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: 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 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 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: The present invention provides a mobile communications device and a method of operating such a device to reduce data download costs incurred in downloading data from a bearer to which the mobile communications device is connected. The mobile communications device is capable of storing for a bearer to which the mobile communications device is configured to connect with, cost information relating to the cost of downloading data from that bearer. Also, the mobile communications device is capable of adapting the quantity of data downloaded to the mobile communications device from the bearer to which the mobile communications device is presently connected in dependence on the cost information for that bearer.

Abstract: A device is removeably attachable to a fingertip portion of a glove worn on a hand of a user for use with a touch screen device. The device includes a conductive film layer and an adhesive layer secured to the conductive film layer. The adhesive layer is removeably attachable to the glove, and the conductive film layer is capable of contacting the touch screen device.

Abstract: A device is removeably attachable to a fingertip portion of a glove worn on a hand of a user for use with a touch screen device. The device includes a conductive film layer and an adhesive layer secured to the conductive film layer. The adhesive layer is removeably attachable to the glove, and the conductive film layer is capable of contacting the touch screen device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile communications device and a method of operating such a device to reduce data download costs incurred in downloading data from a bearer to which the mobile communications device is connected. The mobile communications device is capable of storing for a bearer to which the mobile communications device is configured to connect with, cost information relating to the cost of downloading data from that bearer. Also, the mobile communications device is capable of adapting the quantity of data downloaded to the mobile communications device from the bearer to which the mobile communications device is presently connected in dependence on the cost information for that bearer.

Abstract: An improved method of forming connections between Bluetooth devices is provided. A first device maintains a contacts database wherein the addresses of further Bluetooth devices are stored in the same records as the owners of those devices. When the first device wishes to connect to the device belonging to any persons in the contacts database, it simply retrieved the address from the database and starts sending Bluetooth packets; this eliminates the discovery and name request steps from the Bluetooth protocol, saving time and power.

Abstract: Medical devices for removing gasses, such as gas bubbles and/or dissolved gasses, from a liquid to be delivered to a patient, and methods of use and making of such devices. In at least some embodiments, a gas permeable membrane material is used in the construction of the gas removal devices. In some embodiments, layers of gas permeable membrane material are used to construct a filter structure for removing gas from the liquid. In other embodiments, hollow tubes and/or fibers of the gas permeable membrane material are used to construct a filter structure for removing gas from the liquid. The gas removal devices may be used in any of a broad variety of liquid delivery systems and/or configurations.

Abstract: A Voltage Range Detection Circuit (VRDC) (8) determines the supply voltage range of the integrated circuit. In general, voltage detector (10) determines the voltage level of supply voltage V.sub.DD and stores the result of this determination in storage (12). Resistor network (14), which receives the stored result, configures itself in the proper resistor configuration for the determined supplied voltage such that a compare signal is generated that represents a Variable Low Voltage Detection (VLVD) switch point. Resistor network (14) outputs this generated VLVD switch point signal to a first input of comparator (18) to be compared with the constant level reference voltage output by voltage reference (16) at a second input of comparator (18). When the output of resistor network (14) drops below the reference voltage provided by voltage reference (16), comparator (18) outputs a reset signal to disable the chip because a low voltage condition has occurred.