Abstract: In a clock extracting circuit according to the present invention, after serial data is subjected to oversampling using a reference clock of 2N times a frequency of the serial data, clock timing in a period of time in which signal level remains unchanged for a long duration is extracted. Clock timing based on a point of change in the signal level is also extracted, and a final clock timing signal is outputted according to these timings detected. Thus, clock timing can be extracted accurately without omission even when the input signal includes jitter. Further, the clock extraction is performed without converting the input signal into parallel data and by simple processing. A clock extracting circuit for extracting a clock signal from the received serial data with high accuracy is thus realized without increasing the circuit scale.

Abstract: An encode circuit includes a digital average unit that receives cyclic thermometer codes or standard thermometer codes, and that reduces a bubble error in the received thermometer codes by a majority vote rule, a logical boundary detection unit that detects a logical boundary in the thermometer codes output from the digital average unit, and an encoder unit that generates output codes based on output signals from the logical boundary detection unit.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display apparatus is composed of an LCD panel including data lines, and an LCD driver. The LCD driver includes: a positive drive circuit providing a positive data signal having positive polarity with respect to a ground level of the LCD driver for one of the data lines; and a negative drive circuit providing a negative data signal having negative polarity with respect to the ground level of the LCD driver for another one of the data lines.

Abstract: When the display presented by a liquid crystal display device is a standby screen, a power-conservation signal is input from a CPU and a binary mode and partial mode are discriminated from the signal. When the binary mode is in effect, V-line inversion drive is adopted instead of dot inversion drive used in a normal display mode, thereby reducing power consumption. If the binary mode is not in effect at the time of the partial mode, a display area is subjected to dot inversion drive and a non-display area to V-line inversion drive. If the binary mode is in effect at the time of the partial mode, display and non-display areas are subjected to V-line inversion drive at different frequencies.

Abstract: A method is provided for driving a liquid crystal display panel including first and second data line sets each including an even number of arrayed data lines, and a plurality of pixels sharing a common electrode having a constant potential. The method is composed of: time-divisionally selecting data lines from each of the first and second data line sets; and providing data signals on the selected data lines to write the data signals into the pixels therethrough. An order of selecting the data lines from each of the first and second data lines and polarities of the data signals written into the pixels are determined so that polarities of the data signals on the data lines selected from the first data line set are opposite to those of the data lines selected from the second data line set.

Abstract: In a clock extracting circuit according to the present invention, after serial data is subjected to oversampling using a reference clock of 2N times a frequency of the serial data, clock timing in a period of time in which signal level remains unchanged for a long duration is extracted by first timing detecting means. Clock timing based on a point of change in the signal level is extracted by second timing detecting means, and a final clock timing signal is outputted according to these timings detected. Thus, clock timing can be extracted accurately without omission even when the input signal includes jitter. Further, the clock extraction is performed without converting the input signal into parallel data and by simple processing. A clock extracting circuit for extracting a clock signal from the received serial data with high accuracy is thus realized without increasing the circuit scale.

Abstract: An IC assembly includes: a circuit board; an IC device mounted on the circuit board, said IC device including an IC placed on the circuit board and a plurality of connecting terminals for fixing the IC onto the circuit board; and a battery cell mounted on the circuit board in such a manner that one of the IC device and the battery cell overlaps the other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, wherein a plurality of electrode-connecting terminals are provided to electrically connect the battery cell to the circuit board.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copier has rotating devices such as a drum and a press roller to print an image on a paper sheet while rotating and a paper-transporting mechanism having guide rollers and timing rollers for transporting a paper sheet to these rotary devices, controlled by a control device such that irregularities in the printed images due to fluctuations in the speed of transportation of the paper sheets. The guide rollers may be operated to transport the paper sheet at a faster speed than the paper sheet is transported by the rotary devices such that the paper sheet becomes bent before being delivered to the rotary devices to be printed on. The control may be such that the guide rollers transport the paper sheet while the timing rollers downstream is released from the transportation of paper sheets. The control device may also operate so as to stop the guide rollers when the paper sheet comes to a position where the rotary devices can start transporting it.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus such as a printer and a copier has rotating devices such as a drum and a press roller to print an image on a paper sheet while rotating and a paper-transporting mechanism having guide rollers and timing rollers for transporting a paper sheet to these rotary devices, controlled by a control device such that irregularities in the printed images due to fluctuations in the speed of transportation of the paper sheets. The guide rollers may be operated to transport the paper sheet at a faster speed than the paper sheet is transported by the rotary devices such that the paper sheet becomes bent before being delivered to the rotary devices to be printed on. The control may be such that the guide rollers transport the paper sheet while the timing rollers downstream is released from the transportation of paper sheets. The control device may also operate so as to stop the guide rollers when the paper sheet comes to a position where the rotary devices can start transporting it.

Abstract: An IC assembly includes: a circuit board; an IC device mounted on the circuit board, said IC device including an IC placed on the circuit board and a plurality of connecting terminals for fixing the IC onto the circuit board; and a battery cell mounted on the circuit board in such a manner that one of the IC device and the battery cell overlaps the other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the circuit board, wherein a plurality of electrode-connecting terminals are provided to electrically connect the battery cell to the circuit board.

Abstract: A charging apparatus for charging a secondary battery of the present invention includes a DC/DC converter for outputting a preselected DC voltage and a preselected DC current limited by a voltage setting circuit and a current limiting circuit, respectively. A control circuit senses the voltage of a secondary battery connected to the apparatus and causes the current limiting circuit to set up a first current lying in a constant current range until the battery voltage reaches a full charge voltage. At this instant, the control circuit switches a charge switching circuit in order to apply the first current to the battery in the form of pulses. As soon as the battery voltage reaches the full charge voltage, the control circuit applies a current lower than the current in the constant current range and the current in the constant range to the battery alternately in the form of bilevel pulses.

Abstract: The time required for transmission of image data from an electronic camera to a host computer is shortened. Image data representing the image of a subject imaged in the electronic camera is stored in an image memory. When a preview-image command is applied to the electronic camera from the host computer, the image data that has been stored in the image memory is reduced to 1/8 by eliminating pixels in a thinning-out circuit. The reduced-image data is transmitted to the host computer, where the data is displayed on a display unit as a preview image. A desired area and magnification (resolution) are designated on the preview image and then a get command is applied, whereupon main image data in the designated area and having the designated magnification is transmitted from the electronic camera to the host computer.

Abstract: An intake system for an engine allows supercharging using the dynamic effect of intake air has a surge tank for a cylinder group in which cylinders are ignited in a sequence discontinuous with each other, a second surge tank for another cylinder group in which cylinders are ignited in a sequence discontinuous with each other, a first upstream intake passage for supplying intake air to the first surge tank, a second upstream intake passage for supplying intake air to the second surge tank, a connecting tank for communicating intermediate portions of the individual intake passages with each other, and a short connecting passage for communicating upstream portions of the first upstream intake passage and the second upstream intake passage with the connecting tank 9.

Abstract: Each surge tank disposed over the respective cylinder head of the combustion engine is connected to the intake port of each cylinder of the combustion engine individually and independently through the independent intake passages. The independent intake passages form a space, i.e. a dead space, in association with the surge tank and the cylinder head, and a first volume chamber or a second volume chamber is disposed within the space in order to provide the dynamic effect of intake air. The dynamic effect of intake air is achieved at least either of resonance supercharging or inertia supercharging.

Abstract: A fuel intake system for a combustion engine of a type having V-shaped first and second cylinder banks and also having a crank axis of the crankshaft, which comprises a throttle casing disposed in a center space delimited between the first and second cylinder banks, elongated first and second surge tanks extending in a direction parallel to the crank axis and disposed on respective sides of the center space, and a passage system communicating the throttle casing to each of the first and second surge tanks. The passage system comprises a merging region communicated with the throttle casing and first and second branch ducts branched off from one end of the merging region opposite to the throttle casing. The first and second branch ducts connect to the first and second surge tanks, respectively. Each of the first and second branch ducts is comprised of two independent passages spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the crank axis.

Abstract: A method for indicating a shift operation for a manual transmission gear includes a step for comparing a detected vehicle speed with a reference speed which is determined and changed on the basis of a detected engine temperature and a step for indicating the shift operation on this basis of a result of the comparison. When a temperature parameter relating to the engine operation is lower than a predetermined reference temperature value, the reference vehicle speed is raised so that the indication of the shift operation will not be generated.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing the concentration of oxygen in a gas such as engine exhaust gas includes an oxygen concentration sensor formed of an oxygen pump element and a sensor cell element, each based on a solid electrolytic member formed of a material such as ZrO.sub.2, and is provided with a limiter circuit which functions to reduce the level of current supplied to the oxygen pump element when a voltage produced by the sensor cell element indicates that this current level is such as to produce a "blackening" phenomenon whereby deterioration of the oxygen pump element will occur and oxygen concentration sensing reliability will be lowered.