Methods and systems for processing touch inputs are disclosed. The invention in one respect includes reading data from a multipoint sensing device such as a multipoint touch screen where the data pertains to touch input with respect to the multipoint sensing device, and identifying at least one multipoint gesture based on the data from the multipoint sensing device.

Gestures for touch sensitive input devices

An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce friction and enhance force reflection. A unique wrist mechanism operates to enhance surgical dexterity compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. The system is optimized to reduce the number of actuators required and thus produce a fully functional articulated surgical instrument of minimum size.

Articulated surgical instrument for performing minimally invasive surgery with enhanced dexterity and sensitivity

A system for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures. The system includes a pair of surgical instruments that are coupled to a pair of robotic arms. The instruments have end effectors that can be manipulated to hold and suture tissue. The robotic arms are coupled to a pair of master handles by a controller. The handles can be moved by the surgeon to produce a corresponding movement of the end effectors. The movement of the handles is scaled so that the end effectors have a corresponding movement that is different, typically smaller, than the movement performed by the hands of the surgeon. The scale factor is adjustable so that the surgeon can control the resolution of the end effector movement. The movement of the end effector can be controlled by an input button, so that the end effector only moves when the button is depressed by the surgeon. The input button allows the surgeon to adjust the position of the handles without moving the end effector, so that the handles can be moved to a more comfortable position. The system may also have a robotically controlled endoscope which allows the surgeon to remotely view the surgical site. A cardiac procedure can be performed by making small incisions in the patient's skin and inserting the instruments and endoscope into the patient. The surgeon manipulates the handles and moves the end effectors to perform a cardiac procedure such as a coronary artery bypass graft.

Method and apparatus for performing minimally invasive cardiac procedures

A robotic system that moves a surgical instrument in response to the actuation of a foot pedal that can be operated by the foot of a surgeon. The robotic system has an end effector that is adapted to hold a surgical instrument such as an endoscope. The end effector is coupled to a robotic arm assembly which can move the endoscope relative to the patient. The system includes a computer which controls the movement of the robotic arm in response to input signals received from the foot pedal.

Automated endoscope system for optimal positioning

An object is to provide a semiconductor device of which a manufacturing process is not complicated and by which cost can be suppressed, by forming a thin film transistor using an oxide semiconductor film typified by zinc oxide, and a manufacturing method thereof. For the semiconductor device, a gate electrode is formed over a substrate; a gate insulating film is formed covering the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film is formed over the gate insulating film; and a first conductive film and a second conductive film are formed over the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film has at least a crystallized region in a channel region.

Semiconductor device, and manufacturing method thereof

Phase Change Memory (PCM) is an emerging memory technology that can increase main memory capacity in a cost-effective and power-efficient manner. However, PCM cells can endure only a maximum of 107 - 108 writes, making a PCM based system have a lifetime of only a few years under ideal conditions. Furthermore, we show that non-uniformity in writes to different cells reduces the achievable lifetime of PCM system by 20x. Writes to PCM cells can be made uniform with Wear-Leveling. Unfortunately, existing wear-leveling techniques require large storage tables and indirection, resulting in significant area and latency overheads. We propose Start-Gap, a simple, novel, and effective wear-leveling technique that uses only two registers. By combining Start-Gap with simple address-space randomization techniques we show that the achievable lifetime of the baseline 16GB PCM-based system is boosted from 5% (with no wear-leveling) to 97% of the theoretical maximum, while incurring a total storage overhead of less than 13 bytes and obviating the latency overhead of accessing large tables. We also analyze the security vulnerabilities for memory systems that have limited write endurance, showing that under adversarial settings, a PCM-based system can fail in less than one minute. We provide a simple extension to Start-Gap that makes PCM-based systems robust to such malicious attacks.

https://researcher.watson.ibm.com/researcher/files/us-moinqureshi/papers-sgap.pdf

Enhancing lifetime and security of PCM-based main memory with start-gap wear leveling

An apparatus used to assist a surgeon in surgery is divided into two parts, proximal and distal. The apparatus has a number of rigid links which rotate about pivots to position and re-position an instrument, like a surgical instrument, at a work point proximal to a patient but remote from the apparatus. The links cooperate in a way to move the manipulator about a center-of-motion with orthogonally decoupled degrees of freedom resolved at the work point. The proximal part of the apparatus is adjustably fixed to a stationary object, like an operating table, while the distal part of the apparatus holds the instrument. Certain links which can be adjusted in length, move the distal part with respect to the proximal part of the apparatus. In this manner, the work point of the manipulator and the working radius of the apparatus are changed without moving the proximal part. Actuators, manual or remotely (computer) controlled, both rotate the links about their pivots and adjust the length of the adjustable links. All the actuators can be mounted on the proximal part of the apparatus and electrically isolated from the manipulator in order to reduce the shock hazard to the patient.

Remote center-of-motion robot for surgery

Phase Change Memory (PCM) is emerging as a scalable and power efficient technology to architect future main memory systems. The scalability of PCM is enhanced by the property that PCM devices can store multiple bits per cell. While such Multi-Level Cell (MLC) devices can offer high density, this benefit comes at the expense of increased read latency, which can cause significant performance degradation. This paper proposes Morphable Memory System (MMS), a robust architecture for efficiently incorporating MLC PCM devices in main memory. MMS is based on observation that memory requirement varies between workloads, and systems are typically over-provisioned in terms of memory capacity. So, during a phase of low memory usage, some of the MLC devices can be operated at fewer bits per cell to obtain lower latency. When the workload requires full memory capacity, these devices can be restored to high density MLC operation to have full main-memory capacity. We provide the runtime monitors, the hardware-OS interface, and the detailed mechanism for implementing MMS. Our evaluations on an 8-core 8GB MLC PCM-based system show that MMS provides, on average, low latency access for 95% of all memory requests, thereby improving overall system performance by 40%.

/pdf/morphable-memory-system-a-robust-architecture-for-exploiting-1o1eo4zc5p.pdf

Morphable memory system: a robust architecture for exploiting multi-level phase change memories

The most likely to be used characters and controls of a soft keyboard are determined from consulting trigram tables, and enhanced and/or positioned to attract the user and to facilitate quick recognition and selection. The letters and other characters of the soft keyboard display can be arranged in a standard keyboard format, some variation of that format such as a Dvorak layout or an entirely different arrangement such as strings of letters and numbers in alphabetical and numerical order. However, regardless of the layout, an attractant, such as color intensity, or size, is used for emphasis to make a soft keyboard user cognizant of the location of the subset of characters that the user is most likely to select to standout from the other keys of the keyboard. In addition to enhancing all characters of the subset, particular emphasis can be placed on the most likely character in the subset to be selected. Where the most likely character is a letter, duplicates of other letters of the subset, symbols identifying control functions for selection, and probable multiletter combinations, including full words and word endings, can be clustered around that most likely to be selected letter to facilitate quick selection.

Enhancement of soft keyboard operations using trigram prediction

A flexibly interfaceable portable computing device includes a display coupled to a processor, which is coupled or selectively coupled to either or both of a keyboard and a recording unit. The display and the keyboard provide a first user interface to the processor. The recording unit is superimposable with a removable markable surface. A stylus allows user marking on the markable surface. The stylus provides a stroke signal and a stroke mark. The recording unit, the markable surface, and the stylus provide a second user interface to the processor. Optionally, the display also contributes to providing the second user interface to the processor. Switching among viewing modes for the display, and synchronization of information between the processor and a processor of the recording unit are also provided. A casing can enfold the display, the keyboard, and the recording unit to form a relatively slim profile. A portable computer system can have a display, a keyboard, and thick components enfolded and/or located within an overall thickness substantially equal to a sum of a first thickness for the display plus a second thickness for the keyboard, to present a slim profile.

John P. Karidis

Papers

Enhancing lifetime and security of PCM-based main memory with start-gap wear leveling

Remote center-of-motion robot for surgery

Morphable memory system: a robust architecture for exploiting multi-level phase change memories

Enhancement of soft keyboard operations using trigram prediction

Flexibly interfaceable portable computing device