Abstract: A first conductive electrode material is formed on a substrate. Chalcogenide comprising material is formed thereover. The chalcogenide material comprises AxSey. A silver comprising layer is formed over the chalcogenide material. The silver is irradiated effective to break a chalcogenide bond of the chalcogenide material at an interface of the silver comprising layer and chalcogenide material and diffuse at least some of the silver into the chalcogenide material. After the irradiating, the chalcogenide material outer surface is exposed to an iodine comprising fluid effective to reduce roughness of the chalcogenide material outer surface from what it was prior to the exposing. After the exposing, a second conductive electrode material is deposited over the chalcogenide material, and which is continuous and completely covering at least over the chalcogenide material, and the second conductive electrode material is formed into an electrode of the device.

Abstract: Provided is a Ag-based conductive paste for a terminal electrode which suppresses oxidation of the Ni surface of an internal conductor and therefore brings about excellent joining with Ni even when baking is performed in the atmosphere in the case where Ni is used as the internal conductor of a laminated ceramic electronic component. The conductive paste includes at least one of an Ag powder and an Ag alloy powder, a nickel boride powder, an inorganic binder and an organic vehicle, wherein the quantity of the nickel boride powder is within the range of about 5% by weight or more, but less than about 60% by weight of the total paste.

Abstract: A memory array architecture suitable for variable resistance memory that mitigates sneak path and associated problems by limiting the number of memory cells associated with an addressed cell to a known number having a sneak path resistance that can be calculated and taken into consideration when sensing the addressed memory cell. Blocks of memory cells are associated with access transistors, which separate the memory cells connected thereto into one half (½) sections of cell blocks. The access transistors can be associated with n memory cells, where n is an even number of at least 2; there may or may not be an equal number of cells on either side of the transistor. The memory array has memory cells, which are grouped into 1T-2nCell blocks.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing storage requirements and for allowing reuse of multiple rake fingers in a spread spectrum system includes a decimation circuit having an associated decimation factor, a memory coupled to the decimation circuit, and an interpolation circuit having an interpolation factor coupled to the memory. The decimation circuit decimates the sampling rate of received data to produce a decimated rate. The received data is stored in the memory at the decimated rate. The decimated rate is later increased by the interpolation circuit by the interpolation factor when the stored data is retrieved from the memory. The memory is a circular buffer or a single port RAM that is accessible by multiple rake fingers substantially simultaneously via selector circuits.

Abstract: Endosteal fixation of a ligament graft with an interference fixation device installed in a retrograde manner in ACL reconstruction is disclosed. The interference fixation device may be a screw or a ribbed implant fitted with a length of reinforced suture or wire for pulling the interference fixation device through the tibial tunnel. The suture extends beyond the leading tip of the interference fixation device a sufficient length to allow the interference fixation device to be passed into the joint by pulling on the suture or wire exiting the tibial tunnel. A driver or an impaction device, such as a slap hammer, is employed to advance and insert the interference fixation device in a retrograde manner into the tibial tunnel. Accordingly, interference fixation of the graft near the tibial plateau is provided, thereby eliminating graft abrasion at the tibial plateau tunnel opening.

Abstract: A reticle inspection apparatus for detecting defects on a reticle 16 includes an image data generator 42 for generating image data of the reticle 16, a definition analyzer 44 for analyzing definition of image from the image data, a definition judge device 45 for judging whether or not the definition of image is within a predetermined reference range and a sensor position regulating stage 34 for correcting a position of a position sensor 33 when the definition of image is out of the reference range. The reticle inspection apparatus constructed as mentioned is reliable and capable of automatically diagnosing an error of an auto-focusing function of the reticle inspection apparatus due to deformation, etc., of the reticle inspection apparatus.

Abstract: A method for producing the high-value ketocarotenoid astaxanthin by the green microalga Chlorella zofingiensis in dark-heterotrophic cultures shows excellent growth and high-yield astaxanthin production on glucose-supplemented media in the dark. The specific growth rate and astaxanthin yield can be as high as 0.031 h?1, and 10.3 mg l?1, respectively, which are the highest so far reported in heterotrophic algal cultures. The light-independent astaxanthin-producing ability of Chlorella zofingiensis can be employed for commercial production of astaxanthin using industrial fermenters.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes depositing a dielectric film and subjecting the dielectric film to a wet oxidation in a rapid thermal process chamber. The technique can be used, for example, in the formation of various elements in an integrated circuit, including gate dielectric films as well as capacitive elements. The tight temperature control provided by the RTP process allows the wet oxidation to be performed quickly so that the oxidizing species does not diffuse significantly through the dielectric film and diffuse into an underlying layer. In the case of capacitive elements, the technique also can help reduce the leakage current of the dielectric film without significantly reducing its capacitance.

Abstract: An optical disc having a transition linear velocity of 8-11 m/s when irradiating continuous light with 11±1 mW and a wavelength of 660±10 nm using a pickup head with a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.65, and satisfying the following condition: ?R=|Rb—Ra|?3% where Rb is a reflectance of an unrecorded area, and Ra is a reflectance of the top of an eye pattern after ten cycles of recording. In one recording mode therefor, the disc is rotated at a constant angular velocity so as to have a linear velocity of 3–4 m/s on an innermost track and a linear velocity of 8–9 m/s on an outermost track. In another mode, the disc is rotated at a constant angular velocity so as to have a linear velocity of 5–6 m/s on an innermost track and a linear velocity of 13–14 m/s on an outermost track.

Abstract: The invention provides an magnetic memory element having improved switching properties and zero field offset, and a manufacturing method thereof. The element comprises a first magnetic layer overlying a conductive layer and a nonmagnetic layer overlying the first magnetic layer. Next, a second magnetic layer is provided over the nonmagnetic layer, wherein the second magnetic layer comprises an antiferromagnetic layer overlying a ferromagnetic free layer to apply a small bias to the ferromagnetic free layer. Then, the first magnetic, nonmagnetic and second magnetic layers are patterned to form the memory element.

Abstract: A pixel cell having a halogen-rich region localized between an oxide isolation region and a photosensor. The halogen-rich region prevents leakage from the isolation region into the photosensor, thereby suppressing dark current in imagers.

Abstract: A method for advertising, comprising the steps of generating a high-quality image; placing one or more advertising data in a predetermined location of the high-quality image; and fixing the high-quality image and advertising data to a utilitarian object. The advertising data is thereby placed in the high-quality image on an object therein so that the advertising data appears to be part of the particular object in the high-quality image.

Abstract: Coplanar waveguides having a deep trench between a signal line and a ground plane and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. An oxide layer is provided over a silicon substrate and a photoresist is applied and patterned to define areas where the signal line and the ground plane will be formed. A barrier layer is provided over the oxide layer in the defined areas. A metal layer is then deposited over the barrier layer. An etch mask is deposited over the metal layer for the subsequent trench formation. The photoresist and the underlying portion of the oxide and barrier layers are removed and a deep trench is formed in the substrate between the signal line and the ground plane using etching through the mask.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for measuring a micro area in a specimen in which a reagent necessary for observation and examination of a cell smear specimen or a tissue specimen is dropped to cause a reaction for a measurement and an analysis by way of an image. The apparatus includes: a micro reaction unit that is able to select a specific micro area in the specimen and to subject the specific micro area to a reaction-operation; a unit that measures; records and displays an image of the micro area; and a control unit that controls the measuring, recording, and displaying unit. Reactions can be effected quickly on such specimens as smear cell specimens and tissue slice specimens. The application of the reagent solution can be saved. A comparison between local presence of a gene or anti-body and a cell image can be made quickly and easily.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a chip size package is disclosed. The chip size package comprises a semiconductor chip having at least a bonding pad, at least a terminal of said chip size package and a reroute trace formed between the bonding pad and the terminal on said chip size package. The reroute trace is formed to have a desired resistance.

Abstract: In one implementation, a non-volatile resistance variable device includes a body formed of a voltage or current controlled resistance setable material, and at least two spaced electrodes on the body. The body includes a surface extending from one of the electrodes to the other of the electrodes. The surface has at least one surface striation extending from proximate the one electrode to proximate the other electrode at least when the body of said material is in a highest of selected resistance setable states. In one implementation, a method includes structurally changing a non-volatile device having a body formed of a voltage or current controlled resistance setable material and at least two spaced electrodes on the body. The body has a surface extending from one of the electrodes to the other of the electrodes, and the surface is formed to comprise at least one surface striation extending from proximate the one electrode to proximate the other electrode.

Abstract: A write clock generation circuit is provided that can detect wobble signal in high accuracy and can appropriately generate write clock with only small jitter even when the operation is switched from reproduction to recording. The wobble signal is obtained by changing stepwise the gain of a variable gain amp in the rear stage of a divided photo detector using a gain control circuit in a predetermined time period just after the beginning of recording. The write clock signal is generated using the above wobble signal. According to this arrangements, the change in wobble signal just before and after the beginning of recording can be reduced, and the gain change of a wobble signal amplitude regulation AGC is made slow. As a result, high frequency deviation of the wobble signal can be reduced even when the operation is switched from reproduction to recording, and the write clock with only small jitter can be generated.

Abstract: Individual employees arc permitted to be individuals and plan their work as individuals. Individuals are only asked to plan their work within a limited tasking horizon. Employees track their progress using verbs that are designed to capture the reasons behind positive and negative predictive ability. Verbs are analyzed and expected predictive error, also know as risk, is calculated. Once verbs arc captured they can be analyzed for ways to improve predictive ability. In addition, the risk can be factored into the initial planning stage so as to include an expected predictive error in the initial planning. Verb and object data are automatically captured from various mediums and the associated task and project are determined by a processor based system which also automatically updates the task and project data to provide real-time project analysis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to noise shaping, especially although not exclusively for digital audio signal processing; and in particular for PCM-PWM converters in a digital amplifier.

Abstract: In an optical recording method and apparatus for an optical storage medium, a recording pulse pattern having a sequence of multiple pulses is used to record one of plural kinds of marks with different lengths on the storage medium through a variable-linear-velocity recording process or a constant-angular-velocity recording process. Two or more discrete write powers are individually allocated to the respective pulses of the recording pulse pattern. Each of the write powers, allocated to the respective pulses of the recording pulse pattern, is linearly varied in proportion with a change of one of the recording linear velocity and a recording position of the storage medium. The resulting recording pulse pattern is supplied to a pickup, and the pickup emits a light beam to the storage medium in accordance with the recording pulse pattern having the linearly varied write powers allocated to the respective pulses, so that one of the plural kinds of marks is recorded on the storage medium.