Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to video-conferencing systems, and more particularly, to advanced camera devices with integrated background differentiation capabilities, such as background removal, background replacement, and/or background blur capabilities, which are suitable for use in a video-conferencing application. Generally, the camera devices described herein use a combination of integrated hardware and software to differentiate between the desired portion of a video stream and the undesired portion of the video stream to-be-replaced. The background differentiation and/or background replacement methods disclosed herein are generally performed, using a camera device, before encoding the video stream for transmission of the video stream therefrom.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally relate to methods and video system components that have integrated background differentiation capabilities that allow for background replacement and/or background modification. In some embodiments, undesired portions of video data generated in a video environment are separated from desired portions of the video data by taking advantage of the illumination and decay of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, provided from an illuminator, over a distance. Due to the decay of intensity with distance, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the undesired background has a lower intensity when received by the sensor than the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the desired foreground. The difference in the detected intensity at the one or more wavelengths can then be used to separate and/or modify the undesired background from the desired foreground for use in a video feed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally relate to methods and video system components that have integrated background differentiation capabilities that allow for background replacement and/or background modification. In some embodiments, undesired portions of video data generated in a video environment are separated from desired portions of the video data by taking advantage of the illumination and decay of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, provided from an illuminator, over a distance. Due to the decay of intensity with distance, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the undesired background has a lower intensity when received by the sensor than the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the desired foreground. The difference in the detected intensity at the one or more wavelengths can then be used to separate and/or modify the undesired background from the desired foreground for use in a video feed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally relate to methods and video system components that have integrated background differentiation capabilities that allow for background replacement and/or background modification. In some embodiments, undesired portions of video data generated in a video environment are separated from desired portions of the video data by taking advantage of the illumination and decay of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, provided from an illuminator, over a distance. Due to the decay of intensity with distance, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the undesired background has a lower intensity when received by the sensor than the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the desired foreground. The difference in the detected intensity at the one or more wavelengths can then be used to separate and/or modify the undesired background from the desired foreground for use in a video feed.

Abstract: An educational gaming system includes control cards, road pieces and a robotic device. Each of the control cards has a graphic corresponding to an instruction. The road pieces are arranged to form a road on which the robotic device is configured to move. The robotic device is communicable with an electronic device that executes an application program. The electronic device captures an image of the graphic of the control card, conducts a machine learning algorithm based on the image to obtain the instruction, and transmits the instruction to the robotic device. The robotic device obtains a road-piece signal value that is generated by scanning one of the road pieces, and performs movement based on the instruction and the road-piece signal value.

Abstract: A four piece lens assembly with a low profile is provided. The lens assembly has a sufficient FOV for personal use and has a small Chief Ray Angle (CRA) allowing the use of a small CRA image sensor. A static lens system is disclosed and includes, in one embodiment, a lens assembly housing with an aperture stop followed by a lens assembly with first-fourth lens elements. The fourth lens element is the closest lens element to an imaging sensor. The four lens elements are all plastic. The first, second and fourth lens elements have a positive focal length. The third lens element has a negative focal length. Both lens surfaces of each of the lens elements are aspherical.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally relate to methods and video system components that have integrated background differentiation capabilities that allow for background replacement and/or background modification. In some embodiments, undesired portions of video data generated in a video environment are separated from desired portions of the video data by taking advantage of the illumination and decay of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, provided from an illuminator, over a distance. Due to the decay of intensity with distance, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the undesired background has a lower intensity when received by the sensor than the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the desired foreground. The difference in the detected intensity at the one or more wavelengths can then be used to separate and/or modify the undesired background from the desired foreground for use in a video feed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provided herein generally relate to methods and video system components that have integrated background differentiation capabilities that allow for background replacement and/or background modification. In some embodiments, undesired portions of video data generated in a video environment are separated from desired portions of the video data by taking advantage of the illumination and decay of the intensity of electromagnetic radiation, provided from an illuminator, over a distance. Due to the decay of intensity with distance, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the undesired background has a lower intensity when received by the sensor than the electromagnetic radiation reflected from the desired foreground. The difference in the detected intensity at the one or more wavelengths can then be used to separate and/or modify the undesired background from the desired foreground for use in a video feed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to video-conferencing systems, and more particularly, to advanced camera devices with integrated background differentiation capabilities, such as background removal, background replacement, and/or background blur capabilities, which are suitable for use in a video-conferencing application. Generally, the camera devices described herein use a combination of integrated hardware and software to differentiate between the desired portion of a video stream and the undesired portion of the video stream to-be-replaced. The background differentiation and/or background replacement methods disclosed herein are generally performed, using a camera device, before encoding the video stream for transmission of the video stream therefrom.

Abstract: An educational gaming system includes control cards, road pieces and a robotic device. Each of the control cards has a graphic corresponding to an instruction. The road pieces are arranged to form a road on which the robotic device is configured to move. The robotic device is communicable with an electronic device that executes an application program. The electronic device captures an image of the graphic of the control card, conducts a machine learning algorithm based on the image to obtain the instruction, and transmits the instruction to the robotic device. The robotic device obtains a road-piece signal value that is generated by scanning one of the road pieces, and performs movement based on the instruction and the road-piece signal value.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) gate stack structure in an insta-MOS field-effect-transistor (i-MOSFET) includes the following steps of: forming a silicon nitride layer over a silicon substrate; forming a nanopillar structure including a silicon-germanium alloy layer in contact with the silicon nitride layer; and performing a thermal oxidation process on the nanopillar structure to cause germanium atoms in the silicon-germanium alloy layer to penetrate the underneath silicon nitride layer to form a silicon-germanium shell layer in contact with the silicon substrate and a germanium nanosphere located over the silicon germanium shell layer, and to form a separating layer between the silicon-germanium shell layer and the germanium nanosphere by oxidizing silicon atoms from the silicon nitride layer or the silicon substrate, thereby forming a germanium/silicon dioxide/silicon-germanium i-MOS gate stack structure capable of solving interfacial issues between silicon and germanium and b

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) gate stack structure in an insta-MOS field-effect-transistor (i-MOSFET) includes the following steps of: forming a silicon nitride layer over a silicon substrate; forming a nanopillar structure including a silicon-germanium alloy layer in contact with the silicon nitride layer; and performing a thermal oxidation process on the nanopillar structure to cause germanium atoms in the silicon-germanium alloy layer to penetrate the underneath silicon nitride layer to form a silicon-germanium shell layer in contact with the silicon substrate and a germanium nanosphere located over the silicon germanium shell layer, and to form a separating layer between the silicon-germanium shell layer and the germanium nanosphere by oxidizing silicon atoms from the silicon nitride layer or the silicon substrate, thereby forming a germanium/silicon dioxide/silicon-germanium i-MOS gate stack structure capable of solving interfacial issues between silicon and germanium and b

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a camera having two modes: a visible light imaging mode (day-mode) and an IR imaging mode (night-mode). In the visible light imaging mode, an IR filter is in line with the lens assembly. In the IR imaging mode, the IR filter is mechanically removed, and IR light is allowed to pass to the sensor. In one embodiment, in the IR imaging mode, IR lighting is provided by an IR LEDs on the camera to illuminate the scene. In one embodiment, the various components are chosen, balanced and optimized so that images captured using visible light and images captured using non-visible light are both in focus. In one embodiment, an algorithm determines when there sufficient visible light is present and when it is not, and thus determines when to switch the camera from one mode to another.

Abstract: A webcam with an optical lens that can manually be moved into a position in front of the camera lens. The lens may slide or be rotated to a position in front of the camera lens. The optical lens may be a zoom lens, such that, in combination with the lens of the camera, a fixed zoom or magnification function is provided. Alternately, at least a second lens may also be provided, such as to provide two fixed zoom positions. The two lenses could be moved together with a single mechanical structure, or separately with two different manual controls.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a camera having two modes: a visible light imaging mode (day-mode) and an IR imaging mode (night-mode). In the visible light imaging mode, an IR filter is in line with the lens assembly. In the IR imaging mode, the IR filter is mechanically removed, and IR light is allowed to pass to the sensor. In one embodiment, in the IR imaging mode, IR lighting is provided by an IR LEDs on the camera to illuminate the scene. In one embodiment, the various components are chosen, balanced and optimized so that images captured using visible light and images captured using non-visible light are both in focus. In one embodiment, an algorithm determines when there sufficient visible light is present and when it is not, and thus determines when to switch the camera from one mode to another.

Abstract: A webcam with an optical lens that can manually be moved into a position in front of the camera lens. The lens may slide or be rotated to a position in front of the camera lens. The optical lens may be a zoom lens, such that, in combination with the lens of the camera, a fixed zoom or magnification function is provided. Alternately, at least a second lens may also be provided, such as to provide two fixed zoom positions. The two lenses could be moved together with a single mechanical structure, or separately with two different manual controls.

Abstract: A light source module for scanner includes a lamp socket, a lamp tube and a light shade. The lamp socket has an elongate opening pointing toward the document board of the scanner and a parabola trough with internal surface coating with reflective material. The lamp tube is located at the focal point of the parabola trough. The light shade is a curved member located adjacent the opening to partly block the opening and is taper off at two ends. Light rays become parallel after reflecting from the parabola surface and may project to the document board through the opening with strong intensity with less random light for obtaining improved scanning quality. The light shade block more light at the middle portion of the opening than two ends so that more evenly distributed light may be emitted out through the opening to further improve scanning quality.