Abstract: A robotic coordinate measurement machine (CMM) having a contact direction sensitive (CDS) probe is usable to detect internal dimensions for an object of interest. A robot arm may contact a surface with the CDS probe which may then detect a magnitude and direction of the resulting reaction force. The robotic CMM may monitor the magnitude and/or direction of the reaction force while the CDS probe is being slide across a surface to determine dimensions for the surface. Changes in the reaction force sensed by the CDS probe may be used to identify contact with other surfaces of contours in the surface the CDS probe is being slid across. A path of the CDS probe may be altered based on the contact with other surfaces or the contours.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing an image validation module. The image validation mobile enables capture, enhancement, validation, and upload of a digital image to a networked computing service, applying criteria that correspond to image validation criteria used by the networked computing service. The image validation mobile may be executed on a mobile computing device, and may authenticate itself to the networked computing service to indicate that digital images have already been validated. The image validation module may provide feedback before, during, or after image capture to enable the capture of valid images, and may provide feedback before, during, or after image enhancement to allow issues that prevent a digital image from passing validation to be addressed.

Abstract: The display of 3D-representations involves navigation and interaction with users engaged with the display. Points of interest (POIs), as applied to areas of interest for a 3D-representation, are anchored to the 3D-representation on the display and are moveable in synchrony with the 3D-representation navigation. POIs are presented in which interactive actions are associated with the POIs. When a user selects one of the interactive actions associated with a POI, the selection can prompt the display of a new 3D-representation of an item related to the 3D-representation to which the POI is anchored, thereby improving access and analysis about information for related items.

Abstract: Embodiments perform an iterative process for enlarging a rectangle having a fixed aspect ratio within a convex polygon to find the largest rectangular area within the convex polygon. The iterative process includes detecting an intersection of one or more corners of the rectangle with the convex polygon and adjusting a position of the rectangle based on the quantity of intersecting corners. The iterative growth process continues until a maximum inscribed size of the rectangle has been determined. Some embodiments process images from bracketed photography and crop areas outside the determined maximum inscribed size when combining the images into a single image.

Abstract: Embodiments perform an iterative process for enlarging a rectangle having a fixed aspect ratio within a convex polygon to find the largest rectangular area within the convex polygon. The iterative process includes detecting an intersection of one or more corners of the rectangle with the convex polygon and adjusting a position of the rectangle based on the quantity of intersecting corners. The iterative growth process continues until a maximum inscribed size of the rectangle has been determined. Some embodiments process images from bracketed photography and crop areas outside the determined maximum inscribed size when combining the images into a single image.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a unified method for combining images such as high dynamic range images, flash-no-flash image pairs, and/or other images. Weight masks are defined for each of the plurality of images by calculating coefficients for each of the weight masks. Calculating the coefficients includes, at least, performing histogram alignment between a reference image and each of the other input images and by applying a mismatch bias to the coefficients as a function of the histogram alignment. After applying the weight masks to the corresponding images, the images are combined to produce a final image.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for finding synonyms which are more contextually relevant to the intended use of a particular word. The system finds a list of synonyms for the input word and also finds a list of synonyms for an additional word entered by the user to approximate the intended usage of the input word. These two lists of synonyms are compared to find words common to both lists, and the common words are presented to the user as potential synonyms which are appropriate for the intended use.

Abstract: Embodiments perform an iterative process for enlarging a rectangle having a fixed aspect ratio within a convex polygon to find the largest rectangular area within the convex polygon. The iterative process includes detecting an intersection of one or more corners of the rectangle with the convex polygon and adjusting a position of the rectangle based on the quantity of intersecting corners. The iterative growth process continues until a maximum inscribed size of the rectangle has been determined. Some embodiments process images from bracketed photography and crop areas outside the determined maximum inscribed size when combining the images into a single image.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a unified method for combining images such as high dynamic range images, flash-no-flash image pairs, and/or other images. Weight masks are defined for each of the plurality of images by calculating coefficients for each of the weight masks. Calculating the coefficients includes, at least, performing histogram alignment between a reference image and each of the other input images and by applying a mismatch bias to the coefficients as a function of the histogram alignment. After applying the weight masks to the corresponding images, the images are combined to produce a final image.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a unified method for combining images such as high dynamic range images, flash-no-flash image pairs, and/or other images. Weight masks are defined for each of the plurality of images by calculating coefficients for each of the weight masks. Calculating the coefficients includes, at least, performing histogram alignment between a reference image and each of the other input images and by applying a mismatch bias to the coefficients as a function of the histogram alignment. After applying the weight masks to the corresponding images, the images are combined to produce a final image.

Abstract: A method of imparting hair strand effects may include identifying each of a plurality of hair strands to which to apply a hair strand effect product independently and individually, the plurality of hair strands associated with an illustration of at least one type of hair strand effects and one of a plurality of hair styles, and applying the product to each of the plurality of hair strands independently and individually subsequent to identifying the plurality of hair strands. In the alternative or in combination, a hair instruction guide may be consulted, the guide having at least one strand size associated with one of the plurality of types of hair strand effects, and a strand of hair may be identified according to the at least one strand size. A system for creating a hair strand effect may include a hair strand effect product and such a hair instruction guide.

Abstract: A manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser to be used with a personal care composition having a relatively higher viscosity that gives a desired foamed composition generated from a manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser.

Abstract: An oxidative hair colorant composition to be dispensed from a manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser as a foam. The oxidative hair colorant composition contains a foam stabilizing agent and is essentially free of surfactant.

Abstract: A manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser to be used with a personal care composition having a relatively higher viscosity that gives a desired foamed composition generated from a manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser.

Abstract: An oxidative hair colorant composition to be dispensed from a manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser as a foam. The oxidative hair colorant composition contains a foam stabilizing agent and is essentially free of surfactant.

Abstract: A sliding door system includes at least one sliding door having an upper and lower sliding-door mount, as well as an upper and lower guide rail for displaceably receiving the upper and lower sliding-door mount, respectively. The guide rails extend parallel to each other and each have a clear inner width that is at least twice as large as the thickness of the sliding door. The upper and lower sliding-door mounts are each at most half as wide as the clear inner width of each guide rail, allowing moving the sliding door into recessed and lifted-out positions, each constituting a stable state. By overcoming a resistance force, the sliding door can be moved between stable states. The sliding door system is lightweight and robust, and enables sliding doors to be displaced freely without a particular sliding door being assigned in a fixed manner to a particular opening to be covered.

Abstract: A manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser to be used with a personal care composition having a relatively higher viscosity that gives a desired foamed composition generated from a manually-actuable, non-aerosol dispenser.

Abstract: A method of imparting hair strand effects may include identifying each of a plurality of hair strands to which to apply a hair strand effect product independently and individually, the plurality of hair strands associated with an illustration of at least one type of hair strand effects and one of a plurality of hair styles, and applying the product to each of the plurality of hair strands independently and individually subsequent to identifying the plurality of hair strands. In the alternative or in combination, a hair instruction guide may be consulted, the guide having at least one strand size associated with one of the plurality of types of hair strand effects, and a strand of hair may be identified according to the at least one strand size. A system for creating a hair strand effect may include a hair strand effect product and such a hair instruction guide.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a unified method for combining images such as high dynamic range images, flash-no-flash image pairs, and/or other images. Weight masks are defined for each of the plurality of images by calculating coefficients for each of the weight masks. Calculating the coefficients includes, at least, performing histogram alignment between a reference image and each of the other input images and by applying a mismatch bias to the coefficients as a function of the histogram alignment. After applying the weight masks to the corresponding images, the images are combined to produce a final image.

Abstract: Embodiments perform an iterative process for enlarging a rectangle having a fixed aspect ratio within a convex polygon to find the largest rectangular area within the convex polygon. The iterative process includes detecting an intersection of one or more corners of the rectangle with the convex polygon and adjusting a position of the rectangle based on the quantity of intersecting corners. The iterative growth process continues until a maximum inscribed size of the rectangle has been determined. Some embodiments process images from bracketed photography and crop areas outside the determined maximum inscribed size when combining the images into a single image.