Abstract: The invention is a system for cleaning an article comprising: a static nozzle to spray a fluid, wherein the position and the orientation of said nozzle remains unchanged; a robotic arm to grasp and move said article so that said fluid is sprayed on said article; a camera to acquire an image of said article; a processor to execute an algorithm based on said image to determine a cleaning protocol, wherein said cleaning protocol lists time sequence of a plurality of robot positions; whereby said article is cleaned thoroughly in real-time.

Abstract: A system and method for perceiving a dish, planning its handling, and controlling its motion, comprising: capturing at least one image of a region disposed to comprise said dish using at least one camera; classifying said image using a dish detection model to determine the presence of a dish; classifying said image using a dish identification model to determine the type of said dish; estimating the position and orientation of said dish using a dish localization model; picking up, holding, or dropping off said dish securely using said type, position, and orientation of said dish with a robotic arm, whereby said dish is detected, identified, and localized to securely move it from one location to another.

Abstract: The invention is a system for handling an article, comprising: a first finger having a belt to make contact with said article; a first actuator configured to move said belt; a second finger surrounding said article; a second actuator to vary the distance between said first finger and said second finger; a processor executing an algorithm to control said first actuator to move said article, and to control said second actuator to hold said article; whereby said article is grasped by moving it to a position between said first finger and said second finger.

Abstract: The invention is a system for cleaning an article comprising: a static nozzle to spray a fluid, wherein the position and the orientation of said nozzle remains unchanged; a robotic arm to grasp and move said article so that said fluid is sprayed on said article; a camera to acquire an image of said article; a processor to execute an algorithm based on said image to determine a cleaning protocol, wherein said cleaning protocol lists time sequence of a plurality of robot positions; whereby said article is cleaned thoroughly in real-time.

Abstract: A system and method for handling a dish, comprising: inserting a tapered finger between said dish which is stacked together with another dish; gripping said dish using an end effector having at least two fingers, wherein the distance of separation between said two fingers is configurable; moving said end effector to a plurality of locations using a first rotary arm connected to a second rotary arm, wherein said second rotary arm is connected to said end effector, and said first and second rotary arms rotate about axes that are parallel to each other; moving said first rotary arm at two or more heights using a height arm connected to said first rotary arm, whereby said robot can pick up, hold and drop off said dish.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a reusable dish, comprising: picking a dirty dish from a load module disposed to contain at least one dirty dish with a robotic arm, wherein said dirty dish is stained with material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said dirty dish from said load module to a wash module with said robotic arm; cleaning said dirty dish in said wash module having the means to transform said dirty dish into a clean dish, wherein said clean dish does not exhibit any material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said clean dish from said wash module to a store module with said robotic arm; and dropping off said clean dish in said store module, wherein said store module is disposed to contain at least one clean dish, whereby each dirty dish is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently with individual attention in real time.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a dish, comprising: illuminating said dish with a light source; capturing an image of said dish with a camera; inspecting said image to determine if said dish is clean; and estimating locations of dirty regions on said dish; spraying a fluid with a first nozzle on said dish with a predetermined spray distribution, wherein said first nozzle can reorient or relocate to spray said fluid on any region of said dish visible in said image; and spraying a fluid with a second nozzle on said dish with a spray distribution having a smaller coverage than that of said first nozzle, wherein said second nozzle is relocated or reoriented such that the fluid reaches said dirty regions at said locations on said dish; whereby dirty regions of said dish are targeted for a fast and efficient cleaning of said dish.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a dish, comprising: capturing at least one image of said dish using at least one camera; computing a bounding polygon for a dirty region in said image, wherein said dirty region is a region of said dish containing unwanted material that needs to be removed; computing a three dimensional representation of said bounding polygon by estimating three dimensional locations of multiple points within said bounding polygon; computing a spray pattern within said three dimensional representation of said bounding polygon such that the spray pattern substantially covers all regions of said three dimensional representation; and spraying a fluid on said dirty region of said dish with a nozzle, wherein said nozzle is reoriented or relocated such that said fluid reaches at least one location within said three dimensional representation of said bounding polygon according to said spray pattern, whereby dirty regions of said dish are targeted for a fast and efficient cleaning of said dish.

Abstract: A system and method for perceiving a dish, planning its handling, and controlling its motion, comprising: capturing at least one image of a region disposed to comprise said dish using at least one camera; classifying said image using a dish detection model to determine the presence of a dish; classifying said image using a dish identification model to determine the type of said dish; estimating the position and orientation of said dish using a dish localization model; picking up, holding, or dropping off said dish securely using said type, position, and orientation of said dish with a robotic arm, whereby said dish is detected, identified, and localized to securely move it from one location to another.

Abstract: A system and method for handling a dish, comprising: inserting a tapered finger between said dish which is stacked together with another dish; gripping said dish using an end effector having at least two fingers, wherein the distance of separation between said two fingers is configurable; moving said end effector to a plurality of locations using a first rotary arm connected to a second rotary arm, wherein said second rotary arm is connected to said end effector, and said first and second rotary arms rotate about axes that are parallel to each other; moving said first rotary arm at two or more heights using a height arm connected to said first rotary arm, whereby said robot can pick up, hold and drop off said dish.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a dish, comprising: illuminating said dish with a light source; capturing an image of said dish with a camera; inspecting said image to determine if said dish is clean; and estimating locations of dirty regions on said dish; spraying a fluid with a first nozzle on said dish with a predetermined spray distribution, wherein said first nozzle can reorient or relocate to spray said fluid on any region of said dish visible in said image; and spraying a fluid with a second nozzle on said dish with a spray distribution having a smaller coverage than that of said first nozzle, wherein said second nozzle is relocated or reoriented such that the fluid reaches said dirty regions at said locations on said dish; whereby dirty regions of said dish are targeted for a fast and efficient cleaning of said dish.

Abstract: A system and method for cleaning a reusable dish, comprising: picking a dirty dish from a load module disposed to contain at least one dirty dish with a robotic arm, wherein said dirty dish is stained with material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said dirty dish from said load module to a wash module with said robotic arm; cleaning said dirty dish in said wash module having the means to transform said dirty dish into a clean dish, wherein said clean dish does not exhibit any material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said clean dish from said wash module to a store module with said robotic arm; and dropping off said clean dish in said store module, wherein said store module is disposed to contain at least one clean dish, whereby each dirty dish is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently with individual attention in real time.

Abstract: A method for designing a filter to image a feature on a surface, comprising: acquiring an image of said feature, with said image of feature comprising information from multiple points of said feature; generating a structural model of said feature by extracting predetermined properties of said feature from said image of feature; computing a scattering model for said feature from said structural model of said feature, with said scattering model for feature having information on scattered electromagnetic field from feature propagating in a plurality of scattering angles, wherein said scattered electromagnetic field from feature is generated by scattering of an electromagnetic radiation by said feature; acquiring an image of said surface, with said image of surface comprising information from multiple points of said surface; generating a structural model of said surface by extracting predetermined properties of said surface from said image of surface; computing a scattering model for said surface from said struct

Abstract: A system and method for improving production yield of an article with cloud based processing by storing process information in cloud; transferring functional results to cloud, with functional results having identifying information of articles that have failed a functional test and identifying information of articles that have passed functional test; generating a probable cause list from process information in cloud, wherein probable cause list is a shortlisted version of said process information in said cloud; and generating a root cause list from probable cause list in cloud, wherein root cause list comprises process information responsible for failure in failed articles, whereby root causes of failures are analytically determined with processing power, memory, and storage that are scalable, reliable, and upgradable on demand.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a surface, comprising: illuminating said surface with an electromagnetic radiation to generate scattered radiation, having a plurality of scattering angles, from features of said surface; collecting said scattered radiation from said surface at two or more positions, with radiation collected at each position forming an image of a plurality of points on said surface by collecting a portion of said scattered radiation propagating in a subset of said scattering angles; detecting images of surface at two or more said positions; and combining information from two or more said images of surface to generate a global information set, having information from a plurality of said scattering angles collected by two or more said imaging modules, whereby said features of said surface are detected in said images of surface and in said global information set.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention can resolve molecules beyond the optical diffraction limit in three dimensions. A double-helix point spread function can be used to in conjunction with a microscope to provide dual-lobed images of a molecule. Based on the rotation of the dual-lobed image, the axial position of the molecule can be estimated or determined. In some embodiments, the angular rotation of the dual-lobed imaged can be determined using a centroid fit calculation or by finding the midpoints of the centers of the two lobes. Regardless of the technique, the correspondence between the rotation and axial position can be utilized. A double-helix point spread function can also be used to determine the lateral positions of molecules and hence their three-dimensional location.

Abstract: A method for fabricating millimeter and sub-millimeter size lenses using a high viscosity curable liquid, such as epoxy. The method comprises dispensing a predetermined volume of the curable liquid onto a substrate. The curable liquid preferably has a viscosity higher than 100 cps. Additionally, to reduce spherical aberration, the curable liquid can be cured upside down to leverage the effects of gravity.

Abstract: A method for designing a filter to image a feature on a surface, comprising: acquiring an image of said feature, with said image of feature comprising information from multiple points of said feature; generating a structural model of said feature by extracting predetermined properties of said feature from said image of feature; computing a scattering model for said feature from said structural model of said feature, with said scattering model for feature having information on scattered electromagnetic field from feature propagating in a plurality of scattering angles, wherein said scattered electromagnetic field from feature is generated by scattering of an electromagnetic radiation by said feature; acquiring an image of said surface, with said image of surface comprising information from multiple points of said surface; generating a structural model of said surface by extracting predetermined properties of said surface from said image of surface; computing a scattering model for said surface from said struct

Abstract: A method for designing a filter to image a feature on a surface, comprising: acquiring an image of said feature, with said image of feature comprising information from multiple points of said feature; generating a structural model of said feature by extracting predetermined properties of said feature from said image of feature; computing a scattering model for said feature from said structural model of said feature, with said scattering model for feature having information on scattered electromagnetic field from feature propagating in a plurality of scattering angles, wherein said scattered electromagnetic field from feature is generated by scattering of an electromagnetic radiation by said feature; acquiring an image of said surface, with said image of surface comprising information from multiple points of said surface; generating a structural model of said surface by extracting predetermined properties of said surface from said image of surface; computing a scattering model for said surface from said struct

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a surface with cloud based processing, comprising: generating surface data by inspecting a surface; transferring said surface data from a client to a cloud, wherein said cloud comprises multiple interconnected computing nodes that are remotely located from said client; computing surface properties using said surface data on said cloud; generating surface analytics from said surface properties and a prior information set, with said prior information set comprising surface properties previously stored in said cloud; and transferring said surface properties and said surface analytics from said cloud to said client, whereby said surface properties and said surface analytics are generated with processing power, memory, and storage that are scalable, reliable, and upgradable on demand.