Abstract: A touch key control and icon display apparatus includes a first substrate, a light-emitting element, a second substrate, and a body portion. The light-emitting element is disposed adjacent to the first substrate. The second substrate includes a circuit layer configured to sense a touch. The body portion is disposed between the first and second substrates and includes a reflective surface that defines a chamber. The chamber is formed through the body portion and configured to receive the light-emitting element. The circuit layer includes an icon disposed adjacent to an opening of the chamber. A portion of light, from the light-emitting element, incident on the circuit layer can pass through the circuit layer, and another portion of the light can be reflected by the circuit layer.

Abstract: A transceiver includes a control module and a transceiving module. The control module is configured to generate a control signal in response to a signal from a micro-control unit. The transceiving module is integrated with the control module. The transceiving module is configured to, in response to the control signal, broadcast a first electrical signal to a bus and receive a second electrical signal from the bus.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus useful for the delivery of aerosols, such as those containing drugs, to the lungs or other locations in the body. The disclosure also relates to methods of administering an aerosol to the lungs or other locations in the body of a patient.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a control module, a transceiving module, a first isolator, and a second isolator. The control module is configured to generate a control signal in response to a signal from an MCU. The transceiving module comprises a transceiving unit, which further comprises a first switch and a second switch. The electronic device further comprises a first isolator and a second isolator. The first isolator is external to the transceiving unit and is coupled between the first switch and a bus. Moreover, the first isolator is configured to isolate a first spike current coming from the bus. The second isolator is external to the transceiving unit and is coupled between a terminal of the second switch and the bus. Moreover, the second isolator is configured to direct a second spike current coming from the bus to the ground.

Abstract: A signal conversion control circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a first sample-and-hold circuit, a second sample-and-hold circuit, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch. The analog-to-digital converter has an input end for receiving an output signal of a touch screen. The first sample-and-hold circuit is configured to provide the analog-to-digital converter with a high-level reference voltage. The second sample-and-hold circuit is configured to provide the analog-to-digital converter with a low-level reference voltage. The first switch connects a supplied voltage to the touch screen. The second switch connects the touch screen to a ground potential. The third switch connects the supplied voltage to the first sample-and-hold circuit through the first switch. The fourth switch connects the ground potential to the second sample-and-hold circuit through the second switch.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite (MMC), such as a brake drum, includes a preform having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers and defining a plurality of voids. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element, such as a metal, disposed within the voids of the preform. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal matrix composite (MMC),such as a brake drum, by impregnating a preform, which is formed of ceramic particles and ceramic fibers, with a support element, such as a metal. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.

Abstract: A ceramic article comprises ceramic fibers having an aspect ratio of greater than or equal to 10:1, ceramic particles, and an inorganic binder comprising silica. Greater than 90 out of 100 ceramic fibers are randomly oriented in three dimensions in the ceramic article, and greater than 85 out of 100 ceramic fibers are spaced at least one ceramic fiber diameter away from an adjacent ceramic fiber. The ceramic article has a consistent density of from 0.9 to 1.1 g/cm3 in x-, y-, and z-dimensions and has a uniform strength in three dimensions as measured in accordance with ASTM C1424.

Abstract: A brake rotor assembly, and method for forming a brake rotor assembly, that includes an integrally formed first disc member coupled to an integrally formed second disc member, wherein a first portion of the outer surface of the first disc member and the second disc member is formed from a metal matrix composite and the remainder of the first disc member and second disc member is formed from the support element used in the first portion.

Abstract: A ceramic article comprises ceramic fibers having an aspect ratio of greater than 3:1 and ceramic particles. The ceramic fibers are substantially randomly oriented in three dimensions in the ceramic article. A method of forming the ceramic article includes the step of providing a composition including ceramic fibers having an aspect ratio of greater than 3:1 and ceramic particles. The composition is extruded through a multi-screw extruder having at least three intermeshing screws to form an extrudate. The extrudate is heated to form the ceramic article.

Abstract: A metal matrix composite (MMC) includes a preform comprising ceramic particles and ceramic fibers and defines a plurality of voids. The MMC also includes a support element comprising a metal, which is disposed within the voids of the preform. The MMC has a wear surface defined by both the preform and the support element.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an apparatus useful for the delivery of aerosols, such as those containing drugs, to the lungs or other locations in the body. The disclosure also relates to methods of administering an aerosol to the lungs or other locations in the body of a patient.

Abstract: The method for automatically dispatching frames applied to a gateway comprises the steps of: using a first transceiver module to receive a plurality of frames from a network system; storing the frames in corresponding dispatch registers if at least a portion of the bits of the frames match one of a plurality of predetermined values; scheduling a dispatch order of the dispatch registers in accordance with a dispatch request; and dispatching frames stored in the dispatch registers to a second transceiver module in accordance with the dispatch order.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the method of manufacturing the MMC. The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element formed from a metal where the metal impregnates through the preform. The method of forming the MMC includes the step of extruding the composition through a multi-screw extruder to form an extrudate. The method also includes the step of heating the preform and positioning the preform within a mold. The method further includes the step of heating the metal for forming a molten metal and injecting the molten metal into a cavity of the mold under pressure for infiltrating the preform with the molten metal. The method also includes cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and form the metal matrix composite and removing the metal matrix composite from the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the method of manufacturing the MMC. The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element formed from a metal where the metal impregnates through the preform. The method of forming the MMC includes the step of extruding the composition through a multi-screw extruder to form an extrudate. The method also includes the step of heating the preform and positioning the preform within a mold. The method further includes the step of heating the metal for forming a molten metal and injecting the molten metal into a cavity of the mold under pressure for infiltrating the preform with the molten metal. The method also includes cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and form the metal matrix composite and removing the metal matrix composite from the mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal matrix composite (MMC) and the method of manufacturing the MMC. The MMC includes a preform formed from a composition having ceramic particles and ceramic fibers. The metal matrix composite also includes a support element formed from a metal where the metal impregnates through the preform. The method of forming the MMC includes the step of extruding the composition through a multi-screw extruder to form an extrudate. The method also includes the step of heating the preform and positioning the preform within a mold. The method further includes the step of heating the metal for forming a molten metal and injecting the molten metal into a cavity of the mold under pressure for infiltrating the preform with the molten metal. The method also includes cooling the molten metal to solidify the molten metal and form the metal matrix composite and removing the metal matrix composite from the mold.

Abstract: An optical navigator sensor for sensing an image of an object comprises a substrate, a laser diode, an optical sensor device and a housing. The optical sensor device and the laser diode are fixed on the base plate and covered by the housing. The housing guides the light emitted from the laser diode to the object and guides the light reflected from the object to the optical sensor device.

Abstract: A signal conversion control circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter, a first sample-and-hold circuit, a second sample-and-hold circuit, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch. The analog-to-digital converter has an input end for receiving an output signal of a touch screen. The first sample-and-hold circuit is configured to provide the analog-to-digital converter with a high-level reference voltage. The second sample-and-hold circuit is configured to provide the analog-to-digital converter with a low-level reference voltage. The first switch connects a supplied voltage to the touch screen. The second switch connects the touch screen to a ground potential. The third switch connects the supplied voltage to the first sample-and-hold circuit through the first switch. The fourth switch connects the ground potential to the second sample-and-hold circuit through the second switch.

Abstract: An on-screen display (OSD) circuit comprises a microprocessor, a serial peripheral interface (SPI) controller, an upload controller and an OSD controller. The SPI controller is connected to the microprocessor for receiving data of an external flash memory. The upload controller is configured to control data access between the SPI controller and the memory. The OSD controller is configured to control a display of an operating screen by the data stored in the memory. The upload controller stores a font table or an icon table and background screen data in the memory while the OSD controller is active.

Abstract: The method for automatically dispatching frames applied to a gateway comprises the steps of: using a first transceiver module to receive a plurality of frames from a network system; storing the frames in corresponding dispatch registers if at least a portion of the bits of the frames match one of a plurality of predetermined values; scheduling a dispatch order of the dispatch registers in accordance with a dispatch request; and dispatching frames stored in the dispatch registers to a second transceiver module in accordance with the dispatch order.