Abstract: An interactive voice response system provides voice prompts that supply information to a user, request data from the user, and present the user with a plurality of selectable options. The user can first select one or more options by providing one or more letters of the alphabet corresponding to one or more of the selectable options. If the letter or letters that are provided correspond to more than one selectable option, the user further selects one of the options from among the selectable options corresponding to the one or more letters.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of forming a crown capacitor for a DRAM cell. An etching method having different selectivity between the BPSG and silicon oxynitride layer is applied to form a sacrificial structure with a concanovenex sidewall. Using the sacrificial structure as a mold, a high capacitance crown capacitor is obtained.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a DRAM capacitor is described. First, a semiconductor substrate having a capacitor contact is provided. Next, a first polysilicon layer is formed. Then, an oxide layer and a silicon oxy-nitride layer are sequentially formed over the first polysilicon layer. Next, the silicon oxy-nitride layer, the oxide layer, and the first polysilicon layer are selectively etched to leave a rectangular stack layer. Afterwards, the oxide layer and the first polysilicon layer of the rectangular stack layer are etched from the sidewall direction to leave a double T-shaped stack layer. Then, second polysilicon layer is formed on the upper surface and the sidewall of the double T-shaped stack layer. Next, the second polysilicon layer is selectively removed. The remaining second and first polysilicon layer are used as the bottom electrode. Afterwards, a dielectric layer and an upper electrode are formed on the bottom electrode.

Abstract: An integrated financial system that includes a single customer account that permits a customer to perform various financial transactions. The account includes at least banking components and brokerage components. A consistent user interface means is provided to allow a customer to access the account from a different sources including at least an automatic teller machine, a phone and a personal teller transaction. The account is flexible enough to include a variety of other components such as a credit card component, a line of credit component, a secured credit component and a money market component. A system and method for opening a single integrated account for a customer in a single session is also described.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a crown capacitor comprising first providing a substrate having a transistor, constituted by at least one diffused region, formed thereon and overlaid by a first insulating layer. Bit lines are formed in the first insulating layer. A first masking layer and a second insulating layer are sequentially formed over the substrate. The second insulating layer, the first masking layer and the first insulating layer are patterned to form a contact hole that exposes the diffused region. A second masking layer is conformally formed and etched back to form masking spacers on the sidewalls of the contact hole. A third insulating layer is formed over the substrate, wherein the third insulating layer fills the contact hole. The second insulating layer and the third insulating layer are selectively removed to expose portions of the first masking layer, the masking spacers and the diffusion areas.

Abstract: The novel Christmas tree stand has fixing elements (104) mounted in a housing. The fixing elements are moved, by supplying a pressure medium to annular bellows (16), from an opened position into a position to surround the trunk of the Christmas tree (17) from all sides. The fixing elements (104) are designed so as to ensure the automatic centering adjustment of the trunk. The expanding, flexible bellows (16) ensures that all of the fixing elements abut the trunk even if the cross-section is not circular and the bark is rough, thereby safeguarding the stability of the Christmas tree (17) in its upright position. The upper portion together with the base portion (101) forms the housing that is designed as a one-part moulding (103) in which an annular cup (105) supporting the bellows (16) and a receiving sleeve (106) holding the Christmas tree (17) by a centering mandrel (20) are installed and protected by a bottom plate. The receiving sleeve (106) is connected to a water reservoir via the supply line (119).

Abstract: A method of making a trench capacitor including the following steps: forming a first trench of predetermined depth into a semiconductor substrate; forming an electrode plate on the side-wall of a bottom of the first trench; forming a dielectric layer on the electrode plate; forming a first conductive portion on the dielectric layer, wherein the first conductive portion fills the bottom of the first trench to form a second trench; forming an insulation layer to fill the bottom portion of the second trench to make a third trench in the second trench; forming a conductive spacer along the side-wall of the third trench; etching the insulation layer using the conductive spacer as a mask to form a forth trench; and then filling the forth trench with a conductive material.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is used to carry substrates processed in an etching process and provides a guiding member to shelter and protect substrates from being dampened by droplets. The apparatus comprises spaced chucks connected to a substrate holder with two arms, respectively. The guiding member is a roof plate disposed under the chucks and abutted against the arms, so that the guiding member can induce the droplets falling from the chucks to flow to the arms. The substrates can be effectively kept dry and clean.

Abstract: This invention describes a method and system for assimilating data, applying reasoning mechanisms, and emulating the thought processes of a credit officer for commercial credit analysis. The system aids a credit officer in the risk assessment and completion of a loan package. The system thereby improves loan turnaround time and customer service, improving loan servicing capacity, quality, and consistency of credit decisions, and reducing costs. The system includes: 1) a conventional data base management system subsystem that manages and collects data via electronic access and end-user data entry; and 2) a decision support expert system that applies a knowledge base and inference engine (collectively known as an assessment model) utilizing an evidence tree and a generalized weighting approach to analyze credit requests.

Abstract: This invention discloses an overlay measuring mark and a method of measuring an overlay error of semiconductor used by the overlay measuring mark. This overlay measuring mark comprises a first mark formed on a first layer on a semiconductor substrate and including four bar sets, which form a first square pattern, each of said bar sets at least comprising two parallel bars relatively formed by a first slim pattern; and a second mark formed on a second layer on said first layer and including four bar formed a second square pattern, wherein said four bar relatively are formed by a second slim pattern and said second square is located in and smaller than said first square in a top view.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a banking facility layout and a method and system for networked customer and other user interaction with a variety of functions. These functions include access to networks, such as the internet, email capability, options to view information on banking capabilities, access to home banking, and other electronically-related user functions. The invention incorporates a purpose-designed environment that can be integrated into a branch or other banking institution facility. The invention also includes a video wall feature that allows interaction by networked users; users may take control of portions of the wall and add selected information to these portions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for facilitating the uniform folding of shirts and T-shirts in household ironing. It is characterised by a main part (1) almost rectangular in shape of fine thickness and with a surface not adhering to cloth materials, comprising on one of its short sides a projection (2) for gripping it.

Abstract: A method for integrating a plurality of financial services provided at different geographical locations and in different time zones, and electronic delivering such services directly to a customer facility at any time requested by the customer. Customers connect to the system whenever desired to access each of the services, and messages are stored and routed between the customers and each of the service providers at the respective times when the customers' facilities and the service providers' facilities are operative. The system can interface with a customer's stand-alone personal computer, local area network, and/or mainframe computer. A variety of security functions provide different levels of access to the services for different customers.

Abstract: A computer using a passive backplane internal architecture is provided. In particular, a CPU board is provided that has a plurality of I/O interfaces (e.g., IDE, EIDE, SCSI, wide SCSI, etc.) so as to reduce the need to upgrade the system over time. However, once repair or upgrade is needed, the plug-in board configuration of the computer greatly facilitates such activity, which reduces the need for specialized (and expensive) technicians to maintain the computer. The power supply of the computer is preferably provided on an additional board within the computer. This improves the airflow of cooling air in the computer, thereby enhancing system reliability.

Abstract: A system and process for use by a financial institution to facilitate relationship pricing in connection with a single account that includes a plurality of account components, including a checking component, a savings component and a investment component. The system includes software engines operated on specially programmed general purpose computers. The engines are sub-systems that generate input and drive another sub-system or the product processors. The overall function of the engines is to, among other things, allow pricing to be determined based on a customer's total individual or household relationship to the financial institution. The preferred system includes a rate engine, a pricing engine, a linkage engine, a balance engine, and a cycle engine.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and moving articles, comprising at least one arrangement with a vacuum chamber, which is connected to an arrangement which is capable of producing negative pressure in the vacuum chamber, the underside of a lower plate being provided with an elastic airtight bottom and also being provided with a number of first through-passages to the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A control system is extremely flexible and modular and can be equipped or upgraded to have any number or combination of features, such as security, home theater/audio, HVAC, energy management, and lighting with each feature having a separate task unit. The task units can be added or removed from a core set of units within minimal impact on the core set of units. The core set of units includes a control database unit that stores sets of commands in a relational database according to an input/output event and a command execution unit that routes the commands to the appropriate task units for execution. The core set of units do not need to understand the input/output event or the commands but rather routes the commands to the task units addressed for execution. The system has a variable database that contains a relational database of variables shared between the various task units and stores such things as all keypad displays.