Abstract: A stepping motor controller that alleviates the CPU burden of motor control tasks. An acceleration control starter initializes a pointer register with a given start angle address upon receipt of a control start signal. Duty cycles for different motor angles are previously calculated and stored in a duty cycle memory. A duty cycle selector looks up this memory to select specific duty cycles corresponding to the angle address held in the pointer register. The stepping motor is driven with pulse signals that a pulse generator produces according to the selected duty cycles. An angle address calculator adds a given address increment to the pointer register. A revolution detector detects one revolution of the stepping motor by comparing the angle address of the pointer register with an end angle address, which permits an acceleration constant calculator to change the angular increment upon detection of one revolution.

Abstract: A noise filter, used for a digital signal, configuring an [N?1]-stage filter by connecting the N-number of flip flops in series comprises a selection unit for outputting a filter output signal by selecting one of signals filtered by one to (N?1) stages based on a selection signals; and a wave form check unit for making the selection unit change a selection thereby by changing a value of the selection signal based on a pulse width on the filter output signal which is output from the selection unit.

Abstract: In the display of an image including a fixed background image and a variation image of the background image, at least one of the amount of data to be held and the amount of work to be processed is reduced. A display control device acquires pixel description data including a combination of position information for specifying a position on a pixel array and address information for specifying an address in an image storage unit of image data which is displayed at the position specified by the position information. Furthermore, the display control device reads out the image data from the address of the image storage unit specified by the address information and specifies the position on the pixel array specified by the image description data to the display to input the read out image data.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A microcomputer comprises: a CPU which sequentially executes a program; an internal memory connected to the above CPU via an internal bus; a debug support unit, which monitors the internal state in response to an externally provided command; a monitor memory, which stores data stored in the internal memory, for being accessed by the debug support unit; and a monitor memory control unit, connected to the internal bus, which at a concurrent copy mode performs a control to concurrently write, to the monitor memory, data which is written to the internal memory in response to access from the internal bus, and at a monitor mode performs a control to read data in the monitor memory in response to access from the debug support unit.

Abstract: An actuator includes a deformable substrate, a magnetic body having an opening, provided above the substrate, and a coil that is disposed above the substrate and surrounds the magnetic body.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for supplying the ink in an ink reserving chamber via an ink supply port into a recording head has a differential pressure valve mechanism disposed between an ink flow port and the ink supply port in the ink reserving chamber, whereby the ink is supplied an adequate amount to the recording head by opening or closing the differential pressure valve mechanism in accordance with an ink pressure of the recording head. As a result, it is possible to supply the ink at a substantially constant pressure to the recording head without regard to the variation in the amount of ink or the-movement of the carriage.

Abstract: An ink cartridge for detachable mounting in an insertion direction on an ink jet printing apparatus having an ink supply needle communicating with a print head, includes a bottom wall, plural side walls, an ink supply port in the bottom wall to engage the ink supply needle as the ink cartridge moves in an insertion direction, a circuit board formed on a side wall adjacent to the bottom wall, and electrodes on the circuit board, each electrode having at least one contact region, the contact regions being divided into groups respectively arranged at intervals in the insertion direction. Part of one contact region located in a center of one of the groups of contact regions is disposed on the ink supply port's central line, and a semiconductor storage device is located on the circuit board and is in electrical communication with at least some contact regions.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of detecting a consumption status of liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising steps of: preparing a detection device having a piezoelectric element and attaching the detection device on a desired position of the liquid container so that at least a part of the detection device contacting the liquid; measuring a residual vibration of the detection device; and detecting the consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of a result of the measurement of the residual vibration.

Abstract: A liquid sensing apparatus includes a liquid sensing chamber 33 having a liquid inlet port that is in communication with an external liquid container in which a liquid is reserved, and a liquid outlet port that is in communication with a liquid consuming apparatus, a movable member 34 movable depending on a liquid level in the liquid sensing chamber 33, a recess portion 33b, 41a for cooperating with a wall surface of the movable member 34 to form a closed space when the movable member 34 is moved to a predetermined position depending the liquid level, and a piezoelectric sensing means 40 for applying a vibration to the recess portion and sensing a state of a free vibration following upon the vibration.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: An ink jet type printing apparatus in which an ink supply needle is located near one side in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocated directions of a carriage, a circuit board is mounted on a wall of an ink cartridge in the vicinity of the side on which an ink supply port is formed and plural contacts for connecting to external control means are formed on the exposed surface of the circuit board.

Abstract: A method of detecting a consumption status of liquid contained in a liquid container, comprising steps of: preparing a detection device having a piezoelectric element and attaching the detection device on a desired position of the liquid container so that at least a part of the detection device contacting the liquid; measuring a residual vibration of the detection device; and detecting the consumption status of the liquid contained in the liquid container on the basis of a result of the measurement of the residual vibration.

Abstract: A liquid sensing apparatus includes a liquid sensing chamber 33 having a liquid inlet port that is in communication with an external liquid container in which a liquid is reserved, and a liquid outlet port that is in communication with a liquid consuming apparatus, a movable member 34 movable depending on a liquid level in the liquid sensing chamber 33, a recess portion 33b, 41a for cooperating with a wall surface of the movable member 34 to form a closed space when the movable member 34 is moved to a predetermined position depending the liquid level, and a piezoelectric sensing means 40 for applying a vibration to the recess portion and sensing a state of a free vibration following upon the vibration.

Abstract: A liquid residual amount detection apparatus for a liquid container, includes: a sensor chamber that has a liquid supply port introducing liquid to be delivered from a liquid containing portion, and supplies the liquid to an external liquid consuming apparatus; a diaphragm that defines a part of the sensor chamber and is movable in response to a liquid containing amount in the sensor chamber; a pressure receiving plate that is attached to the diaphragm; a recess portion that is connected to the sensor chamber and is closed by the pressure receiving plate when the liquid containing amount in the sensor chamber becomes a predetermined amount or less; a piezoelectric element that applies vibration to at least a part of the recess portion so as to detect a free vibration state according to the applied vibration; a detection portion that detects an amplitude value or a frequency of a residual vibration waveform of a counter electromotive force by the free vibration state detected by the piezoelectric element; and

Abstract: An ink cartridge serving as a liquid container, comprises a liquid sensor having a piezoelectric element which detects a consumption state of the liquid contained in the container, and a consumption data memory as a memory means. The consumption data memory is a rewritable memory which stores consumption related data which are related to the detection of the consumption state using the liquid sensor. The consumption related data are, for example, consumption state data as a result of the detection. Even when the ink cartridge is removed, the consumption state data can still be utilized. The consumption related data may be a detection characteristic detected depending on the consumption state of the liquid. Based on this detection characteristic, the consumption state is detected utilizing the liquid sensor. The consumption state can be detected irrespective of individual differences of the ink cartridges.

Abstract: A stepping motor controller that alleviates the CPU burden of motor control tasks. An acceleration control starter initializes a pointer register with a given start angle address upon receipt of a control start signal. Duty cycles for different motor angles are previously calculated and stored in a duty cycle memory. A duty cycle selector looks up this memory to select specific duty cycles corresponding to the angle address held in the pointer register. The stepping motor is driven with pulse signals that a pulse generator produces according to the selected duty cycles. An angle address calculator adds a given address increment to the pointer register. A revolution detector detects one revolution of the stepping motor by comparing the angle address of the pointer register with an end angle address, which permits an acceleration constant calculator to change the angular increment upon detection of one revolution.