Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for techniques to manufacture inter-layer vias are described. In some examples, a manufacturing process for a via to one or more metal lines within an integrated circuit may not include forming a metal pad for the via. For example, the manufacturing process may include forming a layer of dielectric material over a set of metal lines. The manufacturing process may further include forming a cavity through the dielectric layer (e.g., using an etching procedure), exposing the upper surfaces and sidewalls of one or more metal lines of the set. Subsequently, the via may be formed by depositing a conductive material within the cavity. In some cases, the conductive material may be deposited to contact the sidewalls of the one or more metal lines. Such an assembly may establish electrical connection to other electrical components of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A technique for displaying 3D videos creates a representation of image deformation, such as depth maps, in terms of a function for overlaying kernels with variable support and order. By optimizing the kernel type, order and support, which are allowed to be varied across different region of the deformation, it is able to approximate the image deformations in terms of the kernel parameters. Since the number of kernel parameters is usually much smaller than that of the number of pixels, this allows a significant reduction in the storage size of the image deformation.

Abstract: A method for encoding depth map image involves dividing the image into blocks. These blocks are then classified into smooth blocks without large depth discontinuities and discontinuous blocks with large depth discontinuities. In the discontinuous blocks, depth discontinuities are represented by line segments and partitions. Interpolation-based intra prediction is used to approximate and compress the depth values in the smooth blocks and partitions. Further compression can be achieved with of depth-aware quantization, adaptive de-blocking filtering, scale adaptive block size, and resolution decimation schemes.

Abstract: The present invention relate to methods and codecs for image and video compression. Embodiments of the present invention include a novel shape-adaptive model-based codec (SAM) that supports binary shapes as well as matte and soft segmentation image compression by decomposing input shapes into deterministic and stochastic components for flexible lossy and lossless coding. The present invention can provide inter/intra prediction and flexibly adapts between lossy and lossless modes with various parameters for compression quality control. The compression module can also be adapted with numerous other compression techniques.

Abstract: It is proposed a Method and System for Global Motion Estimation and Compensation. The system operates on two depth maps which contain a reference depth map and a current depth map as well as their associated texture images if available. The system executes four major steps which are feature detection (step 1), global motion compensation (GMC) (step 2), major moving objects (MMO) detection and the estimation of their motion parameters denoted as major motion parameters (MMPs) (step 3), and local motion compensation (LMC) of macroblocks or other coding/prediction units (step 4). The output of the system is the global motion parameters (GMPs), major moving objects (MMOs) and MMPs, the local motion vectors (LMVs), and the coding modes.

Abstract: A technique for displaying 3D videos creates a representation of image deformation, such as depth maps, in terms of a function for overlaying kernels with variable support and order. By optimizing the kernel type, order and support, which are allowed to be varied across different region of the deformation, it is able to approximate the image deformations in terms of the kernel parameters. Since the number of kernel parameters is usually much smaller than that of the number of pixels, this allows a significant reduction in the storage size of the image deformation.

Abstract: Original or compressed Auxiliary Data, including possibly major depth discontinuities in the form of shape images, partial occlusion data, associated tuned and control parameters, and depth information of the original video(s), are used to facilitate the interactive display and generation of new views (view synthesis) of conventional 2D, stereo, and multi-view videos in conventional 2D, 3D (stereo) and multi-view or autostereoscopic displays with reduced artifacts. The partial or full occlusion data includes image, depth and opacity data of possibly partially occluded areas to facilitate the reduction of artifacts in the synthesized view. An efficient method is used for extracting objects at partially occluded regions as defined by the auxiliary data from the texture videos to facilitate view synthesis with reduced artifacts.

Abstract: A method for encoding depth map image involves dividing the image into blocks. These blocks are then classified into smooth blocks without large depth discontinuities and discontinuous blocks with large depth discontinuities. In the discontinuous blocks, depth discontinuities are represented by line segments and partitions. Interpolation-based intra prediction is used to approximate and compress the depth values in the smooth blocks and partitions. Further compression can be achieved with of depth-aware quantization, adaptive de-blocking filtering, scale adaptive block size, and resolution decimation schemes.

Abstract: It is proposed a Method and System for Global Motion Estimation and Compensation. The system operates on two depth maps which contain a reference depth map and a current depth map as well as their associated texture images if available. The system executes four major steps which are feature detection (step 1), global motion compensation (GMC) (step 2), major moving objects (MMO) detection and the estimation of their motion parameters denoted as major motion parameters (MMPs) (step 3), and local motion compensation (LMC) of macroblocks or other coding/prediction units (step 4). The output of the system is the global motion parameters (GMPs), major moving objects (MMOs) and MMPs, the local motion vectors (LMVs), and the coding modes.

Abstract: The present invention relate to methods and codecs for image and video compression. Embodiments of the present invention include a novel shape-adaptive model-based codec (SAM) that supports binary shapes as well as matte and soft segmentation image compression by decomposing input shapes into deterministic and stochastic components for flexible lossy and lossless coding. The present invention can provide inter/intra prediction and flexibly adapts between lossy and lossless modes with various parameters for compression quality control. The compression module can also be adapted with numerous other compression techniques.

Abstract: Original or compressed Auxiliary Data, including possibly major depth discontinuities in the form of shape images, partial occlusion data, associated tuned and control parameters, and depth information of the original video(s), are used to facilitate the interactive display and generation of new views (view synthesis) of conventional 2D, stereo, and multi-view videos in conventional 2D, 3D (stereo) and multi-view or autostereoscopic displays with reduced artifacts. The partial or full occlusion data includes image, depth and opacity data of possibly partially occluded areas to facilitate the reduction of artifacts in the synthesized view. An efficient method is used for extracting objects at partially occluded regions as defined by the auxiliary data from the texture videos to facilitate view synthesis with reduced artifacts.

Abstract: Briefly, embodiments of methods or structures for reconstruction of uniform digital signal sample values from nonuniform digital signal sample values are disclosed.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.

Abstract: Briefly, embodiments of methods or structures for reconstruction of uniform digital signal sample values from nonuniform digital signal sample values are disclosed

Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.

Abstract: An automated analyzer for analyzing patient samples. The analyzer includes a plurality of cuvettes, which allow the samples to be mixed with various reagents. The analyzer includes one or more detectors, including a detector adapted to detect luminescence of the reaction mixture in the cuvettes. The analyzer allows for various diagnostic assays to be performed on a single system, and provides for high-sensitivity analysis at faster speeds.

Abstract: An automatic clinical analyzer in which the number of cuvette ports available for reaction vessels on a reaction carousel are 50% in a configuration using a single reagent storage areas; in a second configuration an additional reagent storage areas is employed and additional ones of the cuvette ports on reaction carousel are utilized, thereby significantly increasing throughput.

Abstract: A driving circuit for driving an electroluminescent lamp is disclosed. The driving circuit includes an alternating current (AC) voltage generator for providing at an output an AC output voltage waveform for driving an electroluminescent lamp and a controller for controlling the phase and polarity of the AC output voltage waveform. The controller is operable to reverse the phase and polarity of the AC output voltage. In one embodiment, the AC voltage generator includes a transformer.

Abstract: A data structure includes variable-size data objects [“VSDOs”] and enables selective and efficient retrieval of data in particular VSDOs. The data structure includes multiple packets. Each packet includes a reference count field, a references field, and an objects field. The references field stores references to VSDOs within the data structure. The reference count field indicates the number of references stored in the references field. The objects field stores the-actual VSDOs. To access a particular VSDO, an accessing unit traverses the reference count fields of the multiple packets until the accessing unit finds a packet that includes the reference to the particular VSDO. The accessing unit accesses the particular VSDO based upon the reference. To further improve the efficiency of an access operation, packets form metapackets. A metapacket header sums the reference count fields of the packets within the metapacket.