Abstract: A system may include a charge pump configured to operate in a plurality of modes including a first mode in which the ratio of an output voltage to an input voltage of the charge pump is a first ratio and a second mode in which the ratio is a second ratio and a controller configured to limit current flowing between a power source of the charge pump to the charge pump, wherein the power source provides the input voltage, by limiting a transfer of charge between the power source and the charge pump during a switching cycle of the charge pump responsive to a change in operation between modes of the plurality of modes.

Abstract: This invention pertains to compositions, methods and systems that can be used in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of a tungsten containing semiconductor device. CMP slurries comprising bicyclic amidine additives provide low dishing and low erosion topography.

Abstract: A natural language query can be received at a main natural language processor inside a data protection compliance boundary in a computer system. The natural language query can be processed via the main natural language processor. The data from the query can be transmitted to a data protection computer component. It can be determined via the data protection component whether the data from the query includes protected data whose transmission to a computerized extension would violate a computer-readable data protection rule. The extension is outside the compliance boundary in the computer system and is configured to participate in responding to natural language queries received by the main natural language processor. In response to determining that the data from the query includes the protected data, transmission of the protected data from the main natural language processor to the extension as part of responding to the query can be inhibited.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing shader writes to compressed surfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes at least a memory and one or more shader units. In one embodiment, a shader unit of the processor is configured to receive a write request targeted to a compressed surface. The shader unit is configured to identify a first block of the compressed surface targeted by the write request. Responsive to determining the data of the write request targets less than the entirety of the first block, the first shader unit reads the first block from the cache and decompress the first block. Next, the first shader unit merges the data of the write request with the decompressed first block. Then, the shader unit compresses the merged data and writes the merged data to the cache.

Abstract: A technique for compressing an original image is disclosed. According to the technique, an original image is obtained and a delta-encoded image is generated based on the original image. Next, a segregated image is generated based on the delta-encoded image and then the segregated image is compressed to produce a compressed image. The segregated image is generated because the segregated image may be compressed more efficiently than the original image and the delta image.

Abstract: A technique for compressing an original image is disclosed. According to the technique, an original image is obtained and a delta-encoded image is generated based on the original image. Next, a segregated image is generated based on the delta-encoded image and then the segregated image is compressed to produce a compressed image. The segregated image is generated because the segregated image may be compressed more efficiently than the original image and the delta image.

Abstract: A technique for performing rasterization and pixel shading with decoupled resolution is provided herein. The technique involves performing rasterization as normal to generate fine rasterization data and a set of (fine) quads. The quads are accumulated into a tile buffer and coarse quads are generated from the quads in the tile buffer based on a shading rate. The shading rate determines how many pixels of the fine quads are combined to generate coarse pixels of the coarse quads. Combination of fine pixels involves generating a single coarse pixel for each such fine pixel to be combined. The positions of the coarse pixels of the coarse quads are set based on the positions of the corresponding fine pixels. The coarse quads are shaded normally and the resulting shaded coarse quads are modified based on the fine rasterization data to generate shaded fine quads.

Abstract: A natural language query can be processed via a main natural language processor. A request to produce an intent of the query can be dispatched from the main natural language processor to an extension natural language processor. An intent of the query can be generated via the extension natural language processor in response to the dispatched request, with the generating of the intent being performed independently of the main natural language processor. The intent of the natural language query can be passed from the extension natural language processor to the main natural language processor in response to the request to produce the intent of the query. A selection of a conversation query processor for responding to the intent can be produced via the main natural language processor. Additionally, an instruction to respond to the intent of the query can be passed to the selected conversation query processor.

Abstract: A natural language query can be received at a main natural language processor inside a data protection compliance boundary in a computer system. The natural language query can be processed via the main natural language processor. The data from the query can be transmitted to a data protection computer component. It can be determined via the data protection component whether the data from the query includes protected data whose transmission to a computerized extension would violate a computer-readable data protection rule. The extension is outside the compliance boundary in the computer system and is configured to participate in responding to natural language queries received by the main natural language processor. In response to determining that the data from the query includes the protected data, transmission of the protected data from the main natural language processor to the extension as part of responding to the query can be inhibited.

Abstract: Crosslinkable polymeric compositions comprising (a) 10 to 89 weight percent of an ethylene-based interpolymer having the following properties: (i) a density of 0.93 g/cm3 or less, (ii) a high-shear viscosity (V100) at 190 C and 10% strain of 1,200 Pa·s or less, (iii) a shear thinning ratio (V0.1/V100) at 190 C and 10% strain of at least 8, and (iv) a melt index (I2) greater than 1 g/10 minutes; and (b) 10 to less than 90 weight percent of a filler, where the ethylene-based interpolymer is not prepared in a high-pressure reactor. Such crosslinkable polymeric compositions may be employed as insulation layers in flexible power cables.

Abstract: Computer-implemented functionality is described herein for assisting a user in interacting with an environment. In one implementation, the functionality operates by: determining that a particular user is within a prescribed proximity to an electronic sign, or will be in prescribed proximity to the electronic sign, based on sensor information provided by one or more sensors within the environment; determining an identity of the user; determining at least one destination of the user based at least on calendar information; providing directions to the destination(s), to provide unfiltered direction information; optionally filtering the unfiltered direction information with respect to restriction information (e.g., privacy information, security information, etc.), to produce filtered direction information; composing sign information based on the filtered direction information; and sending the sign information to the electronic sign for presentation by the sign.

Abstract: A technique is described for efficiently detecting a wireless beacon signal emitted from a beacon-emitting mechanism, and thereby reducing consumption of power. The technique operates by selectively increasing detection activity when a detection event is likely to occur, and decreasing it otherwise. The technique leverages calendar information as one factor in determining when a detection event is likely to occur. The technique can also vary the detection activity based on location information (identifying the location of a user) and/or motion information (describing the motion of the user).

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and broadcasting a dynamic identifier are presented. Based on the current context and rules established for accessing personal information, a dynamic identifier corresponding to a computer user is dynamically generated and provided to a computing device corresponding to the computer user. The computing device may broadcast the dynamic identifier to others. Upon receipt of a dynamic identifier, a party wishing to determine information regarding the broadcasting party must query an information service with the dynamic identifier. According to a set of rules and/or permissions established for the target computer user (broadcasting the dynamic identifier), accessible information is identified and returned to the requesting party. Additionally, a user is provided with the ability to edit, add to, and/or delete information that is stored by the identification service regarding the user on behalf of a submitting party.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to form a polymer composition comprising at least one ethylene/?-olefin/non-conjugated polyene interpolymer, and wherein the polymer composition has at least the following properties: a) a Mw/V0.1 ratio greater than, or equal to, 1.80 (g/mol)/(Pa·s); said process comprising polymerizing one or more mixture(s) comprising ethylene, an ?-olefin and a non-conjugated polyene in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a metal-ligand complex of Formula (I), as described herein.

Abstract: A braking system for a vehicle is disclosed. The braking system may have a primary braking system (PBS) having a boost assist subsystem, and an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the PBS and the boost assist subsystem. A memory may be in communication with the ECU. A database may be stored in the memory and may define a plurality of category function codes. The codes may define what levels of braking operation may be provided by the PBS when one of a fault or an anomaly is detected. The ECU may further be configured to implement a brake boost evaluation software module to determine whether to apply a requested level of braking being requested by a subsystem of the vehicle when at least one of a malfunction or anomaly is present.

Abstract: Improvements in graphics processing pipelines are disclosed. The graphics processing pipeline processes graphics objects in a particular order (application programming interface order—“API order”) as requested by an application or other entity. However, certain components within the graphics processing pipeline, such as the pixel shader stage, may process those objects out of order. A technique is provided herein to allow the pixel shader stage to complete and export processed fragments out of order. The technique includes using a scoreboard to determine whether fragments ready to be exported from a pixel shader stage are the newest fragments in API order. If the fragments are the newest in API order, then the fragments are exported. If the fragments are not the newest in API order, then the fragments are discarded.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include organic polymeric particles, paper coating compositions, coated paper, and methods of forming coated paper with the paper coating compositions. The embodiments of the organic polymeric particle include an organic hydrophilic polymer with a unit for hydrogen bonding, and a hollow porous structure that comprises an organic polymer that at least partially surrounds the organic hydrophilic polymer, where the hollow porous structure has a pore surface area greater than 1 percent of a total theoretical exterior surface area of the hollow porous structure and the organic hydrophilic polymer and the hollow porous structure give the organic polymeric particle a void volume fraction of 40 percent to 85 percent.

Abstract: A composition comprising: (a) a hydrophilic polyurethane comprising polymerized units of: (i) a water-soluble polyol having hydroxyl functionality from two to four and a weight-average molecular weight from 800 to 16,000; and (ii) an aliphatic polyisocyanate having isocyanate functionality from two to six; wherein polymerized ethylene oxide units comprise at least 85 wt % of said hydrophilic polyurethane; and at least one of: (b) a saccharide having at least 5 hydroxyl groups and Mw from 300 to 4,000; (c) a dispersant polymer having Mw from 700 to 50,000 and from 10 to 55 wt % polymerized residues of C3-C6 carboxylic acid monomer and (d) a surfactant having HLB>11 and 12 to 100 polymerized units of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: The invention provides a process to form an ethylene/a-olefin interpolymer, comprising at least the following steps A) through C): A) polymerizing, in at least one reactor, at least one reaction mixture comprising ethylene and the a-olefin, in a solution polymerization, and in the presence of at least the following components I), II) and III): I) at least one compound of Structure 1, as described herein; II) at least one co-catalyst, as described herein; III) at least one compound of Structure 2, as described herein; B) separating the final polymer solution into at least a polymer-rich solution and a polymer-free solution; and optionally, at least a portion of the polymer-free solution is recycled back to the reactor; C) maintaining the level of the at least one compound of Structure 2 in the at least one reactor, from 100 ppm to 10,000 ppm, as described herein.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for compressing pixel data are disclosed. In one embodiment, if a block of pixel data is equal to a constant value, a processor compresses the block down to a metadata value which specifies the constant value for the entire block of pixel data. The processor also detects if the constant value is equal to a video specific typical minimum or maximum value. In another embodiment, the processor receives a plurality of M-bit pixel components which are most significant bit aligned in N-bit containers. Next, the processor shifts the M-bit pixel components down into least significant bit locations of the N-bit containers. Then, the processor converts the N-bit containers into M-bit containers. Next, the processor compresses the M-bit containers to create a compressed block of pixel data which is then stored in a memory subsystem.