Abstract: Taggants can be incorporated into or onto value documents. The taggants comprise a crystalline taggant doped with two rare earth ions. The substrate or printed matter into which the taggant can be incorporated has a minimal absorption infrared wavelength window and the taggant is excited by incident infrared radiation in this wavelength range. Suitable first rare earth ions function as efficient broad band absorbers of incident infrared radiation and passes energy non-radiatively to a second rare earth ion, which emits infrared radiation at a wavelength greater than the incident infrared radiation. The emitted infrared radiation is also in the minimal absorption transmission window of the printed matter or the substrate into which the taggant is incorporated. Methods of authenticating the value document include detection of the emitted radiation at pre-determined values.

Abstract: A housing sub-assembly for mounting a microphone sub-assembly to a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a main body portion that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle. The main body portion is configured to connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion when the main body portion is connected to the microphone sub-assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for operating a free-piston linear alternator. The apparatus includes a linear machine having first and second coils wound around a path for a linearly-moving mass and a rotating machine having a rotating mass and third and fourth coils. The first coil is coupled to the third coil, and the second coil is coupled to the fourth coil, such that movement of the linearly-moving mass with respect to the first and second coils imparts a first magnetic field upon the rotating mass via the third and fourth coils. Further, movement of the rotating mass with respect to the third and fourth coils creates a second magnetic field upon the linearly-moving mass to position the linearly moving mass for combustion.

Abstract: A method of determining whether live media content or time-shifted media content is received at a communication device is presented. In the method, attribute information concerning media content received at a communication device at a specific time is received. Also received is schedule information including an identity of media content carried at the specific time over a channel identified in the attribute information. The media content identity from the attribute information is compared with the media content identity from the schedule information. The received media content is determined to be live media content if the media content identity from the attribute information agrees with the media content identity from the schedule information. The received media content is determined to be time-shifted media content if the media content identity from the attribute information does not agree with the media content identity from the schedule information.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for determining a desired yaw rate for a vehicle. The vehicle has a plurality of handling states and comprises a yaw rate sensor for determining an actual yaw rate. The method comprises selecting one of the plurality of handling states, determining the desired yaw rate for the vehicle based on the road wheel angle, the velocity, and the selected one of the plurality of handling states, and activating one or more vehicle stability control measures if the difference between the desired yaw rate and the actual yaw rate for the vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and Methods are provided for determining a position of an addendum mesh node disposed between a part mesh boundary and a binder mesh boundary with respect to a first plane. The method includes selecting a first point on the part mesh boundary and a second point on the binder mesh boundary having positions with respect to the first plane that are disposed on a control line which also intersects the position of the addendum mesh node with respect to the first plane, identifying a plurality of control points having positions with respect to the first plane that are disposed on the control line, and generating an interpolated curve that intersects the first point, the second point, and the plurality of control points.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming an improved varactor diode having first and second terminals. The methods include providing a substrate having a first surface in which are formed isolation regions separating first and second parts of the diode. A varactor junction is formed in the first part with a first side coupled to the first terminal and a second side coupled to the second terminal via a sub-isolation buried layer (SIBL) region extending under the bottom and partly up the sides of the isolation regions to a further doped region that is ohmically connected to the second terminal. The first part does not extend to the SIBL region. The varactor junction desirably comprises a hyper-abrupt doped region. The combination provides improved tuning ratio, operating frequency and breakdown voltage of the varactor diode while still providing adequate Q.

Abstract: Dispersion strengthened aluminum base alloys are shaped into metal parts by high strain rate forging compacts or extruded billets composed thereof. The number of process steps required to produce the forged part are decreased and strength and toughness of the parts are increased. The dispersion strengthened alloy may have the formula Albal,Fea,SibXc, wherein X is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Cr, Mo, W, Nb, and Ta, “a” ranges from 2.0 to 7.5 weight-%, “b” ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 weight-%, “c” ranges from 0.05 to 3.5 weight-%, and the balance is aluminum plus incidental impurities. Alternatively, the dispersion strengthened alloy may be described by the formula Albal,Fea,SibVdXc, wherein X is at least one element selected from Mn, Mo, W, Cr, Ta, Zr, Ce, Er, Sc, Nd, Yb, and Y, “a” ranges from 2.0 to 7.5 weight-%, “b” ranges from 0.5 to 3.0 weight-%, “d” ranges from 0.05 to 3.5 weight-%, “c” ranges from 0.02 to 1.50 weight-%, and the balance is aluminum plus incidental impurities.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a partially-completed semiconductor device including a first feature formed in a porous material, wet cleaning the partially-completed semiconductor device with an aqueous cleaning solvent, exposing the partially-completed semiconductor device to a liquid chemical that forms an azeotropic mixture with water, and inducing evaporation of the azeotropic mixture to remove residual water from within the porous material absorbed during the wet cleaning step.

Abstract: A system for detecting cursor interference includes a graphics engine configured to generate graphics information; a first evaluation unit coupled to the graphics engine and configured to evaluate the graphics information; a cursor generation unit coupled to the graphics engine and configured to generate cursor information, the cursor generator further configured to merge the cursor information and the graphics information into merged information; a second evaluation unit coupled to the cursor generation unit and configured to evaluate the merged information; and a display device coupled to the cursor generation unit and configured to display the merged information based on the evaluations of the graphics information and the merged information.

Abstract: Compositions for forming doped regions in semiconductor substrates, methods for fabricating such compositions, and methods for forming doped regions using such compositions are provided. In one embodiment, a dopant-comprising composition comprises a conductivity-determining type impurity dopant, a silicate carrier, a solvent, and a moisture adsorption-minimizing component. In another embodiment, a dopant-comprising composition comprises a conductivity-determining type impurity dopant, a silicate carrier, a solvent, and a high boiling point material selected from the group consisting of glycol ethers, alcohols, and combinations thereof. The high boiling point material has a boiling point of at least about 150° C.

Abstract: A television receiver receives a programming signal including programming content and EPG data. The television receiver receives a request for an EPG display. The television receiver modifies the EPG data for one or more records in the EPG data which include content ratings that exceed a ratings lock setting of the television receiver. The television receiver may modify the EPG data for one or more records in a variety of different manners depending on a variety of different factors associated with the records. The television receiver then generates the EPG display from the modified EPG data and transmits the generated EPG display to a display device. The modification of the EPG data may prevent display of objectionable content in the EPG display and/or may indicate that the records correspond to blocked programs.

Abstract: A method is provided for operating a turbo charger of a combustion engine that includes, but is not limited to providing a set of values of a basic boost pressure for opening a waste gate for the turbo charger at a standard Temperature and at a standard pressure and measuring an ambient air temperature and an ambient air pressure. The method also includes, but is not limited to calculating a density of ambient air based on a mathematical formula using the measured ambient air temperature and the measured ambient air pressure and transforming at least one point of the provided set of values of the basic boost pressure at standard conditions into at least one point of an estimated set of values of the basic boost pressure at ambient conditions by a correction factor based on the calculated density, and controlling the turbo charger with least one corrected value of the basic boost pressure.

Abstract: The various embodiments described herein generally provide for the identification of locations in a presentation stream based on metadata associated with the presentation stream. Locations within an audio/video stream are identified by processing associated text data using autonomous location information referencing the text data. The identified locations within a presentation stream may be utilized to identify boundaries of segments within the presentation stream, such as segments of a show and interstitials of the show. Processing is then performed to determine whether the identified boundaries possess specific characteristics. If the identified boundaries do not possess the identified characteristics, then additional processing is performed to identify other locations, temporally near the identified boundaries, which correspond with boundaries of the portion of the audio/video stream identified by the autonomous location information.

Abstract: A multifunction device to be situated within a central console of a motor vehicle has an instrument panel for receiving one or more elements (e.g., display and/or operating elements), the instrument panel being designed as movable and being transferable from a closed position into an open position, the instrument panel being situated within an opening of the central console in the closed position. Furthermore the central console has a storage element, which is situated outside the field of vision of the vehicle occupants in the closed position of the instrument panel and which is freely accessible to the vehicle occupants in the open position of the instrument pane. It is thus possible to provide a multifunction device to be situated within a central console of a motor vehicle, which is particularly easily reachable for the driver of the motor vehicle and simultaneously can increase the possible useful space within a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Methods are provided for designing a photolithographic mask and for fabricating a semiconductor IC using such a mask. In accordance with one embodiment a method for fabricating a semiconductor IC includes determining a design target for a region within the IC. An initial mask geometry is determined for the region having a mask opening and a mask bias relative to the design target. A sub-resolution edge ring having a predetermined, fixed spacing to an edge of the mask opening is inserted into the mask geometry and a lithographic mask is generated. A material layer is applied overlying a semiconductor substrate upon which the IC is to be fabricated and a layer of photoresist is applied overlying the material layer. The layer of photoresist is exposed through the lithographic mask and is developed. A process step is then performed on the material layer using the layer of photoresist as a mask.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor are provided. The motor includes a plurality of windings. Each winding is coupled to a respective set of first and second switches. The first switch of each set of switches is simultaneously activated. Current flow through the plurality of windings is measured while the first switch of each set of switches is activated. The electric motor is controlled according to a first motor control method if the measured current is below a predetermined threshold. The electric motor is controlled according to a second motor control method if the measured current is above the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for monitoring fuel freshness in a vehicle includes the steps of determining a measure of time that the fuel has been in the vehicle and initiating a remedy if the measure of time is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An operations support system for an engine includes an engine prediction unit configured to receive an engine rating condition and scalars associated with the engine, and to generate condition indicators based on the engine rating condition and the scalars; and a power assurance algorithm unit coupled to the engine prediction unit and configured to generate health indicators based on the condition indicators. The health indicators include a power assurance number.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the method and system according to the present invention provide a system and method for controlling access to audiovisual content such as television shows, video-on-demand services or streaming video which can be delivered by cable, satellite, wired or wireless networks, cell phones, the Internet, etc. More particularly, the present invention provides a capability to define certain criteria which can be used to restrict access to content based on combinations of various parameters including, but not limited to, time of day, day of the week, type of content, source of content, content display device, etc. These criteria may also be provided by data storage arrangements or a network, and access restrictions specified by such criteria can be associated with a plurality of display devices.