Abstract: We disclose herein a wire guard that is used to keep wire and other debris from wrapping around the axles of landfill trash compactors, thereby reducing the chance of damage to these axles and sealing systems. The wire guard is comprised of multiple segments that are individually welded to the edge of the wheel wrapper. The individual segments are through hardened and are, therefore, resistant to wear. Furthermore, they may include an overhanging lip that protects the edge of the wheel wrapper. This device is an improvement to other existing wire guards.

Abstract: A two piece edge ring assembly is configured to surround a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber wherein plasma is generated and used to process the semiconductor substrate. The edge ring assembly comprises upper and lower rings which have an outer protective coating. The upper and lower rings are configured such that the upper ring is supported on an outer portion of the upper surface of the lower ring and the protective coatings are on plasma exposed surfaces of the upper and lower rings.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing educational and instructional programs to users through wireless and cellular technology is disclosed. The method is designed to be highly flexible to allow the user a broad range of course selections, instruction difficulty level, and format of the instruction provided to the user. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the core steps comprise (a) authorizing the subscriber information; (b) identifying the selected curriculum, grade level, and format for the requested instruction; (c) selecting an appropriate question; (d) transmitting the selected question to the subscriber's cellular device; (e) receiving the subscriber's answer to the transmitted question; (f) determining whether the subscriber's answer is correct; (g) advising the subscriber whether the transmitted answer was correct; (h) recording and tracking the subscriber's answers in a database and then repeating the selecting process, and updating and analyzing the subscriber's progress.

Abstract: Manual and camera-based game control is described. In one embodiment, a game system receives an image stream depicting a player of a game and also receives manual input from a hand operated controller used by the player. In an example, the manual input may be used to control an avatar and the image stream is used to recognize gestures of the player and control background objects in the game using the recognized gestures. For example, by using gestures such as head rotations the player's hands are free to continue operating a hand-held controller and the player has increased control and an immersive game play experience. In various embodiments, methods for detecting head gestures from image streams in real time are described such as tracking velocity of player's heads and motion through quadrants of an image stream.

Abstract: Control of separate computer game elements is described. In one example, a computer game system displays a computer game to a user, the computer game comprising at least one avatar and an environment. Manual input commands are received from a hand-operated controller operated by the user, and are used to control the display of the avatar in the computer game. Substantially concurrently with the manual input, a stream of images from an image capture device depicting the user is also received. A portal, separate to the avatar, is displayed in a region of the computer game display, which shows the received stream of images to the user. The stream of images of the user is analyzed and a gesture performed by the user is recognized. The recognized gesture is used to control displayed interaction between the portal and the environment.

Abstract: Manual and camera-based avatar control is described for example, in computer game systems. In one embodiment, an image capture system tracks motion of a player's arm holding a real world object and the player also makes input to the game system at the same time, using a manual controller. In an example, tracked motion of a player's arm is used to control aim of a virtual dart in a game display and the player makes manual input at the controller to fire the dart. In various embodiments, position of a part of a player is detected and mapped to screen space using a mapping function which may vary. For example, a mapped position of a player's hand in screen space is used to control the position of an avatar's hand by extending the avatar's arm. In examples, conditions are met before camera-based control of an avatar.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes an atomic sensing system. The system includes an atomic sensing device configured to generate an output signal along an output axis in response to a plurality of control parameters. The system also includes a signal generator configured to apply a reference signal to a cross-axis that is approximately orthogonal to the output axis. The system also includes a phase measurement system configured to demodulate the output signal relative to the reference signal to measure a relative phase alignment between the output axis and a physical axis of the atomic sensing device based on the reference signal.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system. The system includes a gyro cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal vapor, a first gyromagnetic isotope, a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a third gyromagnetic isotope. The system also includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field that is provided through the gyro cell to cause the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes to precess. The system further includes an angular rotation sensor configured to measure a rotation angle about a sensitive axis of the NMR gyroscope system based on measured precession angles of the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Distinct Author Identification System (“DAIS”) for disambiguating data to discern author entities and link or associate authorships with such author entities. The invention provides powerful disambiguation processes applied across one or more databases to yield a disambiguated authority database of authors. An entire database of publications may be processed by the DAIS to group/link authorships and to identify author entities. The author entities may then be matched or associated with actual authors to establish an authority database of authors. After initial evaluation, the DAIS may be used to reevaluate some or all of the database(s) and/or the authority database established by the DAIS may be used to add or update information. DAIS may use “hierarchical clustering” to link authorships and identify authors based on authorship similarity. DAIS evaluates the likelihood that authorships are from the same author.

Abstract: A wafer handling mechanism is operated to place a wafer on a chuck. A chucking force is then applied to the wafer, whereby wafer support features of the chuck transfer a defect pattern onto a surface of the wafer. The surface of the wafer is analyzed by a defect metrology tool to obtain a mapping of the defect pattern transferred onto the surface of the wafer. A center coordinate of the chuck within a coordinate system of the wafer is determined by analyzing the defect pattern as transferred to the surface of the wafer. A spatial offset between the center coordinate of the chuck and the center of the wafer is determined. The spatial offset is used to adjust the wafer handling mechanism so as to enable alignment of the center of the wafer to the center coordinate of the chuck.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Distinct Author Identification System (“DAIS”) for disambiguating data to discern author entities and link or associate authorships with such author entities. The invention provides powerful disambiguation processes applied across one or more databases to yield a disambiguated authority database of authors. An entire database of publications may be processed by the DAIS to group/link authorships and to identify author entities. The author entities may then be matched or associated with actual authors to establish an authority database of authors. After initial evaluation, the DAIS may be used to reevaluate some or all of the database(s) and/or the authority database established by the DAIS may be used to add or update information. DAIS may use “hierarchical clustering” to link authorships and identify authors based on authorship similarity. DAIS evaluates the likelihood that authorships are from the same author.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system. The system includes a gyro cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal vapor, a first gyromagnetic isotope, a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a third gyromagnetic isotope. The system also includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field that is provided through the gyro cell to cause the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes to precess. The system further includes an angular rotation sensor configured to measure a rotation angle about a sensitive axis of the NMR gyroscope system based on measured precession angles of the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes.

Abstract: A delineator post adapted to spring back to its original upright position after an impact comprises an inground socket permanently installed in a paved surface. A resilient plug having a lower end portion is inserted in the inground socket. The resilient plug has an upper end portion projecting upwardly from the inground socket. An anchor is provided for releasably anchoring the resilient plug to the inground socket. A post segment is fastened over the upper end portion of the resilient plug. The tension in the resilient plug when subject to a deformation as a result of an impact on the post segment returns the post segment back to its original upright position.

Abstract: A wafer handling mechanism is operated to place a wafer on a chuck. A chucking force is then applied to the wafer, whereby wafer support features of the chuck transfer a defect pattern onto a surface of the wafer. The surface of the wafer is analyzed by a defect metrology tool to obtain a mapping of the defect pattern transferred onto the surface of the wafer. A center coordinate of the chuck within a coordinate system of the wafer is determined by analyzing the defect pattern as transferred to the surface of the wafer. A spatial offset between the center coordinate of the chuck and the center of the wafer is determined. The spatial offset is used to adjust the wafer handling mechanism so as to enable alignment of the center of the wafer to the center coordinate of the chuck.

Abstract: A housing for a light fixture, and the light itself, is disclosed. The housing comprises an elongate body and a resilient member mountable in the body to retain at least one light emitting diode (LED) between the resilient member and the housing such that the or each LED is repositionable within the housing. The light includes at least one LED mounted in the housing.

Abstract: System and method for mitigating errors in electrostatic force balanced instrument is provided. The system and method mitigate errors in measurement readings caused by charge buildup in force balanced instruments that employ charge pulses to generate an electrostatic force to null an inertial proof mass disposed between opposing electrodes. The system and method mitigate charge buildup by applying charge pulses to each opposing electrode of a sensing element for a given charge cycle time period in a normal polarity configuration followed by charge pulses to each opposing electrode of the sensing element for a second given charge cycle time period in a reverse polarity configuration.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle segment includes a first band, an airfoil extending from the first band and a support attached to the first band. The support may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart tabs.

Abstract: System and method for mitigating errors in electrostatic force balanced instrument is provided. The system and method mitigate errors in measurement readings caused by charge buildup in force balanced instruments that employ charge pulses to generate an electrostatic force to null an inertial proof mass disposed between opposing electrodes. The system and method mitigate charge buildup by applying charge pulses to each opposing electrode of a sensing element for a given charge cycle time period in a normal polarity configuration followed by charge pulses to each opposing electrode of the sensing element for a second given charge cycle time period in a reverse polarity conjuration.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Distinct Author Identification System (“DAIS”) for disambiguating data to discern author entities and link or associate authorships with such author entities. The invention provides powerful disambiguation processes applied across one or more databases to yield a disambiguated authority database of authors. An entire database of publications may be processed by the DAIS to group/link authorships and to identify author entities. The author entities may then be matched or associated with actual authors to establish an authority database of authors. After initial evaluation, the DAIS may be used to reevaluate some or all of the database(s) and/or the authority database established by the DAIS may be used to add or update information. DAIS may use “hierarchical clustering” to link authorships and identify authors based on authorship similarity. DAIS evaluates the likelihood that authorships are from the same author.

Abstract: A housing for a light fixture, and the light itself, is disclosed. The housing comprises an elongate body and a resilient member mountable in the body to retain at least one light emitting diode (LED) between the resilient member and the housing such that the or each LED is repositionable within the housing. The light includes at least one LED mounted in the housing.