Abstract: A processing device to be used in an inspection apparatus for optical inspection of samples is configured to be used with an optical inspection device, to be communicatively coupled to a user interface, to receive input data from the user interface and/or from the optical inspection device, and to provide output data to the user interface, and to be communicatively coupled to at least one other processing device to allow data transfer. The processing device is configured as a master unit, and the at least one other processing device is configured as a slave unit. The processing device is further configured to provide a data storage for storing data received as input and/or to be provided as output, and to allow the at least one other processing device to access the data storage to store data and/or to retrieve data.

Abstract: A processing device to be used for optical inspection of samples is configured to be communicatively coupled to a camera of an optical inspection device and to a user interface, to receive input data from the user interface and/or from the camera, to provide output data to the user interface, to be communicatively coupled to a storage device, to provide instructions, by accessing instruction data stored at the storage device, for optical quality inspection of samples to be performed by a user via the user interface. The instructions include instructions regarding what kind of optical quality inspection to be performed on which sample. The processing device is further configured to receive quality report data from the optical quality inspection via the user interface, and/or image data of images acquired by the camera, and to store the quality report data and/or the image data in the storage device.

Abstract: Cylinder deactivation is a proven solution to improve engine fuel efficiency. The present invention is related to Dynamic Cylinder Deactivation (DCD) control solution to conventional multiple cylinder internal combustion engine. DCD deactivates all the cylinders within the engine alternatively, dynamically and in a way of keeping thermal balance and mechanical balance between cylinders while keeping best engine overall torque balance. DCD has many advantages over traditional sealed-valves cylinder deactivation. Variable engine displacement, thermodynamic efficiency gain and residual heat recovery are the most attractive features of DCD.

Abstract: The present invention is a second kind of High Efficiency Integrated Heat Engine, or HEIHE-2 for short. HEIHE-2 is a reciprocal combustion engine integrated with both compound cycle and combined cycle. HEIHE-2 comprises triple compound cylinder structure, with the first cylinder and the second cylinder being the primary combustion and/or expansion cylinders; and the third cylinder being the secondary combustion and/or expansion cylinder. Power strokes driven by expansions of different working fluids such as air-fuel combustion products, steam and compressed air, are integrated into one engine block. Triple cylinder structure provides compound expansions of three (3) different fluids as to recover the energies that would be lost with the exhaust fluids or during braking. All of these make HEIHE-2 work around four (4) periods with six (6) different operation strokes. All four (4) working periods contain four (4) different power strokes but only two (2) of them consume the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention is a High Efficient Integrated Heat Engine, or HEIHE for short. HEIHE is a reciprocal combustion engine integrated with both compound cycle and combined cycle. HEIHE comprises twin compound cylinder structure, with the first cylinder being the primary combustion and/or expansion cylinder; the second cylinder being the secondary combustion and/or expansion cylinder. Power strokes driven by expansions of different working fluids such as air-fuel combustion products, steam and compressed air, are integrated into one engine block. Twin cylinder structure provides compound expansions of three (3) different fluids as to recover the energies that would be lost with the exhaust fluids or during braking. All of these make HEIHE work around six (6) periods with twelve (12) operation strokes. Among six (6) working periods involved, four (4) periods contain four (4) different power strokes but only one of the power strokes consumes the fuel.

Abstract: Cylinder deactivation is a proven solution to improve engine fuel efficiency. The present invention is related to Dynamic Cylinder Deactivation (DCD) solution to conventional internal combustion engine. DCD is an energy saving method based on engine thermodynamics and residual heat recovery. It deactivates all the cylinders within the engine alternatively and dynamically, totally different from traditional sealed-valves cylinder deactivation solutions. DCD has many advantages over traditional sealed-valves cylinder deactivation. Thermodynamic efficiency gain, residual heat recovery, high Lambda and “Air-Hybrid” are the most attractive features of DCD. DCD also makes engine displacement variable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical disc recorder laser power control apparatus utilizing two different current sources to solve the problem caused by the contradiction between control resolution and control range. The first current source and the second current source are connected in parallel to a single control output pin. The first current source and the second current source may work independently from each other. The laser driver controls emission power of one of the laser diodes with a driving current supplied from the single control output pin coupled to both the first current source and the second current source. Advantageously, the fine laser power control pitch from the first current source contributes to fine control resolution, while the coarse laser power control from the second current source provides a wide control range for various kinds of laser diodes.

Abstract: The present invention is a second kind of High Efficiency Integrated Heat Engine, or HEIHE-2 for short. HEIHE-2 is a reciprocal combustion engine integrated with both compound cycle and combined cycle. HEIHE-2 comprises triple compound cylinder structure, with the first cylinder and the second cylinder being the primary combustion and/or expansion cylinders; and the third cylinder being the secondary combustion and/or expansion cylinder. Power strokes driven by expansions of different working fluids such as air-fuel combustion products, steam and compressed air, are integrated into one engine block. Triple cylinder structure provides compound expansions of three (3) different fluids as to recover the energies that would be lost with the exhaust fluids or during braking. All of these make HEIHE-2 work around four (4) periods with six (6) different operation strokes. All four (4) working periods contain four (4) different power strokes but only two (2) of them consume the fuel.

Abstract: The present invention is a High Efficient Integrated Heat Engine, or HEIHE for short. HEIHE is a reciprocal combustion engine integrated with both compound cycle and combined cycle. HEIHE comprises twin compound cylinder structure, with the first cylinder being the primary combustion and/or expansion cylinder; the second cylinder being the secondary combustion and/or expansion cylinder. Power strokes driven by expansions of different working fluids such as air-fuel combustion products, steam and compressed air, are integrated into one engine block. Twin cylinder structure provides compound expansions of three (3) different fluids as to recover the energies that would be lost with the exhaust fluids or during braking. All of these make HEIHE work around six (6) periods with twelve (12) operation strokes. Among six (6) working periods involved, four (4) periods contain four (4) different power strokes but only one of the power strokes consumes the fuel.

Abstract: A method for detecting and controlling disc tilt in an optical disc mechanism comprising the steps of (A) measuring a 2-dimensional displacement of an optical lens of the optical disc mechanism, (B) extracting an absolute value of a disc tilt angle in the optical disc mechanism based upon the 2-dimensional displacement and (C) controlling deflection of a tilt moving coil according to the absolute value of the disc tilt angle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for internet feast, or holding feast online. Internet media communications is utilized as feast platform on which the feast is held and feast related information is exchanged. Based on the worldwide speared of internet, feasters from different places could meet, chat, eat and enjoy together online. Many steps for feasting could be implemented and operated online, starting with making invitation, making appointment, making reservation for feast site, searching for menus, browsing food and drink, then making orders, distributing sub-orders, and ending with billing and payment. During the internet feast, food and drink are either served from local kitchen or delivered from nearby kitchen, after the orders are received online by internet food providers. The orders could be originated from one host feast site to multiple guest feast sites remotely.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an optical disc recorder laser power control apparatus utilizing two different current sources to solve the problem caused by the contradiction between control resolution and control range. The first current source and the second current source are connected in parallel to a single control output pin. The first current source and the second current source may work independently from each other. The laser driver controls emission power of one of the laser diodes with a driving current supplied from the single control output pin coupled to both the first current source and the second current source. Advantageously, the fine laser power control pitch from the first current source contributes to fine control resolution, while the coarse laser power control from the second current source provides a wide control range for various kinds of laser diodes.

Abstract: A device for use in a digital video receiver. The device generally comprising a demodulator circuit, a decoder circuit, a plurality of bi-directional buffers, and a circuit. The demodulator circuit may be configured to generate (i) a first clock signal compliant with a standard interface for the digital video receiver and (ii) a first plurality of data signals compliant with the standard interface. The decoder circuit may be configured to receive a second plurality of data signals compliant with the standard interface. The plurality of first bi-directional buffers may be configured to multiplex the first data signals with the second data signals at a plurality of data interfaces in response to the first clock signal. The circuit may be configured to generate a direction signal at a direction interface in response to the first clock signal to indicate a direction of the data interfaces.

Abstract: A method for detecting and controlling disc tilt in an optical disc mechanism comprising the steps of (A) measuring a 2-dimensional displacement of an optical lens of the optical disc mechanism, (B) extracting an absolute value of a disc tilt angle in the optical disc mechanism based upon the 2-dimensional displacement and (C) controlling deflection of a tilt moving coil according to the absolute value of the disc tilt angle.

Abstract: A circuit generally comprising a tank circuit and an inverter circuit. The tank circuit may be configured to generate a first signal having a frequency of oscillation in response to a second signal. The inverter circuit may be configured to (i) generate the second signal in response to inverting the first signal and (ii) adjust a delay in generating the second signal in response to an input signal to change the frequency of oscillation.

Abstract: A circuit generally comprising a tank circuit and an inverter circuit. The tank circuit may be configured to generate a first signal having a frequency of oscillation in response to a second signal. The inverter circuit may be configured to (i) generate the second signal in response to inverting the first signal and (ii) adjust a delay in generating the second signal in response to an input signal to change the frequency of oscillation.

Abstract: An optical-disk play-back system has a lens that receives a light beam reflected from a data surface of an optical disk. The lens focuses the light on four quadrant photodiodes. The position of the lens relative to the photodiodes is adjusted by a standard tracking control loop. In addition, the sledge position is controlled by a sledge-center-error signal. Since the sledge position changes only infrequently, the center error is a low-frequency signal. A non-linear center-error-generating circuit uses two op-amp stages. Signals from an inner pair of photodiodes are summed and applied to one input of the first-stage op amp, while signals from an outer pair of photodiodes are summed and applied to the other input of the first-stage op amp. The first-stage op amp output an overall error signal that includes high-frequency errors. A high-pass filter removes low-frequency components output from the first-stage op amp. The high-pass filter drives an inverting input of the second-stage op amp.