Abstract: In a microcomputer comprising first and second timer counters, an output signal of the first timer counter is supplied through a logic gate to the second timer counter as a clock supply control signal.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium exhibiting not only good durability and traveling reliability but also improved static magnetic properties and electromagnetic transduction characteristics can be obtained according to the present invention. The magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic layer composed of a magnetic powder, a binder and a lubricant, wherein the binder contains not less than 50% by weight of a polyester-polyurethane resin having a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not greater than 15,000 and a ratio of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to the number-average molecular weight (Mn) of not smaller than 2.5.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vacuum servo unit which is characterized in that a movable power piston has an outer cylindrical portion, an inner cylindrical portion, and a connecting portion for connecting an inner cylindrical portion to an outer cylindrical portion, the connecting portion has an input side end portion being shaped to be convex towards an input side so that a width in a peripheral direction thereof decreases towards the input side, a first path is provided in the connecting portion for communicating the variable pressure chamber with an inside space of the inner cylindrical portion, a second path is provided in the movable power piston for communicating the constant pressure chamber with the space between the outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion. Accordingly, this vacuum servo unit can smoothly decrease the servo force for the movable power piston and the output force and restrain the production of the sound.

Abstract: A process for decomposing a thermoplastic polymer composition which comprises a polyhydroxycarboxylic acid base polymer as a primary component in an alkaline solution, recovering hydroxycarboxylic acid from the solution by electrodialysis or acid-precipitation and using the recovered hydroxycarboxylic acid for a polymer material, when desired, is provided.

Abstract: The stretched film of the lactic acid-based polymer of the invention can degrade under natural environment, and additionally has an excellent mechanical strength and durability. By use of a lubricant in combination with an inorganic filler, these properties are further improved and thickness accuracy is enhanced. Consequently, the stretched film of the lactic acid-based polymer of the invention can be widely applied to a prepaid card and other various film materials, lamination materials and packaging materials. Even though abandoned after use in the natural environment, the stretched film relatively quickly decomposes into carbon dioxide and water and does not accumulate as waste.

Abstract: Formed products such as foams, fabrics for industrial materials, filaments, nonwoven fabrics, composite materials and films which are degradable after use with ease in the natural environment are prepared by using a high molecular weight aliphatic polyester obtained by direct polycondensation of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol with aliphatic polybasic acid or additionally hydroxycarboxylic acid or oligomers of these materials in a reaction mixture containing a solvent.

Abstract: A lactic acid polymer composition comprising formulating 100 parts by weight of a mixture consisting of 80-95% by weight of an L-lactic acid polymer having an L-lactic acid proportion of 75% or more and 5-20% by weight of a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of a polyhydric alcohol ester and a hydroxypolycarboxylic acid ester, 0.1-5 parts by weight of an anti-bloking agent having a SiO.sub.2 content of 90% or more and an average particle size of 7-50 nm, and 0.1-2 parts by weight of a slip agent; a molded product and film obtained from the composition; and a preparation process of the same are disclosed. The molded product and film are excellent in processability, transparency, flexibility, anti-blocking property and slip, and can be degraded into harmless water and carbon dioxide under natural environment, when abandoned.

Abstract: Formed products such as foams, fabrics for industrial materials, filaments, nonwoven fabrics, composite materials and films which are degradable after use with ease in the natural environment are prepared by using a high molecular weight aliphatic polyester obtained by direct polycondensation of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol with aliphatic polybasic acid or additionally hydroxycarboxylic acid or oligomers of these materials in a reaction mixture containing a solvent.

Abstract: A preparation process of heat-resistant molded articles of a lactic acid-based polymer comprising mixing the lactic acid-based polymer and poly-.epsilon.-caprolactone so as to obtain a L-lactic acid ratio of 75% by weight or more, adding to the polymer mixture a crystalline inorganic powder containing 50% by weight or more of SiO.sub.2, melt-kneading the resultant composition, filling the same into a mold which is set at 85.degree..about.125.degree. C. and forming a shape while promoting crystallization. The molded articles have excellent heat resistance and impact strength, are suitably used for food trays and beverage cups, and can be degraded, in the case of waste, into nontoxic water and carbon dioxide like natural products within a relatively short period in the natural environment.

Abstract: An external magnetic field application apparatus is configured such that a magnet, which has a pair of magnetic poles of opposite polarities disposed side by side on a plane, is provided in an arm pivotable around a pin. A moving means, which moves the arm so that the desired one of the pair of magnetic poles is directly opposite a position on a magneto-optical disk on which position a light beam is incident, is constructed of a driving coil provided in the arm and a driving permanent magnet assembled to a yoke assembly so as to be directly opposite the driving coil.

Abstract: A brake force control device for a vehicle includes a master cylinder generating a brake pressure by operation of an operating member of the vehicle, a wheel brake for being mounted on a vehicle wheel and connected to the master cylinder through a conduit, a pressure control chamber connected to the wheel brake, a displacement actuator which varies the capacity of the pressure control chamber and an electric controller for operating the displacement actuator so as to supply the brake pressure to the wheel brake when the master cylinder does not generate the brake pressure.

Abstract: A multilayer composite consisting of aluminum and a resin composition primarily comprising a lactic acid base polymer, is disclosed. The composite material is excellent in mechanical and gas barrier properties and has characteristic of totally decomposing under alkaline conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus having a vacuum chamber or chamber, wherein the changing manner of the mold can be improved, the sealing structure of the vacuum chamber or an injection nozzle is simple, and the cost of the apparatus is reduced and preservation of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus has a vacuum chamber for surrounding a mold into an airtight situation. The vacuum chamber includes an upper casing and a lower casing, and they are being divided by a parting line defined by mating peripheral edge surfaces which incline upwardly from an operator-side to an opposite-side. An O-ring as a sealing member of the vacuum chamber is positioned between the peripheral edge surfaces.

Abstract: A compact size tape cassette including a pair of brake mechanisms associated with supply and take-up reel hubs for simultaneously locking the reel hubs in position against rotation relative to a housing. The brake mechanisms are interlocked such that a releasing operation of one brake mechanism is transmitted to the other brake mechanism for causing synchronized release of the brake mechanisms. The take-up reel hub is provided with annular flanges, and the brake mechanisms include abutments which selectively prevent locking pawls from moving into a space between the flanges. An oblique actuating surface is provided for contacting a brake releasing pin. The mechanisms further include an inspection and adjustment slot as well as a cam engageable by the supply reel hub for temporarily releasing the supply reel hub when the supply reel hub is lifted.

Abstract: A rendering apparatus includes: a radiant-energy calculating device for determining a spectral radiance for each infinitesimal area of an object by using a spectral radiance of a light source irradiating the object, a spectral reflectance in the infinitesimal area of the object, and a spectral reflectance factor in a wide area of the object; a color-specification-value calculating device for calculating color specification values of a colorimetric system on the basis of the spectral radiance obtained for each infinitesimal area; a transforming device for transforming the color specification values into image data for displaying an image of the object; and a display device for displaying the image of the object on the basis of the image data.

Abstract: A brake force control device for a vehicle includes a master cylinder for being operated by an operating member of the vehicle, a wheel brake for being mounted on a vehicle wheel which is connected to the master cylinder through a conduit, a pressure control chamber connected to the wheel brake, a displacement actuator which varies a capacity of the pressure control chamber and a control unit which controls the displacement actuator.

Abstract: Disclosed are amorphous silica or silica-alumina spherical particles composed of X-ray diffractometrically substantially amorphous silica or silica-alumina, wherein individual particles have a definite spherical shape and a notched surface, the circularity (A) represented by the following formula: ##EQU1## wherein r1 stands for the radius of the circumcircle of the profile of the particle in an electron microscope photo thereof and r2 stands for the radius of the inscribed circle of the profile of the particle in the electron microscope photo, is in the range of from 0.90 to 1, the notching degree (B) represented by the formula: ##EQU2## wherein .DELTA.t stands for the depth between the peak and trough in the radial direction of notches on the profile of the particle in the electron microscope photo and r1 is as defined above, is in the range of from 1 to 10%, and the primary particle size (2r1) determined by the electron microscope method is in the range of from 0.1 to 20 .mu.m.

Abstract: Foams comprising innumerable cells dispersed in thermoplastic polymer compositions substantially consisting of polylactic acid or a copolymer of lactic acid and hydroxycarboxylic acid and having degradable characteristics in the natural environment.The foams can be used for containers such as food trays and throw away cups comprising molded sheet foam of a thermoplastic and degradable polymer or heat insulating materials and cushioning materials comprising bulk foam.

Abstract: A degradable container which is excellent in transparency and impact strength and can be decomposed into nontoxic water and carbon dioxide in the natural environment within a relatively short period can be obtained by using the process for molding a container of an arbitrary shape from a thermoplastic composition having polylactic acid of lactic acids or a copolymer of lactic acids and other hydroxycarboxylic acids as a main component, preforming the composition and thereafter molding the container in a temperature range from Tg to Tg+60.degree. C. on the basis of the glass transition temperature Tg of the thermoplastic polymer composition and under the condition of a draw ratio of 6 times or less.