Abstract: The present invention provides a keyboard which can take an optional metal support for strengthening its structure. It comprises a cover plate with a plurality of vertical housings, a base plate mounted on the cover plate with a plurality of protruding pads installed under the vertical housings of the cover plate, a plurality of keys that are vertically and movably installed within the vertical housings, a membrane installed between the cover plate and the base plate comprising a plurality of switches. When any key is depressed, the underlying switch is pressed between the plunger of the key and the underlying protruding pad, and generates a corresponding sensing signal. The keyboard may also comprise a metal support installed between the cover plate and the base plate for increasing structural strength.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a keyboard with a two-dimensional actuator for generating direction signals which can be used to move a cursor shown on a screen to a target position. The keyboard comprises an encoding circuit, a plurality of text keys connected to the encoding circuit each for generating a corresponding text signal, four direction keys connected to the encoding circuit each for generating a corresponding direction signal, and a two-dimensional actuator connected to the encoding circuit which can be actuated at least toward four predefined directions which are the same as the four predefined directions of the four direction keys. When the actuator is actuated toward any of the four predefined directions, the encoding circuit will generate the direction signals which are the same as the direction signals generated by the corresponding direction key.

Abstract: A device for receiving a memory card of a portable telephone set. The memory card-receiving device includes a memory card chamber for receiving the memory card. The memory card chamber can be freely inserted into or ejected from an open slot formed in the end surface of the portable telephone set. When the memory card chamber is fully inserted into the open slot, it is engaged with the portable telephone set by an engaging mechanism. The memory card chamber is ejected from the open slot by a curved spring strip disposed at the bottom of the open slot when the engaging mechanism is released.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer pointing device which uses capacitors installed in various directions to generate pointing signals. The pointing device comprises a circuit board, a cap, and a detecting unit. The circuit board comprises a center point, a first conducting plate installed in a first direction and a second conducting plate installed in a second direction. The cap is movably installed above the center point of the circuit board. The bottom side of the cap has a top conducting plate which forms first and second capacitors with the first and second conducting plates separately. The detecting unit is electrically connected to the top, first and second conducting plates to detect the capacitance of the first and second capacitors and generate corresponding pointing signals to reflect the position of the cap in the first and second directions.

Abstract: A method for adjusting scanning speed of a scanner according to the data transmission rate between the scanner and a host computer to avoid accumulation of image data in the scanner's memory buffer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps:(1) initiating a time counter and transmitting a test data packet from the scanner to the host computer;(2) acknowledging the scanner after the test data packet is completely received by the host computer;(3) stopping the time counter and calculating the time used for transmitting the test data packet;(4) calculating a data transmission rate according to the size of the test data packet and the time used to transmit the test data packet; and(5) adjusting the scanning speed of the scanner according to the data transmission rate.

Abstract: A hinge module for mounting a flip onto a portable telephone set. The hinge module uses a retractable member so the flip can be easily mounted onto the handset. The retractable member includes a shaft movably received in a tube, which also functions as a rotating shaft so no additional rotating shaft is needed.

Abstract: A keyswitch assembly suitable for being disposed on a computer keyboard that can prevent wobbling of its key cap when the key cap is at its elevated position. The keyswitch comprises a key cap capable of being urged to move between an elevated position and a pressed down position; a first connecting member connected to the cap and the substrate; a second connecting member connected to the cap and the substrate; and an elastic member disposed between the substrate and the key cap in such a way that it always urges the cap toward its first position. A positioning slot and a positioning pin or a guide slot and a protrusion formed on one connecting member are provided for keeping the cap from wobbling at its elevated position.

Abstract: This invention discloses a paper eject passageway auto-switching device, which is installed in an information processing machine, suitable for automatically switching between two eject passageways for paper sheets from the processing unit. The paper eject passageway auto-switching device includes: a first paper eject passageway and a second eject passageway. The first paper eject passageway has a first guide vane provided with a guide surface capable of guiding paper sheets from the processing unit to move along the first paper eject passageway, and a first outlet portion through which paper sheets leave the information processing machine. The second paper eject passageway has a branched opening having its width smaller than that of the first guide vane, a second guide vane, and a second outlet portion. The second guide vane has a guide surface capable of guiding paper sheets from the branched opening into the second paper eject passageway.

Abstract: An improved power supply device decreases the amount of power used in computer and computer peripheral devices by utilizing a control transistor which is set into a switching operation responsive to a pulse signal received from a power supply control circuit. The control transistor controls the voltage applied to the primary winding of the power transformer by a switch transistor, and issues an output voltage from the secondary winding. The power supply device includes a switch circuit which is connected in series to a starting resistor for supplying the output voltage rectified from the AC power source when starting up to the power supply control circuit. The power supply device includes a switch-control circuit which turns off the switch circuit when the output voltage rectified from the AC output of the tertiary winding of the power transformer reaches a voltage high enough for stable operation of the power supply control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for switch control of the slave SPS (switching power supply) in a SPS system is provided, with minimized number of the isolation devices, to trigger OFF state of slave SPS DC output signal free from residual voltage. In addition, the inventive apparatus for controlling the slave SPS switching is implemented on the secondary side of the slave SPS only, which eliminates the difficulty and unsatisfactory adjustments associated with the PCB layout process when implementing the invention.

Abstract: A document scanner includes a roller to drive the document along a forward path, an image sensor arranged adjacent to the roller to scan the image on the document, and a control unit instructing the operations of the roller and the image sensor. The roller has an outer surface extending in an axial direction on which a plurality of interleaved black and white sections are arranged in a predetermined pattern and having a predetermined axial length.

Abstract: A power supply device featuring synchronous mode and asynchronous mode operation is disclosed. In the present invention, a simple circuit is used to control the power supply device to switch between synchronous mode (for use in a monitor) and asynchronous mode (for use in a television) as desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of adjusting the display of the monitor by modifying the parameter values of the adjustable display functions. When the user begins to press the select key on the control panel, the display of the monitor is altered by recursively varying the parameter value of the selected display function from the maximum to the minimum, for indicating the type of the display function to be selected. Such a dynamic display can be obtained by using the microcontroller of the monitor. The monitor will exhibit the display effect of the display function to be selected. Therefore, the user can realize the display effect of these display functions, without having to memorize the simplified figures associated with these display functions. Then the user can adjust the display of the monitor through depressing the adjust key on the control panel.

Abstract: A method for writing software into a programmable memory within a peripheral apparatus initiated by a host computer is provided. The host computer issues a software write command and the peripheral apparatus includes a microcontroller connected to the host computer via an interface. A data line and an address line are provided to connect the microcontroller and the programmable memory. The method comprises the following steps: (1) providing a supervisory program within the programmable memory or the microcontroller, the supervisory program including a software write instruction; (2) the microcontroller executing the software write instruction and down-loading the software from the host computer via the interface; and (3) via the data and address line, performing the write operation of the control software to the programmable memory.

Abstract: A quickly restartable power supply apparatus which can quickly restart with a power-saving integrated circuit in power-saving mode by utilizing the reference output signal of the power control circuit as a restarting control signal thereby rapidly restarting the power supply apparatus in power-saving mode with lower circuitry complexity and cost and good reliability. Further, the quickly restartable power supply apparatus can also decrease the power dissipated by the starting resistor by using the reference voltage signal to control the switch control circuit and the second switching means such that after the power supply control circuit is activated, the current in the starting resistor is cut off and no power is dissipated by the starting resistor.

Abstract: A method for controlling speed of a spindle motor within a disk player is provided. The spindle motor drives a disk thereon and the disk player includes a pickup and a control circuit for performing focus and tracking operation of the pickup. The first step of method is to determine an allowable spin speed, Va, in accordance with a predetermined manner. The second step is to set speed of the spindle motor to operate at an allowable speed Va. The third step it to test if out-of-focus occurs during seeking of a particular track. If Yes in step 3, the fourth step is to re-focus the pickup. The fifth step is to set Va=Va- a predetermined decrement. The sixth step is to set speed of the spindle motor to operate at current Va decreased speed.

Abstract: An alternative method for testing the reading reliability of a CD-ROM player is provided. The method is applicable to both the semi-complete CD-ROM player without final packing on the production line as well as the complete CD-ROM player. The method includes first step of writing a predetermined data onto a plurality of sectors of a sample CD-ROM. The sector has a sector address and the predetermined data is a one-to-one function of the sector address and is stored in the sample CD-ROM in a format which does not include an error detection code and an error correction code. The sample CD-ROM does not has an error of un-correctable type. The method includes step of generating the predetermined data by the host computer based on the function and comparing the predetermined data with the set of data output by a de-scrambler operation of the invention to evaluate the reading reliability of the CD-ROM player.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a document-inlet, a multifunction opening, a document-outlet, a first document path and a second document path, is provided. The multifunction opening selectively functions as a document inlet or a document outlet. The first document path, responsive to the document fed in through the document-inlet, directs and drives the document from the document-inlet to the illumination/scan position, and, after the document is scanned, discharges the document to the multifunction opening. The second document path, responsive to the document fed in through the multifunction opening, directs and drives the document from the multifunction opening to the illumination/scan position, and, after the document is scanned, discharges the document to the document outlet. A section of the first document path and a section of the second document path overlaps to each other and defines an overlapping path.

Abstract: A compressing method consisting of generating a predicted value for the pixel of the digitized image to be compressed based on the values of at least two neighboring pixels is provided. After calculating the difference between the predicted value and the current pixel value, a prediction error is defined by a one-on-one mapping on the difference obtained. According to an advantageous feature of the mapping relationship, the required number of bits for representing the prediction error is less than that required for the difference per se. Afterwards, a parameter K is generated which is in proportion to the difference between the neighboring pixels used in prediction. According to the respective values of the parameter K, the next step is to encode each prediction error by assigning a variable-length Rice code to the prediction error of each pixel.