Abstract: A latch-up restoration circuit for an electronic circuit generating a signal having a predetermined operating frequency such as a microcomputer, comprises a latch-up sensing device sensing a state that the frequency of the signal generated by the electronic circuit is on the outside of a predetermined frequency range and generating a latch-up detection signal, and a power supply inhibiting device inhibiting supply of a power current to the electronic circuit for a predetermined time period in response to the latch-up detection signal. The electronic circuit is automatically resumed to an initial state and the latch-up phenomenon is removed when the supply of the power current is restarted.

Abstract: A motor arrangement for a cassette tape player is provided which comprises a player chassis and a receiving mechanism for receiving a cassette within the chassis in a substantially horizontal position. The cassette has a supply reel hub and a take-up reel hub therein. A cassette drive motor is positioned vertically above the cassette receiving mechanism, and a gearing mechanism transmits the driving force of the supply reel motor and the take-up reel motor to perform the tape supply and tape take-up operations of the received cassette.

Abstract: A tape recorder/reproducer of the automatic reverse type includes fast forward and reverse buttons which are switchably connected to the fast tape speed direction controls so that the desired operation corresponding to the actuated button is carried out irrespective of whether the tape is currently being played in the normal or reverse direction.

Abstract: A new tape player capable of playing a normal magnetic tape and a chrome tape. A selector lever is pivotally provided in the chassis. The lever has, at its one end, a bent probe portion. This bent probe portion is urged to come into engagement with a chrome tape indicating aperture to ensure that an electric circuit for a chrome tape is turned on.

Abstract: A new cassette tape player is provided. It comprises a cassette holder, an actuator arm pivotally disposed within the chassis, a slide plate which moves with the rotation of the actuator arm, a hook plate to lock the slide plate at a locking position, and a cassette positioning lever to rotate upon completion of actuator arm to ensure that the cassette received in the cassette holder is properly positioned. The hook plate is also provided with means for damping a shock inflicted thereon.

Abstract: A player for magnetic tape recordings is provided, which comprises a cartridge holder adapted to receive therein a cartridge, guide grooves for guiding the holder, an ejecting member adapted to depress the holder and an ejecting mechanism for releasing the cartridge. The ejecting member is in the form of a lever. The ejecting mechanism serves to separate the lever from the holder with the advancement of the holder to retain the lever at an upper position separately from the cartridge holder, and to release the lever simultaneously with the starting of ejecting operation. Thus, the cartridge holder is pushed downward and ejected for removal. The player also includes two grooves intersecting each other at an angle of 90.degree. to 180.degree. on a line extending from the lever. These grooves serve to guide therealong both end of the ejecting lever to cause an arcuate movement of the lever.

Abstract: A player for magnetic tape recordings is provided which comprises a cartridge holder adapted to receive therein a cartridge, a guide mechanism adapted to advance the holder in a horizontal state or slantwise state and move vertically the whole or a part of the holder at the final stage of the cartridge receiving operation. The player also includes a head adapted to be inserted into an opening of the cartridge at a position where the advancement of the cartridge is stopped. The head is mounted on the leading edge of the holder such that they are movable in integral fashion. The head can be preset at a position which permits selection of musical performances simultaneously with insertion of the cartridge into the holder. The head is thereafter set at the playback position.

Abstract: A tape player is provided comprising at least two grooves provided in the side plate of a chassis, and a guide member provided on the side of a cartridge holder for insertion thereof into the grooves. Each of the grooves includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion contiguous to the leading edge thereof. According to such an arrangement, the cartridge inserted in the holder is permitted to advance in a horizontal state in the chassis and move in a vertical direction at the front end of the horizontal portion. The point of turning of the cartridge holder is placed in the interior of a cartridge so that the holder is moved to a horizontal state without increasing the amount of movement thereof.

Abstract: A cassette tape player suitable for use in automobile audio systems is provided. A receptacle for a cassette is movably mounted in a chassis at an angle with respect to the chassis bottom. A guide mechanism serves to first translate the receptacle in the oblique position and then turn the receptacle about its trailing edge to place the receptacle in a horizontal position. The guide is designed such that the capstan receiving opening in the cassette in the receptacle is maintained in constant alignment with the capstan during change of the receptacle from the oblique to the horizontal position, avoiding cassette damage and capstan deformation. Electric controls are accommodated in the space between the receptacle and the chassis bottom.

Abstract: A new type of cassette player is provided. The general structure includes a chassis, a receptacle for a cassette, a guide for the receptacle, and reel shafts. The cassette receptacle is movably mounted on the chassis at an oblique position with respect to the main surface of the chassis. The guide translates the receptacle in the oblique position and then turns the receptacle about its trailing edge to place it in a position parallel to the chassis main surface. The reel shafts connected to drive means is adapted to be initially retracted with respect to the path of the receptacle, but be moved into the corresponding reel hubs of the cassette when the receptacle is turned into the parallel position. The space required for cassette loading can be reduced in this new structure.

Abstract: An audio signal discriminator circuit wherein the discrimination of audio signal is effected by utilizing the difference in peak level changing mode between audio signals and other signals, such as dial tone signals, beep tone signals and the like, comprises a rectifier circuit for rectifying input signals, a voltage hold circuit for holding an output peak voltage of the rectifier circuit, a voltage comparator circuit for comparing the peak voltage held in the voltage hold circuit with the following peak voltages to produce an output signal when the following peak value is relatively high, a time switch for producing an output signal when no reset signal is applied thereto for a predetermined time period, and a gate circuit for transmitting the output signal of said rectified circuit as a reset pulse to the time switch in response to the output signal of the voltage comparator circuit.

Abstract: A start circuit for a telephone answering device for distinguishing between a standard 16 Hz bell signal with a repeating one second on -- two second off pattern, and extraneous dial signals having ten pulses or less. The number of sequential input pulses are accumulated in a first binary counter BC.sub.1 whose "4" and "8" stages are coupled to a NAND gate G.sub.4, and the number of successive input bursts each containing at least 12 pulses are accumulated in a second binary counter BC.sub.2 in response to the NAND gate output. A final, bell signal recognition output is produced when the second counter registers a predetermined count. The first counter is reset approximately 0.3 second after the termination of a first input burst in preparation for a possible second burst, while the second counter holds its count for approximately 5 seconds. The NAND gate output also disables the first counter after a count of 12 is reached.

Abstract: An automatic telephone answering device includes a diode bridge rectifier having its input terminals connected across a pair of telephone lines through a first switch, and its output terminals connected across a relay coil through a voltage controlled impedance, such as a Zener diode. A relatively high frequency, high voltage call signal is rectified by the bridge and breaks down the diode to energize the relay coil. This closes a relay switch to actuate a control circuit, whose outputs a) actuate a tape recorder unit to play back a prerecorded message to the caller, and b) simultaneously transfer the first switch to connect the tape recorder unit across the telephone lines through a line transformer. The breakdown voltage of the Zener diode is selected to be above the voltage level produced by sound (conversation) signals and busy tone signals, whereby the device presents a high impedance to such signals and is not actuated thereby.

Abstract: A gas discharge display device of multilayer structure comprises a plurality of discharge panel units in stacked relation to each other. Ultraviolet ray absorption layers are located between the discharge panel units. Phosphorescent material emits light of different brightness in proportion to the volume of ultraviolet rays from each discharge panel unit which rays excite such phosphorescent material. The phosphorescent material is supported on the discharge panel unit on the display surface side of the device.

Abstract: A telephone automatic answering device including provision for remotely controlling said device to cause playback of messages and selective rewinding of a message recording tape. The device includes an answer tape on which a prerecorded answer may be placed, and a message tape which receives and reproduces messages left by callers. The subscriber may initiate playback of the message tape by causing a remote signal to be applied over the telephone line. The answering device picks up the remote signal and rewinds the message tape a predetermined amount. The subscriber then hears the recorded messages and knows immediately if it is necessary to rewind the tape an additional amount. If the subscriber wants to rewind the tape an additional amount, he causes the remote signal to be sent again over the telephone line. The message tape then rewinds for the duration of the latter remote signal.

Abstract: Two circuit embodiments are disclosed for discriminating between a voice signal and other audio standard (busy and dial tone) signals on a telephone line. One embodiment measures the frequency of the envelope of the audio signal and decides voice (speech) presence if (glottal) frequencies above 50 hz. are present. The second embodiment measures the cyclic frequency of the audio signal and decides voice (speech) presence if frequencies above 600 hz are present, assuming busy or dial tones are 400 hz. Features of the second embodiment include gating of the timer-counter to prevent the cycle-counter from erroneously counting chatter during rise-time and fall-time of an audio signal.

Abstract: The speed of either the feed reel or the take-up reel of a tape cassette is detected as an indication of the amount of recording time left on the message recording tape. When about five minutes or less of recording time is left, and when no incoming messages are being received over the telephone line, a control circuit switches the recording operation over to another available cassette.

Abstract: A remote-controlled automatic telephone answering apparatus of the type wherein the owner of the apparatus applies a control signal from a remote telephone substation in order to have recorded messages played back to him over the telephone line. If the owner should hang up his receiver during the playback of the messages, a hang-up detector and associated logic circuit detect the resulting disconnection and produce a signal for immediately releasing the line to return it to a non-busy state.