Abstract: A person identifier and management system is described. The person identifier and management system includes a face image database that stores the face feature data of each of a number of face images and the person-identifying data associated with each of the face images. A camera is also included in the person identifier and management system for capturing an input face image. A face analysis system is then coupled to the camera and the image database to extract the face feature data of the input face image and to compare the face feature data of the input face image with that of each of the face images stored in the database such that the person-identifying data of any stored face image similar to the input face image can be retrieved from the image database. A method of retrieving person-identifying information of an input face image from a face image database is also described.

Abstract: A digital image management system is described that includes a content analyzer that analyzes an image to extract content data from the image. The content data of an image include face feature data. The digital image management system also includes an image database that is coupled to the content analyzer to store pixel data of each of a number of images and the content data of each of the images. A search engine is also provided in the digital image management system. The search engine is coupled to the image database and the content analyzer to compare the content data of the images with that of an input image such that any image similar to the input image can be identified from the image database without retrieving the pixel data of the image from the image database. A method of extracting feature data of a face in an image is also described.

Abstract: A red-eye reduction system is described that includes a masking module. The masking module converts an image into a mask having first state areas representing red color pixels of the image and second state areas representing other color pixels of the image. The image includes an eye with a red pupil. A pupil locating module is coupled to the masking module to locate a substantially first state area in the mask that resembles a pupil. A color replacing module is then coupled to the pupil locating module to change the red color pixels in the area into monochrome (grey) or other predefined colors. The color replacing module also adjusts the boundary of the area by changing the colors of pixels in close proximity to the area if the color of these pixels is determined to be sufficiently close to red such that natural appearance of the eye is maintained when reducing the red pupil. A method of reducing red-eye effect in a digital image is also described.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for a data access networked system (e.g., an Internet/Intranet access networked system) is described. The data access networked system includes a number of data service systems coupled together. Each of the data service systems is independently administrated. The diagnostic system includes a number of diagnostic modules, each running a number of diagnostic tests within one of the data service systems upon receiving a diagnostic request. The diagnostic modules also transmit the diagnostic request and diagnostic results to one another using an open standard communication protocol. The diagnostic system also includes a diagnostic terminal that is coupled to a first diagnostic module of the diagnostic modules to generate the diagnostic request to the first diagnostic module and to display the diagnostic results received from the first diagnostic module. A diagnostic system for a data service system of a data access networked system is also described.

Abstract: A micro-photonics device is described that includes a substrate and a plurality of optical and electrical components mounted on the substrate. The optical and electrical components form a transmitter and a receiver. A wall is mounted on the substrate to physically separate some of the components from other components to prevent electrical and optical interference between the transmitter and receiver. The wall mounted on the substrate may also be mounted with electrical and optical components of the micro-photonics device. In this case, the wall physically separates the components mounted on the substrate from the components mounted on the wall to prevent electrical and optical interference. Moreover, the wall with the mounted components may simply be attached to a side surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A compiler of a predicated code includes a data flow analysis system that manipulates and queries predicate expressions of the predicated code to (1) analyze data flow properties of the predicated code and (2) annotate the predicated code with the analyzed data flow properties. A predicate-sensitive analyzer for a compiler that compiles a predicated code is also described. The predicate-sensitive analyzer includes a scanner that determines local predicate relations of the predicated code. The analyzer also includes a builder that determines global predicate relations of the predicated code. A predicate query system is provided to store the local and global predicate relations of the predicated code and to answer queries about the local and global predicate relations. A method of compiling the predicated code is also described.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for determining the skew angle of a document image without requiring text or other skew detection information in the document or without human intervention. The arrangement accomplishes this by determining an edge of the document image within a scan image and uses that edge to determine the skew angle of the document image. The edge can be determined by locating the first or last document image pixel of each scan line of pixels in the scan image that belongs to the document image. This is accomplished by comparing each pixel of each scan line of pixels with a predetermined scan line of background pixels. The skew angle of the document image is then determined by computing the slope of the detected edge in the scan image. An arrangement of determining the boundary of the document image is also described.

Abstract: A zigzag waveguide device is described that includes at least two optical waveguides converged at a vertex to form a waveguide overlap region. Optical loss in the waveguide overlap region is minimized by including a narrow gap of lower refractive index between the overlap region and each waveguide. This technique is also applied to minimize loss in a region where two optical waveguides cross one another. A mirror or optical filter reflectively couples the two waveguides at the vertex. When the coupling is provided by an optical filter, some range of wavelengths is transmitted out of the zigzag waveguide device, rather than reflected. The transmitted light may be collected by an output waveguide which is wider than the waveguides to minimize loss due to divergence. Light exiting the device may be coupled directly to a photodetector with no intervening optical fiber. In addition, the width of an input waveguide of the zigzag waveguide device is tapered to reduce angular spread of the light in the zigzag device.

Abstract: An image enhancing apparatus is described that includes a filter. The filter enhances the sharpness of an original image in accordance with a sharpening parameter. A sharpening parameter selection system is coupled to the filter. The sharpening parameter selection system determines the sharpening parameter for the filter such that the frequency distribution of a sharpened image of the original image by the filter is similar to that of a low resolution image of the original image. In addition, a method of sharpening an original image is also described.

Abstract: A process of growing a dielectric layer includes a step of heating a gas mixture of at least one gas having a first chemical element of oxygen and a second chemical element other than oxygen to a first predetermined temperature to produce reactive precursors of the gas mixture. The reactive precursors are then introduced into a reaction chamber that houses at least one wafer to grow the dielectric layer on the wafer within the reaction chamber at a second predetermined temperature below the first predetermined temperature. A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of growing the dielectric layer is also described.

Abstract: A method of precisely mounting a planar optical component on a mounting member includes the step of placing a plurality of balls on the mounting member to precisely define a geometric plane. The planar optical component is then placed against each of the balls on the mounting member such that the planar optical component is along the defined geometric plane on the mounting member. In addition, the planar optical component can also be mounted on the mounting member by first forming a groove in the mounting member. An end of the planar optical component is then shaped to match that of at least one wall of the groove. The planar optical component can then be placed in the groove such that the shaped end of the planar optical component is placed against the wall of the groove.

Abstract: A compiler includes a branch statistics data analyzer to analyze branch statistics data of a branch instruction to construct a branch predictor function for the branch instruction. A branch prediction instruction generator is coupled to the branch statistics data analyzer to generate at least one prediction instruction to implement the branch predictor function. A main compiling engine is coupled to the branch prediction instruction generator to insert the prediction instruction before the branch instruction. A method of dynamically predicting a branch instruction of a program is also described.

Abstract: A photonics apparatus is described. The photonics apparatus includes a plurality of components and a mounting member for mounting the components. The mounting member and the components are structured such that all of the components of the photonics module are precisely mounted and aligned on the mounting member without requiring active alignment and additional mounting member. The components mounted on the mounting member include at least a laser, a photo detector, and two spherical lenses. The components may also include an optical filter and a mirror. The mounting member is made of silicon such that a photo-lithographic masking and etching process can be used to precisely process the mounting member to mount these components. The photo detector includes an integrated mirror. The optical filter and the mirror may be integrated together to form an integrated device that is attached to the mounting member. A method of making the photonics apparatus is also described.

Abstract: An integrated photonics device is described. The integrated photonics device includes a photo detector having an active area. A substrate has a side surface intersecting a top surface of the substrate at a predetermined angle. The side surface is reflective. The photo detector is bonded onto the top surface of the substrate with the active area of the photo detector facing the side surface such that light traveling parallel to the top surface of the substrate can be reflected onto the active area of the photo detector via the side surface. A method of fabricating the integrated photonics device is also described.

Abstract: A motion detection scheme is described which periodically sends a plurality of pulsed ultrasonic signals from a transducer to a particular range cell to receive a series of backscattered signals from the particular range cell. The time interval between any two pulses is greater than a largest dimension of the range cell divided by a slowest velocity of motion at the particular range cell. A temporal variation between the envelopes of the signals is then determined to detect motion at the particular range cell. This scheme may be applied at all points in an image, to produce images that depict regions undergoing motion.

Abstract: An image processing arrangement is described that minimizes moire patterns in scanned halftone images of a scanned image while maintaining the resolution of the scanned image. The arrangement includes a filtering processor that has a modified median filter with a specially shaped (e.g., cross-shaped) filter window. The filter window allows the modified median filter to preserve scanned text images of the scanned image when processing the scanned halftone images to minimize the moire patterns. In addition, the filtering processor determines if an image pixel of the scanned image appears to belong to scanned continuous tone images of the scanned image prior to processing the image pixel. The filtering processor does not process that image pixel and the pixel value of that image pixel is left unchanged if the image pixel appears to belong to the scanned continuous tone images.

Abstract: An arrangement for configuring a reconfigurable system having a plurality of resources includes a compiler that configures the resources to implement a functional system in accordance with a user design. A defect database is also provided that (1) stores information indicating which of the resources is defective when the resources contain at least one defective resource, and (2) supplies the information to the compiler such that the compiler does not use the defective resource when the compiler configures the resources to implement the user design. The arrangement also includes a detection subsystem that repeatedly and redundantly tests operational condition of the resources grouped in different groups to detect the defective resources.

Abstract: A system is described that tunes the resonance frequency of a thin film acoustic resonator to a desired frequency after the resonator is fabricated. The resonator has a metal layer in an acoustic path of the resonator. The system includes a substantial vacuum reaction chamber within which the resonator is located. A heater is provided that heats the metal layer to an elevated temperature to either grow or etch the metal layer depending on a reaction gas introduced into the reaction chamber. A control circuit is also provided that controls the heater to heat the metal layer such that the thickness of the metal layer is adjusted to obtain the desired frequency after fabrication of the resonator. Methods of tuning the resonance frequency of the acoustic resonator to the desired frequency are also described.

Abstract: A high refractive index package material is described that encapsulates a semiconductor light emitting chip. The high refractive index package material is transparent to the light emitted from the chip and includes a host material and a plurality of nanoparticles held in the host material. The host material has a refractive index lower than that of the chip and is transparent to the light emitted from the chip. The nanoparticles are (1) formed from a material having a refractive index higher than that of the host material, (2) substantially smaller in size than the wavelength of the light emitted from the chip, (3) included in the host material at such a density that the effective refractive index of the high refractive index package material is higher than that of the host material without decreasing the transparency of the high refractive index package material.

Abstract: An optical submount and a method of making the optical submount are described. A cavity is formed in a substrate. The cavity has sloping side walls. A photonics device is then mounted on the substrate at a predefined distance from the cavity with the optical axis of the photonics device aligned with a diagonal of the cavity. A spherical lens is seated in contact with the side walls of the cavity to have a predefined relationship with the photonics device without light beam obstruction.