Abstract: A method for reducing image noise includes calculating a mean pixel-correlation between a central pixel and neighboring pixels within a working window in an image. The method also includes calculating a weighted horizontal similarity between the central pixel and horizontal neighboring pixels and a weighted vertical similarity between the central pixel and vertical neighboring pixels within the working window. Then, the method determines if the central pixel is noise. If so, a noise-reduction process is executed.

Abstract: Performing cell search in a wireless communications system includes receiving a preamble signal, match filtering the preamble signal with a pseudo noise sequence to form a filtered preamble signal of a plurality of filtered preamble signals, choosing a largest filtered preamble signal from the plurality of filtered preamble signals, and determining an estimated pseudo noise sequence index and an estimated integer part frequency offset according to the largest filtered preamble signal.

Abstract: A multicast communication method for relaying a multicast packet from a first member node to a plurality of second member nodes in a wireless network is provided, wherein the first member node and the second member nodes belong to a same group and can communicate with each other via a plurality of non-member nodes. In the multicast communication method, a number and distances of the second member nodes are recorded. The multicast packet is received from the first member node, and a waiting time is determined according to the number and the distances of the second member nodes. Whether the multicast packet is broadcasted by any other relay node is monitored during the waiting time. If the multicast packet is already broadcasted to all the second member nodes by other relay node, the multicast packet is not broadcasted; otherwise, the multicast packet is broadcasted after the waiting time elapses.

Abstract: A trivalent chromium-based electroplating solution in accordance with the present invention a trivalent chromium salt, a bivalent nickel salt, a complex agent, a conductive salt, a buffering agent and an additive for electroplating a chromium-nickel alloy deposit on a component. By using the lowly toxic trivalent chromium to substitute highly toxic hexavalent chromium, an electroplating procedure with the present trivalent chromium-based electroplating solution has less pollution and high current efficiency to allow the electroplating performing at the room temperature.

Abstract: A USB peripheral device with dynamic modification class is connected to a basic system of processor through a USB transmission interface. The USB peripheral device contains a card connection unit and a USB microprocessor. By judging whether the card connection unit is inserted with a card device, the USB microprocessor is determined to transmit the data or not with the basic system of processor. If one card device is inserted into the card connection unit, the USB microprocessor outputs the corresponding class code according to the device class of the card device for the basic system of processor distinguishing and confirming said class code. Therefore, dynamically changing the device class in accordance with various card devices is achieved.

Abstract: A method for reducing image noise includes calculating a mean pixel-correlation between a central pixel and neighboring pixels within a working window in an image. The method also includes calculating a weighted horizontal similarity between the central pixel and horizontal neighboring pixels and a weighted vertical similarity between the central pixel and vertical neighboring pixels within the working window. Then, the method determines if the central pixel is noise. If so, a noise-reduction process is executed.

Abstract: Neighbor pixels having greatest similarities and correlations with a central pixel are exploited to develop a diamond-shaped window for performing a noise reduction procedure. The diamond-shaped window merely covers significant pixels required by the noise reduction procedure to improve the performances in reducing noises. Besides, a size of the diamond-shaped window is adjustable according to the noise ratio of noises hidden in the processed image. The noise reduction procedure utilizes the diamond-shaped window instead of a conventional square-shaped window to improve the performance in noise reduction, and to avoid possible picture quality losses of the original image caused by redundant pixels covered by the square-shaped window.

Abstract: A USB peripheral device with dynamic modification class is connected to a basic system of processor through a USB transmission interface. The USB peripheral device contains a card connection unit and a USB microprocessor. By judging whether the card connection unit is inserted with a card device, the USB microprocessor is determined to transmit the data or not with the basic system of processor. If one card device is inserted into the card connection unit, the USB microprocessor outputs the corresponding class code according to the device class of the card device for the basic system of processor distinguishing and confirming said class code. Therefore, dynamically changing the device class in accordance with various card devices is achieved.

Abstract: A method is provided to reduce strapping devices in a computer system having at least one configurable device, which includes the following steps. A configuration value stored in a non-volatile memory is first provided. During power-up and reset of the computer system, a processor reset signal and a bus reset signal of a high-speed peripheral bus are both asserted, wherein the high-speed peripheral bus is included in the computer system. When an operation clock of the high-speed peripheral bus reaches its working voltage and frequency, the configuration value is fetched from the non-volatile memory. The fetching step is repeated until a most significant bit (MSB) of a fetched configuration value changes from a first state to a second state.

Abstract: A method of self-detecting and dynamically displaying detected results for a card reader used to read flash memory cards includes the steps of sending out a detecting code to each card slot or any flash memory card inserted therein via detecting circuits provided on and controlled by a control chip in the card reader; storing a detected state code sent back by the detecting circuits in a state register of the control chip; sending the state code from the state register to a computer; comparing and determining the state code in the computer; displaying a current state of the card slot or the flash memory card inserted therein on a screen of the computer; and periodically repeating the self-detecting and displaying to always show the most current state of the card slots on the card reader or the inserted flash memory card.

Abstract: A structurally integrated and simplified card reader includes a data I/O interface, via which data are input or output to or from the card reader; a managing system for controlling and managing data input/output to/from the card reader; at least one data reading device adapted to connect to at least one type of memory device for controlling access of data input/output to/from the memory device; and at least one data-sharing control device for providing a path for accessing data input/output to/from the memory device. When the data I/O interface is connected to a computer system, and the memory device is connected to the data reading device and the data-sharing control device, the managing system and the computer system cooperate to detect and control data input/output to/from the memory device via the path provided by the data-sharing control device.

Abstract: A card reader includes at least one card slot for a memory card to insert therein, a USB plug allowing hot attach and detach to and from a computer, and an IDE slot provided at one side of the card reader for a hard disk having an IDE slot to connect thereto. Therefore, with the card reader, a general hard disk may be treated as a high-capacity memory card and connected to the card reader in the manner of hot attach and detach.

Abstract: A method of self-detecting and dynamically displaying detected results for a card reader used to read flash memory cards includes the steps of sending out a detecting code to each card slot or any flash memory card inserted therein via detecting circuits provided on and controlled by a control chip in the card reader; storing a detected state code sent back by the detecting circuits in a state register of the control chip; sending the state code from the state register to a computer; comparing and determining the state code in the computer; displaying a current state of the card slot or the flash memory card inserted therein on a screen of the computer; and periodically repeating the self-detecting and displaying to always show the most current state of the card slots on the card reader or the inserted flash memory card.

Abstract: A method is provided to reduce strapping devices in a computer system having at least one configurable device, which includes the following steps. A configuration value stored in a non-volatile memory is first provided. During power-up and reset of the computer system, a processor reset signal and a bus reset signal of a high-speed peripheral bus are both asserted, wherein the high-speed peripheral bus is included in the computer system. When an operation clock of the high-speed peripheral bus reaches its working voltage and frequency, the configuration value is fetched from the non-volatile memory. The fetching step is repeated until a most significant bit (MSB) of a fetched configuration value changes from a first state to a second state.

Abstract: A method is provided to reduce strapping devices in a computer system having at least one configurable device, which includes the following steps. A configuration value stored in a non-volatile memory is first provided. During power-up and reset of the computer system, a processor reset signal and a bus reset signal of a high-speed peripheral bus are both asserted, wherein the high-speed peripheral bus is included in the computer system. When an operation clock of the high-speed peripheral bus reaches its working voltage and frequency, the configuration value is fetched from the non-volatile memory. The fetching step is repeated until a most significant bit (MSB) of a fetched configuration value changes from a first state to a second state.

Abstract: A computing system is adapted for use with an optical disk drive, and includes a motherboard and a control key. The motherboard is adapted to be coupled electrically to the optical disk drive. The control key is coupled electrically to the motherboard, and is operable so as to provide a control signal to the motherboard. The motherboard is adapted to control disk loading and disk unloading operations of the optical disk drive in accordance with the control signal provided by the control key.

Abstract: A computing system is adapted for use with an optical disk drive, and includes a motherboard and a control key. The motherboard is adapted to be coupled electrically to the optical disk drive. The control key is coupled electrically to the motherboard, and is operable so as to provide a control signal to the motherboard. The motherboard is adapted to control disk loading and disk unloading operations of the optical disk drive in accordance with the control signal provided by the control key.

Abstract: A barrier control scheme controls the order dependency of items in a multiple FIFO queue structure. The barrier control scheme includes a cycle ID generator, a barrier bit/barrier ID generator and a cycle ID and barrier ID comparator. Each incoming item to the FIFOs is assigned a cycle ID. If an incoming item of a first FIFO has order dependency on items of a second FIFO, a barrier bit is set and a barrier ID is determined and generated by the barrier bit/barrier ID generator. The barrier bit and barrier ID are inserted in the first FIFO along with other fields of the incoming item. When an item is to be consumed, the cycle ID and barrier ID comparator compares its barrier ID and the cycle IDs of items in the second FIFO. The item to be consumed is blocked until all items on which the item is dependent are consumed in the second FIFO.

Abstract: A bone fixing device includes a screw and a screwdriver each of which is made of non-magnetic and bioabsorable materials. The screw has a head formed with at least one slot and a threaded portion separated from the head by a neck. The screwdriver cooperates with the slot to apply a force to the screw.

Abstract: All memory commands are classified into two categories: background commands and foreground commands, depending on whether they are data related or not. The pointed background command and foreground commands are issued onto the DRAM bus at the earliest time when the required constrains are met. The background and foreground FSM controllers work in a pipelined or overlapped manner.