Abstract: The present invention provides a process for purifying methionine. A methionine product having a purity of up to 99% or higher is obtained by separating methionine from a salt by-product through a process comprising adsorption and desorption using a macroporous adsorption resin, where the methionine content in the salt by-product is ?0.03%. The yield of methionine extracted with the resin is up to 98% or higher. By using the process of the present invention, the existing production process is simplified, the quality of the methionine product is improved, and the production costs for methionine are reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automated vehicle guidance based on coded lighting to enable automated vehicle following and/or regrouping. Systems use projectors to project temporal identifiers for space partitioned by pixel projections. Different space partition is associated with a different identifier. By using simple light sensors mounted on the vehicles, and decoding the sensed light signal, the vehicle can determine its precise location in the space relative to the coded light projector. This information may be used for precise vehicle guidance to enable vehicle following and/or regrouping. For vehicle following, the coded light projector is placed on a moving vehicle. For vehicle regrouping, the coded light projector may be placed on a ground or on a pole. Depending on the guidance precision requirements, the coded light precision may be adjusted by using light projectors with different resolutions.

Abstract: An indoor localization and navigation system for a mobile robot, the system comprising: a projector mounted on the mobile robot and configured to project a temporal projector light signal, wherein the temporal projector light signal is encoded, for each pixel of the projector, with an information segment comprising the pixel coordinates of the each pixel of the projector; a stationary sensor node comprising a light sensor configured to detect the temporal projector light signal and generate a sensor signal and a transmitter configured to transmit a sensor node identifier and a position code generated based on the sensor signal; a receiver mounted on the mobile robot and configured to receive the sensor node identifier and the position code from the transmitter; and an onboard computer mounted on the mobile robot and operatively coupled to the projector and the receiver, wherein the onboard computer is configured to receive the sensor node identifier and the position code from the receiver and to determine a l

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for purifying methionine. A methionine product having a purity of up to 99% or higher is obtained by separating methionine from a salt by-product through a process comprising adsorption and desorption using a macroporous adsorption resin, where the methionine content in the salt by-product is ?0.03%. The yield of methionine extracted with the resin is up to 98% or higher. By using the process of the present invention, the existing production process is simplified, the quality of the methionine product is improved, and the production costs for methionine are reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for remote query optimization in multi data sources. The method includes receiving a database query from a remote source requesting data-points from multiple data sources. The method further includes receiving and analyzing the data-points, creating a data set based on the analysis, and transmitting the data set to the remote source.

Abstract: A light-bar structure includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and an insulation layer. The first substrate includes a first anode region and a plurality of element regions. Each of the element regions is configured to allow a light-emitting element to be disposed on. At least one of the element regions includes an anode portion and a node portion. The anode portion is connected to the first anode region. The second substrate includes a grounding region and a second anode region. The anode portion is disposed correspondingly to the grounding region. The node portion is disposed correspondingly to the second anode region. The insulation layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

Abstract: Precision docking is one of the most important tasks for drones and surface robots to charge themselves and load/unload packages. Without accurate docking, surface robots and drones will miss their charging pad or charging contacts and cannot automatically charge themselves for later tasks. Described is a system using coded light to guide the precision docking process for drones and ground robots. More specifically, the system uses projectors to project temporal identifiers for space partitioned by pixel projections. Different space partition gets a different identifier. By using a simple light sensor on a drone or a ground robot, the drone or the ground robot can know its precise location in the space and therefore knows where to move for a precise docking. Depending on docking precision requirement, the coded light precision may be adjusted by using projectors with different resolutions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for remote query optimization in multi data sources. The method includes receiving a database query from a remote source requesting data-points from multiple data sources. The method further includes receiving and analyzing the data-points, creating a data set based on the analysis, and transmitting the data set to the remote source.

Abstract: Computerized systems and computer-implemented methods that enable printing on a large solid surface, such as a floor, wall, or ceiling using mobile printer heads guided by coded light. In one implementation, a user points a projector onto the printing surface to project a sequence of images with a unique temporal identifier (ID) for each pixel, wherein different space partitions are associated with different pixel IDs. The mechanical transmissions of the conventional printers are replaced with the aforesaid coded light used in conjunction with small mobile printer heads equipped with light sensors, while the coded light is used to guide the printer heads' movements during the printing process.

Abstract: Finger-tracking systems and methods for virtual instruments playback. The described system tracks the position of user's ten fingers on a projection surface and can be used to play virtual instruments such as virtual piano, drums, and bells. The system tracks the movement of user's ten fingers while keeping them free of encumbrance or excessive postural constraints. More specifically, in one or more embodiments, a coded light based projector is used to send out location signal onto a flat surface, and ten light sensors are mounted on user's fingers to receive these signals and locate user's fingers. Based on their locations and relative distance to a fixed point, a printed music instrument can be used for virtual instrument music playback. With the described tracking system, various embodiments of virtual music instruments may be implemented, including a system and method for virtual piano playing as well as virtual Chinese bell playing on printed keyboard and printed Chinese bell set.

Abstract: An indoor localization and navigation system for a mobile robot, the system comprising: a projector mounted on the mobile robot and configured to project a temporal projector light signal, wherein the temporal projector light signal is encoded, for each pixel of the projector, with an information segment comprising the pixel coordinates of the each pixel of the projector; a stationary sensor node comprising a light sensor configured to detect the temporal projector light signal and generate a sensor signal and a transmitter configured to transmit a sensor node identifier and a position code generated based on the sensor signal; a receiver mounted on the mobile robot and configured to receive the sensor node identifier and the position code from the transmitter; and an onboard computer mounted on the mobile robot and operatively coupled to the projector and the receiver, wherein the onboard computer is configured to receive the sensor node identifier and the position code from the receiver and to determine a l

Abstract: Finger-tracking systems and methods for virtual instruments playback. The described system tracks the position of user's ten fingers on a projection surface and can be used to play virtual instruments such as virtual piano, drums, and bells. The system tracks the movement of user's ten fingers while keeping them free of encumbrance or excessive postural constraints. More specifically, in one or more embodiments, a coded light based projector is used to send out location signal onto a flat surface, and ten light sensors are mounted on user's fingers to receive these signals and locate user's fingers. Based on their locations and relative distance to a fixed point, a printed music instrument can be used for virtual instrument music playback. With the described tracking system, various embodiments of virtual music instruments may be implemented, including a system and method for virtual piano playing as well as virtual Chinese bell playing on printed keyboard and printed Chinese bell set.

Abstract: Precision docking is one of the most important tasks for drones and surface robots to charge themselves and load/unload packages. Without accurate docking, surface robots and drones will miss their charging pad or charging contacts and cannot automatically charge themselves for later tasks. Described is a system using coded light to guide the precision docking process for drones and ground robots. More specifically, the system uses projectors to project temporal identifiers for space partitioned by pixel projections. Different space partition gets a different identifier. By using a simple light sensor on a drone or a ground robot, the drone or the ground robot can know its precise location in the space and therefore knows where to move for a precise docking. Depending on docking precision requirement, the coded light precision may be adjusted by using projectors with different resolutions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a power control method and apparatus, relate to the field of wireless communications, and are invented for reducing power pressure of an air interface of a base station and ensuring a stable network environment. The method includes: determining whether received total wideband power (RTWP) of an air interface exceeds a set first congestion threshold value; when the RTWP of the air interface exceeds the set first congestion threshold value, sending a congestion indication to a radio network controller (RNC), where the congestion indication is used for indicating that the RNC is forbidden from up-regulating a target signal-to-interference ratio (SIR); receiving a target SIR sent by the RNC; down-regulating the target SIR sent by the RNC; and notifying, based on the down-regulated target SIR, a user equipment (UE) to reduce transmit power. The present invention is mainly applied to the field of power control.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method for using certain simulated sensors constructed with an accurate localization sensor and a mobile phone to replace/enhance many existing real-life sensors. By using “simulated sensor” to convert localization sensor measurement to real signal outputs that are similar to real distance-sensor outputs, real direction sensor outputs, or real line following sensor outputs, one or more embodiments of the invention may be used to upgrade traditional robots by plugging these simulated outputs to robots' corresponding sensor inputs without the need to rewire or add customized hardware.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed in connection with a mobile computing device held by a user, the mobile computing device displaying a marker pattern, the method being performed in a computerized system incorporating a processing unit, a camera and a memory, the computer-implemented method involving: acquiring a plurality of images of the mobile computing device displaying the marker pattern using the camera; using the central processing unit to detect the marker pattern within the acquired plurality of images; using the central processing unit to determine a plurality of positions of the mobile computing device based on the detected marker pattern within the acquired plurality of images; and processing a user event based on the determined plurality of positions of the mobile computing device.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a projected image signal encoded with position information. The temporal pixel-location data is hidden within visible light signal used for regular image projection. This enables the user to utilize one or multiple ring-shaped light receivers to implement touch or multi-touch functions on a regular image content generated using light from the same projector. The temporal light signal generated by the projector is sliced into multiple temporal segments. The segments include segments of two different types. A segment of the first type is used for carrying a temporal position signal of each pixel in the projector signal. On the other hand, a segment of the second type is used to adjust the color of each pixel. With the color adjustment segment projected to each image pixel, a meaningful visible content of a regular image can be displayed despite the presence of the position-encoded signal segments.

Abstract: Described is an approach to enabling gesture interactions for the viewport widget in a graphical user interface (GUI) library. The gesture interactions may include continuous operations such as panning, zooming and rotating of the viewport's content with fingers (or styluses). The approach is based on using a camera to detect occlusion patterns in a sensor grid rendered over the viewport. The sensor grid consists of sensor blobs, which are small blobs of pixels with a distinct color. A sensor blob is aware of its location in both the viewport's coordinate system and the camera's coordinate system, and triggers an occlusion event at the location when it is occluded by a finger (or stylus). Robust techniques are devised to eliminate unintentional gestures, provide visual guidance and feedback for interactions, and minimize the visual interference of the sensor grid with the viewport's content.

Abstract: Described is an approach to gesture interaction that is based on user interface widgets. In order to detect user gestures, the widgets are provided with hotspots that are monitored using a camera for predetermined patterns of occlusion. A hotspot is a region where a user interacts with the widget by making a gesture over it. The user's gesture may be detected without the user physically touching the surface displaying the widget. The aforesaid hotspots are designed to be visually salient and suggestive of the type of gestures that can be received from the user. Described techniques are advantageous in relation to conventional systems, such as systems utilizing finger tracking, in that they can better support complex tasks with repeated user actions. In addition, they provide better perceived affordance than conventional systems that attempt to use widgets that are not designed for gesture input, or in-the-air gesture detection techniques that lack any visual cues.

Abstract: Provided is an off-center embedded media marker, which may have a form of an iconic marker printed outside the boundary of a region of interest in a document or other article and indicating an available media object or a function associated with the aforesaid region of interest. This marker is used by defining a sight element with the boundary shape of the marker near the edge of a viewable portion of a display, aligning the sight element with the marker and capturing an image of a predetermined region of the document without using a visible region boundary on the hardcopy document. The media or function associated with the marker is automatically determined by performing a feature-based analysis of the captured image similarly to the techniques developed in connection with the conventional embedded media markers. Upon the determination, the associated media is retrieved of the associated function is performed.