Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermostat obtains real-time energy prices from a electricity grid. It may also obtain additional data from external data sources, such as predicted energy prices or weather predictions. The thermostat attempts to find a control strategy for when to switch available aggregates that may include furnaces and air conditioners on and off. In order to solve this integer programming problem, the thermostat uses a random search algorithm. According to some embodiments, various data sources, such as day-ahead prices and real-time prices, are combined into forecasts of electricity prices for the present and future time periods. In some embodiments, a thermostat selects predictively between heating or cooling by letting outside air in or by using heating and cooling aggregates. Additional embodiments are discussed and shown.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera captures video images at a high dynamic range. These images are then tonemapped into images of a lower dynamic range with enhanced contrast. The contrast enhancement for a given pixel depends on the image's local contrast at a variety of different scales. The tonemapped images are then shown on a display. Calculation of this contrast is accelerated by the camera creating a plurality of low-pass filtered versions of the original image at progressively stronger low-pass filtering; these images may be stored at increasingly lower resolutions in a mipmap. Calculations are enhanced by use of a massively parallel processor and a texture mapping unit for hardware-accelerated sampling of blended averages of several pixels. Other embodiments are shown and discussed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image-taking apparatus wherein a first actuation of a control element locks image-taking parameters and a subsequent actuation of this control element causes a picture to be taken. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a cellular telephone equipped with a camera wherein a first press on the volume up button locks focus and exposure. The photographer can then recompose the picture according to the ‘half-press’ technique and take a picture with a subsequent press on the volume up button. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermostat obtains real-time energy prices from a electricity grid. It may also obtain additional data from external data sources, such as predicted energy prices or weather predictions. The thermostat attempts to find a control strategy for when to switch available aggregates that may include furnaces and air conditioners on and off. In order to solve this integer programming problem, the thermostat uses a random search algorithm. According to some embodiments, various data sources, such as day-ahead prices and real-time prices, are combined into forecasts of electricity prices for the present and future time periods. In some embodiments, a thermostat selects predictively between heating or cooling by letting outside air in or by using heating and cooling aggregates. Additional embodiments are discussed and shown.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a thermostat obtains real-time energy prices from a electricity grid. It may also obtain additional data from external data sources, such as predicted energy prices or weather predictions. The thermostat attempts to find a control strategy for when to switch available aggregates that may include furnaces and air conditioners on and off. In order to solve this integer programming problem, the thermostat uses a random search algorithm. According to some embodiments, various data sources, such as day-ahead prices and real-time prices, are combined into forecasts of electricity prices for the present and future time periods. In some embodiments, a thermostat selects predictively between heating or cooling by letting outside air in or by using heating and cooling aggregates. Additional embodiments are discussed and shown.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a portable camera equipped with an autofocus system is also equipped with a microelectromechanical rotation sensor. The camera's processor uses rotation data provided by this sensor to correct focus as the camera is a rotated and displays the new orientation of the area of interest for autofocus to the user on a display. Focus may be adjusted on user command only or continuously, and one or more areas of interest may be chosen. Additional applications are shown.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image-taking apparatus wherein a first actuation of a control element locks image-taking parameters and a subsequent actuation of this control element causes a picture to be taken. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a cellular telephone equipped with a camera wherein a first press on the volume up button locks focus and exposure. The photographer can then recompose the picture according to the ‘half-press’ technique and take a picture with a subsequent press on the volume up button. The locked focus and exposure may be unlocked after a predetermined timeout period during which no picture was taken. Other embodiments are described.