Abstract: A method is provided for etching a dielectric structure. The dielectric structure comprises: (a) a layer of undoped silicon oxide or F-doped silicon oxide; and (b) a layer of C,H-doped silicon oxide. The dielectric structure is etched in a plasma-etching step, which plasma-etching step is conducted using a plasma source gas that comprises nitrogen atoms and fluorine atoms. As one example, the plasma source gas can comprise a gaseous species that comprises one or more nitrogen atoms and one or more fluorine atoms (e.g., NF3). As another example, the plasma source gas can comprise (a) a gaseous species that comprises one or more nitrogen atoms (e.g., N2) and (b) a gaseous species that comprises one or more fluorine atoms (e.g., a fluorocarbon gas such as CF4). In this etching step, the layer of C,H-doped silicon oxide is preferentially etched relative to the layer of undoped silicon oxide or F-doped silicon oxide. The method of the present invention is applicable, for example, to dual damascene structures.

Abstract: An organic electronic device structure and a method of making the same. According to a first aspect of the invention, an organic electronic device structure is provided, which comprises: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an organic electronic region disposed over the substrate layer; (c) an adhesive layer disposed over the organic electronic device; and (d) a barrier layer disposed over the adhesive layer. According to a second aspect of the present invention, an organic electronic device structure is provided, which comprises: (a) a substrate layer; (b) an organic electronic region disposed over the substrate layer; (c) a barrier layer disposed over the organic electronic region; (d) an adhesive layer disposed over the substrate layer and over the barrier layer; and (e) an additional layer disposed over the adhesive layer. According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for providing an organic electronic device structure of provided.

Abstract: An Adaptive Software Application consists of several types of modules, called Adaptive Units, which are highly parameterized such that they can adapt to varying business requirements by virtue of externally provided parameters. An Adaptive Application is assembled through repeated use of various combinations of different types of Adaptive Units. Large and complex business systems can be rapidly implemented through this approach. An Adaptive Unit includes interface components that can present information to and accept information from the outside world (such as a web page or a system interface), processing logic components that can manipulate and evaluate information based on received parameters received (such as comparisons and decisions including data dependency decisions), and data persistence logic components that retrieves, adds, updates, and deletes data targeting one or more Occurrence Databases. All three components of an Adaptive Unit are parameter driven.

Abstract: An abrasive tape is supplied to a tape head by a tape supply unit and taken up from the tape head by a tape take-up unit. The tape head presses the abrasive tape against a surface of an object under polish, which is rotated by a rotating unit. A tape head pressuring unit utilizes a voice coil motor, for example. Since the tape head pressuring unit generates a pressuring force for pressuring the tape head using the electromagnetic force, it is able to set a minute pressuring force by controlling a drive signal, and to obtain the fine adjustment of the pressuring force easily by controlling the electric signal. Therefore, it becomes possible to press the abrasive tape against the surface of the object under polish with a desired low pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of microparticles to protect the pharmaceutical effectiveness of a pharmaceutically active agent. According to one embodiment, a pharmaceutically acceptable suspension is provided that comprises microparticles and a pharmaceutically active agent. This pharmaceutically acceptable suspension is then exposed to a component or condition that is incompatible with the pharmaceutically active agent, such that the microparticles provide a pharmaceutical effectiveness that is greater than it would have been in the absence of the microparticles. Preferably, the microparticles result in a pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active agent that is at least 10% greater than the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the pharmaceutically active agent would have been in the absence of the micro particles. Polymer microparticles, such as polystyrene microparticles, are one preferred class of microparticles. The microparticles preferably range from 0.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel structures for use in connection with OLED devices that simulaneously act as a multiplayer mirror and as a barrier to harmful species in the exterior environment. According to one embodiment of the invention, an OLED structure includes (a) a substrate; (b) an OLED over the substrate that includes (i) a first electrode, (ii) an emission region above the first electrode and (iii) a second electrode above the emission region, wherein the OLED emits light having a range of wavelengths upon being turned on; and (c) a multiplayer mirror over the substrate, the multiplayer mirror including an alternating series of (i) planarizing layers having a first refractive index and (ii) high-density layers having a second refractive index that differs from the first refractive index.

Abstract: An OLED device structure and a method of making the same. The OLED device structure comprises (a) a substrate, (b) an OLED display area comprising one or more active pixels disposed over the substrate, wherein each of the one or more active pixels comprises an anode region, a cathode region and a light-emitting region, (c) a cover over the OLED display area, wherein the cover permits transmission of light from the one or more active pixels and an outer environment, and wherein the cover and the substrate cooperate to restrict transmission of oxygen and water vapor from the outer environment to the OLED display area, and (d) a patterned getter layer disposed between the substrate and the cover, wherein the patterned getter layer is configured so as to substantially avoid obstructing the transmission of light from the one or more pixels. Also disclosed are a flexible OLED device and an organic optoelectronic device structures having related configurations.

Abstract: Disclosed are implantable or insertable medical devices that provide resistance to microbial growth on and in the environment of the device and resistance to microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on the device. In particular, the invention discloses implantable or insertable medical devices that comprise at least one biocompatible matrix polymer region, an antimicrobial agent for providing resistance to microbial growth and a microbial adhesion/biofilm synthesis inhibitor for inhibiting the attachment of microbes and the synthesis and accumulation of biofilm on the surface of the medical device. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing such devices under conditions that substantially prevent preferential partitioning of any of said bioactive agents to a surface of the biocompatible matrix polymer and substantially prevent chemical modification of said bioactive agents.

Abstract: A non-invasive system and process for converting sensory data, e.g., visual, audio, taste, smell or touch, to neural firing timing differences in a human brain and using acoustic signals to generate the neural firing time differences. Data related to neural firing time differences, the acoustic signals, and a user's response map may be stored in memory. The user's response map may be used to more accurately map the calculated neural firing time differences to the correct neural locations.

Abstract: An optical inspection unit inspects a surface of an object under inspection optically. A processing unit detects defects on the surface of the object under inspection and their features according to inspection results from the optical inspection unit, detects positions of the detected defects on the surface of the object under inspection, and classifies the detected defects according to their features. The processing unit selects the defects, on which a X-ray analysis should be performed, according to predetermined conditions about the features or the classification results of the defects. Alternatively, the processing unit displays the positions and the classification results of the defects, and an operator picks the defects, on which the X-ray analysis should be performed. A X-ray inspection unit performs the X-ray analyses on the selected or picked defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the optical output power from an optical amplifier arrangement. The arrangement includes a rare-earth doped fiber for imparting gain to an optical input signal propagating therethrough, a pump source for supplying pump power to the rare-earth doped fiber, and a tap for receiving a portion of the output power generated by the rare-earth doped fiber and converting it to a control signal. A controller is also provided for receiving the control signal and generating a bias current in response thereto for driving the pump source. The method begins by receiving an optical input signal that is being amplitude modulated at a prescribed frequency. The slew rate of the controller is adjusted so that the bias current drives the pump source to generate pump power that cannot vary at a rate greater than a slew-rate limit established by the controller. In this way resonance between the input signal and the frequency of the feedback control loop can be avoided.

Abstract: A trench DMOS transistor having overvoltage protection includes a substrate of a first conductivity type and a body region of a second conductivity type formed over the substrate. At least one trench extends through the body region and the substrate. An insulating layer lines the trench and overlies the body region. A conductive electrode is deposited in the trench so that it overlies the insulating layer. A source region of the first conductivity type is formed in the body region adjacent to the trench. An undoped polysilicon layer overlies a portion of the insulating layer. A plurality of cathode regions of the first conductivity type are formed in the undoped polysilicon layer. At least one anode region is in contact with adjacent ones of the plurality of cathode regions.

Abstract: A method for computing the function log(ex1+ex2) or ln(ex1+ex2) for a first argument value x1 and a second argument value x2 includes generating a table having a first data field and a second data field. The first data field includes N entries of table index values selected from a range of |x1?x2| argument values and scaled by a scaling factor. The second data field includes N entries of computed table values computed based on the equation log(1+e?|x1?x2|) or ln (1+e?x1?x2|) for each of the |x1?x2| argument values selected for the table index values. The computed table values are also scaled by the same scaling factor.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser source includes a laser diode having front and rear facets. The laser diode includes a substrate and a lower cladding layer disposed on the substrate. The lower cladding layer is doped with a dopant of the first conductivity type. An active layer is disposed on the lower cladding layer and an upper cladding layer is disposed on the active layer. The upper cladding layer is doped with a dopant of the second conductivity type. At least one electrode is disposed on a first outer layer of the diode. A pair of electrodes is disposed on a second outer layer of the diode. The second outer layer is located on a side of the diode opposing the first outer layer. The pair of electrodes is configured to allow application of different currents to each one of the electrodes in the pair of electrodes. A reflector, which is located external to the laser diode, is in optical communication with the front facet of the laser diode for providing optical feedback to the active region.

Abstract: A DMOS device is provided which is equipped with a floating gate having a first and second electrode in close proximity thereto. The floating gate is separated from one of the first and second electrodes by a thin layer of dielectric material whose dimensions and composition permit charge carriers to tunnel through the dielectric layer either to or from the floating gate. This tunneling phenomenon can be used to create a threshold voltage that may be adjusted to provide a precise current by placing a voltage between a programming electrode and the body/source and gate electrode of the device.

Abstract: Two electronic devices automatically perform a synchronization session when one of the electronic devices is brought in proximity to the other electronic device. The synchronization session is initiated without user intervention based simply on the fact that the two devices have recently been brought within a predetermined distance of each other. The two electronic devices communicate in a wireless manner. The two devices may determine that they are within a predetermined distance of each other using global positioning technology, via which one of the devices determines its own position and compares it to a known position of the other electronic device. Alternatively, one of the electronic devices may output a low level signal that can be received by the other electronic device when within a certain range.

Abstract: An optical amplifier module contains at least one optical amplifier. The module includes an internal housing having an outer dimension substantially equal to an outer dimension of an internal fiber splice housing of an undersea optical fiber cable joint. The internal housing includes a pair of opposing end faces each having a retaining element for retaining the internal housing within an outer housing of the undersea optical fiber cable joint. The internal housing also includes a sidewall interconnecting the opposing end faces, which extends between the opposing end faces in a longitudinal direction. The sidewall includes a receptacle portion having a plurality of thru-holes each being sized to receive a passive optical component employed in an optical amplifier.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system for temperature control of the human body. The system includes an indwelling catheter with a tip-mounted heat transfer element. The catheter is fluidically coupled to a console that provides a heated or cooled heat transfer working fluid to exchange heat with the heat transfer element, thereby heating or cooling blood. The heated or cooled blood then heats or cools the patient's body or a selected portion thereof. In particular, strategies for providing cooling while reducing shivering are disclosed, including administration of various drugs and drug combinations.

Abstract: A method for performing a table look-up operation on a first table having N entries includes generating a second table having kN entries based on the first table. The method includes generating a first data field for the second table including table index values having a second interval derived from a first interval of the table index values of the first table and represented by an n-bit binary number; and generating a second data field including computed table values derived from the computed table values of the first table or computed based on the function defining the second data field. The method further includes computing an index value z, extracting address bits from the index value z, where the address bits are data bits more significant than the (n-1)th bit of the index value z, and addressing the second table using the address bits.

Abstract: A multistage optical amplifier includes a fiber amplifier stage having an active optical fiber for imparting gain to an optical signal propagating therethrough and a coupler supplying pump energy to the optical fiber. A planar waveguide amplifier stage is optically coupled to the fiber amplifier stage. The waveguide amplifier including a substrate, an active planar waveguide formed on the substrate for imparting gain to an optical signal propagating therethrough, and at least one waveguide coupler formed on the substrate for coupling pump power to the active planar waveguide.