Abstract: Described herein are dialog systems, and techniques for providing such dialog systems, that are suitable for use on standalone computing devices. In some embodiments, a dialog system includes a dialog manager, which takes as input an input logical form, which may be a representation of user input. The dialog, manager may include a dialog state tracker, an execution subsystem, a dialog policy subsystem, and a context stack. The dialog state tracker may generate an intermediate logical form from the input logical form combined with a context from the context stack. The context stack may maintain a history of a current dialog, and thus, the intermediate logical form may include contextual information potentially missing from the input logical form. The execution subsystem may execute the intermediate logical form to produce an execution result, and the dialog policy subsystem may generate an output logical form based on the execution result.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the display of secondary digital content displayed in an overlay above a primary video stream. The controller includes a touch interface device, a processor, and a memory storing non-transitory instructions. These instructions, when executed, can include (i) detecting a first input gesture by a user on the touch interface device, (ii) in response to detecting the first input gesture, selecting an application for display, (iii) detecting a second input gesture by the user on the touch interface device, (iv) in response to detecting the second input gesture, scrolling through a currently-displayed layer of the selected application displayed, (v) detecting a third input gesture by the user on the touch interface device, and (vi) in response to detecting the third input gesture, scrolling between layers of the selected application in a simulated Z-space.

Abstract: A damped turbine blade assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The damped turbine blade assembly includes a damper positioned within a first small slot of a first turbine blade and a second large slot of the second turbine blade. A portion of the damper can slidably mate with the second large slot providing a radial and angular connection between the first turbine blade and second turbine blade while allowing movement in a direction tangent to a radial of a center axis of the gas turbine engine. The tangential movement is resisted by friction between the damper contacting the second large slot and provides friction damping against vibrations felt by the turbine blades during operation of the gas turbine engine. The damper can be shaped and/or pre-stressed to control the normal force component of the friction between the damper and the second large slot.

Abstract: A digital signal processor having at least one streaming address generator, each with dedicated hardware, for generating addresses for writing multi-dimensional streaming data that comprises a plurality of elements. Each at least one streaming address generator is configured to generate a plurality of offsets to address the streaming data, and each of the plurality of offsets corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of elements. The address of each of the plurality of elements is the respective one of the plurality of offsets combined with a base address.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to an image capture process using ring paths may include traversing a user device around a ring path in a center of a room, capturing imaging data using the user device during the traversal, and processing the imaging data using photogrammetry. The imaging data may be captured using an imaging sensor associated with the user device, and the imaging data may be processed based on data received from position and orientation sensors associated with the user device. In addition, a three-dimensional model of the room may be generated based on the imaging data.

Abstract: In a method of operating a computer system, an instruction loop is executed by a processor in which each iteration of the instruction loop accesses a current data vector and an associated current vector predicate. The instruction loop is repeated when the current vector predicate indicates the current data vector contains at least one valid data element and the instruction loop is exited when the current vector predicate indicates the current data vector contains no valid data elements.

Abstract: A molten gold writing apparatus is disclosed. The molten gold writing apparatus includes a barrel extending from a top end to an open bottom end. A heating element is positioned within the barrel and includes a rechargeable battery. A cartridge includes a refillable chamber configured to hold a solid gold refill and dimensioned to fit within the heating element. The heating element melts the gold refill and allows it to flow to a tip end of the cartridge. A grip is configured to selectively engage the bottom end of the barrel to cover all but the tip end of the cartridge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrode structure including a metal thin film and a patterned graphene-graphitic carbon composite layer disposed on the metal thin film, a method for fabricating the electrode structure using laser printing, and an electrochemical device including the same.

Abstract: Methods and electroplating systems for controlling plating electrolyte concentration on an electrochemical plating apparatus for substrates are disclosed. A method involves: (a) providing an electroplating solution to an electroplating system; (b) electroplating the metal onto the substrate while the substrate is held in a cathode chamber of an electroplating cell of electroplating system; (c) supplying the make-up solution to the electroplating system via a make-up solution inlet; and (d) supplying the secondary electroplating solution to the electroplating system via a secondary electroplating solution inlet. The secondary electroplating solution includes some or all components of the electroplating solution. At least one component of the secondary electroplating solution has a concentration that significantly deviates from its target concentration.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, a first load terminal structure arranged at a front side of the semiconductor body, and a second load terminal structure arranged at a back side of the semiconductor body, and configured for controlling a load current between the load terminal structures by means of at least one transistor cell. The at least one transistor cell is at least partially included in the semiconductor body and electrically connected to the first load terminal structure on one side and to a drift region on the other side, the drift region being of a first conductivity type. The semiconductor body further includes: a transistor short region of the first conductivity type, wherein a transition between the transistor short region and the first load terminal structure forms a Schottky contact; and a separation region of a second conductivity type separating the transistor short and drift regions.

Abstract: A system provided herein may be configured to evaluate helmet performance. The system may include an impact assembly that includes a stationary post operably coupled to one or more stationary load cells and a plurality of modular headforms. Each modular headform may include a first side and a second side configured to lock together around the impact assembly and receive a helmet. The modular headform may determine a position of the helmet relative to the one or more stationary load cells. Furthermore, the one or more stationary load cells may be configured to measure impact force at a position where one of the plurality of the modular headforms are operably coupled to the impact assembly. Additionally, each of the plurality of modular headforms correspond to a position in relation to the impact assembly to measure the impact force to the one or more load cells at a predefined number of impact locations on the helmet to evaluate the performance of the helmet.

Abstract: A system includes an image sensor structure and a flow cell. The image sensor structure includes an image layer disposed over a base substrate. A device stack is disposed over the image layer. A bond pad is disposed in the device stack. A passivation stack is disposed over the device stack and the bond pad. An array of nanowells is disposed in a top layer of the passivation stack. A through-silicon via (TSV) is in electrical contact with the bond pad. The TSV extends through the base substrate. A redistribution layer (RDL) is disposed on a bottom surface of the base substrate. The RDL is in electrical contact with the TSV. The flow cell is disposed upon the top layer of the passivation stack to form a flow channel therebetween. The flow channel is disposed over the array of nanowells and the bond pad.

Abstract: A bushing assembly for use in a vehicle suspension system includes an outer sleeve, with an elastomeric element at least partially positioned within the outer sleeve. An inner sleeve is at least partially positioned within the elastomeric element, while a bar pin having a central section is at least partially positioned within the inner sleeve. A retaining ring is positioned at or adjacent to a first end of the central section of the bar pin and at least partially within the outer sleeve. The retaining ring is positioned between the inner sleeve and at least one radially enlarged section at the first end of the central section of the bar pin and/or at least one radially inwardly directed section at a first end of the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A vascular occluding device for modifying blood flow in a vessel, while maintaining blood flow to the surrounding tissue. The occluding device includes a flexible, easily compressible and bendable occluding device that is particularly suited for treating aneurysms in the brain. The neurovascular occluding device can be deployed using a micro-catheter. The occluding device can be formed by braiding wires in a helical fashion and can have varying lattice densities along the length of the occluding device. The occluding device could also have different lattice densities for surfaces on the same radial plane.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses address issues regarding semantic reasoning operations. Different customized or user-defined rules can be defined based on application needs, which may lead to different inferred facts, even if they are based on the same initial facts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a binder for a lithium secondary battery, an electrode comprising the same, and a lithium secondary battery comprising the electrode. More specifically, the present invention provides a binder for a lithium secondary battery having excellent cycle life and high energy density, an anode for a lithium secondary battery comprising the same, and a lithium secondary battery prepared therefrom.

Abstract: Methods and systems may be used to synchronize time across multiple IoT related entities, such as a network of resource constrained sensor and actuator type devices, IoT gateways, IoT cloud services, or IoT applications.

Abstract: An induction heating system for a basin of a pedicure chair and a pedicure chair with one or more pumps and one or more heating sources are disclosed. A conducting object is located on an interior side of a first wall of the basin, with an induction heater located on the exterior side of the first wall. The conducting object is separated from the induction heater by a solid portion of the first wall. The induction heater is configured to generate a high frequency field that passes through the solid portion of the first wall and causes the conducting object to generate heat. A controller is configured to turn on/off the induction heater to maintain a desired temperature in the basin.

Abstract: A MRAM device includes a spin valve containing a reference layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a free layer, and a nonmagnetic metallic barrier layer located between the reference layer and the free layer, a metallic assist structure configured to provide rotating spin transfer torque to the free layer to assist the free layer switching during programming, and a first nonmagnetic metallic spacer layer located between the free layer and the metallic assist structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of programming resistive memory cells of a resistive memory, the method comprising: applying, by a programming circuit based on a first target resistive state, an initial resistance modification to a first cell of the resistive memory to change its resistance from an initial resistive state to a first new resistance; comparing, by the programming circuit, the first new resistance of the first cell with a resistance range of the first target resistive state and with a target resistance range associated with the first target resistive state; and if it is determined that the first new resistance is outside the resistance range of the target resistive state and inside the target resistance range, applying by the programming circuit one or more further resistance modifications to the first cell to increase or decrease its resistance.