Abstract: A magnetic cassette recorder comprises a magnetic head 19 which can be translated in directions 21 and 23 between an operating position, in which the head cooperates with a magnetic tape in an inserted cassette 3, and a withdrawn position, in which the head is clear of an inserted cassette. In the withdrawn position the head can be pivoted about a pivotal axis 25 between a first angular position and a second angular position. The head is electrically connected to stationary parts of the recorder by means of a flat flexible multiple electrical conductor 27, such as a foil carrying printed electrical conductor tracks or a flat cable. The conductor is arranged as a cylindrical spiral about the pivotal axis 25 and its end 55 which is remote from the head is connected directly to stationary parts of the recorder, so that translations of the head in the axial direction result in the spiral being extended/compressed and pivotal movements of the head result in the spiral being coiled/uncoiled.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hair drying and styling appliance for drying hair by means of hot air. The appliance comprises a hair styling unit (8) which has a convex wall portion (9) formed with a multitude of air discharge openings (10) and the surface of the convex wall portion (9) has been provided with a velvet-like or short-tufted material (14). The styling unit further has a plurality of styling pins (12) are arranged along a peripheral part (11) of the convex wall portion (9). By brushing over the hair with the velvet-like or short-tufted material of the convex wall portion, the hair becomes is given a glossy appearance.

Abstract: This circuit includes an output stage consisting of a current source SCE 52 and a current sink SNK 51 having an identical construction. A reference signal is applied to a D-type flipflop 40A and a local oscillator signal is applied to another flipflop 40B of the same type. The output 28 (27) of the flipflop 40A (40B) triggers a control circuit 30A (30B) whose output C-SCE (C-SNK) controls the current source SCE (SNK). The inputs of a logic gate 60 are connected to the control circuits 30A, 30B, and the gate supplies an inactive state reset signal to the flipflops 40A and 40B and the control circuits 30. Bias voltages which are common for the control circuits are generated by a circuit 20 which also fixes the elementary output current of the charge pump.

Abstract: A multi-ply business form includes at least a lower ply and an upper ply wherein the upper ply overlies only a portion of the lower ply, leaving a first portion of the lower ply exposed in adjacent relationship to the upper ply. The upper ply has a two part label thereon including a release layer on a relatively small part of the upper ply, and an adhesive label overlying the release layer. The release layer and the adhesive label have information impact printed thereon, while the exposed portion of the lower ply has information non-impact printed thereon. The upper ply is also temporarily adhesively secured to the lower ply along at least two edges of the upper ply.

Abstract: Particle-optical rotationally symmetrical lenses inevitably have chromatic aberration. This lens fault determines the limit of the resolution of known particle-optical apparatus at a comparatively low acceleration voltage (0.5 kV to 5 kV) of the particle beam. This lens fault cannot be eliminated by compensation by means of rotationally symmetrical fields. In order to enhance the resolution of the particle-optical apparatus nevertheless, it has already been proposed to mitigate said lens fault by means of a Wien type corrector. Such a known configuration is provided with a number of electrical and magnetic multipoles. In order to achieve easier adjustment of the various multipole fields, the pole faces (30-i) governing the multipole fields according to the invention have a specific length L=(2.pi..sup.2 n.sup.2)/(K.sub.obj.sup.2 C.sub.c,obj), in which K.sub.obj is the strength of the focusing lens to be corrected and C.sub.c,obj is the coefficient of chromatic aberration of this lens.

Abstract: Deflection unit for a display tube, comprising a coil support (8) with a saddle-type field deflection coil (12) and a yoke ring (14) surrounding this coil. A form-filling adhesive material (extending between the open portions of the field deflection coil as far as the support) is provided in the free space between the support (8) and the yoke ring (14), with which material the support and the field deflection coil are rigidly connected to the inner surface of the yoke ring. Vibrations of the yoke ring, and noise generated by the coil support due to transmission of these vibrations to the support, are substantially prevented, particularly if the adhesive material also has a damping effect, or if a thin layer of visco-elastic material preferably realizing a detachable connection between the adhesive material and the yoke ring is provided between this adhesive material and the yoke ring.

Abstract: A method and device for recognizing speech that has a sequence of words each including one or more letters. The word and letters form a recognition data base. The method receives and recognizes the speech by preliminary modelling among various probably recognized sequences. The method selects one or more model sequences as result. In particular, the method allows in a model sequence of exclusively letters, various words as a subset. Such words are used to qualify one or more neighbouring or included letters in the sequence. An applicable model is a mixed information unit model.

Abstract: In, for example a field emission display, the invention provides the possibility of combining a plurality of sub-substrates that are attached to a larger rear wall, because notably different modes of multiplexing provide a wider positioning tolerance of a sub-substrate with respect to the front plate. Moreover, the different multiplexing techniques lead to a smaller number of connections, even if no use is made of a rear wall supporting of sub-substrates. A plurality of multiplexing techniques provides the possibility of activating a substantially equally large number of pixels of different colours during parts of an image period, so that there is substantially no colour flicker.

Abstract: A video signal-processing device includes an arrangement for detecting film scratches. To distinguish slant scratches in the video signal from other scratch-like image structures in a safe manner, the arrangement for detecting scratches is intended to determine whether at least the section of a scratch extends from the lower margin of an image N-1 preceding a current image N into the upper margin of the current image N, and whether at least a further section of a scratch extends from the lower margin of a current image N into the upper margin of an image N+1 succeeding the current image N.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for modelling and interacting with a virtual environment. An image of the environment, and a representation of the user's presence therein, is generated by a CPU (12) based on data from memories (14,16) and supplied to the user by a stereoscopic display (10). The user is provided with a hand-held unit (18) which has a single control button (20). When the button (20) is not pressed, the user's movements of the control (18) are replicated by a modelled icon (such as a virtual hand) within the virtual environment to enable interaction. When the button (20) is actuated, the user's movements of control device (18) are instead converted to navigational commands shifting the location of the user's virtual presence around the virtual environment.

Abstract: In a signal converter which derives from an input signal having a sample rate R/q an output signal having a larger sample rate R, the input signal is combined with a feedback signal in a subtracter to form a single combined signal. Samples of the combined signal are mapped into a larger number of output samples by a mapper forming part of a mapping arrangement which also produces the feedback signal. The formation of a single combined signal makes the signal converter less complex in design than it would be if a number of combined signals were formed. In a further embodiment a noise shaping filter is interposed between the subtracter and the mapper.

Abstract: A cutting element is provided for use with drill used in the drilling and boring through subterranean formations. This new cutter has improved wear characteristics while maximizing the manufacturability and cost effectiveness of the cutter. This invention accomplishes these objectives by incorporating a single chamfer of increased size. This chamfer is introduced on the periphery of the abrasive cutting face of the cutter. This chamfer has been found to reduce the tensile stress within the cutter, which tensile stress is primarily responsible for spalling and delamination of the abrasive layer of the cutter.

Abstract: A method of selectively metallizing a thermoplastic substrate using a hot foil embossing technique, a patterned metal layer being transferred to the substrate from a metal foil by a cutting and pressing procedure including steps (a) and (b). In step (a) the patterned metal layer is first cut from the foil using a punch-press at a selected pressure p.sub.a. In step (b) the cut patterned metal layer is then attached to the substrate using a press at a pressure p.sub.b which is .ltoreq.10 N/mm.sup.2 and also <p.sub.a, and a temperature T.sub.b .gtoreq.100.degree. C. This avoids concurrent application of high pressure and high temperature, which could cause formation of upset edges at the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement including a DC/AC converter for operating a discharge lamp. The DC/AC converter includes input terminals for connection of the DC/AC converter to a DC voltage source, and a switching circuit connected to the input terminals and provided with at least one switching element. The switching element has a control electrode and a main electrode and a control circuit between the main electrode and the control electrode for generating a control signal for the switching element. The switching element is conductive when a voltage is present between the control electrode and the main electrode with a first polarity having a value which exceeds a threshold value. A load branch includes at least inductive means and output terminals for connection of the discharge lamp, which load branch is supplied via the switching circuit. The control circuit also generates a DC voltage component between the control electrode and the main electrode with a polarity which is opposed to the first polarity.

Abstract: In a transmission system a pair of signalling tone signals is transmitted by a transmitter (2) to a receiver (6) via a transmission channel (4). In the terminal (6) a tone detector is used to detect the presence of the pair of signalling tone signals. In order to improve the reliability of the tone detector in the case of differing strength of both tone signals, the decision on the presence of the pair of signalling tone signals is based on a combined strength measure which is determined by an adder (23). The combined strength measure is compared with a reference level TH.sub.2. In a further embodiment, also a check on the level of the individual tone signals is done with comparators (11) and (9), in order to specify the maximum strength difference tolerated.

Abstract: In a hair-cutting system (1) including a hair-cutting apparatus (2) comprising a toothed cutting device (14) having a toothed cutter (15) which is drivable by a motor (17), and a comb device (19) which can be coupled to the toothed cutting device (2) and which comprises an adjustable comb section (22), the hair-cutting apparatus (2) has an adjustment button (48) for adjusting the adjustable comb section (22) of the comb device (19) and an on/off button (74) for switching on and switching off the motor (17), the adjustment button (48) being arranged at the location of a front side (10) of the hair-cutting apparatus (2) and the on/off button (74) being arranged at the location of a back side (11) of the hair-cutting apparatus (2).

Abstract: Chromium layers are deposited on a substrate by means of a sputter deposition process. By using neon as the working gas at pressures of less than 1 Pa, preferably in the range from 0.2 Pa to 0.5 Pa, the sputter-deposited chromium layers are substantially free of internal stress and have a density which is approximately equal to that of bulk chromium.

Abstract: A flexographic unit printing assembly and method of printing a web of paper using the assembly eliminates the need for one or more flexographic units without eliminating the capability to effectively print certain jobs. At least one of the flexographic print units is provided with a print plate having distinctly different first and second portions, and a computer control has two nodes connected to the first flexographic print unit, one for sending a command telling the unit to print substantially the entire length of the print plate, and the other sending a command to the first flexographic print unit telling it to print the web only with the first print portion, and then to operatively (e.g. mechanically) disengage the print plate from the web.

Abstract: A meander-shaped low-pressure mercury discharge lamp with cold electrodes (7, 8), in particular for use in an illumination panel for a liquid crystal display. The geometry of the tubular lamp vessel (1) bent into a meander shape is so chosen, for obtaining a good homogeneity of the luminance and a high luminous efficacy, that the length of the discharge path is between 250 and 1000 times the internal diameter of the lamp vessel (1). The internal diameter of the lamp vessel (1) preferably has a value of between 2.0 and 3.5 mm.