Abstract: Slit valve apparatuses are described. In one aspect, a slit valve apparatus is disclosed having a gate with at least one sealing surface, a blocker element, and a connector member that structurally connects the gate and the blocker element. Systems and methods including the slit valve apparatus are also disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a sealing assembly for creating an annular seal between wellbore members. The sealing assembly includes a wicker profile defined a first sealing surface for engaging and embedding into a radially adjacent, second sealing surface. The wicker profile includes a first section having a first hardness and a second section adjacent to the first section and having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and second sections of wickers are embedded into the second sealing surface, and can thus provide a high degree of both sealing and lockdown performance.

Abstract: A substrate lift assembly is disclosed. The substrate lift assembly includes a lift frame, a plurality of fingers extending from the frame, the fingers adapted to support a substrate, and a containment ring supported by the lift frame. Process load locks including the substrate lift assembly are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A process load lock apparatus is disclosed. The process load lock apparatus includes a load lock chamber adapted to couple between a mainframe section and a factory interface, the load lock chamber including an entry and an exit each having a slit valve, and a load lock process chamber located at a different level than the load lock chamber at the load lock location wherein the load lock process chamber is adapted to carry out a process on a substrate, such as oxide removal or other processes. Systems including the process load lock apparatus and methods of operating the process load lock apparatus are provided. A lift assembly including a containment ring is also disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a sealing assembly for creating an annular seal between wellbore members. The sealing assembly includes a wicker profile defined a first sealing surface for engaging and embedding into a radially adjacent, second sealing surface. The wicker profile includes a first section having a first hardness and a second section adjacent to the first section and having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and second sections of wickers are embedded into the second sealing surface, and can thus provide a high degree of both sealing and lockdown performance.

Abstract: A process load lock apparatus is disclosed. The process load lock apparatus includes a load lock chamber adapted to couple between a mainframe section and a factory interface, the load lock chamber including an entry and an exit each having a slit valve, and a load lock process chamber located at a different level than the load lock chamber at the load lock location wherein the load lock process chamber is adapted to carry out a process on a substrate, such as oxide removal or other processes. Systems including the process load lock apparatus and methods of operating the process load lock apparatus are provided. A lift assembly including a containment ring is also disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for speech segmentation are described. In some embodiments, a fuzzy rule may be determined to discriminate a speech segment from a non-speech segment. An antecedent of the fuzzy rule may include an input variable and an input variable membership. A consequent of the fuzzy rule may include an output variable and an output variable membership. An instance of the input variable may be extracted from a segment. An input variable membership function associated with the input variable membership and an output variable membership function associated with the output variable membership may be trained. The instance of the input variable, the input variable membership function, the output variable, and the output variable membership function may be operated, to determine whether the segment is the speech segment or the non-speech segment.

Abstract: Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for speech segmentation are described. In some embodiments, a fuzzy rule may be determined to discriminate a speech segment from a non-speech segment. An antecedent of the fuzzy rule may include an input variable and an input variable membership. A consequent of the fuzzy rule may include an output variable and an output variable membership. An instance of the input variable may be extracted from a segment. An input variable membership function associated with the input variable membership and an output variable membership function associated with the output variable membership may be trained. The instance of the input variable, the input variable membership function, the output variable, and the output variable membership function may be operated, to determine whether the segment is the speech segment or the non-speech segment.

Abstract: Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for speech segmentation are described. In some embodiments, a fuzzy rule may be determined to discriminate a speech segment from a non-speech segment. An antecedent of the fuzzy rule may include an input variable and an input variable membership. A consequent of the fuzzy rule may include an output variable and an output variable membership. An instance of the input variable may be extracted from a segment. An input variable membership function associated with the input variable membership and an output variable membership function associated with the output variable membership may be trained. The instance of the input variable, the input variable membership function, the output variable, and the output variable membership function may be operated, to determine whether the segment is the speech segment or the non-speech segment.

Abstract: An eccentric free pivot for a reclining seat assembly may include a seat cushion, a seatback, a gear system, an input mechanism, a rod, and an eccentric pivot. The gear system may pivotally couple the seat cushion to the seatback. A rod extending generally across the seat assembly may be coupled to the gear system on one side and the eccentric pivot on the other side. When the gear system and/or input mechanism rotate the rod and eccentric pivot, this rotation causes the side of the seatback opposite the gear system and/or input mechanism to move up and down.

Abstract: Slit valve apparatuses are described. In one aspect, a slit valve apparatus is disclosed having a gate with at least one sealing surface, a blocker element, and a connector member that structurally connects the gate and the blocker element. Systems and methods including the slit valve apparatus are also disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: An eccentric free pivot for a reclining seat assembly may include a seat cushion, a seatback, a gear system, an input mechanism, a rod, and an eccentric pivot. The gear system may pivotally couple the seat cushion to the seatback. A rod extending generally across the seat assembly may be coupled to the gear system on one side and the eccentric pivot on the other side. When the gear system and/or input mechanism rotate the rod and eccentric pivot, this rotation causes the side of the seatback opposite the gear system and/or input mechanism to move up and down.

Abstract: The fluency of a spoken utterance or passage is measure and presented to the speaker and to others. In one embodiment, a method is described that includes recording a spoken utterance, evaluating the spoken utterance for accuracy, evaluating the spoken utterance for duration, and assigning a score to the spoken utterance based on the accuracy and the duration.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism in a fluid delivery system is provided. In one example, an airless fluid delivery system is provided and includes a housing including a pumping unit. The system also includes a first conduit providing a first fluid path for supplying fluid from a fluid source to the pumping unit and a second conduit providing a second fluid path for fluid between the fluid source and the pumping unit. The system also includes a coupling mechanism configured to removably couple the first and second conduits to the housing.

Abstract: Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for speech segmentation are described. In some embodiments, a fuzzy rule may be determined to discriminate a speech segment from a non-speech segment. An antecedent of the fuzzy rule may include an input variable and an input variable membership. A consequent of the fuzzy rule may include an output variable and an output variable membership. An instance of the input variable may be extracted from a segment. An input variable membership function associated with the input variable membership and an output variable membership function associated with the output variable membership may be trained. The instance of the input variable, the input variable membership function, the output variable, and the output variable membership function may be operated, to determine whether the segment is the speech segment or the non-speech segment.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently performing a pattern matching procedure includes an enrollment manager that performs an image conversion procedure for converting an initial reference image into a reference template. The image conversion procedure may include at least one of a binarization procedure and a symmetrical reduction procedure to more efficiently utilize system resources such as processing requirements and memory requirements. A verification manager may then convert an initial test image into a transformed test image for combining with the foregoing reference template to produce a correlation image. The verification manager then analyzes matching characteristics of the correlation image to determine whether the initial test image matches the initial reference image.

Abstract: The fluency of a spoken utterance or passage is measure and presented to the speaker and to others. In one embodiment, a method is described that includes recording a spoken utterance, evaluating the spoken utterance for accuracy, evaluating the spoken utterance for duration, and assigning a score to the spoken utterance based on the accuracy and the duration.

Abstract: A language tutor system and method. The system comprising a client module and a server module coupled to the client module. The server module downloads an oral language assignment to the client module to enable a student learning a second language to login to the client module and perform the oral language assignment. The client module provides a benchmark audio sentence in the second language to the student, records a recitation of the sentence from the student, and evaluates the recitation of the sentence from the student by comparing the recitation of the sentence with the benchmark audio. The system provides feedback to the student on the pronunciation and intonation of each word in the sentence.

Abstract: Interactive language learning techniques may be described. An apparatus may comprise a remote control receiver to receive user commands, a receiver to receive voice information, and a virtual language tutor module. The virtual language tutor module may have a user interface module and a speech evaluation engine. The user interface module may respond to user commands to control the virtual language tutor module. The speech evaluation engine may analyze a speech characteristic of the voice information and provide feedback information for the speech characteristic. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately calculating a mathematical power function in an electronic device may include an application program that is configured to calculate a direct estimate of power function value for the mathematical power function during a direct linear interpolations procedure. The application program may also calculate an indirect estimate of power function value for a complement power function during an indirect linear interpolation procedure. The application program may then perform a final function-estimate calculation procedure to accurately produce a final estimated power function value from the foregoing direct estimate of power function value and indirect estimate of power function value.