Abstract: Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said bi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.

Abstract: The present application discloses new approaches to integrated power. Two new classes of structures each provide an integrated phase leg, in a process which can easily be integrated with low-voltage and/or peripheral circuits: in one class of disclosed structures, a lateral PMOS device is combined with an NMOS device which has predominantly vertical current flow. In another class of embodiments, a predominantly vertical n-channel device is used for the low-side switch, in combination with a lateral n-channel device. In either case, the common output node is preferably brought out at a backside contact. This device structure is advantageously used to construct complete power supply and/or voltage conversions circuits on a single chip (perhaps connected to external passive reactances).

Abstract: Devices, structures, and related methods for IGBTs and the like which include a self-aligned series resistance at the source-body junction to avoid latchup. The series resistance is achieved by using a charged dielectric, and/or by using a dielectric which provides a source of dopant atoms of the same conductivity type as the source region, at a sidewall adjacent to the source region.

Abstract: Vertical power devices which include an insulated trench containing insulating material and a gate electrode, and related methods. A body region is positioned so that a voltage bias on the gate electrode will cause an inversion layer in the body region. A layer of permanent charge, at or near the sidewall of the trench, provides charge balancing for the space charge in the depleted semiconductor material during the OFF state. A conductive shield layer is positioned below the gate electrode in the insulating material, and reduces capacitive coupling between the gate and the lower part of the trench. This reduces switching losses. In other embodiments, a planar gate electrode controls horizontal carrier injection into the vertical conduction pathway along the trench, while a shield plate lies over the trench itself to reduce capacitive coupling.

Abstract: Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can he DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said hi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.

Abstract: Methods and systems for power conversion. An energy storage capacitor is contained within an H-bridge subcircuit which allows the capacitor to be connected to the link inductor of a Universal Power Converter with reversible polarity. This provides a “pseudo-phase” drive capability which expands the capabilities of the converter to compensate for zero-crossings in a single-phase power supply.

Abstract: Object images captured by a wide-angle camera are distorted due to the optical effects of the wide-angle lens. The disclosed innovations allow an automatic analysis on the corrected image distinguishing normal movement from an unusual event movement. The analysis is based on Markov Modeling on moving object trajectories and motion angles.

Abstract: A wide-angle camera emulating a PTZ camera via image data processing is used to generate a panoramic image of multiple regions for ease of viewing. A client can specify multiple regions for extraction from the panoramic image to stream to a separate server for further image processing and analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and use of fluidized polymer suspensions containing allyloxy linkage and its functional derivatives, and water soluble polymers for use in oil field applications as fluid additives for drilling and cementing processes.

Abstract: A motion video camera that removes the need for mechanical pan, tilt, and zoom apparatus is disclosed. The video camera includes the following. A wide-angle optical system is configured to receive an optical image. An image sensor is coupled to the optical system and is configured to convert the optical image to an electronic image. An image processing circuit is coupled to the image sensor and is configured to receive the electronic image and to execute movement and zoom operations by correcting distortions in the electronic image introduced by the wide-angle optical system and image sensor.

Abstract: A charged particle shaped beam column includes: a charged particle source; a gun lens configured to provide a charged particle beam approximately parallel to the optic axis of the column; an objective lens configured to form the charged particle shaped beam on the surface of a substrate, wherein the disk of least confusion of the objective lens does not coincide with the surface of the substrate; an optical element with 8N poles disposed radially symmetrically about the optic axis of the column, the optical element being positioned between the condenser lens and the objective lens, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and a power supply configured to apply excitations to the 8N poles of the optical element to provide an octupole electromagnetic field. The octupole electromagnetic field is configured to induce azimuthally-varying third-order deflections to the beam trajectories passing through the 8N-pole optical element.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the data-rate when processing video, particularly wide-angle video.

Abstract: A graphics system that implements a binning database with an accumulation buffer to perform super sampling. In one embodiment, an application of a host machine passes a geometry of a full scene to a binning database which stores the scene in spatially sorted bins. The contents of the bin are passed to rendering hardware, and rendered multiple times, each time with a stochastic offset applied to the sample points. The results are accumulated in an accumulation buffer and prepared for display.

Abstract: A wide-angle video camera which captures high-resolution images using a Bayer filter to colorize the pixels. The image is processed to generate multiple views. The camera applies color processing pipelines independently and simultaneously to each of multiple regions of the full image captured by the sensor to generate a color image of acceptable quality for human viewing. An initial color image possesses greater color bit-depth compared to the output color image.

Abstract: A method of improving retention and drainage in a papermaking process is disclosed. The method provides for the addition of an associative polymer, prepared by an inverse emulsion polymerization process that utilizes multiple, discrete additions of initiator. Additionally, a process for preparation of an associative polymer, prepared by an inverse emulsion polymerization process that utilizes multiple discrete additions of initiator is disclosed.

Abstract: A composition of a loose mass of comminuted raw cotton linter fibers has a bulk density of at least 8 g/100 ml and at least 50% of the fibers in the mass passes through a US standard sieve size #10 (2 mm opening). This composition is made by obtaining a loose mass of first cut, second cut, third cut, or mill runs raw cotton linters or mixtures thereof and comminuting the loose mass of raw cotton linters to a size wherein at least 50% pass through a US standard sieve size #10 (2 mm opening). This composition is used to make cellulose ether derivatives.

Abstract: A 3D graphics architecture in which a buffer is placed between the sequencer and the processing element (PE) array. The sequencer and PE array are not designed to run in lock step: instead the sequencer and PE array are decoupled to allow the PEs to run at 100% efficiency even when the sequencer is switching between threads and performing other flow control operations. Thus, the rate of instruction processing in the PE array is not coupled to the rate of instruction processing in the sequencer.

Abstract: A system and method for providing privacy regions in a picture or video. In one example embodiment, a camera is provided which has a lens system and detector, image processing circuitry, compression and formatting circuitry, and control circuitry. Images or video taken from the camera are preferably corrected for distortion (such as that introduced by an anamorphic lens system) and sent to an operator's workstation, where a privacy region is defined. The privacy region is merged with the rest of the image, whether constant or dynamic, and displayed. Other processing, such as object tracking and alarms, can also be implemented at varying points in the process.

Abstract: A method and a system for tracking the motion of moving objects accurately on the entirety of a wide-angle video is disclosed. The method includes using a non-uniform scaling to selectively enhance pixel density, preferably in preparation for other image processing. In preferred embodiments, the further image processing (such as motion detection, object recognition, or tracking, etc.) functions better with the enhanced pixel density or distribution.

Abstract: An electro-magnetic landing gear up-lock includes at least one electro-magnet mounted to the aircraft structure positioned adjacent the landing gear trunion. When the at least one electro-magnet is energized, magnetically responsive material in the landing gear positioned adjacent to the electro-magnet is attracted to the electro-magnet with sufficient force to hold the landing gear in a retracted. De-energizing the electro-magnet causes the electro-magnet to release the landing gear to allow the landing gear to extend.