Abstract: An extendable augmented reality (AR) system for recognizing user-selected objects in different contexts. A user may select certain entities (text, objects, etc.) that are viewed on an electronic device and create notes or additional content associated with the selected entities. The AR system may remember those entities and indicate to the user when those entities are encountered by the user in a different context, such as in a different application, on a different device, etc. The AR system offers the user the ability to access the user created note or content when the entities are encountered in the new context.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to determining how to distribute roadside assistance vehicles within a service area for a fleet of autonomous vehicles. As one example, the service area may be divided into a grid including a plurality of cells. For each cell of the plurality of cells, a likelihood that a vehicle of the fleet will require roadside assistance may be determined. A distribution of the roadside assistance vehicles may be determined by assigning the roadside assistance vehicles to ones of the plurality of cells based on the likelihoods.

Abstract: One variation of a method for monitoring growth of plants within a facility includes: aggregating global ambient data recorded by a suite of fixed sensors, arranged proximal a grow area within the facility, at a first frequency during a grow period; extracting intermediate outcomes of a set of plants, occupying a module in the grow area, from module-level images recorded by a mover at a second frequency less than the first frequency while interfacing with the module during the period of time; dispatching the mover to autonomously deliver the module to a transfer station; extracting intermediate outcomes of the set of plants from plant-level images recorded by the transfer station while sequentially transferring plants out of the module at the conclusion of the grow period; and deriving relationships between ambient conditions, intermediate outcomes, and final outcomes from a corpus of plant records associated with plants grown in the facility.

Abstract: A computing device can be controlled based on changes in the angle of a user's head with respect to the device, such as due to the user tilting the device and/or the user tilting his head with respect to the device. Such control based on the angle of the user's head can be achieved even when the user is operating the device “off-axis” or when the device is not orthogonal and/or not centered with respect to the user. This can be accomplished by using an elastic reference point that dynamically adjusts to a detected angle of the user's head with respect to the device. Such an approach can account for differences between when the user is changing his natural resting position and/or the resting position of the device and when the user is intending to perform a gesture based on the angle of the user's head relative to the device.

Abstract: A system and method of reducing the flicker noise of frequency synthesizers is disclosed. The current source for the synthesizer charge pump current source is modulated so that its flicker noise is displaced to a higher offset frequency. This allows the flicker noise to be filter or nulled out by, for example, a notch filter. The flicker noise can also be modulated into a spread spectrum utilizing sigma delta modulation.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a kiosk that provides high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as travel terminals or public spaces. The kiosks may provide instructions to users about how to receive some of the content on user devices via a high speed data transfer. The kiosk may detect and prepare a user device for receipt of electronic content by wirelessly exchanging information with the user device, such as consent information, memory allocation information, and/or other relevant data. The high speed data transfer may use high speed data transfer protocols that enable download of full-length movies in a matter of a few seconds.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the occurrence of an event causing multiple hosts to be unresponsive. The system and method including, for a set of hosts providing services to one or more customers of a computing resource service provider, determining one or more subsets of hosts that are unresponsive, determining whether the one or more subsets of hosts that are unresponsive meet a set of criteria for an occurrence of an large-scale event affecting multiple hosts, based at least in part on a determination that the set of criteria is met, initiating a remediation action.

Abstract: Approaches are described for managing a display of content on a computing device. Content (e.g., images, application data, etc.) is displayed on an interface of the device. An activation movement performed by a user (e.g., a double-tap) can cause the device to enable a content view control mode (such as a zoom control mode) that can be used to adjust a portion of the content being displayed on the interface. The activation movement can also be used to set an area of interest and display a graphical element indicating that the content view control mode is activated. In response to a motion being detected (e.g., a forward tilt or backward of the device), the device can adjust a portion of the content being displayed on the interface, such as displaying a “zoomed-in” portion or a “zoomed-out” portion of the image.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a cloud prediction device that provides information to a kiosk. The cloud prediction device may receive information from a user device associated with a user, such as travel information, itineraries, calendar events, emails, etc, which may be used to determine the information. The information may also include user preferences, user recommendations, and/or historical data that may be used to determine content to be provided by the kiosk for the user and/or other users. The kiosk may provide innovative user interfaces to engage a user and provide high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as travel terminals or public spaces.

Abstract: A computing device can be controlled based on changes in the angle of a user's head with respect to the device, such as due to the user tilting the device and/or the user tilting his head with respect to the device. Such control based on the angle of the user's head can be achieved even when the user is operating the device “off-axis” or when the device is not orthogonal and/or not centered with respect to the user. This can be accomplished by using an elastic reference point that dynamically adjusts to a detected angle of the user's head with respect to the device. Such an approach can account for differences between when the user is changing his natural resting position and/or the resting position of the device and when the user is intending to perform a gesture based on the angle of the user's head relative to the device.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a switch in a power converter in which peak current is regulated to achieve a specified average current through a load. Control logic is operable to monitor a voltage across a sensing resistor such that when the voltage across the sensing resistor reaches or exceeds a threshold value, the control logic generates a signal that causes a switch to be turned OFF.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed at least partly to a kiosk that provides innovative user interfaces to engage a user and provide high speed data transfer of content to a user device associated with the user. The kiosk may be located in frequently visited locations such as airports. The kiosks may advertise content and provide instructions to users about how to receive some of the content on user devices via a high speed data transfer. The high speed data transfer may use high speed data transfer protocols that enable download of a standard definition full length movie (e.g., less than 1 GB of data) in less than a couple of seconds or download of a high definition full length movie (e.g., 2-3 GB of data) in a few seconds. Besides, movies, other content may be downloaded such as electronic documents, music, games, and other electronic media available from an electronic catalog.

Abstract: An electronic device can be configured to enable a user to provide input via a tap of the device without the use of touch sensors (e.g., resistive, capacitive, ultrasonic or other acoustic, infrared or other optical, or piezoelectric touch technologies) and/or mechanical switches. Such a device can include other sensors, including inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, or a combination thereof), microphones, proximity sensors, ambient light sensors, and/or cameras, among others, that can be used to capture respective sensor data. Feature values with respect to the respective sensor data can be extracted, and the feature values can be analyzed using machine learning to determine when the user has tapped on the electronic device. Detection of a single tap or multiple taps performed on the electronic device can be utilized to control the device.

Abstract: An electronic device can be configured to enable a user to provide input via a tap of the device without the use of touch sensors (e.g., resistive, capacitive, ultrasonic or other acoustic, infrared or other optical, or piezoelectric touch technologies) and/or mechanical switches. Such a device can include other sensors, including inertial sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, or a combination thereof), microphones, proximity sensors, ambient light sensors, and/or cameras, among others, that can be used to capture respective sensor data. Feature values with respect to the respective sensor data can be extracted, and the feature values can be analyzed using machine learning to determine when the user has tapped on the electronic device. Detection of a single tap or multiple taps performed on the electronic device can be utilized to control the device.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a switch in a power converter in which peak current is regulated to achieve a specified average current through a load. Control logic is operable to monitor a voltage across a sensing resistor such that when the voltage across the sensing resistor reaches or exceeds a threshold value, the control logic generates a signal that causes a switch to be turned OFF.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a switch in a power converter in which peak current is regulated to achieve a specified average current through a load. The circuit can include a first input to receive a voltage corresponding to a pre-specified target average current through the load, and a second input to receive a voltage corresponding to a voltage across a sensing resistor immediately after the switch turns ON. The circuit generates a threshold value that is approximately equal to twice the voltage corresponding to the pre-specified target average current through the load, minus the voltage corresponding to a non-zero voltage across the sensing resistor just after the switch turns ON. Control logic is operable to monitor a voltage across the sensing resistor such that when the voltage across the sensing resistor reaches or exceeds the threshold value, the control logic generates a signal that causes the switch to be turned OFF.

Abstract: A wine aerator includes a container having walls bounding an interior compartment. The compartment has an open condition in which a volume of a type of wine to be aerated is admitted to partially fill the compartment, and a closed condition for hermetically sealing the wine in the compartment. The remainder of the compartment contains a volume of air. A plurality of indicators are provided on the container for visually indicating different air/wine volume ratios based on the type of wine in the compartment. An agitator agitates the hermetically sealed wine with a selected one of the ratios for a predetermined time to aerate the wine.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is operable for implementing any of multiple switched mode or linear power control topologies. The integrated circuit includes a control unit, and functional blocks each of which includes circuitry. The control unit is operable selectively to enable particular ones of the functional blocks in response to an input signal indicative of a particular one of the switched mode or linear mode power control topologies.

Abstract: A catheter includes a flexible tubing having a proximal end and a distal end. The catheter also includes an electrode assembly attached to the distal end of the flexible tubing and including a first magnet therein. The electrode assembly including an electrically conductive tip electrode and an electrically nonconductive coupler which is connected between the tip electrode and the distal end of the flexible tubing. The electrically conductive tip electrode comprises a hollow elongated tip electrode including a sidewall provided with one or more elongated gaps extending through the sidewall. The one or more elongated gaps providing flexibility in the sidewall for bending movement of the tip electrode relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. The first magnet is responsive to an external magnetic field to selectively position and guide the electrode assembly within a body of a patient.

Abstract: A boost converter for high power and high output voltage applications includes a low voltage controller integrated circuit and a high voltage, vertical, discrete field effect transistor. The low voltage controller integrated circuit and the high voltage, vertical, discrete field effect transistor are packaged together in a single package on a common electrically conductive die pad, wherein the controller IC is attached to the die pad using insulating adhesive and the FET is attached to the die pad using conductive adhesive.