Abstract: The technology as disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for deboning a meat item, and more particular for deboning a poultry item including performing an initial shoulder cut for removing boneless breast meat from the poultry carcass or frame. The technology as disclosed and claimed further includes a method and apparatus for removing a tender meat portion from a poultry item. The method and apparatus disclosed and claimed herein is a combination of a robotic arm including an ultrasonic knife implement and/or an annular blade knife implement and a vision system for varying the cut path based on the shape and size of the poultry item. The combination as claimed including the ultrasonic knife can perform a meat cut while penetrating the meat with less force than the typical penetration that occurs when using a traditional knife. The combination as claimed including the annular blade knife implement can remove the tender meat portion for the keel bone and posterior sheath.

Abstract: There is described a method of shading a group of pixels in a fragment shader in a raster graphics pipeline. At least one first pilot pixel of the group of pixels is shaded under a first precision. At least one second pilot pixel of the group of pixels is shaded under a second precision. An error value representing a difference between the first and second pilot pixels is calculated. At least one other pixel of the group of pixels is shaded under the first precision if the error value is greater than an error threshold. The at least one other pixel is shaded under the second precision if the error value is smaller than the error threshold.

Abstract: There is described a method of shading a group of pixels in a fragment shader in a raster graphics pipeline. At least one first pilot pixel of the group of pixels is shaded under a first precision. At least one second pilot pixel of the group of pixels is shaded under a second precision. An error value representing a difference between the first and second pilot pixels is calculated. At least one other pixel of the group of pixels is shaded under the first precision if the error value is greater than an error threshold. The at least one other pixel is shaded under the second precision if the error value is smaller than the error threshold.

Abstract: A method for grouping computer instructions includes receiving a set of computer instructions, grouping the set of computer instructions by register dependencies, identifying a plurality of single-definition-use flow (SDF) bundles based on a burstization criteria and a chaining criteria; and based on the SDF bundles, transforming the set of computer instructions. The transformation may include splitting one of the set of computer instructions and setting a burst parameter for the one of the set of computer instruction. The transformation may include grouping a plurality of the set of computer instructions and replacing a pair of register file accesses with a pair of temporary register accesses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an augmented reality (AR) system that provides information about purchasing alternatives to a user who is about to purchase an item or product (e.g., a target product) in a physical retail location. In some variations, offers to purchase the product and/or an alternative product are provided by the merchant and/or competitors via the AR system. An offer negotiation server (ONS) aggregates offer data provided various external parties (EPs) and displays these offers to the user as the user is considering the purchase of a target product. In some variations, an AR system may be configured to facilitate the process of purchasing items at a retail location.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an augmented reality (AR) system that provides information about purchasing alternatives to a user who is about to purchase an item or product (e.g., a target product) in a physical retail location. In some variations, offers to purchase the product and/or an alternative product are provided by the merchant and/or competitors via the AR system. An offer negotiation server (ONS) aggregates offer data provided various external parties (EPs) and displays these offers to the user as the user is considering the purchase of a target product. In some variations, an AR system may be configured to facilitate the process of purchasing items at a retail location.

Abstract: A method for grouping computer instructions includes receiving a set of computer instructions, grouping the set of computer instructions by register dependencies, identifying a plurality of single-definition-use flow (SDF) bundles based on a burstization criteria and a chaining criteria; and based on the SDF bundles, transforming the set of computer instructions. The transformation may include splitting one of the set of computer instructions and setting a burst parameter for the one of the set of computer instruction. The transformation may include grouping a plurality of the set of computer instructions and replacing a pair of register file accesses with a pair of temporary register accesses.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an augmented reality (AR) system that provides information about purchasing alternatives to a user who is about to purchase an item or product (e.g., a target product) in a physical retail location. In some variations, offers to purchase the product and/or an alternative product are provided by the merchant and/or competitors via the AR system. An offer negotiation server (ONS) aggregates offer data provided various external parties (EPs) and displays these offers to the user as the user is considering the purchase of a target product. In some variations, an AR system may be configured to facilitate the process of purchasing items at a retail location.

Abstract: Semiconductor device structures and related fabrication methods are provided herein. One fabrication method relates to the formation of conductive contact plugs for a semiconductor device. The method begins by providing a semiconductor device structure having a conductive contact region, a layer of insulating material overlying the conductive contact region, and a via formed in the layer of insulating material and terminating at the conductive contact region. The fabrication process then deposits a first electrically conductive material on the semiconductor device structure such that the first electrically conductive material at least partially fills the via. Then, the process anisotropically etches a portion of the first electrically conductive material located in the filled via, resulting in a lined via. Thereafter, the process deposits a second electrically conductive material on the semiconductor device structure such that the second electrically conductive material at least partially fills the lined via.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic capacitor of the lead filled type includes coating the ends of the ceramic monolith with a terminating paste incorporating oxidizable metal particles characterized in that the lead will not wet to oxides of the metals but will wet to unoxidized or lightly oxidized increments of the metals. The paste is fused in an oxidizing environment or is fused in an inert environment and thereafter heated in an oxidizing environment with the result that the metal increments adjacent the exterior of the fused coating are oxidized whereas the metal at the interior portions of the paste are unoxidized or only slightly oxidized. Upon metal injection, the lead will wet to the interior portions of the fused paste but will not wet to the exterior of the paste whereby injected chips may be readily separated and whereby the size of the chip is rendered predictable due to the absence of adherent lead.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a ceramic capacitor of the lead filled type includes coating the ends of the ceramic monolith with a terminating paste incorporating oxidizable metal particles characterized in that the lead will not wet to oxides of the metals but will wet to unoxidized or lightly oxidized increments of the metals. The paste is fused in an oxidizing environment or is fused in an inert environment and thereafter heated in an oxidizing environment with the result that the metal increments adjacent the exterior of the fused coating are oxidized whereas the metal at the interior portions of the paste are unoxidized or only slightly oxidized. Upon metal injection, the lead will wet to the interior portions of the fused paste but will not wet to the exterior of the paste whereby injected chips may be readily separated and whereby the size of the chip is rendered predictable due to the absence of adherent lead.