Author: claimsbot

1. A method of making carbon nanotubes, comprising:
providing a substrate containing a plurality of oxide template structures having at least a portion covered by a masking material;
providing a nanotube source gas onto the plurality of oxide template structures; and
selectively growing the carbon nanotubes on an exposed portion of each of the oxide template structures but not on exposed portions of the substrate and not on portions of the oxide template structures covered by the masking material;
wherein the step of selectively growing the carbon nanotubes comprises simultaneously growing carbon nanotubes of a different length by providing the nanotube source gas for a sufficient time to allow the carbon nanotubes growing on the exposed portion of each oxide template structure to contact the masking material covering the covered portion of an adjacent template structure.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a nanotube source gas comprises providing a nanotube forming precursor gas and a nanotube growth catalyst gas to selectively grow the carbon nanotubes directly on an exposed portion of each of the oxide template structures.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein carbon nanotubes which contact the adjacent template structure are shorter than carbon nanotubes growing from the same template structure which do not contact the adjacent template structure.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanotube source gas is provided for a sufficient time to allow the carbon nanotubes growing on the at least one exposed side surface of a first template structure to contact the masking material of an adjacent second template structure to form a nanotube bridge between the first template structure and the second structure.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein:
upper surfaces of the template structures are covered by the masking material; and
the carbon nanotubes selectively grow on at least one exposed side surface of the template structures parallel to an upper surface of the substrate.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the masking material comprises polysilicon or a metal which inhibits growth of carbon nanotubes.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxide template structures comprise silicon oxide template structures.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the silicon oxide template structures comprise silicon dioxide template structures.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxide template structures comprise metal oxide template structures.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the metal oxide template structures are selected from aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide and indium tin oxide template structures.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a nanotube source gas comprises providing a ferrocene and xylenes containing source gas.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the masking material comprises polysilicon or a metal which inhibits growth of carbon nanotubes; and
the carbon nanotubes are not grown on the masking material.
13. A method of making carbon nanotubes, comprising:
providing a substrate containing an oxide template structure having at least a portion covered by a masking material;
providing a nanotube source gas onto the template structure; and
selectively growing the carbon nanotubes on an exposed portion of the oxide template structure but not on exposed portions of the substrate;
wherein the step of selectively growing the carbon nanotubes comprises simultaneously growing the carbon nanotubes of a first length on an exposed portion of the template structure and growing nanotubes of a second length less than the first length on the masking material.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein:
upper surface of the template structure is covered by the masking material; and
the carbon nanotubes selectively grow on at least one exposed side surface of the template structure parallel to an upper surface of the substrate.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of selectively growing the carbon nanotubes comprises selectively growing the carbon nanotubes on the exposed portion of the template structure but not on exposed portions of the substrate.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the oxide template structure comprises a silicon oxide template structure.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the oxide template structure comprises a metal oxide template structure.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the metal oxide template structure is selected from aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide and indium tin oxide template structure.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing a nanotube source gas comprises providing a ferrocene and xylenes containing source gas.
20. The method of claim 13, wherein the masking material comprises a discontinuous layer of a material which inhibits growth of carbon nanotubes.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the masking material comprises a metal which has a thickness at which it has a discontinuous island morphology.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing additional masking material on which nanotubes do not grow.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the masking material has a plurality of portions of different thickness such that carbon nanotubes of a plurality of different lengths are grown on the masking material.
24. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of providing a nanotube source gas comprises providing a nanotube forming precursor gas and a nanotube growth catalyst gas to selectively grow the carbon nanotubes directly on an exposed portion of the oxide template structure.

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 mobile device, comprising:
a base portion that includes a guide base;
a slider portion that includes a sliding plate, wherein the slider portion is slidably engaged with the base portion and moves relative to the base portion; and
a cover plate that is slidably engaged with the guide base of the base portion and the sliding plate of the slider portion, wherein the cover plate is configured to selectively cover a slot defined in the sliding plate;
wherein when the slider portion moves from a closed position to an open position, the cover plate moves in substantially the same direction as the slider portion due to a friction coefficient between the cover plate and the sliding plate being greater than a friction coefficient between the cover plate and the guide base.
2. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate is further configured to transition from a compressed state to a release state as the slider portion moves from the closed position to the open position.
3. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the cover plate further comprises one or more flexible connectors that cause the cover plate to move from the compressed state to the release state, and when the cover plate is in the release state, the cover plate is substantially flush with surfaces of the sliding plate that surround the slot of the sliding plate.
4. The mobile device according to claim 3, wherein the cover plate includes a body and one or more legs and the flexible connectors connect the body with the legs.
5. The mobile device according to claim 4, wherein the guide base includes one or more rails and the cover plate includes one or more corresponding fins that are positioned on the legs, wherein the fins engage the rails and slide along the rails as the cover plate and the slider portion move in the same direction.
6. The mobile device according to claim 2, wherein the cover plate and the slider portion move in an x-direction when the slider portion moves from the closed position to the open position and the cover plate also moves in a y-direction when the slider portion moves from the closed position to the open position, wherein the x-direction and the y-direction are substantially perpendicular to one another.
7. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the guide base also defines a slot and the slot of the sliding plate and the slot of the guide base are configured to receive a flexible circuit.
8. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate includes a plastic section and a metal section and the friction coefficient between the plastic section of the cover plate and the sliding plate is greater than the friction coefficient between the metal section of the cover plate and the guide base.
9. The mobile device according to claim 8, wherein the plastic section includes a beveled edge and the sliding plate also includes a beveled edge, wherein the beveled edge of the sliding plate contacts and pushes the beveled edge of the cover plate when the slider portion is moved back to the closed position.
10. The mobile device according to claim 1, wherein the slider portion includes a display and the base portion includes a keypad, wherein the keypad is hidden when the slider portion is in the closed position.
11. A mobile device, comprising:
a base portion;
a slider portion that is slidably engaged with the base portion, wherein the slider portion moves from a closed position to an open position to provide operator access to a user interface component of the base portion;
a sliding plate that is part of the slider portion, wherein the sliding plate includes an exposable surface defining a slot, wherein the sliding plate moves along with the slider portion from the closed position to the open position; and
a cover plate, wherein the cover plate is engaged with the sliding plate such that the cover plate moves along with the sliding plate;
wherein the cover plate moves from a compressed state to a release state when the sliding plate moves to the open position such that the cover plate is substantially flush with the exposable surface of the sliding plate when the cover plate is in the release state.
12. The mobile device according to claim 11, wherein the base portion includes a guide base and the cover plate includes a body and one or more legs, wherein the body is in contact with the sliding plate and the legs are in contact with the guide base.
13. The mobile device according to claim 12, wherein a friction coefficient between the body and the sliding plate is greater than a friction coefficient between the legs and the guide base.
14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the cover plate further includes one or more flexible connectors that connect the body with the legs and the flexible connectors assist in moving the cover plate from the compressed state to the release state.
15. The mobile device according to claim 14, wherein the flexible connectors are positioned at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the body and the legs.
16. The mobile device according to claim 12, wherein the body and the legs are made of metal and at least part of the metal of the body is covered with plastic.
17. The mobile device according to claim 11, further comprising a flexible circuit that is connected to both the base portion and the slider portion and wherein the cover plate at least partially covers the flexible circuit when the slider portion is in the open position.
18. A method of operating a mobile device, comprising:
sliding a slider portion of the mobile device relative to a base portion from a closed position to an open position;
sliding a cover plate along with the slider portion by overcoming a friction coefficient between the cover plate and a guide base of the base portion but not overcoming a friction coefficient between the cover plate and a sliding plate of the slider portion; and
moving the cover plate from a compressed state to a release state as the slider portion moves to the open position such that the cover plate is substantially flush with surfaces of the sliding plate.
19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising accessing a keypad that is part of the base portion.
20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising sliding the slider portion back to the closed position and moving the cover plate back to a compressed state.

1. A method for estimating whether an image is blurred or sharp, the method comprising the steps of:
determining an image gradient histogram distribution of at least a portion of the image;
comparing at least a portion of the image gradient histogram distribution to a Gaussian model; and
estimating a defocus blur size of at least a portion of the image.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining includes the steps of dividing the image into a plurality of image regions and determining an image gradient histogram distribution of at least one of the image regions, and wherein the step of comparing includes the step of comparing the image gradient histogram distributions for at least one of the image regions to a Gaussian model.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of comparing includes the step of comparing a tail section of the Gaussian model to a tail section of the image gradient histogram distribution.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining includes the steps of dividing the image into a plurality of image regions and determining an image gradient histogram distribution for each of the image regions, and wherein the step of comparing includes the step of comparing the image gradient histogram distributions for each of the image regions to its respective Gaussian model to estimate if the image is either blurred or sharp.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of comparing includes the step of comparing a tail section of the Gaussian model to a tail section of the image gradient histogram distribution for each image region.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of evaluating the image to estimate if there is a possible motion blur direction.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of evaluating the image for possible motion blur includes the step of analyzing the gradient direction histogram to determine if there is a peak gradient direction.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of evaluating the image for possible motion blur includes the steps of computing reliable gradients, computing first and second principal components from the gradients, and determining if a dominant gradient direction exists.
9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of evaluating at least a portion of the image to determine if the contrast is above a predetermined contrast threshold, and adjusting the contrast for at least a portion of the image if the contrast is determined to be below the predetermined contrast threshold.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining an image gradient histogram distribution of at least a portion of the image includes the step of excluding pixels having an intensity above a predetermined intensity threshold.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of estimating a defocus blur size includes the steps of removing at least a portion of any content correlation from at least a portion of the input image to generate a decorrelated image of at least a portion of the input image; and computing an autocorrelation matrix from the decorrelated image.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of removing includes the step of applying a decorrelation filter to the input image.
13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of rotating the autocorrelation matrix to a plurality of alternative angles to generate a plurality of rotated matrixes.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of averaging the plurality of rotated matrixes to calculate an averaged matrix and estimating a defocus blur size from the averaged matrix.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of deblurring the input image to provide an adjusted image.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of removing noise from the input image.
17. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of estimating a defocus blur size includes the steps of (i) computing an autocorrelation matrix for at least a portion of the input image, (ii) rotating the autocorrelation matrix to a plurality of alternative angles to generate a plurality of rotated matrixes, (iii) averaging the plurality of rotated matrixes to calculate an averaged matrix, and (iv) estimating the defocus blur size from the averaged matrix.
18. A device for estimating whether an image is either blurred or sharp, the device comprising:
a control system that (i) determines an image gradient histogram distribution of at least a portion of the image; (ii) compares at least a portion of the image gradient histogram distribution to a Gaussian model and (iii) estimating a defocus blur size of at least a portion of the image.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein the control system divides the image into a plurality of image regions and determines an image gradient histogram distribution of at least one of the image regions, and wherein the control system compares the image gradient histogram distributions for at least one of the image regions to a Gaussian model to estimate if the image is either blurred or sharp.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein the control system compares a tail section of the Gaussian model to a tail section of the image gradient histogram distribution.
21. The device claim 18 wherein the control system divides the image into a plurality of image regions and determines an image gradient histogram distribution for each of the image regions, and wherein the control system compares the image gradient histogram distributions for each of the image regions to its respective Gaussian model to estimate if the image is either blurred or sharp.
22. The device of claim 21 wherein the control system compares a tail section of the Gaussian model to a tail section of the image gradient histogram distribution for each image region.
23. The device of claim 18 wherein the control system evaluates the image to estimate if there is a possible motion blur direction, and wherein the control system compares pixels along the possible motion blur direction to determine the image gradient histogram distribution.
24. The device of claim 18 wherein the control system evaluates at least a portion of the image to determine if the contrast is above a predetermined contrast threshold, and wherein the control system adjusts the contrast for at least a portion of the image if the contrast is determined to be below the contrast predetermined threshold.
25. The device of claim 18 wherein the control system (i) removes at least a portion of any content correlation from at least a portion of the input image to generate a decorrelated image; and (ii) computes an autocorrelation matrix from the decorrelated image.
26. The device of claim 25 wherein the control system rotates the autocorrelation matrix to a plurality of alternative angles to generate a plurality of rotated matrixes, and averages the plurality of rotated matrixes to calculate an average autocorrelation matrix, and wherein the control system estimates a defocus blur size from the average autocorrelation matrix.
27. The device of claim 18 wherein the control system deblurs the input image to provide an adjusted image.
28. The device of claim 18 wherein the control system computes an autocorrelation matrix for at least a portion of the input image, the control system rotates the autocorrelation matrix to a plurality of alternative angles to generate a plurality of rotated matrixes, the control system averages the plurality of rotated matrixes to calculate an averaged matrix, and the control system estimates the defocus blur size from the averaged matrix.
29. A method for estimating whether an image is blurred or sharp, the method comprising the steps of:
downsampling the image to create a downsampled image
determining an image gradient histogram distribution of at least a portion of the downsampled image;
comparing at least a portion of the image gradient histogram distribution to a Gaussian model; and
estimating a defocus blur size of at least a portion of the downsampled image.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of determining includes the steps of dividing the downsampled image into a plurality of image regions and determining an image gradient histogram distribution of at least one of the image regions, and wherein the step of comparing includes the step of comparing the image gradient histogram distributions for at least one of the image regions to a Gaussian model.
31. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of evaluating the downsampled image to estimate if there is a possible motion blur direction.
32. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of evaluating at least a portion of the downsampled image to determine if the contrast is above a predetermined contrast threshold, and adjusting the contrast for at least a portion of the image if the contrast is determined to be below the predetermined contrast threshold.

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 tracking assembly for locating and tracking a golf ball, said assembly comprising:
a remote processor coupled to said golf ball;
a remote transceiver coupled to said golf ball, said remote transceiver being operationally coupled to said remote processor;
a base housing being carried by a user;
a base processor coupled to said base housing;
a base transceiver being coupled to said base housing, said base transceiver being operationally coupled to said base processor, said base transceiver being in communication with said remote transceiver such that said base transceiver tracks said golf ball;
a GPS coupled to said base housing, said GPS being operationally coupled to said base processor such that said GPS determines a location of said golf ball with respect to said base housing; and
a display coupled to said base housing, said display being operationally coupled to said base processor, said display displaying the location of said golf ball with respect to said base housing such that the user tracks and locates said golf ball.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said remote processor being centrally positioned within an interior of said golf ball.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said remote transceiver being centrally positioned within an interior of said golf ball.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, said remote transceiver being electrically coupled to said remote processor.
5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base housing having a front end and a back end, said base housing being elongated between said front and rear ends, said front end of said base housing being convexly curvilinear between each of a first lateral side and a second lateral side said base housing such that said front end of said base housing has a rounded shape.
6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base transceiver being electrically coupled to said base processor.
7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base transceiver being in electromagnetic communication with said remote transceiver.
8. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said GPS being electrically coupled to said base processor.
9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein an actuator movably coupled to a top side of said base housing proximate a middle of said base housing.
10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said actuator being electrically coupled to said base processer such that said actuator actuates and de-actuates said base processor.
11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said display being coupled to a top side of said base housing proximate a front end of said base housing such that said display is visible to the user.
12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said display being electrically coupled to said base processor.
13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a power supply coupled to said base housing.
14. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein said power supply being electrically coupled to said actuator.
15. The assembly according to claim 14, wherein said power supply comprising at least one battery.
16. A tracking assembly for locating and tracking a golf ball, said assembly comprising:
a remote processor coupled to said golf ball such that said remote processor is centrally positioned within an interior of said golf ball;
a remote transceiver coupled to said golf ball such that said remote transceiver is centrally positioned within said interior of said golf ball, said remote transceiver being electrically coupled to said remote processor;
a base housing having a front end and a back end, said base housing being elongated between said front and rear ends, said front end of said base housing being convexly curvilinear between each of a first lateral side and a second lateral side said base housing such that said front end of said base housing has a rounded shape, said base housing being carried by a user;
a base processor coupled to said base housing;
a base transceiver being coupled to said base housing, said base transceiver being electrically coupled to said base processor, said base transceiver being in electromagnetic communication with said remote transceiver such that said base transceiver tracks said golf ball;
a GPS coupled to said base housing, said GPS being electrically coupled to said base processor such that said GPS determines a location of said golf ball with respect to said base housing;
an actuator movably coupled to a top side of said base housing proximate a middle of said base housing, said actuator being electrically coupled to said base processer such that said actuator actuates and de-actuates said base processor;
a display coupled to said top side of said base housing proximate said front end of said base housing such that said display is visible to the user, said display being electrically coupled to said base processor, said display displaying the location of said golf ball with respect to said base housing such that the user tracks and locates said golf ball; and
a power supply coupled to said base housing, said power supply being electrically coupled to said actuator, said power supply comprising at least one battery.