Abstract: Various embodiments of an apparatus and method of multi-course infusion for brewing tea and other beverages are provided. In one aspect, a method of multi-course infusion for brewing tea and other beverages may receive, in an infusion chamber of an apparatus, an amount of beverage medium in dried state. The method may also provide steam into the infusion chamber to pre-condition the beverage medium. The method may further perform multi-course infusion of the beverage medium in hot water by repeating more than once a process that includes: showering hot water down onto the beverage medium in the infusion chamber, infusing the beverage medium in the hot water for some infusion time to form the beverage, providing steam into the infusion chamber while the beverage medium is infused in the hot water, drawing the beverage into one or more carafes after the infusion time has elapsed.

Abstract: The amount of resources needed for an electronic device to track and/or interact with a user is reduced by utilizing a predicted relative position of that user. In some embodiments, a full 360° scan is performed using at least one image capture element to locate a primary direction to a user of the device. Once this direction is determined, a smaller range (e.g., 45°) centered around that direction can be used to capture, analyze, or provide information for the user. As the user moves, the determined direction is updated and the range adjusted accordingly. If the user moves outside the range, the device can increase the size of the range until the user is located, and the range can again be decreased around the determined direction. Such approaches limit the amount of image or audio information that must be captured and/or analyzed to track the relative position of a user.

Abstract: The amount of resources needed for an electronic device to track and/or interact with a user is reduced by utilizing a predicted relative position of that user. In some embodiments, a full 360° scan is performed using at least one image capture element to locate a primary direction to a user of the device. Once this direction is determined, a smaller range (e.g., 45°) centered around that direction can be used to capture, analyze, or provide information for the user. As the user moves, the determined direction is updated and the range adjusted accordingly. If the user moves outside the range, the device can increase the size of the range until the user is located, and the range can again be decreased around the determined direction. Such approaches limit the amount of image or audio information that must be captured and/or analyzed to track the relative position of a user.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer program product are described that provide for proximity-based zoom functionality for image capturing operations. A physical demarcation is presented to a user of a device, such as a reticle or a reference indication, by which the user can intuitively adjust a level of zoom to be applied in capturing an image. A position of the user with respect to the device is detected, such as by a sensor, and a representation of a scene capturable via the device is determined based on the position detected, where the representation corresponds to the user's view of the scene with respect to the physical demarcation.

Abstract: The amount of resources needed for an electronic device to track and/or interact with a user is reduced by utilizing a predicted relative position of that user. In some embodiments, a full 360° scan is performed using at least one image capture element to locate a primary direction to a user of the device. Once this direction is determined, a smaller range (e.g., 45°) centered around that direction can be used to capture, analyze, or provide information for the user. As the user moves, the determined direction is updated and the range adjusted accordingly. If the user moves outside the range, the device can increase the size of the range until the user is located, and the range can again be decreased around the determined direction. Such approaches limit the amount of image or audio information that must be captured and/or analyzed to track the relative position of a user.

Abstract: A personal media device includes a housing assembly, a display panel located on the housing assembly, and a control assembly located on the housing assembly. The control assembly includes a slider assembly, a first switch assembly positioned proximate a first side of the slider assembly, and a second switch assembly positioned proximate a second side of the slider assembly. The control assembly is configured to extend across substantially an entire width of the housing assembly.

Abstract: A user input device includes one or more user controls that enable a user to selectively imports bits of data by activating the control when the user input devices proximate to a display surface of an interactive display system. By depressing or otherwise activating a user control, the user causes an element within the user input device to move through a plane of change so that the state of a parameter sensed by the interactive display system changes and is detected. In the examples provided, the parameter relates to infrared light that is reflected or absorbed or produced by a component of the user input device and is thus detected by an infrared sensitive camera. The input can be a single bit, or comprise a plurality of bits corresponding to a specific pattern.

Abstract: A keyboard of a handheld electronic device is provided. The keyboard is divided into a number of key areas arranged in array. The keyboard includes character keys and function keys. Each of the character keys respectively occupies one of the key areas and has a first character symbol, while some of the character keys further have a second character symbol respectively. Some of the function keys have an activation key occupying one key area. The other function keys respectively include an ENTER key, a SPACE key, and a SHIFT key, each of which occupies approximately two key areas transversely. The arrangement of the keys enable users to press the key quickly, correctly, and conveniently.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a fluid includes a substrate, at least one electrode group and a controlling unit. The substrate has at least one plane. The electrode group is disposed on the substrate and includes a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode. A projecting position of the second electrode on the plane is disposed between that of the first electrode and that of the third electrode. The controlling unit electrically connected to electrode group is for driving the first to third electrodes. When the controlling unit drives the first to third electrodes to make the first and third electrodes have opposite polarities and to make the second and third electrodes have the same polarity, an electric field produced by the electrode group enables the fluid on the substrate to flow from the first electrode to the third electrode.

Abstract: A personal media device includes a housing assembly, a display panel located on the housing assembly, and a control assembly located on the housing assembly. The control assembly includes a slider assembly, a first switch assembly positioned proximate a first side of the slider assembly, and a second switch assembly positioned proximate a second side of the slider assembly. The control assembly is configured to extend across substantially an entire width of the housing assembly.

Abstract: A user input device includes one or more user controls that enable a user to selectively imports bits of data by activating the control when the user input devices proximate to a display surface of an interactive display system. By depressing or otherwise activating a user control, the user causes an element within the user input device to move through a plane of change so that the state of a parameter sensed by the interactive display system changes and is detected. In the examples provided, the parameter relates to infrared light that is reflected or absorbed or produced by a component of the user input device and is thus detected by an infrared sensitive camera. The input can be a single bit, or comprise a plurality of bits corresponding to a specific pattern.

Abstract: A portable all-in-one digital data converter includes a power circuit, a micro processing unit (MCU), a card reading chip, a USB connector and a memory card slot. Without requiring a computer as a media, the portable all-in-one digital data converter allows digital data exchange and storage between various storage media as desired.

Abstract: A ring or collar surrounding a semiconductor workpiece in a plasma chamber. According to one aspect, the ring has an elevated collar portion having an inner surface oriented at an obtuse angle to the plane of the workpiece, this angle preferably being 135°. This angular orientation causes ions bombarding the inner surface of the elevated collar to scatter in a direction more parallel to the plane of the workpiece, thereby reducing erosion of any dielectric shield at the perimeter of the workpiece, and ameliorating spatial non-uniformity in the plasma process due to any excess ion density near such perimeter. In a second aspect, the workpiece is surrounded by a dielectric shield, and the shield is covered by a non-dielectric ring which protects the dielectric shield from reaction with, or erosion by, the process gases.

Abstract: A ring or collar surrounding a semiconductor workpiece in a plasma chamber. According to one aspect, the ring has an elevated collar portion having an inner surface oriented at an obtuse angle to the plane of the workpiece, this angle preferably being 135°. This angular orientation causes ions bombarding the inner surface of the elevated collar to scatter in a direction more parallel to the plane of the workpiece, thereby reducing erosion of any dielectric shield at the perimeter of the workpiece, and ameliorating spatial non-uniformity in the plasma process due to any excess ion density near such perimeter. In a second aspect, the workpiece is surrounded by a dielectric shield, and the shield is covered by a non-dielectric ring which protects the dielectric shield from reaction with, or erosion by, the process gases.

Abstract: A ring or collar surrounding a semiconductor workpiece in a plasma chamber. According to one aspect, the ring has an elevated collar portion having an inner surface oriented at an obtuse angle to the plane of the workpiece, this angle preferably being 135°. This angular orientation causes ions bombarding the inner surface of the elevated collar to scatter in a direction more parallel to the plane of the workpiece, thereby reducing erosion of any dielectric shield at the perimeter of the workpiece, and ameliorating spatial non-uniformity in the plasma process due to any excess ion density near such perimeter. In a second aspect, the workpiece is surrounded by a dielectric shield, and the shield is covered by a non-dielectric ring which protects the dielectric shield from reaction with, or erosion by, the process gases.

Abstract: Plasma process analysis techniques are provided. The intensity of each of a number, P, of a plurality of radiation wavelengths that are emitted from a plasma process are monitored as the process proceeds. Indications of P-dimensional correlations between the intensities of the P monitored wavelengths are produced as the process proceeds. Then the produced correlation indications are compared with a prespecified correlation indication generated based on historical conditions for the plasma process, to determine the status condition of the process as the process proceeds. With this technique, the use of a priori, expected, specific templates is not required for evaluating radiation emission data during a plasma process. Instead the techniques investigate and discover the multiple complex correlations that form between various radiation emission wavelengths during a plasma process, and do not impose an expectation for a specific correlation or trend between the various wavelengths.

Abstract: A plasma chamber having a magnet which produces a magnetic field such that, within a region parallel to and adjacent to the workpiece, the direction of the magnetic field is approximately the vector cross product of (i) the gradient of the magnitude of the magnetic field, and (ii) a vector extending perpendicularly from the workpiece surface toward the plasma. Alternatively, the plasma chamber includes a north magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole located at distinct azimuths around the periphery of the workpiece. The azimuth of the south magnetic pole relative to the north magnetic pole is clockwise around the central axis, and each magnetic pole faces a direction which is more toward than away from a central axis of the workpiece area. An additional aspect of the invention is a plasma chamber having a rotating magnetic field produced by electromagnets spaced around the periphery of the workpiece which receive successive fixed amounts of electrical current during successive time intervals.