Abstract: The analog display device comprises at least one needle driven through a gear wheel by a stepping motor, a control circuit for the motor, bidirectional counter locked with the position of the needle on a dial, the logic states of the outputs of the counter being representative of the position of the needle on the dial and a comparator for the informations delivered by the counter and the informations corresponding to the value of the function to display, the comparator acting at least indirectly on the control circuit and on the counter so that the position of the needle is representative of the value of the function to display. The device does not require any digital-analog converter nor galvanometer and it allows for, example, to display simultaneously with at least two needles the value of at least two different functions, to make changes of scale, and so on. The device may also be combined with another type of analog or digital display.

Abstract: The integrated circuit comprises an output circuit feeding an external system connected to an output terminal of the integrated circuit and a detection circuit of the characteristic of the external system. The detection circuit includes a comparator for comparing the voltage on the output terminal in response to a signal delivered by the output circuit with a voltage of reference, memorizing means memorizing at different times the result of the comparison and a logic circuit connected to the memorizing means which delivers at its outputs combinations of logic states depending upon the characteristics of the external systems, the combinations of logic states being utilized by the integrated circuit to control the external systems in accordance with their particular characteristics.

Abstract: A manually operated machine is provided for compressing a charge of tobacco into a cylindrical shape and inserting the compressed charge into a preformed cigarette tube. It comprises a body having a nozzle for supporting the cigarette tube, a sliding compression member directly connected to an operating handle, and an ejector such as a tobacco spoon and ejection plug for injecting the cylindrical charge of tobacco through the nozzle into the cigarette tube. The ejector cooperates with a back edge of a tobacco insertion slot, which is directed at a small acute angle thereto, to exert a scissors-like cutting action on protruding strands of tobacco whereby there is produced a clean separation of the charge of tobacco to be compressed.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a time-piece comprising a system for detecting the non-rotation of a stepping motor and for making-up lost steps.The detection system comprises a device for measuring the current delivered to the motor, the logic level of the measured signal being used for controlling a correction circuit delivering additional pulses to the stepping motor. The measuring device comprises a short duration measuring pulse generator, a reference signal source, and a comparator having an output which controls the correction circuit.

Abstract: A self-starting single-phase synchronous motor comprising a generally bell-shaped permanently magnetized rotor, a coil located inside the rotor and having a core which is connected at both ends to stator parts having distinct poles, one of the stator parts being located between the coil and rotor and the other stator part being located outside the rotor, the rotor being rotatably mounted on the shaft with defined friction, a resilient coupling element arranged between the rotor and shaft, and locking means acting on the rotor for determining the starting direction of rotation and located in front of the resilient coupling element on the power transmission path.

Abstract: The device discussed herein which is preferably a separate auxiliary unit, is equipped with a keyboard for entry of sewing conditions such as material type and sewing operation. Data is entered in an electronic memory which contains instructions for sewing machine adjustment and set-up. These instructions are clearly indicated at certain points on the device or preferably on the sewing machine for the most part so that sewing machine adjustment and set-up can be performed without special previous knowledge. In this connection, it is possible to supply clear instructions for a great number of data combinations directly at the points of the sewing machine where adjustment and set-up occur.

Abstract: A joint for connecting a partial dental prosthesis to remaining natural teeth has a compression spring (10) acting on joint portions (1, 7) displaceable in a sagital direction, which spring relieves the prosthesis (13) connected to one of the joint portions (7) in the unstressed state. The displacement of the joint portions when the prosthesis is stressed is delimited by the stop surfaces (14, 15) in such a manner that the spring (10) cannot be completely compressed. This protects the spring and its functional capacity is permanently ensured and an optimal distribution of the biting and chewing pressure acting on the prosthesis over the anchor tooth (3) and the gums (6) is also attained.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device for charging an accumulator from an electric energy source, more particularly one or more solar cells, intended in particular for an electronic wristwatch. The device represents the equivalent of an ideal diode inserted between the source of electrical energy and the battery.A solar cell (1) feeds a charging current to the accumulator (2) via a transistor (3) and, if desired, a diode (7) in parallel with the transistor (3). The conduction state of the transistor (3) is monitored by a differential amplifier (4) which has an off-set voltage (U.sub.off), the value and polarity of which are determined by a generator (5). This off-set voltage (U.sub.off) defines the voltage drop between the energy source and the accumulator (2) which is selected to be between 20 and 50 millivolts.

Abstract: A method of making the opening in aerosol can tops in two operations on a transfer press. One operation produces a score line on the upper radius of the pre-drawn cylindrical portion which compresses the material and permits a clean and burr-free separation. In the following station the disc is pulled radially towards the center, formed into a cup and ejected downwards. The fact that the material is being compressed in the scoring operation, that the edge thickness is equal to the original material thickness and that the edge of the opening is clean, smooth and free of burrs, permits the subsequent formation of the curl without the risk of splitting when using harder and less expensive material.

Abstract: A system for determining and controlling the power being transmitted through a rotated shaft from a fuel-consuming engine, which includes a husk assembly associated with the shaft and providing electrical signals proportional to shaft torque, a tachometer for providing electrical signals proportional to shaft rotational speed, electrical circuitry for electronically multiplying the torque signals by the RPM signals to determine shaft horsepower, a dividing network for dividing the shaft horsepower signal into an electrical signal representing the rate of fuel consumption to provide a continuous indication of instantaneous system efficiency, a first control network connected to receive the shaft RPM signals for providing both variable and on-off feedback signals for controlling the speed of the engine and a second control network connected to receive the shaft torque signals for providing both variable and on-off torque control signals for feedback control of the engine to enable the direct supervision of engi

Abstract: A two-part package includes a sleeve for receiving a tray. One surface of the sleeve has openings formed therein for receiving dimpled detents formed in the tray. As the tray is fully positioned in the sleeve, the detents engage the openings and retain the tray thereby inhibiting unwanted opening of the package and release of contents. Upon exertion of sufficient manual force on the sides of the sleeve, detent action is overcome and the package is opened as desired.

Abstract: The converter comprises a first MOS transistor fed by a current source or by a current-limiting element and it receives through an input capacitor the alternating input voltage. The first transistor is biased by a second MOS transistor the distance drain-source of which is connected between the gate and the drain of the first transistor. The second transistor is biased on its gate by a voltage of reference in such a way that its equivalent internal resistance takes a very high value. A filter capacitor is connected between drain and source of the first transistor. A direct voltage is delivered on the drain of the first transistor the value of which being function of the amplitude of the alternating input voltage. The converter can be implemented by any conventional technology for MOS integrated circuits because it uses only standards elements which are easily integrated.

Abstract: A roller assembly for supporting sliding doors on a track or rail comprises a plurality of short rollers (10) which are confined to run around an oval track (9a) formed in a two part housing (7). Some of the rollers (10) are engageable with the track through an elongate slot (13) in the base of the housing (7) so that load is distributed over several rollers. The housing (7) is mounted for adjustment in a carrier (5) which can be mounted on a door. The adjustment permits variations in height or levels to be accommodated.

Abstract: A hand held device is provided which permits safe removal of used blades from scalpels or the like in which a slotted blade is received in opposed lateral grooves in a thin elongate tang with a proximal region of the blade located behind the tang in a cut-away laterally convergent region intermediate the tang and the handle. The device includes a base wall over whose surface the scalpel is advanced and having laterally opposed protuberant regions over which the blade slides. A slot between the protuberant regions which receives the tang but not the blade. A fully inserted position of the scalpel is defined by abutment between the proximal edges of the protuberant regions and said convergent region.

Abstract: A key for a safety lock having two grooves on each flat side with pairs of identical grooves being located symmetrically opposed about the central axis of the key profile. The grooves (2,3) and the tumbler cams are fashioned in pairs with different dimensions, for the purpose of increasing the number of possible combinations. Thus, both the width and/or depth of a groove may be constant or variable.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece having a minute hand and an hour hand which are controlled by a control circuit of the timepiece to display and to program, in addition to their own parameters, other parameters such as date, month, second, alarm time, or other, non time-related, parameters, which can be selected by push-button or pull-switch control means.

Abstract: An electronic watch having a stepping motor and equipped with an alarm, in which the number of power transistors necessary for the control of the stepping motor and of the alarm transducer is reduced so as to permit the integration of all the electronics of the watch of a single chip and to reduce the number of terminals of the integrated circuit and the number of interconnections.A pair of the power transistors (5, 6) is common to the control of the motor coil (11) and of the alarm transducer coil (12) and the alarm control signal is inserted between the driving pulses.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece with analog display by seconds, minutes, and hours hands driven by a bidirectional stepping motor, in which the seconds hand can be used to display information different from the seconds count, the time displayed by the minutes and hours hands being conserved and the passage from one information mode to the next being made by a rapid bidirectional catching up. The electronic circuit comprises means for comparison (10) comparing the information delivered by counting means (16, 18) synchronous with the seconds hand and the information to be displayed, delivered by selection means (5, 9, 12). The state of the output of the comparison means (10) acts by control means (FF6, 7) on the stepping motor, so that the seconds hand displays the desired information.