Abstract: A method for suppressing a common mode impulse current for an inverter generated when an alternating current switch is switched on and a device for applying the method are provided. Before the alternating current switch is switched on for the inverter, a target value of a common mode voltage between the inverter and ground is calculated based on at least one of a voltage between an alternating current port and ground, a voltage between the inverter and ground and a voltage across the alternating current switch sampled in real time. Then, a compensation power supply arranged between a main circuit of the inverter and ground is controlled to change the common mode voltage to the target value, so that a common mode voltage difference between two ends of the alternating current switch is zero. Subsequently, the inverter is controlled to switch on the alternating current switch.

Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of drilling fluid, and provides a multi-functional weighting agent for drilling fluid and preparation method thereof, and water-based drilling fluid and use thereof, wherein the multi-functional weighting agent is an polyacrylamide/modified barium sulfate composite multi-functional weighting agent prepared by sequentially dropwise adding acrylamide and ammonium persulfate to a mixture of modified barium sulfate and deionized water in a presence of an initiator.

Abstract: Perovskite-based photoactive devices, such as solar cells, include an insulating tunneling layer inserted between the perovskite photoactive material and the electron collection layer to reduce charge recombination and concomitantly provide water resistant properties to the device.

Abstract: A micro-nanometer plugging anti-collapse drilling fluid and fracturing method and use thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a modified nano-silica plugging agent, a water-based drilling fluid, and a preparation method and use thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the genetically modified non-human animals that have a disruption at the endogenous CD132 gene (e.g., CD132 knockout), and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The present document provides image processing methods and apparatus. One claim recites: obtaining a signal to be encoded in color image data, the signal comprising a plural-bit payload; predicting a resulting color of overprinting several inks on a substrate, the overprinting representing the color image data encoded with the signal; using the resulting color for both i) visibility evaluation of the overprinting, and ii) signal robustness evaluation of the overprinting as seen by an imaging device. Other claims and combinations are provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to advanced signal processing technology including steganographic embedding and digital watermarking. One combination disclosed in the description includes an image processing method.

Abstract: In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: An approach is provided for traffic sign learning. The approach involves, for example, receiving a plurality of traffic sign observations generated using sensor data collected from a plurality of vehicles. Each of the plurality of traffic sign observations includes location data and sign property data for an observed traffic sign corresponding to said each of the plurality of traffic sign observations. The approach also involves clustering the plurality of traffic speed sign observations into at least one cluster based on the location data and the sign property data. The approach further involves determining a learned sign for the at least one cluster, and determining a learned sign value indicated by the learned sign based on the location data, the sign property data, or a combination of the plurality of traffic sign observations aggregated in the at least one cluster.

Abstract: Methods employ sensors in portable devices (e.g., smartphones) both to sense content information (e.g., audio and imagery) and context information. Device processing is desirably dependent on both. For example, some embodiments activate certain processor intensive operations (e.g., content recognition) based on classification of sensed content and context. The context can control the location where information produced from such operations is stored, or control an alert signal indicating, e.g., that sensed speech is being transcribed. Some arrangements post sensor data collected by one device to a cloud repository, for access and processing by other devices. Multiple devices can collaborate in collecting and processing data, to exploit advantages each may have (e.g., in location, processing ability, social network resources, etc.). A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: A service-oriented modular system architecture. The service-oriented modular system architecture has plugins and an application programming interface (API) Nexus. The plugins abstract different functions in servers into pluggable business modules. Any numbers of API dispatchers can be registered on the API Nexus so that one business module in the plugins dynamically exposes the services, which can be provided at present, to other business modules in the plugins in a manner of API. Different functions in the server application are independently abstracted into different pluggable business modules, the separating effect of respectively encapsulating and separating different functions to obtain subservices is achieved, and different business modules are allowed to expose interfaces with each other for use.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to encoding signals for spot colors. In one implementation a substitute spot color+CMY tint is selected to replace an original spot color. The CMY tint can be transformed to carry an encoded signal. Of course, other features, combinations and technology are described herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to data hiding for retail product packaging and other printed objects such as substrates. One embodiment embeds an information signal in a spot color for printing on various substrates. The spot color is screened, and overprinted with process color tint. The tint is modulated prior to overprinting with optimized signal tweaks. The optimization can include consideration of a detector spectral dependency (e.g., red and/or green illumination). Many other embodiments and combinations are described in the subject patent document.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an MEMS microphone, including a substrate having a back cavity and a capacitor system fixedly disposed on the substrate, where the capacitor system includes a backplane and a vibrating diaphragm that are spaced apart from each other, the backplane includes a backplane insulation layer and a backplane conducting layer disposed on the backplane insulation layer, an outer edge of the backplane conducting layer is provided with a notch, the backplane insulation layer is provided with a first through hole, the first through hole includes a first sound hole disposed in a location corresponding to the notch, and the notch is in communication with the first sound hole. The present disclosure reduces stress concentration of the backplane and reducing a risk of structural failure such as breaking of the backplane.

Abstract: The present utility model provides a MEMS microphone including a package housing, a substrate forming an accommodation space with the package housing, a MEMS chip accommodated in the accommodation space and having a rear cavity, and an ASIC chip electrically connected with the MEMS chip. The substrate includes an accommodation slot formed in the substrate, and the ASIC chip is accommodated in the accommodation slot and electrically connected with the substrate. In the MEMS microphone provided in the present disclosure, that the ASIC chip is packaged in the substrate avoid corrosion of the ASIC chip caused by direct contact of the ASIC chip and the air, and saves space of the substrate, which facilitate miniaturization of the MEMS microphone.

Abstract: Audio signal processing enhances audio watermark embedding and detecting processes. Audio signal processes include audio classification and adapting watermark embedding and detecting based on classification. Advances in audio watermark design include adaptive watermark signal structure data protocols, perceptual models, and insertion methods. Perceptual and robustness evaluation is integrated into audio watermark embedding to optimize audio quality relative the original signal, and to optimize robustness or data capacity. These methods are applied to audio segments in audio embedder and detector configurations to support real time operation. Feature extraction and matching are also used to adapt audio watermark embedding and detecting.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to genetically modified animal expressing human or chimeric (e.g., humanized) programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1, PDL1, or B7-H1), and methods of use thereof.