Abstract: The present invention provide a high speed spatial density estimation algorithm to estimate defect density maps for blob analysis in an image processing field for inspection. The method of the present invention uses a rotated L1 epsilon-ball neighborhood mask for determining a defect density for each of target pixels to generate a defect density map for defect detection of an object. The present method is capable of providing high detection speed and substantially eliminating influence of the noise from images.

Abstract: A hybrid-resolution panoramic VR generator places High-Resolution (HR) patches from a ring of HR cameras onto a 360-degree Low-Resolution (LR) image from a LR camera pointing upward from the ring into a panoramic mirror that captures the combined field of view of all the multiple HR cameras, but at a lower resolution. Ghosting artifacts caused by parallax errors between adjacent HR cameras are eliminated because object placement is determined by the 360-degree LR image. Each HR image is homographicly projected into 3 projections by grouping objects of different depths to obtain homographic matrixes. The 360-degree LR image is upscaled to HR and a query patch is searched in search windows in the three projections for up to two adjacent HR images. Best-matching patches are weighted by similarity with the query patch and blended to generate a reconstructed patch placed at the query patch location in a reconstructed HR panorama image.

Abstract: A hybrid-resolution panoramic VR generator places High-Resolution (HR) patches from a ring of HR cameras onto a 360-degree Low-Resolution (LR) image from a LR camera pointing upward from the ring into a panoramic mirror that captures the combined field of view of all the multiple HR cameras, but at a lower resolution. Ghosting artifacts caused by parallax errors between adjacent HR cameras are eliminated because object placement is determined by the 360-degree LR image. Each HR image is homographicly projected into 3 projections by grouping objects of different depths to obtain homographic matrixes. The 360-degree LR image is upscaled to HR and a query patch is searched in search windows in the three projections for up to two adjacent HR images. Best-matching patches are weighted by similarity with the query patch and blended to generate a reconstructed patch placed at the query patch location in a reconstructed HR panorama image.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for a first communication device, such as a base station, to estimate a channel-quality profile of a channel when a second communication device, e.g., a user equipment, returns only channel-quality indicators (CQIs) of selected subbands and a wideband CQI. The profile is obtained by including, for any two neighboring frequencies of the selected subbands, an estimated CQI of a middle frequency between the two neighboring frequencies. After translating the CQIs of the two neighboring frequencies into corresponding linear CQI values, a linear estimated-CQI value for the middle frequency is determined by subtracting an offset from an average of said corresponding linear CQI values. The offset is determined according to a frequency separation between the two neighboring frequencies. Preferably, the offset is linearly proportional to the frequency separation. Interpolation, preferably linear interpolation, is used to obtain linear CQI values of other frequencies.

Abstract: A method for reducing paging traffic between a gateway (GW) and plural base stations (BSs) is provided when paging user equipments (UEs). A cache map, which records most-recently visited BSs of selected UEs, is used to limit the number of BSs in the paging of each selected UE, thereby reducing paging traffic. Furthermore, paging requests sent to the same BS node are grouped into one batch in generating a transport-layer payload, reducing the number of generated transport-layer messages. When used in a LTE system, piggybacking paging requests as provided by the SCTP reduces paging traffic and windowing/congestion control overhead at the transport layer. Transmission efficiency is thus improved. In addition, the number of paging requests sent out by the GW node per one paging interval is controlled to be not greater than a pre-determined maximum value to further limit paging traffic for avoiding occurrence of a paging storm.

Abstract: A bio-sensing processor chip acts as an auto-configurable platform to support a wide variety of bio-sensors. Nano-wires with attached bio-receptors for specific bio-molecules, ECG, and SPO2 bio-sensors drive analog voltages or currents to analog inputs of the bio-sensing processor chip. These analog inputs are divided into three sections. An input sensor detector/decoder detects which analog inputs are active and configures an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert first-section inputs to 12 digital bits, second-section inputs to 16 bits, and third-section inputs to 20 bits. An Analog Front-End (AFE) is bypassed for the first section inputs but amplifies and filters second and third section inputs. A Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) sends the converted digital values to a nearby external device using NFC or WiFi transmitters. When no battery is detected, energy is harvested from NFC signals from the external device, and one-shot measurements are made.

Abstract: A low-headroom current driver does not use an op amp or resistor. A sensing transistor having its source connected to a drain of an output transistor senses variations in an output current. The gate, source, and drain voltages of the sensing transistor are mirrored to a sense mirror transistor to control a sense current. The sense current is mirrored to a reference source transistor to generate a mirrored sense current. An error between the mirrored sense current and a fixed reference current is stored as charge on an error-storing capacitor. The stored error charge creates a negative-feedback compensation current that adjusts a gate voltage generated by a feedback-driving transistor. The adjusted gate voltage controls the gate of the output transistor to compensate for the sensed variation in output current. The sensing current is also compensated using a sense-mirror tail transistor connected to the sense mirror transistor.

Abstract: For an ultra dense network (UDN) having small cells of highly overlapped coverages, a user equipment (UE) selects in a handover process a preferred base station (BS) from candidate BSs for minimizing occurrence of handover events. The UE computes finite differences consisting of a first-, a second-, and one or more higher-order differences, according to received signal strength (RSS) values obtained for each candidate BS. A preference level, which is a total number of finite differences having consecutive order numbers, including the first-order difference, and being positive or non-negative, is computed for each candidate BS. One or more favorable candidate BSs from the candidate BSs are identified such that the group of such favorable candidate BSs has the same preference level that is maximum among all the preference levels computed for the candidate BSs. The preferred BS is selected from the group of such favorable candidate BSs.

Abstract: A differential on-chip temperature sensor circuit can be implemented in a standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process using PNP transistors. A pair of transistors have collector currents that are sensitive to voltage, both directly and due to saturation currents. A scaling resistor connects to the emitter of one transistor and its voltage compared to the other transistor's emitter voltage by an error amplifier that generates a bias voltage to current sources that are proportional to absolute temperature since the saturation current sensitivity is subtracted out. The current is mirrored to sink current through a multiplier resistor from an output. An amplifier connected across the multiplier resistor compares a reference voltage to set the DC bias independent of temperature sensitivity. The temperature sensitivity is proportional to the ratio of the multiplier resistor and the scaling resistor, and is multiplied by a mirroring factor. A differential output is provided.

Abstract: Even harmonics are suppressed by a harmonics-reducing bias generator that drives bias voltages to cascode control transistors in series with driver transistors in a power amplifier. A first bias voltage is generated by mirroring pull-up currents in the power amplifier. A p-channel source transistor and a p-channel cascode current-mirror transistor also mirror the power amplifier pull-up current to a midpoint node. An n-channel sink transistor and an n-channel cascode current-mirror transistor mirror the pull-down current in the power amplifier to the midpoint node. An op amp compares the midpoint node to VDD/2, and drives the gate of a p-channel feedback transistor. Current from the p-channel feedback transistor flows through an n-channel cascode current-mirror transistor that generates a second bias voltage. The second bias voltage is adjusted until the midpoint node reaches VDD/2, causing the pull-up and pull-down currents in the power amplifier to better match, reducing even harmonics.

Abstract: A lateral p-n diode in the center of and surrounded by a vertical Silicon-Controlled Rectifier (SCR) forms an Electro-Static-Discharge (ESD) protection structure. The lateral p-n diode has a cross-shaped P+ diode tap with four rectangles of N+ diode regions in each corner of the cross. A P-well under the P+ diode tap is also an anode of a vertical PNPN SCR that has a deep N-well in a P-substrate. The deep N-well surrounds the lateral diode. Triggering MOS transistors are formed just beyond the four ends of the cross shaped P+ diode tap. Each triggering MOS transistor has N+ regions at the edge of the deep N-well and in the P-substrate that act as the cathode terminals. A deep P+ implant region under the N+ region at the edge of the deep N-well decreases a trigger voltage of the vertical SCR.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides an electrochemical analytical apparatus and a method for evaluating performance of electroplating formulations of electrolyte solutions used for via filling. The electrochemical analytical apparatus comprises an electric power generating device, an electrical output signal measurement device, an electrochemical measurement device, and a motion generator. The electrochemical measurement device of the present invention comprises a supporting structure, a cavity, a cavity electrode, and a surface electrode. The electrical output signals of the cavity electrode and the surface electrode are measured during electroplating for calculating a filling performance value. The presently claimed invention provides an accurate, fast and cost effective method for evaluating performance of electroplating formulations, following with choosing the electroplating formulation of the highest FP value for actual microvia filling process.

Abstract: The present invention employs a first step of stationary face recognition, followed by a facial expression test, a continuous movement tracking test, and a 3D perspective check to identify and authenticate a subject, prevent photo spoofing and facemask spoofing, and determining whether the subject is a living person. The method requires a subject to present her face before a camera, which can be the built-in or peripheral camera of a mobile communication device. The method also requires displaying to the subject certain instructions and the real-time video feedback of the subject face on a display screen, which can be the built-in or peripheral display screen of the mobile communication device or mobile computing device. The 3D perspective check uses a single camera to take two images of the subject's face for the calculating the stereoscopic view data of the subject's face.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides an accurate, fast, and cost effective method for determining the additive concentrations of at least two inhibitors simultaneously in an electroplating bath by using different electrical load conditions. The method of the present invention is able to determine additive concentrations of different inhibitors effectively during on-line feedback control for adjusting the amount of additives in the electroplating bath to maintain the additive concentrations within pre-defined limits during device production.

Abstract: An image processor generates a Super-Resolution (SR) frame by upscaling. A Human Visual Preference Model (HVPM) helps detect random texture regions, where visual artifacts and errors are tolerated to allow for more image details, and immaculate regions having flat areas, corners, or regular structures, where details may be sacrificed to prevent annoying visual artifacts that seem to stand out more. A regularity or isotropic measurement is generated for each input pixel. More regular and less anisotropic regions are mapped as immaculate regions. Higher weights for blurring, smoothing, or blending from a single frame source are assigned for immaculate regions to reduce the likelihood of generated artifacts. In the random texture regions, multiple frames are used as sources for blending, and sharpening is increased to enhance details, but more artifacts are likely. These artifacts are more easily tolerated by humans in the random texture regions than in the regular-structure immaculate regions.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a multi-dimensional image detection apparatus includes a touch surface, at least one two-vision image sensing module located proximally to the touch surface, and a control module coupled to the image sensing module. The multiple-dimensional image detection apparatus can detect a foreign object's image with at least two different dimensional modes. A method of multiple-dimensional image detection is also disclosed by reading the image data acquired by the image sensing module and comparing with a pre-stored background data to determine detecting the foreign object under a predetermined dimensional mode.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with estimating a massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) channel. In one embodiment, the transmit antennas are first partitioned into antenna groups each comprising a subset of the transmit antennas such that a pre-determined level of channel-estimation accuracy is attainable. For each antenna group, training signals for estimating a group of channels associated with the antenna group are determined. In particular, the number of the antenna groups, the subset of the transmit antennas for forming the antenna group, and the training signals for the antenna group are determined based on spatial correlations of the massive MIMO channel, a maximum allowable total number of training signals and a transmit signal-to-noise ratio such that the pre-determined level of channel-estimation accuracy is achievable. Advantageously, the number of antenna groups is determined by identifying a highest number of antenna groups under a constraint that the pre-determined level is achievable.

Abstract: A correcting asynchronous Successive-Approximation Register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) detects and corrects metastability errors. An analog signal is synchronously sampled by a system clock, but data bits are converted asynchronously. A valid detector compares true and complement outputs of a comparator that compares the sampled voltage to a DAC voltage generated from digital test value from the SAR. Once the true and complement outputs diverge past logic thresholds, the valid detector activates a VALID signal indicating that comparison is completed. The compare result is then latched in as a data bit and the SAR advances to the next test value. Once all bits have been converted, an End-of-Conversion (EOC) is signaled. If the EOC does not occur by the end of the system clock, a metastability error is detected. The current bit that never finished comparison is forced high and all other unconverted bits are forced low.

Abstract: An all-solid, single-body unit for calibrating a pulse oximeter that uses probe light beams is provided. A bulk of the unit is substantially composed of a mixture of materials comprising one or more polymer materials that form a flexible solid medium for the bulk of the unit, one or more scattering materials for scattering the probe light beams, and one or more dye materials for attenuating the probe light beams. The flexible solid medium enables a pulsatile rhythmic train of action force received by the unit to be transmitted in the unit during calibrating the pulse oximeter for substantially emulating change of absorbance characteristics of the probe light beams due to pulsing arterial blood. The scattering materials and the dye materials are localized in the flexible solid medium, enabling the unit to be used in calibrating the pulse oximeter without a need for an additional device for further emulation.

Abstract: A system for determining a touch point's location within a user-definable region is provided. The system comprises plural modules. In a set-up stage, a user positions each module to define a peripheral point of the region. Exemplarily, a module comprises a means for detecting alignment between the module and another one, a means for measuring an inter-module distance, and a means for making wireless data communication. In particular, the detecting of the alignment and the measuring of the inter-module distance are configured to be performed without physically connect the two modules together. Hence, a geometric coordinate of the module relative to the other one is determinable without a need to physically connect the two modules. The system can thereby be compactly packed for traveling to give an advantage of high portability to a portable interactive whiteboard system that incorporates such system.