Abstract: An electronic device includes a first dielectric layer above a semiconductor layer, lower-bandgap dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer, the lower-bandgap dielectric layer having a bandgap energy less than a bandgap energy of the first dielectric layer, a first capacitor plate above the lower-bandgap dielectric layer in a first plane of first and second directions, a second dielectric layer above the first capacitor plate, a second capacitor plate above the second dielectric layer in a second plane of the first and second directions, the first and second capacitor plates spaced apart from one another along a third direction, and a conductive third capacitor plate above the second dielectric layer in the second plane, the third capacitor plate spaced apart from the second capacitor plate in the second plane.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of dielectric layers over the semiconductor substrate, including a top dielectric layer. A metal plate or metal coil is located over the top dielectric layer; a metal ring is located over the top dielectric layer and substantially surrounds the metal plate or metal coil. A protective overcoat overlies the metal ring and overlies the metal plate or metal coil. A trench opening is formed through the protective overcoat, with the trench opening exposing the top dielectric layer between the metal plate/coil and the metal ring, the trench opening substantially surrounding the metal plate or metal coil.

Abstract: A microelectronic device including an isolation device. The isolation device includes a lower isolation element, an upper isolation element, and an inorganic dielectric plateau between the lower isolation element and the upper isolation element. The inorganic dielectric plateau contains an upper etch stop layer and a lower etch stop layer between the upper isolation element and the lower isolation element. The upper etch stop layer provides an end point signal during the plateau etch process which provides feedback on the amount of inorganic dielectric plateau which has been etched. The lower etch stop layer provides a traditional etch stop function to provide for a complete plateau etch and protection of an underlying metal bond pad. The inorganic dielectric plateau also contains alternating layers of high stress and low stress silicon dioxide, which provide a means of reinforcement of the inorganic dielectric plateau.

Abstract: A microelectronic device including a galvanic isolator with filler metal within an upper isolation element. The galvanic isolator includes a lower isolation element, an upper isolation element, and an inorganic dielectric plateau between the lower isolation element and the upper isolation element. The upper isolation element contains tines of filler metal which are electrically tied to each other and are electrically tied to the upper isolation element. The ends of the tines are rounded to minimize electric fields. The filler metal increases the overall metal density on the metal layer of the upper isolation element to meet the typical metal density requirements of modern microelectronic fabrication processing.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a galvanic isolation component. The galvanic isolation component includes a lower winding and an upper isolation element over the lower winding. The galvanic isolation component further includes a field suppression structure located interior to the lower winding. The field suppression structure includes a conductive field deflector that is separated from the lower winding by a lateral distance that is half a thickness of the lower winding to twice the thickness of the lower winding. A top surface of the conductive field deflector is substantially coplanar with a bottom surface of the lower winding. The conductive field deflector is electrically connected to a semiconductor material in a substrate. The lower winding is separated from a substrate by a first dielectric layer. The upper isolation element is separated from the lower winding by a second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a galvanic isolation component having a lower isolation element over a substrate with lower bond pads connected to the lower isolation element, a dielectric plateau over the lower isolation element that does not extend to the lower bond pads, and an upper isolation element and upper bond pads over the dielectric plateau. The upper bond pads are laterally separated from the lower bond pads by an isolation distance. The microelectronic device includes high voltage wire bonds on the upper bond pads that extend upward, within 10 degrees of vertical, for a vertical distance greater than the isolation distance. The microelectronic device further includes low voltage wire bonds on the lower bond pads that have a loop height directly over a perimeter of the substrate that is less than 5 times a wire diameter of the low voltage wire bonds.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a lower isolation element and an upper isolation element, separated by an isolation dielectric layer stack. The microelectronic device includes a lower field reduction layer over the lower isolation element, under the isolation dielectric layer stack. The lower field reduction layer includes a first dielectric layer adjacent to the isolation dielectric layer stack, and a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer. A dielectric constant of the first dielectric layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer. The dielectric constant of the second dielectric layer is greater than a dielectric constant of the isolation dielectric layer stack adjacent to the lower field reduction layer. Methods of forming example microelectronic device having lower field reduction layers are disclosed.

Abstract: A microelectronic device including an isolation device with a stabilized dielectric. The isolation device includes a lower isolation element, an upper isolation element, and an inorganic dielectric plateau between the lower isolation element and the upper isolation element. The dielectric sidewall of the inorganic dielectric plateau is stabilized in a nitrogen containing plasma which forms a SiOxNy surface on the dielectric sidewall of the inorganic dielectric plateau. The SiOxNy surface on the dielectric sidewall of the inorganic dielectric plateau reduces ingress of moisture into the dielectric stack of the inorganic dielectric plateau.

Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a galvanic isolation device on a silicon substrate and a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate. The galvanic isolation device includes a lower isolation element over the silicon substrate and an upper isolation element above the lower isolation element, separated by a dielectric plateau that comprises inorganic dielectric material extending from the lower isolation element to the upper isolation element. The galvanic isolation device includes lower bond pads connected to the lower isolation element adjacent to the dielectric plateau, and upper bond pads over the dielectric plateau, connected to the upper isolation element. The semiconductor device includes an active component, and device bond pads coupled to the active component. The microelectronic device includes first electrical connections to the lower bond pads and second electrical connections to the upper bond pads.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for direct assignment of physical devices to confidential virtual machines (VMs). At a first guest privilege context of a guest partition, a direct assignment of a physical device associated with a host computer system to the guest partition is identified. The guest partition includes the first guest privilege context and a second guest privilege context, which is restricted from accessing memory associated with the first guest privilege context. The guest partition corresponds to a confidential VM, such that a memory region associated with the guest partition is inaccessible to a host operating system. It is determined, based on a policy, that the physical device is allowed to be directly assigned to the guest partition. Communication between the physical device and the second guest privilege context is permitted, such as by exposing the physical device on a virtual bus and/or forwarding an interrupt.

Abstract: A method for activating a catalyst is described comprising the steps of: (i) installing a reduced and passivated catalyst containing crystallites of a catalytic metal comprising nickel, cobalt or iron in elemental form encapsulated by a layer comprising an oxide of the catalytic metal in a reactor, such as a steam methane reforming reactor, in which it is to be used, and (ii) heating the reduced and passivated catalyst in the reactor under a vacuum or an inert gas to a temperature in the range (TT?X) to (TT+Y), where TT is the Tammann temperature of the catalytic metal in elemental form in degrees Centigrade, X is 400 and Y is 200, to form a catalytically active surface on the catalyst without requiring the application of a reducing gas.

Abstract: A notification system and method that allows a user to be placed on a waiting list, disclosing only the personal information the user chooses to disclose, and receive updates or other information relating to his status on the waiting list through a personal communication device. A timekeeping system and method generates time in and time out record entries based upon a display code presented the personal communication device. A form data aggregation system and method consolidates inputted information from multiple applications on the personal communication device.

Abstract: A copper concentrate such as chalcopyrite is contacted with an aqueous solution includes acids and a reducing agent, such as vanadium (II) ions, chromium (II) ions, or tungstozincic acid (H6ZnW12O40). The aqueous solution reduces the copper in the copper concentrate, which can then dissolve into the solution for recovery therefrom, or precipitate out of solution as copper compounds or elemental copper for recovery in as a solid phase product. The solid phase product can then be isolated, dissolved, and further electrowinned to recover a copper product from the copper concentrate. Oxidized reducing agent can be recovered in an electrochemical device with ferrous iron reactants. Hydrometallurgical routes to convert copper concentrates to copper are potentially less expensive and less polluting than current pyrometallurgical processing and an advantageous response to environmental and economic pressures for increased copper production.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first dielectric layer above a semiconductor layer, lower-bandgap dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer, the lower-bandgap dielectric layer having a bandgap energy less than a bandgap energy of the first dielectric layer, a first capacitor plate above the lower-bandgap dielectric layer in a first plane of first and second directions, a second dielectric layer above the first capacitor plate, a second capacitor plate above the second dielectric layer in a second plane of the first and second directions, the first and second capacitor plates spaced apart from one another along a third direction, and a conductive third capacitor plate above the second dielectric layer in the second plane, the third capacitor plate spaced apart from the second capacitor plate in the second plane.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of dielectric layers over the semiconductor substrate, including a top dielectric layer. A metal plate or metal coil is located over the top dielectric layer; a metal ring is located over the top dielectric layer and substantially surrounds the metal plate or metal coil. A protective overcoat overlies the metal ring and overlies the metal plate or metal coil. A trench opening is formed through the protective overcoat, with the trench opening exposing the top dielectric layer between the metal plate/coil and the metal ring, the trench opening substantially surrounding the metal plate or metal coil.

Abstract: A galvanic isolation capacitor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a PMD layer over the semiconductor substrate. The PMD layer has a first thickness. A lower metal plate is over the PMD layer and an ILD layer is on the lower metal plate; the ILD layer has a second thickness. A ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is between about 1 and 1.55 inclusive. A first upper metal plate over the ILD layer has a first area and a second upper metal plate over the ILD layer has a second area; a ratio of the first area to the second area is greater than about 5. The galvanic isolation capacitor device can be part of a multi-chip module.

Abstract: An energy storage system comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cells include a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode. An electrolyte in communication with the pair of electrodes. A flow shaping baffle is situated between the pair of electrodes. The flow shaping baffle includes a plurality of channels extending from a first end proximate the cathode to a second end proximate the anode along an axis substantially perpendicular to the electrodes. The first end has a first diameter and the second end has a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The disclosed energy storage system does not require expensive pumps or ion exchange membranes and can operate efficiently over a long service life.

Abstract: In a described example, an apparatus includes: a package substrate having a die mount portion and lead portions spaced from the die mount portion; a semiconductor die over the die mount portion having bond pads on an active surface facing away from the package substrate; non-gold bond wires forming electrical connections between at least one of the bond pads and one of the lead portions of the package substrate; a bond stitch on bump connection formed between one of the non-gold bond wires and a bond pad of the semiconductor die, comprising a stitch bond formed on a flex stud bump; and dielectric material covering a portion of the package substrate, the semiconductor die, the non-gold bond wires, the stitch bond and the flex stud bump, forming a packaged semiconductor device.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a capacitor on an integrated circuit (IC) die. In an example, a package includes first and second IC dice. The first IC die includes a first circuit, a capacitor, and a polyimide layer. The first circuit is on a substrate. The capacitor includes a bottom plate over the substrate and a top plate over the bottom plate. The polyimide layer is at least partially over the top plate. A distance from a top surface of the top plate to a bottom surface of the polyimide layer is at least 30 % of a distance from a top surface of the bottom plate to a bottom surface of the top plate. A signal path, including the capacitor, is electrically coupled between the first circuit and a second circuit in the second IC die, which does not include a galvanic isolation capacitor in the signal path.

Abstract: A convertible sprayer and seeder is provided, including a liquids tank; one or more liquid discharge lines leading from the liquids tank to one or more nozzles, said nozzles being arranged along booms extending from the sprayer; a seed metering applicator; one or more seed lines, each connected from the seed metering applicator to each of said one or more liquid discharge lines; a venturi located at each connection between each seed line and each liquid discharge line; a spraying bypass mechanism associated with each of said one or more liquid discharge lines; and a seeding valve associated with each connection between the one or more seed lines and the one or more liquid discharge lines. When the seeding valve is closed the bypass mechanism allows spraying and when the seeding valve is opened, the bypass mechanism allows seeding. A method of seeding a cover or relay crop is also provided.