Abstract: Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are provided for combining multiple video streams. One method for combining the multiple video streams includes extracting a sequence of media frames (224-1/224-2) from presenter (222-1) video and from shared digital rich media (222-2) video (340). The media frame (224-1/224-2) content is analyzed (226) to determine a set of space and time varying alpha values (228/342). A compositing operation (230) is performed to produce the combined video frames (232) based on the content analysis (226/344).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a visual-collaborative system enabling geographically distributed groups to engage in face-to-face, interactive collaborative video conferences. In one aspect, a visual-collaborative system comprises a display screen, a camera system, and a projector. The display screen has a first surface and a second surface, and the camera system is positioned to capture images of objects through the display screen. The projector is positioned to project images onto a projection surface of the display screen, wherein the projected images can be observed by viewing the second surface. The system includes a first filter disposed between the camera and the first surface, where the first filter passes light receives by the camera but substantially blocks the light that is produced by the projector.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a method for encoding video data, and a corresponding apparatus and computer program product. The method includes: applying one of a first transform and a second transform to at least one row of a pixel block, and applying one of the first transform and the second transform to at least one column of the pixel block, based on a prediction mode of the pixel block, to transform between residual pixel values of the pixel block and residual transform coefficients of the pixel block. The method also includes: encoding the residual transform coefficients of the pixel block to generate encoded video data.

Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body, a first vacuum channel defined within the body, and a first locating pin attached to the body. The first locating pin has a shaft portion arranged within a surrounding portion of the body. The first locating pin is configured to engage a first alignment feature of a hard drive component at a first contact area to align the hard drive component with the assembly tool. The body is configured to couple the first vacuum channel to a vacuum source and to facilitate particle evacuation from the first contact area via the first vacuum channel when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.

Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body and a gripper mount slidably mounted to the body with a first actuator. The first actuator is configured to slide the gripper mount from a first position to a second position along an axis. The assembly tool also comprises a gripper assembly slidably mounted to the gripper mount with a second actuator. The second actuator is configured to facilitate displacement of the gripper assembly with respect to the gripper mount along the axis. The assembly tool also comprises an encoder configured to indicate a displacement distance between an expected position and an actual position of the gripper assembly with respect to the gripper mount along the axis when the gripper mount is in the second position.

Abstract: An assembly tool calibration verification system includes a hard drive component gauge (HDCG), a vision system, a controller, and a gripper assembly. The HDCG includes a first vision detection feature. The vision system is configured to capture an image of the HDCG. The controller is configured to determine a position of the HDCG based on the first vision detection feature in the captured image of the HDCG. The gripper assembly is configured to pick the HDCG from a tray and is positioned for picking the HDCG from the tray based on the determined position of the HDCG. The controller is further configured to generate a calibration verification signal based on at least one of determining the position of the HDCG by the controller and picking the HDCG from the tray by the gripper assembly.

Abstract: A balancer swivel arm assembly includes an articulated arm configured to be pivotably attached to a work station at a proximal end. A linear slider is slidably mounted on a distal end of the articulated arm. A spring balancer is mounted on the distal end of the articulated arm and is coupled to the linear slider. The spring balancer is configured to support the linear slider and a tool mounted to the linear slider through a linear range of motion along an axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to video-conferencing systems that create eye contact and accurate gaze awareness between video-conferencing participants. In one aspect, a method includes capturing images of a first participant through a display using a camera (801). The display is located between the first participant and the camera. A video stream encoding images of a second participant (802,905) is also received. The images of the second participant are shifted in accordance with a shift vector. The shift vector places the images of the second participant's face in approximate alignment with the eyes of the first participant and the lens of the camera (803). The shifted images are projected on the display using a projector (804).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are multimedia-conferencing systems and methods enabling local participants to hear remote participants from the direction the remote participants are rendered on a display. In one aspect, a method includes a computing device receives a remote participant's image and sound information collected at a remote site. The remote participant's image is rendered on a display at a local site. When the local participant is in close proximity to the display, sounds generated by the remote participant are played over stereo loudspeakers so that the local participant perceives the sounds as emanating from the remote participant's location rendered on the display.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method (500) executed on a processor for providing object information about an object in proximity to a display screen. The method includes the step of determining whether an at least first object is located within a proximal distance of the first surface of the display screen based on information provided by a depth camera (step 510). The method also includes the step of determining whether the at least first object has physically contacted a first surface of the display screen based on information provided by a physical contact sensing component (step 520). The information about (1) the proximal distance of the at least first object from the screen and (2) whether the at least first object has physically contacted the display surface of the screen to provide proximal event information and based on the information provided, it is determining whether the user interface should be modified (step 560).

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate, a dielectric layer, a pad structure and a protection structure. The dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The pad structure is disposed in the dielectric layer. The pad structure includes a plurality of first metal layers and a plurality of plugs which are electrically connected to each other vertically. There is no contact plug disposed between the pad structure and the substrate. The protection structure is disposed in the dielectric layer and encompasses the pad structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to video-conferencing systems configured and operated to create eye contact between video conference participants. In one embodiment, video conferencing system includes a display, a video camera positioned to capture a video image of a first video conference participant through the display, and a projector positioned to project a video image of a second video conference participant onto the display screen such that the first participant can view the second participant. The display screen is positioned between the first participant and the video camera. The video camera and the projector can be operated during a video conference to establish eye contact between the first participant and the second participant by creating a line-of-sight that passes through a point of the head of the second participant's image between the video camera and the first participant.

Abstract: Producing high quality depth maps. A time of flight camera and stereo cameras of a stereo camera arrangement are mapped into a common coordinate system. A correspondence between an RGB image taken from the time of flight camera and an RGB image taken from a reference stereo camera of the stereo camera arrangement is established. Intensity values of the plurality of pixels of a stereo camera left of the reference stereo camera, a stereo camera right of the reference stereo camera and the reference stereo camera are determined. These intensity values of the stereo camera left of the reference stereo camera and the stereo camera right of the reference stereo camera are compared to the reference camera. Based on the comparing, matching intensity values are determined.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a visual-collaborative system enabling geographically distributed groups to engage in face-to-face, interactive collaborative video conferences. In one aspect, a visual-collaborative system (400) comprises a display screen, a camera system, and a projector. The display screen (402) has a first surface (410) and a second surface (416), and the camera system is positioned to capture images of objects through the display screen. The projector (404,602,702) is positioned to project images onto the first surface that can be observed by viewing the second surface. The wavelengths of light used to produce the projected images are different from with the wavelengths of light used to capture images.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention related to methods for obtaining shadow invariant and shadow-shading invariant images from a single camera image taken with a narrow-band camera sensor and assuming Plankian illuminating conditions.

Abstract: An assembly tool is provided. The assembly tool comprises a body, a first vacuum channel defined within the body, and a first locating pin attached to the body. The first locating pin has a shaft portion arranged within a surrounding portion of the body. The first locating pin is configured to engage a first alignment feature of a hard drive component at a first contact area to align the hard drive component with the assembly tool. The body is configured to couple the first vacuum channel to a vacuum source and to facilitate particle evacuation from the first contact area via the first vacuum channel when a vacuum is applied by the vacuum source.

Abstract: A 3D image is created by using two digital projectors having overlapping projection regions. The two digital projectors both emit polarized light, and are arranged at different angles to each other, such that individual images projected from respective digital projectors can be discerned by the use of polarized eyeglasses. Individualized light transport matrices are used to coordinate together the two digital projectors.

Abstract: Methods and systems that reduce video crosstalk in video streams sent between participants in a video conference are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for reducing video crosstalk in a video stream sent from a local site to a remote site includes projecting a video stream of the remote site onto a screen at the local site. Each image in the video stream is dimmed according to a dimming factor of a dimming sequence. Crosstalk images of the local site are captured through the screen. Each crosstalk image is a blending of the image of the local site captured through the screen with a dimmed image of the remote site projected onto the screen. Images of the local site with reduced crosstalk are computed based on the dimming sequence. A video stream composed of the images of the local site with reduced crosstalk are sent to the remote site.

Abstract: Video conferencing methods and systems that enable shared content to be displayed in a separate window within a screen or in a separate display are described. In one aspect, a method for establishing a video conference with shared content using a computing device includes capturing images of a first participant through a screen using a camera. The screen is located between the first participant and the camera. The method also includes projecting images of a second participant on the screen to be viewed by the first participant using a projector, and displaying shared content separate from the images of the second participant. The shared content is to be presented in different format than the images of the second participant presented on the screen.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor optoelectronic structure is provided. First, a substrate is provided, and a waveguide is formed therein, and then a plurality of dielectric layers is formed on the waveguide. Next, a contact pad and a passivation layer are provided on the dielectric layers and a patterned mask layer is formed thereon. Last, an etching process is provided by using the patterned mask layer to expose the contact pad and remove a portion of the passivation layer and the dielectric layers to form a transformer.