Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides an electrochemical analytical apparatus and a method for evaluating performance of electroplating formulations of electrolyte solutions used for via filling. The electrochemical analytical apparatus comprises an electric power generating device, an electrical output signal measurement device, an electrochemical measurement device, and a motion generator. The electrochemical measurement device of the present invention comprises a supporting structure, a cavity, a cavity electrode, and a surface electrode. The electrical output signals of the cavity electrode and the surface electrode are measured during electroplating for calculating a filling performance value. The presently claimed invention provides an accurate, fast and cost effective method for evaluating performance of electroplating formulations, following with choosing the electroplating formulation of the highest FP value for actual microvia filling process.

Abstract: The present invention employs a first step of stationary face recognition, followed by a facial expression test, a continuous movement tracking test, and a 3D perspective check to identify and authenticate a subject, prevent photo spoofing and facemask spoofing, and determining whether the subject is a living person. The method requires a subject to present her face before a camera, which can be the built-in or peripheral camera of a mobile communication device. The method also requires displaying to the subject certain instructions and the real-time video feedback of the subject face on a display screen, which can be the built-in or peripheral display screen of the mobile communication device or mobile computing device. The 3D perspective check uses a single camera to take two images of the subject's face for the calculating the stereoscopic view data of the subject's face.

Abstract: The presently claimed invention provides an accurate, fast, and cost effective method for determining the additive concentrations of at least two inhibitors simultaneously in an electroplating bath by using different electrical load conditions. The method of the present invention is able to determine additive concentrations of different inhibitors effectively during on-line feedback control for adjusting the amount of additives in the electroplating bath to maintain the additive concentrations within pre-defined limits during device production.

Abstract: An image processor generates a Super-Resolution (SR) frame by upscaling. A Human Visual Preference Model (HVPM) helps detect random texture regions, where visual artifacts and errors are tolerated to allow for more image details, and immaculate regions having flat areas, corners, or regular structures, where details may be sacrificed to prevent annoying visual artifacts that seem to stand out more. A regularity or isotropic measurement is generated for each input pixel. More regular and less anisotropic regions are mapped as immaculate regions. Higher weights for blurring, smoothing, or blending from a single frame source are assigned for immaculate regions to reduce the likelihood of generated artifacts. In the random texture regions, multiple frames are used as sources for blending, and sharpening is increased to enhance details, but more artifacts are likely. These artifacts are more easily tolerated by humans in the random texture regions than in the regular-structure immaculate regions.

Abstract: A method of determining an edge of an object on a digital image sequence comprising the step of determining a first gradient direction profile of a first image in the digital image sequence; determining a second gradient direction profile of a second image in the digital image sequence; computing a differential profile based on the first gradient direction profile and the second gradient direction profile; and determining the edge of the object based on the differential profile wherein the differential profile registers gradient magnitudes of the second gradient direction profile and angular differences between the first gradient direction profile and the second gradient direction profile. A system thereof is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a multi-dimensional image detection apparatus includes a touch surface, at least one two-vision image sensing module located proximally to the touch surface, and a control module coupled to the image sensing module. The multiple-dimensional image detection apparatus can detect a foreign object's image with at least two different dimensional modes. A method of multiple-dimensional image detection is also disclosed by reading the image data acquired by the image sensing module and comparing with a pre-stored background data to determine detecting the foreign object under a predetermined dimensional mode.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with estimating a massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) channel. In one embodiment, the transmit antennas are first partitioned into antenna groups each comprising a subset of the transmit antennas such that a pre-determined level of channel-estimation accuracy is attainable. For each antenna group, training signals for estimating a group of channels associated with the antenna group are determined. In particular, the number of the antenna groups, the subset of the transmit antennas for forming the antenna group, and the training signals for the antenna group are determined based on spatial correlations of the massive MIMO channel, a maximum allowable total number of training signals and a transmit signal-to-noise ratio such that the pre-determined level of channel-estimation accuracy is achievable. Advantageously, the number of antenna groups is determined by identifying a highest number of antenna groups under a constraint that the pre-determined level is achievable.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical module that includes a plurality of lenses and an electromagnetic actuator to adjust a zoom level or focus of the optical module.

Abstract: A method for performing high speed mode detection of a carrier frequency offset (CFO) includes receiving a Zadoff-Chu signal at a wireless device, and determining a plurality of correlation peaks based on a correlation of the signal with one or more known Zadoff-Chu sequences. The method includes determining a carrier frequency offset (CFO) associated with the signal based on a phases associated with the plurality of correlation peaks and a coarse CFO estimate. The coarse CFO estimate may be determined based on a squared power ratio of particular pairs of the plurality of correlation peaks and the phases may be used to remove ambiguity associated with the coarse CFO estimate.

Abstract: An optical system for light energy concentration may comprise a light concentrator including two or more light-converging elements, a light splitting element to receive the converging light from the light-converging elements and to produce light having a first spectral component and light having a second spectral component, and a light directing element to direct the light having the first spectral component through a light guide and to direct the light having the second spectral component to a location external to the light guide.

Abstract: A correcting asynchronous Successive-Approximation Register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) detects and corrects metastability errors. An analog signal is synchronously sampled by a system clock, but data bits are converted asynchronously. A valid detector compares true and complement outputs of a comparator that compares the sampled voltage to a DAC voltage generated from digital test value from the SAR. Once the true and complement outputs diverge past logic thresholds, the valid detector activates a VALID signal indicating that comparison is completed. The compare result is then latched in as a data bit and the SAR advances to the next test value. Once all bits have been converted, an End-of-Conversion (EOC) is signaled. If the EOC does not occur by the end of the system clock, a metastability error is detected. The current bit that never finished comparison is forced high and all other unconverted bits are forced low.

Abstract: An optical system for light energy concentration may comprise a light concentrator to convert incident light to converging light, a light collimating element to receive the converging light and to reduce an angle of convergence of the converging light, and a light directing element to direct the reduced-angle converging light to a light guide to transmit the directed light.

Abstract: An all-solid, single-body unit for calibrating a pulse oximeter that uses probe light beams is provided. A bulk of the unit is substantially composed of a mixture of materials comprising one or more polymer materials that form a flexible solid medium for the bulk of the unit, one or more scattering materials for scattering the probe light beams, and one or more dye materials for attenuating the probe light beams. The flexible solid medium enables a pulsatile rhythmic train of action force received by the unit to be transmitted in the unit during calibrating the pulse oximeter for substantially emulating change of absorbance characteristics of the probe light beams due to pulsing arterial blood. The scattering materials and the dye materials are localized in the flexible solid medium, enabling the unit to be used in calibrating the pulse oximeter without a need for an additional device for further emulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a zoom lens that includes a mechanical structure having a plurality of lens assemblies and an actuator to adjust a zoom level or focus of the apparatus.

Abstract: A system for determining a touch point's location within a user-definable region is provided. The system comprises plural modules. In a set-up stage, a user positions each module to define a peripheral point of the region. Exemplarily, a module comprises a means for detecting alignment between the module and another one, a means for measuring an inter-module distance, and a means for making wireless data communication. In particular, the detecting of the alignment and the measuring of the inter-module distance are configured to be performed without physically connect the two modules together. Hence, a geometric coordinate of the module relative to the other one is determinable without a need to physically connect the two modules. The system can thereby be compactly packed for traveling to give an advantage of high portability to a portable interactive whiteboard system that incorporates such system.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of load shedding used in stream computing system that considers the relative importance of each of the applications processing the incoming input data or events. The method of load shedding method also accounts for system physical constraints, such as memories and CPU utilization. The load shedding method first observes the workload of each application and arriving rate of the incoming input data or events. If the system is under an overloading condition, calculate a input data or event drop ratio for each application such that the projected sum of all applications' workload will be at or below the system capacity when the unprocessed input data or events are dropped according to the drop ratio for each application.

Abstract: This invention discloses using one or more color-encoded fringe patterns for optically, three-dimensionally measuring an object's shape. In one embodiment, a color-encoded fringe pattern comprising a plurality of fringes that are modulated in intensity is configured as follows. An individual fringe selected from the fringes comprises a colored line at a location on the fringe width. The colored line has a line width that is substantially narrower than the fringe width in order that the colored line has a substantially similar intensity over the line width. The individual fringe excluding the colored line has a fringe color that is substantially uniform over the individual fringe. The fringe color is substantially different from the line color. Fringe colors of all the fringes are substantially similar, thereby enabling a major portion of the color-encoded fringe pattern to provide a substantially-uniform illumination color for projection onto the object.

Abstract: This invention discloses a pulse-sensing device and methods for pulse sensing. In one embodiment, the device includes a robotic finger comprising a humanoid-finger structure, and an actuating-force transferring member for transferring an actuating force to the structure at an actuation point thereon and along an actuation direction. One end of the structure is pivotally mounted to a fulcrum and another end has a sensing area. The robotic finger is configured such that, when the sensing area contacts a person's wrist, a first perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to a first line is substantially longer than a second perpendicular distance from the fulcrum to a second line, where the first line is a straight line passing through a sensing point of the sensing area and being substantially perpendicular to the sensing area, and the second line is a straight line passing through the actuation point and orienting along the actuation direction.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting a posture of at least one predetermined part of an object comprising the steps of extracting a first object shape from a first image taken by a first image sensor, computing a characteristic dimension value of the predetermined part within a predetermined region of the first object shape, constructing a mask based on the characteristic dimension value, extracting a profile of the predetermined part from the first object shape by applying the mask on the first object shape, and identifying at least one predefined feature point in the profile of the predetermined part, thereby detecting the posture of the predetermined part is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for facial recognition by a computing device using an adaptive search window and regional similarity distribution analysis are disclosed herein.