Abstract: In an electronic timepiece, a baseplate having a pair of opposed major surfaces, a magnetic shield plate disposed in continuous contact with one of the major surfaces and a stator disposed on the other of the major surfaces. A pin is inserted through the magnetic shield plate, baseplate and stator and includes a head portion bearing against the magnetic shield plate, and is engaged by a screw having a head bearing against the stator for fixing the shield plate, baseplate and stator between the head portion and the screw head. The shield plate includes an inwardly sloped aperture for receiving the head portion of the pin, and the head portion has a tapered peripheral surface complementary to the inwardly sloped surface of the aperture. The head portion is thinner than the shield plate and does not protrude beyond a surface of the shield plate, and because the shield plate is in continuous contact with the base plate it is not deformed by the head portion of the pin bearing thereagainst.

Abstract: A vacuum type circuit interrupter is provided with contacts which include an integral axial magnetic field generating means. In one embodiment, a disc-like contacting portion is supported from the contact base, with a pair of half-turn conductive coil pieces extending between the base and the disc-like contacting portion. In another embodiment, the contacts have a cup-shaped base portion with a radially inwardly directed lip portion at the end of the cup-shaped portion to serve as the normal current carrying contact when the contacts are closed. The lip portions of these cup-shaped contacts are parted when the contacts are moved to the open position and the initial arc travels in a circular path around the annular lip. An auxiliary recessed disc-like contact portion is provided within the space defined by the cup-shaped base contact portion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for securing vibrato and tremolo effects in musical instruments, such as electronic organs, wherein an incoming electrical signal is separated into high and low frequency components which are injected into opposite ends of a multiple-tap delay line. Analog multiplexers are connected to the line and are addressed to scan the delay line terminals sequentially in both directions. In a preferred embodiment, the duty cycles of high frequency sampling signals connected to enable the output of each multiplexer are modulated to secure a smooth transition in a composite output signal between the signals appearing at successive delay line terminals. Alternative methods and apparatus for blending successively scanned delay line signals are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal electronic timepiece including a movable indicator for the twenty-four time-belts of the earth. A moving element includes control contacts which are movable into engagement with a plurality or bed of electric contacts in synchronism with the movable indicator of the time-belts. The contacts and the control members are spaced radially from one another and the control members are also spaced circumferentially from one another. The timepiece includes a display device which receives information which is a function of the time and of the condition of the control members and contacts such that it may display at least at request the time of the time-belt selected by the movable indicator of the time-belts.

Abstract: A day and date correcting device in a timepiece having a day-star wheel and an annular date ring mounted concentrically of the day-star wheel. A correcting lever is positioned between the day-star wheel and the date ring, and the correcting lever has a first protrusion for engaging the day-star wheel to advance the same, and a second protrusion opposite the date ring for engaging the date ring to advance the same. A tab extends from the correcting lever. A correcting wheel having a peripheral tooth is mounted for rotation adjacent the tab and is positioned to engage the tab upon rotation of the correcting wheel to slide the correcting lever to a day correcting position and a date correcting position according to the direction of rotation of the correcting wheel for effecting day and date correction. The correcting wheel is manually rotatable.

Abstract: A step structure for mobile homes and the like. A base is secured to an underside of the vehicle and serves to pivotally mount a linkage which in turn carries a pair of step rails on which a step is slidably mounted. Extension and retraction of the step involves combined swinging travel of the step surface as well as travel in a lateral direction along the step rails to achieve a highly accessible step location well outward of the vehicle side. An electrical control system electronically limits motor operation to avoid motor burnout in the case of step obstruction.

Abstract: A sound resonator apparatus including side walls and a sounding board the grain fiber of which is arranged from end to end of the resonator. A plurality of wooden strips are mounted on the exterior surface of the sounding board and substantially in parallel relationship with the grain thereof.

Abstract: The digital clock includes a switch which undergoes a first operation at a first time and a second operation, representing a resetting operation, at a second time, the first and the second time being preset on a timer of the digital clock by utilizing a conventional clock mechanism contained in the digital clock. A manually operable device is provided for enabling a manual operation of the switch prior to the occurrence of the first and the second times. Additionally, a device is provided which is operable, responsive to the occurrence of the first time, for resetting the condition of the switch resulting from any manual operation thereof and for disabling a further manual operation thereof, so as to cause the switch to operate in accordance with the time schedule determined by the timer.

Abstract: An actuator control system includes a ballscrew type actuator for controlling the positioning of a valve device. A processing circuit is responsive to direction and drive signals for driving a synchronous stepper motor which is operatively coupled to the actuator. The processing circuit includes a switching device which applies a DC voltage to the motor windings to hold the valve position when it is not being driven. A limit sensing device provides a limit signal when the movable member of the actuator approaches a limit of travel. A limit control circuit responds to the limit signal to alternately reverse the direction signal applied to the processing circuit so long as that signal is representative of the direction in which the limit is being approached.

Abstract: A highly regenerative electrical brake control system including a variable time ratio power conditioning circuit for regulating braking effort of a direct current electric traction motor in a traction vehicle. The system includes a plurality of switches adapted for connecting the power conditioning circuit in a series path between the motor and a power source during high speed braking whereby the power conditioning circuit steps-down the motor generated voltage magnitude to match the power source voltage magnitude without using series connected resistors for voltage dropping. During low speed brake the switches are effective to reconnect the power conditioning circuit in a shunt arrangement with the motor whereby the motor voltage magnitude may be stepped-up to match the higher voltage magnitude of the power source. In a further embodiment provision is made for blending of dynamic and regenerative electrical braking when the power source is not totally receptive to motor generated current.

Abstract: A voltage conversion system for an electronic timepiece having a power source, which system generates power at lower voltage level than that of the power source for operating at least one of a frequency standard, a frequency converter, a time counter circuit and a display system. The voltage conversion system comprises an oscillator circuit coupled to the power source to generate output signals, a plurality of capacitors, and a plurality of switching elements responsive to the output signals for alternately setting the capacitors in a parallel connected condition and a series connected condition, whereby an output voltage lower than that of the power source is generated at an output terminal of the system.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism is disclosed for adjusting a digital indicator of an electronic mechanism, such as a timepiece, which includes a first pulse generating mechanism for normally operating the digital display indicator. A second pulse generator includes a pulse former connected electrically to the digital indicator for supplying electrical adjusting pulses thereto. A sensor is operably connected to the pulse former to deliver activating signals thereto for the production of an adjusting pulse. A pulse control member is operably associated with the sensor to control the delivery of activating signals to the pulse former. Either the sensor or the pulse control member is rotatable relative to the other such that activating signals are generated in response to such relative rotation and are generated at a rate which is proportional to the rotational speed of the pulse control member.

Abstract: A timepiece which indicates the time by means of hands such as an hour hand, minute hand, etc. wherein at least one of the hands which is rotatably coupled to the timepiece is provided with a means for causing the center of gravity of the hand to rotate about the point at which the hand is rotatably coupled to the timepiece.

Abstract: A digital type electronic musical instrument generates a tone signal consisting of a plurality of time-varying partial tone signals each by recursive calculation. A recursive calculator is of a simplified construction by arranging the amplitude term to be excluded from the recursive calculation and to be multiplied thereafter. A remarkable reduction in the memory units can be accomplished by arranging the pair of initial values for each partial tone function to be equal to each other by the introduction of a phase term into the periodic part of the partial tone function.

Abstract: A puffer interrupter has a bypass channel around the puffer piston, which channel is opened when the interrupter contacts have reached a separation greater than the maximum effective arc quenching separation.