Abstract: A portable automated pipette includes a linear actuator, a flywheel, an optical coupler and a control circuit. The linear actuator has a step motor and is connected to a control circuit. The step motor has a rotor and is connected to a flywheel. The flywheel includes a plurality of apertures formed on an internal surface of the flywheel. An optical coupler is arranged on two opposite sides of the flywheel and is connected to the control circuit. By means of the step motor, the portable automated pipette can monitor the displacement of the threaded rod to accurately control the picking/dispensing volume of liquid. Furthermore, the portable automated pipette can detect whether an aspirator is removed and can alert the user to check whether there is a wrong operation.

Abstract: A video overlay switching apparatus and method utilizes a common video scaler that receives input video data. A programmable switching mechanism, such as a register-controlled multiplexer, receives video information from the video scaler, either scaled video or unscaled video, and selectively routes the video data to any one of a plurality of video overlay generators to facilitate selective display of overlay data on a specified display device. The programmable switching mechanism also facilitates programming of frame buffer space for each display engine, based on which video overlay generator has been selected to receive input video.

Abstract: In accordance with a first mode of operation of the present invention, a portrait image is received from a system device. The portrait image is translated and stored within the graphics engine memory such that it can be displayed on a landscape monitor that has been rotated 90 degrees. Likewise, when portrait data stored within the memory is sent to the system it is translated such that it is sent back in the same format received by the system. In a second mode of operation in accordance with the present invention, a landscape image received by the graphics adapter is stored in the graphics adapter memory without any translation.

Abstract: A portable automated pipette includes a linear actuator, a flywheel, an optical coupler and a control circuit. The linear actuator has a step motor and is connected to a control circuit. The step motor has a rotor and is connected to a flywheel. The flywheel includes a plurality of apertures formed on an internal surface of the flywheel. An optical coupler is arranged on two opposite sides of the flywheel and is connected to the control circuit. By means of the step motor, the portable automated pipette can monitor the displacement of the threaded rod to accurately control the picking/dispensing volume of liquid. Furthermore, the portable automated pipette can detect whether an aspirator is removed and can alert the user to check whether there is a wrong operation.