Abstract: A playground structure 201 is provided herein which comprises at least one component 31 having a playing surface 41 thereon, and a heat exchange system adapted to modify the temperature of the playing surface. The heat exchange system may comprise a flow channel 35 disposed in the structure adjacent to the playing surface for the efficient regulation of the surface temperature thereof, a coolant disposed in the flow channel, and a pump 233 or other means for circulating the coolant through the flow channel.

Abstract: An angle adjustment device comprises a support member, a plurality of holders for light emitting or receiving devices, each holder being supported by the support member for pivoting about at least one axis and an elongate spiral element which co-operates with the holders so that when the spiral element is displaced angularly about its axis relative to the support member, each holder pivots about its said at least one axis.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for encapsulating micromechanical elements or features on a substrate. In accordance with the method, a first substrate (111) is provided which has a patterned surface (113). A seed metallization (121) is then deposited onto the patterned surface, and a structural material layer (123), which preferably comprises copper, is electroplated onto the seed metallization. A solder (125), such as SnCu, is electroplated onto the metal layer, and the seed metallization, the structural material layer and the solder are removed from the first substrate as a cohesive structure (127), through the application of heat or by other suitable means, such that a negative replica of the patterned surface is imparted to the structure. The structure may then be placed on a second substrate (129) such that the solder is in contact with the second substrate, after which the solder is reflowed.

Abstract: Provided is a method for designing, managing and executing emergency response plans. Specific plan and resources are defined and a defined plan is executed either automatically or manually according to pre-determined or “real-time” parameter definitions. An executed plan notifies, by various user-defined means, actively or pre-defined parties in a near simultaneous fashion of security communications, notifications, directives and/or information. One embodiment of the system includes a component that requires a notified party to acknowledge a particular notification event by responding with a personal identification number (PIN) or calling a specified telephone number and entering the PIN. The system enables parties to be organized into groups based upon member profiles. Individual parties can be assigned to sub-groups, enabling specifically designed communications to go to the parties of any particular sub-group.

Abstract: A transducer is provided herein which comprises an unbalanced proof mass (51), and which is adapted to sense acceleration in at least two mutually orthogonal directions. The proof mass (51) has first (65) and second (67) opposing sides that are of unequal mass.

Abstract: A method for creating an under bump metallization layer (37) is provided. In accordance with the method, a die (33) is provided which has a die pad (35) disposed thereon. A photo-definable polymer (51 or 71) is deposited on the die pad, and an aperture (66) is created in the photo-definable polymer. Finally, an under bump metallization layer (37) is deposited in the aperture. A die package is also provided comprising a die having a die pad (35) disposed thereon, and having an under bump metallization layer (37) disposed on the die pad. The structure has a depression or receptacle (57) therein and has a thickness of at least about 20 microns.

Abstract: A clock network synthesis method and apparatus corrects for clock skew and impedance differences. A method includes identifying clock networks having more active elements as compared to other clock networks of a plurality of clock networks, for those identified clock networks, identifying a pattern of active elements therein as transversed by a clock signal, and for those unidentified clock networks in the correlated clock networks, adding active elements such that those added active elements transversed by the clock signal match those transversed in the identified clock networks. A method for preventing clock skew and impedance differences includes performing a clock balancing, identifying each related node across a sub-network, identifying each input driven via the identified related nodes, and adding one or more active elements to one or more nodes until each element in the identified related nodes drives a same number of inputs.

Abstract: A method for creating a MEMS structure is provided. In accordance with the method, an article is provided which comprises a substrate (101) and a single crystal semiconductor layer (105), and having a sacrificial layer (103) comprising a first dielectric material which is disposed between the substrate and the semiconductor layer. An opening (107) is created which extends through the semiconductor layer (105) and the sacrificial layer (103) and which exposes a portion of the substrate (101). An anchor portion (109) comprising a second dielectric material is then formed in the opening (107). Next, the semiconductor layer (105) is epitaxially grown to a suitable device thickness, thereby forming a device layer (111).

Abstract: The present invention provides a tablet computer and a docking station assembly. This docking station includes a docking assembly for positioning with three degrees of freedom and having a data connector for mechanically supporting and interfacing with the tablet computer. A support member couples the docking assembly to an expansion base. The base includes a number of ports for interfacing with a variety of peripheral devices or power supplies. These varieties of ports mount to a printed circuit board contained within the expansion base. A flexible printed circuit (FPC) combines the signal pathways for the variety of ports, allowing the signal pathways to travel from the printed circuit board and to the data connector. The tablet computing device has a plurality of contact or touch points positioned on the right and left edges of the tablet to facilitate aligning the tablet to the docking assembly in either a landscape or portrait mode.

Abstract: A method for creating a MEMS structure is provided. In accordance with the method, a substrate (53) is provided having a sacrificial layer (55) disposed thereon and having a layer of silicon (57) disposed over the sacrificial layer. A first trench (59) is created which extends through the silica layer and the sacrificial layer and which separates the sacrificial layer into a first region (61) enclosed by the first trench and a second region (63) exterior to the first trench. A first material (65) is deposited into the first trench such that the first material fills the first trench to a depth at least equal to the thickness of the sacrificial layer. A second trench (71) is created exterior to the first trench which extends through at least the silicon layer and exposes at least a portion of the second region of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an RF enhancement mode FET (30) having improved gate properties is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing (131) a substrate (31) having a stack of semiconductor layers (32-35) formed thereon, the stack including a cap layer (35) and a central layer (33) defining a device channel, forming (103) a photoresist pattern (58) over the cap layer, thereby defining a masked region and an unmasked region, and, in any order, (a) creating (105) an implant region (36, 37) in the unmasked region, and (b) removing (107) the cap layer from the unmasked region. By forming the implant region and cap region with no overlap, a device with low current leakage may be achieved.

Abstract: A modular keyboard (12) for a tablet personal computer (10) provides a cover on an outer side (16) for covering the base unit (14) screen (18) and an inner side (46). A key array (44) for key-based data entry into the base unit (14) mounts integrally to the inner side (46). A back support (48) supports the base unit (14) in a raised position relative to the key array (44) and presents the base unit (14) for monitoring data entry from the key array (44). The back support (48) is retractable to a recess (90) that is substantially parallel to the inner side (46). Side support arms (54) cooperate with the back support (48) for supporting the base unit (14) and holding the base unit (14) securely relative to the back support (48). The side support arms (54) are retractable to a recessed position substantially parallel to the inner side (46). A bus connector (78) connects and communicates key-based data between the key array (44) and the base unit (14).

Abstract: A method of sorting a received information message in which a source of delivery of the message is indicated by a unique identifier accompanying the message, for example, in an e-mail or voice message system. The method includes steps of receiving the message, looking-up the identifier in a database, assigning a code for the message per the result of the step of looking-up, and prioritizing or forwarding the message according to the code.

Abstract: This invention is an improved fuel cell design for use at low pressure. The invention has a reduced number of component parts to reduce fabrication costs, as well as a simpler design that permits the size of the system to be reduced at the same time as performance is being improved. In the present design, an adjacent anode and cathode pair are fabricated using a common conductive element, with that conductive element serving to conduct the current from one cell to the adjacent one. This produces a small and simple system suitable for operating with gas fuels or alternatively directly with liquid fuels, such as methanol, dimethoxymethane, or trimethoxymethane. The use of these liquid fuels permits the storage of more energy in less volume while at the same time eliminating the need for handling compressed gases which further simplifies the fuel cell system.