Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved intra prediction mode coding are disclosed. Intra prediction exploits the spatial correlation within a picture or within a picture region. In practice, a picture is divided into blocks and the intra mode prediction is performed on a block basis. In newer coding systems, multiple intra prediction modes such as Vertical mode, Horizontal mode, DC mode and Diagonal mode, have been used to improve the coding efficiency of intra coding. However, the mode selection information for intra prediction has to be conveyed to the decoder for proper operation. In High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), a coding scheme for the intra luma prediction mode is being considered, where the intra prediction mode of a current block is compared with the minimum of two intra luma prediction modes corresponding to two neighboring blocks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improved intra chroma prediction mode coding are disclosed. Intra prediction exploits the spatial correlation within a picture or within a picture region. In practice, a picture is divided into blocks and the intra mode prediction is performed on a block basis. In newer coding systems, multiple intra coding modes such as Vertical mode, Horizontal mode, DC mode and Diagonal mode, have been used to improve the coding efficiency of intra coding. Furthermore, a Luma_mode has also been used in intra prediction of chroma component to further improve the performance in the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard being developed. However, the mode selection information for intra prediction has to be conveyed to the decoder for proper operation. Spatial features in a picture often exist in both luma and chroma components. The intra luma prediction mode and intra chroma prediction mode will have high probability to be the same.

Abstract: A sensor-network system for spectrally sensing a chemical or biological substance includes a plurality of probe assemblies that each includes a sensor comprising a nano structured surface, wherein the nano structured surface can adsorb molecules of a sample material captured adjacent to the sensor; a laser configured to emit a laser beam to illuminate the molecules adsorbed to the nano structured surface, and a spectrometer that can obtain spectral data from light scattered by the molecules adsorbed to the nano structured surface. A control center includes a computer storage configured to store spectral signatures each associated with a chemical or biological substance and a spectral analyzer that can determine a spectral signature matching at least one of the spectral signatures stored in the computer storage thereby to identify, in the sample material, the chemical or biological substance associated with the one of the spectral signatures.

Abstract: A method for detecting an ingredient in a food product or detecting a disease includes allowing a food sample solution obtained from a food product or a body fluid from an individual to come to contact with a nano-scale surface structure in a sensor, wherein the nano-scale surface structure comprises a plurality of columns over a substrate or a plurality of holes in a substrate. The method includes illuminating the food sample solution or the body fluid on the nano-scale surface structure on the sensor by a laser beam; obtaining a Raman spectrum from the scattered light using a spectral analyzer; and identifying the spectral signature in the Raman spectrum to determine the existence of the chemical substance in the food product or identifying a disease in the individual.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing quality assurance in an industrial process. The method includes obtaining a manufacturing material from the industrial process, allowing the manufacturing material to contact with a nano-scale surface, which allows the harmful substance to adsorb to the nano-scale surface. The method also includes obtaining a Raman spectrum from the manufacturing material and the nano-scale surface using a spectrometer, searching for, using a spectral analyzer, a spectral signature of a harmful substance in a predetermined spectral region in the Raman spectrum to determine the existence of the harmful substance in the manufacturing material, determining the concentration of the manufacturing material if the spectral signature is found in the Raman spectrum, and rejecting the manufacturing material from the industrial process if the concentration of the manufacturing material is determined to be above a predetermined tolerance level.

Abstract: A method for processing a target motion partition in a tree-based motion compensation includes utilizing a setting unit for providing a first binarization rule which defines a plurality of binarization codewords mapped to a plurality of syntax elements for different motion partitions, respectively, wherein a codeword length of a binarization codeword corresponding to any square inter-prediction motion partition is shorter than a codeword length of a binarization codeword corresponding to any non-square inter-prediction motion partition; and identifying mapping between a target binarization codeword and a target syntax element of the target motion partition according to the first binarization rule.

Abstract: A method for non-invasive detection of a disease, a status of illicit-drug use, or smoking status includes transferring a body fluid obtained from a patient to a sensor comprising a nano-scale surface structure to allow the body fluid to come in contact with the nano-scale surface structure, illuminating the body fluid and the nano-scale surface structure by a laser beam, scattering the laser beam by the body fluid and the nano-scale surface structure to produce a scattered light, and analyzing the scattered light using a spectral analyzer to diagnose a disease, the status of illicit-drug use, or smoking status in the patient.

Abstract: A method for detecting an ingredient in a food product includes establishing a spectral signature in a Raman spectrum obtained from a chemical substance; allowing a food sample solution obtained from a food product to come to contact with a first nano-scale surface structure in a first sensor, wherein the first sensor comprises a substrate, wherein the nano-scale surface structure comprises a plurality of columns over the substrate or a plurality of holes in the substrate; illuminating the food sample solution and the first nano-scale surface structure on the first sensor by a laser beam; scattering the laser beam by the food sample solution and the first nano-scale surface structure to produce a scattered light; obtaining a first Raman spectrum from the scattered light using a spectral analyzer; and identifying the spectral signature in the first Raman spectrum to determine the existence of the chemical substance in the food product.

Abstract: A method for performing single-pass adaptive interpolation filtering in order to code a bitstream includes: receiving the video frames; selecting an interpolation filter from a competitive filter set; performing motion prediction on a current frame of the video frame utilizing the interpolation filter; encoding the current frame into the bitstream; and updating the competitive filter set.

Abstract: A sensing device for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) includes a substrate, a plurality of nano structures over the substrate, wherein at least one of the nano structures comprises an active SERS nano surface and an adsorption layer on the active SERS nano surface.

Abstract: An integrated chemical separation device includes a single device body, a chemical separation unit configured to separate a chemical from a fluid, a Raman sensor substrate comprising one or more surfaces configured to be adsorbed by molecules of the chemical from the fluid, and a Raman scattering spectrometer unit that can emit a laser beam to illuminate the Raman sensor substrate and to detect the chemical from the light scattered from the Raman sensor substrate. The chemical separation unit, the Raman sensor substrate, and the Raman scattering spectrometer unit are held in or mounted to the single device body.

Abstract: A novel femtosecond laser nano-ablation technique called Plasmonic Laser Nano-Ablation (PLN). The technique takes advantage of surface-enhanced plasmonic scattering of ultrashort laser pulses by nanoparticles to vaporize sub-cellular structures in attoliter volumes. The use of nanoparticles may overcome problems associated with current FLMS techniques and does not rely on heating for nanodisruption. In PLN, the particle acts as a “nano-lens,” restricting laser light to the near-field of the particle, and only photodisrupting structures that are nanometers away. This eliminates the need for a tightly focused beam, while still achieving nanoscale ablation resolution. Moreover, the enhanced scattering around the particles reduces the amount of required laser fluence.

Abstract: An integrated chemical separation device includes a single device body, a chemical separation unit configured to separate a chemical from a fluid, a Raman sensor substrate comprising one or more surfaces configured to be adsorbed by molecules of the chemical from the fluid, and a Raman scattering spectrometer unit that can emit a laser beam to illuminate the Raman sensor substrate and to detect the chemical from the light scattered from the Raman sensor substrate. The chemical separation unit, the Raman sensor substrate, and the Raman scattering spectrometer unit are held in or mounted to the single device body.

Abstract: A method for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices includes: providing a plurality of entropy slices to a plurality of processing elements with a causal criterion on processing order, wherein each entropy slice includes a plurality of macroblocks; and respectively starting to perform a coding procedure for the plurality of entropy slices according to the causal criterion, so that at least a portion of the processing elements are processed in parallel during at least a portion of processing time. An associated apparatus for performing parallel coding with ordered entropy slices includes: a plurality of processing elements; and a controller. The processing elements are arranged to process the entropy slices. In addition, the controller is arranged to provide the plurality of entropy slices with the causal criterion, and controls the operations of the processing elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing quality assurance in an industrial process. The method includes obtaining a manufacturing material from the industrial process, allowing the manufacturing material to contact with a nano-scale surface, which allows the harmful substance to adsorb to the nano-scale surface. The method also includes obtaining a Raman spectrum from the manufacturing material and the nano-scale surface using a spectrometer, searching for, using a spectral analyzer, a spectral signature of a harmful substance in a predetermined spectral region in the Raman spectrum to determine the existence of the harmful substance in the manufacturing material, determining the concentration of the manufacturing material if the spectral signature is found in the Raman spectrum, and rejecting the manufacturing material from the industrial process if the concentration of the manufacturing material is determined to be above a predetermined tolerance level.

Abstract: A sensing device for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) includes a substrate, a plurality of nano structures over the substrate, wherein at least one of the nano structures comprises an active SERS nano surface and an adsorption layer on the active SERS nano surface.

Abstract: A method for detecting an ingredient in a food product or detecting a disease includes allowing a food sample solution obtained from a food product or a body fluid from an individual to come to contact with a nano-scale surface structure in a sensor, wherein the nano-scale surface structure comprises a plurality of columns over a substrate or a plurality of holes in a substrate. The method includes illuminating the food sample solution or the body fluid on the nano-scale surface structure on the sensor by a laser beam; obtaining a Raman spectrum from the scattered light using a spectral analyzer; and identifying the spectral signature in the Raman spectrum to determine the existence of the chemical substance in the food product or identifying a disease in the individual.

Abstract: A video encoder that utilizes adaptive interpolation filtering for coding video data includes a prediction unit, a reconstruction unit, a reference picture buffer, a filter parameter estimator for estimating filter parameters according to the original video data and the predicted samples, and an adaptive interpolation filter for utilizing the stored filter parameters to perform filtering on the reconstructed video data.

Abstract: A video encoder includes a prediction unit for performing prediction techniques according to original video data and reconstructed video data to generate prediction samples, a reconstruction unit for reconstructing the prediction samples to form the reconstructed video data, and a reference picture buffer for storing the reconstructed video data as reference video data. The video encoder also includes a filter parameter estimator for estimating filter parameters according to the original video data of a current picture and the reconstructed video data of the current picture, and an adaptive loop filter for filtering the reconstructed video data of the current picture according to stored filter parameters of a prior picture in coding order. The filter parameter estimator and adaptive loop filter can operate in parallel.

Abstract: A video encoder that utilizes adaptive loop filtering for coding video data includes: a prediction unit, for performing prediction techniques according to original video data and reconstructed video data to generate predicted samples; a reconstruction unit, for reconstructing the predicted samples to form the reconstructed video data; a reference picture buffer, for storing the reconstructed video data; a filter parameter estimator, for estimating filter parameters according to the original video data and the reconstructed video data; and an adaptive filter, for utilizing the stored filter parameters to perform filtering on the reconstructed video data.