Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a method are disclosed. The ADC has a quantizer. The quantizer comprises a linear-feedback shift register (LFSR), a decoder configured to provide a plurality of switch control signals at a plurality of decoder outputs, respectively, the plurality of switch control signals responsive to a LFSR value of the LFSR output; an electrical reference, the electrical reference having a plurality of reference outputs, the electrical reference configured to provide a plurality of reference levels at the plurality of reference outputs, respectively; a first switch providing a first switch output and a second switch output; and a comparator, the comparator having a signal input, a first reference input, and a second reference input, the first reference input connected to the first switch output, and the second reference input connected to the second switch output.

Abstract: An interconnect element includes a semiconductor or insulating material layer that has a first thickness and defines a first surface; a thermally conductive layer; a plurality of conductive elements; and a dielectric coating. The thermally conductive layer includes a second thickness of at least 10 microns and defines a second surface of the interconnect element. The plurality of conductive elements extend from the first surface of the interconnect element to the second surface of the interconnect element. The dielectric coating is between at least a portion of each conductive element and the thermally conductive layer.

Abstract: One embodiment described herein provides a system and method for simulating behavior of a quantum circuit that includes a plurality of quantum gates. During operation, the system receives information that represents the quantum circuit and constructs an undirected graph corresponding to the quantum circuit. A respective vertex within the undirected graph corresponds to a distinct variable in a Feynman path integral used for computing amplitude of the quantum circuit, and a respective edge corresponds to one or more quantum gates. The system identifies a vertex within the undirected graph that is coupled to at least two two-qubit quantum gates; simplifies the undirected graph by removing the identified vertex, thereby effectively removing the two-qubit quantum gates coupled to the identified vertex; and evaluates the simplified undirected graph, thereby facilitating simulation of the behavior of the quantum circuit.

Abstract: A method of localizing portable apparatus (200) obtains: a stored experience data set comprising a set of connected nodes; captured location representation data provided by at least one sensor associated with the portable apparatus, and a current pose estimate of the portable apparatus within the environment. The pose estimate is used to select a candidate set of the nodes that contain a potential match for the captured location representation data. The pose estimate is used to obtain a set of paths from path memory data, each said path comprising a set of said nodes previously traversed in the environment under similar environmental/visual conditions. The set of paths is used to refine the candidate set. The captured location representation data and the refined candidate set of nodes is compared in order to identify a current pose of the portable apparatus within the environment.

Abstract: A component, e.g., interposer has first and second opposite sides, conductive elements at the first side and terminals at the second side. The terminals can connect with another component, for example. A first element at the first side can comprise a first material having a thermal expansion coefficient less than 10 ppm/° C., and a second element at the second side can comprise a plurality of insulated structures separated from one another by at least one gap. Conductive structure extends through at least one insulated structure and is electrically coupled with the terminals and the conductive elements. The at least one gap can reduce mechanical stress in connections between the terminals and another component.

Abstract: A microelectronic assembly including a dielectric region, a plurality of electrically conductive elements, an encapsulant, and a microelectronic element are provided. The encapsulant may have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) no greater than twice a CTE associated with at least one of the dielectric region or the microelectronic element.

Abstract: A method of localizing portable apparatus (100) in an environment, the method comprising obtaining captured image data representing an image captured by an imaging device (106) associated with the portable apparatus, and obtaining mesh data representing a 3-dimensional textured mesh of at least part of the environment. The mesh data is processed to generate a plurality of synthetic images, each synthetic image being associated with a pose within the environment and being a simulation of an image that would be captured by the imaging device from that associated pose. The plurality of synthetic images is analyzed to find a said synthetic image similar to the captured image data, and an indication is provided of a pose of the portable apparatus within the environment based on the associated pose of the similar synthetic image.

Abstract: An interaction assistant conducts multiple turn interaction dialogs with a user in which context is maintained between turns, and the system manages the dialog to achieve an inferred goal for the user. The system includes a linguistic interface to a user and a parser for processing linguistic events from the user. A dialog manager of the system is configured to receive alternative outputs from the parser, and selecting an action and causing the action to be performed based on the received alternative outputs. The system further includes a dialog state for an interaction with the user, and the alternative outputs represent alternative transitions from a current dialog state to a next dialog state. The system further includes a storage for a plurality of templates, and wherein each dialog state is defined in terms of an interrelationship of one or more instances of the templates.

Abstract: A method for making an interposer includes forming a plurality of wire bonds bonded to one or more first surfaces of a first element. A dielectric encapsulation is formed contacting an edge surface of the wire bonds which separates adjacent wire bonds from one another. Further processing comprises removing at least portions of the first element, wherein the interposer has first and second opposite sides separated from one another by at least the encapsulation, and the interposer having first contacts and second contacts at the first and second opposite sides, respectively, for electrical connection with first and second components, respectively, the first contacts being electrically connected with the second contacts through the wire bonds.

Abstract: Metadata objects in metadata for a computer program are logically validated to confirm that content of the metadata has referential integrity. The metadata objects may also be logically validated according to specific validation rules that apply to the type of the metadata object. Recursive or non-recursive techniques may be used, depending upon the size of the metadata. Related systems, methods and computer programs are described.

Abstract: An interactive user interface for a metadata builder is provided by displaying a list of errors in metadata for a computer program and changing the list of errors that is displayed, responsive to receiving a change of the metadata for the computer system and processing the change of the metadata for the computer system. Specifically, an error is added to the list of errors that is displayed and/or is deleted from the list of errors that is displayed. The change of the metadata for the computer system may be an edit of the metadata object, a deletion of the metadata object, a cloning of a metadata object and/or an addition of a new metadata object. Related methods, systems and computer program products are described.

Abstract: An interconnect element includes a semiconductor or insulating material layer that has a first thickness and defines a first surface; a thermally conductive layer; a plurality of conductive elements; and a dielectric coating. The thermally conductive layer includes a second thickness of at least 10 microns and defines a second surface of the interconnect element. The plurality of conductive elements extend from the first surface of the interconnect element to the second surface of the interconnect element. The dielectric coating is between at least a portion of each conductive element and the thermally conductive layer.

Abstract: An interaction assistant conducts multiple turn interaction dialogs with a user in which context is maintained between turns, and the system manages the dialog to achieve an inferred goal for the user. The system includes a linguistic interface to a user and a parser for processing linguistic events from the user. A dialog manager of the system is configured to receive alternative outputs from the parser, and selecting an action and causing the action to be performed based on the received alternative outputs. The system further includes a dialog state for an interaction with the user, and the alternative outputs represent alternative transitions from a current dialog state to a next dialog state. The system further includes a storage for a plurality of templates, and wherein each dialog state is defined in terms of an interrelationship of one or more instances of the templates.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes a first structure comprising a first aperture and a second structure comprising a second aperture. The system also includes a first pin configured to be inserted into the first aperture of the first structure and a retaining device configured to be coupled to the first pin. The system further includes a second pin configured to be inserted into the second aperture of the second structure and coupled to the first pin. The first pin includes a first shoulder and a second shoulder, the first shoulder having a different diameter than the second shoulder.

Abstract: An insulating second element is provided and overlies a surface of a first element which consists essentially of a material having a CTE of less than 10 ppm/° C. and has a first thickness in a first direction normal to the surface. Openings extend in the first direction through the second element. The first element is abraded to produce a thinned first element having a second thickness less than the first thickness. Conductive elements are formed at a first side of the interposer coincident with or adjacent to a surface of the thinned first element remote from the second element. A conductive structure extends through the openings in the second element, wherein the conductive elements are electrically connected with terminals of the interposer through the conductive structure, and the terminals are disposed at a second side of the interposer opposite from the first side.

Abstract: A method of localising portable apparatus (100) in an environment, the method comprising obtaining captured image data representing an image captured by an imaging device (106) associated with the portable apparatus, and obtaining mesh data representing a 3-dimensional textured mesh of at least part of the environment. The mesh data is processed to generate a plurality of synthetic images, each synthetic image being associated with a pose within the environment and being a simulation of an image that would be captured by the imaging device from that associated pose. The plurality of synthetic images is analysed to find a said synthetic image similar to the captured image data, and an indication is provided of a pose of the portable apparatus within the environment based on the associated pose of the similar synthetic image.

Abstract: Generating a 3D reconstruction of an environment around a monitoring-unit as that monitoring-unit is moved through the environment: a) providing at least a camera and a LIDAR sensor, each being controlled by independent clocks; b) using the camera to determine the trajectory of the monitoring-unit and determining a first time series using the clock of the camera, where the first time series details when the monitoring-unit was at predetermined points of the trajectory; c) recording the returns from the LIDAR sensor and determining a second time series using the clock of the LIDAR sensor, where the second time series details when each scan from the LIDAR was taken; d) using a timer to relate the first and second series in order to match the return from the LIDAR sensor to the point on the trajectory at which the return was received; and e) creating the 3D reconstruction based upon the LIDAR returns using information from the two time series.

Abstract: An interconnect element includes a semiconductor or insulating material layer that has a first thickness and defines a first surface; a thermally conductive layer; a plurality of conductive elements; and a dielectric coating. The thermally conductive layer includes a second thickness of at least 10 microns and defines a second surface of the interconnect element. The plurality of conductive elements extend from the first surface of the interconnect element to the second surface of the interconnect element. The dielectric coating is between at least a portion of each conductive element and the thermally conductive layer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for localizing transportable apparatus (100) within an environment (120) includes obtaining (202) point cloud data (114) representing a 3D point cloud with appearance information of at least part of the environment. The method further obtains (204) first frame data (110) representing an image produced by a sensor (102) onboard transportable apparatus at a first time and location within the environment and second frame data (110) representing an image produced by the sensor at a second time and location within the environment. The method harmonizes (206) information about the first frame data, the second frame data and an overlapping subset of the point cloud data in order to determine a location within the point cloud data where at least one of the first frame and the second frame was produced, thereby localizing (208) the transportable apparatus within the environment.

Abstract: Techniques for combining the results of multiple recognizers in a distributed speech recognition architecture. Speech data input to a client device is encoded and processed both locally and remotely by different recognizers configured to be proficient at different speech recognition tasks. The client/server architecture is configurable to enable network providers to specify a policy directed to a trade-off between reducing recognition latency perceived by a user and usage of network resources. The results of the local and remote speech recognition engines are combined based, at least in part, on logic stored by one or more components of the client/server architecture.