Abstract: Elastomer-based soft-robotic micro-tentacles capable of winding around and holding microscale objects and methods of fabricating same are provided. To realize the thin, highly deformable microtubes, a fabrication technique based on in situ thermal solidification of PDMS dip-coated around a cylindrical template and direct peeling of the cured structure is presented. This process is capable to asymmetrize the microtube's cross-sectional shape and enable the microtube to bend up to a single turn. To amplify the bending into a life-like, multi-turn spiraling motion, a semi-analytical model to shape-engineer the microtube and turn it into a micro-tentacle was produced. As a result, a hump is added to the microtube to enable the multi-turn spiraling motion.

Abstract: A suction tip according to the present invention is coupled to an end of a suction tube connected to a suction device and includes a body part having an internal space into which the suction tube is inserted, and a center hole formed at a center of a front end thereof and communicating with the internal space, in which the body part includes a plurality of suction holes disposed radially around the center hole. The plurality of suction holes of the suction tip is formed to be deepened from a rear end to a front end of the body part, and the suction tip has a plurality of guide grooves so that even though a buccal mucosa or a tongue covers a circular outer surface part of the suction tip, a negative pressure for suction is easily and uninterruptedly transmitted along the guide grooves extending to the rear end of the body part, thereby maintaining a suction function.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of low-latency, low-power eye tracking. In some embodiments, the eye tracking method operates a first sensor having a first level of power consumption that tracks positions of an eye of a user. In response to detection that the eye does not change position for a time period, the method stops operation of the first sensor and instead operates a second sensor that detects a change of position of the eye. The second sensor has a level of power consumption lower than the level of power consumption of the first sensor. Once the eye position changes, the second sensor resumes operation.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for generating a continuous motion control using neurological data and for associating the continuous motion control with a continuous user interface control to enable analog control of the user interface control. The user interface control is modulated through a user's physical movements within a continuous range of motion associated with the continuous motion control. The continuous motion control enables fine-tuned and continuous control of the corresponding user interface control as opposed to control limited to a small number of discrete settings.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for generating a continuous motion control using neurological data and for associating the continuous motion control with a continuous user interface control to enable analog control of the user interface control. The user interface control is modulated through a user's physical movements within a continuous range of motion associated with the continuous motion control. The continuous motion control enables fine-tuned and continuous control of the corresponding user interface control as opposed to control limited to a small number of discrete settings.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for generating a continuous motion control using neurological data and for associating the continuous motion control with a continuous user interface control to enable analog control of the user interface control. The user interface control is modulated through a user's physical movements within a continuous range of motion associated with the continuous motion control. The continuous motion control enables fine-tuned and continuous control of the corresponding user interface control as opposed to control limited to a small number of discrete settings.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for recognizing emotion in audio signals in real-time. An audio signal is detected and a rapid audio fingerprint is computed on a user's computing device. One or more features is extracted from the audio fingerprint and compared with features associated with defined emotions to determine relative degrees of similarity. Confidence scores are computed for the defined emotions based on the relative degrees of similarity and it is determined whether a confidence score for one or more particular emotions exceeds a threshold confidence score. If it is determined that a threshold confidence score for one or more particular emotions is exceeded, the particular emotion or emotions are associated with the audio signal. As desired, various action then may be initiated based upon the emotion/emotions associated with the audio signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of low-latency, low-power eye tracking. In some embodiments, the eye tracking method operates a first sensor having a first level of power consumption that tracks positions of an eye of a user. In response to detection that the eye does not change position for a time period, the method stops operation of the first sensor and instead operates a second sensor that detects a change of position of the eye. The second sensor has a level of power consumption lower than the level of power consumption of the first sensor. Once the eye position changes, the second sensor resumes operation.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for changing the state of an application by detecting neurological user intent data associated with a particular operation of a particular application state, and changing the application state so as to enable execution of the particular operation as intended by the user. The application state is automatically changed to align with the intended operation, as determined by received neurological user intent data, so that the intended operation is performed. Some embodiments relate to a computer system creating or updating a state machine, through a training process, to change the state of an application according to detected neurological data.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for generating a continuous motion control using neurological data and for associating the continuous motion control with a continuous user interface control to enable analog control of the user interface control. The user interface control is modulated through a user's physical movements within a continuous range of motion associated with the continuous motion control. The continuous motion control enables fine-tuned and continuous control of the corresponding user interface control as opposed to control limited to a small number of discrete settings.

Abstract: Computer systems, methods, and storage media for changing the state of an application by detecting neurological user intent data associated with a particular operation of a particular application state, and changing the application state so as to enable execution of the particular operation as intended by the user. The application state is automatically changed to align with the intended operation, as determined by received neurological user intent data, so that the intended operation is performed. Some embodiments relate to a computer system creating or updating a state machine, through a training process, to change the state of an application according to detected neurological data.

Abstract: Elastomer-based soft-robotic micro-tentacles capable of winding around and holding microscale objects and methods of fabricating same are provided. To realize the thin, highly deformable microtubes, a fabrication technique based on in situ thermal solidification of PDMS dip-coated around a cylindrical template and direct peeling of the cured structure is presented. This process is capable to asymmetrize the microtube's cross-sectional shape and enable the microtube to bend up to a single turn. To amplify the bending into a life-like, multi-turn spiraling motion, a semi-analytical model to shape-engineer the microtube and turn it into a micro-tentacle was produced. As a result, a hump is added to the microtube to enable the multi-turn spiraling motion.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for recognizing emotion in audio signals in real-time. An audio signal is detected and a rapid audio fingerprint is computed on a user's computing device. One or more features is extracted from the audio fingerprint and compared with features associated with defined emotions to determine relative degrees of similarity. Confidence scores are computed for the defined emotions based on the relative degrees of similarity and it is determined whether a confidence score for one or more particular emotions exceeds a threshold confidence score. If it is determined that a threshold confidence score for one or more particular emotions is exceeded, the particular emotion or emotions are associated with the audio signal. As desired, various action then may be initiated based upon the emotion/emotions associated with the audio signal.

Abstract: Embodiments provide voice model and speaker recognition features including proactive retrieval and/or sharing of voice models, but the embodiments are not so limited. A device/system of an embodiment includes speaker recognition features configured in part to proactively retrieve and/or enable sharing of voice models for use in speaker identification operations. A method of an embodiment operates in part to proactively retrieve and/or enable sharing of voice models for use in speaker identification operations. Other embodiments are included.

Abstract: Devices are often configurable to perform actions automatically in response to a condition, such as an alarm presented at a time or date of a meeting; a message associated with a location specified by a geofence; or an automated response to a received message. Such conditions may be tangentially applied to actions involving an individual (e.g., a reminder presented during an anticipated meeting or a geofence associated with the individual's office), but may result in false positives when the individual is not actually present, and false negatives when an unanticipated presence of the individual arises. Instead, a device may be configured to detect the presence of the individual with the user (e.g., capturing a photo of the environment of the user, and identifying the face of the individual in the photo), and to perform an action for the user during the detected presence of the individual with the user.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes lateral and upper hydrogen blocking patterns disposed to prevent hydrogen from diffusing into the cell array region. Accordingly, hydrogen is effectively prevented from being trapped in a tunnel dielectric, thereby improving the reliability of the semiconductor device. In the method, when a cell array contact plug is formed, a lateral hydrogen blocking pattern and an upper hydrogen blocking pattern are formed at the same time. Thus, an additional process for forming a hydrogen blocking pattern is unnecessary, thereby simplifying a process.

Abstract: An optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structure is provided. The structure includes an elastomer membrane, a plurality of polymer fibers attached to the elastomer membrane, an array of detectors operatively connected to the plurality of polymer fibers at a first end of the plurality of polymer fibers, and a microlens array operatively connected to the plurality of polymer fibers at a second end of the plurality of polymer fibers. A method of manufacturing an optical MEMS structure is provided. The method includes forming a hollow PDMS chamber in which PDMS fibers extend from top to bottom using a lost wax molding process.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to metallic nanophotonic crescent structures, or “nanocrescent SERS probes,” that enhance detectable signals to facilitate molecular detections. More particularly, the nanocrescent SERS probes of the disclosure possess specialized geometries, including an edge surrounding the opening that is capable of enhancing local electromagnetic fields. Nanosystems utilizing such structures are particularly useful in the medical field for detecting rare molecular targets, biomolecular cellular imaging, and in molecular medicine.

Abstract: An optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structure is provided. The structure includes an elastomer membrane, a plurality of polymer fibers attached to the elastomer membrane, an array of detectors operatively connected to the plurality of polymer fibers at a first end of the plurality of polymer fibers, and a microlens array operatively connected to the plurality of polymer fibers at a second end of the plurality of polymer fibers. A method of manufacturing an optical MEMS structure is provided. The method includes forming a hollow PDMS chamber in which PDMS fibers extend from top to bottom using a lost wax molding process.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes lateral and upper hydrogen blocking patterns disposed to prevent hydrogen from diffusing into the cell array region. Accordingly, hydrogen is effectively prevented from being trapped in a tunnel dielectric, thereby improving the reliability of the semiconductor device. In the method, when a cell array contact plug is formed, a lateral hydrogen blocking pattern and an upper hydrogen blocking pattern are formed at the same time. Thus, an additional process for forming a hydrogen blocking pattern is unnecessary, thereby simplifying a process.