Abstract: New protective coating layers for use in wet etch processes during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The layers include a primer layer, a first protective layer, and an optional second protective layer. The primer layer preferably comprises an organo silane compound in a solvent system. The first protective layer includes thermoplastic copolymers prepared from styrene, acrylonitrile, and compatible compounds such as monomers, oligomers, and polymers comprising epoxy groups; poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol); and mixtures thereof. The second protective layer comprises a highly halogenated polymer such as a chlorinated polymer which may or may not be crosslinked upon heating.

Abstract: New protective coating layers for use in wet etch processes during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The layers include a primer layer, a first protective layer, and an optional second protective layer. The primer layer preferably comprises an organo silane compound in a solvent system. The first protective layer includes thermoplastic copolymers prepared from styrene, acrylonitrile, and compatible compounds such as monomers, oligomers, and polymers comprising epoxy groups; poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol); and mixtures thereof. The second protective layer comprises a highly halogenated polymer such as a chlorinated polymer to which may or may not be crosslinked upon heating.

Abstract: Training data is used by learning-to-rank algorithms for formulating ranking algorithms. The training data can be initially provided by human judges, and then modeled in light of user click-through data to detect probable ranking errors. The probable ranking errors are provided to the original human judges, who can refine the training data in light of this information.

Abstract: Named Entity Recognition in Query (NERQ) involves detection of a named entity in a given query and classification of the named entity into one or more predefined classes. The predefined classes may be based on a predefined taxonomy. A probabilistic approach may be taken to detecting and classifying named entities in queries, the approach using either query log data or click through data and Weakly Supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation (WS-LDA) to construct and train a topic model.

Abstract: New compositions and methods of using those compositions as protective layers during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The compositions comprise a cycloolefin copolymer dispersed or dissolved in a solvent system, and can be used to form layers that protect a substrate during acid etching and other processing and handling. The protective layer can be photosensitive or non-photosensitive, and can be used with or without a primer layer beneath the protective layer. Preferred primer layers comprise a basic polymer in a solvent system.

Abstract: There is provided a composition that can effectively remove a protective coating and a primer coating that have a resistance to etching solutions and are rendered unnecessary after wet-etching treatment in MEMS fabrication processes, and a method for removing the protective layer. The composition contains (A) at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of amides, lactones, pyrrolidones and ketones, (B) water, and (C) a fluoride, in an amount of 80.00 to 99.90 mass %, 0.05 to 12.00 mass %, and 0.05 to 8.00 mass %, respectively. The composition may further contain (D) phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid or phosphinic acid in an amount over 0 mass part to 5.5 mass parts, or (E) an organic amine in an amount over 0 mass part to 45 mass parts, based on 100 mass parts of the composition.

Abstract: There is provided a composition that can effectively remove a protective coating and a primer coating that have a resistance to etching solutions and are rendered unnecessary after wet-etching treatment in MEMS fabrication processes, and a method for removing the protective layer. The composition contains (A) at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of amides, lactones, pyrrolidones and ketones, (B) water, and (C) a fluoride, in an amount of 80.00 to 99.90 mass %, 0.05 to 12.00 mass %, and 0.05 to 8.00 mass %, respectively. The composition may further contain (D) phosphoric acid, phosphonic acid or phosphinic acid in an amount over 0 mass part to 5.5 mass parts, or (E) an organic amine in an amount over 0 mass part to 45 mass parts, based on 100 mass parts of the composition.

Abstract: A crawling system crawls a web site initially in a pattern detection phase and subsequently in a pattern usage phase. The pattern detection phase attempts to identify patterns of references to pages that contain informational content of interest and patterns of references to pages that contain little informational content of interest. During the pattern usage phase, the crawling system crawls the web site. When the crawling system encounters a reference contained on an accessed page, the crawling system determines whether the reference matches a reference pattern. If the reference matches a reference pattern associated with pages that contain informational content of interest, the crawling system accesses the referenced page. If, however, the reference matches a reference pattern of pages with little informational content, then the crawling system discards that reference without accessing the referenced page.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying information about people is provided. The information system identifies groups of people that have relationships based on their relationships to documents or more generally to objects. The information system initially is provided with an indication of which people have which relationships to which documents. The information system then identifies clusters of people based on having a relationship to the same objects. The information system may also identify clusters of related objects associated with a cluster of people. When a user wants to identify information about a person, the user can provide the name of that person to the information system. The information system then can retrieve and display the names of the other people who are in the same cluster as the person.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying information about people is provided. The information system identifies groups of people that have relationships based on their relationships to documents or more generally to objects. The information system initially is provided with an indication of which people have which relationships to which documents. The information system then identifies clusters of people based on having a relationship to the same objects. The information system may also identify clusters of related objects associated with a cluster of people. When a user wants to identify information about a person, the user can provide the name of that person to the information system. The information system then can retrieve and display the names of the other people who are in the same cluster as the person.

Abstract: New protective coating layers for use in wet etch processes during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The layers include a primer layer, a first protective layer, and an optional second protective layer. The primer layer preferably comprises an organo silane compound in a solvent system. The first protective layer includes thermoplastic copolymers prepared from styrene, acrylonitrile, and compatible compounds such as monomers, oligomers, and polymers comprising epoxy groups; poly(styrene-co-allyl alcohol); and mixtures thereof. The second protective layer comprises a highly halogenated polymer such as a chlorinated polymer which may or may not be crosslinked upon heating.

Abstract: A search system provides various techniques for facilitating information retrieval. The search system may identify alternate queries for an initial query submitted by a user to a search system. Upon receiving the initial query, the search system identifies questions that are related to the initial query and presents to the user the related questions as alternate queries. The search system may also identify messages within a discussion thread that include answers. The search system may also identify an expert relating to the subject of a query by searching through expert profiles containing keywords of discussion threads in which the expert participated.

Abstract: Systems and methods for representing sequential motion patterns are described. In one aspect, video frames are converted into a sequence of energy redistribution measurements. One or more motion filters are then applied to the ER measurements to generate one or more temporal sequences of motion patterns, the number of temporal sequences being a function of the number of motion filters.

Abstract: A crawling system crawls a web site initially in a pattern detection phase and subsequently in a pattern usage phase. The pattern detection phase attempts to identify patterns of references to pages that contain informational content of interest and patterns of references to pages that contain little informational content of interest. During the pattern usage phase, the crawling system crawls the web site. When the crawling system encounters a reference contained on an accessed page, the crawling system determines whether the reference matches a reference pattern. If the reference matches a reference pattern associated with pages that contain informational content of interest, the crawling system accesses the referenced page. If, however, the reference matches a reference pattern of pages with little informational content, then the crawling system discards that reference without accessing the referenced page.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying information about people is provided. The information system identifies groups of people that have relationships based on their relationships to documents or more generally to objects. The information system initially is provided with an indication of which people have which relationships to which documents. The information system then identifies clusters of people based on having a relationship to the same objects. The information system may also identify clusters of related objects associated with a cluster of people. When a user wants to identify information about a person, the user can provide the name of that person to the information system. The information system then can retrieve and display the names of the other people who are in the same cluster as the person.

Abstract: New anti-reflective or fill compositions having improved flow properties are provided. The compositions comprise a styrene-allyl alcohol polymer and preferably at least one other polymer (e.g., cellulosic polymers) in addition to the styrene-allyl alcohol polymer. The inventive compositions can be used to protect contact or via holes from degradation during subsequent etching in the dual damascene process. The inventive compositions can also be applied to substrates (e.g., silicon wafers) to form anti-reflective coating layers having high etch rates which minimize or prevent reflection during subsequent photoresist exposure and developing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for representing sequential motion patterns are described. In one aspect, video frames are converted into a sequence of energy redistribution measurements. One or more motion filters are then applied to the ER measurements to generate one or more temporal sequences of motion patterns, the number of temporal sequences being a function of the number of motion filters.

Abstract: New polymers, compositions comprising these polymers, and methods of using these compositions are provided. The polymers comprise styrene and maleic anhydride monomers with at least some of the maleic anhydride monomers having certain functional groups bonded thereto. Preferred functional groups include those derived from adhesion promoters (e.g., 2-aminophenol), photoinitiators (e.g., 4-aminoacetophenone), and solubilizers (e.g., 4-aminobenzoic acid). The polymers can be incorporated according to conventional processes into compositions which are then used to form a color filter to be used in a liquid crystal display. The final color filter has a high resolution, is highly resistant to solvents typically used in the color filter manufacturing process, is strongly adhered to the color filter substrate, has superior optical clarity, is highly soluble in a wide range of alkali developers, and has excellent heat and UV light stability.

Abstract: New polymers, compositions comprising these polymers, and methods of using these compositions are provided. The polymers comprise styrene and maleic anhydride monomers with at least some of the maleic anhydride monomers having certain functional groups bonded thereto. Preferred functional groups include those derived from adhesion promoters (e.g., 2-aminophenol), photoinitiators (e.g., 4-aminoacetophenone), and solubilizers (e.g., 4-aminobenzoic acid). The polymers can be incorporated according to conventional processes into compositions which are then used to form a color filter to be used in a liquid crystal display. The final color filter has a high resolution, is highly resistant to solvents typically used in the color filter manufacturing process, is strongly adhered to the color filter substrate, has superior optical clarity, is highly soluble in a wide range of alkali developers, and has excellent heat and UV light stability.

Abstract: New anti-reflective or fill compositions having improved flow properties are provided. The compositions comprise a styrene-allyl alcohol polymer and preferably at least one other polymer (e.g., cellulosic polymers) in addition to the styrene-allyl alcohol polymer. The inventive compositions can be used to protect contact or via holes from degradation during subsequent etching in the dual damascene process. The inventive compositions can also be applied to substrates (e.g., silicon wafers) to form anti-reflective coating layers having high etch rates which minimize or prevent reflection during subsequent photoresist exposure and developing.