Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric screwdriver device having a function for determining that a correct tightening operation has been carried out when the tightening operation has taken a time longer than a reference time predetermined for the tightening operation, characterized in comprising a novel feature for determining the reference time.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric screwdriver device having a function for determining that a correct tightening operation has been carried out when the tightening operation has taken a time longer than a reference time predetermined for the tightening operation, characterized in comprising a novel feature for determining the reference time.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric screwdriver device having a function for determining that a correct tightening operation has been carried out when the tightening operation has taken a time longer than a reference time predetermined for the tightening operation, characterized in comprising a novel means for determining the reference time.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an electric screwdriver device having a function for determining that a correct tightening operation has been carried out when the tightening operation has taken a time longer than a reference time predetermined for the tightening operation, characterized in comprising a novel means for determining the reference time.

Abstract: An electronic equipment communications system consists of electronic equipment and at least one or more control terminals and external storage devices connected via a repeater. Communications between the repeater and electronic equipment is performed by an external storage device communications system that connects the entertainment system to external storage devices connected to the external storage device connectors of the repeater, and control signals output from the electronic equipment are input to the repeater via this external storage device communications system. The data rate of the external storage device communications system is higher than that of the control terminal communications system, so high-speed switching of the repeater can be implemented by control signal from the electronic equipment.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a pressure-sensitive device for providing an analog signal responsive to an applied pressure, a level segmenting unit for segmenting the analog signal into output levels and an analog-to-digital (A/D) converting unit for converting the segmented analog signal into a digital signal having a plurality of bits.

Abstract: An analog operation is possible by a pressing operation of a controller which is normally used for conventional digital operation. A detecting device (e.g., a pressure-sensitive device) for outputting an analog signal corresponding to the pressing operation by the controller is provided, the analog signal which is outputted by the detecting device is segmented into levels by a level segmenting unit, and the segmented analog signal is converted into a digital signal having a plurality of bits corresponding to the output level by an A/D converting unit. A segmenting-range setting unit (such as a memory) for setting the range of output levels of the analog signal which is segmented by the level segmenting unit is also provided. The level segmenting unit segments the output level of the analog signal which is outputted by the detecting device within the range which is set by the segmenting-range setting unit.

Abstract: An operating device is capable of both digital operation and analog operation by using a pressing operation continuously. The operating device has detecting elements (e.g., pressure-sensitive elements) for outputting analog signals according to the pressing operations of operators, and is configured such that the analog signals output from the detecting elements are subjected to level dividing by a level dividing unit and converted into multi-bit digital signals corresponding to the output levels thereof by an A/D converting unit. The operating device is also configured so as to output single-bit digital signals according to a change in the analog signals output from the detecting element. A switching unit outputs one or the other of the multi-bit digital signals and single-bit digital signals.

Abstract: An operating device is capable of both digital operation and analog operation by using a pressing operation continuously. The operating device has detecting elements (e.g., pressure-sensitive elements) for outputting analog signals according to the pressing operations of operators, and is configured such that the analog signals output from the detecting elements are subjected to level dividing by a level dividing unit and converted into multi-bit digital signals corresponding to the output levels thereof by an A/D converting unit. The operating device is also configured so as to output single-bit digital signals according to a change in the analog signals output from the detecting element. A switching unit outputs one or the other of the multi-bit digital signals and single-bit digital signals.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to allow both a digital operation and an analog operation by using pressing operation continuously. An operating device has detecting elements (e.g., pressure-sensitive elements (12)) for outputting analog signals according to pressing operations of operators (11), and is configured such that analog signals output from the detecting elements are subjected to level dividing by a level dividing unit (15) and converted into multi-bit digital signals corresponding to the output levels thereof by an A/D converting unit (16), and is also configured so as to output single-bit digital signals according to change in analog signals output from the detecting element. A switching unit (18) outputs one or the other of the multi-bit digital signals and single-bit digital signals.

Abstract: An operating apparatus and a signal-output modulating method therefor allow analogous operations to be implemented by use of press-operational operation elements that have conventionally been used for digital operations. In the operating apparatus, detecting elements are provided, each of which is formed of a resistant material and a conductive material. The detecting elements individually output analog signals corresponding to press-operations performed on the operation elements. An output-level range of an analog signal outputted from the detecting element is divided by a level divider into multiple levels, and an analog-digital (A-D) converter performs conversion thereof to digital signals corresponding to the output levels. In addition, the output levels of the individual digital signals outputted from the A-D converter are shifted by a level corrector 17 according to a predetermined corresponding reference, and the digital signals are thereby output.

Abstract: A remote control device for remotely controlling an AV (audio visual) device includes an analog switch (30) formed of an operating element (31 or 41) and a pressure-sensitive resistor (35) which outputs a signal with various levels depending upon a pressing force applied to the operating element (31 or 41). By employing the analog switch (30 ) in a control button of the remote control device, it becomes possible to output a signal having various levels depending upon a pressing force applied to the control button (31 or 41). This allows a single control button to be used for a plurality of functions. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of buttons, and a user can easily operate the remote control device in a simpler fashion.

Abstract: An operating apparatus and a signal-output modulating method therefor allow analogous operations to be implemented by use of press-operational operation elements that have conventionally been used for digital operations. In the operating apparatus, detecting elements are provided, each of which is formed of a resistant material and a conductive material. The detecting elements individually output analog signals corresponding to press-operations performed on the operation elements. Output-level range of an analog signal outputted from the detecting element is divided by a level divider into multiple levels, and an analog-digital (A-D) converter performs conversion thereof to an analog signal converted digital signals corresponding to the output levels. In addition, output levels of the individual digital signals outputted from the A-D converter are shifted by a level corrector 17 according to a predetermined corresponding reference, and the digital signals are thereby output.

Abstract: An electronic equipment communications system consists of electronic equipment and at least one or more control terminals and external storage devices connected via a repeater. Communications between the repeater and electronic equipment is performed by an external storage device communications system that connects the entertainment system to external storage devices connected to the external storage device connectors of the repeater, and control signals output from the electronic equipment are input to the repeater via this external storage device communications system. The data rate of the external storage device communications system is higher than that of the control terminal communications system, so high-speed switching of the repeater can be implemented by control signal from the electronic equipment.

Abstract: A trick action type clock, wherein a dial plate which is arranged in front of ornaments is made of left and right side dial plates mating along a line passing through a center of rotation of the hands. A planetary gear mechanism actuates the left and right side dial plates so as to make them rotate and revolve around the center of rotation of the hands to produce an opening and closing motion. Therefore, the dial plate made of the two mating parts performs an opening and closing motion which produces a strong impression due to the surprising dynamic change.

Abstract: A composite semiconductor element includes a semiconductor substrate having a single crystal region projecting in the form of an island, an epitaxial growth layer formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to surround the single crystal region, an insulating isolation layer formed in predetermined regions of the epitaxial growth layer, of the single crystal region, and of the semiconductor substrate so as to insulate/isolate the epitaxial growth layer and the single crystal region from each other and to form a plurality of island-like element regions in the epitaxial growth layer and in the single crystal region, an n-channel MOS transistor and a CCD element respectively formed in element regions in the single crystal region, and a p-channel MOS transistor and a bipolar element respectively formed in element regions in the epitaxial growth layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes bipolar transistors, MOS FETs and a CCD in and on only one semiconductor substrate. At least emitter electrode wiring layers of bipolar transistors and one group of transfer electrode wiring layers of the CCD have a stacked structure with a low resistivity which includes a first layer of doped polysilicon and a second layer of metal silicide. These electrodes wiring layers are provided at the same time by successively depositing first and second layers on the semiconductor substrate and patterning the deposited layers.