Abstract: Described herein are techniques for making a multiplayer zirconia sintered body. The techniques sinter a dental article to form the zirconia sintered body. The dental article includes multiple layers containing dental ceramic materials such as, zirconia oxide particles, yttria, a pigment, etc. In some implementations, the dental article may be partially sintered and coated using an organic material.

Abstract: In a method for registering identification information of network interface cards (NICs) in an operating system of a computing device, each of the NICs is respectively and uniquely labeled with a number. A peripheral component interconnect (PCI) device identification (ID) of each of the NICs is allocated according to the labeled number of each NIC using a basic input output system (BIOS) of the computing device when the BIOS is booted up. Then identification information of each of the NICs is registered in the operating system according to the PCI device ID of each NIC using a NIC driver of the computing device, when the NIC driver is driven by the operating system during the booting up process of the operating system.

Abstract: A method for physically identifying an association between a removable storage device and its assigned drive letter, the removable storage device connecting to a computing device. A data structure which comprises the drive letter assigned by an operating system of the computing device is received and analyzed to retrieve the drive letter assigned to the removable storage device. The drive letter of the removable storage device is displayed on a screen of the removable storage device or on a display device connected to the removable storage device.

Abstract: An electronic device being used to calculate an open circuit voltage of a battery built in the electronic device. The electronic device reads a charging voltage and a charging current, a discharging voltage and a discharging current. The electronic device calculates the open circuit voltage of the battery according to the charging voltage, the charging current and the resistance if the battery is charging. The electronic device calculates the open circuit voltage of the battery according to the discharging voltage, the discharging current and the resistance if the battery is discharging.

Abstract: A system and method can update unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) setting information of a computer. The method creates a system management interrupt (SMI) function based on a UEFI platform of the computer, and stores the SMI function in a SMRAM of the computer. The method further generates an access address of the SMI function when a configuration command is input from an input device, and generate a SMI handler according to the access address. Additionally, the method calls a runtime service function of the UEFI platform by executing the SMI function through the SMI handler, and executes the runtime service function to configure UEFI setting information stored in a flash memory chip and to update BIOS data stored in a CMOS chip related to the UEFI setting information.

Abstract: In a television viewing safety system and method, a detection zone of a sensor is set. The sensor is turned on to detect whether a person moves into the detection zone. If the person is detected moving into the detection zone, the television is controlled to display under a safe display mode. If the person is not detected moving into the detection zone, the television is controlled to display under a normal display mode.

Abstract: A method protects a power button of a computing device. The computing device includes a front panel and a motherboard. The front panel includes a protection switch and a power button. The motherboard includes a power protection unit that displays a power-on simulation icon and a power-off simulation icon on a display screen when the power button is pressed. The power protection unit controls a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of the motherboard to output a first voltage level when the power-off simulation icon is selected, and shuts off the protection switch to enable the power button according to the first voltage level. The power protection unit controls the GPIO pin to output a second voltage level when the power-on simulation icon is selected, and turns on the protection switch to enable the power button according to the second voltage level.

Abstract: In a method for registering identification information of network interface cards (NICs) in an operating system of a computing device, each of the NICs is respectively and uniquely labeled with a number. A peripheral component interconnect (PCI) device identification (ID) of each of the NICs is allocated according to the labeled number of each NIC using a basic input output system (BIOS) of the computing device when the BIOS is booted up. Then identification information of each of the NICs is registered in the operating system according to the PCI device ID of each NIC using a NIC driver of the computing device, when the NIC driver is driven by the operating system during the booting up process of the operating system.

Abstract: A method for merging storage space of multiple universal serial bus (USB) flash drives is applied in a computing device. The method detects USB flash drives plugged into USB ports of the computing device and checks respective storage capacities, stored files, and available storage space of the USB flash drives. A virtual USB flash drive including all the stored files of the USB flash drives is created. Files of the virtual USB flash drive are related to the USB flash drives. A file may be copied from a data processing device connected to the computing device to the virtual USB flash drive and split for storage between more than one USB flash drive, or a second file may be copied from one or more USB flash drives to the data processing device through the virtual USB flash drive.

Abstract: An electronic device and method for testing an audio module of a network device including establishing a first connection between an audio output interface of the electronic device and a microphone interface of the network device. First audio data of a test file is transmitted from the audio output interface to the microphone interface through the first connection. An audio card of the network device records the first audio data output by the microphone interface to generate second audio data, and transmit the second audio data to the electronic device through a network. The second audio data is compared with the first audio data in response to receiving the second audio data by the electronic device. The audio module is determined to be normal if the second audio data matches the first audio data.

Abstract: A method for physically identifying an association between a removable storage device and its assigned drive letter, the removable storage device connecting to a computing device. A data structure which comprises the drive letter assigned by an operating system of the computing device is received and analyzed to retrieve the drive letter assigned to the removable storage device. The drive letter of the removable storage device is displayed on a screen of the removable storage device or on a display device connected to the removable storage device.

Abstract: A refresh rate adjustment method automatically adjusts a refresh rate of a monitor connected to a computer to a default refresh rate, in response that a detected keystroke signal is a predefined keystroke signal. The method further detects a refresh rate range that is supported by the monitor, detects a new refresh rate input signal from the input device, and determines if the new refresh rate falls within the refresh rate range that is supported by the monitor. If the new refresh rate falls within the refresh rate range that is supported by the monitor, the method automatically adjusts the refresh rate of the monitor with the new refresh rate. Otherwise, the method prompts a user to input the new refresh rate again by displaying a dialog box on the monitor.

Abstract: A power switch control device includes a control chip connected to power switches distributed in a room, and a microcontroller connected to the control chip. When a person gets through an entry/exit door of the room, both of a first sensor fixed to an interior surface of the door and a second sensor fixed to an exterior surface of the door sense the person. By comparing record times of the two sensors, the microcontroller can determine whether the person enters or exits the room. If the person enters the room and a count value is changed to one from zero, the microcontroller sends a power-on command to the control chip to switch the power switches on. If the person exits the room and the count value is changed to zero from one, the microcontroller sends a power-off command to the control chip to switch the power switches off.

Abstract: A system and method can update unified extensible firmware interface (UEFI) setting information of a computer. The method creates a system management interrupt (SMI) function based on a UEFI platform of the computer, and stores the SMI function in a SMRAM of the computer. The method further generates an access address of the SMI function when a configuration command is input from an input device, and generate a SMI handler according to the access address. Additionally, the method calls a runtime service function of the UEFI platform by executing the SMI function through the SMI handler, and executes the runtime service function to configure UEFI setting information stored in a flash memory chip and to update BIOS data stored in a CMOS chip related to the UEFI setting information.

Abstract: A system for testing a fan interface on a motherboard is provided. A fan simulator receives a PWM signal from a fan interface of the motherboard, converts the PWM signal to a TACH signal and outputs the TACH signal to a computer via a fan connector. A difference between the actual rotation speed from the TACH signal and a preset desired rotation speed of the fan simulator is determined and analyzed by comparing the difference with a preset allowable error margin.

Abstract: A method protects a power button of a computing device. The computing device includes a front panel and a motherboard. The front panel includes a protection switch and a power button. The motherboard includes a power protection unit that displays a power-on simulation icon and a power-off simulation icon on a display screen when the power button is pressed. The power protection unit controls a general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pin of the motherboard to output a first voltage level when the power-off simulation icon is selected, and shuts off the protection switch to enable the power button according to the first voltage level. The power protection unit controls the GPIO pin to output a second voltage level when the power-on simulation icon is selected, and turns on the protection switch to enable the power button according to the second voltage level.

Abstract: In a television viewing safety system and method, a detection zone of a sensor is set. The sensor is turned on to detect whether a person moves into the detection zone. If the person is detected moving into the detection zone, the television is controlled to display under a safe display mode. If the person is not detected moving into the detection zone, the television is controlled to display under a normal display mode.

Abstract: An exemplary system for testing a buzzer (110) associated with a computer (100) includes a buzzing module (122) for controlling the buzzer to sound continuously according to a reference frequency value and a reference amplitude value; a recording module (124) for storing the buzzer sound recorded by an audio receiving device as a recorded audio data file into the computer; an analyzing module (126) for analyzing the recorded audio data file to obtain a real frequency value and a real amplitude value of the buzzer sound; and a determining module (128) for comparing the real frequency value and the real amplitude value with their reference values to determine whether the buzzer is in good working condition. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A system for testing a fan interface on a motherboard is provided. A fan simulator receives a PWM signal from a fan interface of the motherboard, converts the PWM signal to a TACH signal and outputs the TACH signal to a computer via the fan connector. A difference between the actual rotation speed from the TACH signal and a preset desired rotation speed of the fan simulator is determined and analyzed by comparing the difference with a preset allowable error margin. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for testing a connection between an audio receiving device and a motherboard is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: preparing a data storage medium containing an original audio data file; playing the data storage medium on an audio playing device with audio signals generated thereof, the audio playing device being connected to the audio receiving device; receiving the audio signals by the audio receiving device; transmitting the audio signals to the motherboard via the connection between the audio receiving device and the motherboard; outputting the audio signals from an output port; receiving the audio signals by an input port; recording the audio signals as a recorded audio data file; comparing the two audio data file; and reporting a test result indicating that the connection is in good condition if the two audio data files are identical.