Author: claimsbot

1. A normalization system, comprising:
a processor;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions to implement the system, including:
an interface component that processes questions posed by users, the questions corresponding to a heterogeneous knowledge base;
a dialog component that requests users to reformulate questions based upon a cost-benefit analysis;
a normalization component that applies a utility model that predicts accuracy results to provide a regularized understanding of the knowledge base based on at least one of the processed questions or the reformulated questions; and
an answer composer component that employs the predicted accuracy of results to generate answers to the processed questions.
2. The system of claim 1, the utility model dynamically controls extraction of previously unknown or disassociated information from the knowledge base.
3. The system of claim 1, the utility model controls a number of queries submitted to the knowledge base given decision-theoretic considerations.
4. The system of claim 1, the knowledge base includes at least one of a local database, a file, a directory, an electronic encyclopedia, a dictionary, a remote database, or a remote web site.
5. The system of claim 1, the utility model applies a cost-benefit analysis to dynamically control the number and types of attempts made to acquire information or answers from the knowledge base in response to a question or questions.
6. The system of claim 5, the utility model includes an analysis of the costs of searching for information versus the benefits of obtaining more accurate answers to questions.
7. The system of claim 1, the cost-benefit analysis factors a benefit of reformulating a question versus expending effort on processing a query that is expensive in terms of searching for information from the knowledge base or is likely to yield inaccurate results.
8. The system of claim 7, the cost-benefit analysis factors a cost of delay resulting from reformulating the query and a likelihood that a reformulation would lead to an improved result.
9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a preference component that enables users to assess or select various parameters that influence the utility model.
10. The system of claim 9, the preference component processes at least one of a user setting for a cost, a value, or a language preference.
11. The system of claim 10, the preference component includes a model where a user assesses a parameter v, indicating a dollar value of receiving a correct answer to a question, and where a parameter c represents a cost of each query rewrite submitted to a search engine.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a value of receiving an answer expressed as a function of details of a current context, the value of the answer is linked to at least one of a type of question, an informational goal, or a time of day for a user.
13. The system of claim 11, further comprising determining a cost of submitting queries as a function of at least one of a current load sensed on a search engine or the numbers of queries being submitted by a user’s entire organization to a third-party search service.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising determining the costs non-linearly with increasing numbers of queries.
15. A method to normalize a database, comprising:
employing a processor executing computer executable instructions embodied on a computer readable storage medium to perform the following acts:
receiving a question from a user automatically forming a set of queries from the question received from the user, each query is assigned a different weight;
performing a cost-benefit analysis on the set of queries to generate a query subset, wherein the cost-benefit analysis factors cost of a quantity of queries to include in the query subset versus the accuracy of the results returned from the quantity of queries included in the query subset;
executing the query subset on the database to provide a set of results; and
providing an answer to the user based upon the set of results.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically ranking the set of queries in an order of likelihood of providing a suitable answer.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising automatically training at least one model to generate the query subset.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising submitting the query subset to at least one search engine.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving the set of results from the at least one search engine and automatically composing the answer.
20. A system to facilitate database normalization, comprising:
a processor;
a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions to implement the system, including:
means for receiving a question from a user
means for automatically forming a set of queries from the question received from the user;
means for generating query subset from the set of queries, wherein the means for generating the query subset dynamically determines a quantity of queries from the set of queries to include in a query subset based upon a cost-benefit analysis that factors cost of the quantity of queries to include in the query subset versus the accuracy of the results returned from the quantity of queries included in the query subset;
means for executing the query subset on the database to provide a set of results; and
means for providing an answer to the user based upon the set of results.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A signal processing system comprising:
a pattern biasing look-ahead delta sigma modulator, the pattern biasing look-ahead delta sigma modulator comprising:
a quantizer to determine a quantization output value from a selected output candidate vector, wherein the output candidate vector is selected from a set of output candidate vectors and at least one member of the set of output candidate vectors is biased to alter a probability of the biased output candidate vectors being selected by the quantizer.
2. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the quantizer comprises a best match generator to determine a best match between an input signal vector and a set of output candidate vectors, wherein at least one of the output candidate vectors is biased to alter a probability of the biased output candidate vector(s) being selected as the best match to the input signal vector.
3. The signal processing system of claim 2 further comprising:
a filter to filter the input signal vector and each output candidate vector; and
wherein the best match between the input signal vector and a set of output candidate vectors is determined from the lowest power between a filtered input signal vector and each respective filtered output candidate vector.
4. The signal processing system of claim 1 further comprising:
a quantizer to quantize the input signal vector using the output candidate vector that best matches the input signal vector.
5. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein each biased output candidate vector is biased using a bias factor multiplier.
6. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein each biased output candidate vector is biased using a biasing factor, and a value of the bias factor is chosen to alter the probability of a selected biased output candidate vector sufficiently to allow detection of the altered probability while causing at most an insignificant change in signal-to-noise ratio.
7. The signal processing system of claim 1 further comprising:
a detector to detect biasing of an output signal derived from the quantized input signal, wherein the output signal is biased in accordance with selection by the quantizer of at least one biased output candidate vector.
8. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the biased output candidate vectors is chosen for biasing on the basis that each output candidate vector chosen for biasing is more densely compressible than substantially similar output candidate vectors.
9. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein at least one biased output candidate vector has a known probability of selection by the quantizer relative to a probability of selection of another output candidate vector.
10. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein to alter a probability of the biased output candidate vector(s) being selected comprises to increase the probability of the biased output candidate vector(s) being selected.
11. The signal processing system of claim 1 further comprising:
signal processing and recording equipment to process output data from the quantizer and record the processed output data on storage media.
12. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the input signal comprises audio input signal data.
13. The signal processing system of claim 1 wherein each output candidate vector includes a potential current quantization output value and at least one potential future quantization output value.
14. A method of processing an input signal with a look-ahead delta sigma modulator using at least one biased output candidate vector, wherein the look-ahead delta sigma modulator has a look-ahead depth greater than or equal to 2, the method comprising:
biasing at least one output candidate vector with a bias factor that alters a probability of each biased output candidate vector being selected by a quantizer to generate quantization output data.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein biasing at least one output candidate vector further comprises:
biasing output candidate vectors on the basis that each output candidate vector chosen for biasing is more densely compressible than substantially similar output candidate vectors.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein biasing at least one output candidate vector further comprises:
biasing an output candidate vector having a known probability of selection by the quantizer relative to a probability of selection of another output candidate vector.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein biasing at least one output candidate vector using a bias factor comprises multiplying each biased output candidate vector by the bias factor.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein the bias factor is chosen to alter the probability of a selected biased output candidate vector sufficiently to allow detection of the altered probability while causing at most an insignificant change in signal-to-noise ratio.
19. The method as in claim 14 wherein the input signal data sample comprises audio input signal data.
20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
quantizing the input signal using a set of output candidate vectors that includes the biased output candidate vector.
21. The method as in claim 20 further comprising:
recording quantized input signal data on storage media.
22. A signal processing system comprising:
a detector to receive a first signal and to detect an outcome probability of prescribed bit patterns, wherein the outcome probability of the prescribed bit patterns is determined by biasing prescribed output candidate patterns used by a look-ahead delta sigma modulator to generate a second signal from which the first signal is derived.
23. The signal processing system as in claim 22 wherein the first signal includes audio data content.
24. An apparatus to process an input signal, the apparatus comprising:
means for biasing at least one output candidate vector with a bias factor that alters a probability of each biased output candidate vector being selected by a quantizer to generate quantization output data, wherein each output candidate vector includes a potential current output value and at least one future quantization output value; and
means for quantizing the input signal using a set of output candidate vectors that includes the biased output candidate vector.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat dissipation device, comprising:
a base portion having at least one conduit defined therein, said base portion having a dissipation surface;
said at least one conduit having at least one outlet on at least one side of said base portion; and
at least one conduit opening extending from said base portion dissipation surface to said at least one conduit.
2. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, further including a fan positioned to blow air substantially toward said conduit opening.
3. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, further including a plurality of projections extending from said base portion dissipation surface.
4. The heat dissipation device of claim 3, wherein said plurality of projections extends substantially perpendicularly to said base portion dissipation surface.
5. The heat dissipation device of claim 3, further including a fan mounted on at least a portion of said projections to blow air substantially toward said conduit opening.
6. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein said conduit comprises a plurality of said outlets.
7. A microelectronic assembly, comprising:
a microelectronic die having a back surface; and
a heat dissipation device, comprising:
a base portion having at least one conduit defined therein, said base portion having a dissipation surface;
said at least one conduit having at least one outlet on at least one side of said base portion; and

at least one conduit opening extending from said base portion dissipation surface to said at least one conduit.
8. The microelectronic assembly of claim 7, wherein said heat dissipation device further includes a fan positioned to blow air substantially toward said conduit opening.
9. The microelectronic assembly of claim 7, wherein said heat dissipation device further includes a plurality of projections extending from said base portion dissipation surface.
10. The microelectronic assembly of claim 9, wherein said plurality of projections extends substantially perpendicularly from said base portion dissipation surface.
11. The microelectronic assembly of claim 9, further including a fan mounted on at least a portion of said plurality of projections to blow air substantially toward said conduit opening.
12. The microelectronic assembly of claim 7, wherein said conduit comprises a plurality of said outlets.
13. The microelectronic assembly of claim 7, wherein said conduit is positioned proximate a hotspot within said microelectronic device.
14. The microelectronic assembly of claim 7, wherein said conduit opening is positioned proximate a hotspot within said microelectronic device.
15. A method of cooling a microelectronic die, comprising:
providing a heat dissipation device, comprising:
a base portion having at least one conduit defined therein, said base portion having a dissipation surface;
said at least one conduit having at least one outlet on at least one side of said base portion; and
at least one conduit opening extending from said base portion dissipation surface to said at least one conduit;

attaching said heat dissipation device to a back surface of said microelectronic die; and
forcing air into said at least one conduit opening, such that air flows through said at least one conduit to exit said at least one conduit outlet.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein forcing air into said at least one conduit opening comprises providing a fan positioned to blow air substantially toward the conduit opening and activating said fan.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein providing said heat dissipation device further includes providing said heat dissipation device having a plurality of projections extending from said base portion dissipation surface.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein providing said heat dissipation device having a plurality of projections further includes providing said heat dissipation device wherein said plurality of projections extend substantially perpendicularly from said base portion dissipation surface.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein forcing air into said at least one conduit opening comprises providing a fan mounted to at least a portion of said plurality of projections to blow air substantially toward said conduit opening and activating said fan.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein providing said heat dissipation device further includes providing said heat dissipation device having a plurality of conduit outlets.
21. The method of claim 15, further including positioning said heat dissipation device on said microelectronic device such that said conduit is positioned proximate a hotspot within said microelectronic device.
22. The method of claim 15, further including positioning said heat dissipation device on said microelectronic device such that said conduit opening is positioned proximate a hotspot within said microelectronic device.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A 3D camera system with a field of view adapted to capture a composite 3D image of a figure of interest within said field of view, the 3D camera system comprising:
a computer adapted to generate a clock signal and an initiation signal to start data acquisition following the emission of an illuminating light pulse;
a pulsed light source having a beam shaping element, said pulsed light source emitting at least one light pulse illuminating the figure of interest within said field of view;
a digital memory circuit connected to said computer and to a 3D sensor;
a 2D camera having an overlapping field of view, and a 2D image output connected to said computer;
a 3D sensor connected to the computer and adapted both to acquire a ladar 3D image of said field of view and to store the ladar 3D image in said digital memory;
wherein said 3D sensor includes:
a 3D focal plane array;
a sensor housing;
a lens system which collects light pulse signals reflected from said figure of interest and directs said collected light pulse signals onto the 3D focal plane array,
said 3D focal plane array including:
an array of optical detectors having a regular geometric arrangement, positioned in a focal plane of said lens system, and each detector converting an incident light pulse signal into an electrical pulse signal; and
a readout circuit, including an array of unit cell electrical circuits with corresponding regular geometric arrangement;
wherein each unit cell electrical circuit has an input electrically connected to a terminal of a companion optical detector of said array of optical detectors, said unit cell electrical circuit adapted to amplify said electrical pulse signals and having a trigger circuit adapted to detect the presence of said electrical pulse signal and thereupon to produce an acquisition termination signal, wherein each unit cell electrical circuit further includes a unit cell timing circuit initiated by said initiation signal, said unit cell timing circuit being terminated by said acquisition termination signal, thereby measuring the time of flight of a light pulse to the unit cell, said unit cell timing circuit having a unit cell time of flight output connected to the periphery of the readout circuit, and the readout circuit having a ladar 3D image output comprised of the unit cell time of flight outputs;
wherein the computer is adapted to develop a composite 3D image from the ladar 3D image output and the 2D image output.
2. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the readout circuit includes at least one digital processor.
3. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the 3D sensor includes an embedded computer.
4. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the 2D camera is an infrared sensor.
5. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the timing circuit is a count accumulator driven by a dock.
6. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the initiation signal is coincident with the emission of an illuminating light pulse from the pulsed light source.
7. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the unit cell electrical circuit includes an analog to digital converter of at least one bit.
8. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein the computer develops the composite 3D image by employing a method selected from the set consisting of: overlaying, and texturing.
9. The 3D camera system of claim 1, wherein each unit cell electrical circuit includes an electrical amplifier, said electrical amplifier having an input connected through a conductive bump to a terminal of a companion optical detector of said array of optical detectors, said electrical amplifier having an output connected to a unit cell trigger circuit, the unit cell trigger circuit adapted to detect the presence of said electrical pulse signal and to produce an acquisition termination signal, and said electrical amplifier output further connected to a plurality of normally-off switch inputs, and the output of each switch further connected to a memory capacitor, and a logic circuit for selecting a control input located on each of the switches, and adapted to turn on said switches in a sequence, thereby producing a set of analog samples of said electrical pulse signal;
wherein the unit cell timing circuit is initiated by said initiation signal following the emission of an illuminating pulse and is terminated by said acquisition termination signal, thereby measuring the time of flight of an illuminating pulse to the unit cell;
wherein the unit cell timing circuit further includes a unit cell time of flight output adapted to drive said unit cell time of flight values to the periphery of the readout circuit, and a unit cell output circuit having an input connecting to each of said memory capacitors and an output connecting to an analog sample output circuit adapted to drive said analog samples to the periphery of the readout circuit.
10. The 3D camera system of claim 9, wherein the analog sample output is connected to an analog to digital converter.
11. The 3D camera system of claim 9, wherein the logic circuit for selecting and turning on each of the switches in a sequence is a circular selector driven by a clock.
12. A 3D camera system with a field of view adapted to capture composite a 3D image of a figure within said field of view, the 3D camera system comprising:
a computer adapted to generate a dock signal and an initiation signal to start data acquisition following the emission of an illuminating light pulse;
a pulsed light source having a beam shaping element, said pulsed light source emitting at least one light pulse illuminating a figure of interest within said field of view;
an electronically controlled mirror connected to the computer, and adapted to deflect said light pulse throughout the field of view upon instruction of the computer;
a digital memory circuit connected both to said computer and to a 3D sensor;
a 2D camera having an overlapping field of view and a 2D image output connected to said computer;
a 3D sensor connected to the computer and adapted both to acquire a ladar 3D image of said field of view and to store the ladar 3D image in said digital memory;
wherein said 3D sensor includes:
a 3D focal plane array;
a sensor housing;
a lens system adapted both to collect light pulse signals reflected from said figure of interest and to direct said collected light pulse signals onto the 3D focal plane array, said 3D focal plane array including:
an array of optical detectors having a regular geometric arrangement, positioned in a focal plane of said lens system, each detector adapted to convert an incident light pulse signal into an electrical pulse signal; and
a readout circuit having an array of unit cell electrical circuits with corresponding regular geometric arrangement;
wherein each unit cell electrical circuit has an input electrically connected to a terminal of a companion optical detector of said array of optical detectors, said unit cell electrical circuit adapted to amplify said electrical pulse signals and having a trigger circuit adapted to detect the presence of said electrical pulse signal and thereupon to produce an acquisition termination signal, wherein each unit cell electrical circuit further includes a unit cell timing circuit initiated by said initiation signal, said unit cell timing circuit being terminated by said acquisition termination signal, thereby measuring the time of flight of a light pulse to the unit cell, said unit cell timing circuit having a unit cell time of flight output connected to the periphery of the readout circuit, and the readout circuit having a ladar 3D image output corresponding to the unit cell time of flight outputs;
wherein the computer is adapted to develop a composite 3D image from the ladar 3D image output and the 2D image output.
13. The 3D camera system of claim 12, wherein the readout circuit includes at least one digital processor.
14. The 3D camera system of claim 12, wherein the 3D sensor includes an embedded computer.
15. The 3D camera system of claim 12, wherein the timing circuit is a count accumulator driven by a dock.
16. The 3D camera system of claim 12, wherein the initiation signal is coincident with the emission of an illuminating light pulse.
17. The 3D camera system of claim 12, wherein the computer develops the composite 3D image by employing a method selected from the set consisting of: overlaying, and texturing.
18. A 3D camera system with a field of view adapted to capture 3D images of figures within said field of view, the 3D camera system comprising:
a computer adapted to generate a clock signal and an initiation signal to start data acquisition following the emission of an illuminating light pulse;
a pulsed light source having a beam shaping element, said pulsed light source emitting at least one light pulse illuminating a figure of interest within said field of view;
an electronically controlled mirror connected to the computer, and adapted to deflect said light pulse throughout the field of view;
a digital memory circuit connected both to said computer and to a 3D sensor;
a 3D sensor connected to the computer, and adapted both to acquire a 3D image of said field of view and to store the 3D image in said digital memory;
wherein said 3D sensor includes:
a 3D focal plane array;
a sensor housing;
a lens system which collects light pulse signals reflected from said figure of interest and directs said collected light pulse signals onto the 3D focal plane array,
said 3D focal plane array including:
an array of optical detectors having a regular geometric arrangement, positioned in a focal plane of said lens system, and each detector converting an incident light pulse signal into an electrical pulse signal; and
a readout circuit, including an array of unit cell electrical circuits with corresponding regular geometric arrangement;
wherein each unit cell electrical circuit has an input electrically connected to a terminal of a companion optical detector of said array of optical detectors, said unit cell electrical circuit adapted to amplify said electrical pulse signals and having a trigger circuit adapted to detect the presence of said electrical pulse signal and thereupon to produce an acquisition termination signal, wherein each unit cell electrical circuit further includes a unit cell timing circuit initiated by said initiation signal, said unit cell timing circuit being terminated by said acquisition termination signal, thereby measuring the time of flight of a light pulse to the unit cell, said unit cell timing circuit having a unit cell time of flight output connected to the periphery of the readout circuit, and the readout circuit having a 3D image output comprised of the unit cell time of flight outputs;
wherein the computer is adapted to capture three dimensional motion data of said figure of interest from the ladar 3D image output.
19. The 3D camera system of claim 18, wherein the captured three dimensional motion data is incorporated into a video game.
20. The 3D camera system of claim 18, wherein a computer program is adapted to rotate and approach the captured three dimensional motion data from different geometrical points of view.