Abstract: A process for separating a primary gas component from a feed gas mixture comprising the primary gas component and secondary gas components in four or more adsorption beds. The process comprises subjecting each of the four or more adsorption beds to a repetitive cycle. The repetitive cycle comprises, in sequence, a feed step, a pressure decreasing equalization step, a provide purge step, a blowdown step, a purge step, a pressure increasing equalization step, and a repressurization step. During the pressure decreasing equalization step, rinse gas is co-currently introduced simultaneous with the withdrawal of pressure equalization gas. Rinse gas is formed by compressing blowdown gas and/or purge gas effluent from the adsorption bed undergoing the purge step. The process is particularly suited for separating H2 from a reformate stream.

Abstract: A hydrogen production process wherein steam and a hydrocarbon feed is reacted in a prereformer, the prereformed intermediate is further reacted in an oxygen-based reformer, the reformate is shifted and then separated by a pressure swing adsorber to form a H2 product stream and a tail gas, a first portion of the tail gas is recycled to the prereformer and/or the oxygen-based reformer, and a second portion of the tail gas is recycled to the pressure swing adsorber.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering helium-3 from helium. A distillation column having a top section that is smaller in diameter than a main section is provided. The column also includes an intermediate condenser located in the main section and above a helium feed stream. Reflux to the column can be provided by liquid helium-3 from a conduit or from an overhead condenser. In a preferred cycle, the distillation column is operated at a subatmospheric pressure, and in a temperature range between 2.3 K and 4.3 K.

Abstract: A measurement system for monitoring an LED chip surface roughening process is described. A reflective illuminator can run reflectance measurements. A vertical positioning means can adjust a distance between an objective lens and an industrial sample. A horizontal positioning means can move objects in XY plane, and is specifically configured to hold the industrial sample and a reference sample. An optical sensor can acquire images of the industrial sample. A spectrometer can acquire reflectance spectrums of the industrial sample and the reference sample. A processor can control these components. The processor can perform deskew, and calculate an average reflectance and an oscillation amplitude from the reflectance spectrums of the industrial sample.

Abstract: A system for media delivery includes a server-side proxy for aggregating and encrypting stream data for efficient HTTP-based distribution over an unsecured network. A client-side proxy decrypts and distributes the encapsulated stream data to client devices. A multicast-based infrastructure may be used for increased scalability. The encoded rate of the media delivered over the persistent HTTP proxy connections may be dynamically adapted. The client-side proxy may be integrated within a mobile device for maximum network security and reliability.

Abstract: An open brayton cycle power generation system is enabled and improved by integration of an energy storage system utilizing cryogenic storage of atmospheric gas. A particular improved system is an open brayton cycle power generation system in which the heating source is Concentrating Solar Power. Multiple embodiments are described which permit various modes of operation and improved overall efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a system for monitoring and tracing transmission of multimedia resources, wherein, said method comprises: capturing data packets in a network link, reassembling the captured data packets to complete the restoration of data streams, and storing the restored data streams into a data stream database; and extracting data fragments from a multimedia file as file DNA fragments to construct a file DNA, and storing the file DNA into a file DNA database; and invoking the file DNA from the file DNA database, and identifying the file DNA fragments of the file DNA in the data streams to get identification results.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) microscope includes various insertable components that facilitate multiple imaging and measurement capabilities. These capabilities include Nomarski imaging, polarized light imaging, quantitative differential interference contrast (q-DIC) imaging, motorized polarized light imaging, phase-shifting interferometry (PSI), and vertical-scanning interferometry (VSI).

Abstract: A compact and low cost microscope illuminator capable of generating 3-D optical images includes a first light source and a second light source. The two light sources lead two optical paths: one to illuminate a sample and another to project a pattern onto the focal plane of a microscope objective lens. The two light sources are controlled by a processor and can be turned on and off rapidly. A 3-D optical microscope equipped with said microscope illuminator and a method of creating a 3-D image on said 3-D optical microscope are also described.

Abstract: A 3-D optical microscope, a method of turning a conventional optical microscope into a 3-D optical microscope, and a method of creating a 3-D image on an optical microscope are described. The 3-D optical microscope includes a processor, at least one objective lens, an optical sensor capable of acquiring an image of a sample, a mechanism for adjusting focus position of the sample relative to the objective lens, and a mechanism for illuminating the sample and for projecting a pattern onto and removing the pattern from the focal plane of the objective lens. The 3-D image creation method includes taking two sets of images, one with and another without the presence of the projected pattern, and using a software algorithm to analyze the two image sets to generating a 3-D image of the sample. The 3-D image creation method enables reliable and accurate 3-D imaging on almost any sample regardless of its image contrast.

Abstract: A method and system for generating power in a vaporization of liquid natural gas process, the method comprising pressurizing a working fluid; heating and vaporizing the working fluid; expanding the working fluid in one or more expanders for the generation of power, the working fluid comprises: 2-11 mol % nitrogen, methane, a third component whose boiling point is greater than or equal to that of propane, and a fourth component comprising ethane or ethylene; cooling the working fluid such that the working fluid is at least substantially condensed; and recycling the working fluid, wherein the cooling of the working fluid occurs through indirect heat exchange with a pressurized liquefied natural gas stream in a heat exchanger, and wherein the flow rate of the working fluid at an inlet of the heat exchanger is equal to the flow rate of the working fluid at an outlet of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A method of detecting multi-surfaces of an object includes providing an imaging system capable of detecting surfaces of the object. After system parameters are set up, two-dimensional images of the object at multiple Z steps can be acquired. Each surface of the object can then be extracted using two steps. In a first step, the surface can be constructed based on a confidence threshold. In a second step, the surface can be enhanced using an interpolation filter.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) microscope for patterned substrate measurement can include an objective lens, a reflected illuminator, a transmitted illuminator, a focusing adjustment device, an optical sensor, and a processor. The focusing adjustment device can automatically adjust the objective lens focus at a plurality of Z steps. The optical sensor can be capable of acquiring images at each of these Z steps. The processor can control the reflected illuminator, the transmitted illuminator, the focusing adjustment device, and the optical sensor. The processor can be configured to capture first and second images at multiple Z steps, the first image with the pattern using the reflected illuminator and the second image without the pattern using one of the reflected illuminator and the transmitted illuminator.

Abstract: A live streaming system/method provides cross platform live streaming capabilities to mobile devices. The live streaming system includes a live streaming recorder operative to (1) capture a live media stream generated by a live media source and save the captured live media stream as a recorded stream in a recorded media file, and (2) transcode the recorded stream into a plurality of transcoded media files of respective different media encoding formats. The system further includes a stream distribution subsystem operative to generate a plurality of distributed media streams each generated from one or more of the transcoded media files, each distributed media stream being delivered to a corresponding set of the mobile endpoint devices.

Abstract: In a system for streaming data over a network, the type and rate of streaming are automatically varied based on available network bandwidth. Video media is transcoded into different bit rate encodings that are divided into segment files. Segments are sent from a network-aware adaptive streaming (NAAS) server and reassembled and presented to a media player at a client device. The system may download additional segment files ahead of time from multiple NAAS servers to increase throughput. A playback status (“bookmark”) may be maintained to keep track of what the user has viewed and to allow the user to continue playing from where the user left off. The user may continue watching from the bookmark point on the same device or on a different device.

Abstract: A streaming media system employs dynamic rate adaptation. The method includes a file format compatible with legacy HTTP infrastructure to deliver media over a persistent connection. The method further includes the ability for legacy client media players to dynamically change the encoded delivery rate of the media over a persistent connection. The method provided works transparently with standard HTTP servers, requiring no modification and leverages standard media players embedded in mobile devices for seamless media delivery over wireless networks with high bandwidth fluctuations. A system is also specified for implementing a client and server in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A streaming media system employs dynamic rate adaptation. The method includes a file format compatible with legacy HTTP infrastructure to deliver media over a persistent connection. The method further includes the ability for legacy client media players to dynamically change the encoded delivery rate of the media over a persistent connection. The method provided works transparently with standard HTTP servers, requiring no modification and leverages standard media players embedded in mobile devices for seamless media delivery over wireless networks with high bandwidth fluctuations. A system is also specified for implementing a client and server in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A live streaming system/method provides cross platform live streaming capabilities to mobile devices. A file format compatible with legacy HTTP infrastructure is used to deliver media over a persistent connection. Legacy client media players can dynamically change the encoded rate of the media delivered over a persistent connection. Standard HTTP servers may be used without modification, leveraging standard media players embedded in mobile devices for seamless media delivery over wireless networks with high bandwidth fluctuations.

Abstract: A live streaming system/method provides cross platform live streaming capabilities to mobile devices. A file format compatible with legacy HTTP infrastructure is used to deliver media over a persistent connection. Legacy client media players can dynamically change the encoded rate of the media delivered over a persistent connection. Standard HTTP servers may be used without modification, leveraging standard media players embedded in mobile devices for seamless media delivery over wireless networks with high bandwidth fluctuations.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and system involving pressurizing an atmospheric gas stream to form at least a compressed atmospheric gas stream, directing the compressed atmospheric gas stream to a first regenerator for cooling, pressurizing to above a second predetermined pressure to form at least a supercritical atmospheric gas stream, directing the supercritical atmospheric gas stream to a second regenerator for cooling, reducing pressure to form at least a liquefied atmospheric gas stream, selectively storing the liquefied atmospheric gas stream, pressurizing the liquefied atmospheric gas stream to form at least a pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream, heating the pressurized liquefied atmospheric gas stream in the second regenerator to form at least a heated stream, expanding the heated stream to form at least a medium pressure atmospheric gas stream, directing the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream to the first regenerator, and heating the medium pressure atmospheric gas stream in the first regenerat