Abstract: An expansion station for a personal digital assistant includes a keyboard module, an internal circuit, an interface port unit, a cover module, and an I/O connector. The internal circuit is mounted in the keyboard module and is connected electrically to a keypad unit of the keyboard module. The interface port unit is mounted on the keyboard module and is connected electrically to the internal circuit. A positioning space is configured in an inner surface of the cover module for positioning removably the personal digital assistant therein. The I/O connector is disposed in the positioning space and is adapted to engage an I/O port of the personal digital assistant so that electrical connection between the personal digital assistant and the interface port unit is established via the I/O connector and the internal circuit.

Abstract: A back-end method for photomask making generally includes the steps of inspecting a photomask and repairing each defect on the photomask. The step of inspecting the photomask preferably comprises a defect finder mark implementation routine. In general, when inspecting the photomask for defects, the defect finder mark implementation routine deposits a defect finder mark on the photomask via a mark installer (not shown) included with a mask marking inspection system. Deposition of the defect finder mark includes establishing a location that is adjacent to the defect and establishing a size that is detectable by a mask repair device (not shown). By deposition on the photomask, the defect finder mark reliably facilitates location of the corresponding defect despite variations in image resolution and stage movement between the mask marking inspection system and the mask repair device.

Abstract: A portable computer includes a keyboard unit that is formed with two latch retaining notches, and a lid that is mounted pivotally on the keyboard unit for covering the keyboard unit. Two spring-biased latch members are disposed movably on the lid, and engage the retaining notches, respectively. Whether an unlatching member is moved on the lid in a first direction or a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the latch members move on the lid in the first direction so as to disengage the latch members from the retaining notches, thus permitting movement of the lid for uncovering the keyboard unit. As such, the unlatching member can be operated easily by left-handed or right-handed people in order to open the lid.

Abstract: A method for controlling in vivo heat-inducible gene expression for provision of therapeutic polypeptide. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a construct comprising a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic polypeptide, wherein the polynucleotide is operatively linked to a heat-inducible promoter; (b) administering the construct to a warm-blooded vertebrate at a site at or near the tumor; and (c) applying heat to the site at or near the tumor to express the therapeutic polypeptide, whereby anti-tumor activity is observed.

Abstract: The use of dual-focused ion beams for semiconductor image scanning and mask repair is disclosed. A mask is imaged with either a focused negative ion beam, such as a focused oxygen ion beam, or a focused positive ion beam, such as a focused gallium ion beam. Mask imaging is also referred to as image scanning. Defects in the mask are repaired with the ion beam not used in imaging of the mask. Also disclosed is image scanning being performed with the focused negative ion beam to neutralize potential charge buildup, and mask repair being performed with the focused positive ion beam. An apparatus is disclosed that has a negative ion mechanism supplying negative ions, a positive ion mechanism supplying positive ions, a filter to select the desired ratio of the negative to the positive ions, and an aiming mechanism to focus the ions onto the mask.

Abstract: A notebook computer includes a casing with a slot, communications circuitry disposed within the casing, and a cassette for supporting a portable communications device and capable of sliding within the slot. The portable communications device utilizes the communications circuitry to communicate with the notebook computer, and can be disposed within the cassette for support.

Abstract: An engaging and ejecting device for expansion module/cell of portable computer, including a control member and a switch member pivotally disposed on one side of a housing of the portable computer. The control member and the switch member drivingly cooperate with each other. One side of the expansion module is disposed with a block body. After the module is inserted into the portable computer housing, the control member, switch member and control block drivingly cooperate with each other to engage the module inside the computer housing. When the switch member is pushed outward, the module is ejected out of the computer housing.

Abstract: A portable computer assembly includes a battery module mounted detachably on a keyboard module which includes a keyboard housing formed with a slot that is accessible from bottom and rear sides of the keyboard housing and that has a first electrical connector unit disposed therein. The battery module includes an elongated battery housing with a second electrical connector unit for engaging the first electrical connector unit. First and second mounting units are provided on opposite ends of the battery housing and have cylindrical studs for coupling pivotally with left and right side walls of the keyboard housing. The stud of the second mounting unit is capable of disengaging the keyboard housing when a press button of the second mounting unit is operated.

Abstract: A housing body with a card-retention capability includes a wall that has an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface is formed with an elongate card-receiving recess that has a recess bottom. The outer surface is further formed with a first cover-restricting flange that extends from a front end of the card-receiving recess and that cooperates with the recess bottom to form a cover-receiving slot, and a second cover-restricting flange that extends from a rear end of the card-receiving recess and that is formed with a tool hole communicated with the rear end of the card-receiving recess. The first and second cover-restricting flanges cooperatively form a card opening that is adapted to permit placing of a card on the recess bottom. The inner surface is formed with a cover-manipulating recess to communicate with the rear end of the card-receiving recess.

Abstract: A modular connector assembly includes an insulating connector housing which is adapted to be mounted on a main circuit board of an electronic appliance that has an electronic component on the main circuit board. The connector housing is formed with a connector mating hole, and has a partition wall for defining a front chamber communicated with the connector mating hole, and a rear chamber. The partition wall cooperates with a bottom wall of the connector housing to define a channel for communicating the front and rear chambers. The bottom wall is formed with a plurality of terminal retaining grooves within the connector housing. A plurality of contact terminals have elongated main portions extending through the channel and retained in the retaining grooves. Each contact terminal has a resilient contact portion disposed in the front chamber and a cable connecting portion disposed in the rear chamber.

Abstract: A personal computer includes a display module and a main computer module. The display module includes a display housing having opposite lateral sides that are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, and a bottom side that is provided with an elongate first pivot axle which extends in the longitudinal direction. The bottom side is further provided with a second pivot axle having a retaining portion mounted co-axially and rotatably on the first pivot axle, and a coupling portion which extends from the retaining portion and which has a mounting member provided thereon. The main computer module includes a main housing having a top side, and a mounting block mounted on the top side of the main housing. The mounting block engages detachably the mounting member such that the display module is pivotable relative to and is detachable from the main computer module.

Abstract: The invention described a thermal printer. The thermal printer has a supply reel, a take-up and a pair of motors. Each motor connects with the supply reel and the take-up reel, respectively. A detecting apparatus detects ribbon and the reel parameters while initializing the thermal printer. A memory stores a transforming table which can obtain the driving pulse width of each motor from a radius of the supply reel, a radius of the take-up reel and the ribbon tension. A control apparatus drive each motor with different pulse width according to parameters detected by the detecting apparatus and the transforming table. A thermal print head performs a printing process.

Abstract: An insertion cartridge for hard disc of a portable computer. The cartridge includes an upper cover and a lower cover mated with each other. Two sides of each of the upper and lower covers are formed with at least one fixing plate. When the upper cover is assembled with the lower cover, the fixing plates are firmly overlapped on each other. After the hard disc is enclosed in the insertion cartridge, the insertion cartridge with the hard disc is fitted into the portable computer and electrically connected with the hard disc connector of the portable computer. Then, the insertion cartridge with the hard disc is locked with the internal component of the portable computer. In addition, multiple resilient plates are disposed on two lateral sides of the lower cover. When the upper and lower covers are assembled, the resilient plates contact with the inner wall of the upper cover to serve as contact points.

Abstract: A portable computer includes a mainframe module, a display panel module, a loudspeaker unit and a connecting unit. The mainframe module has a cavity. The display panel module is connected pivotally to the mainframe module for moving between a closed position and an opened position relative to the mainframe module. The loudspeaker unit has a loudspeaker enclosure disposed movably inside the cavity, and a loudspeaker mechanism received in the loudspeaker enclosure. The connecting unit is connected to the loudspeaker enclosure, and is mounted movably to the mainframe module inside the cavity for permitting the loudspeaker enclosure to move outwardly or inwardly of the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring wafers by a robot blade and a method for using the apparatus are disclosed. In the apparatus, a robot blade that is equipped with distance sensors mounted in a bottom surface of the blade is provided which senses the distance between the bottom surface of the robot blade and an adjacent surface below the robot blade such that any possible scratching of the adjacent surface is eliminated. The adjacent surface below the robot blade may be a wafer surface in a wafer cassette, or a wafer pedestal surface in a process machine. The distance sensors are mounted in recesses in the bottom surface of the blade which may be suitably capacitance sensors, ultrasonic sensors or optical sensors. The distance sensed by the distance sensors is analyzed by a controller and compared to a predetermined value of a minimum allowable distance such that any danger of scratching the adjacent surface is eliminated.

Abstract: A portable computer can detachably receive a loudspeaker module which includes front and rear walls, a guided wall interposed therebetween, a loudspeaker unit disposed therein, and a connecting member disposed to extend rearwardly and outwardly of the rear wall and connected electrically to the loudspeaker unit. The portable computer includes a mainframe module having upper and lower major walls, a keyboard disposed in the upper major wall, first and second side walls respectively interposed between the upper and lower major walls, a guiding wall, and a mating connecting member. The first side wall defines a receiving cavity extending towards the second side wall and terminating at an inner abutment wall which is spaced apart from the first side wall. The guiding wall is disposed to bound the receiving cavity, and guides slidably the guided wall so as to bring the rear wall towards the inner abutment wall.

Abstract: A heat-dissipating device is adapted for dissipating heat generated by a heat-producing electronic component inside an equipment housing. The heat-dissipating device includes a heat transfer plate, a heat exchanger pipe and a heat sink. The heat transfer plate is adapted to be mounted detachably on a heat-releasing side of the electronic component. The heat exchanger pipe has a heat exchanging coolant contained therein, a rear end portion connected to the heat transfer plate, and a front end portion. The heat sink has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The second end is coupled non-rotatably to the front end portion of the heat exchanger pipe.

Abstract: A two-dimension unbalance correction device, or a two-dimension balancing apparatus, is designed to correct a rotor by resolving the measured unbalance vector into a horizontal component and a vertical component, and then correcting the resolved components respectively. The balancing apparatus comprises a horizontal and a vertical balancing mechanism in the form of a symmetric correction disc, which is fixed to an end plane of the rotor and synchronously rotated therewith. The correction disc is engraved with a plurality of concentric circles, radial lines, and phase angles for indicating the magnitude and the phase angle of the unbalance vector during the correcting process. The balancing apparatus is further provided with a trial weight bolt, which cooperates with the trial screw for normalizing the linear scale of the correction disc and the vectermeter of the balancing apparatus.

Abstract: A laser diode unit, having advantages of dissipating heat quickly, being capable of protecting itself from being destroyed by an incidental electrostatic or electric voltage, being effective to deal with the operations of aligning, positioning, adjusting, and being easy to be mass-produced. The laser diode unit includes a laser diode element for emitting laser light beam; a mold housing for securing the laser diode element thereon, laser light beams emitting from the laser diode element being capable of penetrating the mold housing; a collimating lens set disposed within the mold housing for collimating the light of the laser beam emitting from the laser diode element; and an adjusting means for driving the collimating lens set to move to and fro within a through bore formed in the mold housing.