Abstract: The present invention discloses a push button device for releasing a locking mechanism by utilizing a gear wheel engaging a pair of gear faces to assist in the pulling of drive cables for releasing a lock mechanism. The present invention novel push button device can be used in any mechanical devices that has a need for releasing a locking mechanism, and is particularly suitable for use in retractable handle systems for wheeled luggages.

Abstract: A locking means for locking an inner tube to an outer tube by using a vertical sliding block and a horizontal sliding block which are intimately matched together so that a vertical motion of the vertical sliding block can be transformed into a horizontal motion of a locking pin for locking or unlocking the tubes is disclosed. The invention further discloses a retractable pull-handle system that contains such a locking mechanism for use on wheeled luggage cases. Inclined surfaces are provided on the vertical and the horizontal sliding blocks such that when they are intimately mated together in a lock housing, vertical movement of a pull cable can be converted to horizontal movement of a locking pin.

Abstract: A lighting control system (LCS) (50) is provided to remotely and centrally control the operation of lamps and other electrical appliances. The LCS (50) includes a master controller (100), zone controllers (110), slave units (120), an IR controller (160). The master controller (100), zone controllers (110), and slave units (120) are electrically linked together over a common powerline through a process of installation. A process of verification is provided to confirm that the master controller (100), zone controllers (110), and slave units (120) are installed properly. The slave units (120) are further linked with a corresponding electrical appliance. Appropriate commands applied by a user of the LCS (50) to the master controller (100), the zone controllers (110), the slave units (120), and the IR controller (160) control the operation of electrical appliances individually or collectively. The LCS (50) allows the program and recall of configurations of operating levels of the electrical appliances.

Abstract: An error sensing method for increasing error control accuracy and efficiency of a data block having a plurality of ECC (error control code) coded words transmitted through a communication media, the method comprising the steps of:(1) inserting a plurality of sensing bits into one or more predetermined positions within the data block;(2) modulating and transmitting the data block to the communication media;(3) receiving and demodulating the data block from the communication media;(4) extracting the sensing bits out of the received data block and calculating a BER by using the extracted sensing bits; and(5) requesting for retransmission if the BER of the received data block is worse than a predetermined BER1 which is approximately equal to the ratio of the number of maximum detectable errors of the ECC to the number of bits contained in one ECC coded word.

Abstract: A pull handle assembly of a wheeled suitcase which can prevent its lower end from wobbling is disclosed in the present invention. The pull handle assembly comprises one elongated tube mounted in the suitcase having a rectangular channel in it and a pull handle telescopingly received within the channel of the tube. The pull handle comprises an elongated rod member having an upper end and a lower end, a gripping handle installed on the upper end of the rod member for hand gripping, and a rectangular rod guide installed on the lower end of the rod member for guiding the pull handle within the channel. The pull handle assembly further comprises a rod detention means installed under the upper opening of the channel for holding the rod guide of the pull handle to the channel, and three flaps installed on three sides of the rectangular channel next to the rod detention means for restricting the rod guide from wobbling laterally within the channel when the rod guide is being held by the rod detention means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a gain control system for handling periodic noises to facilitate receiving of data signals in a noisy environment such as a powerline. The gain control system includes a period detector for detecting periods of the periodic noises and generating a SYNC signal for each detected period; a signal converter for digitizing the input signals; signal analyzing means for analyzing the digitized input signals received between two SYNC signals and generating a gain control table for flattening the periodic noises contained between two SYNC signals; a gain controller for amplifying the input signals; and a control signal generator for generating a sequence of gain control signals according to the gain control table after each SYNC signal to control the gain controller whereby the periodic noises contained between each pair of SYNC signals are flattened by the gain controller.