, the present invention anticipates that when such a transition occurs, the voltage on the amplified bitline may also increase.

Abstract: A multi-way flipping switch including a base plate having stationary contacts, a click rubber member placed on the base plate and having hollow protrusions located over the stationary contacts, movable contacts mounted on inner surfaces of the hollow protrusions, a housing mounted on the base plate having a central opening, a holding member mounted on the housing, rotating members having one end rotatably mounted on the holding member and a second end contacting an upper surface of the hollow protrusions, and an operating member pivotally mounted on the housing such that a portion of the operating member protrudes through the central opening, the operating member including driving members contacting middle sections of the rotating members.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a space coordinates detecting device wherein a detecting section for detecting light emitted from a light source is provided, thereby permitting detection of a relative angle between a light emitting sections and the detecting section and hence permitting application of the detecting device to an input apparatus. The detecting section is provided with a light sensing element 23 having quartered light sensing portions. In the light emitting section, distinguishable lights are emitted from two light sources. The lights thus emitted are throttled through apertures and applied as separate square light spots S16 and S17 to the light-sensitive surface of the light sensing element 23. By calculating a difference in the detected output among the quartered light sensing portions, it is possible to determine the center I1 of the square light spot S16 and the center I2 of the square light spot S17.

Abstract: An extruding apparatus for intermittently supplying a predetermined quantity of highly viscoelastic fluid material, e.g. food material. The apparatus has a supply pump, one end of which is connected to a hopper containing the food material and the other end connected to an extrusion valve covered with a housing via a supply pipe and a pressure sensing means mounted in the housing or in the supply pipe, thereby always sensing the pressure of the food material in the valve to keep the pressure to a predetermined value by operating or stopping the supply pump.

Abstract: A communication system for e.g. an automobile including a system control unit for activating a selected audio/video device (such as an AM/FM tuner or a navigation system) in response to a request signal transmitted on a bus from a command input terminal. The system control unit generates command signals necessary to activate the selected audio/video device in response to the request signal, including command signals to de-activate any currently-operating devices. Conversely, adjustment commands (such as volume change or channel change commands) are transmitted directly (that is, unchanged by the system control unit) from the command input terminal to the selected audio/video device on the first bus line. In addition, the audio/video devices transmit reset signals whenever power is shut-off and then restored. Each reset signal includes a transmission source address corresponding to the audio/video device which transmitted the signal.

Abstract: A switch for preventing unintentional actuation of, for example, a door lock in an automobile. The switch includes a slider and a control lever pivotally mounted on the slider. When the slider is in a neutral position, a guide member located in a housing of the switch abuts a protrusion of the control lever such that pivoting of the control lever is prevented, thereby preventing unintentional actuation of the door lock. To actuate the switch, the slider is moved to a second position wherein the protrusion of the control lever is not blocked by the guide member, and subsequent pivoting of the control member causes the protrusion to push a movable contact into a fixed contact of the switch. A ball is biased into a groove formed in the slider to provide a click sensation when the slider is moved from the neutral position to the second position.

Abstract: A disk drive particularly, a disk drive into which a disk cartridge containing a magnetic disk as an information recording medium is loaded when used. A flexible printed circuit board mounting circuit parts for a spindle motor thereon is used as board and fixed to a back yoke, thereby constituting the spindle motor. A lower cover is provided with an opening, the flexible printed circuit board is interposed between a chassis and the lower cover, and the back yoke is assembled by being inserted into the opening of the lower cover. When the disk cartridge is inserted, it is obliquely inserted so that the disk cartridge will not strike against any magnetic heads.

Abstract: A computer including a body case housing a display, an outer member formed of an impact-resistant material integrally formed on the outside surface of the body case, and an outwardly-projecting cushioning portion formed at each corner of the outside member. Each of the cushioning portions has a first protective portion extending outwardly from the body case, and a second protective portion projecting curvilinearly with respect to the first protective portion and extending onto a surface or a back side of the body case. The cushioning portions are formed of an elastic material. Further, vent holes are formed in the body case which are sealed with a porous film which is permeable to gas but not permeable to water. The vent holes provide an escape path for gas produced by a battery, such as a nickel-hydrogen battery, in the event that the battery explodes within the body case.

Abstract: An electronic element having a sufficient dielectric strength remarkably superior to any of the conventional ones. In this element, a conductive wire pattern is formed on the surface of a substrate which is insulative at least in its surface, and an insulating layer is so formed as to cover the substrate and the wire pattern either partially or entirely. The insulating layer is composed of a silicon nitride film where the oxygen content is less than 10 atomic percent at least in the vicinity of a step portion of the wire pattern. There is also provided a method of producing such electronic element, wherein the insulating layer is formed by plasma enhanced CVD under the conditions that the following relationship among a film forming temperature T (.degree. C.), an ion flux I (A) and a film forming speed v (nm/min): T.gtoreq.-651 (I/v)+390, 150.ltoreq.T.ltoreq.350 (where the ion flux denotes the current (A) per 60.times.60 cm.sup.2).

Abstract: A multidirection input apparatus including a housing, a driving member movably positioned within the housing, and an operation member fixedly attached to the driving member and extending from the housing for manual manipulation. The driving body is supported by an elastic member over an input switch. The elastic member includes six protrusions (two rotation protrusions and four tilt protrusions), each protrusion having a movable contact formed on a lower surface of the elastic member, and each movable contact is positioned over an associated fixed contact located on a lower substrate of the housing. Manual rotation of the operation member causes rotation of the driving member which, in turn, presses against one of the two rotation protrusions, thereby causing the movable contact associated with the rotation protrusion to contact its associated fixed contact on the lower substrate.

Abstract: A noise filter includes an annular magnetic core made of a soft magnetic alloy ribbon mainly made of Fe and containing B and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo and W, at least 50% of the soft magnetic alloy structure being composed of body-centered cubic structured fine grains having an average grain size of 30 nm or below, a casing for accommodating the magnetic core and having an insulating plate, a pair of coils separated from each other by the insulating plate, and an electronic circuit for connecting a core element made up of the magnetic core, the casing and the coils.

Abstract: An optical reading apparatus including an LED array for projecting light onto bar codes formed on a paper surface, a line sensor for receiving reflected light from the bar codes, a bar code reading unit for processing bar code reading signals obtained by the line sensor and for obtaining decoded signals of the bar codes, and a drive control unit for driving the LED array and the line sensor, wherein the LED array is divided into a plurality of sets, and a paper detecting unit detects whether a paper surface is present or not based on a bar code reading signal and supplies a paper surface detection signal to a drive control unit when the paper surface is detected, and the drive control unit drives the plurality of LED sets to emit light in sequence when a paper surface is not detected, and to emit light simultaneously when a paper surface detection signal is generated by the paper detecting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and controlling the rotational position of a motor without using a high-priced component and without requiring special software processing. The apparatus includes a motor rotation control section for selectively connecting a power source to the motor to rotate the motor into a predetermined position, a potentiometer mechanically linked to a shaft of the motor to read the absolute rotational position of the motor, an astable multivibrator for generating output pulses having a duty ratio corresponding to the position read by the potentiometer, and a control signal generation section for supplying a control signal corresponding to the duty ratio of the output pulses to the motor rotation control section to control the rotational position of the motor.

Abstract: A torque sensor is provided which does not easily generate hysteresis in an output curve from a sensing device thereof and in which abnormality in detecting the rotational torque can therefore be prevented. An input shaft and an output shaft are connected to each other through a torsion bar. An actuator portion, having a semicircular cross sectional shape, and a stopper are, such that a predetermined interval is maintained, provided for a first mounting frame integrally formed with the input shaft. A sensing device comprising of a slide-operation-type variable resistor is secured to a second mounting frame integrally formed with the output shaft. A lever provided for the sensing device and having a circular cross sectional shape is caused to project between the actuator portion and the stopper.

Abstract: In an EPLD, a feedback switching circuit is provided on a feedback line connected between a macrocell output line and a interconnect matrix wordline, the switching circuit including a memory element and a switch for passing a macrocell output signal from the output line to the interconnect matrix wordline when the memory element is in a first state, and for blocking the macrocell output signal when the memory element is in a second state. This prevents coupling noise in the interconnect matrix because unnecessary feedback signals are prevented from entering the interconnect matrix. In another embodiment, a method is provided in which unused macrocells produce counteractive switching signals in the interconnect matrix to reduce the coupling effect caused by a multiple concurrent switching event. In another embodiment, a sense amplifier is provided in which an EPROM shields coupling between wordlines and bitlines in an interconnect matrix.