Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to automate the recording of media for signature creation. Reference signature requests are received from an employee or user. The reference signature request is distributed to automated capture tool circuitry, which plays the relevant media for a meter and provides a status update. When a signature is created, a status update indicates whether it is considered to be a reference signature. Prioritization circuitry assigns and updates a priority for each of the requests according to the priority of other requests, the status updates, and a priority rule set. Reference signature requests with the highest priority are assigned to automated capture tool circuitry for completion before lower priority requests.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to automate the recording of media for signature creation. Reference signature requests are received from an employee or user. The reference signature request is distributed to automated capture tool circuitry, which plays the relevant media for a meter and provides a status update. When a signature is created, a status update indicates whether it is considered to be a reference signature. Prioritization circuitry assigns and updates a priority for each of the requests according to the priority of other requests, the status updates, and a priority rule set. Reference signature requests with the highest priority are assigned to automated capture tool circuitry for completion before lower priority requests.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to automate the recording of media for signature creation. Reference signature requests are received from an employee or user. The reference signature request is distributed to automated capture tool circuitry, which plays the relevant media for a meter and provides a status update. When a signature is created, a status update indicates whether it is considered to be a reference signature. Prioritization circuitry assigns and updates a priority for each of the requests according to the priority of other requests, the status updates, and a priority rule set. Reference signature requests with the highest priority are assigned to automated capture tool circuitry for completion before lower priority requests.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes an array of sensors, a processor, and a switch. The array of sensors generate sensor data related to one or more objects in an external environment of the autonomous vehicle and the processor determines an environmental context. The switch transfers the sensor data from the array of sensors to the processor, where the switch is configured to: (a) receive first sensor data from a first sensor group of the array of sensors; (b) receive second sensor data from a second sensor group of the array of sensors; (c) determine an order of transmission of the first sensor data over the second sensor data in response to the environmental context; and (d) transmit the first sensor data to the processor prior to transmitting the second sensor data based on the order of transmission.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a control system, an array of sensors, processing logic, and a switch. The processing logic generates operation instructions based on sensor data and the control system controls the autonomous vehicle based on the operation instructions. The array of sensors generate the sensor data that is related to objects in an external environment. The switch is coupled between the sensors and the processing logic to buffer the processing logic from the sensor data. The switch is further coupled between the processing logic and the control system to provide the operation instructions from the processing logic to the control system. The switch includes a prioritization engine that prioritizes an order of transmission, from the switch to the processing logic, of the first sensor data over the second sensor data based on received vehicle operation data.

Abstract: Sensor data is received from an array of sensors configured to capture one or more objects in an external environment of an autonomous vehicle. A first sensor group is selected from the array of sensors based on proximity data or environmental contexts. First sensor data from the first sensor group is prioritized for transmission based on the proximity data or environmental contexts.

Abstract: Sensor data is received from an array of sensors configured to capture one or more objects of an external environment of an autonomous vehicle. A first sensor group is selected from the array of sensors based on vehicle operation data representative of a state of the autonomous vehicle. First sensor data from the first group is prioritized for transmission based on the vehicle operation data.

Abstract: A system for an autonomous vehicle includes sensors, a time sensitive network switch, and a sensor interface. The sensors are configured to generate sensor data. The time sensitive network switch is configured to receive the sensor data and an elevated voltage.

Abstract: A system for an autonomous vehicle includes sensors, a time sensitive network switch, and a sensor interface. The sensors are configured to generate sensor data. The time sensitive network switch is configured to receive the sensor data and an elevated voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for are disclosed. One method includes providing at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode and using each of at least two, separate and different, target materials in connection with the three electrodes to enable sputtering. The method also includes applying a first voltage at the first electrode that alternates between positive and negative relative to the second electrode during each of multiple cycles and applying a second voltage to the third electrode that alternates between positive and negative relative to the second electrode during each of the multiple cycles.

Abstract: A system for an autonomous vehicle includes an array of sensors, a time sensitive network switch, and a data-power interface. The array of sensors is configured to capture one or more objects in an external environment of the autonomous vehicle and generate sensor data based on the captured one or more objects. The time sensitive network switch is configured to receive the sensor data. The data-power interface separately couples at least two of the sensors in the array to the time sensitive network switch. The data-power interface includes power conductors, a first data conductor, and a second data conductor. The power conductors provide the elevated voltage from the time sensitive network switch to the sensors in the array to power the sensors and the first data conductor and a second data conductor are configured to provide a high-speed vehicle communication link between the time sensitive network switch and the sensors.

Abstract: A system and method for single magnetron sputtering are described. One example includes a system having a power supply, a plasma chamber enclosing a substrate, an anode, and a target for depositing a thin film material on the substrate. This example also has a datastore with uncoated anode characterization data and an anode sputtering adjustment system including an anode analysis component to generate a first health value. The first health value is indicative of whether the anode is coated with a dielectric material. This example also has an anode power controller to receive the first health value and provide an anode-energy-control signal to the pulse controller of the pulsed DC power supply to adjust a second anode sputtering energy relative to a first anode sputtering energy to eject at least a portion of the dielectric material from the anode.

Abstract: A sputtering system and method are disclosed. The system has at least one dual magnetron pair having a first magnetron and a second magnetron, each magnetron configured to support target material. The system also has a DMS component having a DC power source in connection with switching components and voltage sensors. The DMS component is configured to independently control an application of power to each of the magnetrons, and to provide measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons. The system also has one or more actuators configured to control the voltages at each of the magnetrons using the measurements provided by the DMS component. The DMS component and the one or more actuators are configured to balance the consumption of the target material by controlling the power and the voltage applied to each of the magnetrons, in response to the measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons.

Abstract: A helical coil fastener and method for fastening objects is disclosed. The fastener comprises a stump and a rooting lashing. The rooting lashing comprises a first end and second end, defined by a plurality of helical coils. The first end of the rooting lashing is attached to an end of the stump, configured to receive a portion of the object forming a rooting eye at the connection between the rooting lashing and the stump. Further, the helical coils apart from the first helical coil of the rooting lashing is configured to wrap on the stump thereon. The fastener further comprises a trunk lashing attached to an end of the stump comprises a first end and second end, defined by a plurality of helical coils. The helical coils of the trunk lashing are configured to wrap on a portion of the object, thereby a user ensures fastening the object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a bus lock and a translation lookaside buffer invalidate transaction includes receiving, by a lock master, a lock request from a first processor in a system. The lock master sends a quiesce request to all processors in the system, and upon receipt of the quiesce request from the lock master, all processors cease issuing any new transactions and issue a quiesce granted transaction. Upon receipt of the quiesce granted transactions from all processors, the lock master issues a lock granted message that includes an identifier of the first processor. The first processor performs an atomic transaction sequence and sends a first lock release message to the lock master upon completion of the atomic transaction sequence. The lock master sends a second lock release message to all processors upon receiving the first lock release message from the first processor.

Abstract: A sputtering system and method are disclosed. The system has at least one dual magnetron pair having a first magnetron and a second magnetron, each magnetron configured to support target material. The system also has a DMS component having a DC power source in connection with switching components and voltage sensors. The DMS component is configured to independently control an application of power to each of the magnetrons, and to provide measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons. The system also has one or more actuators configured to control the voltages at each of the magnetrons using the measurements provided by the DMS component. The DMS component and the one or more actuators are configured to balance the consumption of the target material by controlling the power and the voltage applied to each of the magnetrons, in response to the measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons.

Abstract: A sputtering system and method are disclosed. The system has at least one dual magnetron pair having a first magnetron and a second magnetron, each magnetron configured to support target material. The system also has a DMS component having a DC power source in connection with switching components and voltage sensors. The DMS component is configured to independently control an application of power to each of the magnetrons, and to provide measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons. The system also has one or more actuators configured to control the voltages at each of the magnetrons using the measurements provided by the DMS component. The DMS component and the one or more actuators are configured to balance the consumption of the target material by controlling the power and the voltage applied to each of the magnetrons, in response to the measurements of voltages at each of the magnetrons.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arc handling in plasma processing operations are disclosed. The method includes providing current with a power supply to a plasma load at a first voltage polarity and energizing an energy storage device so when it is energized, the energy storage device applies a reverse polarity voltage that has a magnitude that is as least as great as the first voltage polarity. When an arc is detected, power is applied from the energy storage device to the plasma load with a reverse polarity voltage that has a polarity that is opposite of the first voltage polarity, the application of the reverse polarity voltage to the plasma load decreases a level of the current that is provided to the plasma load.

Abstract: Systems and methods for arc handling in plasma processing operations are disclosed. The method includes providing current with a power supply to a plasma load at a first voltage polarity and energizing an energy storage device so when it is energized, the energy storage device applies a reverse polarity voltage that has a magnitude that is as least as great as the first voltage polarity. When an arc is detected, power is applied from the energy storage device to the plasma load with a reverse polarity voltage that has a polarity that is opposite of the first voltage polarity, the application of the reverse polarity voltage to the plasma load decreases a level of the current that is provided to the plasma load.

Abstract: A system and method for single magnetron sputtering are described. One example includes a system having a power supply, a plasma chamber enclosing a substrate, an anode, and a target for depositing a thin film material on the substrate. This example also has a datastore with uncoated anode characterization data and an anode sputtering adjustment system including an anode analysis component to generate a first health value. The first health value is indicative of whether the anode is coated with a dielectric material. This example also has an anode power controller to receive the first health value and provide an anode-energy-control signal to the pulse controller of the pulsed DC power supply to adjust a second anode sputtering energy relative to a first anode sputtering energy to eject at least a portion of the dielectric material from the anode.