Abstract: A physical quantity sensor comprises a sensor circuit that converts an externally applied physical quantity to an electrical signal and outputs a detection signal; an adjustment circuit that adjusts the detection signal, which is received from the sensor circuit, to a predetermined signal; and an output circuit that forms an output signal from the signal of the adjustment circuit wherein the sensor circuit and the output circuit are driven by a common power supply voltage. The adjustment circuit comprises a pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse modulation signal based on the power supply voltage; and an amplifier circuit that amplifies the detection signal, which is received from the sensor circuit, with a gain made variable by the pulse modulation signal, wherein the detection sensitivity of the output signal is made variable according to the power supply voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides a rechargeable electronic timepiece that restarts the operation of a clock circuit by inputting a power source, thereby securely confirming the clock operation. The electronic timepiece includes a first power source (2), a clock circuit (8) connected to the first power source, a power source input detecting circuit (86) for detecting an input of a second power source (3), a switch circuit (7, 9) for connecting the first power source and the second power source, and a control circuit (87) for controlling the switch circuit to connect the first power source and the second power source so that the first power source is charged by the second power source thereby operating the clock circuit when the power source input detecting circuit detects an input of the second power source.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor includes a sensor element for converting a physical quantity applied from outside into an electric signal, a detection circuit for amplifying and detecting an output signal of the sensor element, and an adjusting circuit for adjusting the output signal from the detection circuit to a predetermined signal. The adjusting circuit has an amplifying circuit for amplifying the output signal from the detection circuit and a reference amplification circuit having an amplification ratio linked with the amplifying circuit. With this configuration, it is possible to change the amplification ratio of the amplifying circuit provided in the adjusting circuit in accordance with a power voltage. As a result, it is possible to realize a physical quantity sensor having stable sensor detection sensitivity and highly accurate ratiometric characteristic.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor 1 comprises a driving circuit 4 that drives a sensor element based on a reference signal; the sensor element 3 that is driven by the driving circuit 4 to convert an externally applied physical quantity to an electrical signal; and an amplifier circuit 5 that amplifies an output signal of the sensor element 3. The driving circuit 4 controls a driving signal, which drives the sensor element, based on the reference signal so that the driving signal is at a fixed level, and the amplifier circuit 5 has a gain characteristic that amplifies the output signal in a direction reverse to a direction in which the reference signal varies or the driving signal of the driving circuit varies. This configuration allows the physical quantity sensor to reduce output level variations in the sensor output against signal level variations in the reference signal and to make the sensitivity constant.

Abstract: A physical quantity sensor comprises a sensor circuit that converts an externally applied physical quantity to an electrical signal and outputs a detection signal; an adjustment circuit that adjusts the detection signal, which is received from the sensor circuit, to a predetermined signal; and an output circuit that forms an output signal from the signal of the adjustment circuit wherein the sensor circuit and the output circuit are driven by a common power supply voltage. The adjustment circuit comprises a pulse generation circuit that generates a pulse modulation signal based on the power supply voltage; and an amplifier circuit that amplifies the detection signal, which is received from the sensor circuit, with a gain made variable by the pulse modulation signal, wherein the detection sensitivity of the output signal is made variable according to the power supply voltage.

Abstract: A vibration body 1 includes a vibrator 2 having vibration pieces 7 and a supporting part 5, and a mounting substrate 11 for mounting the vibrator. The mounting substrate has a seat part 13 for supporting the supporting part, and a base part 12. The seat part 13 has a level difference above the base part, the level difference being at least equal to or higher than the oscillation width of the vibration pieces, and the seat part is also provided with an edge portion 14 having a curved line shape. A normal line direction at each position on the edge portion is the same as a reference direction determined for the mounting substrate, or has at least one different angle with respect to the reference direction. When the vibrator is mounted on the seat part 13, tangential directions at the end portion of the supporting part and the edge portion of the seat part coincide with each other at a mounting position selected from the edge portion having the curved line shape of the seat part.

Abstract: Using an oscillating unit (601) that can start oscillation with a low voltage, an oscillation signal (S1) of the oscillating unit (601) is amplified via a waveform shaping unit (603), and is fed to a boosting control unit (105). A boosting unit (103) is caused to perform a boosting behavior by a boosting clock (Sa) with the same frequency as an oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal (S1) just after the oscillating unit (601) starts. Thereby, a whole electronic timepiece (100) can be self-actuated, even if a generation voltage is low. Further, the oscillating unit (601) is constituted such that a operating current always becomes constant. Thereby, the electronic timepiece can be provided with an electricity-generating unit (101) such as a solar cell with a one-stage constitution having a low open voltage.

Abstract: The invention provides a rechargeable electronic timepiece that restarts the operation of a clock circuit by inputting a power source, thereby securely confirming the clock operation. The electronic timepiece includes a first power source (2), a clock circuit (8) connected to the first power source, a power source input detecting circuit (86) for detecting an input of a second power source (3), a switch circuit (7, 9) for connecting the first power source and the second power source, and a control circuit (87) for controlling the switch circuit to connect the first power source and the second power source so that the first power source is charged by the second power source thereby operating the clock circuit when the power source input detecting circuit detects an input of the second power source.

Abstract: Patients with ErbB2-overexpressing cancers can be given an ErbB2 targeting agent as a therapeutic regimen but not all patients are responsive. The present invention concerns the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic methods and compositions for evaluating potential efficacy of an ErbB2 targeting agent in an ErbB2-overexpressing cancers by evaluating PTEN expression, which is predictive of responsiveness or resistance to ErbB2 targeting agents such as trastuzumab. Low PTEN expression is predictive of a patient who will respond poorly to trastuzumab.

Abstract: Using an oscillating unit (601) that can start oscillation with a low voltage, an oscillation signal (S1) of the oscillating unit (601) is amplified via a waveform shaping unit (603), and is fed to a boosting control unit (105). A boosting unit (103) is caused to perform a boosting behavior by a boosting clock (Sa) with the same frequency as an oscillation frequency of the oscillation signal (S1) just after the oscillating unit (601) starts. Thereby, a whole electronic timepiece (100) can be self-actuated, even if a generation voltage is low. Further, the oscillating unit (601) is constituted such that a operating current always becomes constant. Thereby, the electronic timepiece can be provided with an electricity-generating unit (101) such as a solar cell with a one-stage constitution having a low open voltage.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor wherein a rotor has a motor shaft, a rotor yoke mounted on the motor shaft, and a ring-shaped magnet magnetized so as to have a plurality of magnet poles in the circumferential direction thereof, and held by the rotor yoke. A stator has first and second stator yokes each having main magnetic poles extending in the radial direction from the center thereof, magnetic pole pieces extending in the vertical direction from tip ends of the main magnetic poles along an inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped magnet, a center yoke surrounding the motor shaft for connecting magnetically said first and second stator yokes, a winding assembly having an annular winding, and a printed wiring board, on which the annular winding, a electromagnetic conversion element and a driving circuit are mounted.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece comprises power generation means for generating electricity by using external energy, storage means for storing electric energy received from the power generation means, time-indicating means powered by electric energy supplied from the power generation means or the storage means for indicating time, a switch circuit including a plurality of switching devices and adapted to transfer or intercept electric energy between the power generation means and the storage means and between the power generation means and the time-indicating means, voltage measuring means for measuring voltage across the time-indicating means, and control means that selects one of predetermined power ratios based on the results of measurement by the voltage measuring means and controls the switch circuit according to the selected ratio when the power generation means charges the storage means and the time-indicating means.

Abstract: An electronic timepiece is controlled such that, when an amount of the actual capacity that remains in storage means 30 thereof is found to be less than a predetermined amount as a result of measurement of a voltage between the terminals of the storage means 30 by voltage measurement means 80, all electrical discharge paths from the storage means 30 to timing means 20 and an electric power generator 10 are completely shut off by the agency of charge/discharge control means 40, thereby preventing occurrence of wasteful over-discharge from the storage means 30. As a result, upon resumption of power generation by the electric power generator 10, entire electric energy generated can be effectively utilized, so that the restart of a time-keeping operation by the timing means 20 is speeded up, and the operation thereafter is stabilized.

Abstract: A CMI coding method, a CMI decoding method, a CMI coding circuit, and a CMI decoding circuit which do not adversely affect a main signal to be CMI-coded and which allow a high-speed asynchronous signal to be always transmitted by Coding Rule Violation, with a simple procedure and a simple hardware structure are provided. A CMI coding method is used in which an asynchronous signal is superposed on a main signal with the use of only CRV0 as CRV. In addition, when the main signal is replaced with CRV0 for a signal to be superposed, since the main signal cannot be transmitted, the CMI coding method is configured such that two bits of the main signal, which should be originally transmitted in a time slot (CRV-indication time slot) in which CRV0 is to be disposed and in the next time slot thereof, are two-bit-coded according to a predetermined rule, and the two-bit code is transmitted by the use of the first half and the second half of the next time slot (crammed main-signal time slot).

Abstract: A CMI coding method, a CMI decoding method, a CMI coding circuit, and a CMI decoding circuit which do not adversely affect a main signal to be CMI-coded and which allow a high-speed asynchronous signal to be always transmitted by Coding Rule Violation, with a simple procedure and a simple hardware structure are provided. A CMI coding method is used in which an asynchronous signal is superposed on a main signal with the use of only CRV0 as CRV. In addition, when the main signal is replaced with CRV0 for a signal to be superposed, since the main signal cannot be transmitted, the CMI coding method is configured such that two bits of the main signal, which should be originally transmitted in a time slot (CRV-indication time slot) in which CRV0 is to be disposed and in the next time slot thereof, are two-bit-coded according to a predetermined rule, and the two-bit code is transmitted by the use of the first half and the second half of the next time slot (crammed main-signal time slot).

Abstract: An electronic timepiece is formed of a power generating device for generating power, a control device for driving on receipt of a power supply from the power generating device, a display device for displaying a time by an operation of the control device, a detecting device for detecting a state of the power generating device, and a deciding device for deciding whether or not the power generating device generates power based on a detection signal sent from the detecting device. The control device controls such that a power generating state of the power generating device is displayed on the display device based on a decision of the deciding device. It is possible to reduce power consumption by stopping hands if required.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor wherein a rotor has a motor shaft, a rotor yoke mounted on the motor shaft, and a ring-shaped magnet magnetized so as to have a plurality of magnet poles in the circumferential direction thereof, and held by the rotor yoke. A stator has first and second stator yokes each having main magnetic poles extending in the radial direction from the center thereof, magnetic pole pieces extending in the vertical direction from tip ends of the main magnetic poles along an inner peripheral surface of the ring-shaped magnet, a center yoke surrounding the motor shaft for connecting magnetically said first and second stator yokes, a winding assembly having an annular winding, and a printed wiring board, on which the annular winding, a electromagnetic conversion element and a driving circuit are mounted.

Abstract: In order to optimally control supply of electric power to a load means and efficiently utilize generated energy of a thermoelectric power generator in consideration of influence of the Peltier effect against generated voltage of the thermoelectric power generator, a thermoelectric system is structured by connecting a load means (20) utilizing the generated power of the thermoelectric power generator (10), and a controller (30) for measuring the generated voltage (V1) of the thermoelectric power generator (10) and controlling power supply and suspension of the power supply to the load means (20) in accordance with the measured result to the thermoelectric power generator (10) provided with a plurality of thermocouples electrically in series, and a compensating means to perform measurement with compensating for the generated voltage when power is supplied from the thermoelectric power generator (10) to the load means (20) continuously for more than a predetermined period of time, is provided to the controller.

Abstract: A switch means (3) consisting of plural switching elements, which switches the connection relationship, is provided between a pair of power generating terminals (g1, g2) of a power generator (10) and a pair of output terminals (e1, e2), to apply the output voltage to a load means (2) so as to utilize the generated power, at the same time voltage of the output terminals is measured with a switch-output measuring means (4), and a controller (5) controls the connection relationship between input and output terminals of the switch means (3) in response to the measured result to output the voltage having polarity required by the load means (2) from the output terminals (e1, e2) continually.

Abstract: An electronic watch comprises electric power generator (10) for generating electric energy from external energy, electric power storage means (30) for storing the electric energy generated, and clock means (20) for executing time display operation by use of the electric energy supplied from the electric power generator (10) or electric power storage means (30). The electronic watch is further provided with arithmetic means (80) for calculating a ratio of a voltage generated by the electric power generator (10) to a voltage of the electric energy stored by the electric power storage means (30), switching circuit (40) for executing connection or disconnection among the electric power generator (10), electric power storage means (30), and clock means (20), and controller (50) so that connection or disconnection within the switching circuit (40) can be controlled by controller (50) according to the ratio as calculated by the arithmetic means (80).