Abstract: In a shift register provided with flip-flops that operate in synchronism with a clock signal, and a switching means, which is opened and closed in response to an output of the preceding stage of each of the flip-flops, is installed. The clock signal is selectively inputted by the switching means, and the selected clock signal is inverted and used as a shift register output from each of the stages. An output pulse having the same width as the pulse of the clock signal is generated.

Abstract: A ball valve unit for shutting off the flow of fluids flowing in heating and plumbing systems. The ball valve unit includes a ball valve and a main section including a flange formed integrally with the main section. A chamber is formed in the main section for receiving the ball of the ball valve. The main section is made of brass in order to prevent galvanic action between ball valve unit and the heating/plumbing system.

Abstract: A method of composing an electronic mail so that an expression appropriate for a receiver of the electronic mail can be included in the contents of the outgoing electronic mail. The method includes the steps of setting an electronic mail ID of the of receiver in the outgoing electronic mail and inserting a mail expression corresponding to a category attribute of the electronic mail ID of the receiver into the body of the outgoing electronic mail.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus provided with an auxiliary memory device for storing type skeletal shape information indicating skeletal shapes of characters, including symbols and pictorial symbols, and element shape information indicating an outline shape and a skeletal shape of each of constituent elements constituting the characters in advance, and a pattern generator for generating a pattern by changing the element shape information according to the type skeletal shape information, drawing the constituent elements according to a predetermined design corresponding to the changed element shape information, and combining the constituent elements thus drawn. This information processing apparatus is capable of easily generating high-quality patterns, which are colored in various ways according to typeface, by reducing the number of data producing steps and data volume necessary for generating patterns by putting a plurality of colors into each stroke of characters including symbols and pictorial symbols.