Abstract: New and useful concepts for an autofocus system and method are provided. A basic concept uses fringe projection in an autofocus system and method. A further aspect provides spatial filtering concepts for the fringe projection concept. In yet another aspect, the fringe projection autofocus system and method is provided with temporal phase shifting using no moving parts. In a still further aspect, the fringe projection autofocus system and method is provided with unambiguous height measurement concepts.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring of performance of a mirror array of a digital scanner with a use of a lateral shearing interferometer (operated in either static or a phase-shifting condition) to either simply identify problematic pixels for further troubleshooting or measure the exact magnitude of the mirror's deformation.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a quantum device includes a first set of protrusions formed on a substrate and a second set of protrusions formed on a qubit chip. In the embodiment, the quantum device includes a set of bumps formed on an interposer, the set of bumps formed of a material having above a threshold ductility at a room temperature range, wherein a first subset of the set of bumps is configured to cold weld to the first set of protrusions and a second subset of the set of bumps is configured to cold weld to the second set of protrusions.

Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for facilitating network speed testing on behalf of a client device that is in communication with a management service. A network testing profile can be obtained which specifies a network testing schedule for execution of a network test with a network testing endpoint. The client device can generate a test result associated with the network testing schedule based upon an exchange of at least one test packet with the network testing endpoint. In an instance in which it is determined that a network speed between the client device and the network testing endpoint fails to meet a threshold, an amount of network bandwidth usage by the client device can be reduced.

Abstract: Fringe-projection autofocus system devoid of a reference mirror. Contributions to error in determination of a target surface profile caused by air non-uniformities are measured based on multiple measurements of the target surface performed at different wavelengths, and/or angles of incidence, and/or grating pitches and subtracted from the measured profile, rendering the system substantially insensitive to presence of air turbulence. Same optical beams forming a fringe irradiance pattern on target surface are used for measurement of the surface profile and reduction of measurement error by the amount attributed to air turbulence.

Abstract: A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.

Abstract: Systems and/or techniques associated with a sandwich-parallel micro-battery are provided. In one example, a device comprises a first battery and a second battery. The first battery comprises a first surface and a second surface. The second surface is smaller than the first surface. The second battery comprises a third surface and a fourth surface. The fourth surface is smaller than the third surface. Furthermore, the fourth surface is mechanically coupled to the second surface of the first battery. The third surface of the second battery and the first surface of the first battery comprise a conductive contact that electrically couples the first battery and the second battery.

Abstract: Disclosed are various examples for facilitating network speed testing on behalf of a client device that is associated with an enterprise. In a client device that can be a managed device managed by a management service, a network testing profile can be obtained which specifies a testing schedule as well as a network testing endpoint with which network testing can be conducted. Results of the network speed test can be transmitted to the management service, which can determine if the network speed implicates a compliance rule associated with the client device or an enterprise with which the client device is associated.

Abstract: A station uses cleaning mechanisms to clean sensors of mobile robots. The mobile robots may use data from the sensors to navigate around an environment such as an inventory warehouse. A sensor of a mobile robot can become dirty over time as dust or other debris accumulates on the sensor. Since the mobile robots can navigate to a station for automatic sensor cleaning, a human does not need to manually clean the sensors. Multiple mobile robots may share one or more stations in the environment and coordinate a schedule to have their sensors cleaned. The stations may also charge a battery of a mobile robot simultaneously while cleaning the mobile robot's sensors.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to facilitating voice and video communication between users independent of a location or a device. A communication request can specify users, who may be identified and located in their respective environments. For example, users can be identified and located using facial recognition imaging techniques and/or by monitoring a radio frequency (RF) signal associated with a device that is carried or worn by a user. After determining a location of a user, individual devices can be configured as a functionally grouped device to allow the users to communicate. For example, capabilities of a television, microphone, speaker, and imaging device can be combined to allow a video communication between users. Further, as a user moves around his or her environment, the location of the user can be tracked and additional functionally grouped devices can be provided for seamless communication.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring of performance of a mirror array of a digital scanner with a use of light, illuminating the mirror array at grazing (off-axis) incidence, and an optical imaging system that includes a lateral shearing interferometer (operated in either static or a phase-shifting condition) during and without interrupting the process of exposure of the workpiece with the digital scanner, to either simply identify problematic pixels for further troubleshooting or measure the exact magnitude of the deformation of a mirror element of the mirror array.

Abstract: Devices and methods that can facilitate hybrid under-bump metallization components are provided. According to an embodiment, a device can comprise an under-bump metallization component that can comprise a superconducting interconnect component and a solder wetting component. The device can further comprise a solder bump that can be coupled to the superconducting interconnect component and the solder wetting component. In some embodiments, the superconducting interconnect component can comprise a hermetically sealed superconducting interconnect component.

Abstract: An encoder head configured for use with a lithographic exposure tool. The head is devoid of the multiplicity of optical corner-cubes and includes, instead, a single, geometrically substantially perfect cuboid of optically-isotropic material complemented, in operation, with a birefringent lens to form a contraption that, as a unit, splits a single beam of light delivered to the contraption into four measurement (sub-)beams of light (two in xz-plane, two in yz-plane) and causes each of measurement sub-beams to interact with the wafer-stage diffraction grating at the same location twice: upon the first pass by the grating and upon the second pass by the grating.

Abstract: A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.

Abstract: An encoder head configured for use with a lithographic exposure tool. The head is devoid of a multiplicity of stand-alone optical retroreflectors.

Abstract: An encoder head configured for use with a lithographic exposure tool.

Abstract: A warehouse storage and retrieval system including an array of multilevel storage racks having at least one transfer deck, picking isles and storage areas disposed along picking isles, the storage areas being configured to hold differing loads, and a controller including a management module configured to variably size the storage areas of the array of multilevel storage rack modules and assign each of the variably sized storage areas to a corresponding one of the differing loads, wherein the storage and retrieval system is arranged to transport the differing loads for placement in the variably sized storage areas assigned by the controller.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for providing introductory content before presentation of primary content. The introductory content engages the user's attention while the primary content is prepared for presentation and may improve the user experience. User input responsive to the introductory content may be used to indicate a point of interest within the primary content. Subsequent presentation of the primary content may begin at the point of interest or a point based at least in part on the point of interest.

Abstract: System and method for profiling of a surface with lateral scanning interferometer the optical axis of which is perpendicular to the surface. In-plane scanning of the surface is carried out with increments that correspond to integer number of pixels of an employed optical detector. Determination of height profile of a region-of-interest that is incomparably larger than a FOV of the interferometer objective is performed in time reduced by at least an order of magnitude as compared to time required for the same determination by a vertical scanning interferometer.

Abstract: Traditional home-automation systems utilize a single hub for controlling secondary devices within a home. The techniques described herein, meanwhile, utilize multiple hubs within the environment and/or located remotely from the environment. For instance, an environment may include multiple electronic devices, each configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. In addition, a remote service may be configured to control one or more secondary devices within the environment. As such, each controlling device stores and executes an instance of a control engine, rather than relying on a single instance of a control engine located at a single controlling hub.