Abstract: Sensing of scene-based occurrences is disclosed. In one example, a vision sensor system comprises (1) dedicated computer vision (CV) computation hardware configured to receive sensor data from at least one sensor array and capable of computing CV features using readings from multiple neighboring sensor pixels and (2) a first processing unit communicatively coupled with the dedicated CV computation hardware. The vision sensor system is configured to, in response to processing of the one or more computed CV features indicating a presence of one or more irises in a scene captured by the at least one sensor array, generate data in support of iris-related operations to be performed by a second processing unit and send the generated data to the second processing unit.

Abstract: Use of pupillary response to visible light for iris authentication is disclosed. One example involves (a) capturing an initial image of an eye including an inner circular boundary between a pupil region and an iris region and an outer circular boundary between the iris region and a sclera region, (b) determining a first size measurement indicative of the inner circular boundary, (c) responsive to at least the first size measurement, modulating one or more visible light sources to output visible light toward the eye of the user, (d) capturing a subsequent image of the eye of the user during a period of pupillary response, (e) obtaining an iris data record of the user, and (f) comparing the iris data record of the user to one or more registered iris data records to authenticate the user.

Abstract: Techniques for recursively generating a plug-in application recipe (PIAR) are disclosed. A PIAR management application manages a particular PIAR in an active state. The PIAR management application manages PIAR specifications, each identifying a trigger and an action. The action is conditional on the trigger. The particular PIAR includes a particular trigger and a particular action. The particular action includes a child PIAR specification that defines, for a child PIAR, a second trigger and a second action to be executed when the second trigger is satisfied. In response to detecting that the particular trigger is satisfied, the PIAR management application creates the child PIAR.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a tissue resection guide that includes a central body, a first flange and a second flange, the flanges having first and second guide surfaces, respectively, suitable for use in tissue resection. Each guide surface lies on a cutting plane, both planes intersecting interior to the flanges. In the embodiments described, the availability of two cutting planes ensures resections in more than one plane are possible. As a result, bone segments can be removed via a cut on two planes without the need to cut across an entire section of bone on one plane. In some embodiments, an opening exists between the first flange and the second flange to ensure that each resection overlaps. In other aspects of the invention, systems and methods of use for the tissue resection guide are described.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a replacement gate structure on a semiconductor layer of a substrate. The replacement gate structure at least including a polysilicon layer. After forming the replacement gate structure, a gate spacer is formed on the replacement gate structure. Atoms are implanted in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer. The implanting expands the upper portion of the polysilicon layer and a corresponding upper portion of the gate spacer in at least a lateral direction beyond a lower portion of the polysilicon layer and a lower portion of the spacer, respectively. After the atoms have been implanted, the polysilicon layer is removed to form a gate cavity. A metal gate stack is formed within the gate cavity. The metal gate stack includes an upper portion having a width that is greater than a width of a lower portion of the metal gate stack.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a replacement gate structure on a semiconductor layer of a substrate. The replacement gate structure at least including a polysilicon layer. After forming the replacement gate structure, a gate spacer is formed on the replacement gate structure. Atoms are implanted in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer. The implanting expands the upper portion of the polysilicon layer and a corresponding upper portion of the gate spacer in at least a lateral direction beyond a lower portion of the polysilicon layer and a lower portion of the spacer, respectively. After the atoms have been implanted, the polysilicon layer is removed to form a gate cavity. A metal gate stack is formed within the gate cavity. The metal gate stack includes an upper portion having a width that is greater than a width of a lower portion of the metal gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with an electrically conductive gate having an enhanced gate profile. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate that extends along a first axis to define a length and a second axis opposite the first axis to define a height. A channel region is interposed between opposing source/drain regions, and a gate stack is atop the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes an electrically conductive gate atop the channel region. The electrically conductive gate includes sidewalls extending between a base and an upper surface to define a gate height. A gate length of the electrically conductive gate continuously increases as the gate height increases from the base to the upper surface.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided with an electrically conductive gate having an enhanced gate profile. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate that extends along a first axis to define a length and a second axis opposite the first axis to define a height. A channel region is interposed between opposing source/drain regions, and a gate stack is atop the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes an electrically conductive gate atop the channel region. The electrically conductive gate includes sidewalls extending between a base and an upper surface to define a gate height. A gate length of the electrically conductive gate continuously increases as the gate height increases from the base to the upper surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, computer-readable medium, and systems are disclosed for performing automatic exposure control (AEC). In one embodiment, a first digital image is captured while applying a first set of values to one or more exposure control parameters. At least one computer vision (CV) operation is performed using image data from the first digital image, thereby generating a first set of CV features from a set of possible CV features. A mask is obtained comprising a value for each feature of the set of possible CV features. Using the mask, a first measure of abundance is obtained of relevant CV features among the first set of CV features extracted from the first digital image. Based on the first measure of abundance of relevant CV features, an updated set of values is generated for applying to the one or more exposure control parameters for capturing a subsequent digital image of the scene.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for incremental object detection using a staged process and a band-pass feature extractor are presented. At each stage of the staged process, a different band of features from a plurality of bands of features in image data can be extracted using a dual-threshold local binary pattern operator, and compared with features of a target object within the band for a partial decision. The staged process exits if a rejection decision is made at any stage of the staged process. If no rejection decision is made in each stage of the staged process, the target object is detected. Features extracted at each stage may be from a different image for some applications.

Abstract: A method includes outputting, by an information system of a vehicle, for display at a first portion of a display device located at a center console of the information system, a first graphical user interface (GUI) associated with an active application from a plurality of applications. The method includes determining, by the information system, respective relevancy scores of two or more applications from the plurality of applications other than the active application. Each respective relevancy scores indicates a probability that the application will be of interest to a driver of the vehicle while the first GUI is being output for display. The method includes determining, by the information system, based on the respective relevancy scores, a highest ranked application from the two or more applications, and outputting, by the information system, for display at a second portion of the display device, a second GUI associated with the highest ranked application.

Abstract: In some implementations, vehicle data indicating a state of a vehicle is received. A current vehicle context is determined based on the vehicle data. Message data indicating one or more candidate messages is received, with each message having a corresponding display context. It is determined whether a particular message of the candidate messages has a display context that matches the current vehicle context. In response to determining that a particular message of the candidate messages has a display context that matches the current vehicle contexts, the particular message is provided for output on a display of the vehicle.

Abstract: A tissue resection guide for use with a datum includes a base releasably engagable with the datum. The tissue resection guide has a first frame fixed relative to the base and the first frame has at least one integral first guide path that is sized and configured to at least partially capture and guide a first tissue resection tool relative to the first frame.

Abstract: A battery module charging and discharging control method comprising: determining the charging priority of battery modules in a battery system; raising the charging priority of the battery modules that are more difficult to unload, load, and/or replace; lowering the charging priority of the battery modules that are easier to unload, load, and/or replace; causing the battery modules with higher charging priority to take precedence over the battery modules with lower charging priority during the charging control of the battery modules; determining the discharging priority of the battery modules; raising the discharging priority of the battery modules that are easier to unload, load, and/or replace; and lowering the discharging priority of the battery modules that are more difficult to unload, load, and/or replace; causing the battery modules with higher discharging priority to take precedence over the battery modules with lower discharging priority during the discharging control of the battery modules.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a replacement gate structure on a semiconductor layer of a substrate. The replacement gate structure at least including a polysilicon layer. After forming the replacement gate structure, a gate spacer is formed on the replacement gate structure. Atoms are implanted in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer. The implanting expands the upper portion of the polysilicon layer and a corresponding upper portion of the gate spacer in at least a lateral direction beyond a lower portion of the polysilicon layer and a lower portion of the spacer, respectively. After the atoms have been implanted, the polysilicon layer is removed to form a gate cavity. A metal gate stack is formed within the gate cavity. The metal gate stack includes an upper portion having a width that is greater than a width of a lower portion of the metal gate stack.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a replacement gate structure on a semiconductor layer of a substrate. The replacement gate structure at least including a polysilicon layer. After forming the replacement gate structure, a gate spacer is formed on the replacement gate structure. Atoms are implanted in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer. The implanting expands the upper portion of the polysilicon layer and a corresponding upper portion of the gate spacer in at least a lateral direction beyond a lower portion of the polysilicon layer and a lower portion of the spacer, respectively. After the atoms have been implanted, the polysilicon layer is removed to form a gate cavity. A metal gate stack is formed within the gate cavity. The metal gate stack includes an upper portion having a width that is greater than a width of a lower portion of the metal gate stack.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming a replacement gate structure on a semiconductor layer of a substrate. The replacement gate structure at least including a polysilicon layer. After forming the replacement gate structure, a gate spacer is formed on the replacement gate structure. Atoms are implanted in an upper portion of the polysilicon layer. The implanting expands the upper portion of the polysilicon layer and a corresponding upper portion of the gate spacer in at least a lateral direction beyond a lower portion of the polysilicon layer and a lower portion of the spacer, respectively. After the atoms have been implanted, the polysilicon layer is removed to form a gate cavity. A metal gate stack is formed within the gate cavity. The metal gate stack includes an upper portion having a width that is greater than a width of a lower portion of the metal gate stack.

Abstract: A blood glucose meter having a test strip port and an adjustable lancet device disposed at the same end of the device body is disclosed. The device body further includes an enclosure at the proximal end of the device body which houses a test strip storage vial and which facilitates one-handed opening and closing of the vial to simplify access to test strips contained therein. The enclosure is further provided with a window which allows the reading of the lot numbers on the label of the test strip vial therein without necessitating removal of the vial. A data connector is also provided on the device body for communication access, such as to upload data from other devices or to download data to other devices.