Abstract: A semiconductor device for receiving a plurality of input signals having different center amplitude levels without using an AC coupling circuit. The semiconductor device incorporates an input circuit, which includes receiving circuits and a detection circuit, and receives a plurality of input signals having different center amplitude levels in accordance with a connected external device. The receiving circuits have different signal determination levels. The detection circuit detects the center amplitude level of the input signal and generates a control signal. One of the receiving circuits is selectively validated by the control signal of the detection circuit, and the input signal is converted to an output signal having a certain level.

Abstract: A semiconductor device for efficiently transferring data of both digital and analog signals. The semiconductor device includes a digital interface for controlling input and output of a digital signal, an analog interface for controlling input and output of an analog signal, and a transfer controller. The transfer controller controls the transfer of data between the digital interface and the memory and between the analog interface and the memory. The data transferred between the analog interface and the memory is divided into plural pieces of data having a predetermined data length and converted to pseudo data packets.

Abstract: An IEEE 1394 compliant bus controller transfers data packets between connected nodes. The controller includes a processor which divides a series of data into blocks and then stores the blocks in multiple packets (one block per packet). The packets are then transferred over the bus from a source node to a destination node at equal intervals until the entire series of data has been transferred. An initialization prohibition unit prohibits initialization of the nodes during the data transfer which may be caused, for example, by hot plugging (connecting a new node to the bus) during the data transfer.

Abstract: In an e-commerce system which rearranges merchandise information pieces distributed to a consumer to match preferences of the consumer based on a personal profile with which various keywords contained in the merchandise information pieces and evaluation values corresponding to the keywords are registered where the evaluation values are learned in advance based on preferences of the consumer, while withdrawing a charge of merchandise from an account designated by the consumer to pay to the seller when receiving an order from the rearranged merchandise information pieces, an order for merchandise from the merchandise information pieces distributed to one consumer is placed using the personal profile of another consumer.

Abstract: An interface circuit that can disconnect a loop connection among nodes. The interface circuit includes ports, which are connected to bus cables, a state machine and a port controller, which is connected to the ports and the state machine. The state machine determines that a loop connection exists when a process in a predetermined state has been stacked for a predetermined time. When a loop connection exists, the port controller electrically disconnects a port on the loop.

Abstract: An interface circuit including an interface controller operated by at least a system power supply or an external power supply. A switch is connected between an interface controller and a system power circuit for conducting system power. The interface controller includes a control signal generating circuit for generating a control signal that closes the switch at a timing that does not affect data transmission performed by the interface circuit in accordance with a trigger signal, which indicates that the system power has gone on. Similarly, the switch is opened at a time when data transmission will not be affected.

Abstract: A take-up equipment and a take-up method for a finish rolling mill for dividing a strip into a plurality of coiled products when taking up the strip on the exit side of the finish rolling mill are provided. A plurality of take-up machines (24, 26, K1, K2) are disposed at the downstream side of a hot finish rolling mill; a shearing machine (27, 2) is provided on the upstream side of a pinch roll (23, 4) of the take-up machines (24, K1) at the uppermost stream end; and a strip passing device (28, 6a) is provided between the shearing machine and the pinch roll at the uppermost stream to prevent a strip from rising. The strip passing devices are guiding devices for restricting the height of the rise of the strip or the airflow suction type strip passing devices for drawing in a strip under suction using airflow. The plurality of take-up machines are down coilers or carousel type reels having two winding drums (66a, 66b).

Abstract: A protocol controller connected between a SCSI device and a DMA controller. The SCSI device is connected to the protocol controller with a first bus and the DMA controller is connected to the protocol controller with a second bus having a width less than a width of the first bus. The protocol controller communicates with the SCSI device so that it transfers data having a width equivalent to the width of the second bus. Other data concurrently transferred by the SCSI device over the first data bus is ignored and not transferred to the DMA controller.

Abstract: An improved output circuit that provides an output signal having a predetermined high voltage level regardless of the voltage of a high-potential power supply is described. In one embodiment, the invention includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected in series between a high-potential power supply and a low-potential power supply, and a third transistor connected in parallel to the first transistor between the high-potential power supply and the node between the first and second transistors. The first and second transistors are n-type MOS transistors and the third transistor is a p-type MOS transistor. In another embodiment, the invention further includes a supply voltage detector for detecting a voltage of the high-potential power supply and supplying a voltage signal to the first and third transistors for selectively enabling one of the first and third transistors based on the voltage detected.

Abstract: A small computer system interface (SCSI) controller for continuously or intermittently performing communication of plural sets of data. The SCSI controller includes a data register for temporarily storing a set of data, a SCSI interface for transmitting the data stored in the data register in units of 2 bytes and for receiving data from another SCSI controller in units of 2 bytes, a byte counter for counting the number of bytes of data that is transmitted from or received by the SCSI interface, an internal processor for controlling initial setting of a target count value of the byte counter, and a transfer control circuit for controlling transmission of the data stored in the data register from the SCSI interface and reception of data by the data register via the SCSI interface. In data communication in units of 2 bytes, the SCSI controller can prevent transfer of dummy data that is ineffective, to thereby provide efficient data communication.

Abstract: A finder optical system including an objective system, an image erecting system for erecting an object image formed by the objective system, and an eyepiece system for observing the object image. These systems are constructed of low-hygroscopic organic materials. Thus, the finder optical system can prevent transient variations of optical properties caused by hygroscopicity.

Abstract: An output buffer circuit includes a pull-down side transistor connected between an output terminal and a low-potential power source. The pull-down side transistor is driven by an input signal, such that when the pull-down side transistor is turned on by the input signal, a low level output signal is output from the output terminal. A pull-up circuit is connected between the output terminal and a high-potential power source, for changing the output signal to a high level in accordance with the input signal when the transistor is turned off in response to the input signal. The pull-up circuit ceases to function when the output signal goes high thereby creating a high impedance condition. The pull-up circuit includes an OR gate which receives the input signal and the output signal, and an inverter which receives an output signal of the OR gate. A differentiating circuit is provided, through which an output signal of the inverter circuit is output to the output terminal.

Abstract: A camera comprises: a photographing lens; a viewfinder lens lying behind the photographing lens so that an object to be photographed can be viewed; a first reflector mirror capable of being displaced between a first position, at which the first reflector mirror intervenes between the photographing lens and viewfinder lens so that light emanating from the photographing lens is reflected horizontally substantially at 90.degree., and a second position at which the first reflector mirror has retracted from between the photographing lens and viewfinder lens; a second reflector mirror lying by the side of the first reflector mirror so that the light emanated from the photographing lens and reflected from the first reflector mirror is reflected vertically substantially at 90.degree.

Abstract: A real image mode variable magnification finder optical system comprising an objective lens system including a rotatable prism, an image erecting optical system for erecting an image formed by the objective lens system and an eyepiece lens system having a positive refractive power. The prism is rotated 180.degree. for changing the finder optical system between a wide angle condition and a telephoto condition. This variable magnification finder optical system permits minimizing a space required for operating an optical member for changing a magnification thereof and composing the objective lens system compactly of a small number of component parts.

Abstract: A switching variable magnification finder includes an objective lens system having a positive refracting power, an image erecting optical system for erecting an image formed by the objective lens system, and an eyepiece system having a positive refracting power, in which an auxiliary lens system is removably disposed behind the objective lens system so that magnification is varied according to the insertion or removal of the auxiliary lens system. Thus, the switching variable magnification finder allows magnification to be changed without increasing the overall of the finder optical system and moving the objective lens system and its switching mechanism to be simplified.

Abstract: The reflecting mirror for leading the image forming light bundle emitted from an image pickup optical system to an image forming surface has an area for reflecting the effective image forming light bundle, and another marginal area which is located outside said area, and has a reflecting characteristic different from that of said area and varying gradually outward. Accordingly, the reflecting mirror is capable of blurring the boundary of the veiling glare and reducing appearance of detrimental images. The variation of the reflecting characteristic on said outside marginal area can be realized by varying reflectance or light diffusing characteristic of the outside marginal area.

Abstract: A vari-focal lens system with switchable auxiliary lens units comprising a master lens system, an auxiliary lens unit removably arranged after the master lens system and another auxiliary lens unit removably arranged after said auxiliary lens unit, said vari-focal lens system being so adapted as to permit photographing at multiple different focal lengths by speedy switching operation with a simple mechanism.

Abstract: A rear conversion lens system to be used for varying the focal length being inserted to the space between an objective for a single-lens reflex camera and film surface, the rear conversion lens system comprising a first lens component arranged as a positive lens, a second lens component arranged as a negative lens, a third lens component arranged as a positive meniscus lens, a fourth lens component arranged as a biconcave lens, and a fifth lens component arranged as a positive cemented doublet, the rear conversion lens system being arranged that the magnification is higher than 1.6 and aberrations are corrected favorably.

Abstract: A vari-focal photographic lens system of rear lens group exchange type comprising a front lens group and a rear lens group and arranged to vary the focal length of the lens system as a whole by exchanging the rear lens group for another rear lens group having a different lens configuration, the vari-focal photographic lens system being arranged so compactly and arranged that the variation of aberrations is small.

Abstract: A varifocal lens system equipped with an auxiliary lens group comprising a master lens system consisting of a front lens group having positive refractive power and a rear lens group having negative refractive power, and an auxiliary lens group arranged in such a manner that it can be freely inserted and removed, for varying focal length, between said front and rear lens groups. Said varifocal lens system is equipped with a simple mechanism capable of varying focal length of said lens system in a very short time.