Abstract: Art asset rendering systems and methods in which pre-processing is performed in a compilation process. Geometric data are processed in the compilation process with knowledge of associated shading programs. The data are converted into data structures targeted directly to a target hardware platform, and a code stream is assembled that describes the manipulations required to render these data structures. The compiler includes a front end configured to read the geometric data and attributes (an art asset) output from a 3D modeling package and shaders in a platform independent form and perform platform-independent optimizations, and a back end configured to perform platform-specific optimizations and generate platform-targeted data structures and code streams.

Abstract: A dental implant for anchoring in a bone structure, comprising a head intended to support a dental prosthesis and a threaded root of cylindrical substance, in which the threaded root has an internal cavity and a lateral orifice through which this internal cavity opens out on the external lateral face of the root.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting visitor traffic to a network of web site pages. The systems and methods are used, as an example, to predict the inventory of total available online advertisements available within the network for a forthcoming period. The visitor traffic includes page viewing, listening or transacting on web pages within a web site, wherein the web pages are categorized by subject, interest areas or specific user queries such as word or phrase searches. For each page whose traffic is being predicted, the system takes into account annual seasonality, day-of-week, holidays, special events, short histories, user demographics, user web behavior (viewing, listening and transacting) and parent and child web page characteristics.

Abstract: A virtual world environment is provided having chat clusters. Chat clusters are groupings of avatars of users who are engaged in a closed conversation. Accordingly, a request to initiate a chat cluster is received from a user. Next, the other participants of the chat cluster are identified, and a conversation area within the virtual environment is defined. The conversation area is a unseen demarcated area within which the avatars of the participants are positioned. The conversation area is generated responsive to the number of participants in the chat cluster, i.e., for two participants, the area is small, and for a cluster with many participants, the conversation area is large. Then, the avatars are oriented within the conversation toward each other. If the conversation area is a circular area, the avatars face the center of the circle. When displayed to the users of the virtual world, the avatars appear to be naturally displayed as groups of people having conversations with each other.

Abstract: A sensor platform for use in sample analysis comprises a substrate (30) of refractive index (n1) and a thin, optically transparent layer (32) of refractive index (n2) on the substrate, (n2) is greater than (n1). The platform incorporates one or multiple corrugated structures in the form of periodic grooves (31), (33), which defines one or more sensing areas each for one or more capture elements. The grooves are so profiled, dimensioned and oriented that when coherent light is incident on the platform it is diffracted into individual beams or diffraction order resulting in reduction of the transmitted beam and an abnormal high reflection of the incident light thereby creates an enhanced evanescent field at the surface of the or each sensing area. The amplitude of this field at the resonant condition is greater by an order of approximately 100 than the field of prior art platforms so that the luminescence intensity created from samples on the platform is also increased by a factor of 100.

Abstract: An IR sensing device including a sensing element configured as a three terminal device, a differential signal processing circuit and an electrical connection to the conductive housing.

Abstract: Elements of a sensor system are encapsulated into a single package. The sensor elements are covered with a flexible gel coat and then inserted into a molding tool cavity. Each element may be individually coated with a gel blob, or all elements may by coated with a single gel blob. One or more retractable pins are incorporated into the molding tool and in their normal position are each in contact with the gel. A molding compound is injected into the cavity so as to encapsulate the device and gel coat. When the pins are extracted and the device ejected from the molding cavity, one or more passageways in the molding are left defined by the pins. The passageways expose the flexible gel covering the device elements to the atmosphere. For pressure sensitive elements, the gel, being flexible, transfers the local air pressure to the pressure sensitive element. For optical elements, the exposed gel is preferably removed to allow for the passage of radiation to and from the device elements.

Abstract: A local oscillator and logic circuit pulses the open winding of a brushless DC motor at start up and the back EMF is used to generate a voltage to boost the voltage available to the control circuit for optimizing performance when starting with low supply voltage. As the rotor of a motor rotates and the windings are commutated by the drive electronics there is generated in each winding a voltage caused by the collapse of the current and the inherent inductance of the winding. These voltages exceed the normal operating voltage of the motor. The energy in these voltages is used to generate a regulated power feed to the analogue circuitry of the control circuit at a suitable voltage level. During steady state conditions, when the motor is running, the commutation of the windings is continual and there is ample energy available to power analogue electronics, and, if required, associated digital electronics as well.

Abstract: A simulation module simulates events that may occur during a cautionary period based on, e.g., current relative position of vehicles, vehicle and driver attributes and current game statistics for vehicles, and compiles new statistics and attributes that are used in the resumed race. A full race simulation option and a partial race simulation option are also provided. For example, in a season mode, the simulation module simulates events that may occur during a race and compiles statistics that can be used later, e.g., in a later race, for season standings, etc. A complete race may be simulated, or a partial race may be simulated, for example, if a user desires to terminate a race before it is finished, using the compiled statistics, and a new set of statistics compiled to track the simulated race events. Real world statistics are imported and used in some aspects.

Abstract: Cuvette inserts adapted and configured to fit within an electroporation cuvette. The inserts each include a support structure that holds a porous membrane. When positioned within the cuvette, the membrane is positioned proximal the cuvette electrodes to facilitate membrane-based fusion of cells. In certain aspects, a tube extends through the support structure to allow for application of negative pressure in a convenient location away from electrode contacts and other components of the cuvette or cuvette holder.

Abstract: An in-line programming (ILP) system and method for programming and testing programmable integrated circuit devices (PICs) and performing the assembly of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). Printed circuit boards enter and leave the ILP system on a conveyor system. PICs are loaded into the ILP system, and the ILP system automatically programs and tests the PICs and places them onto the PCBs as the PCBs arrive on the conveyor. The programming and testing operations are performed by the same piece of equipment that performs the PCBA assembly operation.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus are provided that allow episodic delivery of entertainment content to a user. More specifically, an application module is created with episodic content technology, which can be purchased as a CD-ROM or downloaded from a remote server. The application module contains a current episode of the game and a technology shell to allow future episodes to be downloaded and executed. The entertainment content delivery system is implemented through a centralized server that provides new episodes of the content available for downloading at regularly scheduled intervals to the users' computers. The current instantiation of the application module segregates technology components from content components of the application module to allow independent modification of either. Technological advancements are incorporated as they occur into the new episodes and are executed by the application module.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the positions of the discs of a mechanical display by using the shadow cast on an optical array by a profiled cam arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for teaching a location in a device programming apparatus. The X, Y, Z and angle coordinates of a pick and place nozzle are initialized, and the nozzle is moved in the X and Y coordinates to a position above the device in the location to be taught. The new X and Y coordinates of the nozzle are stored to a memory along with the initial angle coordinate. The system automatically determines the Z location of the surface of the device. The nozzle then automatically picks up the device and performs vision centering to determine the X, Y and angle offsets with respect to the initialized coordinates. The X, Y and angle offsets are used to modify the stored X, Y and angle coordinates so as to precisely determine the X and Y location of the device center as well as the device angle with respect to the system's global reference frame.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the magnetic field created by a magnetic target. An arrangement of multiple magnetic field sensing elements and circuit elements configured to select and/or interpolate between the sensing elements to give enhanced performance and to compensate for external mechanical factors. The circuit arrangement is integrated on a single silicon chip to form an integrated circuit sensing device in one embodiment.

Abstract: A sensor system including magnetic sensing elements and circuitry configured to detect the presence or absence of an article, such as a gear tooth, in a first mode, and to determine timing accuracy in a second mode. Control circuitry is provided for controlling the switching circuitry to switch between modes in a predetermined manner and at predetermined times dependent upon the voltages and magnetic fields. The magnetic sensing elements as well as the switching circuitry, interface circuitry and the control circuitry are preferably integrated onto a single silicon chip to yield an efficient and reliable sensor system. Upon power on, the sensor is configured in the first mode to determine the presence or absence of the article next to the sensor. After a number of transitions of the hall voltage, e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for remote communication is disclosed that allows communication over a network but still provides a behavioral context within which the communication is interpreted. A visual representation of a user is provided to a recipient. A set of behavioral characteristics of the visual representation is provided to the user, the behavioral characteristics representing contexts within which data is to be interpreted. The user selects a behavioral characteristic and inputs data to be communicated to the recipient, along with any specific behavioral commands. Then, data is communicated to the recipient concurrently with a behavioral movement of the visual representation associated with the selected behavioral characteristic, wherein the behavioral movement provides context to the recipient for interpreting the communicated data. Behavioral characteristics include personality and mood intensity settings, and behavioral commands include gesture commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically determining if the recipient of electronic mail that is unknown at the receiving server has left a “forwarding address” with a forwarding address server, thereby allowing either the receiving server, the sending server, or the sending user (computer system), or any other party to the communication, to automatically send the electronic mail content to the correct new address. In addition to this automatic “forwarding”, the sending user is notified as to the new electronic mail address so as to allow the sending user to update manually, or automatically, the user's individual database of electronic mail addresses.

Abstract: Utterances comprising text and behavioral movement commands entered by a user are processed to identify patterns of behavioral movements executed by the user's visual representation. Once identified, the patterns are used to generate behavioral movements responsive to new utterances received from the user, without requiring the user to explicitly alter the behavioral characteristics selected by the user. An application module parses an utterance generated by a user to determine the presence of gesture commands. If a gesture command is found in an utterance, the utterance is stored for behavioral learning processing. A stored utterance is analyzed with existing stored utterances to determine if the stored utterances provide the basis for creating a new behavioral rule. Newly stored utterances are first analyzed to generate different contexts associated with the behavioral movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data between IP devices (including, but not limited to, Gigabit Ethernet devices) and SCSI or Fibre Channel devices. The device interfaces may be either SCSI, Fibre Channel or IP interfaces such as Gigabit Ethernet. Data is switched between SCSI and IP, Fibre Channel and IP, or between SCSI and Fibre Channel. Data can also be switched from SCSI to SCSI, IP to IP and FC to FC. The port interfaces provide the conversion from the input frame format to an internal frame format, which can be routed within the apparatus. The amount of processing performed by each port interface is dependent on the interface type. The processing capabilities of the present invention permit rapid transfer of information packets between multiple interfaces at latency levels meeting the stringent requirements for storage protocols.