Abstract: In a communication network (200) having an IPv6 communication backbone (210), each multi-protocol subnet (215 and 220) comprises: a mixture of IPv4 (215B and 220B), IPv6 (215D and 220D), and dual-stack (215C and 220C) hosts; and a communication protocol interface (215E and 220E). A corresponding gateway subnet (225) for communication beyond the communication network (200), includes a gateway communication protocol interface (225C). The communication protocol interfaces (215E and 220E) transport IPv4 data packets across the IPv6 communication backbone (210) within IPv6 data packets, allowing IPv4 hosts operating in any of the subnets to communicate with each other. The gateway communication protocol interface (225C) operates with the communication protocol interfaces (215E and 220E) to extend communication between IPv4 hosts in any of the subnets, to communication with IPv4 (108) hosts on the Internet 107.

Abstract: The present invention provides a precise marking apparatus for performing precise marking on an object and methods of using the same. The precise marking apparatus comprises an object input handler and an object output handler for handling the object; a transport system for transporting the object handlers during a marking process; a vision inspection unit for capturing and/or processing the image of the object; a marking system for marking the object; and a control unit for receiving information from and sending instructions to other components of the precise marking apparatus.

Abstract: A code division multiple access (CDMA) system and methods for processing symbol blocks of a spread signal in both frequency and time domains are described. A transmitter (10) of the CDMA system spreads pilot symbols and data of the symbol blocks to derive a spread sequence. Thereafter, the spread sequence is extended with a predetermined number of chips and pulse shaped for transmission as the spread signal. A receiver (400) of the CDMA system receives the spread signal, removes the predetermined number of chips and then orthogonally transforms the spread signal to the frequency domain to derive a transformed signal. The transformed signal is equalized in the frequency domain to derive an equalized signal. The equalized signal is then inverse orthogonally transformed to an output in the time domain. The output is then despreaded to derive the symbol blocks.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging a small size memory card, including xD Picture card, Memory Stick™, Secure Digital™ (SD) card, SmartMedia™ (SM) card, Multimedia card (MMC), CompactFlash™ (CF) card and PC card, by moulding over to encapsulate a populated printed circuit board (PCB) (10) to form the standard external dimensions and features of the memory card. The method comprises holding the populated PCB (10) in place in a cavity (44) of at least one mould piece; and moulding over both sides of the populated printed circuit board (10) to encapsulate said board. Various embodiments are disclosed, including means for holding the populated PCB (10) in the moulding cavity (44) for the encapsulation process, which includes transfer moulding and injection moulding processes, one or more moulding steps, and moulding over one part of one side of said board before the other side, and/or simultaneously moulding over both sides of said board.

Abstract: A secure credit card having daily changing security number is disclosed. The upper half portion of the secure credit card has a magnet strip and its thickness is same as a normal credit card, so it can be read by a credit-card reader. The bottom half portion of the secure credit card contains a processor, key or keypad, battery, display window and a program download port. The processor is loaded with a predetermined program so that the processor can generate date and a daily renewed security number that can be shown on the display window. The security number is the function of the date and their relationship is defined by the predetermined program. Giving a date, a corresponding security number can be generated by this predetermined program. The computer of the credit card company keeps this predetermined program and can compute the security number of the date by this predetermined program.

Abstract: A method of determining the endpoint of an etch layer in a semiconductor element fabrication, wherein said element is comprised of at least a first material layer, a second material layer on said first material layer, said endpoint determining method comprises the steps of (i) determining the total emission intensity wavelength of the first material layer; (ii) determining the total emission intensity wavelength of the second material layer; (iii) plotting the scalar of the wavelength differential of the upper and lower layers; and (iv) choosing the highest peak of wavelength differential as the best range of endpoint detection wavelength. This method is particularly useful for etching stacks where the first and second material layers have endpoint emission wavelengths that are close to each other. This include nitrogen-rich silicon layer which is overlaid by an antireflective coating (ARC) layer, e.g. silicon nitride, Si3N4 overlaid by bottom antireflective coating (BARC).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for forming bond pad openings through a three-layer passivation structure, which protects the semiconductor device prior to bonding and packaging. Two passivation layers are formed over a semiconductor device with bond pads formed thereon. Openings are formed through the passivation layers to expose the bond pads. The openings are then filled with a photoresist material before depositing a polyimide layer over the passivation layers. Openings are formed in the polyimide layer so as to expose the filled openings. The photoresist material in the filled openings is subsequently removed to expose the bond pads.

Abstract: Upper, inner and lower sections (182, 180 and 184) of a PCB (100) are formed with each section having a substrate (140, 150 and 160) having patterned layers of metallization (105 and 110, 115 and 120, and 125 and 130), respectively. Some of the patterned layers of metallization (110, 115, 120, and 125) have thicker portions (171, 173) and part (188) of portion (186), and thinner portions (172, 174, 187, 190, 191, 192 and 193). The resultant thinner portion (175 and 194) in the prepreg layers (145 and 155) with the respective thicker portions of metallization provide decoupling capacitors, while the resultant thicker portions (196 and 198), for example, provide a lower capacitance for improved trace impedance for the signal traces (191 and 192).

Abstract: A probability distribution transformer (110) in a multi-carrier modulation (MCM) transmitter (101) receives a MCM signal comprising data packets that represent amplitude values, where the amplitude values are characterized by a Gaussian probability density function. The probability distribution transformer (110), which is provided by a number of piecewise linear transforms, produce a transformed MCM signal comprising transformed data packets which represent transformed amplitude values, where the transformed amplitude values are characterized by a uniform probability density function. When transmitted, the transformed MCM signal results in reduced peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). In a corresponding MCM receiver (102), a probability distribution inverter (180) inverts the transformation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus describing a device for tracking moving objects or persons are taught. The invention is an embedded system using a series of sensors such as light sensors along a passageway to determine some movement characteristics such as number, size, direction, speed and position of objects or people along the passageway. One embodiment of this invention is in fare gates for public transport systems. Another aspect of this invention is the algorithm that determines the movement characteristics using the overlaps or intersections of rising edge, on state, falling edge and off state of signals from the sensors to determine the movement characteristics of objects or humans. The simplicity and robustness of the algorithm allow implement of the invention with inexpensive programmable logical controllers without the need of control by expensive computers. This invention also avoids the attendant disadvantages of other systems using cameras, computer vision or mechanical sensors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved overlay vernier that can increase the overlay measurement accuracy. The overlay vernier of the present invention comprises an inner square vernier and an outer square vernier. The outer vernier comprises a central square opening and four trapezoid-shaped openings surrounding the central square opening.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) predistortion linearizer with a transistor and a control circuit, an input matching circuit and an output matching circuit. The control circuit is electrically coupled to a control voltage source that supplies control voltages via a control node. A resistor and a coupling inductor electrically couples the control circuit to the control node to receive the control voltages. These control voltages set two varactors of the control circuit to provide a capacitance. The capacitance and an inductance provided by an inductive block of the control circuit can thus provide a resonant frequency. This resonant frequency is thus controllable and is based on a centre frequency of an RF input signal provided to an input node of the RF predistortion linearizer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a recording medium comprising an improved doped Stoichiometric Lithium Niobate (SLN) crystal for high-speed holographic data storage. The improved doped SLN has an extremely high optical damage resistance of more than 145 kW/cm2 for power density of an incident laser beam along the c axis. The Recording time using the present improved doped SLN is advantageously very short and is about 1 second for a single hologram with a saturated diffraction efficiency of 28.7% at a recording laser beam density of 70 W/cm2. Reliable retrieval of a signal-image written at as low as 1 milliseconds has been performed in the Z-cut doped SLN. The present recording medium is an improved doped SLN of a Z-cut SLN crystal doped with Iron (Fe) and Terbium (Tb). The Terbium (Tb) content within the fluxed melts for growing the improved doped SLN ranges from 10 ppm to 140 ppm.

Abstract: The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: (a) laying on a prior layer, a first oxide layer doped in one form; (b) laying on said first oxide layer, a second oxide layer doped in a different form; (c) patterning said layers; (d) etching the second layer with an etchant having high selectivity to said second doped oxide layer; and (e) etching the first layer with an etchant having high selectivity to said first doped oxide layer. As the etch rate is higher for the highly doped oxide than that for the lightly doped oxide, high selectivity of etching between such layers can therefore be attained. A lightly doped silicon oxide layer may therefore be used to stop etching at an optimal thickness over the complicated layer of substrate. The lightly doped silicon oxide area may be covered with a layer of highly doped silicon oxide layer which may be etched with a specific etchant.

Abstract: A docking system (10) and method for docking a test head (16) of a device tester to a device handler. The docking system (10) has a handler plate (12) and a tester plate (14), respectively mountable to the device handler and the test head (16). The handler plate (12) has two conversion bars (18a, 18b). Each of the two conversion bars (18a,18b) has two lateral protrusions (40a,40b). The tester plate (140 has four slot mounts (26a,26b,26c,26d), each with an escalating slot (50) that is laterally oriented for respective linear engagement with the lateral protrusions (40a,40b) for the docking. The method involves making a quick alignment of the handler plate (12) to the tester plate (14) by inserting two pre-docking guide pins into (20a,20b) two pin sockets (22a,22b) and, thereafter, actuating one or both of two actuating cams (28a,28b) for the respective linear engagement.

Abstract: An on-column detector for electrophoresis samples based on the principles of potential gradient detection, in which the electrodes for detection are physically isolated from the electrophoretic separation process, but maintains the same electrical potential as the corresponding interior of the electrophoretic separation channel. Potential gradient detection is used to measure the applied electrical field at two points within the electrophoretic channel during electrophoresis. When sample components with conductivity different from the electrophoretic medium passes between these two points, it causes a change in the potential gradient between the two points, which would be sensed by the sensing electrodes of the detector and registered by a data acquisition system. The apparatus can make use of conventional separation channel as well as separation channels on microchips.

Abstract: A surgical scrub brush that contains a base with a narrow scrubbing head (50) extending therefrom. The base contains two sides, the first provided with bristles (52) extending outwards to form a brush, the second preferably provided with an absorbent material (60). The narrow scrubbing head (50) is provided for the effective scrubbing of the interdigital areas and web spaces of the band, and includes a dome (58). In the preferred embodiment, a shallow, rod-shaped depression (56) is further provided on the bristle profile on the main body to assume the approximate shape of one side of a finger such that the user can scrub his/her fingers effectively.