Abstract: The present invention relates to a character input/output processing system in an information processing system. A character input/output system of the present invention includes two buffers, a first buffer for storing input/output character data by the application program and a second buffer for storing input/output character data by the preferential process, which requires preferential character input/output. The character input/output system further includes an input/output adapter which is provided, independent of the processor, between the terminals and processor for the input/output processing between the processor and terminals.

Abstract: A watch with a dumb alarm has a time drive region which is electrically drivable and an alarm drive region which is drivable by a mechanical drive source. The alarm drive region has an alarm wheel engaging the hour wheel, an eccentric weight rotatably supported in an eccentric position, an alarm lever for urging the hour wheel toward the alarm wheel, the alarm lever having a distal end engageable with an engaging portion on the eccentric weight, an externally operable member for controlling the eccentric weight to start and stop operating, a spiral spring for rotating the eccentric weight, and a wheel train for transmitting drive forces from the spiral spring. When a preset time to be announced comes, the hour wheel engages the alarm wheel to allow the eccentric weight to start operating, and power of the spiral spring is transmitted through the wheel train to the eccentric weight to rotate the eccentric weight to produce vibrations thereof.

Abstract: A small-sized electronic instrument such as an electronic wrist watch and others in which a plurality of parts are stacked and firmly held together by tightening a screw. The electronic instrument includes a base plate and a screw housing portion, which are integrally molded of a hard plastic material. The screw housing portion includes a bore formed therethrough and adapted to receive a self-tapping screw. When the self-tapping screw is threadingly received in the bore of the screw housing portion, a plurality of parts stacked around the screw housing portion are firmly tightened and held together. The screw housing portion has a shoulder including a step formed therein at the middle portion between the opposite ends. On assembly, the step engages one of the stacked parts. Even if the screw housing portion is pulled upwardly by the tightened self-tapping screw, the part sandwiched between the self-tapping screw and the step limits the upward movement of the screw housing portion on tapping.