Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for handling objects. The apparatus comprises a carrying device (104) that is configured to move along a track (102). A handling device (224) is adapted to hold an object (108) and is mounted to the carrying device (104) such that it is rotatable with respect to the carrying device about a handling axis (226). A drive device (310) is disposed at a position along the track (102) and configured to produce a torque around a drive axis. The carrying device (104) can be moved along the track (102) in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis into and out of a drive position. In the drive position, the handling axis (226) of the handling device (224) is in substantial alignment with the drive axis of the drive device (310) whereupon the drive device induces a torque in the handling device (224) causing the handling device to rotate, thereby causing the object (108) held by the handling device to rotate.

Abstract: Methods of etching metal by depositing a material reactive with a metal to be etched and a halogen to form a volatile species and exposing the substrate to a halogen-containing gas and activation gas to etch the substrate are provided. Deposited materials may include silicon, germanium, titanium, carbon, tin, and combinations thereof. Methods are suitable for fabricating MRAM structures and may involve integrating ALD and ALE processes without breaking vacuum.

Abstract: A system and method which allows the basic checkpoint-reverse-mode AD strategy (of recursively decomposing the computation to reduce storage requirements of reverse-mode AD) to be applied to arbitrary programs: not just programs consisting of loops, but programs with arbitrarily complex control flow. The method comprises (a) transforming the program into a formalism that allows convenient manipulation by formal tools, and (b) introducing a set of operators to allow computations to be decomposed by running them for a given period of time then pausing them, while treating the paused program as a value subject to manipulation.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the locations and types of objects in a plurality of videos. The method comprises pairing each video with one or more sentences describing the activity or activities in which those objects participate in the associated video, wherein no use is made of a pretrained object detector. The object locations are specified as rectangles, the object types are specified as nouns, and sentences describe the relative positions and motions of the objects in the videos referred to by the nouns in the sentences. The relative positions and motions of the objects in the video are described by a conjunction of predicates constructed to represent the activity described by the sentences associated with the videos.

Abstract: A bias circuit is provided that is configure to control the bias for a diode-connected transistor operating in the sub-threshold region to produce a gate-to-source voltage. A differential tuning voltage derived from the gate-to-source voltage tunes a plurality of varactors.

Abstract: A system for directing the motion of a vehicle, comprising receiving commands in natural language using a processor, the commands specifying a relative path to be taken by the vehicle with respect to other objects in the environment; and determining an absolute path for the vehicle to follow based on the relative path using the processor, the absolute path comprising a series of coordinates in the environment; and directing the vehicle along the absolute path. Also provided is a system for training a lexicon of a natural language processing system, comprising receiving a data set containing a corpus of absolute paths driven by a vehicle annotated with natural language descriptions of the absolute paths using a processor, and determining parameters of the lexicon based on the data set.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for a system for a face shield typically worn while engaging in snow sports. The face shield may be worn with a pair of goggles as well as a helmet if desired. The face shield is comprised of a body portion having arms extending therefrom. One or more retainers are affixed to each of one or more adjustable brackets and one or more fixed brackets. Adjustable brackets are mounted to a sliding track permitting the face shield to be fit specifically to the user. Retainers in communication with the fixed and adjustable brackets releasably engage with the goggles when in use, effectively contouring the face shield about the face of the user.

Abstract: A system is provided for event-based monitoring of a subject's well-being within an unattended setting. A plurality of sensors are disposed within the setting for sensing disparate events, and an analytics processing portion is coupled to the sensors to collectively acquire sensing data therefrom, and map a plurality of sensed data points for a selected combination of disparate events to a conduct adaptively characterized for the subject. The mapping occurs according to a set of pre-established reference event patterns, relative to which each characterized conduct is screened for excessive aberration. The analytics processing portion actuates generation of a graphic user interface displaying at least one reporting page. The reporting page contains for each characterized conduct certain graphic indicia determined responsive to the screening thereof.

Abstract: Methods of etching and smoothening films by exposing to a halogen-containing plasma and an inert plasma within a bias window in cycles are provided. Methods are suitable for etching and smoothening films of various materials in the semiconductor industry and are also applicable to applications in optics and other industries.

Abstract: Methods are provided for integrating atomic layer etch and atomic layer deposition by performing both processes in the same chamber or reactor. Methods involve sequentially alternating between atomic layer etch and atomic layer deposition processes to prevent feature degradation during etch, improve selectivity, and encapsulate sensitive layers of a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A biological analysis system is provided. The system comprises a sample block assembly. The sample block assembly comprises a sample block configured to accommodate a sample holder, the sample holder configured to receive a plurality of samples. The system also comprises a control system configured to cycle the plurality of samples through a series of temperatures. The system further comprises an automated tray comprising a slide assembly, the tray configured to reversibly slide the sample block assembly from a closed to an open position to allow user access to the plurality of sample holders.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining the integrity of metrology systems are provided. A method according to one implementation includes the step of storing, with a computer having a system clock, an initialization time at which a device is connected to the computer. The method also includes receiving, with the computer, information obtained by the device and associating an electronic timestamp to the information. The electronic timestamp is based on the system clock when the computer receives the information obtained by the device. The method also includes counting clock cycles to determine an elapsed time from the initialization time to the time when the computer receives the information obtained by the device. Also, the method determines if the system clock has been altered by comparing the electronic timestamp to the sum of the initialization time and the elapsed time.

Abstract: A cargo bed liner for protecting a cargo bed of a vehicle. Plural rigid floor panels are interconnected to form a cargo liner platform suspended above the cargo bed by suspension rails to disperse impacts and otherwise to protect the cargo bed. The floor panels are interlocked by tabs projecting from at least some of the panels. The floor panels are fixed to the suspension rails by locking slots in combination with locking studs. The suspension rails are fixed to the cargo bed in retention of the cargo liner platform. Anchors with extendable and retractable clamping members and registration members are selectively retained relative to apertures of an array of paired apertures in the platform for permitting secure and adjustable retention and transport of cargo. The clamping and registration members have outer surfaces separated by a distance less than a longitudinal dimension of apertures within the array of apertures.

Abstract: Vacuum-integrated photoresist-less methods and apparatuses for forming metal hardmasks can provide sub-30 nm patterning resolution. A metal-containing (e.g., metal salt or organometallic compound) film that is sensitive to a patterning agent is deposited on a semiconductor substrate. The metal-containing film is then patterned directly (i.e., without the use of a photoresist) by exposure to the patterning agent in a vacuum ambient to form the metal mask. For example, the metal-containing film is photosensitive and the patterning is conducted using sub-30 nm wavelength optical lithography, such as EUV lithography.

Abstract: A system is provided for adaptively conformed imaging of work pieces having disparate configurations, which comprises a mount unit for holding at least one work piece, and an imaging unit for capturing images of the work piece held by the mount unit. At least one manipulator unit is coupled to selectively manipulate at least one of the mount and imaging units for relative displacement therebetween. A controller coupled to automatically actuate the manipulator and imaging units executes scene segmentation about the held work piece, which spatially defines at least one zone of operation in peripherally conformed manner about the work piece. The controller also executes an acquisition path mapping for the work piece, wherein a sequence of spatially offset acquisition points are mapped within the zone of operation, with each acquisition point defining a vantage point for the imaging unit to capture an image of the work piece from.

Abstract: Methods are provided for integrating atomic layer etch and atomic layer deposition by performing both processes in the same chamber or reactor. Methods involve sequentially alternating between atomic layer etch and atomic layer deposition processes to prevent feature degradation during etch, improve selectivity, and encapsulate sensitive layers of a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed that relate to cooling multiple heat-generating components in an electronic device. One example provides a cooling module including an airflow channel downstream of a blower to receive a flow of air generated by the blower, a heat sink extending into the airflow channel and configured to direct air toward a first outlet, and an air-diverting structure positioned within a gap between a distal surface of the heat sink and an opposing interior surface of the airflow channel, the air-diverting structure configured to redirect air flowing in the gap toward a second outlet.

Abstract: A baking pan includes two rows of two muffin cups and three rows of three muffin cups, thus creating thirteen muffin cups, or “a baker's dozen.” The baking pan includes a distance space created on the pan adjacent to each side of the row of two muffin cups. Silicone grips are places within at least two of these distance spaces on opposite sides of the muffin tray, allowing for easy gripping of the baking pan, thus avoiding damage to the muffin or other baked good.

Abstract: Each year in North America there are approximately 175,000 non-contact ACL injuries. One of the main causes of these injuries is the rotational and translational forces created when a player makes a sudden change in direction or stops. Every athlete subjects their lower extremities to various forces that are unique to his or her mass, speed, and strength. These forces are affected by composition of the playing field surface, shoe sole design and construction, and other factors. Using these and other factors, the level of force at which injury is inevitable (pre-injury force) is determined and an athletic shoe is created which will provide a mitigating deformation induced by a particular athlete's pre-determined, pre-injury force threshold. A mitigating deformation of as little as 2 degrees can significantly reduce injurious forces. After the athlete has progressed through that particular force-generating movement, the shoe's sole instantly returns to its original shape.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a biological instrument is provided. The method comprises the steps of acquiring an image of at least one biological sample array, determining a first region of interest within the image, wherein the first region of interest comprises a first plurality of locations on the at least one biological array; and identifying within the first region of interest, a plurality of image elements associated with each of the first plurality of locations on the at least one biological array.