Abstract: When a computer system including a LAN device is to be booted, a LAN option ROM code of the LAN device and BIOS-ROM information are loaded in a RAM. Thus, boot is executed.

Abstract: When power is turned on, a speaker volume control section obtains the volume of surrounding sound from a microphone and then determines the output volume of a speaker from the volume of surrounding sound. The speaker volume control section then displays the value of the output volume of the speaker thus determined on an LCD. After that, the speaker volume control section monitors whether or not an operation of changing the speaker volume is performed and, when such an operation is not performed for a predetermined period of time, presents the determined speaker volume to a sound controller. When an operation of changing the speaker volume is performed, the speaker volume control section presents a volume specified by the user to the sound controller.

Abstract: A bread baking machine of the invention has a gasket for sealing and a magnetic metal fitting A constituting a locking means, both provided on a container cover which opens and closes an opening above a lid container placed in an outer cover for storing supplementary ingredient of bread and for entering it automatically. The bread baking machine can thus lock the lid container and the container cover while keeping the gasket depressed against a sealing surface. Since this structure ensures the gasket to seal a space between the lid container and the container cover, it can prevent dew condensation and thermal deformation of components due to leakage of hot steam.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display component and a transparent conductive substrate suitable as an electrode substrate for the liquid crystal display component. The transparent conductive substrate has the following feature: (i) it comprises a transparent polymer substrate (S), a gas barrier layer (X), a hardened resin layer (U) and a transparent conductive layer (E), (ii) the hardened resin layer (U) and the transparent conductive layer (E) are in contact with each other, and (iii) the surface in contact with the transparent conductive layer (E) of the hardened resin layer (U) has a surface electric resistivity of 1.0×1013 &OHgr;/□ or more in an environment of 50° C. and 30% RH and that of 1.0×1012 &OHgr;/□ or more in an environment of 50° C. and 90% RH, and the transparent conductive substrate has a high gas barrier property and high stability in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment.

Abstract: A bread baking machine of the invention has a gasket for sealing and a magnetic metal fitting A constituting a locking means, both provided on a container cover which opens and closes an opening above a lid container placed in an outer cover for storing supplementary ingredient of bread and for entering it automatically. The bread baking machine can thus lock the lid container and the container cover while keeping the gasket depressed against a sealing surface. Since this structure ensures the gasket to seal a space between the lid container and the container cover, it can prevent dew condensation and thermal deformation of components due to leakage of hot steam.

Abstract: This invention provides an information device which disenables unselected wireless devices by directly controlling hardware, and thus can prevent interference between wireless devices using the same frequency band. In this invention, a BIOS controls an EC for a wireless module selected based on a user instruction, thereby controlling power supply to a Bluetooth module and power supply to a wireless LAN module. This makes it possible to enable either one of the modules and disenable the other module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display component and a transparent conductive substrate suitable as an electrode substrate for the liquid crystal display component. The transparent conductive substrate has the following feature: (i) it comprises a transparent polymer substrate (S), a gas barrier layer (X, a hardened resin layer (U) and a transparent conductive layer (E), (ii) the hardened resin layer (U) and the transparent conductive layer (E) are in contact with each other, and (iii) the surface in contact with the transparent conductive layer (E) of the hardened resin layer (U) has a surface electric resistivity of 1.0×1013 &OHgr;/□ or more in an environment of 50° C. and 30% RH and that of 1.0×1012 &OHgr;/□ or more in an environment of 50° C. and 90% RH, and the transparent conductive substrate has a high gas barrier property and high stability in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment.

Abstract: When the wakeup signal generation function of a LAN docker is enabled, an ID (Dock_ID) peculiar to the LAN docker is registered in a PC main body. When the PC main body wakes up from the stop or sleep state in response to a wakeup signal Wake_up generated by a LAN controller in the LAN docker, a system BIOS collates the Dock_ID in the PC main body with the Dock_ID of the currently connected LAN docker. Only when a coincidence between the two IDs is detected by this collation process, the PC main body is accessible from a server using the LAN controller, thus allowing remote accesses.

Abstract: When an AC adapter is connected to a LAN docker in a state “LAN docker connected, without AC adapter”, the state of a PC main body transits to a state “LAN docker connected, with AC adapter”. In this case, a system BIOS informs an OS of a change in docking state between the LAN docker and PC main body using “Dock_Changed”. With this information, the OS detects the presence of the LAN docker, i.e., a LAN controller, and sets a state wherein the PC main body can use the LAN controller.

Abstract: When a PC main body wakes up, docking condition discrimination for checking if a LAN controller can be used is made. If the docking condition is satisfied, the LAN controller is set in an operative state, and the PC main body is used while being locked by a lock mechanism. When the WOL function is enabled, a signal WOLEN is activated. In this state, even when the PC main body goes to a sleep state and a signal DOCPWON is turned off, the LAN controller is kept powered. In this case, since the lock mechanism is unlocked, the user can immediately detach the PC main body from a LAN docker and can carry it to a location of his or her choice.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display component and a transparent conductive substrate suitable as an electrode substrate for the liquid crystal display component. The transparent conductive substrate has the following feature: (i) it comprises a transparent polymer substrate (S), a gas barrier layer (x, a hardened resin layer (U) and a transparent conductive layer (E), (ii) the hardened resin layer (U) and the transparent conductive layer (E) are in contact with each other, and (iii) the surface in contact with the transparent conductive layer (E) of the hardened resin layer (U) has a surface electric resistivity of 1.0×1013 &OHgr;/□ or more in an environment of 50° C. and 30% RH and that of 1.0×1012 &OHgr;/□ or more in an environment of 50° C. and 90% RH, and the transparent conductive substrate has a high gas barrier property and high stability in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display element having at least one electrode substrate comprising A) a metal oxide layer, B) a cured polymer layer contiguous to said metal oxide layer and obtained from cross-linking reaction of: B1) a silicon compound having epoxy and alkoxysilyl groups, a hydrolysis or condensation product thereof; B2) a silicon compound having amino and alkoxysilyl groups, a hydrolysis or condensation product thereof; and B3) a polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer; C) a transparent electroconductive layer; and D) a transparent polymer substrate. A transparent electrode substrate comprising a substrate (D), a metal oxide layer (A) and said cured polymer layer (B) is also provided.

Abstract: A catalytic combustion heating device 3 for generating heat by oxidation reaction of fuel gas stored in a fuel tank 24 and air in a combustion unit 29 is installed in a mount 4 provided in a jacket 1. The mount 4 is fastened to the waist of the body wearing the jacket 1 by a holding band 9, and the load applied on the shoulders through the jacket is lessened and comfort is improved. Thus, a warming jacket capable of warming the body comfortably is obtained.

Abstract: A vertical-type clothes press, in which clothes such as pants or the like held between a fixed board and a movable board can be pressed for smoothing or creasing, includes a mount base, a fixed board vertically mounted thereon and having a heater, a movable board having a hollow structure for hot-pressing clothes held between itself and the fixed board, a hinge mechanism which rotatably connects the lower ends of the fixed board and the movable board and mounts the movable board openably and closably on the fixed board opposite to each other, a lock mechanism for holding the movable board against the fixed board, a press sheet having one end attached to the connection between the fixed board and the movable board and rotatably provided between the movable board and the fixed board, reinforcements provided along the side end faces of the press sheet in a vertical direction, and a bias device provided on the opposite side of the hinge mechanism for pulling clothes or the like held between the fixed board and th