Abstract: The present invention provides a hollow track ball which includes a first hemispherical shell having a first annular end having thereon a plurality of positioning studs, and a second hemispherical shell having a second annular end having thereon a plurality of positioning holes for respectively engaging with the plurality of positioning studs so as to result in a hollow track ball. A method for manufacturing such a track ball includes steps of a) providing a first hemispherical shell having a first annular end having thereon a plurality of positioning studs, and providing a second hemispherical shell having a second annular end having thereon a plurality of positioning holes, and b) causing the plurality of positioning studs and the plurality of positioning holes to engage with each other so as to result the respective hemispherical shells in the hollow track ball. Such a hollow track ball not only avoids the conventional slant joint seam, but also greatly reduces the reject rate of the products.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a cursor control device which includes a ball housing for accommodating therein a ball, a grid wheel device driven by the ball for intermittently passing therethrough a light to control a movement of a cursor, a wheel shaft device engaged with the grid wheel device and driven by the ball for transmitting the grid wheel, and an urging device engaged with the wheel shaft device for urging the wheel shaft device against the ball to assure that the grid wheel device can rotate synchronously with the ball. The present invention utilizes the urging device to exert a force on the wheel shaft device so that the transmission roller device can be urged against the ball to facilitate the close contact between the transmission roller device and the ball rather than be passively contacted by the ball.

Abstract: An optical rotation encoder for an X-Y direction input device includes a light source for emitting therefrom a light, a pair of substantially vertically aligned light responsive elements for receiving the light, and a circular code wheel mounted between the light source and the light responsive elements, provided thereon plural equiangularly distributed apertures every adjacent two of which have a shielding sectorial area and having a first desired distance with respect to the light source and a second desired distance with respect to the light responsive elements for obtaining an X-Y displacement of the input device by plural pulses resulting from the light which is to be received by the light responsive elements and passes through the apertures to be intermittently projected on the light responsive elements when the circular code wheel is in a rotating motion, wherein the light source is a point light source and either the aperture or shielding sectorial area has a width smaller than a combined width of the

Abstract: The present invention provides a double function-mode scanner. It includes a scanner body scanning a content of an article to be scanned, and a feeder connected to the scanner body to have the article transmitted through a passage between the scanner body and the feeder so that the content of the article can be scanned and having a light source for allowing the sheet-feed scanner to perform not only a reflection-mode scanning but a penetration-mode scanning.

Abstract: The present invention relating to a feeder adapted to be used with a scanner for feeding for the scanner an article comprises a shell adapted to mount therewith the scanner, a driving device for feeding for the scanner the article, an adjusting device contained in the shell to adjust a height of a passage through which the article can pass to be scanned by the scanner according to a thickness of the article, and a floating box contained in the shell and mounting therein the driving device.

Abstract: An apparatus having dual modes and adapted to control a position of a cursor on a display screen comprises a ball capable of being put in a rotation for determining the position, a roller device in contact with the ball to detect the rotation of the ball, a shell having thereon an opening to protrude therefrom the ball and accommodating therein the ball and the roller device, and a cover mounted on and connected to the shell, extractable therefrom to shield the ball from being inadvertently contacted, and retractable to be received therein to permit the apparatus to be normally used. This invention provides a simple apparatus capable of functioning as either a track ball or a mouse used for controlling a cursor on a display screen, e.g. a monitor.

Abstract: An automatic multiple personal computer/computer printer connecting system is used to connect a plurality of personal computers to a plurality of computer printers, and includes a transmitter interface circuit connected to each personal computer and a receiver interface circuit connected to each computer printer. The connecting system permits several personal computers to commonly share several computer printers.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a light source which illuminates a document being scanned, a reflex mirror set receiving a first light signal which results from light rays that are reflected by the document and a lens barrel which has an imaging lens arranged therein and which receives the first light signal from the reflex mirror set. A flexible optical transmission element has an input end provided in close proximity with the light source so as to receive a second light signal therefrom. A line image sensor is disposed adjacent to the lens barrel and receives the first light signal from the reflex mirror set and the second light signal from the optical transmission element. The line image sensor generates an image scan signal which corresponds to the first light signal and a brightness reference signal which corresponds to the second light signal. A signal compensation circuit receives the image scan signal and the brightness reference signal from the line image sensor.

Abstract: A handheld image scanner is provided with a driving motor to permit manual or automatic transverse scanning movement. Stable and proper linear movement of the handheld image scanner is ensured when movement of the handheld image scanner is automatically controlled. The voltage supply to the driving motor can be adjusted so as to obtain the preferred scanning speed for a desired degree of resolution. The handheld image scanner is to be electrically connected to a computer which receives digital scan data from the image scanner. A transistor unit, which is connected in series to the driving motor, is controlled by the computer so as to interrupt current supply to the driving motor when the computer is not ready to receive additional scan data. Scanning is thus stopped and is resumed only when the computer is able to receive more scan data.