Abstract: Neutron-detecting structures and methods of fabrication are provided which include: a substrate with a plurality of cavities extending into the substrate from a surface; a p-n junction within the substrate and extending, at least in part, in spaced opposing relation to inner cavity walls of the substrate defining the plurality of cavities; and a neutron-responsive material disposed within the plurality of cavities. The neutron-responsive material is responsive to neutrons absorbed for releasing ionization radiation products, and the p-n junction within the substrate spaced in opposing relation to and extending, at least in part, along the inner cavity walls of the substrate reduces leakage current of the neutron-detecting structure.

Abstract: An image transmitting device for transmitting an image from an image source device to an image output device includes a second USB interface, an image receiver, a first memory, a wireless transmitter, a processor, and a switch. The image source device includes a first USB interface, and the image output device includes a wireless receiver. The second USB interface is connected to the first USB interface by a cable. The image receiver is used for receiving the image from the image source device. The first memory is used for storing the image received by the image receiver. The wireless transmitter is used for communicating with the wireless receiver and for transmitting the image from the first memory to the image output device. The switch is used for switching on or off the power voltage of the second USB interface and for driving the processor to switch on or off the image receiver.

Abstract: An image transmitting device for transmitting an image from an image source device to an image output device includes a second connecting interface, an image receiver, a first memory, a wireless transmitter, a processor, and a switch. The image source device includes a first connecting interface, and the image output device includes a wireless receiver. The second connecting interface is connected to the first connecting interface by a cable. The image receiver is used for receiving the image from the image source device. The first memory is used for storing the image received by the image receiver. The wireless transmitter is used for communicating with the wireless receiver and for transmitting the image from the first memory to the image output device. The switch is used for switching on or off the second connecting interface and for driving the processor to switch on or off the image receiver.

Abstract: A wireless remote-control cooler assembly adapted to be used with a motherboard include a fan, and a circuit unit electrically connected with the fan and adapted to be electrically connected with the motherboard for obtaining power supply from the motherboard. A first signal transceiver module is electrically connected to the circuit unit and provided with a first transmitter for transmitting a feedback signal indicating the operation status of the fan, and a first receiver. A second signal transceiver module is adapted to be electrically connected to the motherboard and provided with a second receiver for receiving the feedback signal, and a second transmitter for transmitting a control signal to the first receiver to regulate the operation status of the fan via the circuit unit.

Abstract: An image browsing method includes: detecting a movement corresponding to a user input to generate a detecting variation; checking if the detecting variation is greater than a predetermined threshold value; when the detecting variation is greater than the predetermined threshold value, displaying an animation indicative of completely turning a page for showing a target image instead of a current image in order to allow browsing of the target image; and when the detecting variation is not greater than the predetermined threshold value, displaying the current image for browsing of the current image.

Abstract: A display apparatus for displaying digital images includes a first housing, a second housing, a hinge, a digital image source and a plurality of display units. The hinge is coupled to the first housing and the second housing, and allows the first housing and the second housing to rotate with respect to each other. The digital image source is for supplying a plurality of digital images. The plurality of display units are positioned on the first housing and the second housing, respectively, are coupled to the digital image source, and display the plurality of digital images supplied by the digital image source.

Abstract: A wire connecting device is adapted for connecting a plurality of wires, and includes a base seat having at least one mounting portion, a cover body coupled to the base seat and covering the mounting portion, a conducting unit, and a resilient pusher unit. The conducting unit is disposed between the base seat and the cover body, and includes at least one conductive plate that is mounted on the at least one mounting portion and that has a first through hole and at least one second through hole. Each of the first and second through holes is adapted for extension of an exposed conductor of a respective one of the wires into the corresponding first or second recess in the base seat. The resilient pusher unit is provided between the cover body and the conducting unit, and cooperates with the conducting unit to clamp the wires therebetween.

Abstract: A method of registering the position of a ribbon by moving the ribbon with a constant angular velocity and detecting the amount of ribbon used in a photo printer. The ribbon includes dye regions each having several dye frames, and black bar regions each prior to a dye region. The first dye frame of each dye region is registered after each black bar region is detected. The amount of ribbon used is determined based on the moved time of the black bar region. And while one of the dye frames is finished printing, the required time for moving the ribbon to register the start position of the subsequent dye frame is obtained based on the moved time of the black bar region, the length of the printed part of the dye frame, and the length from non-printed part of the dye frame to the subsequent dye frame.

Abstract: A method of registering the position of a ribbon by moving the ribbon with a constant angular velocity and detecting the amount of ribbon used in a photo printer. The ribbon includes dye regions each having several dye frames, and black bar regions each prior to a dye region. The first dye frame of each dye region is registered after each black bar region is detected. The amount of ribbon used is determined based on the moved time of the black bar region. And while one of the dye frames is finished printing, the required time for moving the ribbon to register the start position of the subsequent dye frame is obtained based on the moved time of the black bar region, the length of the printed part of the dye frame, and the length from non-printed part of the dye frame to the subsequent dye frame.

Abstract: A method for generating a watermark on a photo picture using a thermal printer. The thermal printer includes a thermal printhead for heating an ink ribbon and sublimating color dyes stored in the ink ribbon on a photo picture. The ink ribbon includes a plurality of sequentially arranged color frames. Each color frame includes a plurality of dye frames with different color dyes and a dye frame with overcoating. The method includes using the thermal printhead to heat a color frame with a plurality of different color dyes and to sublimate the color dyes on a photo picture and using the thermal printhead to heat the dye frame with the overcoating and to heat different areas on the color frame by two distinct time periods.

Abstract: A color printer with a single photo sensor for detecting the position of the ink ribbon. A single photo sensor is place so that it can detect transparent and opaque sections of the ink ribbon. The ribbon winds at a constant speed, so the pattern of transparent and opaque sections periodically repeats. The controller can use the periodicity of the transparent and opaque sections to calculate which dye frame the print head is positioned over. Using this information, the printer can advance the ink ribbon to the desired dye frame for printing onto the photo paper.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a color of a printing ribbon includes providing a printing ribbon having a repeated sequence of dyed and undyed regions such that output of a photosensor sensing the ribbon is a low or high level based on a threshold. The method includes illuminating a sensing area of the ribbon, moving the ribbon relative to the sensing area, measuring output of the photosensor over time as the ribbon moves, correlating output of the photosensor to the repeated sequence as the ribbon moves to determine the color of the ribbon under the print head, and setting operational parameters of the printer and print head according to the color of the ribbon under the print head. The repeated sequence is unprintable black dye, yellow dye with undyed ribbon, magenta dye, undyed ribbon, cyan dye, and transparent overcoating with undyed ribbon.

Abstract: A method that prevents a printer from repeatedly printing to a document is disclosed. The printer includes a sensor, and the printer is capable of receiving the document and printing data onto the document. When the printer prints to the document, the printer can also print a printing sign onto the document. The method includes, after the printer has received the document, using the sensor to detect whether the document has the printing sign. If the document does not have the printing sign, the printer starts to print data onto the document. If the document has the printing sign, the printer ejects the document without printing to it.

Abstract: A method for detecting validity of paper with a printer is disclosed. The printer includes a scanning device. The method includes using the scanning device to scan marks on the paper before printing to the paper, and comparing output signals generated by the scanning device with predetermined signals so as to determine whether the paper is capable of being used in the printer.

Abstract: A method for generating a matte finish on a photo picture using a thermal printer includes using the thermal printhead to heat different areas of an overcoating dye frame of an ink ribbon by at least two distinct time periods to dispose overcoating on the photo picture. The two distinct time periods are a first time period and a second time period; the first time period disposing thicker layer of overcoating than the second time period. A matte finish pattern of overcoating comprises a two-dimensional array of cells wherein each cell is heated by either the first time period or the second time period based on a substantially random probability.

Abstract: A method for generating a watermark on a photo picture using a thermal printer. The thermal printer includes a thermal printhead for heating an ink ribbon and sublimating color dyes stored in the ink ribbon on a photo picture. The ink ribbon includes a plurality of sequentially arranged color frames. Each color frame includes a plurality of dye frames with different color dyes and a dye frame with overcoating. The method includes using the thermal printhead to heat a color frame with a plurality of different color dyes and to sublimate the color dyes on a photo picture and using the thermal printhead to heat the dye frame with the overcoating and to heat different areas on the color frame by two distinct time periods.

Abstract: A color printer with a single photo sensor for detecting the position of the ink ribbon. A single photo sensor is place so that it can detect transparent and opaque sections of the ink ribbon. The ribbon winds at a constant speed, so the pattern of transparent and opaque sections periodically repeats. The controller can use the periodicity of the transparent and opaque sections to calculate which dye frame the print head is positioned over. Using this information, the printer can advance the ink ribbon to the desired dye frame for printing onto the photo paper.

Abstract: A color printer includes an ink ribbon having a plurality of sequentially arranged dye regions, each of the dye regions having a plurality of dye frames for carrying dye of different colors, a ribbon driving device for causing the ink ribbon to move in a predetermined direction, a controller for controlling the color printer, and a plurality of optical detecting devices sequentially arranged and mounted adjacent to the ink ribbon. At least two output signals are detected when each of the optical detecting devices senses a dye frame, and each the output signal is defined as a phase. Position of the ink ribbon is discerned by the controller according to the phase and phase-to-phase variation recorded by the optical detecting devices when the controller commands the ribbon driving device to move the ink ribbon.

Abstract: A method for adjusting scanning speed of a scanner according to the data transmission rate between the scanner and a host computer to avoid accumulation of image data in the scanner's memory buffer is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps:(1) initiating a time counter and transmitting a test data packet from the scanner to the host computer;(2) acknowledging the scanner after the test data packet is completely received by the host computer;(3) stopping the time counter and calculating the time used for transmitting the test data packet;(4) calculating a data transmission rate according to the size of the test data packet and the time used to transmit the test data packet; and(5) adjusting the scanning speed of the scanner according to the data transmission rate.