Abstract: Techniques for providing electrical connections are provided. In one aspect, an electrical connecting device is provided which comprises a plurality of compressible contacts; and a downstop structure surrounding at least a portion of one or more of the contacts, limiting compression of the contacts, and being configured to limit interaction between the contacts. The electrical connecting device may be further configured to have the plurality of compressible contacts have a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the downstop structure have a second coefficient of thermal expansion, the first coefficient of thermal expansion being substantially similar to the second coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A system for controlling access to electronic information packages including e-mail messages communicated from a sending device to a receiving device at one or more destination locations. The system and method includes determining fulfillment of one or more certain conditions at the destination location; and, implementing control in response to detection of a fulfilled one or more certain conditions to enable access to content provided in a communicated package. The access includes enabling a user to perform certain operations on the package content at the destination location, or, preventing certain operations from being performed. A mechanism is included for enabling automatic destruction of the e-mail messages immediately after being read by an authorized recipient, or, after a predetermined time interval from receipt of the message. A verification system is employed enabling a sender to verify users attempting to access the e-mail.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for using the trajectory of an object to access video contents, for example, to specify and display a specific video image scene. Such a video contents access method comprises the steps of: extracting objects from video contents; displaying movements of the objects as trajectories on a specific projection screen; specifying locations on the trajectories; and accessing a desired scene of the video contents. An apparatus is so designed that it performs the above method.

Abstract: A low-k dielectric metal conductor interconnect structure having no micro-trenches present therein and a method of forming such a structure are provided. Specifically, the above structure is achieved by providing an interconnect structure which includes at least a multilayer of dielectric materials which are applied sequentially in a single spin apply tool and then cured in a single step and a plurality of patterned metal conductors within the multilayer of spun-on dielectrics. The control over the conductor resistance is obtained using a buried etch stop layer having a second atomic composition located between the line and via dielectric layers of porous low-k dielectrics having a first atomic composition. The inventive interconnect structure also includes a hard mask which assists in forming the interconnect structure of the dual damascene-type.

Abstract: A photoresist composition is provided that includes a polymer having at least one acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a formula: where R1 represents hydrogen (H), a linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons, or a semi- or perfluorinated linear or branched alkyl group of 1 to 20 carbons; and where R2 represents an unsubstituted aliphatic group or a substituted aliphatic group having zero or one trifluoromethyl (CF3) group attached to each carbon of the substituted aliphatic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group; and where R3 represents hydrogen (H), methyl (CH3), trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated aliphatic chain; and where R4 represents trifluoromethyl (CF3), difluoromethyl (CHF2), fluoromethyl (CH2F), or a semi- or perfluorinated substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group. A method of patterning a substrate using the photoresist composition is also provided herein.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for forming a hardmask including the steps of depositing a polymeric preceramic precursor film atop a substrate; converting the polymeric preceramic precursor film into at least one ceramic layer, where the ceramic layer has a composition of SivNwCxOyHz where 0.1≦v≦0.9, 0≦w≦0.5, 0.05≦x≦0.9, 0≦y≦0.5, 0.05≦z≦0.8 for v+w+x+y+z=1; forming a patterned photoresist atop the ceramic layer; patterning the ceramic layer to expose regions of the underlying substrate, where a remaining region of the underlying substrate is protected by the patterned ceramic layer; and etching the exposed region of the underlying substrate. Another aspect of the present invention is a buried etch stop layer having a composition of SivNwCxOyHz where 0.05<v<0.8, 0<w<0.9, 0.05<x<0.8, 0<y<0.8, 0.05<z<0.8 for v+w+x+y+z=1.

Abstract: A system and method for annotating resource results obtained in a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a resource response set of results obtained in response to a current user query and receiving a user context vector associated with the current user query, the user context vector comprising data associating an interaction state with the user; applying an ordering and annotation function for mapping the user context vector with the resource response set to generate an annotated response set having one or more annotations; and, controlling the presentation of the resource response set to the user according to the annotations, wherein the ordering and annotation function is executed interactively at the time of each user query.

Abstract: A process of making a high precision microcontact printing stamp in which an elastomeric monomer or oligomer is introduced into a mold wherein a photoresist master imprinted with a microcircuit design in negative relief is predisposed. The monomer or oligomer is cured at a temperature no higher than about ambient temperature whereby a distortion-free microcontact printing stamp having the microcircuit design of the photoresist master in positive relief is formed.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical interconnection between a first electrical device and a second electrical device comprises the steps of providing contacts in an uncompressed state. The uncompressed contacts are then deformed to a compressed state and then the contacts are positioned in a device adapted to hold the contacts between the first and second electrical devices. Or alternatively, the uncompressed contacts are positioned in the device and then compressed to the compressed state. The contacts are then activated to substantially expand to the uncompressed state wherein each contact expands to substantially its uncompressed state for establishing the electrical interconnection between the first and second electrical devices.

Abstract: A system includes first and second virtual machines (VM) representing a master and a client respectively. A class file is loading by the first virtual machine into shared memory. The class file includes sharable and non-sharable data, and also references sharable and non-sharable data (including code). When it is desired to load the same class into the second virtual machine, the class is first located within said shared memory. A mirror copy of the class is then formed within private memory in the second virtual machine. Finally the non-sharable data of the class is completed in the private memory. Thereafter, an application in the second virtual machine can utilise the class on the basis of the sharable data in the shared memory of the first virtual machine, and the non-sharable data from the private memory of the second virtual machine.

Abstract: An attenuating embedded phase shift photomask blank that produces a phase shift of the transmitted light is formed with an optically translucent film made of metal, silicon, nitrogen and oxygen. An etch stop layer is added to improve the etch selectivity of the phase shifting layer. A wide range of optical transmission (0.001% up to 15% at 157 nm) is obtained by this process.

Abstract: An interlayer dielectric for preventing Cu ion migration in semiconductor structure containing a Cu region is provided. The interlayer dielectric of the present invention comprises a dielectric material that has a dielectric constant of 3.0 or less and an additive which is highly-capable of binding Cu ions, yet is soluble in the dielectric material. The presence of the additive in the low k dielectric allows for the elimination of conventional inorganic barrier materials such as SiO2 or Si3N4.

Abstract: A distributed Java virtual machine method and system for managing distributed heterogeneous network nodes to timely and efficiently meet demand for service requests. Upon receipt of a request for service, Java workload manager (JWLM) of the present invention classifies the request into a particular type of service, places the work on a logical queue to be executed. Routing queues place the work on one of many available nodes. The work is distributed to the nodes based on accounting, availability and past performance of all nodes considered. Changes are made periodically to the system to meet demands for service and/or conserve resources. JWLM of the present invention learns the needs of programs over time and does not require the intervention of a system administrator. The system does not rely on system specific metrics. JWLM may use performance metrics.

Abstract: This invention involves tracking and backing all the information that a user generates on its computer devices (including embedded devices) in real time. The local user server records all user actions and gestures (via various means that include TV cameras). All of this information (user actions and saved files in a computer) is then sent to a remote server via the Internet. This remote server has a virtual map of all the embedded devices on a computer that the person uses. The remote server immediately starts to interpret the user's actions (including user gestures). In one implementation, the invention stores user actions that are related to data generation (e.g. actions that called some links where data is stored, or executed some programs that generated data). In another variant, the remote server generates and downloads the same files that are downloaded on the local user computer devices.

Abstract: A customer self service system and method for performing resource search and selection.

Abstract: A graphical user interface for a customer self service system that performs resource search and selection including a system and method for controlling a display of resources resulting from a query initiated by a user of the system.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding sound information in image sub-feature sets comprising pixels in a picture or video image. Small differences in intensity of pixels in this image set are not detectable by eyes, but are detectable by scanning devices that measure these intensity differences between closely situated pixels in the sub-feature sets. These encoded numbers are mapped into sound representations allowing for the reproduction of sound.

Abstract: Heat dissipation systems and structures which are employed in the cooling of electronic devices and/or semiconductor integrated-circuit chips which are installed in computer and/or communications systems. Moreover, disclosed is a method for implementing the heat dissipation systems and structures.

Abstract: An attenuating embedded phase shift photomask blank that produces a phase shift of the transmitted light is formed with an optically translucent film made of metal, silicon, nitrogen and oxygen. An etch stop layer is added to improve the etch selectivity of the phase shifting layer. A wide range of optical transmission (0.001% up to 15% at 157 nm) is obtained by this process.