Abstract: An apparatus and methods for use in spin coating a coating material onto a wafer. The apparatus includes a rotatable chuck capable of supporting the wafer and a bowl having a bottom and a side defining an interior region, the bottom containing an opening through which said rotatable chuck is movable and separable from the bowl. In a preferred embodiment the bottom has a raised cylindrical portion containing the opening and, the rotatable chuck is positioned within the opening so that the wafer is in close proximity to the raised portion of the bowl so as to prevent solvent vapors form escaping the bowl through the opening.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure which includes a raised source, a raised drain, a gate located between the source and the drain, a first capping layer in communication with at least a portion of the gate and the source, a second capping layer in communication with at least a portion of the gate and the drain, a first portion of a gate oxide region in communication with at least a portion of the gate and the source, a second portion of a gate oxide region in communication with at least a portion of the gate and the drain. The source, the gate, the first capping layer, and the first portion of a gate oxide region define a first gap. The drain, the gate, the second capping layer, and the second portion of a gate oxide region define a second gap. The structure also includes a first junction area located beneath the first gap, the gate and the source and a second junction area located beneath the second gap, the gate and the drain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a longitudinal magnetic recording media having a substrate, a Co or Co alloy based magnetic layer arid an underlayer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic layer. The underlayer is made of a material having a Ga3Pt5 crystalline structure, most preferably Ni5Al3. Several intermediate layers, disposed between the underlayer and the magnetic layer may also be included.

Abstract: A lens for focusing collimated light. The lens includes a single, optically transmissive material having an aspherical focusing surface and a second surface, such that collimated light incident on the aspherical focusing surface is focused in a near-field region of the second surface.

Abstract: A method for producing a fully dense powder metal helical gear including placing powder metal in a preform die wherein it can be compacted axially by punches to create a gear preform having various gear profiles such as a helical profile, sintering the preform, and inserting the sintered preform into a hot forming die wherein it is impacted axially by punches to fully densify the gear preform. The densified gear can be inserted in a burnishing die where a more precise gear profile can be imparted resulting in more precise dimensions. Finishing treatments, such as rolling, shaving, heat treating, machining to length and inner diameter sizing can be subsequently performed.

Abstract: An amplifier system including a vacuum tube amplifier having an input signal terminal, an output signal terminal, and an electron source, and a control circuit having an input terminal coupled to one of the input signal terminal and the output signal terminal, and for controlling a kinetic energy of electrons emitted by the electron source based on one of an input signal to the vacuum tube amplifier and an output signal from the vacuum tube amplifier. According to another embodiment, the control circuit may be for controlling an amount of electrons emitted by the electron source based on one of the input signal to the vacuum tube amplifier and the output signal from the vacuum tube amplifier.

Abstract: A method of picking a component having an alignment indicating fiducial marker according to a predetermined alignment is provided. The method includes detecting the alignment of the fiducial marker of the component, comparing the detected fiducial alignment with a predetermined fiducial alignment, determining an alignment offset and picking the component in a manner that corrects the alignment offset when the offset has a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of processing a leadframe strip defining a first row of alignment holes and a second row of alignment holes. One embodiment of the method comprises allowing incremental advancement of said leadframe strip using said first row of alignment holes and refraining from using said second row of alignment holes to allow said advancement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new catalyst support material comprising a mixed oxide consisting essentially of a divalent metal and a trivalent metal in a substantially homogeneous phase, the mixed oxide being a calcination product of a hydrotalcite-like phase calcinated at a temperature of about 700-1200° C., wherein the divalent metal/trivalent metal molar ratio is greater than or equal to 2. The invention also relates to a process of preparing the support. The invention further provides a catalyst for dehydrogenation which includes a transition metal selected from the first row of transition metals of the periodic table and/or a Group VIII metal impregnated on the new catalyst support material. The invention also provides a process for dehydrogenation of light alkanes using the catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention claims an apparatus for transdermal delivery of medicaments, with novel electrode systems, which avoids burns caused by changes in pH or excessive current applied at the sight of delivery, which is low in cost and easy to manufacture. In the present invention, preferably, the anode of the electrode system is predominantly formed from a low-cost bulk base metal which includes a coating of a precious metal thereon. The cathode of the electrode system is preferably formed from an chemically inert material which is a poor electron condutor and is coated on a good electron conductive material which has poor chemical stability. The electrode system of the present invention is highly efficient, easy to manufacture and cost-effective.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus provides an output with high spatial uniformity of luminance. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity that has reflective surfaces and an output area. At least one light source is disposed in the cavity, with the light source including a point source (such as an LED) and an optical diverter having a flared (e.g., cuspated) reflecting surface. Light from the point source is distributed by the optical diverter towards the reflective surfaces within the cavity. Before exiting the device, light passes through an optical conditioning element that is positioned over the output area of the cavity. The optical conditioning element includes at least a diffuser, such as a translucent film or plastic sheet, and preferably also includes one or more prism sheets such as a brightness-enhancing film.

Abstract: A system for determining a position of a user. The system includes a distance sensor in communication with a position tracking device. The distance sensor is for detecting movement by the user, and the position tracking device is for determining the position of the user based on detection of movement by the user and a relative change in direction input from the user.

Abstract: A method for assembling a multi-deck power supply device including control and power components. The method comprises providing a first circuit board having a first and a second side. Two prefabricated pin holders are positioned on the first side of the first circuit board. Each pin holder includes two threaded inserts, a set of first pins and a set of second pins. The first pins are floating for self-alignment during soldering. After the first pins are soldered on the first side of the first circuit board, a second circuit board is aligned above the first circuit board, and the first and second pins are soldered to the second circuit board. The first pins may include pre-assembled oscillation dampers, such as magnetic material beads.

Abstract: A method of constructing a catalog of the files stored on the network comprised of a plurality of interconnected computers each having a plurality of files stored thereon is comprised of the following steps: (a) establishing a queue containing at least one address representative of a file stored on one of the interconnected computers; (b) ranking each address in the queue according to the popularity of the file represented by that address; (c) downloading the file corresponding to the address in the queue having the highest ranking; (d) processing the downloaded file to generate certain information about the downloaded file for the catalog; (e) adding to the queue any addresses found in the downloaded file; (f) determining the popularity of the files represented by the addresses in the queue according to how often a file is referenced by a computer other than the computer on which the file is stored; and (g) repeating steps (b) through (g).

Abstract: Disclosed is a system, apparatus and method for enabling the operation of a vehicle or other equipment by using a smart card for transmitting an authorization code to the vehicle or the other equipment. Without the authorization code from the smart card the vehicle or other equipment in inoperable.

Abstract: A method of forming a capacitor. The method includes forming an opening in a substrate, forming an adhesion layer in the opening, and forming a conductive layer in the opening on the adhesion layer. The adhesion layer has a first surface in contact with the substrate, and the conductor has a thickness of less than six hundred angstroms. The method further includes annealing the adhesion layer and the conductor, exposing the first surface of the adhesion layer, forming a dielectric layer on the conductor, and forming a second conductor on the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A dual output power converter, including a transformer having first and second secondary windings, a first synchronous rectifier coupled to the first secondary winding of the transformer for converting an alternating voltage at the first secondary winding to a first DC output voltage, a second synchronous rectifier coupled to the second secondary winding of the transformer for converting an alternating voltage at the second secondary winding to a second DC output voltage, and a drive circuit coupled to each of the first and second synchronous rectifiers for turning on the first and second synchronous rectifiers when the alternating voltage at the first and second secondary windings transition from a first polarity to a second polarity, and for turning off the first and second synchronous rectifiers when the alternating voltage at the first and second secondary windings transition from the second polarity to the first polarity.

Abstract: A reconfigurable multi-spindle apparatus for use with a machining device in a plurality of configurations across part families. In one embodiment, the reconfigurable multi-spindle apparatus may include at least two spindle head modules, a mechanism for transmitting power between the spindle head modules, and a mechanism for reconfigurably connecting the spindle head modules such that the multi-spindle apparatus is reconfigured from a first configuration to a second configuration across part families. An embodiment of a spindle head module may include two tool holders and a mechanism for adjusting the distance between the tool holders such that the multi-spindle apparatus is reconfigured within a part family.