Abstract: A method of processing waste lead-acid batteries includes a crushing step, a sorting step, a plastic fragment treating step, and a plastic bit recycling step. Through the four steps, waste lead-acid batteries are turned into lead fragments, high-density plastic fragments, and plastic bits, which are recyclable as reusable materials, respectively. Moreover, waste liquid and waste gas in the waste lead-acid batteries are sent to a waste liquid treating equipment and a waste gas treating equipment, respectively, for further appropriate treatment. Therefore, the method may appropriately recycle useful materials of the waste lead-acid batteries and prevent the waste liquid and the waste gas from polluting the environment.

Abstract: A method for assembling a shoe upper and a bottom unit includes digitally determining a bite line on the shoe upper. The method further includes storing a set of data representing the bite line in a computing device. The method also includes utilizing the set of data to automatically indicate the location of an actual physical bite line on the shoe upper.

Abstract: A motion estimation method and a motion estimator are provided. The motion estimation method includes the following steps of for each respective block of the current frame, selecting a candidate set associated with the current frame and a previous frame, and determining a motion vector according to the candidate set for the each respective block of the current frame. The candidate set includes at least one spatial candidate block in the current frame and temporal candidate blocks in the previous frame. The step of selecting the candidate set includes: selecting the spatial candidate block directly adjacent to the each respective block from the current frame and selecting the plurality of temporal candidate blocks directly adjacent to a reference block from the previous frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inspection apparatus for osseointegration of implants, which comprises an inspection base, a holding end, and an inspection end. The holding end is disposed at one end of the inspection base; the inspection end is disposed at the other end of the inspection base. Beside, the inspection end is disposed on one side of the holding end. The holding end includes a signal processing module and a wireless transmission module therein. The inspection end includes an inspection probe, disposed at one end of the inspection end. The inspection probe includes one or more excitation device and a receiver located on the same side of the inspection probe. According to the present invention, the inspection apparatus detects the condition of an object under inspection in a non-contact manner by using an excitation source. An acquired displacement difference is then transmitted to an electronic apparatus through wireless transmission.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a power converter includes an SR switching device, a light load detection circuit generating a load detection signal in response to a conduction signal and an operation mode signal, and an SR driver generating a control signal having a value according to the load detection signal and provide the control signal to the SR switching device. A method of controlling a power converter includes generating a load detection signal in response to a conduction signal and an operation mode signal and generating a control signal having a value according to the load detection signal. The control signal has a first value when the load detection signal is asserted and has a second value when the load detection signal is de-asserted.

Abstract: A dispersion of IR absorption particles is provided, which includes 100 parts by weight of IR absorption particles, 5 to 30 parts by weight of diblock copolymer, and 200 to 910 parts by weight of water, wherein the diblock copolymer includes (a) first block of and (b) second block of wherein (a) first block is chemically bonded to (b) second block; R1 is H or CH3; R2 is H or CH3; R3 is R4 is C1-10 alkyl group; M? is Na+, NH4+, or NH(C2H4OH)3+; m=10-20; n=2-20; and x=0-4.

Abstract: A thermal equilibrium for building and an energy-saving air-conditioning system using the same incorporates a first energy-recovery apparatus and a second energy-recovery apparatus. The first energy-recovery apparatus includes a first water storage tank, a foundation pile under and connected to a building architecture construction and a first heat-exchanging pipeline connected to the first water storage tank for performing heat exchange with the foundation pile so that the water in the first heat-exchanging pipeline is heated to a first temperature range. The second energy-recovery apparatus includes a second water storage tank, at least one home appliance that generates a first thermal energy during operation, and a second heat-exchanging pipeline connected to the second water storage tank for performing heat exchange with the at least one home appliance so that the water in the second heat-exchanging pipeline is heated to a second temperature range.

Abstract: A Synchronous Rectifier (SR) controller circuit includes a dead time evaluation circuit, an offset voltage controller circuit, an off threshold control circuit, and a comparator circuit. The dead time evaluation circuit produces an indication of whether a measured dead time of an SR switching device is less than a target dead time. The offset voltage controller circuit determines an offset count using the indication, an offset voltage using the offset count, and high and low saturation indicators according to the offset count. The off threshold control circuit determines a threshold count using the high and low saturation indicators and an off threshold voltage using the threshold count. The comparator circuit determines whether a measured voltage of the SR switching device is greater than a virtual off threshold voltage, the virtual off threshold voltage corresponding to the off threshold voltage minus the offset voltage.

Abstract: A Synchronous Rectifier (SR) controller circuit includes a dead time evaluation circuit, an offset voltage controller circuit, an off threshold control circuit, and a comparator circuit. The dead time evaluation circuit produces an indication of whether a measured dead time of an SR switching device is less than a target dead time. The offset voltage controller circuit determines an offset count using the indication, an offset voltage using the offset count, and high and low saturation indicators according to the offset count. The off threshold control circuit determines a threshold count using the high and low saturation indicators and an off threshold voltage using the threshold count. The comparator circuit determines whether a measured voltage of the SR switching device is greater than a virtual off threshold voltage, the virtual off threshold voltage corresponding to the off threshold voltage minus the offset voltage.

Abstract: A pair of chopsticks is disclosed, each of which includes a first body, a second body, and a locking member. The first body has at least one positioning slot, a storage space, and an opening communicating with the storage space. The second body can be completely or partly received in the storage space through the opening of the first body, wherein an outer wall of the second body has at least one protrusion which enters the positioning slot when the second body is in a predetermined position in the storage space. The locking member has a locking portion engaged with the first body, wherein the locking member is controllable to make the locking portion enter the positioning slot to prevent the protrusion therein from leaving the positioning slot whereby the chopsticks are retractable and more portable.

Abstract: A Synchronous Rectifier (SR) controller circuit includes a dead time evaluation circuit, an offset voltage controller circuit, an off threshold control circuit, and a comparator circuit. The dead time evaluation circuit produces an indication of whether a measured dead time of an SR switching device is less than a target dead time. The offset voltage controller circuit determines an offset count using the indication, an offset voltage using the offset count, and high and low saturation indicators according to the offset count. The off threshold control circuit determines a threshold count using the high and low saturation indicators and an off threshold voltage using the threshold count. The comparator circuit determines whether a measured voltage of the SR switching device is greater than a virtual off threshold voltage, the virtual off threshold voltage corresponding to the off threshold voltage minus the offset voltage.

Abstract: A first read operation is performed using a first voltage level to read data from a memory array. An instant bit count corresponding to a number of bits in the data read from the memory array is determined. A recorded bit count corresponding to a number of bits in the data that was written at a time of writing the data to the memory array is accessed. A difference between the instant bit count and the recorded bit count is obtained. Conditioned on determining that the difference is less than or equal to a first threshold value, the data read from the memory array is output using the first read operation. Conditioned on determining that the difference is greater than the first threshold value, a second read operation is performed using a second voltage level that is distinct from the first voltage level.

Abstract: A flyback converter includes a primary-side switch that controls conduction of current on a primary side of a transformer and a synchronous rectifier on a secondary side of the transformer. A synchronous rectifier driver controls the conduction of the synchronous rectifier by adaptively adjusting a turn-off threshold of the synchronous rectifier.

Abstract: A motion estimation method is provided which includes for each respective block of the current frame, selecting a candidate set associated with the current frame and a previous frame, the candidate set comprising at least one spatial candidate block in the current frame and a plurality of temporal candidate blocks in the previous frame, wherein the step of selecting the candidate set comprises: selecting the at least one spatial candidate block directly adjacent to the each respective block from the current frame; and selecting the plurality of temporal candidate blocks directly adjacent to a reference block from the previous frame; and determining a motion vector according to the candidate set for the each respective block of the current frame.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and a method for motion estimation. The motion estimation apparatus includes a candidate set generation circuit and a motion vector (MV) determination circuit. The candidate set generation circuit selects to add motion vectors of adjacent blocks into a motion vector candidate set of a current block of a current frame. The current block and one of the adjacent blocks belong to the same row (or the same column), and the one of the adjacent blocks is a block of the current frame or a block of a previous frame. The motion vector determination circuit is coupled to the candidate set generation circuit to receive the motion vector candidate set. The motion vector determination circuit determines the motion vector of the current block of the current frame according to the motion vector candidate set.

Abstract: A switching converter includes a synchronous rectifier and a synchronous rectifier driver that controls conduction of the synchronous rectifier. The synchronous rectifier driver turns OFF the synchronous rectifier in response to a turn-off trigger. The synchronous rectifier driver prevents the turn-off trigger from turning OFF the synchronous rectifier during a turn-off trigger blanking time that is adaptively set based on a conduction time of the synchronous rectifier.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier driver pre-positions a gate of a synchronous rectifier to allow for fast turn-off. The synchronous rectifier driver turns ON the synchronous rectifier by driving the gate at a high level for a period of time that is based on a previous conduction time of the synchronous rectifier. The synchronous rectifier driver thereafter drives the gate at a lower level that is sufficient to keep the synchronous rectifier ON. The synchronous rectifier can be quickly turned OFF by further reducing the level of the drive signal at the gate of the synchronous rectifier.

Abstract: A memory device includes a memory unit including a plurality of memory cells, and a controller including a storage unit that stores a plurality of operation selections each corresponding to a property of at least one selected memory cell among the plurality of memory cells.

Abstract: A first read operation is performed using a first voltage level to read data from a memory array. An instant bit count corresponding to a number of bits in the data read from the memory array is determined. A recorded bit count corresponding to a number of bits in the data that was written at a time of writing the data to the memory array is accessed. A difference between the instant bit count and the recorded bit count is obtained. Conditioned on determining that the difference is less than or equal to a first threshold value, the data read from the memory array is output using the first read operation. Conditioned on determining that the difference is greater than the first threshold value, a second read operation is performed using a second voltage level that is distinct from the first voltage level.

Abstract: The clock circuit of an integrated circuit operates with variations such as temperature, ground noise, and power noise. Various aspects of an improved clock integrated circuit address one or more of the variations in temperature, ground noise, and power noise.