Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding using adaptive Inter prediction are disclosed. A selected Inter prediction process is determined, wherein the selected Inter prediction process selects an Inter prediction filter from multiple Inter prediction filters for the current block depending on first pixel data comprising neighbouring reconstructed pixels (NRP) of the current block. The selected Inter prediction process may be further determined depending on extra motion compensated pixels (EMCP) around a motion-compensated reference block corresponding to the current block. Distortion between the NRP and EMCP can be used to determine the selected Inter prediction filter. The distortion can be calculated using a sum of absolute differences or squared differences between the NRP and the EMCP.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of motion compensation using the bi-directional optical flow (BIO) techniques are disclosed. According to one method of the present invention, the BIO process is applied to encode or decode bi-directional current block in Merge mode only or in AMVP (advanced motion vector prediction) mode only. According to another method, the BIO process conditionally to encode or decode the current block depending on a jointly-coded flag if the current block is coded using a bi-prediction mode. According to yet another method, x-offset value vx and y-offset value vy for the current block are added to the current motion vector to form a final motion vector. The final motion vector is then used as a reference motion vector for following blocks. In still yet another method, the BIO process is applied to the chroma component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of video coding using Non-Local (NL) denoising filter are disclosed. According to the present invention, the decoded picture or the processed-decoded picture is divided into multiple blocks. The NL loop-filter is applied to a target block with NL on/off control to generate a filtered output. The NL loop-filter process comprises determining, for the target block, a patch group consisting of K nearest reference blocks within a search window located in one or more reference regions and deriving one filtered output which could be one block for the target block or one filtered patch group based on pixel values of the target block and pixel values of the patch group. The filtered output is provided for further loop-filter processing if there is any further loop-filter processing or the filtered output is provided for storing in a reference picture buffer if there is no further loop-filter processing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system and method filter the data of successive ultrasonic images of moving tissue. At least two successive images are clutter filtered to remove clutter in the image data from stationary objects. The successive images and the filtered successive images are both used to produce displacement images of frame to frame tissue motion, and a quality metric is produced of the quality of the estimated displacement. The displacement image with the best quality metric is selected for further processing such as the production of strain images. The selected displacement image may further be spatially filtered to reduce boundary artifacts.

Abstract: An electronic bead string includes a main bead, a plurality of secondary beads, a displacement sensor, a memory, and a processor. The main bead and the secondary beads are strung together to form a bead string. The displacement sensor is fixed in the main bead to output two-dimensional displacement signals, the memory stores the two-dimensional displacement signals, and the processor determines whether a rotation cycle of the electronic bead string is an approved rotation cycle according to the two-dimensional displacement signals.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for video coding. The method includes receiving input data associated with a processing block in a current picture, selecting, from a set of neighboring reconstructed samples for intra-coding pixels in the processing block, a plurality of reference samples for a pixel in the processing block based on a position of the pixel and an intra prediction mode of the processing block, determining a projection phase for the pixel based on the position of the pixel and the intra prediction mode of the processing block, determining coefficients of an interpolation filter based on the projection phase for the pixel, applying the interpolation filter with the determined coefficients on the reference samples to generate a prediction of the pixel, and encoding or decoding the pixel in the processing block using the prediction of the pixel.

Abstract: A disc grabbing device including a disc grabbing body, a weight sensing unit and a counter is provided. The disc grabbing body is used for grabbing or unloading at least one disc. The weight sensing unit is disposed on the disc grabbing body for sensing a weight of the at least one disc grabbed on the disc grabbing body. The counter is connected to the weight sensing unit used for obtaining a disc quantity of the discs grabbed on the disc grabbing body according to the weight.

Abstract: An acoustic probe connectable to an imaging system. The acoustic probe has a substrate with first and second principal surfaces, at least one device insertion port comprising an opening passing through the substrate from the first principal surface to the second principal surface, and an array of acoustic transducer elements supported by the substrate and disposed around the at least one device insertion port. The acoustic probe comprising an instrument guide disposed within the device insertion port, the instrument guide being configured to selectively allow the interventional device to move freely within the device insertion port and to selectively lock the interventional device within the device insertion port in response to a user input via a user interface connected to the acoustic probe.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fin structure with tensile stress includes providing a structure divided into an N-type transistor region and a P-type transistor region. Next, two first trenches and two second trenches are formed in the substrate. The first trenches define a fin structure. The second trenches segment the first trenches and the fin. Later, a flowable chemical vapor deposition is performed to form a silicon oxide layer filling the first trenches and the second trenches. Then, a patterned mask is formed only within the N-type transistor region. The patterned mask only covers the silicon oxide layer in the second trenches. Subsequently, part of the silicon oxide layer is removed to make the exposed silicon oxide layer lower than the top surface of the fin structure by taking the patterned mask as a mask. Finally, the patterned mask is removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for color index coding of a block of video data using index prediction based on reconstructed neighboring pixels are disclosed. In one embodiment, color index encoding or decoding is applied to the current pixel indices by deriving index prediction from neighboring pixel indices of the reconstructed neighboring pixels. The reconstructed neighboring pixel values are first transformed into the neighboring pixel indices according to a quantization table to map between major color indices and major color values of the current block. The quantization table can be based on a major color table for the current block or can also be derived at a decoder side. The decoding process may reconstruct the current pixels by converting decoded current pixel indices to reconstructed current pixel values according to the quantization table or by directly copying the reconstructed neighboring pixel values indicated by decoded current pixel indices.

Abstract: A system includes an acoustic probe and an acoustic imaging machine connected to the acoustic probe. The acoustic probe a substrate with first and second principal surfaces, at least one device insertion port comprising an opening passing through the substrate from the first principal surface to the second principal surface, and an array of acoustic transducer elements supported by the substrate and disposed around the at least one device insertion port. The acoustic imaging machine is configured systematically vary the size and/or position of the active acoustic aperture of the ultrasound probe by providing transmit signals to selected acoustic transducer elements to cause the array of acoustic transducer elements to transmit an acoustic probe signal to an area of interest, and recording a feedback signal of the transmit signals from an acoustic receiver (610) provided at a distal end of an interventional device passed through the device insertion port into the area of interest.

Abstract: A sensing method is disclosed. The sensing method includes steps of providing a carrier including a hole having a bottom, wherein a plurality of spaced apart first nanoparticles are disposed on the bottom; coating a sensing molecule in the hole; providing a testing solution having a testing parameter to the hole, wherein the testing solution has a complex including a testing molecule and a second nanoparticle, and a specific binding occurs between the testing molecule and the sensing molecule; centrifuging the carrier to subside the complex; washing the hole; and measuring a synthetic spectral signal change of the first nanoparticle and the second nanoparticle according to a degree of the specific binding between the testing molecule and the sensing molecule to determine the testing parameter of the testing solution.

Abstract: A magnetically controlled tire pressure monitoring apparatus includes a tire pressure detector, a power supply and a wake-up device. The power supply supplies electrical power to the tire pressure detector. The tire pressure detector includes a pressure sensor used to detect a tire pressure, a microcontroller connected to the pressure sensor and used to convert the tire pressure to a tire pressure value, a register connected to the microcontroller and used to store the tire pressure value or an ID code of the magnetically controlled tire pressure monitoring apparatus for data processing by the microcontroller, and a wireless signal transmitter connected to the microcontroller and used to convert the tire pressure value or the ID code to an electromagnetic signal. The wake-up device includes a reed switch connected to the microcontroller to control whether the wireless signal transmitter transmits the electromagnetic signal or not.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for three-dimensional and scalable video coding are disclosed. Embodiments according to the present invention determine a motion information set associated with the video data, wherein at least part of the motion information set is made available or unavailable conditionally depending on the video data type. The video data type may correspond to depth data, texture data, a view associated with the video data in three-dimensional video coding, or a layer associated with the video data in scalable video coding. The motion information set is then provided for coding or decoding of the video data, other video data, or both. At least a flag may be used to indicate whether part of the motion information set is available or unavailable. Alternatively, a coding profile for the video data may be used to determine whether the motion information is available or not based on the video data type.

Abstract: A light emitting device driver circuit drives a light emitting circuit. The light emitting device driver circuit includes a switching power supply circuit and a current regulator circuit. The current regulator circuit includes a multi-level DC current control circuit, which individually determines whether plural DC current supply circuits are conducted or not conducted according to a DC dimmer signal to supply a DC current to the light emitting circuit; and a switching current control circuit, which operates a PWM switch according to a PWM dimmer signal to supply a PWM current to the light emitting device circuit. The DC current and the PWM current are summed together to form a total current flowing through the light emitting device circuit so that the brightness of the light emitting device circuit is adjustable according to the DC dimmer signal and the PWM dimmer signal.

Abstract: An opening and closing device of rotating cage type jukebox disc tray including a first disc tray carrying discs and an opening and closing mechanism of disc tray including a first linkage mechanism and a first driving device is provided. The first linkage mechanism includes a first linkage bar, a first sliding member and a second linkage bar. The second linkage bar is slidingly disposed on the first sliding member which is slidingly disposed on the first linkage bar. When an end portion of the second linkage bar is connected to a first ear portion on a lateral side of the first disc tray, the first driving device drives the first sliding member to slide on the first linkage bar, leading the second linkage bar to slide on the first sliding member and thereby leading the first disc tray to rotate around a first fixing post.

Abstract: A system includes a programmable non-volatile memory, a switch, a control chipset, and a basic input/output (BIOS) module. The switch has a first terminal coupled to the programmable non-volatile memory, and a second terminal coupled to the control chipset. The control chipset is configured to store a SKU parameter set in the programmable non-volatile memory according to a predetermined memory allocation. The BIOS module is coupled to the control chipset, and is configured to load and update the SKU parameter set according to the predetermined memory configuration during a booting operation of the motherboard.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed, including a plurality of conductive features disposed over a substrate. A dielectric layer separates the conductive features. A conductive line is provided, connecting a subset of the conductive features. The conductive line includes a line-like portion and a line-end portion.

Abstract: A tri-electrode zinc-air fuel cell includes a casing; an air electrode layer being a discharge positive electrode in a chemical discharging reaction; a metal layer being a charge positive electrode in a chemical charging reaction; a zinc material working with the air electrode layer to be a negative electrode in the chemical discharging or with the metal layer to be a negative electrode in the chemical charging; separation membranes separating the air electrode, the metal layer and the zinc material from one another; and an electrolyte permeable through the separation membranes to electrically connect the air electrode layer, the metal layer and the zinc material to one another. By inputting or outputting the electrolyte to change its level in the casing and the above components that can contact with the electrolyte, the tri-electrode zinc-air fuel cell can be switched between ON and OFF as well as Charge and Discharge states.

Abstract: A tele-care management system for peritoneal dialysis (PD) includes at least a container, a holder, a removable detection device and a mobile device. The container is for placing effluent fluid of peritoneal dialysis. The holder is for placing the container. The removable detection device includes a detection unit, a processor and a communication interface, wherein the processor detects the turbidity and the chrominance of the effluent fluid and performs a quantitative analysis on the effluent fluid, and generates a turbidity prediction value based on the detection result of the detection unit. The processor respectively calculates first and second turbidity values, which correspond to first and second turbidity respectively, for the effluent fluid according to first and second algorithms and selects one from the first and second turbidity values to generate the turbidity prediction value based on a predetermined threshold value sent to a mobile device for further processing.