Abstract: An image retrieval method is provided. The method includes detecting an outline of an image and obtaining an outline feature of the image, generating an index list in an image database according to the outline feature, and obtaining a sketch input by a user and retrieving images containing the sketch from the index list. The various embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an image retrieval device and a real-time drawing prompting method and device. The various embodiments of the present disclosure can rapidly and precisely retrieve image information based on contents, and the user can rapidly retrieve desired images by inputting a sketch. The real-time drawing prompting method and device can provide the limner with real-time guidance based on the retrieval of a sketch map.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a lighting instrument. The lighting instrument includes a board or substrate, for example, a printed circuit board. The lighting instrument also includes a plurality of light-emitting devices disposed on the substrate. The light-emitting devices may be light-emitting diode (LED) dies. The LED dies belong to a plurality of different bins. The bins are categorized based on the light output performance of the LED dies. In some embodiments, the LED dies may be binned based on the wavelength or radiant flux of the light output. The LED dies are distributed on the substrate according to a predefined pattern based on their bins. In some embodiments, the LED dies are bin-mixed in an interleaving manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a short-pulse laser using a temporally modulated sideband gain is provided. The apparatus includes a laser diode and an external reflector. By use of a time difference resulted by a nanosecond laser pulse signal at the external reflector, a sideband gain is obtained for generating a short-pulse picosecond laser output.

Abstract: The system and method described herein can be used to reduce the effects of periodic vibrations in an electric power steering (EPS) system for a vehicle, particularly, those that can lead to smooth road shake (SRS), torsional nibble, and/or other undesirable conditions. According to an exemplary embodiment, an electric motor is used to purposely generate counter-acting vibrations in the EPS system to cancel out the periodic vibrations generated by the wheel assemblies or corners.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed of forming and removing a reacted layer on a surface of a recess to provide mechanisms for improving thickness uniformity of a semiconductor material formed in the recess. The improved thickness uniformity in turn improves the uniformity of device performance.

Abstract: Disclosed are animal litters, processes for preparing animal litters, and methods for removal of animal waste. The disclosed animal litters are made from ingredients including virgin germ and have a total fat content of about 0.5 to about 15 based on the weight of the litter. The litters are provided in the form of discrete plural particles which tend to agglomerate when wetted.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone includes a silicon substrate, a diaphragm connected to the silicon substrate, a backplate opposed from the diaphragm for forming an air gap. The backplate defines a plurality of first through holes and a plurality of second through holes surrounded by the first through holes, each of the first through holes being formed by a straight boundary and an arc boundary, the radius of the second boundary being greater than half the width of the first boundary.

Abstract: A laser device including a laser crystal, a first lens, an induced light source, a third light source and a second lens and a method for generating a laser light are disclosed. The laser crystal includes a gain medium, a first cross section and a second cross section. The first lens is located on the first cross section of the laser crystal. The induced light source is adapted to generate an induced light entering into the laser crystal through the first lens. The third light source is adapted to generate a third light which is adapted for emitting the laser crystal. The third light and the induced light are adapted to induce the liquid crystal to make the liquid crystal generate a first light and a second light.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a multi-threaded processor that includes a first register file associated with a first thread and a second register file associated with a second thread. At least one hardware resource is shared by the first and second register files. In addition, the first thread may have a pipeline access position that is non-sequential to the second thread. A method of accessing a plurality of register files is also disclosed. The method includes reading data from a first register file while concurrently reading data from a second register file. The first register file is associated with a first instruction stream and the second register file is associated with a second instruction stream. The first instruction stream is sequential to the second instruction stream in an execution pipeline of a processor, and the first register file is in a non-adjacent location with respect to the second register file.

Abstract: A light source device includes a lens and a light source disposed under the lens. The lens has a light-emitting top surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light-emitting top surface. The bottom surface concaves towards the light-emitting top surface to form a hole and has a gouge surrounding the hole with an inclination towards the edge of the hole. The hole is formed from the surrounding of a first inner wall surface and a second inner wall surface. The light source is disposed below the bottom surface and corresponds to the hole.

Abstract: A sensor device detects an object, in particular for optically detecting smoke particles. The sensor device contains a transmitting device for emitting transmit radiation, a receiving device for receiving receive radiation having scattering radiation that is generated by an at least partial scattering of the transmit radiation by the object, and for outputting a measurement signal indicative of the receive radiation, a signal modification device for modifying the measurement signal and for outputting a modified measurement signal, a level of the modified measurement signal increasing after the transmitting device has been switched on, and a calibration device for monitoring the modified measurement signal. The calibration device is embodied such that a reaching of a predefined signal level for the modified measurement signal can be detected and that a time interval between the switching on of the transmitting device and the reaching of the predefined signal level can be determined.

Abstract: In a data region of each microdot block on a microdot matrix, a coordinate of each the microdot block on the microdot matrix is encoded into a plurality of microdots included by the data region according to an encoding method based on Reflected Gray codes. With the aid of a unique changed bit between any two consecutive Reflected Gray codes, an estimated coordinate of a frame, which is fetched by scanning the microdot matrix, on the microdot matrix, may still be decoded even if no complete microdot block is fetched within the frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to determine a frequency adjustment in a mobile wireless device are disclosed. A method includes determining a coarse frequency error estimate and multiple fine frequency error estimates; selecting at least one candidate fine frequency error estimate having a frequency value closest to a corresponding frequency value for the coarse frequency error estimate; and determining a frequency adjustment based on a combination of the coarse frequency error estimate and the selected at least one candidate fine frequency error estimate. In an embodiment, the method further includes calculating a confidence metric for the coarse frequency error estimate; when the confidence metric exceeds a threshold value, determining the frequency adjustment based on the candidate fine frequency error estimate; otherwise, determining the frequency adjustment based on a fine frequency error estimate in the plurality of fine frequency error estimates closest to a most recent previous fine frequency error estimate.

Abstract: A flexible spine fixing structure includes a first flexible element and a second flexible element. The first flexible element includes a first flexible part, a first fixing part and a second fixing part. The first fixing part and the second fixing part are respectively connected to two ends of the first flexible part and used for fixing to a first vertebra, and the first flexible part includes a first through hole and a second through hole. The second flexible element includes a second flexible part, a third fixing part and a fourth fixing part. The third fixing part and the fourth fixing part are respectively connected to two ends of the second flexible part and used for fixing to a second vertebra. The second flexible part is disposed by penetrating through the first through hole and the second through hole.

Abstract: One power management method of a communication interface includes: when receiving a command transmitted via the communication interface, checking if a predetermined criterion is met; and when the predetermined criterion is met, controlling the communication interface to enter a power-saving mode before an end of the received command. Another power management method of a communication interface includes: when the communication interface is operated under a power-saving mode, checking if a predetermined criterion of an executed command is met; and when the predetermined criterion is met, controlling the communication interface to leave the power-saving mode.

Abstract: Compounds of the invention, such as compounds of Formulae Ia, Ib, Ic, or Id and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and prodrugs thereof, which are useful as modulators of the activity of liver X receptors, where R1, R2, R21, R3, and G are defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of using the compounds are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microbial culture medium and a cultural method. The culture medium comprises a combination of strong acid-weak alkali salts and strong alkali-weak acid salts so that pH value thereof can be regulated and controlled in a stable and suitable range by itself, thus decreasing or eliminating an operable regulation on pH value via an external device in fermentation process and a risk of contaminations resulted from it in fermentation process as well, accordingly greatly improving the controllability and stability of the fermentation process. Meanwhile the ammonium salts acting as strong acid-weak alkali salts can be used as a nitrogen source to replace yeast cream to realize a decreased amount of nitrogen resource of high price, therefor sharply reducing the cost of the culture medium.

Abstract: A triboelectric generator includes a first contact charging member and a second contact charging member. The first contact charging member includes a first contact layer and a conductive electrode layer. The first contact layer includes a material that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to gain electrons due to a contacting event. The conductive electrode layer is disposed along the back side of the contact layer. The second contact charging member is spaced apart from and disposed oppositely from the first contact charging member. It includes an electrically conductive material layer that has a triboelectric series rating indicating a propensity to lose electrons when contacted by the first contact layer during the contacting event. The electrically conductive material acts as an electrode. A mechanism maintains a space between the first contact charging member and the second contact charging member except when a force is applied thereto.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a lighting instrument. The lighting instrument includes a board or substrate, for example, a printed circuit board. The lighting instrument also includes a plurality of light-emitting devices disposed on the substrate. The light-emitting devices may be light-emitting diode (LED) dies. The LED dies belong to a plurality of different bins. The bins are categorized based on the light output performance of the LED dies. In some embodiments, the LED dies may be binned based on the wavelength or radiant flux of the light output. The LED dies are distributed on the substrate according to a predefined pattern based on their bins. In some embodiments, the LED dies are bin-mixed in an interleaving manner.

Abstract: A semiconductor package with a die pad, a die disposed on the die pad, and a first lead disposed about the die pad. The first lead includes a contact element, an extension element extending substantially in the direction of the die pad, and a concave surface disposed between the contact element and the extension element. A second lead having a concave surface is also disposed about the die pad. The first lead concave surface is opposite in direction to the second lead concave surface.