Abstract: The present invention provides a digital video broadcasting method for updating a firmware image of a device, comprising providing at least two versions of a firmware image, extracting at least one firmware image difference according to the difference between said at least two versions of a firmware image, transmitting a basic version of said at least two versions of said firmware image and said at least one firmware image difference from a regional head end through DVB standard, and updating said firmware image of said device by said basic version of said at least two versions of said firmware image and said at least one firmware image difference.

Abstract: An interactive toy has a microphone, a speaker, a memory for storing a toy identifier, and an interface to provide communications with a computer system. The computer system connects to a server on a network. The interactive toy provides electrical signals from the microphone, as well as the toy identifier, to the computer system via the interface. The interface enables the computer system to control the speaker to generate audible information according to data received from the server. Alternatively, a processor and memory with networking capabilities may be embedded within the toy to eliminate the need for a computer system.

Abstract: A remote-control toy car set includes a toy car, and a remote-control device. The toy car includes a body, a driving device, a stabilizer, a camera system, a sensor, and a first radio module. The remote-control device includes a servo device, a display, a remote-control interface, and a second radio module. Thus, the level indication image is directed toward the inclined direction of the toy car, so that the user can manipulate the toy car to roll in the direction opposite to the inclined direction of the toy car to compensate inclination of the inclined level indication image, so as to guide the toy car to return to the level stable state.

Abstract: An interactive toy has a microphone, a speaker, a memory for storing a toy identifier, and an interface to provide communications with a computer system. The computer system connects to a server on a network. The interactive toy provides electrical signals from the microphone, as well as the toy identifier, to the computer system via the interface. The interface enables the computer system to control the speaker to generate audible information according to data received from the server. Alternatively, a processor and memory with networking capabilities may be embedded within the toy to eliminate the need for a computer system.

Abstract: A portable voice input module that can store data. The voice input module stores personal data relevant to the user. The voice input module can connect to a computer. The computer runs a language processing program that can translate voice signals spoken by the user into computer commands. The computer accesses the personal data stored in the memory of the voice input module to execute the computer commands. The language processing program can automatically update its files and databases by connecting to a server using the internet. The language processing program can also translate computerized documents, such as e-mail, into voice signals and send the voice signals to the voice input device for playback.

Abstract: A remote control toy car set comprising a toy car with a housing having a driving device, a camera system, and a first radio module. The camera system is fixed on the housing for taking images of the toy car in motion and generating corresponding image signals, and the first radio module is fixed on the housing and electrically connects with both the driving device and the camera system. The first radio module transfers the image signals from the camera system and receives radio control signals in order to control the operations of the driving device. The remote control toy car set also includes a remote control device for controlling the toy car. The remote control device includes a display for displaying images, a remote control interface for generating control signals, and a second radio module for transferring both the image signals from the toy car to the display and the control signals from the remote control interface to the toy car.

Abstract: A method of simulating two-way communications over a one-way communications system, enabling an indicator on the transmitter to reflect the manner in which signals from a function key on the transmitter side will be interpreted by an application on the receiver side of the communications system, is carried out by causing a list of current states of the function on the receiver side of the communications system rather than transmitting a signal concerning the current state of the list to the transmitter side. The transmitter side of the communication system is part of a wireless keyboard that does not include a receiver to properly indicate which of two possible states a function of the computer will be in even though the computer has no way of communicating that state to the receiver.

Abstract: A remote control toy car set comprising a toy car with a housing having a driving device, a camera system, and a first radio module. The camera system is fixed on the housing for taking images of the toy car in motion and generating corresponding image signals, and the first radio module is fixed on the housing and electrically connects with both the driving device and the camera system. The first radio module transfers the image signals from the camera system and receives radio control signals in order to control the operations of the driving device. The remote control toy car set also includes a remote control device for controlling the toy car. The remote control device includes a display for displaying images, a remote control interface for generating control signals, and a second radio module for transferring both the image signals from the toy car to the display and the control signals from the remote control interface to the toy car.

Abstract: An information apparatus (IA) has a first storage device for storing a systems program. The systems program is used to control operations of the IA. The IA has a processor for executing the systems program, a communications device for handling communications between the information apparatus and a network, and a read-only storage device for storing a rescue program. When the processor executes the rescue program stored in the read-only storage device, the information apparatus utilizes the communications device to download a systems update program from the network to update the systems program of the information apparatus.

Abstract: A method of simulating two-way communications over a one-way communications system, enabling an indicator on the transmitter to reflect the manner in which signals from a function key on the transmitter side will be interpreted by an application on the receiver side of the communications system, is carried out by causing a list of current states of the function on the receiver side of the communications system rather than transmitting a signal concerning the current state of the list to the transmitter side. The transmitter side of the communication system is part of a wireless keyboard that does not include a receiver to properly indicate which of two possible states a function of the computer will be in even though the computer has no way of communicating that state to the receiver.

Abstract: A method of simulating two-way communications over a one-way communications system, enabling an indicator on the transmitter to reflect the manner in which signals from a function key on the transmitter side will be interpreted by an application on the receiver side of the communications system, is carried out by causing a list of current states of the function on the receiver side of the communications system rather than transmitting a signal concerning the current state of the list to the transmitter side. The transmitter side of the communication system is part of a wireless keyboard that does not include a receiver to properly indicate which of two possible states a function of the computer will be in even though the computer has no way of communicating that state to the receiver.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a pointing device for scrolling a screen image. The pointing device comprises a chassis, a housing having an opening on its top mounted on the chassis, a vertical sensor installed on the chassis below the opening, a plurality of horizontal sensors installed on the chassis beside the vertical sensor, and a control stick vertically installed inside the opening of the housing comprising a top end and a bottom end. The bottom end of the control stick is in contact with the vertical sensor whereas the top end of the control stick protrudes from the opening of the housing and can be horizontally moved within a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom end of the control stick serving as its center. The pointing device further comprises a plate horizontally installed at the bottom end of the control stick with its bottom side positioned above the horizontal sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer joystick for controlling cursor or object movements in three dimensions. The computer joystick comprises a chassis, a control stick vertically installed on the chassis in a rotatable manner, a control stick sensor installed inside the chassis for detecting rotations of the control stick and generating corresponding stick position signals, a joystick handle comprising a vertical slot, and a rotation detector. The joystick handle is rotatably installed on the control stick through the vertical slot. The rotation detector comprises an optical panel fixed on the control stick, and a light sensor fixed inside the vertical slot of the joystick handle for detecting rotations of the joystick handle on the control stick and generating corresponding rotation signals.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an input device for transmitting an input signal to a computer through a game port of the computer. The game port comprises a capacitor and a detecting circuit for detecting a time period needed for charging the capacitor to a threshold voltage, discharging the capacitor when the capacitor is charged to the threshold voltage, and transmitting the detected time period as an input to the computer. The input device comprises a first charging circuit wired to the capacitor for slowly charging the capacitor, a second charging circuit wired to the capacitor for quickly charging the capacitor, and a control circuit wired to the capacitor used for activating the second charging circuit according to the input signal. The control circuit activates the second charging circuit according to the voltage of the capacitor and the input signal so that the capacitor can be quickly charged to the threshold voltage.

Abstract: The invention discloses a computer joystick having two optical sensors to generate vector signals for indicating the current position of the joystick's handle.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical sensing system which uses a plurality of detectors installed at various positions next to an optical panel to generate a position signal for indicating the position of the optical panel. The optical sensing system has an optical panel having a plurality of sensing areas each having a plurality of encoding holes arranged in a predetermined direction, a sensing device having a plurality of detectors for detecting movements of the optical panel corresponding to the sensing device, each of the detectors being corresponded to one of the sensing areas of the optical panel for detecting movements of the encoding holes along the predetermined direction and generating correspondent sensing signals, and a control circuit electrically connected to the sensing device for collecting the sensing signals generated by the detectors of the sensing device to form a position signal so as to indicate the optical panel's position.

Abstract: A quadrature encoding device with slope-triggered digitizing circuit is provided for use in a mechanical mouse. The quadrature encoding device is capable of producing two square-wave signals indicative of the current mouse movement for position control of the mouse cursor on the computer screen. The slope-triggered digitizing circuit includes a delay circuit and an analog comparator, which is capable of generating a first voltage output when the slope of the opto-electrical signal from the photo detector is positive, and a second voltage output when the slope is negative. It is characteristic feature of the quadrature encoding device that the output characteristic of the slope-triggered digitizing circuit would not be affected by any deviations in the output characteristic of the associated photo detectors, and also would not be affected by the ambient light.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical sensing system which uses a plurality of positioning holes to identify the positions of corresponding encoding holes so that an encoding signal can be accurately generated according to each detected positioning hole and all the corresponding encoding holes. The optical sensing system comprises an optical panel having a plurality of encoding holes and positioning holes, a sensing device for detecting movements of the optical panel related to the sensing device, and a control circuit connected to the sensing device. The sensing device comprises a light source for emitting light to the optical panel, a first light detector for detecting the light transmitted through the positioning holes and a second light detector for detecting the light transmitted through the encoding holes. The control circuit converts an output of the second light detector into an encoding signal when one of the positioning holes is detected by the first light detector.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a computer joystick having a removable joystick handle so that users can select a favorite joystick handle when using the computer joystick. The computer joystick comprises a chassis, a joystick mechanism having two shafts and a control handle rotatably installed in the opening of the chassis for interacting with the two shafts, two sensors installed in the chassis for detecting rotations of the two shafts separately and generating corresponding rotation signals, a joystick handle having a locking means installed on its bottom end for removably mounting the joystick handle to the top end of the control handle, and a control circuit wired to the two sensors for receiving rotation signals generated by the two sensors. The joystick handle further comprises at least one control button and an electrical wire having a first end connected to the button and a second end connected with an electric plug.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical sensing system which utilizes two sensors to detect positioning holes or an identification hole of a grid panel. The optical sensing system comprises a wheeled shaped grid panel, a sensing device and a control circuit. The panel has a grid array installed in it, and the grid array comprises a plurality of positioning holes and an identification hole. The sensing device is used for detecting movements of the grid array in left and right directions. The sensing device comprises a light source located at one side of the panel for emitting light, and two sensors located at another side of the panel for detecting the light emitted from the light source through any hole of the grid array and generating corresponding sensing signals. The control circuit is connected to the two sensors for converting the sensing signals generated by the two sensors into corresponding position signals or displacement signals.