Abstract: A pan support for a gas cooker includes a support structure for a container for food to be cooked. The support structure of the pan support has a contact surface for the container and a channel for a flammable combustion gas and air mixture, which channel leads to gas outlet openings.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus to generate audio data for a user, the apparatus comprising: an input device to receive one or more inputs derived from an environment in which the user is located; and a processor configured to obtain an acoustic profile for the environment based on or in response to the one or more inputs, synthesize audio data having audio characteristics corresponding to a sound source in the environment in accordance with the acoustic profile, and output the synthesized audio data for use by the user.

Abstract: An image processing system for an extended reality, XR, device comprising an eye-tracking subsystem, for determining a focus region of the eye, and a processor. The processor is configured to process application data to render image content for an application for display on the XR device, and obtain metadata indicating that a virtual object is to be generated as a hologram as part of the image content for display. Based on a determination that the virtual object belongs to a predetermined class of objects and is to be displayed in the focus region, the processor performs, using a neural network corresponding to the predetermined class of objects, foveated processing of the image content, including at least part of the hologram, such that relatively high-quality image content is generated for display in the focus region and relatively low-quality image content is generated for display outside the focus region.

Abstract: A method to operate a head-mountable processing system, is provided. The head-mountable processing system comprising generating one or more control signals based upon a visual motion of a sequence of images for display by the head-mountable processing system, and transmitting the generated one or more control signals to a plurality of transducers to stimulate a wearer's vestibular system.

Abstract: A method of controlling an imaging system for a Head Mounted Display (HMD) device. The method comprises capturing an external scene, for example using a camera, determining an attenuation pattern, for rendering a filter area. The method also comprises determining, based on the captured external scene, a compensation pattern to for compensating at least part of the filter area, attenuating the external scene using the attenuation pattern and generating a holographic image of a virtual object, the holographic image including the compensation pattern.

Abstract: When processing regions of interest in frames in a data processing system that can execute a plurality of neural networks that are each configured to more optimally process a region of interest of a respective size, a region of interest is first identified within a frame, the size of the region of interest is determined, and one of the plurality of available neural networks is selected to use to process the region of interest based on the determined size. The region of interest is scaled to produce a scaled version of the region of interest, where the scaling is determined based on the selected neural network. The scaled version of the region of interest is then processed using the selected neural network.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus to generate audio data for a user, the apparatus comprising: an input device to receive one or more inputs derived from an environment in which the user is located; and a processor configured to obtain an acoustic profile for the environment based on or in response to the one or more inputs, synthesize audio data having audio characteristics corresponding to a sound source in the environment in accordance with the acoustic profile, and output the synthesized audio data for use by the user.

Abstract: When executing a neural network comprising a sequence of plural layers of neural network processing in which at least one of the layers of the sequence of plural layers of the neural network is followed by two or more branches of neural network processing, each branch comprising a different sequence of one or more layers of neural network processing, the branch or branches to use for the neural network processing following the layer of the neural network that is followed by the two or more branches of neural network processing is selected based on a property or properties of the output feature map from the layer that is followed by the two or more branches.

Abstract: A method comprising: obtaining pose data representative of a pose of a portable device during observation of an environment comprising an object; obtaining distance data representative of a distance between the object and a receiver during the observation of the environment, using at least one radio waveform reflected from the object and received by the receiver; and processing the pose data and the distance data to generate a topological model of the object.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, devices and methods for body pose tracking are provided that are simple, inexpensive, flexible, accurate and robust. One body pose tracking system includes a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and active or passive marker bands. Images and depth information captured by the smartphone may be analyzed using an Inverse Kinematic (IK) model, and, in certain cases, the IK model solution may be augmented by machine learning. Other body pose tracking systems include an augmented-reality/virtual-reality (AR/VR) head-mounted-display (HMD) and/or AR/VR glasses rather than a smartphone. An AR/VR HMD device may include a depth sensor and multiple environment-facing cameras.

Abstract: A neural network system executable on a processor. The neural network system, when executed on the processor, comprises a merged layer shareable between a first neural network and a second neural network. The merged layer is configured to receive input data from a prior layer of at least one of the first and second neural networks. The merged layer is configured to apply a superset of weights to the input data to generate intermediate feature data representative of at least one feature of the input data, the superset of weights being combined from a first set of weights associated with the first neural network and a second set of weights associated with the second neural network. The merged layer is also configured to output the intermediate feature data to at least one subsequent layer, the at least one subsequent layer serving the first and second neural networks.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile device, the method comprising: identifying a first image parameter for an image to be displayed on a display of the mobile device; determining a distance between the display of the mobile device and a user of the mobile device; modifying the first image parameter dependent upon the distance between the display of the mobile device and the user of the mobile device; and displaying an image on the display using the modified first image parameter.

Abstract: An extended-reality system is described which determines extended-reality data to be obtained from the remote network-connected storage based on a location of the extended-reality system. The extended-reality system determines a communication method by which to obtain the extended-reality data, wherein the extended-reality data may be obtained by one or more requests to the remote network-connected storage or by one or more requests to a local device outside of the extended-reality system. A request is sent to at least one of the local device via a peer-to-peer network and the remote network-connected storage in dependence upon the determination by the extended-reality system.

Abstract: When providing augmented reality display to users in an environment, two or more electronic devices operable to analyse the environment for augmented reality display purposes that are near to each other share data and/or processing relating to the analysis of the environment for augmented reality display purposes, with each device then using the data it receives from the other device when providing an augmented reality display to a user.

Abstract: There is provided a display apparatus to focus light for a user. The apparatus comprises a tuneable lens having controllable optical properties, an eye-tracker device to determine a position at which the user is looking, and circuitry to control the optical properties of the tuneable lens to bring an object at the depth of the position into focus for the user. A method of focusing light is also provided. The method comprises determining a position at which the user is looking and controlling optical properties of a tuneable lens to bring an object at the depth of the position into focus for the user.

Abstract: An AR system includes one or more image sensors arranged to capture image data representing a scene located within a field of view of the one or more image sensors, a display arranged to enable a user of the AR system to observe a representation or view of the scene, and an augmentation engine. The augmentation engine is arranged to process the captured image data to determine one or more visual characteristics for the captured image data and to determine, in dependence on the determined one or more visual characteristics, one or more properties for an image element to be presented on the display. The augmentation engine is arranged to present the image element, with the determined one or more properties, on the display to overlay the representation or view of the scene.

Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) comprising a first side for facing a user of the HMD, a second side opposite to the first side, and a reflective layer for at least partially reflecting incident light incident on the second side. At least one processor of the HMD is configured to obtain luminance data indicative of a luminance of the incident light and control a display device, based on the luminance data, to control a luminance of a portion of emitted light directed towards the user of the HMD during the display of the image. Further examples relate to an HMD with a display device configured to emit light of at least one predetermined wavelength range during display of an image by the display device, and a layer arranged to at least partially prevent transmission of the light of the at least one predetermined wavelength range outward from the HMD.

Abstract: An AR system is provided, the AR system including one or more sensors, storage, one or more communications modules, and one or more processors. The one or more sensors generate sensed data representing at least part of an environment in which the AR system is located. The one or more communications modules transmit localization data to be used in determining the location and orientation of the AR system. The one or more processors are arranged to obtain sensed data representing an environment in which the AR system is located, process the sensed data to identify a first portion of the sensed data which represents redundant information, derive localization data, wherein the localization data is derived from the sensed data and the first portion is obscured during the derivation of the localization data, and transmit at least a portion of the localization data using the one or more communication modules.

Abstract: A local object classifier using a set of object definitions to perform object classification in image frames. The local object classifier is arranged to detect an object in an image frame and determine whether to transmit image data for the detected object to a remote object classifier. In response to said determining, the local object classifier is arranged to transmit image data, derived from the image data representative of the image frame, to the remote object classifier. The local object classifier is also arranged to receive object data, representative of the detected object, from the remote object classifier.

Abstract: An image processing system for an extended reality, XR, device comprising an eye-tracking subsystem, for determining a focus region of the eye, and a processor. The processor is configured to process application data to render image content for an application for display on the XR device, and obtain metadata indicating that a virtual object is to be generated as a hologram as part of the image content for display. Based on a determination that the virtual object belongs to a predetermined class of objects and is to be displayed in the focus region, the processor performs, using a neural network corresponding to the predetermined class of objects, foveated processing of the image content, including at least part of the hologram, such that relatively high-quality image content is generated for display in the focus region and relatively low-quality image content is generated for display outside the focus region.