Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.

Touch screen liquid crystal display

A robot system for use in surgical procedures has two movable arms each carried on a wheeled base with each arm having a six of degrees of freedom of movement and an end effector which can be rolled about its axis and an actuator which can slide along the axis for operating different tools adapted to be supported by the effector. Each end effector including optical force sensors for detecting forces applied to the tool by engagement with the part of the patient. A microscope is located at a position for viewing the part of the patient. The position of the tool tip can be digitized relative to fiducial markers visible in an MRI experiment. The workstation and control system has a pair of hand-controllers simultaneously manipulated by an operator to control movement of a respective one or both of the arms. The image from the microscope is displayed on a monitor in 2D and stereoscopically on a microscope viewer. A second MRI display shows an image of the part of the patient the real-time location of the tool. The robot is MRI compatible and can be configured to operate within a closed magnet bore. The arms are driven about vertical and horizontal axes by piezoelectric motors.

Microsurgical robot system

Data centers are critical, energy-hungry infrastructures that run large-scale Internet-based services. Energy consumption models are pivotal in designing and optimizing energy-efficient operations to curb excessive energy consumption in data centers. In this paper, we survey the state-of-the-art techniques used for energy consumption modeling and prediction for data centers and their components. We conduct an in-depth study of the existing literature on data center power modeling, covering more than 200 models. We organize these models in a hierarchical structure with two main branches focusing on hardware-centric and software-centric power models. Under hardware-centric approaches we start from the digital circuit level and move on to describe higher-level energy consumption models at the hardware component level, server level, data center level, and finally systems of systems level. Under the software-centric approaches we investigate power models developed for operating systems, virtual machines and software applications. This systematic approach allows us to identify multiple issues prevalent in power modeling of different levels of data center systems, including: i) few modeling efforts targeted at power consumption of the entire data center ii) many state-of-the-art power models are based on a few CPU or server metrics, and iii) the effectiveness and accuracy of these power models remain open questions. Based on these observations, we conclude the survey by describing key challenges for future research on constructing effective and accurate data center power models.

Data Center Energy Consumption Modeling: A Survey

Affordable methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting position, attitude (orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of Computer Aided Design, Painting, Medicine, Teaching, Gaming, Toys, Simulations, Aids to the disabled, and internet or other experiences. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from specialized datum's on objects and/or natural features of objects. Objects can be both static and in motion, from which individual datum positions and movements can be derived, also with respect to other objects both fixed and moving. Real-time photogrammetry is preferably used to determine relationships of portions of one or more datums with respect to a plurality of cameras or a single camera processed by a conventional PC.

Man machine interfaces and applications

Novel man machine interfaces and applications

The invention is embodied in a wireless stylus that incorporates, for example, an infrared emitter for communicating with a receiver associated with a computer. The stylus is provided with push-buttons near its tip that can be actuated by the user during the course of pointing the stylus at a touch screen location. Accordingly, by the combined actuation of the touch screen and a concurrent actuation of one or more of the push buttons, a mouse input to the computer is accomplished.

Touch screen stylus with IR-coupled selection buttons

Assistive motion data processing and/or button data processing is performed in an adapter on user inputted variable data produced by a pointing device prior to communication to a computer. This processing may include one or more of processing to filter coordinate deviations from a desired path caused by unintended movements of the pointing device; removal of unintentional rapid button transitions of the pointing device; look-back processing to correct for unintentional pointer coordinate motion induced by operation of buttons on the pointing device; and detection of button double-clicks using relaxed requirements on motion and timing. The adapter's processing is transparent to the computer. Provision for user input of selected parameters is provided, as well as switching to allow for user deactivation of the adapter for conventional use of the pointing device.

Method and adapter for performing assistive motion data processing and/or button data processing external to a computer

A computer system and method determines the force and/or torque applied during the image acquisition stage of a biometric characteristic. Images with very high or very low pressure or high shear torque are rejected and user/operator is notified to re-acquire the image. Alternatively, the application of force and torque by the subject is restricted mechanically so that the images are acquired while the force and/or torque are within acceptable ranges.

System and method for distortion control in live-scan inkless fingerprint images

The present invention provides for a liquid crystal display device with a signal layer integrated onto a substrate. Circuitry derives touch position based upon response to signals applied to the signal layer. At least one resistor is integrated onto the substrate. The resistor is coupled between the signal layer and the circuitry. The resistor is formed in conjunction with the signal layer. Preferably, the resistor is part of a resistor network for linearizing resistance of the signal layer in a vertical direction and horizontal direction.

Integrated resistor for measuring touch position in a liquid crystal display device

The combination of rapidly increasing energy use of data centers (DCs), which is triggered by dramatic increases in IT (information technology) demands, and increases in energy costs and limited energy supplies has made the energy efficiency of DCs a central concern from both a cost and a sustainability perspective This paper describes three important technology components that address the energy consumption in DCs First, we present a mobile measurement technology (MMT) for optimizing the space and energy efficiency of DCs The technology encompasses the interworking of an advanced metrology technique for rapid data collection at high spatial resolution and measurement-driven modeling techniques, enabling optimal adjustments of a DC environment within a target thermal envelope Specific example data demonstrating the effectiveness of MMT is shown Second, the static MMT measurements obtained at high spatial resolution are complemented by and integrated with a real-time sensor network The requirements and suitable architectures for wired and wireless sensor solutions are discussed Third, an energy and thermal model analysis for a DC is presented that exploits both the high-spatial-resolution (but static) MMT data and the high-timeresolved (but sparse) sensor data The combination of these two data types (static and dynamic), in conjunction with innovative modeling techniques, provides the basis for extending the MMT concept toward an interactive energy management solution

Michael Alan Schappert

Papers

Touch screen stylus with IR-coupled selection buttons

Method and adapter for performing assistive motion data processing and/or button data processing external to a computer

System and method for distortion control in live-scan inkless fingerprint images

Integrated resistor for measuring touch position in a liquid crystal display device

Uncovering energy-efficiency opportunities in data centers