Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an on-board camera is used as a controller for a hand-held game device. Control information is provided to a game application via video captured by the camera. As the hand-held device is moved, features of the captured video are tracked. The relative motion between the tracked features and the hand-held device is translated into control information for the game application. Aspects of the game application are rendered on a display of the hand-held game device in accordance with the control information. For example, from a third person perspective, viewing a game character from overhead, rotation of the hand-held game device can be translated into rotation of the character. From a first person perspective, seeing the game through the eyes of the game character, rotation of the hand-held game device can be translated into observing various challenges coming from different directions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a camera and acceleration based interface for presentations are described. In one aspect, a handheld device is utilized capture optical information. The optical information is then used to identify the location of a cursor that is presented on a display surface. While a user moves the handheld device, inertial information corresponding to the movement is accumulated on the handheld device. The optical and accumulated inertial information is used to modify position of the cursor with respect to the display surface.

Abstract: Providing camera based motion detection is disclosed herein. A camera may track a reference element array of retroreflectors, which reflect light from a light source located proximate the camera. A known arrangement of the reference element array may be compared to a received arrangement on an image sensor of the camera to determine position information of at least one of the camera or the reference element array. The reference elements may include a style (pattern, shape) that may enable extraction of additional position information when the reference element array is captured by the camera. A user-manipulated device may be configured with the camera and light source, or alternatively, the reference elements, to enable communication with a computing device and display device.

Abstract: A method using a RankBoost-based algorithm to automatically select features for further ranking model training is provided. The method reiteratively applies a set of ranking candidates to a training data set comprising a plurality of ranking objects having a known pairwise ranking order. Each round of iteration applies a weight distribution of ranking object pairs, yields a ranking result by each ranking candidate, identifies a favored ranking candidate for the round based on the ranking results, and updates the weight distribution to be used in next iteration round by increasing weights of ranking object pairs that are poorly ranked by the favored ranking candidate. The method then infers a target feature set from the favored ranking candidates identified in the iterations.

Abstract: Accelerator systems and methods are disclosed that utilize FPGA technology to achieve better parallelism and processing speed. A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is configured to have a hardware logic performing computations associated with a neural network training algorithm, especially a Web relevance ranking algorithm such as LambaRank. The training data is first processed and organized by a host computing device, and then streamed to the FPGA for direct access by the FPGA to perform high-bandwidth computation with increased training speed. Thus, large data sets such as that related to Web relevance ranking can be processed. The FPGA may include a processing element performing computations of a hidden layer of the neural network training algorithm. Parallel computing may be realized using a single instruction multiple data streams (SIMD) architecture with multiple arithmetic logic units in the FPGA.

Abstract: Architecture for decoding (demosaicing) a source image and performing reconstruction directly from the Bayer pattern to reduce memory size and improve communication bandwidth. The architecture can be easily implemented in hardware such as in field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote control of on-screen interaction are described. In one aspect, a presentation is displayed onto a display surface. The presentation includes a selection control to interface with one or more user interface (UI) elements. The UI elements are used to control the presentation. A set of image frames are received from a remote handheld device. The image frames represent respective snapshots of the presentation. The image frames are evaluated to modify position of the selection control over the presentation.

Abstract: Motion-based control of an electronic device uses an array of at least three reference elements forming a triangle. An image sensor (e.g., a video camera), which may be located on a user-manipulated device, captures an image of the array. The array image has a pattern formed by a nonparallel projection of the reference triangle onto the image sensor. The pattern carries information of the relative position between the image sensor and the reference element array, and changes as the relative position changes. The pattern is identified and used for generating position information, which may express a multidimensional position of the user-manipulated device with respect to three axes describing a translational position, and three rotational axes describing pitch, roll and yaw motions. The control system and method are particularly suitable for videogames.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an inductive powering surface for powering portable devices are described. In one aspect, a powering device includes the inductive powering surface. The inductive powering surface includes multiple primary coils, an impedance auto-match circuit and other control circuits. The impedance auto-match circuit selectively energizes the primary coils to transfer power via inductive coupling to the secondary coil(s) in a portable device. The impedance auto-match circuit is configured to detect voltage and current phase differences over caused by positioning of the portable device on the inductive powering surface. The impedance auto-match circuit calibrates a power factor of the inductive powering surface to transfer an objectively maximized power load via inductive coupling to the portable device.

Abstract: Accelerator systems and methods are disclosed that utilize FPGA technology to achieve better parallelism and flexibility. The accelerator system may be used to implement a relevance-ranking algorithm, such as RankBoost, for a training process. The algorithm and related data structures may be organized to enable streaming data access and, thus, increase the training speed. The data may be compressed to enable the system and method to be operable with larger data sets. At least a portion of the approximated RankBoost algorithm may be implemented as a single instruction multiple data streams (SIMD) architecture with multiple processing engines (PEs) in the FPGA. Thus, large data sets can be loaded on memories associated with an FPGA to increase the speed of the relevance ranking algorithm.

Abstract: Three dimensional (3D) image projection is described. In one aspect, each projector of multiple projectors generate a respective composite of an image. With respect to any particular projector, the projector's corresponding composite image encapsulates multiple vertical slices of the image. Each vertical slice in the composite image represents a particular portion of the image for projection by the projector onto a specific area of multiple areas on a screen. The size of the specific area is a function of a width of a viewpoint of multiple viewpoints, wherein the viewpoint is linearly positioned with the specific area on the screen and the projector.

Abstract: A position determination module is described which receives image information from a video camera. The position determination module identifies at least one reference field in the image information to provide identified reference information. The position determination module then generates position information based on the identified reference information. The position information is associated with a position of the reference field with respect the video camera. In one implementation, the video camera is stationary and the reference field is coupled to a user-manipulated device. In another implementation, the reference field is coupled to a stationary display device and the video camera is coupled to a movable user-manipulated device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a camera and acceleration based interface for presentations are described. In one aspect, a handheld device is utilized capture optical information. The optical information is then used to identify the location of a cursor that is presented on a display surface. While a user moves the handheld device, inertial information corresponding to the movement is accumulated on the handheld device. The optical and accumulated inertial information is used to modify position of the cursor with respect to the display surface.

Abstract: An inductive powering device provides power to a portable device via inductive coupling between primary coils in the surface of the powering device and a secondary coil in the portable device. The portable device includes a passive locator device, such as an RFID device, to allow the primary coils of the inductive powering surface to detect the presence and location of the secondary coil, and only primary coils adjacent the secondary coil are energized for power transfer. A cost-effective driving configuration that arranges the primary coils into a matrix with drive circuits switchably connected to the row and columns is used to energize the primary coils.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, an on-board camera is used as a controller for a hand-held game device. Control information is provided to a game application via video captured by the camera. As the hand-held device is moved, features of the captured video are tracked. The relative motion between the tracked features and the hand-held device is translated into control information for the game application. Aspects of the game application are rendered on a display of the hand-held game device in accordance with the control information. For example, from a third person perspective, viewing a game character from overhead, rotation of the hand-held game device can be translated into rotation of the character. From a first person perspective, seeing the game through the eyes of the game character, rotation of the hand-held game device can be translated into observing various challenges coming from different directions.

Abstract: Three dimensional (3D) image projection is described. In one aspect, each projector of multiple projectors generate a respective composite of an image. With respect to any particular projector, the projector's corresponding composite image encapsulates multiple vertical slices of the image. Each vertical slice in the composite image represents a particular portion of the image for projection by the projector onto a specific area of multiple areas on a screen. The size of the specific area is a function of a width of a viewpoint of multiple viewpoints, wherein the viewpoint is linearly positioned with the specific area on the screen and the projector.

Abstract: Systems and methods for remote control of on-screen interaction are described. In one aspect, a presentation is displayed onto a display surface. The presentation includes a selection control to interface with one or more user interface (UI) elements. The UI elements are used to control the presentation. A set of image frames are received from a remote handheld device. The image frames represent respective snapshots of the presentation. The image frames are evaluated to modify position of the selection control over the presentation.

Abstract: An inductive powering device provides power to a portable device via inductive coupling between primary coils in the surface of the powering device and a secondary coil in the portable device. The portable device includes a passive locator device, such as an RFID device, to allow the primary coils of the inductive powering surface to detect the presence and location of the secondary coil, and only primary coils adjacent the secondary coil are energized for power transfer. A cost-effective driving configuration that arranges the primary coils into a matrix with drive circuits switchably connected to the row and columns is used to energize the primary coils.

Abstract: The interconnection chip of the present invention is a custom chip which is designed to serve as an efficient link between system functional modules, such as arithmetic units, register files and input/output ports. The chip includes a crossbar interconnection, a FIFO or programmable delay for each of its inputs and a pipeline register file for each of its outputs. By using pre-stored control patterns, the chip can configure its crossbar and delays while performing other operations. Therefore, the usual functions of busses and register files can be realized with this single chip. Various embodiments and applications for the chip are disclosed.