All The Claims

1. A signal connector anti-theft device for fastening to a signal connector of an electronic implement for protection, the signal connector anti-theft device comprising:
a cap comprising an accommodation chamber, a tubular neck located on one end thereof in communication with said accommodation chamber, and an opening located on an opposite end thereof in communication with said accommodation chamber;
a rotating member set in said accommodation chamber, said rotating member comprising a circular flat base, a shaft vertically disposed at the center of said circular flat base and suspending in said tubular neck of said cap, and a plurality of through holes cut through said circular flat base and spaced around said shaft; and
a locking member set in said accommodation chamber and abutted against said rotating member, said locking member comprising a coupling chamber for receiving said signal connector of said electronic implement, a coupling structure located on one end thereof for coupling to said signal connector of said electronic implement, and a driven structure located on an opposite end thereof and rotatable by an external hand tool being insertable through said tubular neck of said cap and said through holes of said rotating member.
2. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap further comprises an end flange extending around the opening thereof; said coupling structure of said locking member comprises an annular stop flange stopped against said end flange of said cap.
3. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking member further comprises an inner thread extending around an inside wall thereof within said coupling chamber, and a mating hole formed in said coupling structure for the passing of said signal connector of said electronic implement.
4. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driven structure is configured in one of rectangular, arch, circular, elliptical and polygonal shapes, having radially extending ribs.
5. A signal connector anti-theft device for fastening to a signal connector of an electronic implement for protection, the signal connector anti-theft device comprising:
a cap comprising an accommodation chamber, a tubular neck located on one end thereof in communication with said accommodation chamber, and an opening located on an opposite end thereof in communication with said accommodation chamber;
a rotating member set in said accommodation chamber, said rotating member comprising a circular flat base, and a plurality of through holes cut through said circular flat base;
a locking member set in said accommodation chamber and abutted against said rotating member, said locking member comprising a coupling chamber for receiving said signal connector of said electronic implement, a coupling structure located on one end thereof for coupling to said signal connector of said electronic implement, and a driven structure located on an opposite end thereof; and
a hand tool insertable through said tubular neck of said cap and said through holes of said rotating member for rotating said locking member, said hand tool comprising a tool shank, a tool handle located one end of said tool shank and a working tip located on an opposite end of said tool shank, said working tip comprising a plurality of driving blocks insertable through said through holes of said rotating member and engageable into said driven structure of said locking member.
6. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said cap further comprises an end flange extending around the opening thereof; said coupling structure of said locking member comprises an annular stop flange stopped against said end flange of said cap.
7. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said locking member further comprises an inner thread extending around an inside wall thereof within said coupling chamber, and a mating hole formed in said coupling structure for the passing of said signal connector of said electronic implement.
8. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said driven structure is configured in one of rectangular, arch, circular, elliptical and polygonal shapes, having radially extending ribs.
9. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rotating member comprises a shaft vertically disposed at the center of said circular flat base and suspending in said tubular neck of said cap; said working tip of said tool handle further comprises an axial hole surrounded by said driving blocks for receiving said tubular neck of said cap.
10. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said working tip of said tool handle further comprises a plurality of axial slits respectively defined between each two adjacent said driving blocks.
11. The signal connector anti-theft device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said driving blocks of said working tip of said tool handle are configured in one of rectangular, arch, circular, elliptical and polygonal shapes, and spaced from one another at a respective predetermined angle.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An audio jack connector, comprising:
an insulating housing having a base body and an inserting body which is integrally formed to one side of the base body, a front face of the inserting body being concaved rearward to form an inserting chamber, a bottom face of the base body defining a holding cavity of which a top inner wall defines a plurality of terminal grooves arranged alongside the inserting body and each further extending sideward through the inserting body to communicate with the inserting chamber;
a plurality of electrical terminals disposed in the terminal grooves of the insulating housing, each electrical terminal having a contact portion projecting into the inserting chamber and a welding block located away from the inserting body;
a fixing member fastened in the holding cavity of the base body, covering and holding the electrical terminals in the terminal grooves; and
a sealing member including a sealing tape, the sealing tape completely covering the fixing member and being adhered outside the insulating housing and the fixing member to seal up splicing gaps between sidewalls of the holding cavity and peripheral edges of the fixing member, the welding blocks of the electrical terminals penetrating through the fixing member and the sealing tape to be exposed outside;
wherein the sealing tape defines a plurality of through holes arranged side-by-side at one side thereof and corresponding to the welding blocks of the electrical terminals, the welding blocks pass through the through holes to project from under the sealing tape; and
wherein a bottom face of a wall between every two adjacent terminal grooves of the base body is concaved upward to form at least one fixing hole, a top face of the fixing member protrudes upward to form a plurality of fixing columns corresponding to the fixing holes of the base body and fixed in the fixing holes of the base body.
2. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each terminal groove includes a fastening groove, a through groove and a positioning groove, where the through groove and the positioning groove are connected with two ends of the fastening groove respectively, the through groove is communicated with the inserting chamber, each of the electrical terminals has a board-shaped fastening portion vertically fastened in the fastening groove of the terminal groove, a contact portion extends toward the inserting chamber from a top edge of the fastening portion and is received in the through groove, and a bottom edge of the fastening portion is bent outward and then extends oppositely to the contact portion to form a positioning plate positioned in the positioning groove, a bottom face of the positioning plate protrudes downward to form the welding block.
3. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein both ends of a bottom face of the base body protrude downward to form a fixing block respectively, both ends of the sealing tape corresponding to the fixing blocks of the base body define a fixing aperture respectively, the fixing blocks of the base body are buckled in the fixing apertures of the sealing tape.
4. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein one side of the base body away from the inserting body protrudes outward to form a mounting portion substantially arranged in the middle thereof, a first mounting hole is opened through the mounting portion, a part of the sealing tape corresponding to the mounting portion of the base body defines a second mounting hole vertically aligned with the first mounting hole of the insulating housing.
5. The audio jack connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rear end of the inserting chamber of the insulating housing further penetrates rearward through a back face of the inserting body to form a through aperture, the back face of the inserting body is concaved forward to form a mounting groove where the through aperture is, the sealing member further includes a sealing fin corresponding to the mounting groove of the inserting body, the sealing fin is adhered in the mounting groove and seals up the through aperture.

1. A question answering system comprising:
a similar-question generation unit that selects a feature word from an input question to generate a transformational question in which the feature word is replaced with another word;
a first search unit that executes a first search process based on the transformational question generated by the similar-question generation unit;
a second search unit that selects a word included in a first search result acquired by executing the first search process as an extension word and executes a second search process with using the selected extension word; and
an answer selection unit that analyzes a correspondence relation among extension words included in a second search result acquired by executing the second search process, determines the feature word and a constructive part of an answer equivalent word in the second search result based on an analysis result, and selects for display a word determined to be an answer; and
a display unit that displays the selected word.
2. The question answering system according to claim 1, wherein the answer selection unit analyzes the correspondence relation among the extension words based on HTML format data, which is acquired as the second search result acquired, determines the feature word and the constructive part of the answer equivalent word in the second search result based on the analysis result, and selects the word determined to be the answer.
3. The question answering system according to claim 1 wherein:
the similar-question generation unit generates a transformational question pattern 1, which is a similar question to the input question, without changing the feature word making up the input question,
the first search unit executes a search process based on the transformational question pattern 1, and
if no answer is acquired as a result of the search process based on the transformational question pattern 1,
the similar-question generation unit generates as the transformational question a transformational question pattern 2 in which the feature word making up the input question is replaced with a same-group word belonging to the same group in a thesaurus as the feature word;
the first search unit executes the first search process based on the transformational question pattern 2; and
the second search unit selects the word included in the first search result acquired by executing the first search process as the extension word and executes the second search process with using the selected extension word.
4. The question answering system according to claim 1, wherein:
the second search unit selects (a) a same-group word, which is selected from words included in the first search result and belongs to the same group as the feature word, and (b) an answer equivalent word in the transformational question as the extension words, and
the second search unit executes the second search process with using the selected extension words.
5. The question answering system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first storage unit that stores question patterns; and
a second storage unit that stores transformational patterns of the question patterns stored in the first storage unit, wherein:
the similar-question generation unit compares the input question with the question patterns stored in the first storage unit to select a question pattern corresponding to the input question, and
the similar-question generation unit generates the transformational question corresponding to the selected question pattern, based on the transformational patterns stored in the second storage unit.
6. The question answering system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a third storage unit that stores group classification information of feature words, which are acquired from input questions as proper nouns, wherein:
the similar-question generation unit generates the transformational question in which the feature word making up the input question with a same-group word belonging to the same group as the feature word, with using the classification information stored in the third storage unit.
7. The question answering system according to claim 1, wherein the similar-question generation unit generates the transformational question in which the feature word is replaced with the other word, based on a predetermined rule.
8. The question answering system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a syntactic and semantic analysis unit that executes syntactic and semantic analysis on the input question, wherein:
the similar-question generation unit generates a question pattern based on a analysis result acquired by executing the syntactic and semantic analysis, and
the first search unit executes a search process based on the question pattern generated by the similar-question generation unit.
9. A data search method comprising:
selecting a feature word from an input question;
generating a transformational question in which the feature word is replaced with another word;
executing a first search process based on the transformational question generated;
selecting a word included in a first search result acquired by executing the first search process as an extension word;
executing a second search process with using the selected extension word;
analyzing a correspondence relation among extension words included in a second search result acquired by executing the second search process;
determining the feature word and a constructive part of an answer equivalent word in the second search result based on an analysis result;
selecting a word determined to be an answer; and
displaying the selected word.
10. The data search method according to claim 9, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing the correspondence relation among the extension words based on HTML format data, which is acquired as the second search result acquired.
11. The data search method according to claim 9, further comprising:
generating a transformational question pattern 1, which is a similar question to the input question, without changing the feature word making up the input question,
executing a search process based on the transformational question pattern 1, and
if no answer is acquired as a result of the search process based on the transformational question pattern 1,
generating as the transformational question a transformational question pattern 2 in which the feature word making up the input question is replaced with a same-group word belonging to the same group as the feature word;
executing the first search process based on the transformational question pattern 2;
selecting the word included in the first search result acquired by executing the first search process as the extension word; and
executing the second search process with using the selected extension word.
12. The data search method according to claim 9, wherein the selecting of the word included in the first search result as the extension word comprises selecting (a) a same-group word, which is selected from words included in the first search result and belongs to the same group as the feature word, and (b) an answer equivalent word in the transformational question as the extension words.
13. The data search method according to claim 9 wherein:
the generating of the transformational question comprises:
comparing the input question with question patterns stored in a first storage unit to select a question pattern corresponding to the input question, and
generating the transformational question corresponding to the selected question pattern, based on transformational patterns stored in a second storage unit.
14. The data search method according to claim 9, wherein the generating of the transformational question comprises generating the transformation question in which the feature word making up the input question with a same-group word belonging to the same group as the feature word, with using classification information stored in a third storage unit.
15. The data search method according to claim 9, wherein the generating of the transformational question comprises generating the transformation question in which the feature word is replaced with the other word, based on a predetermined rule.
16. The data search method according to claim 9, further comprising:
executing syntactic and semantic analysis on the input question;
generating a question pattern based on a analysis result acquired by executing the syntactic and semantic analysis; and
executing a search process based on the question pattern generated.
17. A computer program stored in a computer readable medium, the computer program causing a computer to execute a data search process comprising:
selecting a feature word from an input question;
generating a transformational question in which the feature word is replaced with another word;
executing a first search process based on the transformational question generated;
selecting a word included in a first search result acquired by executing the first search process as an extension word;
executing a second search process with using the selected extension word;
analyzing a correspondence relation among extension words included in a second search result acquired by executing the second search process;
determining the feature word and a constructive part of an answer equivalent word in the second search result based on an analysis result; and

selecting a word determined to be an answer.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A sheet stacking apparatus, comprising:
a tray on which sheets are stacked;
an aligning member which aligns sheets, wherein the aligning member aligns the sheets stacked on sheets previously stacked on the tray with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheets previously stacked;
a moving unit which moves the tray so that the tray is lowered with an increase in the number of the stacked sheets;
a support unit which supports the aligning member so that the aligning member is lowered within a predetermined distance with the aligning member being in contact with a top surface of the sheets previously stacked as the tray is lowered by the moving unit; and
a changing unit which changes the aligning operation of the aligning member between a first state in which the aligning member is in contact with the top surface of the sheets previously stacked and a second state in which the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds a predetermined number, the aligning member being spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked when the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds the predetermined number,
wherein
the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a first number of sheets are stacked on the tray in the first state,
the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a second number of sheets are stacked on the tray in the second state, and
the first number is larger than the second number.
2. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the second state, the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a sheet is stacked.
3. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the first state, if the aligning member is not spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked after all sheets to be stacked on the sheets previously stacked are discharged, the aligning member performs the aligning operation after all sheets are discharged.
4. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a conveying unit which conveys sheets to be stacked on the tray,
wherein the conveying unit conveys a subsequent sheet to the tray with the position of the subsequent sheet being changed in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to a position of a preceding sheet conveyed.
5. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet;
a tray on which image-formed sheets are stacked;
an aligning member which aligns sheets, wherein the aligning member aligns the sheets stacked on sheets previously stacked on the tray with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheets previously stacked;
a moving unit which moves the tray so that the tray is lowered with an increase in the number of the stacked sheets;
a support unit which supports the aligning member so that the aligning member is lowered within a predetermined distance with the aligning member being in contact with a top surface of the sheets previously stacked as the tray is lowered by the moving unit; and
a changing unit which changes the aligning operation of the aligning member between a first state in which the aligning member is in contact with the top surface of the sheets previously stacked and a second state in which the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds a predetermined number, the aligning member being spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked when the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds the predetermined number,
wherein
the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a first number of sheets are stacked on the tray in the first state,
the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a second number of sheets are stacked on the tray in the second state, and
the first number is larger than the second number.
6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the second state, the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a sheet is stacked.
7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in the first state, if the aligning member is not spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked after all sheets to be stacked on the sheets previously stacked are discharged, the aligning member performs the aligning operation after all sheets are discharged.
8. An image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:
a conveying unit which conveys sheets to be stacked on the tray,
wherein the conveying unit conveys a subsequent sheet to the tray with the position of the subsequent sheet being changed in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to a position of a preceding sheet conveyed.
9. A sheet stacking apparatus, comprising:
a tray on which sheets are stacked;
an aligning member which aligns sheets, wherein the aligning member aligns the sheets stacked on sheets previously stacked on the tray with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheets previously stacked;
a moving unit which moves the tray so that the tray is lowered with an increase in the number of the stacked sheets;
a support unit which supports the aligning member so that the aligning member is lowered within a predetermined distance with the aligning member being in contact with a top surface of the sheets previously stacked as the tray is lowered by the moving unit; and
a changing unit which changes the aligning operation of the aligning member between a first state in which the aligning member is in contact with the top surface of the sheets previously stacked and a second state in which the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds a predetermined number, the aligning member being spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked when the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds the predetermined number,
wherein
the aligning member does not perform the aligning operation in the first state,
the aligning member performs the aligning operation in the second state.
10. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the second state, the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a sheet is stacked.
11. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the first state, if the aligning member is not spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked after all sheets to be stacked on the sheets previously stacked are discharged, the aligning member performs the aligning operation after all sheets are discharged.
12. A sheet stacking apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:
a conveying unit which conveys sheets to be stacked on the tray,
wherein the conveying unit conveys a subsequent sheet to the tray with the position of the subsequent sheet being changed in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to a position of a preceding sheet conveyed.
13. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
an image forming unit which forms an image on a sheet;
a tray on which image-formed sheets are stacked;
an aligning member which aligns sheets, wherein the aligning member aligns the sheets stacked on sheets previously stacked on the tray with a displacement in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to the sheets previously stacked;
a moving unit which moves the tray so that the tray is lowered with an increase in the number of the stacked sheets;
a support unit which supports the aligning member so that the aligning member is lowered within a predetermined distance with the aligning member being in contact with a top surface of the sheets previously stacked as the tray is lowered by the moving unit; and
a changing unit which changes the aligning operation of the aligning member between a first state in which the aligning member is in contact with the top surface of the sheets previously stacked and a second state in which the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds a predetermined number, the aligning member being spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked when the number of the sheets stacked on the sheets previously stacked exceeds the predetermined number,
wherein,
the aligning member does not perform the aligning operation in the first state, and
the aligning member performs the aligning operation in the second state.
14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein in the second state, the aligning member performs the aligning operation every time a sheet is stacked.
15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein in the first state, if the aligning member is not spaced away from the top surface of the sheets previously stacked after all sheets to be stacked on the sheets previously stacked are discharged, the aligning member performs the aligning operation after all sheets are discharged.
16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising:
a conveying unit which conveys sheets to be stacked on the tray,
wherein the conveying unit conveys a subsequent sheet to the tray with the position of the subsequent sheet being changed in an aligning direction of the aligning member with respect to a position of a preceding sheet conveyed.