Abstract: A pseudo device driver is provided for use by an operation system in a virtual desktop computing environment. The driver has two ports, a master port that is opened by the driver application and a slave port accessed by a program. The two ports provide the functionality necessary for supporting the remote device on the terminal. When a program accesses a device coupled to the terminal, the program opens the pseudo device driver's slave port and proceeds as if the device were coupled to a local bus.

Abstract: A method for utilizing a multi-channel SCSI chip capable of controlling different types of devices is disclosed. A first channel control is set and a second channel control is set in the SCSI chip. A first peripheral device type is managed using the first channel control and a second peripheral device type is managed using the second channel control.

Abstract: A wafer integrated plasma diagnostic method for a semiconductor wafer processing system provides a multiplicity of plasma probe assemblies arranged on a wafer in a planar array fashion such that one plasma probe assembly is located in the center and eight more plasma probe assemblies are located at intermediate positions such that they lie along the radius from the center to the corners; such corners forming four corners of a square box near the edge of the wafer. Method operations provide at each location and in each of the plasma probe assemblies, six possible probe elements having a relative geometrical area such that the assemblies may make simultaneous measurements of both spatial resolution and real time measurement of different plasma characteristics at the wafer surface, such as: D.C. potential, A.C. potential, shading induced potentials, ion fluxes, ion energy distribution, and the electron part of the I-V Langmuir probe characteristic.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for efficiently prefetching data in a pointer linked data structure (140). In one embodiment, a data processing system (100) is provided including a processor (110) capable of executing a program, a main-memory (115) and a prefetch engine (175) configured to prefetch data from a plurality of locations in main-memory in response to a prefetch request from the processor. When the data in main-memory (115) has a linked-data-structure having a number nodes (145) each with data (150) stored therein, prefetch engine (175) is configured to traverse the linked-data-structure and prefetch data from the nodes. The prefetch engine (175) is configured to determine from data contained in a prefetched first node (145A) and an offset value a new starting address for a second node (145B) to be prefetched.

Abstract: A method for removing chamber deposits in between process operations in a semiconductor process chamber is provided. The method initiates with depositing a fluorine containing polymer layer over an inner surface of a semiconductor process chamber where the semiconductor chamber is empty. Then, a wafer is introduced into the semiconductor process chamber after depositing the fluorine containing polymer layer. Next, a process operation is performed on the wafer. The process operation deposits a residue on the fluorine containing polymer layer covering the inner surface of the semiconductor process chamber. Then, the wafer is removed from the semiconductor process chamber. Next, an oxygen based cleaning operation is performed. The oxygen based cleaning operation liberates fluorine from the fluorine containing polymer layer to remove a silicon based residue. An apparatus configured to remove chamber deposits between process operations is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for performing a memory test algorithm with a static random access memory (SRAM) unit having a read control module with no read enable control and write control module with write enable control. The system and method conduct read and write operations to the SRAM unit by avoiding simultaneously reading and writing to the same memory address. Simultaneously reading and writing to the same memory address is avoided by offsetting the read and write signals provided to the SRAM unit.

Abstract: A processing chamber top is provided. The chamber top includes a top surface and a bottom surface having an inner and an outer edge. The bottom surface is sloped downward from the inner edge to the outer edge. A central opening extends through the chamber top. In one embodiment, the downward slope is between about 10 degrees and about 20 degrees. A method for processing a wafer in a processing chamber and a method for uniformly heating a substrate in a processing chamber are also provided.

Abstract: H2O vapor is used as a processing gas for stripping photoresist material from a substrate having a patterned photoresist layer previously used as an ion implantation mask, wherein the patterned photoresist layer is defined by a photoresist crust covering a bulk photoresist portion. Broadly speaking, the H2O vapor is demonstrated to more efficiently strip the photoresist material having a cross-linked photoresist crust without causing the photoresist crust to pop and without causing the bulk photoresist to be undercut. Thus, H2O vapor provides a safe, efficient, and economical processing gas for stripping photoresist material having a photoresist crust resulting from an ion implantation process.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for improving edge performance in a chemical mechanical polishing process is disclosed. The system includes a wafer head disposed above a wafer, where the wafer head includes a first active retaining ring capable of extension and retraction. Below the wafer head is a polishing belt, and disposed below the polishing belt is a platen having a second active retaining ring capable of extension and retraction. During operation the first active retaining ring and the second active retaining ring can be controlled to provide positional control for the polishing belt, thus adjusting and controlling the removal rate at the edge of the wafer.

Abstract: An invention is provided for low power searching in a CAM using sample words to save power in the compare lines. The invention includes comparing a sample section of stored data to a corresponding sample section of search data on a plurality of rows in the CAM. If a sample section of the stored data on any row of the plurality of rows is equivalent to the corresponding sample section of the search data, a remaining section of search data is allowed to propagate to the local compare lines coupled to the remaining section of the stored data of each row. However, if the sample section of the stored data is different from the corresponding sample section of the search data, the local compare lines coupled to the remaining section of the stored data on each row are latched.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed for a layer structure that facilitates configuring a Fiber Channel driver. In one embodiment, the layer structure includes a hardware layer directory that includes code for communicating with a Fiber Channel controller. In addition, a wrapper layer directory is included in the layer structure. The wrapper layer directory includes code for communicating with the code associated with the hardware layer directory, and also includes a wrapper header file that defines a particular value setting in a first state, such as a compiler directive set a particular value. The layer structure further includes a global header directory that defines a group of value settings. The group of value settings is defined for the code associated with each of the hardware directory and the wrapper layer directory. The particular value setting in the first state is also included in the group of value settings.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving silhouette appearance in bump mapping, which not only reduces the operation overhead of applying displacement mapping to a whole model but also retains the truly geometric shape in displaying the object silhouette. The invention comprises the following steps: receiving, checking vertex, checking subdivision, subdividing, repeating, displacing and bump mapping. The invention also discloses a system employing the method of improving silhouette appearance in bump mapping.

Abstract: Methods for accessing relevant data from data sources for presentation, and computer readable media for the same are provided. One exemplary method defines multiple dimensions. Then data sources are identified that contain relevant information for the dimensions. Next the data sources are accessed through an abstraction layer. The abstraction layer performs the operations of transferring portions of the relevant information to a data structure and displaying the selected portions of the relevant information. Some notable advantages of the discussed methods include the ability to create virtual dimensions by building a hierarchical table structure from data in a flat file. The use of an abstraction layer allows for ease of modification and efficiency in presentation, since only the user requested data is presented. In addition, the customer is provided dynamic reports in real-time, thereby allowing for time sensitive and mission critical business decisions to be made with current data.

Abstract: Methods and an apparatus for a caching mechanism which improves system performance are provided. One exemplary method includes reading files in response to a request from an operating system. Then, copies of the read files are stored in a cache where the cache is located within a random access memory of the computer. Next, frequency factors are assigned to each of the files stored in the cache, where the frequency factors indicate how often each of the corresponding files has been accessed by the operating system. Then, the frequency factors are scanned in response to a capacity of the cache being attained. Next, a least frequently and least recently used file is identified. Then, the least frequently and least recently used file is eliminated to liberate capacity of the cache.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for determining if a first number is greater than or equal to a second number. By analyzing nibbles of a multi-bit number in parallel to determine for each nibble if the nibbles are unequal and if a first nibble is greater than a second nibble and thereafter logically determining which of the highest order nibbles, if any, are unequal to discover whether the first number is greater than the second number, or determining that all nibble pairs are equal and thus concluding that both numbers are equal. A digital logic circuit is preferably employed for such analysis.

Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling a bias voltage over a wide range and for de-coupling dual radio frequency (RF) currents to allow for independent control of plasma density and ion energy of a plasma for processing a substrate. An exemplary apparatus provides a plasma processing chamber which includes a bottom electrode configured to hold a substrate and first and second RF power supplies being connected to the bottom electrode. Also included is a top electrode which is electrically isolated from a top ground extension. A filter array defining a set of filter settings is included. A switch is coupled to the top electrode and the switch is configured to interconnect the top electrode to one of the filter settings. The filter settings are configured to enable or disable RF current generated from one or both of the RF power supplies from passing through the top electrode.

Abstract: A platen is provided for use in a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) system. The platen includes at least one fluid output zone having a plurality of fluid outlets, the at least one fluid output zone being disposed below a polishing pad and being capable of providing fluid pressure to the polishing pad. The platen also includes at least one fluid input zone having a plurality of fluid inlets, the at least one fluid input zone being disposed below the polishing pad and being capable of removing the fluid pressure. The platen is capable of managing fluid pressure applied to the polishing pad to achieve a particular polishing profile during a CMP operation.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) apparatus includes a bath of an aqueous solution. A first holder, which is configured to support a wafer, is disposed within the bath. A first spindle is configured to rotate the first holder. A second holder, which is rotated by a second spindle, is disposed above the first holder. The second holder supports a planarization media, which is disposed within the bath. The planarization media is oriented to face the surface of the first holder on which the wafer is to be supported. The planarization media can be a pad containing polyurethane or a substrate having an overlying abrasive film. The CMP apparatus also can include a system for recirculating and reconditioning the aqueous solution. A method for performing a CMP process also is described.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a technique that makes it possible to improve the image quality by selecting adequate paper feedings in a printer that performs printing. First, a test pattern is printed according to the interlace recording mode. The test pattern includes a plurality of color patches respectively printed using different correction values. The correction values for respective feed amounts are determined by investigating the printing results of this test pattern. Then, when an image is printed in this interlace recording mode, the sub-scan feed amount is corrected according to this correction value.

Abstract: A system capable of tuning the wavelength and intensity of an output light includes an input end, a first output end, a second output end, a first rotatable optical device, a second rotatable optical device, and a third optical device. The input end is used to receive a first optical signal and a second optical signal. When the angle of the first rotatable optical device is adjusted, the first optical signal is able to pass through and the second optical signal is reflected. The second rotatable optical device allows the first optical signal to be outputted from the first output end. When the angle of the second rotatable optical device is adjusted, the intensity of the first optical signal outputted from the first output end changes. The angle of the third rotatable optical device is adjusted with respect to the angle of the first rotatable optical device, so that the second optical signal can be outputted from the second output end.