Abstract: A disclosed drum-type washing machine having a softening apparatus comprises: a cylindrical water tank accommodating laundry and having a rotating drum; a case for accommodating the water tank; and a softening apparatus having a hardness component remover for removing hardness components from washing water, and a regeneration agent accommodation unit spaced apart from the hardness component remover on opposite sides from a center of the tub, and for accommodating a regeneration agent that regenerates a function of the hardness component remover.

Abstract: In a paging receiver with an individual paging number and at least one common paging number, there is provided memory means including individual memory means including individual memory areas capable of storing at least one message signal following the individual number and specific memory areas storing message signals following the common paging number. The receiver can protect individual address information and can efficiently utilize the memory areas even when the user does not use all common addresses.

Abstract: In a multifunctional pager receiver comprising a processing circuit (30) operable in a plurality of modes of operations, each mode is selected by manual switches (51, 62-64) smaller in number than the modes. A combination of successive manual operations of the switches changes the modes from an intermediate one to a final one. At least one of the switches is operated plural times. An operation announcement is stored in a message processor (32) included in the processing circuit and displayed in the intermediate mode on a display unit (71) so as to specify the following modes to be selected. A plurality of message signals are stored in a random access memory included in the message processor. A part of each stored message is successively and rapidly displayed on the display unit. A decoder cooperates with the message processor in the processing circuit to detect a call number signal assigned to the pager receiver and delivers a sequence of clocks to the message processor.

Abstract: In a pager receiver having a display unit and carrying out operations in relation to each of previous and current messages stored in an RAM, only reception of the current message is indicated by an optical indicator included in the display unit when each operation is being carried out in relation to the previous message. The current message is displayed on an LCD of the display unit after completion of each operation related to the previous message. The previous message can completely be displayed without sudden interruption which may occur on reception of the current message. Each message is stored in an assigned sector set of the RAM with the number of the assigned sector set kept in an assigned file of the RAM. The number of the assigned file is monitored by a CPU to readily erase or protect each message.

Abstract: In a pager receiver operable in response to a call signal comprising a first part including a call number signal, a second part including a message signal, and an intermediate part placed between the first and second parts, the intermediate part conveys a time interval signal representative of a length of a message carried by the message signal. When the call number signal is destined to the pager receiver, a receiving circuit is put into an operating mode during the length of the message. Otherwise, the receiving circuit is kept in a nonoperating mode during the length of the message. The time interval signal is therefore detected even when the call number signal is not destined to the pager receiver. The intermediate part may comprise a message control signal defining message control operations of the pager receiver and a time signal for specifying a transmission time instant of the message signal. A wide variety of the message control operations can be designated by the messagew control signal.

Abstract: In a paging receiver with an individual paging number and at least one common paging number, there is provided memory means including individual memory means including individual memory areas capable of storing at least one message signal following the individual number and specific memory areas storing message signals following the common paging number. The receiver can protect individual address information and can efficiently utilize the memory areas even when the user does not use all common addresses.

Abstract: In a pager receiver having a display unit and carrying out operations in relation to each of previous and current messages stored in a RAM, only reception of the current message is indicated by an optical indicator included in the display unit when each operation is being carried out in relation to the previous message. The current message is displayed on a LCD of the display unit after completion of each operation related to the previous message. The previous message can completely be displayed without sudden interruption which may occur on reception of the current message. Each message is stored in an assigned sector set of the RAM with the number of the assigned sector set kept in an assigned file of the RAM. The number of the assigned file is monitored by a CPU to readily erase or protect each message.

Abstract: A paging system in which an address code is transmitted at a lower transmission rate than message code and a discrimination code defines the boundary between the address and the message. The receiver includes a low pass filter with a cut-off frequency switchable between the reception rate for the address and the reception rate for the message in response to the discrimination code.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter having a high conversion efficiency and stable output voltage. A constant current supply circuit, located between the output terminals of the converter, make it possible for the source current to decrease as a function of battery output voltage, resulting in lower current requirements for a lower required voltage boost and hence increased efficiency.

Abstract: A radio paging receiver of the type having a display unit includes a plurality of storage cells respectively for storing received message words therein, and a data processing unit which is arranged to detect a match between a received address word and a subscriber's address word and proceed to sequentially store the received message words into the storage cells. A numeral indicating the degree of freshness of the received message word is generated and displayed simultaneously with the message word in response to to the operation of a reset key. An indication is given that a message word will follow if the length of message words is greater than the capacity of the display unit. A symbol is subsequently given with the display of the next message word to indicate that the message word being displayed is a continuation from the previous one if said total is greater than the number of digits.

Abstract: A battery saving circuit for use in a portable radio communication apparatus adapted to receive a communication signal which includes a preamble and identification codes. The apparatus includes a receiver section, a waveform shaper section, a decoder section and a power supply. The battery saving circuit, forming a portion of the decoder section, periodically generates a first control signal which causes the power supply to be electrically connected to the receiver and waveform shaper sections. A second control signal is generated to disconnect the receiver and waveform shaper sections from the power supply when, during an assigned time period, the preamble code is not detected. A third control signal is generated to maintain electrical connection between the power supply and the receiver and waveform shaper sections for a selected period of time after the preamble is detected.

Abstract: A radio pager receives a signal having a selective calling signal portion and message signal portion and examines the selective calling portion of the signal for its own ID code. Upon detecting a match, an alert signal is provided and the message signal portion is stored in a memory if it does not match any of the message signals already stored. A counter also keeps track of the number of stored messages. The messages can be sequentially displayed when desired.

Abstract: A selective call receiver with display is disclosed. The receiver includes a decoder comprised of a reception controller in the form of a dedicated LSI circuit and a display controller in the form of a single chip CPU which, in combination, overcomes inherent weakness in each, namely the relatively large power consumption of a single chip CPU and the difficulty of reconfiguring a dedicated LSI circuit to perform different and/or additional functions.

Abstract: A paging receiver is provided having an information setter that includes a memory device for storing call numbers assigned the receiver to enable it to determine when it has been individually selected by a radio paging message. In addition to the call numbers, the memory device also stores receiver performance information which selects which of several possible means are used to indicate that a message has been received. A decoder, preferably in the form of a microprocessor, stores information contained by the information setter in a separate register or memory device contained in the decoder. Once the information has been read from the information setter into the decoder it effects control of the receiver's receiving operation, as well as the receiver's selective response to paging messages.