Abstract: An apparatus includes an imaging probe and is configured for dynamically arranging presentation of visual feedback for guiding manual adjustment, via the probe, of a location, and orientation, associated with the probe. The arranging is selectively based on comparisons between fields of view of the probe and respective results of segmenting image data acquired via the probe. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a sensor which guides a decision that acoustic coupling quality is insufficient, the apparatus issuing a user alert upon the decision.

Abstract: A vacuum cathode arc-induced pulsed thruster includes a housing where a triggering room and an electric discharging room are defined and are in communication with each other, a first anode unit and a first cathode unit concentrically disposed in the triggering room, a second anode unit disposed in the electric discharging room, an insulating fuel layer concentrically located between the first anode unit and the first cathode unit, a main insulating layer concentrically surrounded by the first cathode unit, and a second cathode unit inserted from the triggering room into the electric discharging room. Thus, the vacuum cathode arc-induced pulse thruster is lightweight and has low manufacturing costs, low system complexity, and less energy consumption. Carbon deposition caused during an electric discharging process is prevented from affecting an inducing effect to thereby prolong the service life of the thruster and increase the control precision and inducing precision effectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for suppressing off-axis sidelobes and/or clutter, near-field reverberation clutter, and/or grating lobe contributions are disclosed. A dual apodization with median (DAM) filtering technique is disclosed. The dual apodization technique may include summing aligned channel data with apodization functions (406, 412, 414) with complementary apertures applied. Median values for a zero function (RF3) and the resulting signals (RF1, RF2) from the complementary apertures are determined to generate a median value signal (416, MVS). The median value signal is used to generate an ultrasound image with enhanced image contrast. A method of image smoothing of the ultrasound image with enhanced image contrast is also disclosed. The smoothed image may include low frequency components of the ultrasound image with enhanced image contrast and high frequency components of an original image.

Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes: a package substrate having a die mount portion and lead portions spaced from the die mount portion; a semiconductor die over the die mount portion having bond pads on an active surface facing away from the package substrate; non-gold bond wires forming electrical connections between at least one of the bond pads and one of the lead portions of the package substrate; a bond stitch on bump connection formed between one of the non-gold bond wires and a bond pad of the semiconductor die, comprising a stitch bond formed on a flex stud bump; and dielectric material covering a portion of the package substrate, the semiconductor die, the non-gold bond wires, the stitch bond and the flex stud bump, forming a packaged semiconductor device.

Abstract: An imaging steering apparatus includes sensors and an imaging processor configured for: acquiring, via multiple ones of the sensors and from a current position (322), and current orientation (324), an image of an object of interest; based on a model, segmenting the acquired image; and determining, based on a result of the segmenting, a target position (318), and target orientation (320), with the target position and/or target orientation differing correspondingly from the current position and/or current orientation. An electronic steering parameter effective toward improving the current field of view may be computed, and a user may be provided instructional feedback (144) in navigating an imaging probe toward the improving. A robot can be configured for, automatically and without need for user intervention, imparting force (142) to the probe to move it responsive to the determination.

Abstract: In a method of coating a photo resist over a wafer, dispensing the photo resist from a nozzle over the wafer is started while rotating the wafer, and dispensing the photo resist is stopped while rotating the wafer. After starting and before stopping the dispensing the photo resist, a wafer rotation speed is changed at least 4 times. During dispensing, an arm holding the nozzle may move horizontally. A tip end of the nozzle may be located at a height of 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm from the wafer.

Abstract: A system for visualization and quantification of ultrasound imaging data according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include a display unit, and a processor communicatively coupled to the display unit and to an ultrasound imaging apparatus for generating an image from ultrasound data representative of a bodily structure and fluid flowing within the bodily structure. The processor may be configured to estimate axial and lateral velocity components of the fluid flowing within the bodily structure, determine a plurality of flow directions within the image based on the axial and lateral velocity components, differentially encode the flow directions based on flow direction angle to generate a flow direction map, and cause the display unit to concurrently display the image including the bodily structure overlaid with the flow direction map.

Abstract: A localization and attitude estimation method using magnetic fields includes the following steps. First, in three-dimensional coordinates, at least three magnetic landmarks arbitrarily disposed around a moving carrier are selected, wherein any two of the at least three magnetic landmarks have different magnetic directions. One set of at least five tri-axes magnetic sensors is used to sense the magnetic fields of the at least three magnetic landmarks. Three magnetic components on three axes of a current position of each of the tri-axes magnetic sensors are respectively generated by a demagnetization method. Five non-linear magnetic equations are solved to obtain position information and magnetic moment information of the at least three magnetic landmarks in the three-dimensional coordinates. Position vectors and attitude vectors of the set of at least five tri-axes magnetic sensors in a three-dimensional space are estimated based on tri-axes magnetic moment vectors of the magnetic landmarks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating hepato-renal index (HRI) values from radiofrequency (RF) data are disclosed herein. The RF data may include fundamental frequency components, harmonic frequency components, or a combination thereof. Signal intensities within regions of interest may be calculated from the RF data. The signal intensities may be averaged to arrive at an average signal intensity value for each region of interest. In some examples, some of the highest and/or lowest signal intensity values may be removed prior to averaging. The ratio of the average signal intensities from the different regions of interest may be then be taken to arrive at the HRI values.

Abstract: Ultrasound apparatus and methods of processing signals are described. The ultrasound apparatus may include multiple channels. In some embodiments, signal processing techniques are described, which in some embodiments are performed on a per-channel basis. The signal processing techniques may involve using down-conversion and filtering of signals on multiple channels. The down-conversion and filtering may be done prior to beamforming.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and systems for generating an ultrasound image. In a method, the generation of an ultrasound image comprises: obtaining channel data, the channel data defining a set of imaged points; for each imaged point: isolating the channel data; performing a spatial spectral estimation on the isolated channel data; and selectively attenuating the spatial spectral estimation channel data, thereby generating filtered channel data; and summing the filtered channel data, thereby forming a filtered ultrasound image. In some examples, the method comprises aperture extrapolation. The aperture extrapolation improves the lateral resolution of the ultrasound image. In other examples, the method comprises transmit extrapolation. The transmit extrapolation improves the contrast of the image. In addition, the transmit extrapolation improves the frame rate and reduces the motion artifacts in the ultrasound image. In further examples, the aperture and transmit extrapolations may be combined.

Abstract: In a method of coating a photo resist over a wafer, dispensing the photo resist from a nozzle over the wafer is started while rotating the wafer, and dispensing the photo resist is stopped while rotating the wafer. After starting and before stopping the dispensing the photo resist, a wafer rotation speed is changed at least 4 times. During dispensing, an arm holding the nozzle may move horizontally. A tip end of the nozzle may be located at a height of 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm from the wafer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a geomagnetic positioning device, comprising a base assembly and a connecting assembly. The base assembly comprises a control component, a driving component, and a first geomagnetic component. The control component is electrically connected with the driving component and the first geomagnetic component. The connecting assembly is disposed at the driving component and comprises a second geomagnetic component. Wherein the control component obtains the deviation angle of the second geomagnetic component relative to the first geomagnetic component. The control component controls the driving component according to the deviation angle to adjust the relative angle of the connecting assembly relative to the base assembly.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices that perform flow scan sequences are provided. In one embodiment, an ultrasound imaging system includes an intraluminal catheter or guidewire, an annular array of acoustic elements positioned around a circumference of the catheter or guidewire, and a processor in communication with the annular array. The processor is configured to activate a first subaperture of the annular array at a first time, thereafter, activate a second interleaving subaperture, and activate the first subaperture again at a different, second time such that the scan sequence moves around the circumference of the catheter or guidewire. Temporal differences between the received ultrasound signals obtained by the first subaperture at the first and second times are determined to detect motion around the annular array. By interleaving subaperture firings, the total number of firings to form an image frame can be reduced.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The method includes depositing an etch stop layer over an interconnect layer having a conductive feature; depositing a protective layer over the etch stop layer; depositing a first dielectric layer over the protective layer; etching a via opening in the first dielectric layer, wherein the protective layer has a higher etch resistance to etching the via opening than that of the first dielectric layer; etching a portion of the protective layer exposed by the via opening; etching a portion of the etch stop layer exposed by the via opening, such that the via opening exposes the conductive feature; forming a bottom electrode via in the via opening; and forming a memory stack over the bottom electrode via.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to solutions of detecting and classifying wafer defects using machine learning techniques. The solutions take only one coarse resolution digital microscope image of a target wafer, and use machine learning techniques to process the coarse SEM image to review and classify a defect on the target wafer. Because only one coarse SEM image of the wafer is needed, the defect review and classification throughput and efficiency are improved. Further, the techniques are not distractive and may be integrated with other defect detecting and classification techniques.

Abstract: A catcher, a capture device, and a method for capturing at least one target biological particle are provided. The catcher includes a base and a plurality of capture arms extending from the base and spaced apart from each other. Each of the capture arms has a free end portion configured to capture a target biological particle and a supporting segment connected between the free end portion and the base. The supporting segment of each of the capture arms is arranged in a projection space defined by orthogonally projecting the free end portion along a height direction onto the base. When the target biological particle is captured by two of the capture arms that are bent and arranged adjacent to each other, a part of the target biological particle is trapped by the supporting segments of the two of the capture arms and is held.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a bond wire with a first end bonded by a ball bond to a planar side of a first conductive plate, and a second end bonded by a stitch bond to a conductive stud bump at an angle greater than or equal to 60 degrees. A wirebonding method includes bonding the first end of the conductive bond wire to the first conductive plate includes forming a ball bond to join the first end of the conductive bond wire to a planar side of the first conductive plate by a ball bond, and bonding the second end of the conductive bond wire to the conductive stud bump includes forming a stitch bond to join the second end of the conductive bond wire to the conductive stud bump.

Abstract: A head-mounted display device includes a housing, a pair of display modules, a pair of cameras, a driving module and a control system. The housing can cover eyeballs of the user. The cameras are respectively fixed to the display modules to capture images of the eyeballs. The driving module is coupled to the display module to move the display modules relative to the housing. The control system is electrically connected to the of cameras and the driving module. An adjustment method is applicable to the above-mentioned head-mounted display device. An image of the corresponding eyeball is captured by one of the cameras. The control system calculates a deviation between a center of a pupil of the corresponding eyeball and a center of the corresponding image according to the image. The control system controls the driving module to move the display modules relative to the housing according to the deviation.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a control module, a lens module, a cover, and an encapsulation. The lens module is electrically connected to the control module. The cover has a transparent area, and the cover covers the lens module in a sealing manner. The encapsulation encapsulates the cover and the control module, and exposes the transparent area, such that the encapsulation serves as a shell of the endoscope.