Abstract: A part which is attached to a support frame is pressed against a rotatable member mounted within that support frame. An element having four degrees of freedom is mounted between the support and a point on the part. A biasing element is mounted between the support and a second point on the part to urge the part against the movable member. The structure is useful in the recording of data on a magnetic recording machine and impactless magnetic printing machines.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetographic printing process as well as to a machine which enables the production of images in two colors on a print carrier. The machine which carries out said process comprises magnetic heads (13-1 . . . , 13-n) energized by impulses emitted by a pulse generator (26) by means of a current calibrating and reversing device (27) in order to selectively produce on the drum (10) magnetized points having magnetizations of different direction and amplitude, pigment applicator means (40, 42), retouching devices (41, 43) and a transfer station (45) where the pigments deposited onto the drum (10) are transferred to a paper strip (20). The magnetized points designed to produce on the carrier images or parts thereof which must appear in one of said colors all have magnetization intensities of the same amplitude (J.sub.1) and in the same direction and a magnetic polarity which is opposite that of other magnetized points all having magnetization intensities of the same amplitude (J.sub.

Abstract: A magnetoresistant transducer for reading data present on the tracks of a multitrack magnetic carrier, comprises at least one magnetoresistant element perpendicular to the direction of travel of the data, and first and second magnetic screening means situated at either side of the element.The magnetoresistant transducer comprises deflecting means for deflecting the magnetic field generated by the current flowing through the element. The deflecting means are situated between the latter and the first and second screening means to intercept and deflect the magnetic field lines transmitted by the data items on the track. The deflecting means includes a plurality of mutually parallel thin magnetic blades separated from each other by thin non-magnetic laminations the thickness of which is such that the magnetic coupling between two adjacent laminations is weak. The laminations and magnetoresistances are of anisotropic material and have their axes of easy and difficult magnetization parallel to each other.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrical connection device for connecting high density contacts of large scale integrated circuits (LSI) and serves to establish electrical connection between the contact areas (15) of the circuit network (14) on a substrate (11) for supporting integrated circuit devices (12) and the contact pads (18) of a conductor network (17) on a printed circuit card (13). The electric connection device comprises a plurality of conductive elements disposed within a housing (26) extending in a given direction. The conductive elements are electrically insulated one from the other and have contacts which are exposed through slots in the housing to connect to the areas (15) and pads (18). The conductive elements (29) are stacked in the given direction and are formed each with a conductor sheet (30) provided with two contact surfaces (31a, 32a) elastically movable in a plane normal to the given direction independently of the surfaces of contact of neighboring sheets.

Abstract: A connector for a portable object particularly adapted for credit cards having an IC chip thereon comprises an element incorporating a chamber having an opening adapted to receive the portable object along a predetermined direction. Means for grasping the portable object are contained in the chamber and actuable by the displacement of the portable object. The means for grasping the portable object comprises a first jaw and a second jaw formed by a member which is not integral with the element and cooperating with a guiding device such that it is displaced in the chamber along the predetermined direction between a stable idle position close to the opening and an operating position away from the opening. The member is tipped with respect to the portable object between the idle and operating positions.

Abstract: A credit card includes a memory having first and second zones in which are respectively stored variable and fixed data. The data stored in the first zone includes first, second and third bit fields respectively representing a card serial number, a card invalidation character and a card validation character. The first, second and third bit fields are subject to change by improper use of the card. The first, second and third bit fields are read to derive first, second and third signals. The second signal is compared with a predetermined signal indicative of a desired value for the second field. A set of bits is written into the third field in response to the second signal being equal to the predetermined signal and the first signal being equal to a stored signal indicative of an assigned serial number. The set of bits written into the third field is tested to determine if the bits were properly written into the third field.

Abstract: Character recognition apparatus for the recognition of stylized E13B characters are provided wherein the siganls resulting from the reading of a character by a reading head 17 are sampled to be treated by two different asemblies (EB1 and EB2) of operator-generator blocks of logic signals. The discrimination of the signals delivered by each of these assemblies is realized, in a respective one of the two assemblies (RK1 and RK2) by identification elements (EK1, EK2, . . . , EK14) under the control of two groups of validation circuits (CV1 and CV2). These identification elements (EK1, EK2, . . . , EK14) are each associated with a respective one of the characters of a group.

Abstract: A magnetoresistant transduction device for reading coded data comprises a plurality of magnetoresistances (MRI.sub.1 to MRI.sub.5), which are placed in alignment and spaced from a magnetization device (DAI) by means of a grid (GMI) of non-remanent magnetic material, having parallel elements (EFI.sub.1 to EFI.sub.5) situated between the magnetization device and the magnetoresistances and to which the magnetoresistances are secured either directly or by means of a substrate. The parallel elements serve to focus the magnetic field generated by the magnetization device, which may be in the form of a permanent magnet, such that a plurality of n mutually independent magnetic fields is formed, each field being associated with a corresponding magnetoresistance. The transduction device is applicable to the reading of coded data of very low density, utilized more particularly in franking machines.

Abstract: Data representative of the state of a process capable of assuming different states is stored in a programmable read only memory having a plurality of unwritten storage locations by writing into memory beginning at an initial address data representative of an initial process state, and thereafter writing subsequent data into the memory beginning at a successive address following the initial address such that a portion of the previously written data forms the subsequent data and such that previously unwritten storage locations between the initial address and the successive address are written so that the contents of such storage locations are all in a first logic state, the contents of all locations following the subsequent data being in an opposite logic state. Data is read from the memory by scanning successive storage locations beginning at the initial address and comparing the contents of consecutive locations to determine the starting address of the data.

Abstract: A control logic circuit (C) is provided in each unit such as processors and memories in a multiple processor data processing system. Each control logic circuit (C) is equipped with a priority circuit (P12) which at one input receives the eligible local calls (RQ.sub.i L) of the unit itself and at the other input receives external calls (RQ.sub.k) transmitted by the other units. The control logic circuit (C) enables control by its unit of a transmission bus only when its priority circuit (P12) recognizes that unit as having the highest priority among the other units. The logic circuit (C) together with a T circuit (13) selects local calls as a function of the state of occupation of the data lines of the transmission bus.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying solid particles to the image carrier of a non-impact printer comprises a tank (6) containing a supply of the particles and includes a cylindrical conveying device (21) mounted for rotation in the tank on a first axis A3. A cylindrical conveying member (14) is also mounted for rotation in said tank on a second axis A2, while a first deflector (15) is interposed between the conveying member (14) and the carrier (2), and a second deflector (22) is interposed between the conveying device (21) and the conveying member (14) so as to cause transfer of particles in the tank to the conveying device (21), from there to the member (14) and thence to the carrier (2). Stirring devices (27) for stirring the particles in the tank may also be provided to establish a suitable reserve of particles and supply the particles to the conveying member with evenness.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for automatically positioning a piece on a worktable. A worktable (4) supports a reference system (3) constituted by three rollers (G1, G2, G3). The piece such as a substrate (2) is placed on the table (4) in the neighborhood of the rollers. A first pivoting arm (21) comes into contact with a side (C3) of the substrate (2) to bring the opposed side (C1) in contact with the rollers (G1, G2). A second pivoting arm (20) comes into contact with the side (C4) of the substrate (2) to bring the opposed side (C2) in contact with the roller (G3). The arms (20, 21) are controlled by a single means such as a jack (22) of which the body (23) and the rod (24) are floatingly mounted and are respectively associated with the two arms (20, 21). The invention is primarily useful for positioning of a support for integrated circuits in a serigraphic machine.

Abstract: A method for testing a logic system of the type having points not directly accessible from the exterior, and logic systems including means for carrying out the method. A particular logic state may for test purposes be applied (set) at a particular, normally-inaccessible point in the system; or the logic state at a particular, normally-inaccessible point in the system may be sampled. To accomplish these functions, there are a plurality of flip-flops and associated selective gating circuitry, for example AND-OR select gates, arranged selectively either to connect the flip-flops in series to form a shift register configuration whereby data defining particular logic states to be set, or particular logic states which have been sampled, may be clocked in or clocked out by accessing only the input of the first flip-flop or the output of the last flip-flop; or to connect the inputs and outputs of the various flip-flops to particular points in the system for the purposes of setting and sampling logic states.

Abstract: A viewing system with automatic correction of the reading distance as a function of the inclination of the screen housing. In accordance with the invention, the viewing system comprises a screen housing axially suspended on a U shape base. The screen housing is adjustable by inclination on its axis of suspension. For each inclination two pins carried by the screen housing and sliding in two angled slots carried by the base carry out an automatic correction of the distance separating the operator from the front face of the screen housing.

Abstract: Method and device for application, counting and management of asynchronous events emanating from peripheral devices connected to a data processing system. This method enables the system to check and regulate the number of events transmitted to the logic for processing by constitution of tables and working queues managed by the firmware. This invention is applicable principally to input-output checkers associated with the computers.

Abstract: Transducer intended for read/write functions on a magnetic data carrier wherein the data is contained within a plurality of tracks. The transducer includes a magnetic circuit formed by two pole pieces separated by a gap parallel to the carrier, having its larger dimensions perpendicular to the direction of travel of the data of a track and a winding coupled magnetically to this circuit.The larger dimension of the gap varies depending on the nature of the function performed by the transducer. At least one thin layer of magnetic material is deposited across the pole pieces at each outer edge thereof and spaced from each other. The magnetic layers may be deposited in recesses formed in the pole pieces. The pole pieces may be constricted and include thin magnetic layers deposited on the lateral surfaces to channel magnetic flux lines.

Abstract: A data processing system includes apparatus for addressing operands within a segment utilizing segment descriptors. The apparatus is responsive to instruction words executed by a first of a plurality of processes.

Abstract: The invention relates to the generation of a digital magnetic recording signal modulated in phase in correspondence with the transitions of the corresponding data signal. According to the invention, the D.C. component of the recording signal is suppressed so that the recording winding can be excited by this signal by means of a transformer. The recording head can include only a single turn.

Abstract: A microprocessor architecture which permits automatic programming of a non-volatile memory included on the same chip as a processing and control unit. The microprocessor includes a permanent memory such as an EPROM which can be electrically written word by word. The microprocessor additionally includes a processing and control unit connected to the permanent memory through two sets of data and address registers. Circuits are also included for distributing memory write voltage in a manner which does not interfere with normal operation of the microprocessor. As a result, the data contents at one memory location can be modified (written) the same time instructions are being read from another memory location. Memory writing can alternatively be effected by a sub-program comprising a sequence of microinstructions, or by a write automaton comprising hard-wired logic circuits.

Abstract: Transducer intended for read and/or write functions on a magnetic data carrier wherein the data is contained within a plurality of tracks. The transducer includes a magnetic circuit formed by two pole pieces separated by a gap parallel to the carrier, having its larger dimension perpendicular to the direction of travel of data on a track and a winding coupled magnetically to this circuit. The transducer is characterized in that it comprises means associated with the pole pieces situated at either side of the gap as seen in the direction of its larger dimension, for channelling the magnetic flux emitted by the immediate magnetic surroundings of the track of the carrier read by the transducer.