Abstract: A virtual machine hosting environment executing on a physical machine is operable to instantiate a virtual machine that is capable of initiating I/O operations directed to a remote storage. The virtual machine hosting environment is operable to determine when an unavailability condition exists with respect to the remote storage and when such unavailability condition no longer exists. The virtual machine hosting environment is further operable to suspend the virtual machine based at least on the determination that the unavailability condition exists and to resume the virtual machine based at least on the determination that the unavailability condition no longer exists. The virtual machine hosting environment may be still further operable to save one or more pending I/O requests generated by the virtual machine in conjunction with pausing the virtual machine and to send the pending I/O request(s) to the remote storage in conjunction with resuming the virtual machine.

Abstract: A sensor manager provides dynamic input fusion using thermal imaging to identify and segment a region of interest. Thermal overlay is used to focus heterogeneous sensors on regions of interest according to optimal sensor ranges and to reduce ambiguity of objects of interest. In one implementation, a thermal imaging sensor locates a region of interest that includes an object of interest within predetermined wavelengths. Based on the thermal imaging sensor input, the regions each of the plurality of sensors are focused on and the parameters each sensor employs to capture data from a region of interest are dynamically adjusted. The thermal imaging sensor input may be used during data pre-processing to dynamically eliminate or reduce unnecessary data and to dynamically focus data processing on sensor input corresponding to a region of interest.

Abstract: A virtual machine hosting environment executing on a physical machine is operable to instantiate a virtual machine that is capable of initiating I/O operations directed to a remote storage. The virtual machine hosting environment is operable to determine when an unavailability condition exists with respect to the remote storage and when such unavailability condition no longer exists. The virtual machine hosting environment is further operable to suspend the virtual machine based at least on the determination that the unavailability condition exists and to resume the virtual machine based at least on the determination that the unavailability condition no longer exists. The virtual machine hosting environment may be still further operable to save one or more pending I/O requests generated by the virtual machine in conjunction with pausing the virtual machine and to send the pending I/O request(s) to the remote storage in conjunction with resuming the virtual machine.

Abstract: An ophthalmic tool includes an ophthalmic speculum for holding a patient's eye open and for guiding a lens probe of an eye imaging device to be directly contacted with a cornea of the patient's eye. The ophthalmic speculum includes two eyelid distensible frames, a mechanism to spread the eyelid distensible frames apart, and a probe guiding frame including a plurality of probe guiders spacedly extended from the eyelid distensible frames. Each probe guider has a peak upwardly extended above the eyelid distensible frame that serves as a guiding point and forms a probe guiding cavity within the guiding points of the probe guiders. The lens probe is guided to be disposed within the probe guiding cavity via the guiding points before and after the lens probe is aligned and contacted with the cornea of the patient's eye in a proper upright orientation.

Abstract: An ophthalmic tool includes an ophthalmic speculum for holding a patient's eye open and for guiding a lens probe of an eye imaging device to be directly contacted with a cornea of the patient's eye. The ophthalmic speculum includes two eyelid distensible frames, a mechanism to spread the eyelid distensible frames apart, and a probe guiding frame including a plurality of probe guiders spacedly extended from the eyelid distensible frames. Each probe guider has a peak upwardly extended above the eyelid distensible frame that serves as a guiding point and forms a probe guiding cavity within the guiding points of the probe guiders. The lens probe is guided to be disposed within the probe guiding cavity via the guiding points before and after the lens probe is aligned and contacted with the cornea of the patient's eye in a proper upright orientation.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for activating an electric device from a standby power mode to a full power mode. The system may include one or more microphones for monitoring audio signals in the vicinity of the electric device, and a standby power activation unit including a low-power microprocessor and a non-volatile memory. Audio captured by the one or more microphones is digitized and compared by the microprocessor against predefined activation pattern(s) stored in the non-volatile memory. If a pattern match is detected between the digital audio pattern and a predefined activation pattern, the electric device is activated.

Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head. The shuttle is removably plugged into a sliding block of a carriage to move between a furnace and a crucible loading station. The carriage includes mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic plugs or sockets which couple to mating sockets or plugs of the shuttle. A linear actuator extends between the carriage and the furnace base to raise and lower the carriage and shuttle coupled thereto.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for activating an electric device from a standby power mode to a full power mode. The system may include one or more microphones for monitoring audio signals in the vicinity of the electric device, and a standby power activation unit including a low-power microprocessor and a non-volatile memory. Audio captured by the one or more microphones is digitized and compared by the microprocessor against predefined activation pattern(s) stored in the non-volatile memory. If a pattern match is detected between the digital audio pattern and a predefined activation pattern, the electric device is activated.

Abstract: A detected region of interest is used to reduce the data processed by a capture device and/or transmitted by the capture device to a console, and/or to reduce power consumption by the capture device. Raw data from the one or more sensors is processed in the capture device to reduce data corresponding to regions outside the region of interest. Such a data reduces computational requirements, which conserves power. Operational parameters of the capture device are adjusted based on the region of interest mask. A field of view, the resolution, or the sensitivity of at least one of the sensors may be narrowed to focus resources on the region of interest. Adjusting the operational parameters of a sensor reduces the power consumption of the capture device and reduces data input. An illumination source may be adjusted to focus the illumination source on the region of interest to use less power.

Abstract: A sensor manager provides dynamic input fusion using thermal imaging to identify and segment a region of interest. Thermal overlay is used to focus heterogeneous sensors on regions of interest according to optimal sensor ranges and to reduce ambiguity of objects of interest. In one implementation, a thermal imaging sensor locates a region of interest that includes an object of interest within predetermined wavelengths. Based on the thermal imaging sensor input, the regions each of the plurality of sensors are focused on and the parameters each sensor employs to capture data from a region of interest are dynamically adjusted. The thermal imaging sensor input may be used during data pre-processing to dynamically eliminate or reduce unnecessary data and to dynamically focus data processing on sensor input corresponding to a region of interest.

Abstract: A crucible handling shuttle includes a pair of opposed dual crucible-gripping arms mounted on a rotatable head. The shuttle is removably plugged into a sliding block of a carriage to move between a furnace and a crucible loading station. The carriage includes mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic plugs or sockets which couple to mating sockets or plugs of the shuttle. A linear actuator extends between the carriage and the furnace base to raise and lower the carriage and shuttle coupled thereto.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing testing of shared memory contained in a multi-processor computer system after reset. The method involves the steps of performing a wake-up procedure by a bootstrap processor on the other processors. Thus, the other processors can assist in testing the shared memory. Next, respective portions of the shared memory are allocated to each of the processors. Finally, upon completion of testing of its respective portion of the shared memory, each processor sets its unique storage unit synchronizing the processors at completion.

Abstract: Testing of shared memory (RAM) in a multiple processor computer system is achieved by partitioning the memory and allocating the memory portions to respective processors in the system. Each processor performs testing of its allocated memory portion simultaneously with the other processors in order to reduce the time required to complete the memory test.

Abstract: An attachment for use with paint cans, kitchen containers, laboratory equipment and the like in a wide range of sizes serves to prevent both spillage when pouring liquids from such containers or splashing when pouring liquids into such containers. Attachment and detachment of the device is rapid, involving merely slipping the device on and off in one embodiment, or the turning of a simple knob on several attachment clips in another embodiment. Variations in the design of specific instances of the device may be made to accommodate liquids having widely different viscosity.